Chapter Nineteen: Descending the Mountain

The two hurried along with Yi Qingchen, only to be blocked halfway up the mountain.

Huai Yin shifted Yi Qingchen on his back, glanced at the crowd, and edged a bit closer to Su He.

In a low voice, he muttered, “Brother, are we on the wrong path? Why can’t I understand a word of what they’re shouting?”

Su He also sidled nearer to Huai Yin, whispering, “If anything happens, Brother Huai, you must take the Young Master and find a chance to head for Weiye Valley first.”

“And what about you?” Huai Yin shot a look at the crowd—none of them looked remotely friendly.

“It doesn’t matter. Saving lives is most urgent now. We can afford the risk; the Young Master cannot.”

“You—”

“Enough. Murder, extermination, and now you want to use the Young Master as a human shield. Tell me, Huai Yin, how have you become so spineless?”

“Watch your mouth. I could just as well say you were spurned in marriage, grew resentful, and colluded with this rabble to commit these crimes. We just happened to stumble across it, and now you’re playing the thief crying ‘stop thief!’”

“Silence! Don’t slander me with your baseless accusations.”

“Oh? You have no proof, yet your word is truth and mine is false? Since when is that the rule?”

“…”

“Brother Li, why argue with a murderer? Let’s see what everyone else thinks. Remember, the Starshower Pavilion has always aided others; many of you have benefited from the Master’s kindness. Now that tragedy has struck, and the Young Master is still in the hands of villains, I advise you all to remain calm. There’s no need to force their hand and risk disaster.” As he finished, he shot a meaningful look at Su He and Huai Yin.

“Xiao the Fourth, you’re always spouting nonsense. No one would mistake you for a mute if you kept quiet for once,” Huai Yin retorted, unable to hold back his anger.

“Tsk. See? Didn’t I just say a cornered dog will bite? Here he goes, lashing out. Gentlemen, tell me, have I spoken amiss?” Xiao the Fourth spun a flute in his hand and looked over his shoulder.

At this, the crowd could no longer contain themselves. Most had benefited from the Pavilion Master’s generosity, and at once, shouts for vengeance erupted: “Kill them! Kill them all!”

Yet there were dissenting voices. Huai Yin was no fool in this realm; he had some reputation. Even with his skills, how could he be a match for the Pavilion Master? Besides, the Starshower Pavilion had over three hundred skilled hands—no ordinary folk. Otherwise, how could it have thrived for so long?

If one Huai Yin couldn’t do it, neither could ten.

“Wait. The Pavilion Master’s cultivation is profound, and the entire Pavilion is no gathering of mediocrities. Huai Yin’s abilities, noteworthy as they are, hardly suffice to challenge the Pavilion Master. Not to mention that even the Pavilion’s guards would give him a hard time. To claim he did all this—does that not seem far-fetched?”

“Exactly. I saw the bodies—all slain with a sword, but Huai Yin wields a saber. It must be a mistake.” Someone muttered quietly.

Huai Yin looked at the speaker and breathed a silent sigh of relief—at least someone was thinking clearly.

But just then, Xiao the Fourth jabbed his flute at the people beside him. “Are you all so addled by cultivation that you only see Huai Yin with his saber and don’t notice the unfamiliar face at his side? Everyone here is exceptional, having ascended from the lower realms. If you can see through Huai Yin’s cultivation, can you see through his companion’s?”

The crowd burst into an uproar.

“Hey, brother, spill it—what’s your level? Don’t tell me you’re really... that?” If that were true, today would be a disaster, no matter how you look at it.

Su He quietly circulated his true energy through his body. “I am not much different from you. Don’t you know that already? If I had such power, would we have been beaten up by the hooded man?”

…That’s true, but my belief means nothing. You need to convince them.

Huai Yin shot a meaningful look at Su He.

“Gentlemen, since you have all received the Pavilion Master’s generosity, why not let Brother Huai and the Young Master pass? Every moment you delay puts the Young Master in greater danger. If you insist on settling this now, I’ll stay behind.”

The crowd hesitated.

“Wait! Don’t try to fool us with these tricks. Anyone can see life or death by reading the aura. Look at the Young Master—does he still live?” Xiao the Fourth stretched out a hand to bar their way, his eyes wide with rage.

Like a self-righteous envoy of justice, he stood tall and unyielding.

Faced with mounting accusations, Su He and Huai Yin could not explain themselves. Even Huai Yin had thought Yi Qingchen dead; only Su He’s secret art, taught by Bai Li Wushuang, had saved him—but who would believe that?

Just then, the First and Second Mistresses parted the crowd and approached.

Someone exclaimed, “Why are the people from the Pavilion of Blossoms here?”

“What’s the Pavilion of Blossoms?”

“You don’t know? It’s from the Demon Realm—rumored to be of the Heart Demon clan. And those two are famous beauties.”

“But… aren’t demons supposed to be evil?”

“Tch. Are all humans good? Of course not.”

“So demons are just the same. This is not some backwater. You’re new here—try to broaden your horizons.”

“Uh… Yes, understood.”

The First Mistress glanced back, her eyes settling on Su He. “We meet again.”

“And what brings you here?” Su He frowned, menace flickering in his gaze.

“A coincidence. We heard the Young Master was holding a marriage contest, so my sister and I wished to witness the elegance of the candidates. Little did we expect to meet you here.”

Her beautiful eyes swept over the crowd, causing many a weak-willed man’s knees to nearly buckle.

The Second Mistress, twirling a lock of hair, strolled to the corpses, glanced down, and sighed, “Oh, darling, was this really necessary? There are beauties everywhere—why kill for a woman? Am I not beautiful enough for you? If you want me, I’d give myself to you for free. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor little thing.”

“Enough! If you’re here to settle a previous score, name the time. I’ll accept. But the Young Master’s life hangs by a thread—please show mercy and don’t stir more trouble,” Su He said with a bow.

The Second Mistress was about to retort, but the First Mistress raised a hand to stop her. “We happen to be here. If your conduct is aboveboard, what is there to fear? Why not draw your sword and compare the wounds in front of everyone? If you’re innocent, isn’t this the perfect chance to prove it?”

Su He’s gaze fell on the bodies. He had noticed from the start how the wounds matched those caused by Min Shu. To agree was to seal his own guilt; to refuse was to look guilty. It was a trap with no way forward or back—a truly vicious ploy.

He looked down at Yi Qingchen, his eyes heavy.

The First Mistress pressed again, “Well?”

“Bah! Flower’s Shadow, don’t think we don’t know what you’re up to. You keep pressing. I have every reason to suspect you’re involved,” Huai Yin spat, glancing at the wounds as well—struck by their uncanny resemblance. But Su He had been at his side the whole time, with no chance to act.

And these people seemed to have come prepared, even Xiao the Fourth stirring the pot, refusing to rest until chaos reigned.

“Oh, what an injustice! My sister and I suffered greatly at his hands just days ago. My heart still aches! Look, it’s pounding—so fast. Won’t you come and soothe my pain, Brother Yin? Oh, it hurts so much,” the Second Mistress said, her eyes fluttering as she moved to fall into Huai Yin’s arms.

“Get lost! Do I look like that kind of man?” Huai Yin shuddered, darting behind Su He.

Sorry, brother, don’t blame me for being unkind.

With a sudden kick, Huai Yin sent Su He stumbling right into the Second Mistress’s path.

She beamed with delight, arms outstretched to embrace him.

Su He twisted at the waist, narrowly dodging her.

The sudden confusion left the crowd bewildered.

Huai Yin, with Yi Qingchen on his back, seized the moment, striking out with a palm to his right. “I didn’t kill anyone. If you want someone who uses a sword, go find them!”

With that, he broke through the stunned crowd.

“Damn you, Huai Yin! I’ll chop you to pieces!” someone shouted, blindsided in the chaos.

“After them! Even if he isn’t the mastermind, he’s an accomplice—don’t let any escape!”

“Go!”

Su He saw this and, wielding Min Shu, severed their path with a single sword stroke.

He shouted, “Bamboo shadows sweep, mist and waves disappear!”

Suddenly, sword rain poured down, bamboo shadows looming—branches and leaves sweeping through the ranks.

The crowd hastily countered, but Su He’s real aim was to draw their fire. With a single success, he fought and retreated, vanishing into the forest in a blink, heading a different direction from Huai Yin.

The First Mistress stood unmoved in the wind, casting a glance at Xiao the Fourth.

He understood at once and shouted, “We’ll split into two groups—don’t let these murderers escape!”

“Agreed! After them!”

In moments, the place was deserted.

“Sister, what do we do now?” asked the Second Mistress.

“Don’t you want to feast?” her sister replied.

“Ugh, it’s already stale. I’ve lost my appetite.” The Second Mistress wrinkled her nose in disdain.

“Really? When did you become so picky?” With that, the First Mistress flicked her fingers, sending a fireball to the ground. In moments, flames swept across the once-glorious Starshower Pavilion.

“Let’s go. Spread word that Bai Li Su He murdered for treasure—I’ll give chase.” The First Mistress glanced at her sister before vanishing.

The Second Mistress twisted her sleeve, scoffing, “Show off all you want. Go, then.”

After a moment, she covered her face, feigning coyness. “So your name is Bai Li Su He? Just wait—you’ll be mine soon enough…”

Su He hadn’t gone far before the others, with Xiao the Fourth in the lead, caught up.

His flute became a sword, gleaming with cold light as he pressed the attack.

Su He’s gaze hardened, now holding nothing back. Min Shu shone with autumnal brilliance, its sword aura wreaking havoc upon the wind and clouds, time itself seeming to grow heavy.

“Murderer! Where do you think you’re going?”

“Flee? Why would I?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, since you’re so determined to pin this crime on me, I might as well make it true.”

With that, he gathered his true energy, channeling it into Min Shu. “Spirit Heaven’s True Art—Boundless Heaven and Earth!”

In an instant, brilliant light erupted, a surge of pure energy crashing forth, shaking the entire Mount Invitation as if a dragon stirred beneath the earth. A wave of destruction surged straight for Xiao the Fourth’s heart.

Sensing danger, Xiao the Fourth leapt back, looking to grab someone else as a shield, but the rest scattered even faster, nearly leaving him breathless with frustration.

They weren’t fools—they might have been upset, but risking their lives was another matter entirely. So, as soon as Su He unleashed his true art, they vanished without a trace.

As they fled, they shouted, “Run! Don’t die for nothing!”

“Cowards, the lot of you!” Xiao the Fourth spat, but as he turned, the killing blow was already upon him.

He raised his sword to block, “Human Affairs Urged On!”

In a flash, sword light blazed, barely holding Su He’s attack three inches from his chest.

Clenching his teeth, he growled, “If you want my life, it won't be so easy.”

Su He pressed his attack, coldly, “Is that so?”