Chapter Sixty-Eight: Every Step Is Death

As night descended, Suhe, accompanied by Huai Yin and carrying the Shattered Jade Woman on his back, suddenly stepped from the void. They floated lightly to the ground and hurried toward Weiye Valley.

But before they reached the entrance, they fell into an ambush.

Beneath the dark curtain of night, two or three round red lanterns suddenly appeared, carried by several graceful immortal maidens. At first sight, they cried out sharply, "Lecherous villain, return our sisters' lives!"

With that, the red lanterns flickered and, caught by the wind, transformed into swords that slashed toward Suhe and Huai Yin.

Huai Yin, unsure of what was happening, drew his Silver Wolf blade to block a sword, knocking its wielder back, and retreated toward Suhe. "What's going on?"

Could this be a new pretext for seizing treasure?

"I don't know," Suhe replied, just as bewildered. He had no idea where the accusation had come from.

The woman shouted angrily, "Shameless! If Lord Xiao hadn't pointed you out, we would still be fooled by this beast in human form!"

With that, she threw several concealed weapons.

The darkness made it difficult to see, and though none present were ordinary people, this was the way of heaven—no mortal could bend nature's order. Even if one could stride the night as on level ground, such hidden attacks were troublesome.

Suhe dodged two, struck two from the air with his sword, but the last was unavoidable. He caught it between his fingers and sent it flying back.

The woman couldn't evade. With a cry of pain, her sword fell from her hand.

"Rongrong, are you alright?" Another woman rushed to support her, while the rest stood ready, swords drawn, their delicate faces set with murderous intent.

"It hurts..."

"Let me see." Her companion examined the wound on her right arm—struck by their own shooting star dart. She pulled it free and sprinkled medicine over the injury, then tore a strip from her skirt to bind it.

Supporting Rongrong, she stepped forward, pushing through her sisters. "Baili Suhe, you still haven't settled the old score for abducting our sisters, and now you've wounded another. Do you really think the Sea of Desire is without justice for you?"

"Wait. Make yourselves clear. What do you mean by abducting your sisters? Who said this—let them come out and explain. We won’t take the blame for nothing," Huai Yin said, gripping his blade behind him and shifting the Shattered Jade Woman higher on his back.

No sooner had he spoken than Lin Mao and Housekeeper Zou emerged from the shadows.

Soon after, Old Xiao the Fourth arrived with a group, torches lighting the night.

Old Xiao the Fourth spun a long flute around his fingers, then rested it on his shoulder. "I'm the one who said it. Master Lin here is the witness."

"Old Xiao the Fourth, why are you everywhere?" Huai Yin snapped, anger rising.

"Hey, calm yourself. We’re not here for the Tower Master this time, just happened upon some injustice returning to the Little Tung Region. Fairy Lan, am I right?"

Fairy Lan, the woman supporting Rongrong, nodded gratefully at Old Xiao the Fourth. "If not for your guidance, we’d still be ignorant of our sisters’ misfortune."

She turned to Suhe, voice full of accusation. "Nor would we know the true culprit walks free."

Suhe frowned, saluted with his sword and said, "Miss, I am a stranger to you and yours. Why would I harm you? And lately, I haven’t set foot in the Little Tung Region—how do you know I’m the culprit?"

"Enough lies. You can talk all you want—it won’t change the fact that you’re the murderer." Fairy Lan signaled to Lin Mao.

Lin Mao stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his expression mournful. "Indeed. According to my investigation, you’ve been traveling with Huai Yin to Emperor Island. But in secret, you entered the Little Tung Region in disguise and reopened the Goddess Hall. The missing women, like my own son, became sacrifices to the goddess."

"Stop it! Don’t slander us," Huai Yin shouted furiously.

Lin Mao looked at the Shattered Jade Woman behind him, his eyes suddenly cold. "Slander? My son, as beautiful as a flower, was also falsely accused? My gentle wife, killed by his hand, is that false too? If so, show me proof!"

"Hahaha, Lin Mao, you killed your wife and son and now demand proof from us? Aren’t you ashamed..."

"Hmph, even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. You slander me—aren’t you afraid of heaven’s wrath?" Lin Mao wiped his tears, raising two fingers to the sky.

In that moment, thunder rumbled and lightning flickered—truly terrifying.

"Exactly, even a tiger won’t eat its own cubs, let alone a man," Rongrong said, clutching her wound.

Suddenly, she caught sight of the Shattered Jade Woman and cried out, "It’s her! It’s her!"

Fairy Lan was startled. "Who is she?"

"Recently, a black-clad stranger came with a portrait of this woman, searching everywhere for her. They said a sacrifice had escaped from the Goddess Hall."

She had barely escaped that fate herself, saved only by her sisters’ timely arrival.

"Was that the time we found you?"

"Yes."

"Baili Suhe, what more is there to say? You claim innocence, but dragged Huai Yin into your schemes. The sacrifice is right here—how can you deny it?"

Now it was Suhe and Huai Yin’s turn to be shocked. Suhe was stunned to learn the Shattered Jade Woman was the escaped sacrifice from the Goddess Hall. In that case, Lin Mao must be her tormentor. But for now, there was no proof.

Huai Yin, meanwhile, realized the second young lady had narrowly escaped becoming a victim to these fiends. No wonder she was constantly in danger—it was all their doing.

Damn it...

"What’s wrong? Out of excuses?" Fairy Lan flicked her sword, which sang as it moved.

"Miss, the one you refer to was rescued by Brother Huai from Tenghai. The Little Tung Region and Tenghai are separated by thousands of miles. How could she be the one you’re looking for?" Suhe argued.

"I told you not to make excuses, and here you are. Since you know the distance, you should know a sacrifice couldn’t travel that far alone—unless someone took her."

"And why do you think that?"

"Everyone knows the Goddess Hall cripples its sacrifices to prevent escape. You say she was rescued from Tenghai, but does she even know where Tenghai is? Even if she did, without her powers, how could she escape the guards and end up in Tenghai?"

"I see. But earlier you said someone was looking for a missing sacrifice, and now you accuse us of abduction. Isn’t that contradictory?"

Fairy Lan remained unfazed, only more resolute. "There’s no contradiction—this only proves you are the real culprits."

Huai Yin’s temper flared. "I’ve never liked cursing women, but today I really want to call you a fool. You can’t tell good from bad, black from white, and you talk of vengeance? You’re just a pawn in someone else’s game!"

He was furious; he’d never been so speechless before.

Now he truly understood...

Fairy Lan’s brows arched with anger as she lunged with her sword. "Prepare to die!"

Huai Yin shrugged off the Shattered Jade Woman into Suhe’s arms. "Watch her—let me handle this."

Suhe caught her, looking up. "Be careful."

His gaze swept to the silent Housekeeper Zou. So this is the "Breeze in the Willows" you spoke of?

Housekeeper Zou glanced up, exchanged a look with Suhe, then lowered his gaze and stood quietly behind Lin Mao.

A chill settled in Suhe’s heart.

As Huai Yin and Fairy Lan clashed, their weapons sparked and the earth trembled. Old Xiao the Fourth turned to the others. "Everyone, these are the murderers who took your sisters and loved ones. If not now, when?"

With that, the crowd surged forward, swords and blades drawn, all charging at Suhe. He had to defend the Shattered Jade Woman with one hand and fight off attackers with the other.

In the chaos, his steps shifted swiftly, weaving between blades and swords, his Sword of Compassion wounding but never killing.

"You, show us your true skills. Don’t say it’s unfair if we win."

"You abducted my sister—this is a blood feud. Still pretending to be a good man?"

"Kill him! Don’t waste words. Justice is for men—he’s nothing but a beast."

Suhe dodged aside, parrying three swords with his own, then drew on his inner strength and said, "I understand your pain. But do not be misled by villains."

"Villains? You’re the villain here—crocodile tears fool no one."

"Please, calm yourselves and hear me out." Suhe bent low, pulling the Shattered Jade Woman with him as two steel blades sliced overhead. The attackers, seeing him evade, swept their blades horizontally, aiming for his waist.

Suhe leapt onto the blades, kicked both men in the neck, spun away, and thrust his sword out.

"Give me a chance. Let me finish what I must, and I promise you justice in the future."

"Justice? Tell that to the souls you killed."

Old Xiao the Fourth lounged against a tree, idly stroking his flute. "Baili Suhe, last time the Young Tower Master spoke for you and we let you go. Now you talk of justice—when will you give the Tower Master justice? Old debts remain. Empty words are taboo."

"Old Xiao the Fourth..."

"Don’t get worked up. I said I wouldn’t interfere in the Star Tower’s affairs, but I never said I wouldn’t talk about them, did I?"

"Scoundrel." Huai Yin knocked back several enemies with his blade, then used the flat to knock a female immortal unconscious, sending her tumbling into Fairy Lan’s arms.

"Huai Yin, you—"

"What? Get out of here if you know what’s good for you. Don’t force me to kill. Don’t take me for a saint."

"Rongrong, take this! I’ll fight this brute!" Fairy Lan pushed her comrade away, sword trembling as she charged at Huai Yin.

"Courting death!"

"Spare me your words—take your life!"

Suhe, glancing over, saw Huai Yin getting serious and called out, "Brother Huai, don’t take lives."

At once, a burly man nearby was enraged by the pretense. "Who are you trying to fool with your hypocrisy?"

"My friend, step back. I have no wish to be your enemy. If this continues, the real culprit will only be pleased."

"Hah, as if! If you’re not the killer, who is? The evidence is ironclad—you still deny it?"

"Give me some time. I promise you all an explanation. For now, let’s withdraw and cool our heads, can we?"

"This..."

His restraint and sincerity swayed several hearts. Their attacks faltered.

But Lin Mao, seeing an opportunity slipping away, let a cold light flash in his eyes. "Silent One."

"Yes," Housekeeper Zou replied.

In an instant, he glided into the fray like a ghost, striking at a retreating man, who, lost in thought over Suhe’s words, never saw death approach.

Suhe kicked a pebble at the man’s knee, making him fall and narrowly avoid the killing blow. The man shouted, "You—"

"Careful!" Suhe cried, seeing Housekeeper Zou following up with another attack. Suhe leapt forward, sword in hand, hoping to intervene.

But Housekeeper Zou suddenly switched from striking to grabbing, seizing the man and using him as a shield.

Suhe couldn’t stop his sword in time.

With a sickening sound, his blade pierced flesh.

"No—"