Chapter 119: The Wind Stirred

After the group dispersed, a familiar figure flashed out from the alleyway.

It was Lin Mao. Ever since the Liuxin Studio was destroyed, he had fled all the way to the Royal City. He could no longer remain in the Xiaotong Basin, as people like Gencheng from White Gourd Mountain would never let him off. After much deliberation, the Royal City seemed the safest place. After all, with the Heavenly Lord and the three major families presiding over it, ordinary people would not dare to cause too much trouble. Any grievances were usually settled outside the city walls, and even those harboring deep hatred rarely resorted to violence within the city limits.

Lin Mao stood on the street, staring at the inn for a long time before turning and vanishing into the shadows.

Inside the inn, Su He and the others had received their room tags and headed to their respective quarters. The innkeeper, a kind-hearted man, was grateful for Su He’s righteousness and insisted on waiving all fees. Su He firmly refused, stating that the Wusheng Gate had no habit of taking charity. Left with no choice, the innkeeper accepted a symbolic amount, handed over the tags, and had a waiter lead them upstairs.

Once settled, Que Yunzi went to Su He’s room. Su He was pouring water and simply poured an extra cup when he saw him enter. Que Yunzi had no heart for drinking, however. "Are we being too conspicuous? This doesn't seem like your usual style," he asked.

Su He gestured for him to sit and then took a seat himself. "Senior, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"Uh..." Taken aback by the question, Que Yunzi found it difficult to answer. How should he describe him? He couldn't think of a way, nor did he have the patience. He waved a hand in front of his face, impatient, and said, "Never mind that for now. What exactly are you and Bufeng keeping from everyone?"

"Nothing. My Senior Brother simply asked for my views on the wicked and what my plans were for the future. I told him that the matter of Baili Wushuang is temporarily at a stalemate, so I plan to travel for a while—first, to inquire about the whereabouts of the Lisheng Chatu, and second, because when I first arrived in the Sea of Desire, I traveled with a black crane. Later, due to an ambush, we were separated. I hope to take this opportunity to find it." Su He’s explanation was a mix of truth and fabrication, leaving Que Yunzi unable to find any flaws.

Su He did not want to be this way, but the matter of the Seal-Breakers was too dangerous; the more people knew, the more disadvantageous it would be for them. Que Yunzi did not doubt him. He was aware of Baili Wushuang’s condition; if he did not pursue the path of soul cultivation, the only option was to reshape his physical body. For people like them, there were many ways to do so, each with its own pros and cons, but the best and only method without side effects was the Lisheng Chatu. However, it was something everyone had heard of but no one had ever seen.

"But you didn't have to confront Baili Leren. This is the Royal City. If that brat wants to play dirty, it would be as easy as flipping his hand."

Su He sipped his water, raised an eyebrow, and replied, "That is precisely why I revealed my Senior Brother’s name. By acting high-profile and making it common knowledge, if anything happens to me, others will naturally associate it with the Baili family. That old fox, Baili Liunian, surely knows what action is most beneficial to him. If Baili Leren wants to act rashly then, he will have his father to restrain him."

Que Yunzi, who had been about to drink his water, paused, his hand freezing as he stared at Su He. He clicked his tongue and remarked, "Not bad, you kid think quite far ahead."

"Fish swallow bait and moths fly into the fire; if they fail, they harm themselves. This is an eternal truth. Even if Baili Liunian has the intent, he must first ensure his own safety before he can spare the effort to deal with me."

"You’ve said it all; what more can an old man like me say?" Que Yunzi rolled his eyes at Su He, shook his head, and drank his water.

"Thank you for your concern, Senior."

"Don't bother with that. I don't care for empty words. If you want to thank me, do something practical. Come to think of it, your job as a wine-boy has been too easy. How about you go fetch a jar of wine for me today?"

Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. Su He looked up to see Ye Qingchen arriving. "Please, come in, Miss Ye," he said.

Hearing his polite, distant tone, Ye Qingchen felt a sudden bitterness in her heart. She composed herself and smiled faintly, "One jar is not enough. Senior Que, you should at least make him bring back ten."

Upon hearing this, Que Yunzi slapped his thigh, agreeing, "The girl is right. Ten jars, ten it is."

Su He smiled and poured a cup of water for Ye Qingchen. "Very well, I shall follow your wishes, Senior." He added, "However, you will have to wait a while. I must go check on Zou Jiren and Brother Yun before I can go get your wine."

Que Yunzi did not hesitate. "Fine."

Ye Qingchen looked at the two and said, "Why don't I accompany you? I have yet to see what the Royal City is like."

Su He met her clear, affectionate eyes, and a sense of profound indebtedness welled up in his heart. "Very well," he said.

After bidding farewell to Que Yunzi, the two went to check on Zou Jiren and Yun Xingyu before heading downstairs.

Meanwhile, Baili Leren, having been slighted, went home to demand an explanation from his father. Before he could even speak, a slap from Baili Liunian sent him spinning in place.

Incensed and humiliated, he roared, "Are you crazy? Why did you hit me?" *Go find your beautiful concubines if you’re angry, why take it out on me? I suffered outside and came back only to be hit by you—do I deserve this?*

Baili Liunian pointed at his son, his anger boiling over. "I told you to come back, yet you refused, and instead went off to provoke Baili Suhe, didn't you?"

"You already know?" At the mention of Baili Suhe, Baili Leren wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant. He clutched his cheek and quietly retreated a few steps.

"How could I not know? By now, who in the Royal City doesn't know you were humiliated at the Wangyun Inn?"

"I..." He hadn't thought that much into it; he had just been furious at the time. Besides, if those people wanted to talk, let them talk—what was there to fear? If they had the guts, they should have said it to his face.

What could Baili Liunian say? When would this son of his ever show some growth?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Baili Leren retreated a few more steps, fearing his father might lose his temper again and start beating him.

"I’m telling you, stay put for the next little while and don't go anywhere. And do not provoke Baili Suhe, or I will break your legs."

Hearing this, Baili Leren was unhappy. "Why? I’m your own son; you can’t always favor an outsider!"

Baili Liunian shot him a glare. If he weren't his own flesh and blood, he wouldn't bother caring whether he lived or died. He let out a long sigh and said, "The Heavenly Inspection Bureau has sent word: Baili Suhe has been initiated into the Wusheng Gate."

"I know that," Baili Leren said, finding a place to sit, the stinging pain in his face pulsing. He didn't just know; he had seen the token Su He produced. It was just a piece of gold, what was so special about it?

"You know nothing."

"...Father, why are you cursing?"

"I’m not just cursing you; I want to beat you to death, you useless thing! Do you even know what you're talking about?"

"I... I know he joined the Wusheng Gate."

"Then do you know what that token in his hand represents?"

"It’s just the highest rank in the Wusheng Gate, so what?" Baili Leren suddenly caught the implication. *Why would it be the highest rank? If so, wouldn't he be the same generation as Bufeng?*

"Hmph, not entirely stupid yet." Baili Liunian sneered. He had specifically sent Lian Hen to invite him back to prevent him from ruining things. Instead, not only did he drive the man away, but he had also tried to force a confrontation, only to lose all face at the Wangyun Inn.

Baili Leren understood his father’s expression, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. "What exactly is going on?" Could a Baili Suhe, at most talented, really be worth the Wusheng Gate breaking their own rules? Accepting a disciple on behalf of the deceased—they had really thought of a way.

"According to the Heavenly Inspection Bureau, Bufeng and Baili Suhe plotted in secret for three days. Afterward, Bufeng took the disciple on behalf of his master and registered him into the sect. Why do you think he did that?"

Baili Leren glanced at a bonsai plant to the side. How would he know? If he knew, he wouldn't be sitting here.

Baili Liunian was so angry he exhaled two streams of white air. "There are rumors that one of the Seven-Fold迦罗 Seals on the Eight Winds Island has been damaged, and the three evils have emerged to wreak havoc everywhere, precisely to hunt down the Seal-Breakers of each sect."

"You mean to say, Baili Suhe is the Seal-Breaker for the Wusheng Gate? This... this is too absurd, haha." Baili Leren curled his lip, not to be blamed for his disdain. It was just too hard to believe. Baili Suhe had only returned from the lower realms for how long? It hadn't even been half a year, and most of that time he had spent running around saving Baili Wushuang. Where would he have found the time to cozy up to Bufeng? Just meeting a few times was enough to learn everything? *Absurd.*

"Then what do you think it is?"

"I..." Baili Liunian’s words left him in deep thought. *Right, what could it be?* The favor of bringing back the young master of the Wusheng Gate was not enough to make Bufeng break precedent to accept a disciple for a dead master, and Ye Qingchen’s friendship with Bufeng wouldn't be enough either. The only possibility was that there was a hidden secret, one that turned the impossible into the possible.

"Could it be that we got it wrong?"

"Wrong about what? I tell you, not only do you hope it’s a mistake, I hope so too. Aside from the Wusheng Gate, the other six sects of the One Palace and Three Families are likely thinking the same thing."

If Su He were just Su He, it wouldn't matter. But now that it involved a Seal-Breaker, those who wanted Baili Suhe dead would also hope he lived. Everyone knew what a Seal-Breaker represented and what it meant for the Sea of Desire. Similarly, if the Baili family wanted to maintain its standing, they could not let the Sea of Desire fall. If the Sea of Desire could not fall, then Su He could not easily die. If he died, it meant that the subsequent Seal-Breakers might be exposed and die as well. And without the survival of the Sea of Desire, how would the Baili family continue to exist?

Baili Liunian’s heart was filled with resentment toward the envoy. He knew this was not a good task—he couldn't kill him, yet he couldn't leave him be. Either way, the final outcome might be death.

"Father, what exactly does the Wusheng Gate want?" Baili Leren grabbed his hair in frustration, his head feeling like it was about to explode.

"Hmph, who knows."

"You don't actually believe Baili Suhe is that so-called Seal-Breaker, do you?" If so, what was he to do in the future? He couldn't hit him, he couldn't kill him—was he supposed to walk around him whenever they met?

"Whether it's true or not, someone will make a move soon. I warn you, stay out of trouble during this time."

"Fine, fine, I’ll stay out of trouble, okay?" Baili Leren said impatiently. After a moment, he added, "Do you think someone won't be able to sit still?"

"Of course."

"Oh." Baili Leren nodded, stood up, and brushed himself off. "Father, if there’s nothing else, I’m leaving."

"You brat, where are you going now?"

"To apologize to your future daughter-in-law. I’m off." Baili Leren waved his hand behind his back and walked away, looking as unbothered as ever.

Once he was far away, Baili Liunian called into the void, "Follow the Young Master and see where he goes."

"Yes."