Chapter Sixty: Nemesis

Smoke rose in thick waves, the scent of blood filled the city…

Corpses lay everywhere, some whole, others shattered…

A cold, solitary figure sat atop the city wall, cleaning a sword stained with fresh blood…

In a single night, another city of the Celestial Realm had been slaughtered. Two nights of pillaging and burning had finally satiated his thirst. He pressed a hand to his heart, feeling sharp pangs, yet an exhilaration unlike anything else.

He removed his mask, pulled out his hairpin, and let his hair fall loose. Closing his icy, menacing eyes, he turned his pale face toward the dawn’s sunlight, inhaling deeply. The sensation of light and the taste of freedom—this was what he yearned for.

Every immortal in the city was dead. Men, women, children, and elders—all had been butchered; not a single woman remained this time.

To see his face meant death!

No one had decreed it; it was the woman who died that had taken all his love with her. She was gone; now, no one was worthy to behold him. Whoever saw him would join her in death.

She had called his name, tearful, yet refused to look him in the eye. When he rushed to her wearing his mask, she finally gazed at him—her eyes filled with longing and deep affection that seemed to pierce through the mask to his soul.

She died, her outstretched hand never touching his face. He arrived too late, too slow…

His father’s contempt, his brother’s mockery, and the greed of women who claimed to love him for his looks and status. His father always smiled at his brother, forever despising him; no matter how successful, how hard he tried, he could never meet his father’s demands! His father was eternally powerful, like a mountain always pressing down on him!

Loneliness, nothing but endless loneliness…

Night after night, dark and solitary, he chased after something in dreams, always one step too late…

Those immortals, even mortals, possessed light and hope. He had only regret, living in perpetual darkness, hiding behind a mask. Why was what he wanted always out of reach? Why!

The young apprentice from Jade Purity, he liked her at first sight—an unprecedented affection, an immense tolerance. But the little nemesis was too unruly, she shouldn’t have provoked him, shouldn’t have driven him mad. When he savored the thrill of erasing his heart’s hatred, he saw those eyes—like awakening from a dream, thunderstruck… The feeling was like killing a lover; regret engulfed him.

Now, joy returned, because the apprentice lived. Anyone else in this world could die, but not this little apprentice. He even thought that everything his father made him do was merely to bring her to his side.

So much scheming, so much patience, so much slaughter—he still had to strive! Once he conquered the Celestial Realm, he would send his cruel father and debauched brother to accompany her in death! One day, he would sit atop the Three Realms, never again subject to others, able to remove his mask and face his apprentice, living the life he desired!

Everything was proceeding according to his plan.

At the chaotic scene at the Southern Heavenly Gate, he laughed wildly inside. Anyone who saw his face deserved to pay the price; all that was taken from him would be returned! His light! His hope! His love!

The selfish Heavenly Emperor, deserved death! The foolish Heavenly Virtue, deserved death! The naïve Heavenly Glory, deserved death! The idiot immortal ministers—deserved death! The useless celestial soldiers—deserved death! And those stupid female immortals who stared at his face, lustful and dumb—deserved death!

Dawn broke over the empty, dead city. With a sharp crack of the whip, he donned his mask and spoke in a venomous, low voice: “Mingzhong has arrived. You must go now!”

In the Jade Pool Dance Hall, the drums thundered as the dance immortals rehearsed the grand dance for the Peach Banquet. Three newcomers had joined, and in the sudden confusion, the lead dancer accidentally fell and was injured—this time, it was a real accident.

Auntie, frantic, scolded the dancers, “You idiots! How am I supposed to explain this! I begged the Supreme God for this dance diagram! Not one of you can perform it! Are your minds all fixated on male immortals?”

The immortal maidens protested, “No, Auntie, this grand dance is too difficult! We have to dance, balance strength and grace, understand music, and learn the skills from the diagram to create the sound of victory in battle… It’s too hard!”

“Exactly—what is the sound of victory? We’ve never fought a war, we can’t imagine it!”

Auntie glared, “Victory means triumph! Happiness! You all live in a glorious era—shouldn’t you convey that feeling? Prosperity! Bustling! Even I can’t explain it.”

“How about we just perform the Flying Celestial Dance instead, and skip this grand dance?” Keke suggested.

“No! They see the Flying Celestial Dance all the time. Tossing some flowers isn’t enough to captivate. How would we quietly present the finest wine to the immortals and surprise them? The grand dance hasn’t been performed in forty thousand years; it will make an impact.” Auntie insisted.

Of course, her urgency had nothing to do with me. I only needed to keep an eye on the three Ming maidens; whatever dance was performed, whatever sound, mattered not. The three Ming maidens were interesting; during the selection for lead dancer, they deliberately danced incorrectly to avoid being chosen, fearing the spotlight would hinder their mischief.

Auntie tried several times to find a suitable lead, sweating from anxiety.

“Keke, you’ll have to lead the dance!” Auntie said.

Keke waved her hands in panic, “Auntie, I can’t! I hurt my shoulder last time and can’t drum. Feel it—still swollen.” She let Auntie examine her shoulder.

“What now? You’re full of ideas—think of something!” Auntie pleaded.

Keke looked around at the dancers, hands behind her back. “How about you?” She grabbed Ming maiden Lianlian.

“No, no, no! Keke, I’m just a substitute, I can’t!” Lianlian protested.

Keke narrowed her eyes, “Strange! Every other dancer is eager to lead, and you decline? You’re not injured.”

“I’m afraid I’ll mess up and affect everyone.” Lianlian said awkwardly.

“Hmm, let me think… How about you?” Keke pulled another dancer, who was delighted.

“No! She doesn’t understand music, can’t lead!” Auntie rejected firmly.

“Auntie, what now? None are suitable—maybe bring one up from the lower immortal mountains?” Keke suggested, face full of worry.

“No time! The performance is tomorrow! Think of another way!” Auntie was frantic.

“Maybe let one of the male dancers who carry the drums try?” Keke kept brainstorming.

“No! This is a female dance; male dancers won’t capture the effect, nor the balance of strength and grace! Any other ideas?” Auntie was sweating.

Keke glanced at me, munching on a pear, and grinned at Auntie, “Why not let Fei’er try?”

I nearly choked on the pear, pounding my chest. I still needed to secretly watch the Ming maidens, and find my master and senior for the Peach Banquet. Lord Yu Fei dancing at the Peach Banquet—what a spectacle! Besides, I’d never danced this before.

She mistook my surprise for delight, showering Auntie with flattery.

“She’s not suitable! She’s new—not even a substitute!” Auntie refused.

“A desperate measure for a desperate time—what else can we do? Let her try, Auntie’s discerning eye will surely pick the right one!”

Auntie liked Keke’s praise. Flattered, she relented.

“Have you seen how the lead is danced?” Auntie asked.

I shook my head; I’d only been watching the Ming maidens, not the dance.

“Newcomers have no sense! Here’s the diagram—look at it!” Auntie handed me the chart borrowed from the Supreme God.

“Sigh, Keke…” I sighed inwardly, placing the pear aside and taking the dance diagram…

“Hey, this handwriting… these steps… difficult yes, but familiar…”

As I studied, I became entranced… The fragmented steps, movements, and rhythms connected in my mind… Memories from Jade Purity’s library flashed—records of war, the stirring cries and thunderous drums echoed in my heart…

“Why so long? Well? Can you do it?” Auntie pressed.

I snapped back, thinking if I claimed ignorance, Auntie might drive me from the Jade Pool in a panic, and I couldn’t keep watch. Fine, I’ll use my wits and pretend!

I nodded and danced a short segment according to the diagram, deliberately slipping at a crucial step and falling.

Gasps all around.

“The start was good, but you can’t even stand—how can you dance! No, Keke, stop letting her disrupt things! Bring someone up from the lower immortal mountains!” Auntie said.

Keke suddenly clapped, excited. “Got it! Auntie, let her do it this way—since it’s a battle, let’s design a move where she acts as if struck by an arrow and falls. A real fall is more convincing! The audience will think it’s intentional, drawing attention—just what we want!”

Auntie’s eyes lit up, “Yes! Good idea!”

Lying on the ground, I nearly cried. Keke, are you here to torment me from the Nether Realm…

Then I thought, why not play along and pretend to be injured!

So I clutched my leg, feigning pain.

“Supreme God, only the Jade Pool left—do you see any maids from your palace?”

“Royal Prince, is it necessary?”

Heavenly Virtue and the masked Supreme God entered the Jade Pool Dance Hall, just as I lay on the ground!

Our eyes met…

I wore the Supreme God’s mask and changed my appearance; Heavenly Virtue didn’t recognize me. But seeing him made my head spin, stomach churn—utter disgust!

The Supreme God glanced at Auntie and the dancers, then at me. Smiling, he said, “Oh! Meeting you here!”

I thought, “This is bad—of all times, to encounter the Supreme God! Wearing his mask, I can’t fool him. He doesn’t know the situation, but he’ll recognize me and expose me!”

I glanced at the three Ming maidens—they hadn’t fled yet. I prepared to summon the Black Crystal Sword!