Chapter 5: 005 Western Realm

It wasn't easy to weave a lie to deceive the Emperor, but this Emperor was no easier to serve than the Crown Prince; his eagle-like, piercing eyes felt as though they could see right through a person in a single glance.

Ling Siye had given her a three-day deadline, and the Emperor had also given her a three-day deadline. How was she supposed to deceive the Emperor three days from now? It was a true headache.

Three days—one day had already passed. If she went tonight, she should still make it in time.

Tang Meng bit her lip, turned her horse around, and headed toward the West Gate of the Imperial City.

The night was deep, and the sound of hurried hoofbeats broke the silence before fading into the distance.

"Whoa..."

Tang Meng suddenly came to a halt. She looked back to see the man on horseback, his white robes fluttering like the wind and his dark hair flowing in the breeze. Aside from a trace of worry showing on his gentle, handsome face, he looked remarkably similar to her in her current male disguise.

"Tang Ying!" Tang Meng cried out happily. Now she had someone to accompany her.

"Madam sent me to find you and bring you back," Tang Ying said, riding his horse to her side.

"I have urgent business to see Master. Come with me!" Tang Meng said, her face full of anticipation.

"Why?" Tang Ying was startled.

Tang Meng's Master was quite an eccentric person living in seclusion in the Western Realm, which was no pleasant place.

"The Emperor wants me to arrest the Jade-Faced Wood Fox before sunset the day after tomorrow. If I fail to catch him, he'll execute nine generations of the Tang family!"

If Ling Siye truly exposed the fact that she was cross-dressing as a man, the Tang family might really face extermination.

If her parents found out that Ling Siye had discovered her true identity, she would likely be hidden away in the deep mountains again. Kongshan—she had never been to that place, but from the memories of the original Tang Meng, it was not a good place.

Furthermore, if she left, Tang Ying would have to appear in her stead. Attending court, dealing with the perils of officialdom and the complexities of human relationships—these things were not suitable for Tang Ying; they were far too unsuitable for him. Seeing him force a smile would make her heart ache.

"Execute nine generations?" Tang Ying was confused.

"The Emperor is truly enraged this time. Six lives have been lost in succession, and they were all daughters of noble families!" Tang Meng explained hurriedly.

Tang Ying nodded, then asked doubtfully, "You want to..."

"Mhm, it's not like I have no choice!" Tang Meng stole a glance at Tang Ying. She had weighed this method for a long time before deciding to use it, but she just didn't know how much silver that money-grubbing Master would demand from her this time.

"Then let's go." Tang Ying gave a helpless smile and began to lead the way.

Tang Meng laughed happily and followed closely behind.

Soon, they arrived at the mass grave. Tang Meng gripped Tang Ying's hand tightly in nervousness; despite her audacity, she was very, very afraid of places like this.

At the entrance to the Western Realm was a single tombstone at the highest point.

The Western Realm was located in the western suburbs of the Imperial City, hidden a hundred meters underground. It was an underworld known only to those in the criminal trade. A dark river flowed through its center; no one knew its source, and no one had ever reached its end. Whenever someone went looking for it, they never returned.

Tang Ying tapped the tombstone lightly. After three taps, the tomb door opened, revealing a man wearing a tall white hat with a pale, ashen face. Dressed in white robes and white trousers, with a long, bright red tongue hanging down, he bore the unmistakable image of the White Impermanence.

Tang Meng remained hidden behind Tang Ying, peeking out slightly with a fawning expression.

"Who goes there?" The White Impermanence's voice was unexpectedly pleasant, like shattering jade.

Tang Meng said, "A dead person."

The White Impermanence asked again, "To where are you bound?"

Tang Meng answered, "To the East City."

The White Impermanence said, "Leave the toll."

Tang Meng smiled. "Not a single cent left behind."

The White Impermanence grew angry. "Young master, please leave."

Tang Meng smiled again. "Much obliged."

The White Impermanence shook his head expressionlessly and was about to depart, but he suddenly turned back, startling Tang Meng into hiding behind Tang Ying again.

"Twin brother?" The White Impermanence dropped his fake tongue and asked with a smile.

"Mind your own business," Tang Ying said indifferently.

The White Impermanence glanced at Tang Meng once more, smiled, and then truly vanished.

Tang Meng finally straightened her back and stepped out from behind Tang Ying, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"You knew it was fake, yet you were still afraid?" Tang Ying could never quite understand Tang Meng's exaggerated fear.

"I was scared once when I was little. It's a trauma!" Tang Meng curled her lip and stepped through the tomb door. She remembered that when she had transmigrated, she had landed right at this tomb entrance; seeing the Black and White Impermanences, she had thought she had gone to hell.

"When did the password change again?" Tang Ying followed behind Tang Meng, being extremely vigilant. The Western Realm was a place where all sorts of people mingled, so one had to be cautious. He remembered that when he came here with her last time, the dialogue wasn't like this.

"I didn't know it had changed either. I only found out after asking around yesterday." Tang Meng descended the steps holding a lantern, faintly hearing the sound of water. The further down they went, the clearer the various eerie cries became.

They had reached the Western Realm.

It was a very bustling underground world—disorganized, noisy, filthy, and dilapidated. The water of the dark river was black. Both sides of the river were lined with caves of all sizes, selling all sorts of strange things. People came and went along the riverbank; some were disheveled and in rags, while others were well-dressed and luxurious. Everyone was expressionless; no one paid attention to anyone else, and no one cared about anyone else. Everyone went their own way and did their own business.

Tang Ying gripped Tang Meng's hand and followed her as she wove through the crowd. After walking for a while, the surroundings finally became open.

Ahead, a dilapidated fishing boat was moored by the dark river, looking as if it were stuck to the riverbank; no one had ever seen it move.

On the boat, an old man in tattered clothes sat quietly on the gunwale, holding a fishing rod.

"Master is there!" Tang Meng found him instantly.

Fishing?

Tang Ying looked over, feeling secretly puzzled. The dark river of the Western Realm was black water, highly poisonous—there shouldn't be any living creatures at all!

A note to the readers

Mao wants to say... so moved... seeing so many familiar names...