Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Night fell as dark as ink, slowly descending upon Chang'an. The bright moonlight, like quicksilver, cascaded down, draping the heart of the empire in a mysterious silver veil. The majestic palace walls cast long shadows under the moonlight, resembling a giant dragon coiling and undulating.

Under the caress of the moonlight, the glazed tiles shimmered with a cool and enchanting light, as if countless stars had fallen to earth and were inlaid on the roof of the palace.

Inside the Hall of Longevity, a scene of revelry and celebration unfolded. The hall was brightly lit, filled with fragrant aromas, and lavishly served with fine wines and delicacies.

Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang sat side by side, their eyes meeting from time to time, revealing their undisguised affection.

They were enjoying the performance of "The Song of Rainbow Skirts and Feathered Robes" by court musicians. This piece, composed by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang himself, was now echoing in the hall, as if celestial music was floating down from heaven.

The other concubines danced gracefully to the music, their movements elegant and light, their colorful robes fluttering in the air like butterflies. The entire Changsheng Palace was immersed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere, like a paradise on earth.

However, Zhu Rong seemed out of place amidst the lively atmosphere. Her mind was no longer on the grand banquet; her eyes darted around, and she appeared absent-minded. Using the excuse of going to the restroom, she quietly left the Hall of Longevity and walked alone along the quiet palace path leading to her bedchamber.

The moonlight, like water, fell upon Zhu Rong, draping her in a soft, silvery veil. Her steps were light and slow, as if she were contemplating something important.

A gentle breeze brought a touch of coolness, and Zhu Rong unconsciously wrapped her thin veil tighter around herself, but the coolness could not dispel the anxiety in her heart.

"Xiaobai, do you think Yang Guifei would really believe me?" Zhu Rong asked in a low voice, her tone tinged with unease and hesitation. She glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

"Silly pig, what are you worried about?" Little White's voice came from the jade pendant, tinged with impatience. "Just focus on yourself, don't worry about anything else."

Zhu Rong bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak. She recalled the way Yang Guifei had looked at her during the day, and felt that there was a hint of inquiry and suspicion in her eyes. Those beautiful eyes seemed to see through everything, making Zhu Rong feel that her secret could be exposed at any moment.

“But…” Zhu Rong finally couldn’t help but say, “Yang Guifei wasn’t an ordinary person. A nine-tailed fox reincarnated, she was so intelligent and perceptive; I always felt she had already sensed something.”

"No buts!" Xiao Bai interrupted her sternly. "Remember, you're here to complete a mission. Don't forget your duty, Marshal Tianpeng!"

Zhu Rong nodded silently, but she couldn't help feeling worried. The surrounding trees swayed gently, and moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, creating an eerie yet beautiful scene. Occasionally, the cawing of crows broke the silence of the night, making it seem even more mysterious and unpredictable.

Zhu Rong's heart began to race; she had a feeling something was about to happen. That inexplicable unease grew stronger, like the calm before a storm, making her tense all over.

"Xiaobai, did you hear anything?" She stopped and looked around warily, asking in a low voice. Her hand unconsciously reached for the nine-bead bracelet hidden in her sleeve, her only weapon and a symbol of her status.

"No, you silly pig, aren't you being too nervous?" Little White's voice carried a hint of sarcasm. "Don't be so paranoid. This is the palace; who would dare to act recklessly here?"

Zhu Rong ignored Xiao Bai's teasing. She gripped the nine-bead bracelet tightly, her unease growing stronger. Her eyes scanned the darkness, trying to catch any unusual movement.

Just then, two dark figures suddenly leaped out from the bushes by the roadside, wielding sharp blades, and attacked Zhu Rong! Under the moonlight, the blades gleamed with a cold light, pointing directly at Zhu Rong's throat.

"Watch out!" Xiaobai exclaimed, her voice filled with tension and anxiety.

Zhu Rong reacted extremely quickly; she instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the assassin's attack. She could feel the cold blade graz her cheek, bringing a slight sting.

"Who goes there?" she shouted sharply, transforming her nine-bead bracelet into a nine-toothed rake, pointing it at the assassin. The nine-toothed rake gleamed coldly in the moonlight, exuding a powerful and intimidating aura.

The assassins remained silent, their faces masked except for a pair of cold, murderous eyes. Those eyes held no emotion, only pure killing intent. They brandished their blades once more, attacking Zhu Rong.

"You idiot, don't just stand there! Fight back!" Little White shouted anxiously, "Use your 'Great Strength'!"

She wielded her nine-toothed rake, engaging in fierce combat with the assassin. She wielded the rake with incredible skill, making the heavy rake seem as light as a feather in her hands.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The nine-toothed rake clashed with the sharp blade, producing a piercing metallic sound and sparks flying. Each of Zhu Rong's strikes carried immense force, forcing the assassin to retreat repeatedly.

"Ah!" One of the assassins was unable to dodge in time and was struck in the chest by Zhu Rong's rake. He screamed and flew backward, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting blood and unable to move.

The other assassin, seeing this, was terrified and turned to flee. He hadn't expected this seemingly frail palace maid to possess such terrifying power.

"Where do you think you're going!" Zhu Rong shouted, throwing her nine-toothed rake, which struck the assassin squarely in the back.

"Ah!" the assassin screamed and fell to the ground, unable to move.

The sounds of fierce fighting alerted the nearby guards, who rushed over. Seeing that their whereabouts had been exposed, the assassin quickly disappeared into the night, leaving behind only two seriously wounded companions.

Zhu Rong stood there, panting, but a victorious smile graced her face. Her eyes gleamed with excitement, as if the battle had awakened the long-dormant spirit of war within her.

"You silly pig, well done!" Little White's voice rang out from the jade pendant, tinged with admiration. "Looks like you haven't completely forgotten your skills!"

"Hehe, of course!" Zhu Rong laughed smugly. "Don't you know who I am? The reputation of Marshal Tianpeng is not just for show!"

Just then, a familiar voice came from afar: "What happened?"

Zhu Rong looked up and saw Yang Guifei hurrying over, surrounded by a group of palace maids. In the moonlight, Yang Guifei's face appeared exceptionally beautiful and refined, but her brows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were filled with worry and curiosity.

"Your Highness, Consort Yang!" Zhu Rong hurriedly bowed, her heart suddenly racing, wondering if Consort Yang had witnessed everything that had just happened.

Consort Yang hurried to Zhu Rong's side and asked with concern, "Consort Zhu, are you alright? I heard the fighting and rushed over."

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Zhu Rong said. "I was just a little frightened. An assassin suddenly attacked, but fortunately I discovered it in time, preventing a major disaster."

Yang Guifei's gaze swept over Zhu Rong, seemingly checking if she was injured. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the nine-toothed rake in Zhu Rong's hand, a hint of surprise and doubt flashing in her eyes.

"What kind of weapon is this?" she asked. "How do you know how to use it?"

Zhu Rong's heart tightened. She knew she had to find a way to explain herself clearly in order to dispel Yang Guifei's suspicions. Her mind raced, trying to concoct a plausible explanation.

"This...this is..." Zhu Rong stammered, unsure of what to say. Her eyes flickered, and she dared not meet Yang Guifei's gaze.

"Speak, Consort Zhu, who exactly are you?" Consort Yang stared sharply at Zhu Rong, her tone carrying a hint of interrogation. Although her voice was gentle, it exuded an undeniable authority.

Zhu Rong took a deep breath. She knew she could no longer hide the truth. Looking into Yang Guifei's probing gaze, she felt uneasy. She knew she had to be honest, but she worried about frightening Yang Guifei and losing the trust she had painstakingly built.

"Your Majesty, I..." Zhu Rong hesitated, struggling with how to explain her identity. Her hand gripped the nine-toothed rake tightly, as if it were her only support.

Xiao Bai's voice echoed from the jade pendant, tinged with helplessness: "Fool, now that things have come to this, you have no choice but to tell the truth. Remember, sincerity is the most powerful weapon to move people's hearts!"

Zhu Rong took a deep breath and decided to reveal part of the truth to Yang Guifei. She knew this might change their relationship, but she had no other choice.

“Your Majesty, actually… I am not from the Tang Dynasty,” Zhu Rong said slowly, her voice trembling slightly, but her eyes unusually firm. “I come from a very faraway place, where the people possess… some special abilities.”

Consort Yang frowned slightly, clearly finding Zhu Rong's words hard to believe. Her gaze shifted back and forth between Zhu Rong and the Nine-Toothed Rake, as if weighing the veracity of Zhu Rong's words.

“Special abilities?” she repeated, a hint of doubt in her voice. “You mean…spells?”

Zhu Rong nodded. "You could say that." Her heart was racing, wondering how Yang Guifei would react.