Chapter 635: Chapter 634: The Substitution Plan and the Great Prisoner Swap
"Speak!" These two words were said with extreme caution by Saintess Qian Ling.
"There’s good news, the Spirit Clan still exists!"
Saintess Qian Ling exhaled lightly.
"But there’s also bad news!" Lin Xiaosu said, "There is a plan against the Spirit Clan, which has been underway for a millennium, and the Spirit Clan has been completely transformed!"
Saintess Qian Ling’s heart pounded, "What plan?"
"The Replacement Plan!" Lin Xiaosu said, "This is an extremely vicious plan, and incredibly secretive..."
The Replacement Plan, as the name suggests, is about replacing a race!
How to replace?
By a malicious method, making sure all children born to the Spirit Clan over this millennium are implanted with demon cores, meaning this generation of children are all spirit-skinned but demon-hearted.
This way, the new generation of the Spirit Clan is essentially the Demon Clan!
Saintess Qian Ling was shocked: "Who implemented such a sinister plan?"
Lin Xiaosu sighed, "I discovered this plan in the top-secret archives of the Heart Pavilion. Who do you think planned it?"
"The Heart Pavilion!" A sharp light shone in the eyes of Saintess Qian Ling.
"Don’t overestimate the Heart Pavilion! It’s just a gate of the Mental Path."
"Yes, a small pavilion is not enough to extend its reach to the Spirit Ruins!" Saintess Qian Ling said, "Is it the Mental Path or unorthodox methods?"
"Unorthodox methods planned it, and the Demon Sect cooperated!"
Unorthodox methods!
One of the Six Paths, a gigantic entity!
The Demon Sect, one of the Nine Gates, is also a gigantic entity.
Saintess Qian Ling said, "How did they do it? Are there detailed records?"
"The records are not clear, I can only tell you one crucial point: Spiritual Spring!"
"Spiritual Spring? Holy Spring?" Saintess Qian Ling took a deep breath, "They actually dared to target the Holy Spring... However, however, it’s quite inconceivable, the Holy Spring has a spring spirit, any foreign object entering the Holy Spring would be erased, especially the demonic energy, which is utterly opposite to Spiritual Energy in nature; the Holy Spring is extremely sensitive to demonic energy, how did they use the Spiritual Spring to implant demon seeds in the Spirit Clan?"
"I believe in the Holy Spring’s spirituality, but you must also believe that there are many bizarre harmful methods in the world, each defying logic, revealing the truth in impossibilities, which is precisely the unorthodox methods’ forte."
"Little Su, I must return to the Spirit Clan!" Saintess Qian Ling said slowly.
"I told you this news precisely to urge your return to the clan!" Lin Xiaosu said.
"But... what about you?" Saintess Qian Ling said, "From now on, you’ll truly become a lonely stranger in a dark, sunless Otherworld. Hurt, you’ll lick your wounds alone, cry, and no one will see your tears..."
Her voice was filled with strong sadness.
Lin Xiaosu smiled lightly, "Then I’ll try not to hurt, not to cry."
Saintess Qian Ling gently turned her body, sending herself into his embrace.
Her hands clasped together, holding tightly.
Lin Xiaosu also gently embraced her waist.
For a long, long time...
"The tune ’Yesterday’s Fragrance’ you played in Qingqiu, I once listened to it on repeat for a whole day and night, I always found it ironic," Saintess Qian Ling said softly.
"Ironic? You could sense irony?"
"Yes, two lonely souls endlessly circling on the Reincarnation Road, I can smell your floral scent from yesterday on the Naihe Bridge. So it goes, round and round, and I naively thought at the time, aren’t these two people foolish? Knowing they are going in circles, knowing they’ll never catch up with the figure ahead, why don’t they stop? If one stopped, and the second person collided with them from behind, wouldn’t they meet?"
"Yes, speaking from a circle theory, endlessly rushing on a circular track, hoping to catch up with each other seems foolish, but if they stopped, they wouldn’t be themselves anymore."
"So the chase is not about the figure, but about a steadfastness of the heart."
"Now you understand?"
"When a person is beyond the mortal realm, all worldly matters are like floating clouds, when one enters the mortal realm, floating clouds also become significant!" Saintess Qian Ling sighed lightly, "I once naively thought I could escape the boundless mortal world, considering worldly matters as floating clouds. But today I realized, I also have concerns in my heart, I’m worried about my clan members who may already have no relatives, even across thousands of miles, I must depart today, and you? Of course, you too will travel thousands of miles, tirelessly, without regret, for your loved ones and clan!"
"Qian Ling, that day by Tashan Lake, you promised to stay by my side!" Lin Xiaosu said, "Today you embark on a journey, I also have something to send you off with!"
"Having weathered the snow together in this life, does that count as growing old together? Is it this phrase?"
"Not that showy today, I’ll tell you something quite plain!" Lin Xiaosu said, "When my side of the game concludes, I’ll come to your place and accompany you for a while!"
Saintess Qian Ling lightly hooked her hand around his neck, her lips softly shifting, full and rich, intimately connecting with Lin Xiaosu’s lips.
Lin Xiaosu was stunned...
What was that?
Western etiquette?
Western etiquette includes a habit of face-touching, but that’s the face, not the lips!
And certainly not pushing open the lips with a tongue, then entwining...
For a long time, they separated!
Saintess Qian Ling smiled gently, "Sometimes in this world, a reason is needed. From your perspective, I can’t find a reason I must go see you, so I give you one... As long as you come, I’ll prepare a meal for you and serve you."
Her hand loosened gently, and she left the bedroom.
Then, she exited the Heart Pavilion.
Without looking back.
Lin Xiaosu stood by the window, watching her leave.
Her scent still lingered on his lips.
According to the story’s progression, they hadn’t reached this point yet.
But, man proposes, God disposes; Saintess Qian Ling must go because new demon seeds are born every day, every day the foundation of the Spirit Clan is being destroyed.
She cannot watch as the Ancient Great Clan left by the ancestors is swallowed by the Demon Clan, she cannot watch as the most hated Demon Clan gradually replaces the new generation in the clan.
She must go back!
As fast as possible!
Upon her return, she faces a battle for the survival of the Spirit Clan.
And Lin Xiaosu will also face the clouds and winds of the Otherworld alone.
The two people who promised to "stay with each other" are destined not to be able to accompany each other.
Then give each other a reason, hoping to meet again in the vast sea of people...
This kiss is the reason!
The past night has not only witnessed this significant event.
Another significant event occurred in the Heavenly Prison!
Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Song Lifu, was inspecting the Heavenly Prison.
The Ministry of Justice is the direct supervisor of the Heavenly Prison. With the superior coming for inspection, Prison Director, Sun Chong, naturally became enthusiastic and attentive, accompanying him everywhere until reaching the separate detention area of Xuelong.
Song Lifu gently sighed: "All of you step back, I want to see Xuelong!"
"Yes!" Prison Director Sun Chong and other officials stayed outside.
Song Lifu and his Guard Commander went to the detention area of Xuelong.
This Guard Commander was dressed in the standard attire of the Great Wilderness Country’s Guard Commander, wearing battle clothes and a half-face mask, covering the majority of his face.
About two hours later, Song Lifu came out of the Heavenly Prison, walking under the dim light: "Everything is normal after my inspection! Fellow colleagues, thank you for your hard work!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Master!" Sun Chong and his colleagues bowed simultaneously.
"I will return to the mansion!"
"Farewell, Master!"
Song Lifu left with the Guard Commander.
Sun Chong watched the leaving steps of the Guard Commander, and a mysterious smile slowly appeared on his face.
This Guard Commander, when leaving the Heavenly Prison, walked in the shadows the whole time and never showed his front side to them.
As he departed, his left leg seemed to have an old injury.
Heh heh...
He winked towards the darkness, the sound of wind moved within it, merging into the night.
He himself turned around and strode towards the Heavenly Prison.
Arriving at the separate detention room of Xuelong, he stared at the person curled up on the pile of grass inside and ordered in a deep voice: "Go in and check!"
A jailer opened Xuelong’s detention room, stretched out his hand, and grabbed Xuelong lying on the grass.
Xuelong remained silent, eyes tightly shut, but his expression clearly showed panic.
His chin faintly had traces of blood.
His beard was messy, with several strands revealing flaws.
"Pull off his beard!" Sun Chong’s sharp eyes were extremely discerning.
The jailer reached out, grabbed his beard, and without much effort, the beard was pulled down.
Everyone was shocked simultaneously: "Prisoner switch!"
"How dare Master Song do such a thing?"
"This is a major problem, Master Sun, we must report to Your Majesty immediately!"
"Indeed! How can a dignified official of the court dare to switch prisoners, where is national law?" Left Prison Director shouted: "Master, we must pursue Xuelong immediately, lest this scoundrel truly escapes."
Sun Chong’s face revealed a sinister smile: "No hurry! Let’s see which mansion Master Song will send him to!"
With a flick of his sleeve, he strode out of the Heavenly Prison.
Half an hour later, a person emerged from the darkness, bent over and whispered a sentence in Sun Chong’s ear, and Sun Chong’s eyes lit up brightly: "Great news, notify Crown Prince!"
The night deepened.
Your Majesty rose from the dragon bed.
This was his habit.
He felt fuzzy during the day and clear at night, this day-night inversion ailment...
Just after waking up, the Chief Eunuch urgently reported: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Chen Zhengdao, and Left Grand Master, Lord Zhou request an audience!"
"Granted!" Your Majesty said.
The two officials entered, knelt down, Lord Zhou He reported: "Your Majesty, an extremely serious incident happened in the Heavenly Prison today, as a humble minister, I dare not delay for a moment, even at night, I deeply worry about alarming Your Majesty, I deserve death for such a crime!"
"What is the matter, my dear minister? Speak freely."
"Yes!" Zhou He continued: "Your Majesty, just three quarters of an hour ago, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Master Song, inspected the Heavenly Prison and used his Guard Commander to switch Xuelong, executing a prisoner switch!"
Your Majesty’s face suddenly sank: "Prisoner switch?"
"Indeed!"
Your Majesty slowly inquired: "Where is Xuelong currently?"
"Song Lifu personally escorted him into Prince Dingbei Mansion!"
Prince Dingbei Mansion!
Sure enough, it’s this rebellious son!
Do you really think the dynasty’s laws are child’s play? Are you really unwilling to let go of that utterly ridiculous military camaraderie?
Your Majesty’s fury surged: "Huo Gang!"
"Yes!" Behind him, a robust man stepped forward, this is Commander of the Forbidden Army, Huo Gang, possessing the Innate Divine Demon Body, with such majestic demeanor capable of ruling a nation.
"Deploy the Forbidden Army, surround Prince Dingbei Mansion, not even a fly is allowed to get out! Bring Seventh Prince Hong Yun, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Song Lifu to the Heavenly Prison, I want to personally inspect and personally judge!"
"As ordered!" Huo Gang turned and left the hall.
Prime Minister Chen Zhengdao and Left Grand Master Zhou He’s hearts raced.
Your Majesty is actually personally leaving the palace, it seems that this matter has truly touched Your Majesty’s reverse scale.
Very well, very good!
Minister of the Ministry of Justice Song Lifu, you stubborn old man, let’s see how you escape tonight!