Chapter Fifty-Eight: Stillness and Motion

Compared to the current calm within the Medicine Sect, the Poison Sect was far from peaceful.

On ordinary days, everyone immersed themselves in their own studies of poison, and even the Sect Leader rarely bothered with affairs. Upon returning to the sect, after meeting with the Sect Leader, Poison Thousand Hands still felt unsettled. He decided to return to Boating Mountain. Unlike the crowd of disciples who had accompanied him when he left, now only a handful walked with him. Beneath the shadows of the trees, his tall, lean silhouette seemed tinged with loneliness.

As he reached the foot of the mountain, the disciples were already waiting at the path’s entrance. Bowing, they greeted, “Welcome back, Master.”

“Rise. Has everything been peaceful on the mountain during my absence?” Poison Thousand Hands nodded and walked past the disciples, not paying much heed.

His chief disciple, Lan Yu, replied, “All is well, but Uncle Hu has been waiting for you on the mountain for more than two days.”

Poison Thousand Hands stopped in his tracks. “What brings him here?”

A man who bore a rebellious heart toward the sect, and who, rumor had it, called himself the Madman of Poisons outside—what could he want?

“I asked, but Uncle Hu said it was a matter to be discussed with you alone. He claimed it would do us no good to know.” Lan Yu glanced at Poison Thousand Hands, lowered his head, and answered honestly.

“What new trick is he up to?” Poison Thousand Hands muttered, then said to Lan Yu, “Let’s see what he has to say.”

Lan Yu immediately acknowledged, then signaled the disciples behind to follow.

Upon their return to Dragon Serpent Hall, a servant reported that Hu Xihe requested an audience in the West Courtyard. Poison Thousand Hands instructed Lan Yu to let the others rest, and followed the servant alone.

As he reached the courtyard entrance, he heard Hu Xihe’s sardonic voice: “Ah, to see Senior Brother’s face is truly not easy. I thought I’d have to wait another three or five days.”

“You may go,” Poison Thousand Hands dismissed the servant, then strode into the West Courtyard.

He forced a smile devoid of warmth. “What’s wrong? Does your title of Madman of Poisons not serve you well? Otherwise, why would you remember you have a senior brother like me?”

Hu Xihe stood and laughed heartily. “What are you saying, Senior Brother? Once disciples of the same sect, always disciples of the same sect. How could I forget such kinship?”

With that, he led Poison Thousand Hands to sit in the flower garden. Despite the poisonous blooms and herbs, the arrangement possessed its own peculiar elegance. Poison Thousand Hands did not refuse and sat opposite Hu Xihe. Taking the tea Hu Xihe offered, he sipped it and arched a brow. “Speak. What brings you to Boating Mountain?”

Don’t tell me you’re feeling nostalgic for the sect; you’d be better off telling that to a ghost.

Being seen through, Hu Xihe looked momentarily embarrassed, but quickly regained his composure and spoke cordially. “Aren’t you curious about recent events?”

“What do you want to say?” Poison Thousand Hands took another sip of tea.

“I mean, the Emperor’s Stone may be a treasure, but is it really worth your intervention?”

“You followed me?”

“Not at all, Senior Brother. You made no effort to keep your travels secret. It’s not hard to ask around.” Hu Xihe wagged a finger. Spying on people depended on the person, after all. If you were a stunning beauty, he might chase you ten miles against the wind, but a rough-skinned man—why on earth would he want to catch a whiff of sweat?

“Why are you so interested in my movements, then?” Poison Thousand Hands narrowed his eyes, suspicion growing. This man never came without an ulterior motive—there must be a reason.

Hu Xihe moved the teacup and pot aside, then said, “I have a good opportunity to share with you.”

“What is it?” Of course, he thought, this man has a reason for coming.

“Senior Brother, have you really paid attention only to the Emperor’s Stone, and not heard that the Demon Realm has posted a bounty for the capture and killing of two fugitives?”

“A Demon Realm bounty?” That hadn’t happened in years—who would care?

“Indeed. Rumor has it two demons have escaped, one from the Platform of Eternal Sin. Have you no interest in trying your hand?”

Bring back their heads and the Demon Realm Lord will grant a promise. That’s much more tangible than the Emperor’s Stone.

Hearing this, Poison Thousand Hands’ mind grew lively. With the Emperor’s Stone, not only had the Saint Monarch intervened, but the outcome would be that either Baili Su He took it, or the Saint Monarch did. Even if it remained with Baili Su He, it would never truly be his.

But with two fugitives from the Demon Realm, the odds were far better.

Between the two choices, the answer was obvious.

He asked Hu Xihe, “Do you have a target?”

“Of course, but one of them has recently gone into hiding and is not easy to find.”

“Not easy to find doesn’t mean impossible. The only reason you want to cooperate is that the target is tricky, isn’t it?” He looked up, making it clear he saw through him.

Hu Xihe nodded without shame. “Exactly. These two are nothing, but the one behind them is someone to be wary of.”

“Who?”

“The Demon Princess, Zhao Hongzhuang.”

“Her?” At this, Poison Thousand Hands fell silent.

Zhao Hongzhuang was rumored to be unmatched among the Heart Demon Clan. Though she never left the Demon Realm, some said her powers were enough for her to enter the Underworld. For some unknown reason, she always remained hidden within the Demon Realm. Some even whispered that she was greatly favored by the current Lord of the Demon Realm—anyone who crossed her would face endless trouble.

“Well? Are you afraid, Senior Brother?”

“Afraid? To speak of fear after attaining enlightenment would be hypocrisy.”

“Why, then, are you hesitating?” Hu Xihe pressed his advantage, knowing Poison Thousand Hands’ temperament.

As expected, Poison Thousand Hands changed his tune. “This matter needs careful planning. The one in hiding will be hard to catch. Let’s go after the one still at large first. With our combined strength, we should have no trouble.”

“So be it, as you wish.” Hu Xihe, his goal achieved, offered some flattery. For him, it mattered little who they captured first—the important thing was to draw someone else in. Even a sinking boat needed company; when it went down, he’d have a handhold to save himself.

Poison Thousand Hands raised his cup to Hu Xihe, and they drank together, sealing their pact.

Did he not know what Hu Xihe was thinking? Of course he did. But as Hu Xihe thought, so did he. If you negotiate with a tiger, you must be ready to be devoured. Hu Xihe dared to gamble; he was unafraid himself. He wondered, though, if he could let go of the Emperor’s Stone so easily, would those other dead souls be as carefree as he?

He found himself looking forward to it.

Hu Xihe glanced at him. “Senior Brother, if you have good news, why not share it with me?”

Poison Thousand Hands returned to himself. “It’s nothing, just a trifle. Drink your tea.”

At once, the two raised their cups and drank heartily.

Meanwhile, upon returning to the Soul Command Sect, Yin drove away Xue Chanzi and Cen Zhiren. Ji Yuntian, seeing their sorry state, knew things had gone poorly and dismissed them to rest, then went to Baishui Peak to find Yin.

As he reached the mountainside courtyard, before even dismounting from his cloud, he heard Yin cursing.

“Didn’t I tell you two useless fools to get lost? Can’t you see I’m in a foul mood? If it weren’t for you two idiots, would I, Yin, have suffered such a defeat?”

“Yin, it’s me,” Ji Yuntian sighed and landed.

“What are you here for? To laugh at me?”

“I warned you not to meddle in worldly affairs. Seeking revenge on Hua Zhongying was one thing, but why go after the Emperor’s Stone? Do you think you’re the only one eyeing such a treasure?”

“Hmph, stop your sanctimony. Don’t tell me you don’t want a fleshly body yourself?”

Outsiders thought their path as soul cultivators was glorious, but only they knew the truth—they dreamed day and night of possessing a physical body. Only then could they truly live—not, as now, be cut and not bleed, cry and shed no tears, a group of creatures who felt no pain. Living on wind and mist, never knowing the taste of morning dew—what meaning had such immortality?

With that, Yin grabbed the knife on the table and slashed at his arm.

Threads of soul power spilled out, like an unseen warmth.

Ji Yuntian rushed forward, seized the knife, and slapped Yin across the face. “What are you doing? Regret it now? Then why didn’t you simply enter the cycle of reincarnation when you first fell? Had you thrown yourself into the Six Paths, you might have attained immortality again one day. Why didn’t you leave then? Now you talk of flesh and regret—weren’t these things clear to you the moment you chose this path? Or did someone force you?”

He paused, then went on, “You call them useless, but in my eyes, you’re the one at fault.”

“Ji Yuntian!”

“What? Angry? We’re all disciples of the same sect. I said nothing before for the sake of harmony, but now that it’s out in the open, let’s speak plainly.”

“You—”

“In my eyes, though their cultivation is not as high as yours, they are steadfast and do not covet what is beyond them. They accept their shortcomings with honesty. And you? As one of the Four Guardians, how much have you achieved?” With that, he threw the knife to the ground, glanced at Yin, and turned to leave Baishui Peak.

Yin stared at the knife on the ground for a long while before finally picking it up and putting it back. Yet the bitterness in his eyes only deepened. He understood Ji Yuntian’s meaning, but his hatred and unwillingness only grew.

They said Baili Su He had come back from the dead—some even claimed that once, his bones and flesh had been utterly destroyed, his soul nearly lost. Why was it, then, that when others perished, their souls scattered, but Baili Su He not only survived but could rebuild his body?

Why couldn’t others do the same?

Now that Baili Wushuang’s soul was damaged, and with such a wondrous thing as the Emperor’s Stone at hand, if they fell apart, that was simply their fate—dead, and gone.

He could not accept it. He could not.

When Ji Yuntian came down from Baishui Peak, he saw Xue Chanzi and Cen Zhiren still waiting where he’d left them. He hurried down to them. “Why are you still here instead of resting?”

Xue Chanzi answered, “We suffered a great loss this time. We’re worried about Guardian Yin.”

Cen Zhiren nodded repeatedly.

“I’ve said all there is to say. If he can’t come around, that’s his fate. Not even immortals can save one bent on self-destruction. If he won’t change, nothing can be done.”

Hearing this, Xue Chanzi and Cen Zhiren looked at each other in dismay. How had things come to this?

“Oh, right, I forgot to ask. Weren’t you going after Hua Zhongying for revenge? Why did you end up targeting Baili Su He and the others?” Ji Yuntian frowned.

The two looked at each other, each waiting for the other to answer.

“Can’t say?”

“N-no, it’s not that,” Xue Chanzi stammered.

Ji Yuntian pressed, “Then what was it?”

Cen Zhiren glanced between them, then gritted his teeth and said, “We—we really were going after that woman, but then we heard someone had taken the Emperor’s Stone from Emperor’s Island. We couldn’t help ourselves, and changed course. But we never made it to the island. Halfway there, Baili Su He appeared, and that’s when we attacked.”

“You two!” Ji Yuntian pointed at them, speechless. Was this the kind of thing to do on a whim? Did they not know who Baili Su He was? He was a hot potato—whoever touched him got burned. If they didn’t know, that was one thing, but to know and still get involved was courting death.

How many in Yu Hai Tian wanted Baili Su He dead? Yet none made a move. He himself did not act, but watched others try—wasn’t that clear enough?

Cen Zhiren lowered his head, not daring to meet his eyes. “Heaven Guardian, we—we didn’t mean to.”

Xue Chanzi echoed, “Yes, yes.”

Ji Yuntian glared at them, then turned and stormed off.

The two called after him, panic in their voices: “Heaven Guardian?”