UPON LEAVING the stone chamber, Feng Xiao followed Fan Yun's instructions and proceeded to the main hall at the center of the cave complex. These halls were full of twists and turns, with many intersecting paths and secret passages. He had yet to learn them all, and in any case, he had only joined the Thirteen Floors recently. Fan Yun and the others were still wary of him; they wouldn't tell him everything yet.
He met the occasional maid or guard along the way. Those who recognized him stopped and bowed in greeting, but were otherwise reticent. If he waylaid them to ask who they were or where they came from, they dared not answer fully. Their accents were mixed, some from the north and some the south, but it was clear they'd been trained on their duties here. From their ashen complexions, he guessed they hadn't seen the sun for a long time. They'd likely been taken on when this cavern had first been turned into the Thirteen Floors' base.
Feng Xiao thought they resembled shambling corpses who'd been roaming their tombs for years on end. A chilly gloom hung about them, and they didn't look amenable to bribes. He observed them for a while but couldn't spot any weaknesses. He'd have to set his sights elsewhere.
Based on his own observations and his discussion with Cui Buqu, he'd guessed that this natural cave was circular. Tunnels had been dug leading from the various winding passages to the main hall in the center. And if anyone wished to leave, they'd have to pass through the Ursa Major Twin Jade Array.
Cui Buqu had explained roughly how to pass through the array, but he had cautioned that, while the array took Ursa Major as its focal point, it possessed a kaleidoscope of possible changes based on the twenty-eight constellations of traditional astrology. Any slight adjustment made by the creator could set one's head spinning, and anyone attempting to traverse it would be trapped with no hope of reorienting themselves.
Now that Feng Xiao considered it, Fan Yun's suggestion to lure Cui Buqu here was itself worthy of scrutiny. Fan Yun had to know that, as his disciple, Cui Buqu had also mastered the Ursa Major Twin Jade Array. Did he wish to pit Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao against the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai?
If so, who was behind Fan Yun? The Southern dynasty? Goguryeo?
Feng Xiao reordered his wandering thoughts and temporarily cast Fan Yun from his mind. He couldn't see the rising or setting of the sun and moon within the cave, and had no notion of whether it was night or day. Leaving the cave would be too much trouble, and though he had an hourglass in his chambers, he was too lazy to turn back for it. After a quick calculation, Feng Xiao guessed it was the morning of the seventh day of the seventh month—the day of the Qixi Festival, on which the pavilion leader was due to arrive.
Neither Feng Xiao nor Cui Buqu had ever met the leader of the Thirteen Floors. Considering Yuxiu and Yuan Sansi's martial abilities and temperaments, Feng Xiao knew common interest wasn't enough to bring them together under an inferior master. The pavilion leader must at the very least be equally capable, a powerful martial arts practitioner.
In his mind, Feng Xiao went down the list of martial experts he knew. The interests of most martial grandmasters lay beyond the pursuit of political power. They instead yearned to explore the upper reaches of the mountain known as martial arts. Cui Youwang had been one such example. If he hadn't continued pushing to increase his martial prowess and triggered a qi deviation, the demonic grandmaster would likely still be among the living.
After discarding those with no interest in political affairs, only a few candidates remained. Feng Xiao even briefly considered whether the emperor of Southern Chen was the elusive master himself. But the current emperor of Chen was extravagantly wasteful and cared only for singing and dancing. He simply wasn't capable of orchestrating a plot on this scale.
Feng Xiao's thoughts quickened with his pace. Before he knew it, light was shining before him—he'd reached the guest hall.
Several people who'd been conversing among themselves turned around. One hurried over, his face animated with surprise and joy. "Yuntian! I missed you dearly the entire way here!"
Feng Xiao's lips twitched slightly. He smiled. "It's been a while, Young Estate Master Lin."
If only Cui Buqu were capable of words like I missed you dearly…
He imagined Cui Buqu's pale face flushing crimson as he was forced to stammer those words. He didn't break out in gooseflesh at the thought; instead, his lips curved in secret anticipation.
What an awful pity that Daoist Master Cui would never say such a thing.
The man who'd hurried over was of course none other than Lin Yong, the young master of Yandang Mountain Estate, ranked seventh among the directors of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai.
Feng Xiao had become acquainted with Lin Yong by chance years ago. But he'd quickly sensed something darker lurking beneath the man's frivolous demeanor and had sent someone to investigate. Sure enough, the true Lin Yong was nothing like the carefree and spirited image he presented. He tortured his servants, whipping them with steel cords for the slightest infraction. More than a few corpses were transported out of his estate every month.
The Lin family had made their fortune traveling between the Central Plains and the Western Regions to trade silk and porcelain, but after Lin Yong took over, Yandang Mountain Estate had pivoted to providing escort services and weapon-smithing instead. This young man was far from the simple fool he appeared to be.
During their recent meeting in the capital, Lin Yong had noticed Feng Xiao's apparent frustration with the emperor, and, after probing him, had taken the chance to reveal his identity and invite him into the Thirteen Floors. Feng Xiao had made a show of reluctance, outplaying Lin Yong at his own game.
Lin Yong had long been interested in Feng Xiao and thought the two of them quite close; he thus greeted him warmly: "It's been many days since we met, but Yuntian is as charming as ever," he said, smiling as he spoke. But a hint of resentment colored his words as he continued. "You're one of us now; why are you still saying Young Estate Master this, Young Estate Master that? Please, call me by my courtesy name, Huaya."
"I'm too used to it. You'll have to be patient with me!" Feng Xiao laughed and turned his gaze to the man behind Lin Yong. "And this must be Guild Leader Ning?"
Ning Shewo stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting. "Feng-gongzi lives up to his reputation, as radiant as jade."
Although Ning Shewo was over fifty and had grown stout in his old age, his palms were noticeably darker than the rest of him. It was obvious at a glance that he trained in some kind of palm technique and shouldn't be underestimated.
Lin Yong couldn't hide his displeasure as Feng Xiao ignored him to greet Ning Shewo instead.
"He has no interest in you," said a voice at his ear. "Why delude yourself?"
Lin Yong's face grew stormy as he turned to Yuxiu. Then he smiled. "If you hadn't lost that eye, I'd speak pleasantly to you too. It's a pity your looks are no longer worthy of your reputation. Perhaps His Highness the Prince of Jin felt the same way. Is that why he discarded you, his loyal pawn?"
Yuxiu sneered. "Just because you're a cut-sleeve, you think everyone is. If not for my respect for the pavilion leader, I'd have killed you long ago."
Some of those present were in charge of canal transport in the south, while others amassed riches within the Northern dynasty. Fan Yun was a walking treasury of knowledge, and Yuxiu was a man daring enough to masquerade as a Göktürk khagan, who'd stirred up a tempest with a flip of his hand. True, Cui Buqu had dashed his plans and rendered him a fugitive, but he'd still been the counselor of the Prince of Jin. He'd been privy to many of the prince's secrets and knew a great deal about what went on behind the scenes at the imperial court.
Their current company alone was capable of whipping up towering waves. Even without the aid of Feng Xiao and Cui Buqu, overthrowing a dynasty might not be an impossible dream with sufficient preparation. However, these were all great men from across the land. Though the same goal might bring them together for now, none were willing to submit to any of the others.
When Yuxiu had been counselor to the Prince of Jin, he'd presented himself as cultured and refined, with an elegant, serene bearing. Now, after his drastic change in circumstances, he no longer held back his temper. Not only did he openly show his distaste for Lin Yong, Feng Xiao had noted the unconcealed bloodlust in his gaze the few times their eyes met.
Yuxiu had never forgotten for a moment his hatred of Feng Xiao for the loss of his eye, but Feng Xiao was no pushover himself. Now that he was also a member of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai, Yuxiu couldn't kill him. All he could do was vent his rage on Cui Buqu in his place.
"Enough!" said Fan Yun, intervening before Lin Yong could retort. "Both of you are directors of the Thirteen Floors. You must set your disagreements aside and focus on the larger picture. The pavilion leader has called us here today because he is making preparations."
This got everyone's attention. Yet just as Fan Yun was about to say more, he looked around and asked, "Where is our fourth director, Si-xiansheng?"
He was talking about Yuan Sansi.
"I haven't seen him since last night," said Yuxiu.
Feng Xiao smiled. "I have." As the assembly turned to him, he finished, "At Feng Xiaolian's door."
Understanding dawned on everyone's faces; only Fan Yun leveled him with that same meaningful gaze.
As if on cue, a voice rang out from the entrance: "Feng Xiao! You low-life cur!"
Yuan Sansi had appeared in the guest hall just in time to hear Feng Xiao's words. He immediately struck out with a fist.
Unruffled, Feng Xiao parried with his fan. Yuan Sansi's every move was ruthless and left no room to breathe. Though a fight had erupted in the guest hall, no one intervened. On the contrary, everyone stepped back to give them space, avidly watching the battle unfold. All of them wanted to know: Who was stronger?
Feng Xiao had no interest in an all-out battle with Yuan Sansi. He deliberately pulled the fighting toward Fan Yun and ducked behind him, using him as a shield. Fan Yun had no choice but to stop them. "Enough! Si-xiansheng, tell us what happened."
"Feng Xiaolian is dead!" Yuan Sansi roared.
Everyone was stunned. Such an incredible beauty, dead? Even Lin Yong, who had little interest in women, thought it an upsetting waste. "When?!"
Though Feng Xiaolian ranked at the bottom of the Thirteen Floors and was the weakest practitioner among them, she was by no means an easy target. Besides, who could bear to end the life of such a stunning beauty?
Yuan Sansi fixed his gaze on Feng Xiao. "Last night I heard you and Feng Xiaolian speaking privately in your room. The next day she's dead. How do you explain this?"
"What is there to explain?" asked Feng Xiao innocently. "If anything had happened between me and Feng Xiaolian, I'd still be out cold right now. How could I be standing before you, bouncing with energy? I have no grudge against her. But Yuan-xiong, your room isn't next to mine. How did you happen to overhear us? If you wish to frame someone, surely this isn't the way?"
He turned to Fan Yun again. "I'm the deputy pavilion leader; Yuan Sansi is Si-xiansheng. This is insubordination. What should be done?"
Yuan Sansi sneered. "What deputy leader? The pavilion leader has yet to officially appoint you! Fan-xiansheng and I spent the whole night talking. I only just returned to my chambers, where I found Feng Xiaolian lying dead. The slash across her throat was the work of a zither string. Don't think I don't know! In Boling Commandery you received Yuyin and removed its strings to use as a weapon. Who else could have done it, if not you?"
"You were with Fan-xiansheng the entire night?" asked Feng Xiao in a tone of mild confusion. "What did you have to discuss that lasted all night? Fan-xiansheng, is this true?"
Fan Yun pondered before answering. "Actually, we didn't talk the entire night. Yuan-xiong left sometime after midnight."
Yuan Sansi looked at him in shock. "I didn't leave until near dawn! Fan Yun, what did this bastard give you to turn on me?!"
"Yuan-xiong, calm yourself," Fan Yun said with a frown. "Feng Xiaolian's death is indeed alarming, but we mustn't point fingers. We can wait for the pavilion leader's arrival before we draw any conclusions. Let's take a look at her first."
No one raised any objections. With Fan Yun standing between, Yuan Sansi was forced to give up. He glared once more at Feng Xiao and turned to leave. Yet he'd taken merely two steps when his expression changed, and he faltered. "What's that smell?"
"Fire!" cried Lin Yong in shock.
Before anyone else could react, the pounding footsteps of the guards came from outside, voices raised to call for help with the flames. Feng Xiao's heart thumped as he recalled Cui Buqu, whose sleep acupoint he'd struck not long ago.
"Talk once we're outside!" roared Fan Yun.
The ground shook violently, and dust and loose rock cascaded down from the ceiling. Everyone went pale. Feng Xiao no longer hesitated—he slipped to the front of the group and dashed out the door.
Eyes glinting, Yuxiu followed a step behind.