Chapter Twenty-One: A Narrow Escape

The Grand Palace Master stood frozen for a long time, before suddenly striking the wooden figure with his palm. The mound of earth was instantly turned into a deep pit. Dust and sand flew up, startling a few sparrows into chattering wildly among the branches.

That wretched Bai Li Suhe—how had she not noticed when he slipped away? In a blink, hands behind her back, she was gone without a trace.

Elsewhere, Huai Yin was running through the woods with Yi Qingchen on his back, darting swiftly among the trees. Only after glancing back to make sure no one was pursuing them did he dare lean against a tree trunk, gasping for breath. Damn it, why did they have to block both land and sky, making him run his legs off?

Honestly, after flying everywhere all day long, suddenly having to run like this made his legs feel like they weren’t his own. He was exhausted—so tired it felt like the sudden plunge from a life of luxury back into poverty.

He looked around, calculating that they had now left Invitation Moon Peak, and ahead lay the Little Tong Valley. He wondered if that fellow could hold up; those two at the Fragrant Ladies’ Terrace were both formidable opponents. Was their intervention here a coincidence, or deliberate intent?

They did have old grudges, but was that reason enough for all this? If not, then why go to such lengths?

A sudden snap came from the underbrush.

“Who’s there?” he called.

“It’s me.” Suhe staggered out from among the trees, clutching her chest. Her front was stained with blood—clearly the result of a fierce battle.

“Damn, you’re alive—that’s good. But what do we do now?” Huai Yin tilted his head, glancing at Yi Qingchen.

“First, we need to find a place to hide. My injury won’t hold out much longer, and since they can’t catch us, they’ll set ambushes along the roads ahead. If we move rashly, we might not even reach the Little Tong Valley before meeting a violent end.”

“What about the Young Tower Master? Can he wait under these circumstances?” Suhe frowned. It was a real dilemma, but now they had no choice but to gamble.

“At this point, we have no choice but to risk everything.”

“Alright, but where? Do you have a destination in mind?” Huai Yin sighed in resignation. He understood—sometimes, these things were simply out of their hands. Balancing the risks, they could only choose the lesser evil.

Young Tower Master, it’s not that I won’t save you, Huai thought, but if we all get caught, it's over for everyone.

“No particular place. Let’s head that way. These hills are steep and beautiful—perhaps not as treacherous or strange as Invitation Moon Peak, but still formidable. If we go further in, we should find somewhere to rest.”

Suhe pushed aside a tangle of young trees, letting Huai Yin and Yi Qingchen pass first before following, casting a minor spell to erase all trace of their presence. After all, they now numbered a living dead, a half-dead, and only Huai Yin, who, even if he fought desperately, couldn’t protect them all. Caution was vital.

Sure enough, not long after they left, Old Xiao led a group in search, rallying them with cries of vengeance for the Tower Master and recovery of the Young Tower Master, and urging them to search every inch of ground.

As the Grand Palace Master had said, even if they couldn't find them, they must put pressure on those lurking in the shadows.

“You, you—search over there.”

“And you lot, go north. The rest of you, split into two groups—one east, the other with me. Search thoroughly.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Lord Xiao is right. Let's hurry—no matter what, we can’t let the Young Tower Master's body be desecrated.”

“Indeed, everyone start searching.”

With that, the crowd split up, scattering like birds and beasts into the forest.

Before a cliff, Huai Yin gazed out. Billowing clouds surged at the foot of the precipice, and from time to time a white egret would circle above. Pine and cypress stood tall on either side of the cliff; the wind carried a faint fragrance through the ravine.

“Any discoveries?” Suhe asked, her eyes sharp, pointing to a vine-draped cliff opposite. “Let’s go there.”

“Alright.” Without further ado, Huai Yin, still carrying Yi Qingchen, leapt down. Midway, a cloud formed underfoot, carrying them gently to the base of the vines.

He inspected the scene—there was indeed something different. Lifting aside a curtain of vines, he slipped inside.

The place was small but furnished with table and chairs, and rare flowers and herbs grew beside a little pool. There was an old stone bed, worn by years of use. Clearly, this had once been someone's cave dwelling, now abandoned for reasons unknown—perhaps its owner had found a better place to cultivate, or perhaps they were no more.

In the Sea of Desire, immortals who lived one day and died the next were countless.

Glancing back at Suhe, who was busy setting up an array at the entrance, Huai Yin couldn’t help but sigh. “Honestly, mortals are the lucky ones. Good or bad, it’s all just a hundred years—close your eyes and begin again. But us? Even if we wrestle with the heavens for longevity, it’s still a precarious existence—alive today, unsure about tomorrow. Cultivation is like rowing upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall back. It’s a bitter life.”

After Suhe finished setting up the concealment array, she brushed the dust from the stone bed and helped Huai Yin lay Yi Qingchen down. Once everyone was settled, she found a corner and began to meditate, healing her wounds.

She glanced at Huai Yin, puzzled. “What, longing for mortal life?”

“Get out of here. I’m just sighing, that’s all. Who’s longing for what?”

“If you’re weary of this life, you could always withdraw for a while.”

“Is that what I meant?” He shrugged. “Forget it—tell me, how did you escape from those two women?”

Those two—beautiful as flowers, but famed for being troublesome. Many handsome young men had been thoroughly ruined by Rain Suri.

He shivered as he thought of it.

Suhe glanced at him, silent.

Huai Yin, you really don’t need to worry.

He caught her look and bristled. “What, you can’t say?”

“No, after we split up, only Old Xiao chased me. Later, the Grand Palace Master arrived, but I didn’t see the Second Palace Master.”

“Really? Rain Suri didn’t come—could she have other plans?” He grew anxious. “But Flower Shadow isn’t weak either—she just let you go?”

Suhe, helpless under his gaze, replied, “No, I used a substitution technique to fool her. That’s how I escaped and came to find you.”

“Are you insane? Do you know what a monster Flower Shadow is now? You tried to trick her with that little technique? You’ve lived so long you must have forgotten what death means!”

Huai Yin squatted by the pool, fiddling with a flower bud. He squeezed too hard and juice oozed out, making him gag. He hurried to wash his hands.

“But I came back, didn’t I?” Suhe couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s not the point! Substitution tricks shouldn’t fool Flower Shadow. How did you do it?”

He splashed her with water, threatening to soak her if she didn’t explain.

“It’s not as complicated as you think. She wasn’t on guard against me, which gave me a chance. The same trick wouldn’t work twice—otherwise, I’d be counting on you to gather my bones.”

“That simple?” The more relaxed Suhe sounded, the more suspicious he became.

“I swear.”

Huai Yin snorted and sat by the pool. “I’ll believe that when pigs fly.”

Suhe smiled faintly, unwilling to explain further. Some things were best left unsaid. In the past, if she hadn’t been so stubborn and easily provoked, she wouldn’t have fallen into so many traps.

Everyone has to walk a certain path to realize how absurd life can be.

She closed her eyes to examine her wounds—her smile growing bitter. If her friends knew, they’d surely scold her again.

This injury was no more optimistic than the last time she was rescued—perhaps even more troublesome.

She had controlled a wooden figure from afar via substitution; the longer the puppet lasted, the better for her. But she had to share half the damage it took.

In short, both she and the puppet suffered equally.

She had gambled with half her life for a chance at survival.

Huai Yin noticed the change in her expression and felt a chill.

“How is it?”

“It’s fine, just need some rest. Nothing serious.” Suhe opened her eyes, calm as a cloud.

Seeing his suspicion, she added, “I took too many pills while escaping—as they’re not yet fully absorbed, they’re causing some trouble, but I’ll be alright.”

“How many did you take?”

“Didn’t count. I swallowed a whole bottle.”

“…Damn, seeing you alive is a miracle.”

Huai Yin stepped over, raising his hand as if to hit her, but then lowered it with a sigh. Couldn’t she be less reckless? Danger after danger—how was he supposed to explain if anything happened to her? He might lose his life before the job was done.

“So you see, Huai, you’re my lucky star. With you here, I always turn misfortune to fortune.” As she spoke, Suhe suddenly coughed up a mouthful of dark blood. She wiped it away, feeling the burning pain in her organs subside. Guiding her energy, she began to slowly repair the damage—though a drop in the ocean, it was better than nothing.

“Flattery. Let me warn you: we’re in this together. If you die, who am I supposed to blame if I get hunted down?” He grumbled on—

“Shh, quiet. Someone’s coming.” Suhe pressed a finger to her lips.

Huai Yin craned his neck toward the entrance. The barrier shimmered like flowing water, undisturbed. He crouched low, gripping his robe. “Hey, are you sure this will hold? If they find us, we’re dead.”

“Let’s leave it to fate.”

“Fate? What fate?” He stood, summoned his broadsword, and crept to the entrance. If the barrier failed, his Silver Wolf would cut down anyone who came through.

Suhe looked up at him. “That sword of yours must have quite a history.”

“Naturally,” Huai Yin whispered, eyes fixed on the vines outside.

Just then, the vines at the entrance were parted, and his heart leapt into his throat.

For a long moment, the two of them stared at the intruder without moving—a standoff that almost made Huai Yin cross-eyed. Sweat beaded on his brow and evaporated into the air.

“Hey, what are you looking at? Anything there? If not, let’s go. If we dawdle any longer, it’ll be dark.”

“I’m coming—wait up.” The person glanced back and hurried after the others.

Huai Yin turned, stiff as a board, broadsword pointing at Suhe. “Tell me—does your barrier really work?”

“You saw it yourself,” Suhe said, lowering her eyes and resuming her healing.

Why did he have a feeling she wasn’t being entirely honest?