Chapter Forty-Seven: The Serpent Woman

After leaving the manor, Silver Yao and Li Suo rested for a while in the forest before hurrying together toward Brocade City.

The place was teeming with people; the calls of the merchants drowned out everything else. Silver Yao and Li Suo found a quiet spot, ordered a pot of fine tea, and sat facing each other, slowly savoring their drinks. Glancing at the bustling world outside, Silver Yao frowned with a hint of annoyance—she disliked such noisy scenes. Li Suo, on the other hand, was in high spirits.

“Yao’er, the outside world is really lively…” Li Suo chattered incessantly by Silver Yao’s ear.

Silver Yao’s lips twitched; she raised her hand to silence Li Suo’s endless talking. “Li Suo, have someone spread the word: on the day of the grand martial gathering one month from now, the Serpent Woman Silver Yao will appear!”

Forced to stop, Li Suo looked at her with a touch of grievance, but as soon as Silver Yao finished speaking, his demeanor changed entirely. “Alright, what are you planning?”

Witnessing Li Suo’s somewhat schizophrenic behavior, Silver Yao truly found it strange. Someday, she thought, she would have to thoroughly understand this person.

Silver Yao toyed with her teacup, offering no answer to Li Suo’s question.

Li Suo glanced at her helplessly—hadn’t he treated her well enough these past three years? Yet Silver Yao never wished to confide in him, always keeping her secrets, which was truly disheartening.

“Very well, since you won’t say, I won’t ask. I’ll simply obey.” In the end, Li Suo gave in, asking no more.

Within just one day, news that the Serpent Woman Silver Yao was about to reemerge in the martial world had spread throughout Brocade City, and in another two days, it would reach all corners of the martial world. Silver Yao cast Li Suo an approving glance—he had done well. Li Suo, like a child being praised, grinned from ear to ear, cheerful all day long.

The elders of the various sects whom Silver Yao had once saved with her own life were now gathered together, discussing the source of the rumor and analyzing its truth. In the martial world, gratitude and loyalty were of utmost importance; if Silver Yao were truly still alive, then they were obliged to repay her life-saving grace and help her achieve her goals…

Gu Xinyu, Mu Ye, and Ai Shuo were all shaken upon hearing the news. Almost at once, they dispatched the most capable intelligence agents from the Lingyu Pavilion to verify it. They had witnessed with their own eyes the barrier Silver Yao built with her life shatter—how could they easily believe she still lived? Was this some sort of resurrection? What’s more, if Silver Yao truly lived, what would Su Yi do?

Yet after three days, those they’d sent out could not confirm the authenticity of the news. If even the mighty Lingyu Pavilion couldn’t obtain information, then there was only one thing left to do: wait. Wait for the grand gathering and see if Silver Yao would truly appear.

As the leader of the martial alliance, Chu Su Yi had little personal reaction to such news, yet he hadn’t expected it to cause such an uproar among the martial world. This piqued his curiosity about the Serpent Woman Silver Yao, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, the mere mention of the name “Silver Yao” filled his heart with a gentle warmth that reached his very core.

Time flowed like water. A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Chu Su Yi organized the upcoming grand gathering with the highest ceremony, intent on using the occasion to root out the court’s lackeys from the martial world once and for all. Three years—three whole years of uneasy peace without openly declaring war against the exalted Emperor! Three years—was it not time to act?

While Chu Su Yi prepared to make his move, his brothers were on edge, as if sitting on pins and needles, plagued with worry all day. They could not decide whether to anticipate or ignore the news. For a whole month, they never stopped seeking information, but who among those sent out ever returned with results?

Many of them suspected someone was impersonating Silver Yao, perhaps even that it was one of Ji Muyu’s schemes. Yet, at the same time, they believed Ji Muyu incapable of both spreading the news in a day and sealing all information within three days, leaving not a single leak. The execution was too perfect, too swift, too seamless to be likely. Perhaps, they hoped, Silver Yao was blessed by fortune, truly alive, returning with the power she had cultivated in secret for three years.

This very rumor deeply shocked the one known as Nameless, whose true identity was Yin Su. How could Nameless not know of Silver Yao’s fate? At the news she survived, a trace of hope stirred in her heart, though she could not understand why. The two of them should have been mortal enemies—how strange, she mused in confusion.

Ji Muyu too was not slow to hear. Intrigued by the tale of Silver Yao’s “resurrection,” he ordered Yin Su to observe in secret and report any developments at once—he was eager to see what kind of trick Silver Yao was playing.

Once every three years, the grand martial gathering—an epochal event in the martial world.

The Chu family mansion was filled with noise and excitement; heroes and warriors from every corner gathered beneath its roof. Cups were raised, laughter and bold voices rang out, echoing to the heavens.

In stark contrast, the elders of the various sects were tense and anxious, craning their necks toward the entrance, awaiting the arrival of the person they so longed to see.

At the main gate, two stone lions stood sentry. Silver Yao, wearing a scarlet dress and a red mask, stepped down from her carriage. Li Suo, fanning himself with nonchalance, followed leisurely behind, attracting many a young maiden’s gaze—who could blame them, with a face as striking as his?

The gatekeeper saw only a woman in a vivid red dress and mask approaching, her mask adorned with a lifelike python that sent chills down his spine with a glance. The gathering was about to begin, yet she arrived only now—who could she be? Moreover, for a woman to wear such a mask, she must be an odd one indeed.

“Please present your invitation,” the gatekeeper asked dutifully.

With cool indifference, Silver Yao replied, “Serpent Woman Silver Yao. No invitation.”

An invisible pressure bore down on the gatekeeper. He summoned his inner strength to resist, and in that moment, recalled the sensational rumor—Serpent Woman Silver Yao returned to the martial world! Forcing himself to endure, he bowed respectfully to her. “Forgive my poor eyesight, Serpent Woman. This way, please.”

With a cold glance, Silver Yao swept her gaze over him, looked into the inner hall, nodded slightly, and walked straight in. Li Suo naturally followed, strolling into the grand hall with a flourish.

The gatekeeper’s legs trembled slightly. Seeing that the man was in Silver Yao’s company, he dared not impede them, though he found the fellow utterly unfamiliar—where had he come from, and why had no one heard of him?

“Serpent Woman Silver Yao has arrived!”

As Silver Yao entered the hall, all eyes turned to her. The elders restrained their urge to rush forward and question her, waiting instead to see what she would do. Suspicion and curiosity filled every gaze as they studied the woman claiming to be the Serpent Woman.

Unruffled, Silver Yao walked slowly along the path that parted before her, stopping at the center so all could see her clearly. Li Suo, knowing his place, withdrew to the side, sat at a wine table, crossed his legs, and waited for Yao’er to begin her grand performance.