Chapter 320

In a courtyard surrounded on all sides by white stone pillars and flowering plants, six flat carts stood quietly.

An elder in a God Priest robe casually lifted the beast-hide covering from one of the carts, opened a wooden box, and picked up the staff inside.

The staff felt smooth and lustrous in his hand, its top inlaid with three-colored gems that refracted dazzling halos as he moved.

Behind the elder stood two young men. One was Bao Xi, the other bore three parts resemblance to him, though with softer features.

Unlike Bao Xi’s simple beast-hide attire, this man wore a light brown hemp robe, with a feather crown on his head from which a feather tassel hung. His pair of peach-blossom eyes made him especially striking.

The feather-crowned youth stepped forward, picked up the wooden box lid, and sniffed lightly: “Zi wood. A common northern timber—but this carving craft is anything but ordinary.”

“Correct.” The elder leaned the staff on the ground, his tone carrying approval that the feather-crowned youth could identify the wood.

The youth raised his brows and said: “It’s all thanks to Grandfather’s foresight. From the last trade goods out of Qing Chi City, you deduced that this time the goods carried must be even more precious. That’s why Xi was sent to intercept them early—otherwise, these things would’ve fallen into the hands of other clans.”

The elder chuckled softly and asked: “And how did the Qing Chi man explain the origin of these things?”

Bao Xi lowered his head slightly, answering in a deep voice: “He said they were traded from a city called Hei Yao City.”

“Hei Yao City.”

The elder repeated the name, then turned toward a middle-aged beast man waiting respectfully at the side: “Among the vassal cities, is there such a city?”

The middle-aged beast man was named Bao Zao, the elder’s personal Divine Envoy. He stepped forward and said: “Replying to Shen Si, I’ve never heard of this city.”

Yong Shen Si walked a few steps forward. The feather-crowned youth immediately supported him, guiding him to sit upon a tree-carved chair in the corridor: “All cities on the beast continent are creations of the temples. If you have not heard of it, could such a city appear out of nowhere?”

Bao Xi hesitated, then relayed: “Luo Shu of Qing Chi described its appearance. He said that standing at the foot of its walls, one could not see the sky when looking up. The wall was so broad that merely walking through the gate into the city took more than thirty steps. Inside, streets were paved in stone, rivers crisscrossed, houses beyond count. As for goods and food, he saw things he had never encountered elsewhere on the continent.”

The courtyard fell silent.

Such a city surpassed even the temple’s capabilities.

If not for the goods Luo Shu had brought, they would have thought him insane. But the evidence was before their eyes.

The staffs, pottery, fine fabrics—and most importantly, the carts and rattan baskets able to carry so much—proved Luo Shu’s words were likely not lies.

Perhaps this city had indeed risen without the temple’s power.

The feather-crowned youth said: “A city like that would take at least a century to build.”

Bao Zao said: “Lord Tan speaks true. If it lies in the far northland rarely trod by beast men—that could explain why it remained undiscovered.”

Yong Shen Si lowered his lids: “Bring that Luo Shu here for questioning.”

“Yes.”

Luo Shu entered with a foolish smile, greeting the four warmly as though unconcerned that Bao Xi had dragged him forcibly to the Beast God’s City. He seemed less a prisoner than a guest.

Bao Zao signaled servants to bring him a stool, and spoke with a measured tone: “You mentioned Hei Yao City. Shen Si is interested. Tell us everything you know—clearly and in detail.”

“Being able to meet Shen Si is my honor. I would never conceal anything.”

The interrogation went so smoothly that Bao Tan and Bao Zao were surprised. None of their prepared techniques were needed.

Luo Shu was highly cooperative, answering every question earnestly, even elaborating where they hadn’t asked.

Until, at last, he described Hei Yao City’s location in detail.

Bao Tan rubbed his temple, then said cautiously: “Don’t worry. What you’ve said today—we won’t let it be known you were the source.”

“It’s fine even if you do,” Luo Shu said guilelessly. “After all, Song Wu and Mang Huang already know Hei Yao’s location. I don’t think Hei Yao intends to hide it. Besides,” he scratched his head shyly, “I only stayed in the city’s outer area. Large parts of the interior—I’ve no idea what they’re used for.”

“Song Wu?”

For the first time, Yong Shen Si spoke.

The fall of Wan Gu City to the Chi Hu tribe had already reached the Central Temple.

The two Shen Si of the Red Jackals had stormed repeatedly to the Great Shen Si, demanding Chi Hu surrender the city.

But the usually low-key Fu Shen Si of the Chi Hu stood firm. At the appointment ceremony for a new Divine Envoy, he announced Wan Gu’s crimes against the Temple’s priests and attendants, declaring that Chi Hu had not coveted the city, but had purged sinners for the Temple.

At that, the Red Jackals’ two Shen Si could say nothing.

For to kill a Shen Si or Divine Envoy was the one untouchable law of the Central Temple. Wan Gu had broken it. All eyes fell upon the Red Jackals.

Before, some of the eleven Shen Si had still hesitated. After Fu Shen Si spoke, they united.

The Red Jackals’ two Shen Si felt wrongly accused—they had not known of Wan Gu’s secret crimes, nor had even Cang Shen Si. But no one would believe them now.

In the end, it was the Great Shen Si who acknowledged Song Wu City’s legitimacy, closing the matter.

Yet Yong Shen Si had not expected that this too might be tied to Hei Yao City.

Luo Shu sat upright—the first time Yong Shen Si had spoken. He answered: “Yes. When Chi Hu attacked Wan Gu, I was there. Hei Yao also joined the battle. I followed Song Wu and Mang Huang’s forces into Hei Yao.”

“Come to think of it, when I went there, another army was attacking Hei Yao… ah!” He clutched his chest suddenly.

Bao Zao frowned: “What did you see? Speak plainly.”

Luo Shu blinked: “That army—it must have been led by Cang Shen Si. He must have gone to take revenge on Hei Yao.”

“Did Cang Shen Si take the city? No… you brought back goods from Hei Yao. So Hei Yao won?”

Luo Shu nodded: “Yes, Hei Yao won.”

The men exchanged looks. Bao Tan’s voice dropped: “They lost… what of Cang Shen Si?”

“I dared not go near their battlefield. I only watched from afar,” Luo Shu shook his head. “Later, a group left Hei Yao—perhaps Cang Shen Si was among them.”

Their expressions grew strange, each lost in thought. Luo Shu sat innocently, as though unaware of the shocking news he’d just delivered.

At that moment, a servant rushed in: “Lord Shen Si, Divine Envoy Man requests audience.”

Yong Shen Si paused. Man Shen Shi had once been the Great Shen Si’s personal envoy, but now rarely went abroad. Why come now?

Yong Shen Si glanced at Luo Shu, then nodded: “Let him in.”

Man Shen Shi entered not alone, but with a middle-aged man and woman. The man, a tall horned beast man, the woman, a graceful sub-beast man—both bore presence equal to anyone present.

At their sight, Luo Shu ducked his head low, wishing he could bury it in the ground.

Yong Shen Si rose, smiling as he exchanged greetings. Man, Shen Shi introduced: “This is Luo Fu, City Lord of Qing chi, and Lady Xia.”

The horned beast man Luo Fu laughed: “Lord Shen Si, my cub is the hardest to control—always causing trouble. Fortunately my wife and I were visiting Beast God’s City to see Man Shen Shi, or I’d never have known he’d offended you.”

“So, we came at once to apologize. It’s my fault for not teaching him the rules here.”

Man Shen Shi chuckled, pointing at Luo Fu: “Don’t believe him. He’s no ‘rough man.’ Back when there were many young envoys in the Central Temple, why did Xia choose him? Even now, some horned beast men still envy him.”

Lady Xia’s eyes curved gently: “Shen Shi jests. Lord Shen Si, don’t take it seriously.”

Man Shen Shi turned to Yong Shen Si: “Ah, I almost forgot. When you joined the Central Temple, Xia had already gone to a lower city. You two never met.”

Yong Shen Si suddenly recalled.

Xia—yes, the youngest disciple of the former Great Shen Si. She had chosen to pair with a lower city’s lord, which explained why she moved freely here.

And why Luo Shu dared trade in Qi City. The other two Shen Si there were also disciples of the former Great Shen Si.

From Qi City to Beast God’s City was twenty days’ travel. Luo Shu had been brought here just yesterday—yet his parents had already arrived. Coincidence? Yong Shen Si did not believe it.

Lady Xia, unflustered, asked softly: “Lord Shen Si, may we know what fault our cub committed? We are truly concerned.”

Yong Shen Si answered kindly, almost like small talk: “No fault at all. Bao Xi simply saw that Shu had novel goods, and wished to purchase them for me to view. But some items he did not understand, so he asked Shu to come explain. Miscommunication, nothing more—you misunderstood.”

Luo Fu laughed loudly: “Ah, a misunderstanding! Good, good. Shu, if you gain such curiosities, you should indeed bring them straight to Shen Si to examine…”

At that, Luo Shu—already cowed since seeing his parents—couldn’t stay still. He blurted: “Father is right. All these goods should be presented to Lord Shen Si. I’ll bring people to unload the carts immediately.”

He couldn’t let his father dictate leaving everything behind. He could part with other goods, but not his carts.

Man Shen Shi asked curiously: “Carts?”

“Carts carry the goods,” Luo Shu hurried to explain, patting one. “They haul cargo—they’re not for sale.”

Bao Tan’s eyelid twitched. Leave everything trivial, but insist the most valuable thing wasn’t for sale? Had this beast man been playing dumb all along?

But Yong Shen Si’s expression betrayed nothing. Carts were indeed remarkable, but not worth losing face in front of Man Shen Shi. If he wanted them, there were ways.

“Buying is buying. How can we take your things for free? Xi, this afternoon deliver goods in exchange.”