Gate of God

Ping Yang wanted to say something else. However, after she saw the serious look on Fang Zhengzhi’s face, she kept quiet and bit her lips.

Silence. The sun had set. The first star started to shine.

Time passed slowly.

Slowly, the moonlight shone from the corner of the sky, casting a silver glow over the two of them. From the ground, two long shadows could be seen.

Fang Zhengzhi did not interrupt Ping Yang but she did not say anything too. The two of them leaned against each other and stared into the stars in the skies and the moon.

After the rain, the grass was slightly moist. Puddles could be seen on the ground, but the fragrance of the flowers was more intoxicating. Mixed with the soil, a highly natural smell could not smelt.

After a long time, Fang Zhengzhi slowly closed his eyes. He hugged Ping Yang and leaned against a rock as he enjoyed this quiet night and intoxicating fragrance.

Ping Yang’s eyes slowly closed too. Her fast breathing became slower and from her mouth, one could smell a lavender-like fragrance.

The two of them lay there under the moon and the stars. Next to the cold pond, next to the wet grass, they lay there quietly.

The night did not pass too quickly but it did not pass slowly too.

Without any fanfare or fight, both Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang had looks of content on their faces.

As the moon slowly descended and the stars faded, a golden light shone from the sky, illuminating the dark sky. The sky started to turn reddish-gold.

“Ping Yang, the ice spirit…. Eh? Who are you? How dare you enter the Ling Yun Tower!” A voice rang out from across the cold pond.

It destroyed the silence of the night.

One could hear that this was the sound of a woman. Furthermore, it sounded shocked. After all, she could not believe what she had seen.

Ping Yang was actually lying next to an outsider, who happened to be a male. Since Ping Yang entered the Ling Yun Tower, something like this had never happened before.

However, she definitely saw a man. Furthermore, this man was lying next to Ping Yang next to the cold pond. They seemed to be asleep!

“Eh, it’s dawn,” said Fang Zhengzhi as he slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the morning sun in the sky and acted as if he did not hear the voice from across the cold pond.

“Mmm…” Ping Yang continued to lie next to Fang Zhengzhi. She did not get up immediately but instead, she slowly opened her clear eyes and her lips moved.

“The weather today is nice,” Fang Zhengzhi continued.

“Right,” mumbled Ping Yang with a nod.

“How dare you! Can you not hear what I’m saying? Ping Yang, you are but a slave. How dare you bring an outsider into the Ling Yun Tower. Do you know what crime have you committed?” The woman’s voice rang out once more.

“So noisy. Shall we find a different spot?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang, who lay in his chest. He did not even look at the woman across the cold pond.

“Where shall we go?” Ping Yang asked.

“To answer for our crimes. Did you not hear what she said? You are a slave and I’m an outsider you brought in here. According to the rules of the Ling Yun Tower, there’s nowhere we can run,” said Fang Zhengzhi in a matter-of-fact way.

“We can’t run?” When Ping Yang heard that, she was shocked. Then, she burst out laughing happily. “Hahaha… we can’t run. We can’t run.”

When the woman in the green dress saw this scene from across the cold pond, she was incredulous and suspicious. However, she quickly became vigilant and placed her hand on her sword. After all, she had never seen people who were about to answer for their crimes being so happy.

“Thanks,” said Ping Yang with a smile. For some reason, she became full of life as she stared at Fang Zhengzhi. In her eyes, there was a firm determination.

“Thank me? Why are you thanking me? I’m someone who has violated the rules of the Ling Yun Tower. If anything happens, I can only save myself,” said Fang Zhengzhi as he shook his head in a relaxed fashion.

“I know,” said Ping Yang with a nod.

“Let’s go then,” said Fang Zhengzhi as he slowly stood up. Then, he stretched and wiggled his but while washing his face with the water from the cold pond.

He naturally knew what Ping Yang was worried about. At the same time, he knew what she was anticipating. He understood the conflicts in her heart.

Hence, he did not choose to continue reassuring her after she said that. All he did was to continue waiting.

When the sun rose, when the people from the Ling Yun Tower discovered them, all they could do was to wait to be charged with their crimes. Everything else would progress normally like this.

Like the ancient proverb, “The Great Dao is simple. Let nature take its course.”

“As a powerful Sage, I have to warn you that while I’m just a slave now, I’m still very powerful!” After Ping Yang saw Fang Zhengzhi do all those, she smiled and her expression was a lot more relaxed than before.

“So, should I hide behind you?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.

“Of course,” said Ping Yang confidently.

“Hurhur… you must protect me, princess!” Fang Zhengzhi chuckled as he walked toward the woman across the cold pond.

The woman was completely stunned at this point.

It was not because she had been completely ignored by Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang. Instead, it was because she had noticed that Ping Yang now wore a brand new red dress. More importantly, the Thousand Years Cold Steel manacles around her feet were actually…

Broken!

Broken?!

The woman’s face was pale. When she saw Fang Zhengzhi, she was too shocked to notice the changes on Ping Yang’s body until the two of them stood up.

That was not all…

How could she allow Fang Zhengzhi to wash his face with the water from the cold pond?

“You…” The woman looked at Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang, who were walking toward her side-by-side, and she took two steps back. Then, she drew her sword.

“Are you going to execute us here? I don’t think the Ling Yun Tower works like this, right? We should have rules. If I come with you, you must bring us inside the tower and give us a chance to explain ourselves, alright?” Fang Zhengzhi said as he looked at the woman, who was evidently panicking.

“Stop! How… how did you break open the Thousand Years Cold Steel… manacle?” The woman pointed her sword at Fang Zhengzhi’s throat and her face was pale.

“Manacle? Oh, I understand. Do you want to tie us up? No problem. Since we have broken the rules of the Ling Yun Tower, come and tie us up!” Fang Zhengzhi looked shocked as he extended his hands.

The woman dodged with a look of panic on her face. Faced with a ‘criminal’ like Fang Zhengzhi, she did not know what to do.

“Not going to tie me up?” Fang Zhengzhi asked suspiciously as he stood where he was.

“I will!” The woman paused for a while as she collected her thoughts. After a while, she gritted her teeth and took a long white chain out.

After all, her position in the Ling Yun Tower was not high. She was not as powerful as Ping Yang and hence, tying Fang Zhengzhi up would benefit her.

Most importantly, once she tied Fang Zhengzhi up with her own strength, she could signal the other disciples. This would be to her credit.

Then…

There was no ‘then’!

The moment the girl walked next to Fang Zhengzhi and planned to tie Fang Zhengzhi up with her silvery-white chains, she heard a ‘dong’ next to her ears.

Then, the girl’s eyes rolled. She could not believe what had happened because Fang Zhengzhi moved too quickly.

There was no chance for her to resist him at all!

However, the result was certain. She swayed for a bit before everything went black in front of her. Then, she collapsed onto the ground.

“It turns out that the disciples of the Ling Yun Tower are as gullible as those from the other four sects,” said Fang Zhengzhi as he waved his hands. He quickly retracted his black stick and, at the same time, looked at the wide-eyed Ping Yang and smiled.

“Why did you knock her out?” Ping Yang did not understand.

“Are you saying that I shouldn’t? Hahaha… do you actually think I’ll let her tie me up? I care about my image,” said Fang Zhengzhi with a smile.

“…” Ping Yang’s lips wanted to move but she could not react to what had happened. This was because she really believed him. However, quickly, she started to laugh too. Her laughter was radiant and pure as if she had returned to the Flame Capital City. “Hehe, you’re even more shameless than before!”

“Thanks for your compliments!” Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth twitched as he gladly accepted her compliment. Then, he looked at the Ling Yun Tower and said, “Sneaking into the Ling Yun Tower, spending a night with a slave, and then knocking a disciple out. Ai… I think it’s the death penalty for me.”

“I won’t ask for mercy for you,” said Ping Yang with a smile.

“You won’t ask for mercy for me? How cruel and fickle is your heart! It seems that I’m doomed for this voyage to the Ling Yun Tower,” said Fang Zhengzhi pitifully.

“Of course!”

“Then, may I ask Your Highness if you’re willing to go and die with me?”

“I’m… willing!”

“…”

Ling Yun Tower. In a little hill surrounded by hundreds of flowers, a small stone path could be seen, which led straight into the tower.

Before the Ling Yun Tower, in a space which was neither big nor small and fenced with wooden fences, one could see five giant and strange flowers.

Each of these flowers had five petals. Each of the petals was of a different color. They were red, blue, black, gold, and green. Together, they surrounded the center of the flower.

Five disciples of the Ling Yun Tower, who were all wearing jade-green robes, stood in different positions. Each of them guarded a single flower and they were all armed with a sword each.

Standing in front of the five disciples and five flowers, there was one more figure. Unlike the other disciples, this figure wore a greyish-white robe.

From his appearance, he looked like a 30 years old man. However, his face seemed naturally stern.

Right now….

His face was unnaturally worried and his lips were pale. He was finding it difficult to open his eyes and he seemed drained.

The five disciples guarded a flower each and naturally, they saw the man. However, none of them said anything.

They all remained where they were.

As if they had not seen him.

However, the man stood there quietly too without moving. He bit his lips gently and seemed to be waiting for something.

This was a curious and calm scene.

Until…

Two figures appeared on the small stone path. One red and one blue figure slowly walked from afar, step-by-step, on the stone path. They were laughing. This did not feel like the Ling Yun Tower but instead, a garden outside.

“Eh?” The disciples guarding the Ling Yun Tower looked at the two figures and they instantly reached for their swords.

Unlike the usual calm, when these two figures appeared, a sharp light flashed in the eyes of the five Ling Yun Tower disciples here.

Then, when they clearly saw who the figure in red was, their expressions changed. Their expressions turned from severe to shock.

“It’s the slave from the cold pond!” One of the disciples recognized Ping Yang even though she did not know who she was.

However, half a year ago, a slave appeared next to the cold pond. Every day, she would collect ice for the Ling Yun Tower and she had been famous for it.

However, after half a year had passed, everyone gradually forgot about her. Coupled with the fact that their superiors forbade them from talking about it, very few people even knew Ping Yang’s name. Only some of those in charge of gathering the ice knew her name.

Naturally, these were not important.

Most importantly, everyone from the Ling Yun Tower knew that her legs were manacled, and these manacles were made with Thousand Years Cold Steel.

Could the slave be released?

This thought ran through their minds. However, this notion was firmly cast aside.

This was because if she had been released, the one bringing the slave here should be someone from the Ling Yun Tower. It could not be this outsider next to her.

Furthermore, they knew that the disciple who had left to collect the ice had already left the building. This meant that Ping Yang had not been released.