Chapter Eleven: Divergent Paths Cannot Forge Alliances Section Four: A Betrayal That Is Not Betrayal

Section Four: The Betrayal That Was Not Betrayal

"The grace of the Northern Lord is deeply etched in my heart, and I shall never forget it."

"A mere trifle, nothing worth mentioning. Here, I wish Lady Bai Ling an early fulfillment of her wishes and the restoration of the White Palace's prestige. Farewell."

Bu Jingxian turned and walked away without looking back. Bai Ling watched his retreating figure, feeling momentarily lost and unsettled. She recalled how Bai Ling had always spoken of men in the world as shameless and detestable, yet now she found the Northern Lord unlike what her mother had described. In just two days together, she never sensed any ill intent in him. He was knowledgeable, extraordinary in demeanor, handsome and dignified, and remarkably brave—qualities that made him a deserving husband.

"To be married to such a man by the Moon Worshippers—truly, heaven has no eyes. It’s a pity the Northern Lord is one of the Undying Soul. I fear he will be hurt by the Moon Worshippers sooner or later... Ah!"

After parting from Bai Ling, Bu Jingxian hastened on with a troubled heart. Her words had unsettled him, and fearing some unforeseen change, he was eager to return to the Sunset Sect as swiftly as possible. Traveling through mountain paths, he reached the Korean territory in just five days. Having gone several days without rest or a proper bath, he was filthy and foul-smelling. He spent an hour cleaning himself at an inn, and before resting, he found a carriage to continue his journey.

Along the way, the coachman told him of the edicts issued by Emperor Zhou, declaring the lands of the Sunset Sect to become part of the Zhou Kingdom as planned. The coachman also mentioned that many from Korea were eager to serve the emperor, a hopeful sign for Bu Jingxian. Yet, after days of travel, Bu Jingxian had heard nothing about the emperor’s decree regarding the Will of the Soul.

This deepened his unease. He had never suspected the Moon Worshippers of betraying him and still refused to believe they would. But learning from Bai Ling the true attitude the Moon Worshippers held toward the Will of the Soul, his heart grew heavy with worry. The Moon Worshippers might not betray him, but that did not mean they would change their deeply rooted feelings about the Will of the Soul for his sake.

If he had known earlier, he would never have entrusted such a crucial matter to the Moon Worshippers.

By the time he returned to the Sunset Sect, a month and a half had passed since he left, and eleven days since Emperor Zhou had returned from Zheng Kingdom to Northern Yin City.

Emperor Zhou, accompanied by Empress Zhou, was met outside the city by the Moon Worshipper sisters, the former civil and military officials of the Zhou capital, and many from the Sunset Sect.

Ao Pan joyfully said that everyone had been worried about the Northern Lord these past days and that everything unfolded just as he had predicted. Since returning from Zheng Kingdom, many had come. Over sixty thousand people had relocated from Korea alone, and countless martial heroes and sect members from all over the world were still en route.

Bu Jingxian forced a smile to respond throughout the day and, after the banquet ended, finally returned to his chambers.

Bai Xing sniffed his body with a smile. "You've suffered quite a bit, haven’t you? You smell of sweat and grime."

Bu Jingxian chuckled, "Without a virtuous wife by my side, it’s truly unbearable."

Bai Xing brought fresh clothes and personally helped Bu Jingxian wash and dress. Just as she was about to speak, Bu Jingxian said, "I want to talk with your sister. We’ll speak of parting feelings later."

"Very well." Bai Xing dismissed the servants and left.

Having sensed Bu Jingxian’s troubled mind, Bai Yue asked when they were alone, "Husband, what troubles you?"

"Why hasn’t the other decree from Emperor Zhou been carried out?"

Bai Yue had anticipated this question but smiled lightly. "There was too much opposition. Forcing the edict now would be unwise, so after discussion, it was decided to postpone."

Bu Jingxian's reaction was sharp. "How can it be postponed? Northern Yin City is now the Zhou capital, the Zhou Kingdom newly established. Without immediately setting the system, how can it ever be changed in the future? Establishing it now will inevitably meet with some internal opposition, but not much. Those who come later will begin to adapt to the new system. The earlier the decree is issued, the sooner soul-willed people from across the land will come. They will be the foundation of the new order. We agreed on this long ago—why delay? The Zhou Kingdom is founded, yet the system has not been established. Are all things to remain as they were?"

Bai Yue took him by the hand, gently stroking his chest and soothing him. "There is simply too much resistance. Reluctantly, we must continue the old system. The emperor has already decreed you as Left Chief Minister and Grand General of Zhou..."

Bu Jingxian felt as if his heart were cut by a knife but found no anger left to express. "You mean the Zhou Kingdom still follows the monarchic system?"

"Husband, please don’t be upset. There will be opportunities in the future regarding the Will of the Soul..."

Despair filled Bu Jingxian’s heart with nowhere to vent. He swept his arm, sending a nearby table flying seven yards, crashing into the wall and shattering.

"Opportunities? The monarchic system is now settled; it can never be replaced. Only at the founding of this Zhou Kingdom could the new system have been possible..."

"Husband..."

Bu Jingxian rose and pushed Bai Yue away, his heart sinking into hopelessness, speechless for a moment.

"Husband! Why must you be so hard on yourself? Even if the new system cannot be established, this Zhou Kingdom belongs to you, all is yours—why insist so stubbornly on the new system?"

"My words, and those I speak daily in the Blessing Hall—you seem to have misunderstood." Bu Jingxian was both sorrowful and angry but forced himself to hold it back.

"Husband, why say such things?" Bai Yue asked, anxious to calm him.

"Everything I do is not for glory, wealth, or power. It is to realize the Will of the Soul, to build a kingdom grounded on it, to unify the world under the Will of the Soul! Now that the Soul-Willed Kingdom is a mere illusion, what meaning do I have as Northern Lord? What meaning is there in ruling the Zhou Kingdom!"

Bai Yue bit her lip and remained silent. After a long while, she exhaled deeply.

"Husband, the Soul-Willed Kingdom is impossible to succeed. No one in the Sunset Sect supports it! Neither do the officials of the Zhou dynasty! If you insist on establishing it, you must reduce the emperor to a known puppet and strip all rights from the Sunset Sect’s many meritorious officials who have followed you for years. There will be chaos, and great damage to our vitality!"

"The emperor, under the roof, must bow his head. I have long resolved to control all Zhou officials. The emperor is no fool; he will not fight me to the death but must accept. The Sunset Sect listens to you. Even if unwilling, when you speak, they will choose to accept." Bu Jingxian gazed quietly at Bai Yue, asking each word clearly: "Why?"

"They will not accept, and I cannot accept either!" Bai Yue slumped down, wiping tears of grievance from her eyes. "Husband, I hate the Undying Soul the most. I despise it. My sect father died because of the Undying Soul. It was hard enough for the Sunset Sect to accept you, how could we accept a kingdom of the Undying Soul?"

"Then why didn’t you say so before!" Bu Jingxian finally believed what Bai Ling had said, his anger uncontrollable. If he had known this earlier, things would never have come to this.

"Because you are one of the Undying Soul! How could I say it? If I had spoken earlier, would you have stood with me? No. I know those of the Undying Soul regard others as demons, seeing themselves as superior, as if all others are drunk while they are sober, always chasing foolish dreams. My father died because of the Undying Soul. The Chen Kingdom once almost suffered great disaster because of them. Because of you, I kept telling myself, and the Sunset Sect, not to doubt you despite our hatred for the Undying Soul. I told myself you were different, not a madman. I wanted to change my view of the Undying Soul, but their ideology is just foolish fantasy! I cannot deceive myself into believing it, nor can Bai Xing, nor anyone in the Sunset Sect!"