Chapter Sixty-Two: The Mirror of the Dark Moon, The Legend of the Dragon

The old Taoist in black watched Chen Xiaoyang approach, his eyes narrowing with a faint smirk, and a sense of unease stirred within him.

“You brat, who exactly are you, and what do you want?”

But then, before his very eyes, Han Chong’s face, figure, and even his clothing swiftly transformed into the likeness of the Bronze Guard, his pupils emitting a ghostly green light.

“You—you—you! You’re Lord Bronze Guard?” the old Taoist exclaimed in terror, only for surprise to give way to delight, and then to suspicion.

“I am Number Five. You disregarded our master’s orders and acted on your own whim. The master has commanded me to bring you back to the Prefect’s residence and let you suffer a little for your insolence!”

“It truly is Lord Five! Please, let me go. The Prefect is already at my mercy. I merely went out to amuse myself, nothing that could possibly matter,” the Taoist replied with a bitter smile, obviously skirting the issue. Still, suspicion gnawed at him—how could the master know he’d slipped out to pick flowers, and why send a Bronze Guard to apprehend him?

“Hmph. The master treats the Mad Heaven Gu Rat plan as the key to taking Yunzhou City, and you are essential to its success. If she didn’t keep a close watch on you, how could she be at ease?”

Han Chong mused inwardly at the man’s slyness and suspicion, and so he deliberately brought up the Mad Heaven Gu Rat plan to test him.

At these words, the old Taoist’s eyes brightened, and his doubts vanished entirely. It truly was the master’s concern for him that warranted sending a Bronze Guard.

“Ah, Lord Five, I beg you to speak well of me before the master. I was truly just bored and went out for a bit of entertainment. The Mad Heaven Gu Rat won’t be born for another ten days—there’s still time. Please, let me go. Your sword nearly crippled me; I fear I’ll be lame for life.”

“Heh, don’t blame me for being harsh. If I hadn’t done so, and you ruined the master’s grand design, losing a leg would be the least of your worries—you’d find neither life nor death as an escape!”

The old Taoist shuddered. If things were as Han Chong said, he would truly have cause to regret it forever.

“Thank you for your guidance, Lord Five. I hadn’t considered things so deeply and even bore resentment toward you, for which I deserve punishment! What do you plan to do next, my lord?”

“I have already infiltrated the Prefect’s residence as a physician. You will remain here quietly for the next ten days. When the time comes, I’ll let you out to complete the plan. To be honest, even I don’t know the precise details; the master only instructed me to keep an eye on you.”

“What!” The old Taoist’s face shifted, surprise flickering before he nodded in acceptance. The master truly was cautious—she hadn’t even revealed the specifics to a Bronze Guard.

“Actually, it’s nothing complicated. In ten days, when the Prefect is on the verge of death, he will surely summon the four Commanders of the Garrison to settle his affairs. When the Mad Heaven Gu Rat bursts forth, those four will fall under my control. I’ll have them open the city gates and surrender, welcoming the main force in without resistance.”

“So that’s it. The master’s plan is ingenious—to take command of the four garrisons and their innate martial experts without a single battle. Still, I worry—can that fat Prefect endure the torment of the Mad Heaven Gu Rat? If he can’t bear the pain and kills himself, won’t the plan be ruined?”

“Ah, Lord Five, ever thinking ahead. Why didn’t I think of that? Thank you for the warning. Just procure some rice vinegar and ashes from the bottom of a pot for him to take—it will ease the pain.”

“Heh, so simple? I’ll give it a try. But if the Prefect learns this trick and takes large quantities, wouldn’t he poison the Gu Rat to death?”

“My lord jests. This Gu is a gift from Lady Evilspirit herself—its venom is unmatched, and no medicine in the world can kill it. Once the fool swallowed it, his body became the Gu Rat’s host; there’s no escaping death.”

“Tsk, fine. You’re already drenched in blood and suffering—I may as well grant you release.”

With a flick of his wrist, Han Chong summoned the Sword of Clear Light and slowly thrust it toward the Taoist.

“My lord, what are you doing? Spare me!” The old Taoist’s eyes bulged in terror. He hadn’t expected Han Chong to turn murderous so abruptly.

“Heh, now that I know the plan, I can carry it out myself. What use do I have for you?”

“Wait! Without me, when the Mad Heaven Gu Rat enters the Commanders, how will you command it? Besides, I know a great secret. Spare my life and I will tell you all.”

“Oh? What secret? Let’s see if it’s of any value to me.”

Seeing Han Chong’s interest, the Taoist sighed deeply and, with a hint of pride, began, “Though our master is clever and cautious, convinced of her subtlety, her father, Prince Ying, saw through her ambitions long ago and loathes her persecution of her third brother. Yet, knowing her power, he feigned ignorance. Thus, he concealed the hiding place of the Shadowmoon Dynasty’s lost treasure, making it hard to obtain—though I have caught a trace of it.”

“The lost treasure of the Shadowmoon Dynasty?” Han Chong repeated, his gaze sharp.

“Heh, Lord Five, if you gain this treasure, you’ll no longer be bound by her—indeed, you could bend her to your will, making her your concubine as easily as reaching into your bag,” the Taoist said with a sinister grin.

So, this man had long coveted Ying Zhuang—had he actually seen her true face?

“Why would you reveal such a treasure to me?” Han Chong asked coldly, suspicion in his voice.

The old Taoist shivered inwardly. This young man was deeply suspicious, unmoved even by talk of treasure—a difficult opponent!

“Heh, don’t you want to know what the treasure is?” Han Chong remained silent.

“Have you ever heard of the Shadowmoon Mirror, the legendary heirloom of the Shadowmoon Dynasty?”

“The Shadowmoon Mirror!” Han Chong drew a sharp breath. Even the name alone suggested it was no ordinary thing.

“Heh, this mirror’s rank is unknown, but at the very least, it’s an Earth-grade Dao artifact. It didn’t just suppress the dynasty’s fate; it embodied imperial authority itself. It’s said that for generations, the emperors of Shadowmoon carried it with them, until one day, a Void-Returning powerhouse, driven by some deep hatred, gravely wounded the last emperor. The mirror vanished, Shadowmoon’s fate crumbled, and the realm fell to chaos.”

“So Prince Ying knows where the mirror is? Why hasn’t he claimed it? Surely it’s not so easily found.”

“You are astute, my lord. Prince Ying only heard rumors that the treasure is hidden somewhere in the Silver River. For more details, well—perhaps you could release me first?”

“Hmph, are you bargaining with me?” Han Chong raised his sword, his voice icy.

“I wouldn’t dare. But must you press me so hard?”

With a ring of steel, the Sword of Clear Light flashed, and the chains snapped apart. The old Taoist collapsed, fumbling in his robes for medicine to sprinkle on his wounded leg.

“Speak. If your clue proves true, I’ll let you go.”

“Very well, the clue is this: The moon in the sky, the river below, the palace in the river, the dragon in the palace.”

“A dragon? You’re not trying to fool me, are you? There are no dragons—who’s ever seen one?”

Han Chong’s lips twitched. A riddle for a clue was one thing, but dragons—how could they possibly exist?

“Heh, who says no one has seen one? It’s said that in the past thousand years, both the Shadowmoon Dynasty and the Great Feng Empire have recorded no fewer than ten dragon sightings. The forms and sizes differ, of course, but it’s even said that a dragon might leap forth from a well at any moment!”