Chapter Ninety-One: Bad News, Good News

On one side, Hu Xihe, Hua Zhongying, and Yuchu’er were locked in a tense standoff, the air brittle and ready to snap.

At the very same time, Su He and the others in the Little Tung Waterway were torn between one joy and another worry.

The joy came from the vital information they had obtained from Zou Jiren; at last, the question that had long troubled them had found its answer.

Though they still did not know whose divine consciousness resided within the goddess statue, one thing could be certain: this matter was inseparably bound to the master behind Lin Mao, the Demon Prince.

From Zou Jiren’s words as well, it was clear that the Demon Prince took the goddess temple’s calamity very seriously and had secretly fanned the flames more than once.

Huai Yin glanced at the peanuts on the table, picked up one, and flicked it against Su He’s forehead. “What is it? Gone stupid?”

Su He took a sip of tea and steadied his thoughts. “I’m just surprised. I never expected this would be tied to the demon realm.”

“Yes, one strange old woman is headache enough. Now we’ve got some damn Demon Prince thrown in as well. At this rate, the two of us are liable to work ourselves to death.”

Given the situation, he would need to find a chance to slip away. But after a glance around the room, now was clearly not the time.

Distracted, he idly picked up a few peanuts and tossed them into his mouth one after another.

Thinking about it, he really had not expected Zou Jiren to have any substance at all. He glanced sideways, considering that perhaps he could still work something out through him.

So he clapped his hands and said, “Housekeeper Zou, is the expert you spoke of at Yin Mountain Lake the same person as the villain who fled from Eight-Wind Island?”

“I cannot be certain.”

“Why not?”

“I only ever glimpsed Lin Mao meeting a woman in secret. Her presence was terrifyingly oppressive, so I could not get close; what I heard and saw were both rather unclear.

Still, she bore at least seven parts resemblance to the woman in the portrait. As for the other two, I have never seen them, so I cannot say for certain.”

This time, Zou Jiren truly seemed to have made up his mind. No longer wavering between both sides, he would not blame himself for treachery if Lin Mao had shown him no righteousness.

In this world, there is nothing more painful than betrayal by one’s nearest and dearest.

Su He was startled, then immediately spread the scroll open again. “Is this true?”

“I have no need to lie to you.” Since he had resolved to submit, he would not withhold the requisite sincerity.

“In that case, she must be one of the Three Evils, the Red Widow. Then the remaining two are Worm and Chang Daozi?”

After staring for a long while, the Cloudless One held his wine jar and let out a long sigh. Though he did not wish to admit it, he had no choice but to face reality.

“It was enough to have Never Wind specially send Dark Radiance in person. That shows how serious this matter truly is.

You lot need to hurry up and sort out this mess with the goddess temple.

If you ask this old man, once it is all over, you should retreat into seclusion on my island as soon as possible. The Sea of Desire Heaven will not know peace for long.”

Su He was deeply grateful for the Cloudless One’s kind concern, but when a nest is overturned, how can any egg remain whole? Though Lion Island stood apart from worldly strife, it was still under the rule of Sea of Desire Heaven.

When that day truly came, where in the world would there still be pure land?

He smiled and said, “We are grateful for your good intentions, senior, and would not dare refuse. We only fear the heavens may not go along with your wishes, sir.”

“You wretched brat, who do you think I’m worrying my damned head over? You ungrateful little thing, and you still have the nerve to undercut me?” The Cloudless One snatched up his wine jar as if to throw it, then remembered at the last moment that it was his own wine and could not be wasted.

So he rolled his eyes to the heavens.

“Fine, fine!” Su He was not annoyed. He turned to Zou Jiren and said, “Housekeeper Zou, in your view, what will Lin Mao do next?”

Zou Jiren lowered his gaze, exhaled softly, and pressed both hands onto his knees. Then he said again, “From now on, just call me Jiren.

That shameful name does no one any good.”

“Very well. Jiren, do you have a plan?” Su He looked at him for a while, then followed his lead.

“The goddess statue is nearing the final stage of sacrifice. To put it bluntly, if you mean to act, you must do so soon.

Also, let me offer you one more warning: be careful of Fourth Master Xiao.”

“Oh?” Su He studied Zou Jiren, his expression one of surprise and yet not surprise at all.

That made Zou Jiren uncertain. He turned his eyes aside and said, “Do not ask me. I only suspect it; I have no proof. But if you still cannot produce any favorable evidence, Lin Mao and the others have no intention of letting you off.”

Huai Yin said, “Since we’re on the same boat now, why not point us toward the right course?”

Zou Jiren said, “I can point the way. The question is... can you actually do it?”

At that, Huai Yin laughed, finding some interest in the man’s words. He straightened at once and lifted an eyebrow. “Ha... All right, tell us. What is there we cannot do?

Apart from killing the Three Evils, if it is within our means, there should be nothing we cannot accomplish.”

“Huai Yin, one should not boast lightly, or regret will come too late.” Seeing how he spoke, Zou Jiren naturally understood the contempt beneath his words.

With his eyes lowered, a trace of amusement curved at the corner of his mouth, and he changed the resolve he had originally made in his heart.

As soon as he heard the tone turn sour, Huai Yin’s smile vanished. “Say that clearly.”

What did he mean, boast? What did he mean, too late?

“You know the Lone Yin Bridge, do you not?”

“Yes.”

Seeing him nod, Zou Jiren turned his gaze to Su He. “Do you still want me to continue?”

Huai Yin was baffled, but Su He waved a hand. “No need.”

It was not that Zou Jiren had suddenly turned sharp-tongued without reason; rather, this matter was truly difficult.

“Hey, speak plainly. Don’t leave things half told. What exactly are you talking about?”

Zou Jiren leaned back in his chair and gave him a sidelong look. “Why don’t you ask your own self?”

His meaning could not have been clearer. But the more he behaved that way, the less certain Huai Yin felt. He only sensed that something was amiss, as though if he took one more step he would tumble straight into a trap. Yet to give up halfway was not his way.

After a brief hesitation, he said, “Brother, you tell me.”

Su He glanced around the room, then stood. “Come with me.”

When they reached the corner of the courtyard, Huai Yin could no longer keep still. “What are you doing? Just say it. Why all this secrecy? Anyone who doesn’t know better would think the sky was falling.”

“How does Brother Huai cross the Lone Yin Bridge?”

“How would I know?” Wasn’t it just walked across directly? Was there some hidden trick to it?

Suddenly, he froze and looked at Su He with a little more irritation.

He had begun to want to know why, but now he suddenly did not want to know anymore. So he made an excuse to leave. “I’m going to check on the jade girl, in case she causes trouble again.”

With that, he turned and strode off.

Su He called after him, “Brother Huai, it is too late.”

“Then say it clearly!” Huai Yin whirled back at once and lunged forward, grabbing Su He by the front of his robe. Even he himself could not quite say why.

In all his years through blades and fire, through dragon pools and tiger dens, he had never once spoken of regret. Only this time, he wanted to be selfish.

“The Lone Yin Bridge, as the name suggests, can only be crossed by women.”

“I do not agree.”

“I agree.”

Just as the two were deadlocked, Broken Jade Girl’s voice suddenly cut in.

Huai Yin let go of Su He and smoothed out his clothes for him. Only then did he slowly turn around, draw a deep breath, and lower his eyes. “Go back.”

“No.” Broken Jade Girl lifted her little face and refused cleanly and decisively.

“Do you even know what you’re saying? Do you understand what you’re doing? If something happens to you, I... how am I supposed to answer to your father?”

“I know, all right? Lone Yin Bridge. Only women can cross it. In our Twelve-Month Wind Pavilion, apart from this young lady, who else is there?”

“Then we can find someone else.” In any case, you are not going, understand? If anything really happens to you, being skinned alive by your father would be the least of it.

Broken Jade Girl covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed softly. “You rascal, I think there’s really something wrong with your head. Sometimes you ought to have someone look at it.”

“...”

“Which family’s daughter is not precious? If I can take the danger on your behalf, does that mean my life is not a life?”

“And yours? Is yours not a life? Do you know...” How much effort I spent, how many people I begged, just to save you then?

“Know what?” Broken Jade Girl lowered her sleeve and stared at Huai Yin without blinking. Her eyes were clear and glistening, bright as the stars in heaven.

A shimmering radiance, enough to stir the heart.

Huai Yin was driven nearly mad by that gaze. In an instant his face darkened with anger. “Nothing. Anyway, you cannot go. I do not agree.”

“I just won’t listen. I’m going.”

“Broken Jade Girl...”

“What? Want to hit me?” Seeing Huai Yin raise his hand, Broken Jade Girl immediately lifted her brows high. There was not the least fear in her eyes, only an indescribable brilliance.

“I...” Meeting those eyes, Huai Yin could not bring himself to be cruel. He withdrew his hand in frustration, unwilling to look at the girl any longer, afraid he might not be able to stop himself from hitting her later.

The more he acted like this, the happier Broken Jade Girl became. The little boots on her feet hooked playfully, and a pebble was kicked far away.

Huai Yin knew he could not outargue her, so he changed tactics and turned to Su He. He knew that with Su He’s character, as long as he insisted, Broken Jade Girl would not be able to make a scene.

“Brother, there must be someone else, some other way, right?”

“Brother Huai...” In truth, this was the first time Huai Yin had opposed something so fiercely.

At first he had not wished it either, but once he discovered Broken Jade Girl had been eavesdropping, he knew the matter was settled.

“Don’t give me that. Just answer me: can it be done or not? Can someone else take her place?” There were so many female immortals in the Sea of Desire Heaven; it did not have to be her, did it?

Su He was silent for a long while. He very much wanted to lie to him against his conscience, but he could not.

He shook his head. “No. If one is to go willingly, none of us can replace her.”

They all understood the reasoning, but they also knew how dangerous the Lone Yin Bridge was, not to mention the true Yin Mountain Lake beyond it.

And no one had ever gone inside. The actual danger was perhaps only greater, not less. By rights, a woman should not be made to take such risks.

But if there had been any other choice, they would not have done this.

Given the strange nature of Yin Mountain Lake, without the skills of one like Worm or Chang Daozi among the Three Evils, no one could possibly cross that natural barrier by their own ability.

At that, Huai Yin could not help stepping back two paces, his face filled with stupor and helplessness. Then, suddenly, he struck like lightning and seized Broken Jade Girl.

If he could not persuade her, he would simply send her away.

At worst, he would apologize later.

“Let go of me!” Broken Jade Girl stamped her feet in fury, struggling with all her might.

“I won’t.”

Smack. Broken Jade Girl raised her hand and slapped Huai Yin across the face. With haughty disdain, she said, “Who are you to me? Why should I have to listen to you?”

“You... you are utterly unreasonable.” Huai Yin blinked, still stunned by the slap. How could it be so hard these days to be a good person? Not letting her go was obviously for her own good, was it not?

“I am unreasonable, so what? Do not think that because you saved me, you can control me. This young lady does not have such a good temper.”

Su He said, “Both of you, will you hear me out?”

“Move aside. He will not learn unless he is taught a lesson.” With that, Broken Jade Girl charged forward without another word.

Huai Yin’s fury surged. He met her palm with his own and said without yielding, “Exactly. Some people just need a little hardship to learn a lesson.

Otherwise, she’ll think the Sea of Desire Heaven is her own home, free to do whatever she pleases.”

“Hey, what are you two doing?”

In unison, they said, “Fighting.”

“Both of you, stop at once.” Su He moved in a blur, one hand on each of them, separating the pair. “Nonsense.”

“Then tell us what to do? We can’t find someone to replace her, and she can’t go herself.”

“I don’t care. I’m going.”

“Shut up.”

“You rotten bastard, you’re yelling at me?”

“...”

Su He looked at the two of them, glaring like squabbling gamecocks, and was just about to speak when he suddenly heard a familiar voice from beyond the barrier. He immediately dispelled the seal and went to open the door himself.

“It’s you?”