Chapter Thirty-Six: Divination. Absence

When Suhe awoke, it was already midnight.

Bu Gu and Elder Queyun sat across from each other, playing chess by the lamplight in the moonlit room.

Suddenly, hearing a stir, Queyun hastily tossed aside his chess pieces and rushed over to check.

"Awake? How many is this?" he asked, holding up two fingers.

"...Two."

"And this?"

"Four, Elder," Suhe answered honestly, though he had no idea what the old man was up to.

He glanced around the room: simple furnishings, a dim oil lamp, a quiet serenity tinged with tranquil delight.

Bu Gu gazed at him, and Suhe guessed he must have been rescued by the two men. He tried to rise to express his thanks, but the slightest movement revealed something was amiss—apart from his neck and above, he felt nothing.

Simply put, he was now... crippled.

Queyun, seeing his despondent expression, knew immediately what he was thinking. He gathered his robes and sat at the bedside. "Why panic? As long as a man isn't dead, nothing can be concluded too early."

"Elder..."

"You ought to consider: with your level of cultivation, to survive an encounter with Huan is already a stroke of luck. As for your wounds, my old friend and I will find a way. Just focus on recovering."

Unable to move, Suhe could only convey his gratitude through his gaze. "Thank you, Elder. May I ask your names? Where is this place? Also, did you see a young lady and..."

Queyun pointed at himself, then at his companion. "I am Queyun, and he is Elder Bu Gu. This is Lion Island. As for your two friends, you'll have to ask him—he's the one who pulled you from the snake's den."

"Elder Bu?"

Bu Gu replied, "No. When I found you, only Huan was present. I saw no one else."

"What, you have companions?"

"Yes." Suhe's heart chilled at the news.

"You... ah, what can I say about you lot? Did you think it was a holiday outing? Do you even know what kind of place Renhuang Island is? How many have died there over the years, and yet you charge in, oblivious to the danger."

Queyun, seeing Suhe silent, interjected, "Patchpot, what's the point of saying all this? They must have their reasons for venturing there; why not let him speak?"

"...I tell you, Dead Virtue, can't you leave me a shred of dignity in front of outsiders? What reason could they possibly have? Probably heard something they shouldn't and came playing heroes," Bu Gu grumbled, setting aside his chess pieces, a hint of insight flickering in his eyes.

Though immobilized, Suhe was thoroughly embarrassed by Bu Gu's words. True, they had their motives, but they had also acted on others' guidance. His own lack of ability had put his friends in peril.

His heart ached, and he gazed at the rafters with a trace of confusion in his eyes. "I once had a younger brother, born of a different mother. In our youth, we were very close. But after my mother died tragically, we grew apart. First, because his mother was directly involved. Second, he knew nothing of the truth and still regarded me as his beloved elder brother, holding me in the same esteem. And I... I didn't know how to face him.

Later, I left for distant lands, and he followed. Once, during a fight, he died saving me. Before he died, he asked me to bring him home. I fulfilled his wish, though I didn't want his life ended so soon. Later, I learned the Renhuang Stone could mend souls, so I came in search of it. But in the end, it was foolish ambition that led me to betray my friends."

Bu Gu half-lifted his gaze, glanced at Suhe, and chuckled. "You're honest enough. Had you tried any tricks just now, I'd have tossed you into the sea."

Suhe shifted his gaze to Bu Gu. "I wouldn't dare, Elder. Thank you for your life-saving grace."

Queyun's eyes swept between the two, patting his knee. "Don't mind Patchpot's gratitude. Since you're awake, just stay here and recover properly."

The rest can be dealt with once your wounds heal.

With that, he rose and walked over to Bu Gu. "Old friend, let's go. Time's about right."

Bu Gu shot him a sideways look. "Hmph, now you remember I'm your old friend? When you need me to work, I'm your old friend. When you're done, I'm Patchpot. You're something else..."

Queyun chuckled, half dragging Bu Gu out the door, then turned to Suhe. "Rest well. We'll go and bring them back."

Suhe nodded, watching the oil lamp until dawn.

When the red sun rose from the sea, Bu Gu and Queyun returned together.

"I knew it—only you can fish up this gold from the seabed," Queyun said, holding two white fish with black markings, flicking their heads so they leapt and gleamed in the morning light.

Bu Gu put away his fishing rod and sat inside. "Of course. But are you sure this will help?"

Suhe turned his gaze at the sound. "Greetings, Elders."

Queyun said nothing, tossing the fish into a wooden basin, taking a porcelain bowl, and collecting half a bowl of fish blood. He then fetched the herbs he'd soaked earlier, added them to a medicine pot, set it on a stone stove, and began brewing.

He glanced at Suhe amidst his busyness. "Well, do you feel anything in your body now?"

"No," Suhe replied, then asked, "Elder Queyun, can my injuries truly be healed?"

Queyun lifted the lid, stirring as he spoke. "Yes, of course. But it will take some effort."

"What do you mean?" Suhe couldn't help but hope.

"Well... You were struck by the Crown Prince's 'Wind and Moon Death,' your organs displaced and damaged. Your meridians weren't harmed, but the attack forced energy into your channels, causing your meridians to block, leaving you crippled.

It's like rain not reaching the canals—they can't fill. Our meridians are like canals, and vital energy is the rain. Yours are blocked, so energy can't flow. Without it, your cultivation is wasted.

But don't worry. My old friend and I fetched this seabed gold for you. Its blood, mixed into the medicine, will use its metallic energy to help unblock your channels. You'll need patience."

Suhe nodded. He'd heard of seabed gold—it was rare. With Qingfeng gone, having the elders' help was fortune enough.

He wondered, though, how Huaijin and Miss Yi were faring.

Queyun and Bu Gu exchanged a glance, understanding what weighed on his mind. They busied themselves brewing medicine and drinking, leaving him in peace.

Some hurdles, a man must cross alone...

Meanwhile, Yi Qingchen awoke from her stupor, groggy and weak. "Brother Huai?"

But all around was darkness, no answer, only a pile of firewood crackling.

Just as she tried to sit up, Huaijin returned, carrying a handful of fruit in his robe.

"You're hurt?" Yi Qingchen asked softly.

Huaijin picked a peach, wiped it on his sleeve, and handed it to her. "Eat. It's just a flesh wound—no trouble."

Yi Qingchen took the peach, nibbling, and asked, "Brother Huai, how long was I asleep?"

"Not sure. But while you were unconscious, your old wound flared up once. I found this at your waist and decided to give you a pill. Forgive me for taking the liberty," he said, handing her a medicine bottle.

Yi Qingchen's eyes widened at the bottle. "He... planned it all along, didn't he?"

Holding the bottle, she felt it burning in her palm.

Huaijin grabbed a peach for himself, not bothering to wipe the fuzz, and took a big bite. "Yes, he's a fool. Always scheming for others, a thousand plans, ten thousand calculations, life and death, yet never thinks of himself."

He took another fierce bite. "Damn it, always tossing me out, as if he really has nine lives."

Yi Qingchen lowered her gaze, storing the bottle. "Brother Huai, have you heard any news of him?"

"Mm? You really think he'd die in that situation?"

"Brother Huai, don't you also believe he wouldn't?"

"True enough. That fool's probably lying somewhere, figuring out how to rescue us."

"By the way, do you know where we are now?" She had been too dazed to know where they had landed.

Huaijin thought a moment. "In that chaos, he only managed to send us out, not caring for direction. So we ended up on Renhuang Island. Well, that's a stroke of luck."

There were many ways to land on the island, but being tossed onto it was a first.

Yi Qingchen fell silent, finishing her peach. After a long pause, she asked, "Brother Huai, won't you tell me how you got those injuries?"

Looking at the dark sky, she felt everything here was strange.

"Haha... nothing much. The path was slippery in the dark, and I ran into some ill-tempered vine demons." He darted his gaze elsewhere, unable to admit that he'd barely escaped those vines upon stepping out.

That would be too embarrassing...

"Brother Huai, don't you feel something is wrong with this place?"

"Wha... what?"

...

In Thousand Waves Cave, the Crown Prince looked at Shentianweng and Sea Swallow, who stood below the steps. "Any news?"

Shentianweng glanced at the Crown Prince and replied, "Reporting, Your Highness. According to my investigation, the man fell into the Threefold Shadow Array. However..."

"However what?" The Crown Prince suddenly looked up, his sharp eyes fixed on Shentianweng.

Shentianweng answered, "The Threefold Shadow Array is under the Third Prince's dominion. If we want to seize the man, we'll likely face him."

Sea Swallow interjected, "Gongyu, I must disagree. Our Crown Prince is peerless in bravery—surely he doesn't fear the Third Prince?"

"Yan Sanbei, you..."

The Crown Prince raised a wing, halting them. "Enough, no quarreling. Gongyu's concerns aren't unfounded. Though the Third Prince stirs up storms for a human woman, he remains Father's favorite. There's no need to provoke him over a few humans right now."

He had hoped the two would fall elsewhere—human greed would bring them out eventually. But landing on the Third Prince's territory complicated matters.

Over the years, the Third Prince had done many reckless things for that human. If they met her first, he'd surely intervene.

Thinking this, the Crown Prince asked, "Any reaction from Lion Island?"

"None. I've ordered my clan to watch the island's perimeter. As soon as he leaves, we'll act."

"Good. Well done. Go rest, and report any news at once."

"Yes, Your Highness," Shentianweng replied and withdrew.

When he was gone, the Crown Prince said to Sea Swallow, "Yan Sanbei, prepare some wine. I want to meet my brother for a good drink..."

Sea Swallow bowed, stealing a glance upward, then lowered his head. "Please wait, Your Highness. I’ll prepare it immediately."