Phoenix Empress: Rise of the Fallen

The scream pierced the night sky, making Ling Qianxue's heart tighten.

"What happened?" She stood up, looking toward the direction of the sound.

Soon, Xiao Hanye's figure appeared beneath the window again. "Sister Qianxue, it's Young Master Zhang from the north side of the city. I heard he was beaten to death in a gambling house."

Ling Qianxue frowned. The Zhang family was also a minor clan in Tiandu City. Though not comparable to the Wang family, they still had some foundation. Their young master had died just like that?

"What about the killer?"

"I heard it was an outsider cultivator, at least at the Foundation Building Stage." Xiao Hanye clenched his fists. "The Zhang family didn't dare pursue the matter. They could only swallow their grievance."

This was the sorrow of the weak. In this world, without strength, one didn't even have the right to seek justice.

The next morning, Ling Qianxue was awakened by a commotion.

"Duke Ling, time to pay your taxes!" came a rough shout from outside the door.

Ling Qianxue quickly dressed and went downstairs to find several tax collectors standing in the courtyard. Leading them was a fat middle-aged man—Liu Decai, a minor official from the Ministry of Revenue.

"Lord Liu." Ling Tianhua bowed, his face somewhat pale.

"Don't call me 'Lord.' I can't afford Duke's courtesy." Liu Decai spoke mockingly. "This quarter's taxes total fifty taels of silver. Pay up."

"Fifty taels?" Ling Tianhua's face changed dramatically. "Wasn't it only thirty taels last quarter?"

"That was last quarter's rate." Liu Decai sneered. "The Empire is building new cultivation towers recently, so every household must pay more. What, can't the mighty Duke's Manor produce even this small amount?"

Ling Qianxue stepped forward. "Lord Liu, according to the law, nobility tax rates are clearly stipulated and cannot be arbitrarily increased."

"Oh, isn't this the Ling family's young miss?" Liu Decai ogled her lecherously. "So beautiful and fresh, no wonder so many in the city covet her."

Xiao Hanye immediately stepped in front of Ling Qianxue, his eyes full of vigilance.

"The young miss is right, the law does have regulations." Liu Decai changed his tone. "But the law also states that if a family has no cultivators, the tax rate can be appropriately increased. Does your Ling family have any cultivators?"

At these words, Ling Tianhua's face turned even paler.

Indeed, there was such a clause in the law. This was to encourage families to cultivate practitioners—families with cultivators could enjoy tax benefits, while those without had to pay more.

"We will pay the taxes on time," Ling Qianxue said calmly. "Please give us three days to raise the funds."

"Three days?" Liu Decai stroked his chin. "Fine, seeing how sensible Miss Ling is, I'll give you three days. But if you can't pay by then..."

He didn't finish, but the threat was clear.

After the tax collectors left, Ling Tianhua slumped onto a stone bench. "Fifty taels of silver, where can we possibly get that..."

The current Ling Manor's monthly expenses were only about two taels of silver. Fifty taels was simply an astronomical figure.

"Father need not worry, I'll find a way," Ling Qianxue consoled.

"Qianxue..." Ling Tianhua looked at his daughter, his eyes full of guilt. "Perhaps we should sell the manor."

"No!" Ling Qianxue refused flatly. "This is the last foundation of our Ling family. We absolutely cannot sell it."

She knew clearly that once they sold the manor, the Ling family would truly be finished. By then, they wouldn't even have a place to shelter.

"Then what should we do?" Ling Tianhua looked desperate.

Ling Qianxue pondered for a moment. "I remember mother left some jewelry. Perhaps we can pawn it."

"No!" This time it was Ling Tianhua's turn to be agitated. "Those are your mother's dowry for you. How can we pawn them?"

"Father, now is not the time to consider such things," Ling Qianxue said softly. "Let's overcome the current crisis first."

In the end, Ling Tianhua agreed.

Ling Qianxue returned to her room and retrieved an exquisite wooden box from deep in the cabinet. Opening it revealed several pieces of jewelry—a pair of jade earrings, a golden hairpin, and a necklace.

These were all left by her mother, exquisitely crafted and clearly not ordinary items.

She picked up the necklace, which was set with a ruby that sparkled in the sunlight. For some reason, looking at this ruby, she felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

"Sister Qianxue, I'll go with you." Xiao Hanye had appeared at the door at some point.

Ling Qianxue nodded. With him by her side, she would feel much more at ease.

The two went to the largest pawnshop in the city—Treasure Gathering Hall. This was the fairest pawnshop in Tiandu City, supposedly backed by a mysterious cultivator.

"What would the customer like to pawn?" The shopkeeper was a shrewd middle-aged man with bright, sharp eyes.

Ling Qianxue placed the jewelry on the counter. "How much can I get for these?"

The shopkeeper examined them carefully with a magnifying glass, his eyes growing brighter. "Good items, truly excellent items! This craftsmanship, these materials—definitely the work of a master!"

"How much?" Ling Qianxue asked again.

"Well..." The shopkeeper pondered for a moment. "Fifty taels, how about that?"

Exactly the amount of the tax payment. Ling Qianxue's heart stirred—this was too coincidental.

"Deal." She didn't haggle.

Just as the shopkeeper was about to collect the jewelry, suddenly, the ruby on the necklace flashed.

The shopkeeper's hand trembled, almost dropping the necklace. He looked up at Ling Qianxue with surprise and uncertainty. "Miss, this necklace of yours..."

"What about it?" Ling Qianxue tensed.

"Nothing, nothing." The shopkeeper shook his head, but couldn't hide the shock in his eyes. "Fifty taels of silver. Here's the bank note. Please take it."

Leaving the pawnshop, Ling Qianxue felt something was off. The shopkeeper's reaction was too strange, especially when he saw the necklace glow.

"Sister Qianxue, don't you feel like that shopkeeper recognized your mother's jewelry?" Xiao Hanye had also noticed the anomaly.

Ling Qianxue nodded. "It is rather strange. But now's not the time to think about this. Let's pay the taxes first."

Returning to the manor, Ling Qianxue found the main gate wide open, with sounds of fighting coming from inside.

"Not good!" Her heart sank as she rushed in.

In the courtyard, Uncle Fu was protecting Ling Tianhua, facing over twenty burly men. Leading them was a bald man with a fierce face.

"Who are you people?" Ling Qianxue demanded sternly.

"The little beauty has returned." The bald man grinned, revealing yellow teeth. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Zhao Heihu, Hall Master of the Black Tiger Gang. Your Ling Manor owes our gang leader money. We're here to collect the debt."

"Nonsense!" Ling Tianhua trembled with anger. "When did we ever owe you money?"

"Three months ago, your manor's servant lost three hundred taels at our gambling house. It's all here in black and white—you can't deny it." Zhao Heihu pulled out an IOU.

"Three hundred taels?!" Ling Qianxue took it and looked. There was indeed a Ling Manor servant's signature, but she immediately saw it was forged—what servants did Ling Manor have now? Besides Uncle Fu and the Xiao father and son, there had been no one for a long time.

"This is fake," she said coldly.

"Fake?" Zhao Heihu's face darkened. "Little girl, you can eat carelessly, but you can't speak carelessly. Since you say it's fake, show me the evidence!"

"The handwriting of this signature..."

"Enough!" Zhao Heihu impatiently cut her off. "I'm not here to reason with you. Three hundred taels of silver must be repaid today! If you can't pay, then pay in other ways!"

"What ways?" Ling Qianxue had a bad feeling.

Zhao Heihu leered as he looked her up and down. "I heard the Drunken Spring House in the south of the city needs a new top courtesan. With your looks, you'd be perfect there. Servicing ten or eight clients a night, it wouldn't take long to clear the debt."

"You dare!" Xiao Hanye roared and charged forward.

"Bang!"

Zhao Heihu kicked him flying. "Little pup, you have no say here!"

"Hanye!" Ling Qianxue hurried to help him.

"Stop pretending." Zhao Heihu sneered. "Your Ling family is now meat on the chopping block, at our mercy. If you're smart, come with us obediently. If not, we'll use force!"

"The brothers can't wait!" The thugs behind him jeered.

"Boss, why not do her right here, then take her to Drunken Spring House!"

"Right, right! She's going to be sold anyway. Let the brothers have some fun first!"

Vulgar words rose one after another. Ling Tianhua trembled with rage. "You... do you have no law?"

"Law?" Zhao Heihu laughed loudly. "In Tiandu City, fists are the law! Your Ling family doesn't even have a single cultivator. Who would seek justice for you?"

"Today, I'll put it plainly." He pointed at Ling Qianxue. "This girl, we're taking her no matter what! Either she comes with us willingly, or we tie her up and take her. Choose!"

"In your dreams!" Xiao Hanye struggled to stand. "To take Sister Qianxue away, you'll have to step over my dead body!"

"I'll grant your wish!" Murderous intent flashed in Zhao Heihu's eyes.

At this critical moment, the jade pendant on Ling Qianxue's chest suddenly emitted a faint red light. She instinctively raised her hand to block, and a warm power surged from the pendant.

"Wait!" She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Hall Master Zhao, three hundred taels is indeed too much. Could you grant us a few days' grace?"

"Grace?" Zhao Heihu narrowed his eyes. "Unless you have collateral."

"This..." Ling Qianxue removed a jade hairpin. "This was left by my mother. It should be worth something."

Zhao Heihu took the hairpin and examined it, his eyes lighting up. "Good stuff! But this is worth fifty taels at most. Still far from enough."

"What about these?" Ling Qianxue removed her earrings.

"Mm, also good items. I'll count them as one hundred taels." Zhao Heihu said greedily. "Still one hundred fifty taels short."

Ling Qianxue gritted her teeth. "I can write an IOU, guaranteed to repay within a month."

"IOU?" Zhao Heihu scoffed. "I don't trust those things. Unless..."

His gaze fell on the jade pendant at Ling Qianxue's chest. "Leave that jade pendant here as collateral. Come back with the money in a month to redeem it."

"No!" Ling Qianxue instinctively protected the pendant. "This is my mother's memento. I absolutely cannot..."

"Then there's nothing to discuss." Zhao Heihu waved his hand. "Brothers, take her!"

"Stop!"

At that moment, a cold, clear voice rang out. "To commit violence in broad daylight in Tiandu City—such audacity!"

Everyone looked toward the voice to see a woman in white robes floating down gracefully. She appeared to be in her twenties, with refined features and an otherworldly temperament—clearly no ordinary person.

"Who are you?" The bald man asked warily.

"Tiandu Academy, Lin Qingya," the woman said lightly.

Hearing the words "Tiandu Academy," the Black Tiger Gang members' faces all changed. Tiandu Academy was the Empire's highest institution, and its instructors were at least at the Essence Gathering Stage.

"So it's Instructor Lin." Zhao Heihu immediately changed his expression, though still unwilling. "This is a private matter between our Black Tiger Gang and the Ling family. Please don't interfere, Instructor."

"Private matter?" Lin Qingya sneered. "Forcibly abducting women is called a private matter?"

"We have an IOU..."

"A fake IOU, and you dare present it?" Lin Qingya cut him off. "Do you think Tiandu Academy is vegetarian? Such crude forgery might fool ordinary people, but trying to deceive me?"

Cold sweat appeared on Zhao Heihu's forehead. "Instructor Lin, are you going to oppose our Black Tiger Gang?"

"So what if I am?" Lin Qingya's tone was flat but carried unquestionable authority. "I'll give you ten breaths to leave. Otherwise, none of you will walk away."

"Ten, nine, eight..."

Before she reached five, the Black Tiger Gang fled in panic.

Before leaving, Zhao Heihu glared viciously at Ling Qianxue. "Little girl, you just wait! Tiandu Academy can protect you for a moment, but not forever!"

"Thank you for your assistance, Senior." Ling Qianxue supported Xiao Hanye as she bowed to Lin Qingya.

Lin Qingya's gaze lingered on her for a moment—more precisely, on the jade pendant at her chest.

"No need for thanks." She smiled slightly. "Miss Ling, may we speak privately?"

Ling Qianxue was startled. The other party actually knew her identity?

Moments later, in the study.

"Does Instructor Lin know my daughter?" Ling Tianhua asked respectfully.

"No," Lin Qingya shook her head. "But I knew your late wife."

"What?" Both Ling Tianhua and Ling Qianxue exclaimed simultaneously.

"More precisely, I knew an old friend of your late wife." Lin Qingya produced a jade slip from her sleeve. "Ten years ago, someone entrusted me that if I ever saw a young woman wearing a crimson jade pendant, I should give this to her."

Ling Qianxue took the jade slip, her heart racing. "May I ask who that person was..."

"I don't know her true identity either." Lin Qingya shook her head. "She only said that when the time comes, you will naturally understand everything."

With that, she rose to leave. "Miss Ling, cultivate well. The moment of talent awakening often comes when least expected."

After Lin Qingya left, Ling Qianxue stared blankly at the jade slip in her hand. This was a special communication tool that could only be read by infusing spiritual energy. But she had no spiritual energy.

"Let me try." Ling Tianhua took the jade slip and attempted to infuse spiritual energy.

However, the jade slip showed no response.

"Strange, is it broken?" he said puzzledly.

Ling Qianxue looked thoughtfully at the jade slip, then at the jade pendant on her chest. Since the pendant could emit red light to block attacks earlier, did that mean...

She pressed the jade pendant against the jade slip.

Instantly, the jade slip lit up, and a line of elegant writing appeared in the air:

"My daughter Qianxue, when you read these words, the time has ripened. Three days hence, on Awakening Day, no matter what happens, remember: you are the hope of the Ling family, and moreover, the heir of... Your mother."

The crucial part had been erased.

Ling Qianxue's hands trembled. This was her mother's handwriting—she couldn't be mistaken. But what exactly did her mother want to tell her? The heir of what?

"Qianxue..." Ling Tianhua was also excited. "Is this really left by your mother?"

"Yes." Ling Qianxue took a deep breath. "Father, I want to participate in Awakening Day three days from now."

Ling Tianhua wanted to speak but stopped, finally nodding. "Alright, but be careful. If the awakening fails..."

He didn't finish. But Ling Qianxue knew that every year during Awakening Day, some people suffered backlash from forced awakening—minor cases resulted in severe injury, serious ones in death.

That night, Ling Qianxue sat on her bed, repeatedly pondering the message her mother left.

"The time has ripened..." she murmured. "What time?"

Suddenly remembering something, she retrieved the ancient text recording primordial legends from under her pillow.

Turning to the page about the Phoenix Clan, she read carefully:

"The Phoenix Clan, born masters of flame, would produce a saintess each generation possessing the purest phoenix bloodline. When the saintess awakens, heaven and earth show omens, and all birds pay homage..."

Wait—Ling Qianxue's gaze stopped on a line of small text:

"The Phoenix Saintess's awakening requires special guidance, otherwise the bloodline power will backlash. Throughout history, saintesses awakened at age sixteen, guided by clan elders using secret methods."

Sixteen... she would be sixteen next year.

"Knock, knock, knock." A knocking came at the door.

"Sister Qianxue, it's me." Xiao Hanye's voice came through.

Ling Qianxue opened the door to find Xiao Hanye holding a bowl of medicinal soup. "Uncle Fu brewed this. He says it helps with recovery."

"How are your injuries?" Ling Qianxue asked with concern.

"Just minor wounds." Xiao Hanye acted nonchalant, but his pale face betrayed him.

Ling Qianxue looked at him with heartache. "I'm sorry, you got hurt again because of me."

"What silly talk." Xiao Hanye smiled. "Protecting Sister Qianxue is my willing choice."

Ling Qianxue took the medicine and drank it in one gulp. The bitter taste spread in her mouth, but her heart felt sweet.

"Sister Qianxue, I'm going to Awakening Day three days from now too," Xiao Hanye suddenly said.

"But you've already tried twice..."

"I know." Xiao Hanye's eyes were incredibly determined. "But I don't want to give up. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, I want to try. I want to become strong, to truly have the power to protect you."

Looking at the youth's resolute face, Ling Qianxue was deeply moved.

"Alright, we'll go together." She smiled. "Whatever the result, we'll face it together."

"Yes!" Xiao Hanye nodded firmly.

The two sat side by side at the window, gazing at the star-filled sky, each harboring their own expectations and anxieties.

What would happen on Awakening Day three days hence?

Ling Qianxue touched the jade pendant at her chest, feeling its warm touch. Mother, what exactly did you want to tell me?

The night breeze wafted gently, and the sound of the night watchman came from afar. This peaceful night was destined to be the calm before the storm.