Chapter Eleven: The Power of the Doppelgänger

Let us set aside for now the matter of Su Hechu and the Divine Lady, and speak instead of the woman after she had left the hall.

She found that Steward Zou was nowhere to be seen; only Lin Mao was there, pacing with his hands behind his back. The dim light made it impossible to read his mood—whether he was pleased or displeased.

Yet the woman feared him all the same; this was her husband, her world.

Pressing her hand to the wall, she glided over gracefully.

She bowed slightly and addressed him, “Husband.”

Lin Mao halted, raised his gaze, and asked, “How did it go?”

“It’s done.” The woman produced a handkerchief, covering her mouth as she stifled a laugh.

“Truly?”

“Yes.”

“So the Divine Lady agreed to take our child?” At this, Lin Mao could not restrain his joy. He strode forward and seized the woman’s arms in excitement, shaking her vigorously.

“She did. More than that, to my eyes, the Lady seems to care for our daughter quite especially.”

The woman winced from the pain, her brows knitting. But recalling the success of their endeavor, she felt the pain was nothing worth mentioning.

Hearing this, Lin Mao abruptly released her arms, straightened his lapels, and coughed lightly. “Ahem, and what makes you say so?”

“See here—can you tell what this is?”

With barely contained excitement, the woman drew from her sleeve the brocade box she had earlier secreted away. She presented it, hands trembling shyly, to Lin Mao.

Over the years, Lin Mao had wandered between many realms and gained a discerning eye. He saw the box and knew at once it was extraordinary. He took it, opened it for a quick glance, then closed the lid.

With studied calm, he slipped it into his sleeve pouch.

Lowering his head, brows arched, he said, “We have raised our child for a thousand years for this very day. All our painstaking efforts have at last yielded some reward.”

“You are right, husband. What do you intend to do with this elixir? If you and I each take one, would our cultivation not become even more wondrous?” In her heart, this was her hope and her desire. Lost in her longing, she spoke without thinking, voicing her inner thought aloud. Only when she tried to take the words back did she realize it was too late.

She clutched her handkerchief, shrank against the wall, and forced an awkward laugh, inwardly wishing she could slap herself for her indiscretion.

But to her surprise, Lin Mao said nothing. He merely gazed at her for a long moment, then dusted off his wide robe sleeves.

The woman was puzzled, unable to guess what he was thinking. Could it be that he truly meant to let it pass? Was it really nothing?

She gathered her courage and asked, “Husband, now that all is accomplished, what should we do next?”

Lin Mao glanced sidelong at her, hands clasped behind his back. “We do as the Divine Lady commands. Whatever she asks, we obey.”

“But at this moment, isn’t the Lady amusing herself with that young man? What orders could she possibly give?” Once distracted by pleasure, would she not forget everything else?

Suddenly, Lin Mao’s expression grew frigid, making the woman’s heart pound in terror.

“H-husband...”

“Do what you’re told. Listen as you should. If you do well, you remain my wife. If not, there are many who could take your place. To speak ill of the Divine Lady—do you realize that is a capital offense?”

“I... I know my fault, husband. Please don’t be angry.” The woman panicked, dropping to her knees before Lin Mao, pressing her forehead to the ground, not daring to lift her head for a long while.

Lin Mao glanced down at her. “If you wish to die, that’s your affair, but do not drag me to die with you.”

“I know my fault, truly I do. Husband, forgive me this once. I will change, I promise,” she pleaded, knocking her head to the floor several times.

“Get up and wait outside with me. The people of Twin Fiends Palace have arrived at Xiaotong Stream—we should be on guard. Whether their presence is intentional or deliberate, who can say?”

The woman rose, massaging her brow with the handkerchief, puzzled. “Intentional or deliberate—is there a difference?”

Isn’t it the same thing?

“None.”

“Then why say it like that, husband? Isn’t it just... pointless talk?”

“It’s to remind you that, whatever the case, nothing good is at hand.” The crowd from Twin Fiends Palace—what good could ever come from their presence? He could only hope they were passing by, not stopping to pry into matters best left unknown.

Still, he sifted through the situation in his mind. This matter, after all, was known only to himself; there ought not to be a second person aware of it, so it should be safe.

The woman murmured her assent, knowing Lin Mao was keeping something from her. But she usually feared him too much to press; if she truly angered him, she would be terrified.

She trailed behind him, walking and pausing, until they returned to the daylight.

No sooner had they emerged than they saw Steward Zou approaching from not far off.

He hurried over. “Master, Madam.”

Lin Mao lowered his gaze, pondered a moment, then said, “Go outside and investigate the movements of Twin Fiends Palace. Are they merely passing through, or are they here on business? Any information—report to me immediately.”

“Understood.”

Steward Zou leaped nimbly onto the courtyard wall and, with a few bounding steps, disappeared from sight.

“The Twin Fiends are dangerous beyond reckoning—can Steward Zou manage alone?” the woman asked anxiously.

“He’s one of our best at gathering intelligence. You need only keep your wits about you. If there’s nothing amiss, let us each take a post and ensure no stray cats or dogs slip in and ruin the Divine Lady’s plans.”

“As you wish, husband,” the woman replied, twisting her handkerchief and nodding slightly.

In a flash, Lin Mao vanished into the void, silently taking up his station at the rear.

Once he was gone, the woman shook out her hands, set up a soft couch amidst the flowers and willows, stepped lightly onto the tender leaves, and settled herself lazily upon the couch.

Propping up her head, she looked around. “There’s not even a mouse about—what cats or dogs are there to catch? Husband’s making a mountain out of a molehill. Who can just walk into Liuxin Study anyway?”

Keeping watch, her eyelids grew heavy and, before long, she drifted off to sleep.

Huai Yin crouched in the shadows, snuffing out the thread of incense in his hand.

He muttered to himself, “It is hard to get in here—nearly had my whole plan ruined by you lot, a bunch of vermin from a latrine pit.”

The letter from his master had specifically commanded him to protect Bai Li Su He if need be. Yet these people had gone and abducted him.

He’d had to expend no small effort to sneak in and had nearly been discovered; all his reputation almost lost in an instant.

He put away the incense, picked up a pebble from the ground, and tossed it.

One breath, two, three...

Good—the incense was working.

Seizing the moment, Huai Yin darted into the moon gate with the speed of lightning.

He hadn’t expected to be instantly engulfed by two patches of darkness, causing him to lose his bearings.

At that moment, Su He was in grave danger. The Divine Lady clearly had no intention of letting him go.

His back stiffened as he pressed slowly against the stone wall, cold sweat trickling down.

Who could have imagined that even projecting his spiritual sense into an avatar would bring such terrifying pressure? Whether fighting or fleeing, neither seemed possible...

“What’s this? Sharing supreme pleasure with me, and you find it distasteful?” The Divine Lady advanced, voice growing more pressing, as she reached to lift Su He’s chin.

Su He dodged with a swift turn, which only stoked her wrath.

“Hmph! Ungrateful wretch. To be chosen by me is your great fortune. You’re not even that handsome—how dare you be choosy?”

With these words, she opened her mouth.

A white serpent shot out, its length unseen, head gaping at Su He with a mighty suction.

Su He cursed inwardly, no longer daring to hide. Snapping the willow branch, he drew Minshu in a reverse grip.

He struck at the serpent’s seven-inch mark with a slash; the white snake, sensing danger, swerved and darted back into the Divine Lady’s mouth.

Seeing Minshu, the Divine Lady faltered briefly. Then, coldly and with hatred, she sneered, “So your heart truly is like iron—first thing you do is try to take my life. How heartless!”

“Oh? You may kill me, but I may not defend myself? Since when is the world so lopsided?” Su He retorted coolly, sword flashing, provoking the Divine Lady to turn pale with fury.

“If I kill you, it is so you may merge with me, to share supreme bliss. You are the one who betrays me, and yet you dare speak of reason?”

The Divine Lady’s breath came fast with rage. Her delicate hand gathered energy, transforming into a sword as she attacked Su He like wind and rain.

Yet within her eyes was a hatred Su He could not fathom—a longing unfulfilled, as though she were a lovelorn maiden scorned.

But he had always cherished his own body, never trifling with any woman, least of all this Divine Lady whose very name he did not know.

Even those with whom he had grievances were no longer in this world. This baseless love and hate truly baffled him.

And the more perplexed he was, the more the Divine Lady pressed her attack, wielding her sword with lethal intent.

Each strike aimed for his life—a battle to the death.

Thus, Su He suffered, beset by deadly moves at every turn, forced to meet force with force.

Sparks flew as they exchanged a hundred blows in the blink of an eye.

To outsiders, the speed was such that not even shadows remained—a contest whose peril could not be grasped.

In a moment of misstep, Su He’s left arm took several blows.

A sharp, searing pain, blood blossoming crimson down his arm.

His brows knit in determination as he shouted, “Heavenly Clarity, Boundless World!”

Instantly, a blinding light radiated out, pure energy surging, shaking mountain and sea alike, forcing the Divine Lady to retreat. But in a moment, she raised her hand and dissolved the force.

She even borrowed its power, returning the same technique, doubled in ferocity, to Su He.

“Try dying by your own sword technique for a change.”

Unable to evade, Su He felt his viscera crushed as if by a mountain.

He was flung like a swallow dashed against a cliff, then tumbled into the turbulent waves.

No sooner had he hit the ground than the Divine Lady’s murderous strike descended again, sword-light blazing, leaving no chance for life.

Su He lifted his gaze, twisting his wrist as he poured all his true essence into Minshu, sword raised in defense.

In a flash, Minshu blazed with light, manifesting a power that barely blocked the attack.

“Hmph! You couldn’t defeat me alive, and now as a ghost, what hope have you? Dream of survival all you like, it’s futile.” The Divine Lady’s eyes were cold and deadly as she stared at Minshu.

“If he cannot do it, what about me?”

Suddenly, a voice rang out—mocking, irreverent, and infuriating.

The Divine Lady spun, sword flashing, launching a killing strike toward the source of the voice.

But in that instant, deadly danger was upon her.

“Woman, are your eyes so poor?” Huai Yin’s broadsword fell with the weight of a mountain.

With a splatter, the blade struck her shoulder.

“Courting death!” The Divine Lady, enraged, swung her palm and sent him rolling across the floor like a gourd.

Huai Yin propped himself up with his sword, spat out a mouthful of blood, and gritted his teeth. “Vicious woman, must you be so fierce? It was just one slash—as if I’d tried to kill my own husband! Anyone would think we were lovers!”

“Silence! I’ll kill you,” the Divine Lady snapped, blood rushing to her face, though a suspicious flush bloomed on her cheeks—was it shame, or fury?

She swept her fingers across her blade, turning with a cry, “Curtain of Frost!”

At once, frost and snow filled the small hall, so cold that Huai Yin hopped from foot to foot.

He darted a look at Su He. “Brother, what now? I only got into this mess for your sake! You can’t just leave me to die—otherwise... otherwise...”

What otherwise, even he did not know. But faced with such imminent danger, his legs began to tremble involuntarily.

Su He gripped his sword tighter, a fierce wind suddenly swirling about him.

He glanced aside and said, “Brother, please fall back.”

With that, he vanished without a trace...