Messenger of Catastrophe

Chapter 174: Winter-Hunting True Person

"Shangle, you've grown old again," Helan Shou said flatly.

"Mere mortals grow old eventually—how could I remain youthful forever like you, Grandfather?" Helan Shangle gave a bitter smile. "I still remember when I first met you as a child—I asked my father why Grandpa looked younger than Dad."

A faint smile appeared on Helan Shou's face. "Is that so? The Golden Blade… how long has the Golden Blade been dead?"

"Sixteen years," Helan Shangle said. "My father has been gone for sixteen years."

"Is that so..."

Seeing that he had successfully stirred Helan Shou's memories, Helan Shangle wisely did not interrupt. Although he was the biological grandson, he wasn’t particularly close to Helan Shou. Or rather, ever since Helan Shou had built his Foundation, it had been nearly impossible for anyone to grow close to him. Only his wife and children from before his Foundation stage could still garner a sliver of his attention. That was why Helan Shangle had deliberately brought up his father.

After a while, Helan Shou asked, "What brings you to me?"

Helan Shangle handed over a letter. Helan Shou took it and unfolded it. His serene face finally showed a ripple of emotion.

"Someone managed to unravel Si Wuxie's inheritance?" he chuckled. "Back then, I couldn't for the life of me get past that Skull Tower."

Helan Shangle quickly responded, "They are all Third-Stage Messengers. Naturally, it's far easier than what you faced, Grandfather. Not to mention, they have two Thunderstorm Messengers among them.""If the front hall could be bypassed with some trickery, even I found the Central Courtyard rather troublesome. Si Wuxie actually left a formation in there? The token that has that kind of effect—if I recall correctly, it’s the Primal Chaos One-Essence Sword Technique? They actually cleared it in a single day. However… both battles required Buddhist Tokens to resolve?"

Helan Shou furrowed his white brows. "They had to use Buddhist Tokens… could it be…"

He fell silent for a moment, then reread the letter. "Bunny Heroine? Wolf Demoness?"

"Wolf Demoness is the daughter of the Duke of Jin, Medicine Master Wen. The Duke of Jin was executed for treason—" Helan Shangle caught himself when he saw the look of impatience on Helan Shou’s face and immediately cut to the chase. "Medicine Master Wen had previously fled to Shu Mountain. Whether in terms of weaponry, strength, or her entourage, it's undeniably her."

"As for the Bunny Heroine, even the Helan Family hasn’t been able to dig up her background. All we know is that she appeared suddenly to save Medicine Master Wen, and together they slew Helan Que and seized his token."

"Helan Que… I remember him. He was decent with a spear," Helan Shou said blandly. "The letter mentions that the Bunny Heroine holds a Return Token, but I recall that the Return Token belonged to Jiang Ten of Liang, didn’t it?"

Hearing Winter-Hunting True Person dismiss Helan Que’s death with just one sentence, Helan Shangle sighed inwardly and replied, "Indeed. So he’s not sure whether the Return Token is real. But by logical deduction, for a mere Second-Stage Messenger to storm Shu Mountain, remain defiant even against the Three Guardians—only the Return Token could explain her unchecked rampage."

"A Return Token capable of withstanding a Foundation Messenger… and from Si Wuxie’s legacy no less… it's enough to stir me from stillness." Helan Shou rose from his meditation cushion. "Do the other families know of this?"

Helan Shangle quickly stood up and replied, "Highly unlikely. The expedition to the Forest of Corpses was top secret within Shu Mountain—only those five knew the details. Medicine Master Wen and the Bunny Heroine didn’t send any messages out. The other two Guardians are madmen obsessed with the Foundation Legacy. Only he was our Helan Family’s man."

"Besides, he has a grudge against Medicine Master Wen and will surely try to stall her and the Bunny Heroine. As long as you descend upon Shu Mountain, Grandfather, both Si Wuxie’s inheritance and the Return Token will surely fall into your hands!"

Helan Shou nodded with satisfaction. "Then there’s no time to waste. Let’s depart."

"Ah?"

Helan Shangle watched as Helan Shou simply walked out barefoot, still in white socks, not even bothering to put on shoes as he left the temple.

The maidservants saw Winter-Hunting True Person heading out, but without having received any orders, they stood frozen, unsure what to do, dumbfoundedly watching his retreating figure. The village outside reacted the same. Adults stared as the white-haired youth stepped forth, only realizing they should kneel and bow after several seconds had passed. Only the children were still munching on snacks, and when they saw the old patriarch following behind the white-haired youth, they too became restless, itching to escape this godforsaken place.

Outside the Secret Realm, the servants and stewards had long been waiting. As soon as Helan Shou emerged, the steward knelt and shouted loudly, "We respectfully welcome Winter-Hunting True Person’s descent into the world!"

Even though their minds hadn’t caught up yet, the servants and crossbow-wielding retainers instinctively followed suit: "We respectfully welcome Winter-Hunting True Person’s descent into the world!"

"We respectfully welcome Winter-Hunting True Person’s descent into the world!"

The cheers echoed from the entrance of the Secret Realm all the way across the entire fortress. By the time Helan Shou reached the fortress gate, carriages and attendants were already prepared. Many had come especially to witness the immortal’s countenance, their expressions brimming with excitement, all prostrating as if witnessing a deity descending to the mortal realm.

Helan Shangle kept a close eye on Helan Shou’s expression, ready to shout and drive the crowd away at the slightest hint of displeasure. Yet Helan Shou remained completely unmoved throughout, silently boarding the carriage. Helan Shangle followed closely behind.

No signs of irritation—that was good news. It meant the old ancestor was still willing to accept the reverence and devotion of the people. Helan Shangle glanced at Helan Shou, who sat with eyes closed in meditation, and mustered the courage to say, "Grandfather, the Emperor recently exterminated the Duke of Jin’s entire line. Duke of Wei, Chu Luoyan—"

"That’s your problem," Helan Shou opened his eyes. "Matters of the younger generations should be resolved by the younger generations."

"Yes." Helan Shangle felt sweat soaking his back.

Nearly all Foundation-stage True Persons were like this—they only cared about results. The squabbles of the Court were, in their eyes, nothing more than children playing house. Emperors, Pillars of the Nation, and the nobles squabbling for petty gain—they were just kids fighting over toys. Hardly worth their attention. Only a lunatic like Ying Le of Great Qi would even want to be Emperor.

Helan Shou lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at the gardenias blooming across the hills. Suddenly, he said, "Just now you said Medicine Master Wen killed Ironhead’s son?"

Helan Shangle froze, then recalled that Helan Que’s father had the nickname Ironhead.

"Yes."

"If she’s still on Shu Mountain, just deal with her along the way," Helan Shou said flatly. "These gardenias are well-grown. A reward."

Helan Shangle immediately turned and shouted to the gardeners kneeling outside, "Winter-Hunting True Person commends your flower cultivation—each of you shall be rewarded with thirty Spirit Jade!"

The gardeners were stunned at first, then immediately kowtowed fervently, beating their chests and swearing to grow even more beautiful flowers. Even though the Helan Family’s yearly stipend was generous, thirty Spirit Jade still equaled several years’ worth of their income!

With thirty per person, that was nearly thirty thousand in total. Distributing this lush green bounty among the poor—Helan Shangle didn’t consider it expensive. This amount meant nothing to the century-old Helan Family, but if it could secure a small favor from the old ancestor, then no amount of Spirit Jade was too dear!

The flowers needed tending, the children needed raising, and the maidservants would need replacing. Who knew—maybe the old ancestor might take a liking to one of them?