Chapter Thirty-Nine: Wounded
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To be so bluntly rebuked, even the Second Palace Mistress, thick-skinned as she was, found it hard to maintain her composure. Glancing in the direction where Zi Wuyi and Shi Duanchang had departed, she turned back, her trailing scarf swirling like a dragon, lashing out and striking several members of the Soul Command Sect.
Yet the Soul Command Sect was no ordinary group of immortals; though wounded and fallen, they neither spat blood nor bore any visible wounds. Their bodies appeared human, but in truth, they were souls who, after death, cultivated anew to ascend to immortality. Light of frame and unburdened by physical form, they feared not magical attacks. Unless one could destroy them in a single, fatal blow, it was difficult to kill them by force.
Such was the Second Palace Mistress’s predicament. The minor demons she had unleashed were already slain or wounded, seven or eight in just moments. Any longer, and though she could replenish their numbers, she could not help but feel pained—after all, she had invested much effort in raising them.
At last, she recalled all her demons into the Hundred-Demon Scent Pendant, wielding her scarf to drive back several attackers, then turned and with a single palm strike gutted a would-be assassin, destroying his form entirely.
The Soul Command Sect members were aghast, calling their fellows to charge, “Everyone, seize this demoness and kill her to avenge our senior brother!”
In an instant, she was encircled. The Second Palace Mistress’s scarf danced, impervious to water and blade alike. Her eyes glinted, her demeanor alluring and unrestrained, adding even more charm to her beauty.
She chided coquettishly, “Avenge a death? My life is worth far more than all of yours combined. If you wish for my life, then… let Su’er see if any of you are real men.”
With that, she fixed on her target, swooping down like a hawk upon a rabbit. The man retreated in panic, but escape was impossible; only with the aid of his peers was he able to resist her attack. Seeing this, several joined forces to counterstrike.
They attacked in three waves: one from the center, two flanking from left and right, and a final group cutting off her retreat, with a dozen more lying in wait for an opening.
“Demoness, will you not surrender?”
“Hmph! Not a true man among you, yet you dare provoke me. The dead have souls—let’s see what you become if you die a second time!” The Second Palace Mistress surged with demonic power, not daring to take the Soul Command Sect lightly.
A few surrounding her posed little threat, but their present numbers were enough to give her pause. Glancing over, she saw the Grand Palace Mistress locked in a battle of earth-shattering intensity with Hu Xihe.
Relying on rescue was futile; she would have to fight her way out on her own.
The Grand Palace Mistress fared no better against Hu Xihe. He hailed from the Poison Sect but had long since departed, seizing a mountain and naming himself the Poison Maniac. The title was well-earned; beyond his eccentric temperament, he was bloodthirsty and battle-hungry, shunned by his sect and forced to carve his own path.
His mastery of poisons and martial skill was formidable, and over the years, his reputation rivaled that of his former sect. Naturally, the Grand Palace Mistress quickly found herself at a disadvantage.
“Rain of Ink Shattering the Cold.”
Her sword bloomed with radiance, blades flying like rain, surging toward Hu Xihe.
He sneered, lips curling in disdain. “Divine Dragon Sundering the Sun.”
He vaulted skyward, descending with the force of a mountain, crushing the sword rain beneath him.
At the clash, the Grand Palace Mistress was overwhelmed, her sword rain scattered, and she staggered back several steps before regaining her balance. She could not hold back a mouthful of blood.
No time to recover—another fierce attack bore down on her. She raised her sword in defense, but the impact deepened her wounds. Worse, Hu Xihe’s silver spear was peculiar: with a single touch, its poison invaded her body through the sword.
She found herself in dire straits, sweat slicking her hair as she blocked left and right.
Hu Xihe’s gaze burned hotter with each exchange, like a leopard eyeing its favored prey, utterly devoid of mercy for beauty.
His silver spear struck like a rainstorm, relentless as thunder at midnight.
Pressed, the Grand Palace Mistress retreated repeatedly, suffering several setbacks. Gritting her teeth, she unleashed a flurry of sword strikes and, in the same breath, drew a strand of her hair into a soul-snatching cord, piercing Hu Xihe’s abdomen as he parried her attacks.
“Well done! That’s the skill expected of the Perpetual Sin Platform. If you’d shown this earlier, we’d be done by now. Bah!” Hu Xihe spat, spinning his spear to entangle the cord, then unleashed his true energy, causing his spear to whirl like the wind, vanishing from sight.
The Grand Palace Mistress glanced at the half-severed strand of hair in her hand, released it, and let it fall.
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Raising her hand, she hurled her sword into the air, her sleeves unfurling suddenly, “Six Plum Wind Hounds.”
In an instant, her palms struck in tandem. Twin forces surged forth, shrouding the heavens in darkness, devouring all light. Within the gale, the roars of beasts echoed, lunging at Hu Xihe.
He looked up, startled by the ferocity, and swiftly withdrew, leaping aside.
But the Soul Command Sect members behind him were not so fortunate. Intent on capturing the Second Palace Mistress, they had spared no effort. Hu Xihe’s sudden retreat turned calamity upon them; all but two, who fled swiftly, were annihilated.
The two survivors, escaping together, spat venom as they fled, “Just wait—the Soul Command Sect will not let this go. Let’s go!”
The Grand Palace Mistress glanced at the still-stunned Second Palace Mistress, “What are you waiting for? Run!”
With that, she vanished into the void.
The Second Palace Mistress regained her senses and hurried after her.
Hu Xihe landed lightly, surveying the devastation. His silver spear reverted to a pearl, which he pocketed behind his back. Closing his eyes, he sniffed the air, then smiled, “Think you can escape? Is it truly so easy?”
With those words, he vanished without a trace.
Deep within an unknown forest, the Second Palace Mistress clutched her chest and staggered against a tree, blood spilling from her lips—red drops as vivid as those adorning a beauty’s mouth.
“Sister, what’s going on? How was our identity revealed? Didn’t we destroy the records in the registry?”
The Second Palace Mistress was furious and confused—she had expected a mere quarrel, not a targeted exposure of their true identities. Since leaving the demon realm, she had never suffered such a setback.
The Grand Palace Mistress, faring little better, leaned against a tree, breathing raggedly, her elegant brows now drawn in anger.
“Enough talk—save it for after we lose our pursuer. Hu Xihe is no easy foe. If we don’t shake him off today, we’ll both end up dead.”
She was angry as well, but now was not the time to dwell on the past. Only by surviving could they address other matters; otherwise, all would be for naught.
Suddenly, the Grand Palace Mistress’s face darkened, “Go—now!”
At her command, the two women leapt deeper into the forest.
Moments later, Hu Xihe appeared, following their traces with long strides, calling out, “Ha! Lowly sinners, where do you think you can run…”
Meanwhile, at Spring and Autumn Ink, and at the Soul Command Sect, the survivors returned to their respective sects.
The two from the Soul Command Sect stumbled back, battered and bruised, shocking their fellow disciples.
“Xue Chanzi? Cen Zhiren? What happened? Where are the others?” The leader who greeted them was Ji Yuntian, one of the four Soul Command Guardians.
“Guardian Tian, they’re gone—all gone.” Xue Chanzi fell to his knees, clutching Ji Yuntian’s sleeves.
Ji Yuntian hauled him up, “Speak clearly—what do you mean ‘gone’?”
How could so many be lost? They were not vulnerable to magic—few in the world could harm them.
Cen Zhiren’s face was bleak, “On our way back, we heard that two demons had escaped the demon realm, one from the Perpetual Sin Platform itself. We thought to capture them and curry favor with the demon realm, which would aid our sect’s future…”
“So you just went to catch them?”
“Yes, but…” Cen Zhiren and Xue Chanzi nodded, wanting to explain, but Ji Yuntian cut them off.
Ji Yuntian sternly rebuked them, “Fools!”
“Guardian Tian?”
“What did the Sect Master instruct before you left? The tides of Desire Sea Heaven are treacherous—you were to return immediately after your business was done, not invite trouble and unnecessary disaster. And you—who remembered those words?”
Xue Chanzi bowed his head to the floor, “Guardian, we were wrong. But should we not avenge our brothers?”
Only after dying once did they understand the hardship of cultivating the heavenly path anew.
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Others who die at least have souls to enter the cycle of rebirth. For them, nothing remains. If by chance one or two are reborn, their next life is marked by idiocy or madness—never whole, never complete in any lifetime.
“Avenge what?” Senior Ji turned away in anger, his pain known only to himself. “You failed to assess your foe’s strength, you acted without orders, and didn’t retreat in time, leading to our losses. Now you speak of vengeance? We are at fault—what right do we have to seek retribution?”
“But…”
“Guardian Tian?”
Suddenly, a figure emerged from behind a rockery, his tone derisive, “How is it without justification? Those who kill our kin may as well cut off our limbs. Is that not just cause for war?”
Ji Yuntian recognized him, “Yin?”
“What, am I wrong?” Yin retorted mockingly.
Ji Yuntian gestured to Xue Chanzi and Cen Zhiren, “Even you, Yin, one of the four Guardians, should know better. This is not a trivial matter. Should it escalate, it would mean war between Heaven and Demon. What could our Soul Command Sect do against the wrath of the demon realm and the many forces of Desire Sea Heaven?”
“You two, come. I’ll take you to see the Sect Master. He will not let this rest.” Yin glanced at the pair.
They looked at Ji Yuntian, then followed Yin away.
“Guardian Tian, we’ll take our leave.”
Ji Yuntian, seeing all three ignore his counsel, returned to his quarters in anger, gazing at the orchids outside his courtyard, a deep sadness welling in his heart…
Meanwhile, at Spring and Autumn Ink, Zi Wuyi and Shi Duanchang returned to their sect and immediately sought an audience with their Sect Master, reporting all that had transpired.
Sect Master Qiushui Wuhen asked, “What are your thoughts on the matter of the Sinners?”
Shi Duanchang replied, “I believe there is an eighty percent chance it’s true, but I suspect someone is orchestrating events from behind the scenes. If we act now, we may be playing right into their hands.”
“And you, Wuyi?”
Zi Wuyi bowed respectfully, “My opinion aligns with Duanchang. Both the Poison Sect and Soul Command Sect are involved. It would be wise to watch and wait. If someone is truly behind this, they will eventually show their hand.”
“Indeed. And what do you think of Baili Suhe?”
Shi Duanchang looked at Zi Wuyi, signaling him to speak; conversation was tiresome work.
Suppressing a sigh, Zi Wuyi answered, “As the saying goes: ‘A single misstep leads to countless errors.’ As for Baili Suhe’s character, that remains to be seen, but the Baili family’s conduct is hardly above reproach. At the root, Baili Suhe hails from the Suyou line. Family matters, even if fraught, are theirs alone. It is not our place to interfere without understanding their cause.”
“And the Emperor Stone? There are rumors that Shuxing Tower fell because of it. Now Baili seeks it again—what do you make of this?”
Zi Wuyi looked up at the Sect Master, raising an eyebrow, “I am but a humble man, but I have some acquaintance with Ye Gu Qingfeng. Since he vouches for this person, I doubt he can be too far astray.”
Qiushui Wuhen was amused, rising to point at him, “You rascal, always so slippery. Even Qingfeng you bring into this—what can I say? Pass the word: from now on, all affairs within Spring and Autumn Ink must be handled with utmost caution. Let there be no reckless words or deeds.”
As for Baili Suhe, their sect would not act for now. But should he prove unworthy, they would show no mercy, upholding justice without partiality.
“Yes,” Zi Wuyi replied with a smile, saluting. He glanced at Shi Duanchang and left the council hall.