Chapter 141: A Fight to the Finish

Su He stepped forward and said, “You two have returned, but where is Ji Ren?”

At the mention of Zou Ji Ren by Su He, Huai Yin’s heart skipped a beat, though his expression remained unchanged. He stood up and, together with Cui Yu Ren, greeted the two.

Que Yunzi glanced at the bustling doorway and said, “Let’s sit down and talk; this isn’t a place to chat. We shouldn’t block people from doing business.”

“That’s right, please, elder,” Su He stepped aside politely. After the two crossed the threshold, he returned to the table with Huai Yin and Cui Yu Ren.

Once seated, Que Yunzi poured himself a cup of water, drank, and wiped his mouth. “We split up to investigate, so I suppose he’s taking his time.”

Yun Xingyu accepted the water jug and poured himself some water as well, lowering his gaze. “His injuries have healed, so he should be fine defending himself if anything happens. Did you find anything at Ruijin Palace?”

Su He replied, “There was a great fire in the Yishi chamber of the Fuling Pavilion. All the corpses stored inside were completely burned.”

“How could that happen?” Huai Yin exclaimed in shock.

Cui Yu Ren frowned, watching Huai Yin grip the table so tightly that the cups wobbled dangerously. She scolded, “What are you doing? Can’t you sit down and listen to Brother Baili’s explanation? You’re not the only one worried about Sister Yi. What exactly do you want?”

Embarrassed, Huai Yin’s face reddened slightly. Cui Yu Ren was right; he had lost his composure.

He forced a smile. “I... I was just anxious, alright? What happened afterward? Doesn’t this complicate things with Qing Chen?”

Feigning calm, he sat back down but his mind raced. He wondered if Su He might suspect him because of this.

Su He carefully set the toppled cup upright before speaking slowly, “It hasn’t come to that yet. Although this incident was sudden, it proves there’s someone else behind it. Moreover, Prince Yong himself confirmed that Miss Yi is a witness from Little Zhou Village. In name, that is somewhat favorable.”

“That makes sense. What do we do next? We can’t let Qing Chen stay at Ruijin Palace forever—that’s no different from house arrest,” Huai Yin said.

“That depends on the results of the recent visits by the elder, Brother Yun, and Ji Ren,” Que Yunzi waved his hand and rested a foot on the stool. “Forget it. I went around but found no leads. Asked around if any mysterious or strange people had appeared lately—nothing.”

He felt unlucky. How could someone leave no trace? Not a soul within miles noticed anything.

Su He thought for a moment, then looked at Yun Xingyu. “Any news from your side?”

“None.”

Disguised as a wandering physician offering free treatment and herbal medicine, he had gone door to door asking questions. The locals claimed things had been very peaceful recently. If he hadn’t asked, they wouldn’t have known Little Zhou Village had been massacred.

Noticing Su He’s furrowed brow, he said, “You can wait a bit longer for Ji Ren. Maybe he has found something.”

Su He nodded. “That’s all we can do.”

He summoned the waiter, ordered some dishes, and had everyone start eating. After learning where Zou Ji Ren had gone, he went out to meet him.

Huai Yin considered accompanying him but was sharply struck on the back of the hand by Que Yunzi’s chopstick. “Where do you think you’re going? There’s food and drink here, can’t you sit still?”

“I’m just worried,” Huai Yin said, his temper flaring but unable to argue with Que Yunzi, so he smiled sheepishly.

Que Yunzi ignored him and served Cui Yu Ren more food. “Eat more, you’re too skinny. Some people, you just don’t pay attention to. If anything happens, Grandpa will handle it for you.”

Cui Yu Ren blushed deeply, shoveling rice into her mouth, too embarrassed to even take more dishes.

Que Yunzi couldn’t stand it and intervened.

Yun Xingyu was entirely aloof, focused only on himself, answering only when asked, ignoring the lively conversations around him while sipping plain water.

Huai Yin tested him several times but found Yun Xingyu impervious and perfectly guarded. Breaking through from his side was nearly impossible.

While lost in thought, Que Yunzi suddenly said, “We’ve almost finished eating, but where are those two? Could something have happened?”

Yun Xingyu shifted his gaze from his cup. “The master and Ji Ren have known each other for a long time. Let’s not worry too soon.”

Que Yunzi fell silent, understanding Yun Xingyu’s meaning well. If Su He couldn’t handle the current situation, let alone anything else… sigh.

Meanwhile, Su He arrived first at Little Zhou Village. Seeing no one around, he headed north, where Que Yunzi said Zou Ji Ren might be.

Unbeknownst to Su He, while he worried about Ji Ren’s safety, Ji Ren had indeed fallen into danger and had the misfortune of encountering Lin Mao.

Ji Ren felt he owed Lin Mao nothing now. Although Lin Mao had led him step by step into the Sea of Desire, Ji Ren had killed many on Lin Mao’s behalf.

Over the years, the corpses piled high—no exaggeration.

All of them killed under Lin Mao’s orders.

Yet Lin Mao did not see it that way. He believed traitors deserved death. The exceptions, like Wang You and Su He, were accidents—women whose hearts he had failed to conquer, like wild horses needing taming.

But Ji Ren’s betrayal was different. For that, he must die.

He raised his palm with eighty percent of his power, intending a lethal strike.

Ji Ren knew the danger but saw no escape behind him. He infused true energy into both palms and braced himself to endure the blow.

The strike caused the surroundings to tremble violently, grass and stones flying like a prelude to disaster—truly terrifying.

Lin Mao looked at Ji Ren standing amid the flying stones with a sneer. “Hmph, I didn’t expect you to improve while following Baili Su He. So, it wasn’t that you were lazy before, but that you always harbored rebellious thoughts. Ungrateful scum like you have no place here.”

He launched a furious palm strike, then, in a swift motion, unleashed a three-foot-long gleaming blade of blue steel with a chilling aura, aimed at Ji Ren’s throat.

As the sword tip neared Ji Ren’s skin, Ji Ren suddenly leaned back, grabbing Lin Mao’s right hand with his left, and sliced toward a vital point with his right palm like a blade.

Lin Mao raised his palm to block and wielded his sword to parry the attack, breaking free from Ji Ren’s grip. His blade light intensified, splitting into several streams aimed to kill.

A move called “Earth Fiend Seizes the Heart” transformed the surroundings into a pitiful, mournful scene—ghostly figures of those Ji Ren had killed appeared, now vicious spirits demanding vengeance.

These ghosts were fierce, formed from sword energy. Contact meant invasion, like maggots burrowing into the meridians to wreak havoc.

Having followed Lin Mao for years, Ji Ren understood their power. Yet these spirits were cunning, and some innocent souls had been slain by Lin Mao.

No matter how powerful Ji Ren was, he could not escape the torment of these vengeful spirits. He was wounded repeatedly, and the dim, shadowy battlefield made it impossible to locate Lin Mao.

Only the relentless ghosts surged forward ceaselessly.

Perhaps exhausted from fighting, Ji Ren ceased attacking. Looking at the clawing ghosts, he sneered, “You lot were cowardly in life and fear the strong in death. What harm can you do now?”

Then, he suddenly drew his long sword, spitting blood onto its blade.

Instantly, the sword flared with a terrifying light, like a blazing sun that scorched the ghosts clean away.

Lin Mao was caught off guard by this powerful counterattack and was struck by the white light. Though not severely wounded, his blood surged wildly, surprising him. The next moment, there would be no chance to catch his breath.

He launched a fierce and relentless sword assault.

Though Ji Ren barely managed to break the “Earth Fiend Seizes the Heart,” he had suffered significant hidden damage.

If not for Que Yunzi’s intervention to reconnect his meridians, Ji Ren might not have escaped this trap.

Seeing Elder Xiao Si and the others standing in the forest far away, Ji Ren knew he couldn’t linger and planned to fight while retreating, looking for an opportunity to escape.

“Want to leave? Did you ask me first?” Lin Mao roared, determined to kill Ji Ren today and avenge past humiliation.

Ji Ren mocked, “Great Lin Dazhai Master, you’re so mighty. Now that we go separate ways, what right do you have to interfere with where I go?”

“As your master once and forever your master, you’re still a dog,” Lin Mao sneered. “Thinking that changing masters makes you anything else? Ha!”

He spun like a dragon, weaving behind Ji Ren and thrust out a fierce sword strike.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Ji Ren turned sharply, blocking with his sword. The clash sparked fiercely.

Lin Mao’s momentum forced Ji Ren backward, leaving two long scratches on the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ji Ren saw the courteous Elder Xiao Si smiling. He twisted his waist, sparking a long flame of fire along Lin Mao’s blade.

Then, he struck again.

Lin Mao hurried to defend but was caught off guard: Ji Ren’s sword thrust was a feint; his palm strike was real. Coupled with his agility, even though far weaker in cultivation, Ji Ren succeeded this time.

Ji Ren did not linger. After landing the hit, he withdrew.

But Lin Mao was furious and would not let him escape so easily. The two resumed their fierce battle.

Behind Elder Xiao Si, Su Hui whispered, “Elder Xiao, should we intervene?”

Elder Xiao Si toyed with a long flute, glancing sideways at Su Hui. “No need. Let them fight. It’ll benefit us in the future.”

Su Hui was puzzled. “How so?”

“Simple. Lin Mao’s identity will be a major obstacle for us later. But this man is useful, so it’s no problem. Now that he wants to kill Ji Ren, we can use this to our advantage.”

“I’m slow to understand, Elder Xiao,” Su Hui admitted.

Elder Xiao Si smiled back. “Don’t worry. You’ll understand in time.”

Then he called out to Lin Mao amid the fight, “Master Lin, they say enemies should reconcile, not deepen enmity. You two have a past. Why not show some mercy to Elder Xiao here? Even if Brother Zou wronged you, he’s now Baili Su He’s man. Baili Su He is the key to Wusheng Gate and the safety of the Sea of Desire. Our personal grudges are minor; we must not discourage a valuable ally.”

Lin Mao didn’t understand Elder Xiao Si’s scheme but would never let go. He wanted to use Ji Ren to gain fame and fortune—dream on.

He shouted, “He dared defy me today; who’s to say he won’t betray Baili Su He tomorrow? Then tell me, Elder Xiao, do you want to preserve morale or end lives?”

“Ah… Master Lin, you mistake me,” Elder Xiao Si replied.

“Enough talk. This is my affair,” Lin Mao snapped.

They resumed their relentless clash.

Ji Ren desperately sought to break free, but Lin Mao was a fierce opponent.

Suddenly, a sword aura swept in powerfully.