Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Letter

Seeing the two fall into silence, Huai Yin grew uncomfortable.

He turned his gaze to the bodies in the rain and asked, “May I ask, sir, what should be done with these corpses?”

With the torrential downpour, it wouldn’t do to simply leave them lying there.

Brushing Breeze lifted his eyes, glanced over, and replied, “In a while, I’ll take them outside the valley for burial.”

Even if he wished to avoid further entanglement, death was of utmost gravity; whatever wrongs there had been, now all was wiped away. In life, a thousand affairs; in death, none remain.

“I see. Then why don’t I handle it now? After all, I’m just sitting around—Young Master Shao won’t wake so soon, and I’m only idling here.” Huai Yin rose with a grin, thumping his chest in earnest offer. “Let me take care of it.”

“No,” Brushing Breeze declined. “A guest is a guest; since you’ve come to the valley, you’re an honored guest of mine. How could the host sit idly while the guest is made to toil?”

Huai Yin froze, his smile awkwardly caught, his lips twitching as he protested, “It’s fine, truly. It’s just… ah, you two speak so formally—I’m not used to it. I’m just a rough sort. So let me take this task. I’ll be more at ease. Sitting here with you, the pressure’s killing me. Otherwise, I’ll feel terribly uneasy sitting here.”

Brushing Breeze turned to Su He. “He is your friend; what do you think?”

Su He hesitated, holding his cup, then waved his hand with a mute laugh. “Let him go.”

“Then I’ll trouble you,” Brushing Breeze said with a bow, seeing his friend yield.

Huai Yin returned the bow, replying quickly, “I wouldn’t dare.”

He left the house, dragging one body in each hand, making three trips before it was done. He buried them at the foot of Shouyang Mountain, hastily raising a new mound, so that though their lives had not been together, in death they might lie side by side—all buried in one.

At first, he’d thought to take them to Suiyin Mountain, but had heard Suiyin was even more sinister than Shouyang. Unwilling to venture further, he buried them at the mountain’s base, then crouched by a roadside puddle to wash his hands.

Suddenly, it seemed something darted behind him. He sprang up. “Who’s there?”

No answer. Only the rain, pouring relentlessly.

He drew his Silver Wolf blade, hesitated, then gave chase into Suiyin Mountain.

After a while, he returned alone, lingering outside the valley before finally reentering the wooden house.

“What is this?”

Brushing Breeze and Su He exchanged glances, both turning to the tea table.

Huai Yin shook his head. “No idea. After I’d finished with the bodies, I felt something rush behind me, so I followed. Whatever it was, it ran fast. I got to the foot of Suiyin Mountain and saw not a trace. After searching, I found this under a tree.”

He rolled up his sleeve and wrung it out at the door, letting water pour onto the floor. He shook his garments, smoothing the wrinkles, and quickly dried them with a gesture.

Speaking of Suiyin Mountain—damn, it really is cursed. Even now, his skin crawled, a chill on his back.

“Open it and see,” Brushing Breeze said, leaning back in his chair and crossing one leg. Clearly, this was meant for them.

Su He nodded, picking it up and examining it. It was a small rectangle, wrapped in thick oil paper—someone had taken care. He unwrapped it: a letter. There was no addressee, only a drawing of a willow tree.

But both Huai Yin and Su He knew at a glance who had sent it.

“A willow? That trick of yours really frightened him?” Huai Yin sat down, peeking up.

Su He had claimed the secret technique used to subdue Steward Zou was real—truth be told, Huai Yin had never quite believed it, suspecting it was only bluster.

Brushing Breeze, hearing this, straightened with interest. “Oh? Immortal Huai, you know who the sender is?”

“Mmm, you should ask him. Back then, he scared the man so badly he nearly pledged his loyalty with his life.” Huai Yin did not deny it, nudging his lips in jest. He still remembered Steward Zou’s impassioned oaths: If I so much as frown, may my descendants suffer—

And then, in a blink, a bloodcurdling scream… so very amusing.

Su He, feeling his friend’s gaze, pushed the letter to Brushing Breeze. “Here, you’ll see when you read it.”

Really? So mysterious. Brushing Breeze picked up the letter—four characters in all.

He was surprised. “Green Willow in the Wind?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure it can be trusted? What if this is just bait, waiting for you to bite?”

“It takes bait to catch fish,” Su He replied, tucking the letter into his sleeve. “If the bait is not tempting, why would the fish bite?”

Huai Yin watched the two go back and forth, and simply leaned aside with his cup, sipping slowly, pondering…

Meanwhile, Ding Miu, who had gone to the Demon Realm, finally returned to Desire Heaven.

He held a newly intercepted wooden bird and strode toward the inner courtyard. Rounding a corner, he nearly collided with a young woman.

“Greetings, Miss,” he said, while discreetly slipping the wooden bird into his pocket.

The woman snapped, “Why are you just standing there? Who asked you to bow? Come help me up!” Tch, block of wood. Seeing me twisted on the ground and not even offering a hand? Father’s people are all so dull—only that Huai Yin is slightly interesting.

Ding Miu pretended not to hear her muttering and, following her instructions, stiffly pulled her to her feet. When she wobbled, he let go at once.

The woman’s almond eyes rounded in annoyance, and after a moment she huffed, “You… Never mind. I won’t argue with you. Father’s inside; just go in yourself.”

With that, she limped away.

“Farewell, Miss,” Ding Miu said, waiting until she had gone before entering.

“You’ve returned. Any news?” The middle-aged man sat at a stone table, toying with a caged bird. Not the one from before—a new one, small and lively, chirping sweetly, happy and carefree, like a child without worries.

Ding Miu stepped forward and saluted. “Reporting, master, I went to the Demon Realm and, with gifts, bribed their Demon Registrar—Water Bead Ji. I borrowed the names register for a brief look and found two names erased. From the remnants, I gleaned some information.”

“Tell me.”

“One was a minor demon fond of tea, with no hope of ascension, but by fate became a demon immortal. Left the Demon Realm half a year ago and vanished.”

“And the other?” The man whistled, amusing the bird as it hopped and chirped.

Ding Miu paused, then continued, “The other was from the Demon Realm’s Eternal Sin Platform—a criminal by status, but disappeared half a year ago as well.”

“How coincidental. One insignificant, one a criminal—both gone at the same time.”

“Yes. Also, there is news from Huai Yin.” Ding Miu glanced at his master’s face, breathing easier when he saw no anger.

“Present it.”

“Yes, master.” Ding Miu took the wooden bird from his pocket and offered it with both hands, retreating three steps after it was taken.

After some time, the man finished reading and burned the note.

“Master, Huai Yin has been wounded repeatedly; should we recall him to avoid jeopardizing our plans?”

“No. This is best.”

“But… If Bai Li Su He faces danger again, and Huai Yin cannot protect him, would that not ruin things? He’s nearly lost his life several times now. For the sake of brotherhood, I’d rather recall him if possible.”

The man watched Ding Miu for a moment, his voice gentle yet cold. “You’ve been with me a long time, witnessed how I rose to head the family. You know my ways best.”

“I deserve punishment,” Ding Miu said, sweat trickling down his back as he fell to his knees.

“Get up. Do not let it happen again.” The man glanced at him, then turned back to the birdcage. He took some birdseed and dropped it in the dish. The bird pecked at it, one grain at a time, then suddenly flapped and died.

He wiped his hands with a cloth. “Spread the word: The hunt for the sinners may begin.”

Ding Miu shuddered, looking up, but quickly lowered his head. “Yes.”

“You hesitate?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I have heard both women now belong to the Demon Clan, of the Heart Demon lineage—always troublesome. If word gets out, the Demon World will respond. If the wrong people get involved, it could harm us. The Heart Demons now dominate the Demon World. To provoke them is to play with fire. Anyone who could spirit someone away from Eternal Sin Platform is no ordinary figure among the Heart Demons. Are we not courting trouble?”

The man paused, observing Ding Miu, then suddenly laughed. “Trouble will come—but not to us.”

“You mean…?” Ding Miu was puzzled.

“Just do as I say. In time, you’ll understand.”

“I’ll see to it immediately.”

“Go.”

After Ding Miu left, the man’s smile deepened, chilling to behold.

The Demon World? Hmph—no doubt, they have long awaited an excuse. Now, with this opportunity delivered to their door, it’s as if a pillow were offered to a drowsy man. The timing is perfect.

Huai Yin, your news is truly timely.

In Weiye Valley, Huai Yin drank cup after cup, trying to calm himself. By now, news must have reached his master.

“Brother Huai? Brother Huai?” Su He called softly.

“Hm?” Huai Yin snapped back, sheepishly setting down his cup.

“Something on your mind?” Su He asked.

“It’s really nothing.” Huai Yin glanced at Brushing Breeze, scratching his head, debating whether to speak.

Brushing Breeze frowned. “Why do you keep looking at me?”

“I… I…”

“Is there something you cannot say?” Su He asked, puzzled by his friend’s awkwardness.

Huai Yin looked at them both, then suddenly blurted, “Oh, fine! I just wanted to say—the rain outside is only getting heavier. Shouldn’t we go look for… that person?”

After all, she was seriously injured, and had helped them all.

As his words fell, a heavy silence filled the room.