Chapter Seventy-Five: The Spirit of Di River

Baili Liunian was struck speechless, looking at Fu Qingfeng in shock once more.

Did they... actually know each other?

Given the visitor’s status and dignity, he knew even someone like this? Then what was his origin? Was he truly just a healer, as he seemed?

Fu Qingfeng lowered his head and smiled. “Madam, you wield considerable power. My humble Wei Leaf Valley was nearly lost because of it.”

He neither denied nor confirmed—but his attitude said it all.

In the curtained palanquin, the woman spoke with a half-smile, “I must thank you, sir, for your timely rescue. The Baili family will not forget this grace. However, my son’s soul has been restored. May I take him away with me?”

Her voice was gentle, yet beneath its softness, each word was a finely honed blade.

Fu Qingfeng replied, “Madam, I cannot agree to your request. The matter of his departure is not mine to decide. If you wish to take him, madam, do you not think you’re asking the wrong person?”

He smiled still, as warm and gentle as an early spring breeze—though beneath the warmth, the chill of deepest winter lay concealed.

At these words, the woman’s tone shifted, becoming gracious and polite. “Your reasoning is flawless, sir.” Then she spoke quietly to those outside the palanquin, “Spring, Flower, Autumn, Moon—go invite the young master to meet me.”

“Yes.” The four women responded in unison, swiftly going forth.

But before they could act, the wooden door of the medicine hut swung open.

Baili Wushuang, long absent from the world, appeared once again. Though but a fragment of a soul, it did not dissipate with the breeze.

Joy brightened the woman’s face, her voice trembling. “My son, will you not come and greet your mother?”

Baili Wushuang glanced back, his refusal cold and unyielding. “You should go. I won’t return with you.”

“Is it because of him?” She faltered, then anger surged, and a gust of force swept aside the palanquin’s gauze curtain.

Instantly, a strikingly beautiful face was revealed.

She appeared to be in her thirties or forties, carrying the allure of maturity, a touch of gentleness, and a hint of severity—these were the marks of time.

“It’s none of your concern.” Though they had not met in a long while, Baili Wushuang was as sharp as ever, his words allowing no negotiation.

Even though she was his mother.

Perhaps it was because he knew her too well. He understood her, and so he could not leave.

“You don’t trust me?” As she looked up, the gauze fell, hiding the resentment in her eyes.

But Baili Wushuang neither saw nor cared to see it.

“And if I refuse?” her words asked: What will you do? Will you turn your back on your mother for his sake?

“Then… our ties are severed. From this day forth, we are mother and son no more.”

Suddenly, Di Shuiling laughed aloud. “Ha… ha ha… As expected of the son I raised. Now your wings are strong, and you side with outsiders against your mother. I see I have not raised you in vain.”

She laughed until she wept, wiping away her tears with a finger. Bowing her head, her voice grew soft but deadly, “Take action.”

“Who dares?”

“My son, tell me: what would I not dare do to a traitor? If I kill him, your father would only be pleased, not angry. He would never punish me for it.”

So, do you think I dare, or not?

Spring, Flower, Autumn, Moon rushed forward, saying in unison, “Young master, please step aside.”

“Step aside? So you can kill him right in front of me?” Baili Wushuang blocked the doorway, refusing to give even an inch.

Di Shuiling’s rage nearly consumed her. “How dare you! Seize him!”

“Yes.”

At her command, the four women attacked with blinding speed.

Baili Liunian, quietly retreating, marveled in secret. Mere maids, yet they ranked among the finest fighters of Yu Hai Tian. Indeed, nothing in the House of Sorrow was ordinary.

Baili Wushuang’s fury flared as he summoned his energy for battle.

Suddenly, a hand pressed his shoulder, dispersing the power he had gathered.

He turned, shouting, “You… go back!”

Su He’s gaze was cold and clear. Passing him, Su He addressed the four women, “Allow me to persuade him.” Then, looking toward the palanquin, he said, “One quarter of an hour.”

Spring, Flower, Autumn, Moon saw who it was, faces changing instantly as they turned to ask, “Madam?”

“Hmph, just one quarter of an hour. Fine, for the sake of you retrieving the stone for Shuang’er, I’ll spare you—for now. But if you fail, I’ll take your life as an example to others.” A glint of deadly intent flickered in Di Shuiling’s eyes—a warning, plain and unhidden.

“You, come with me.” Su He ignored Di Shuiling, simply instructing Baili Wushuang to follow.

The medicine hut’s door closed behind them.

Baili Wushuang had no intention of letting Su He speak. He had already resolved, “Don’t try to persuade me. I’m not a child, and I don’t need you deciding for me.”

You’ve always left so decisively, never looking back.

But you never knew—how hard it was for me, hidden in the shadows, just trying to keep up with you.

One is my mother, who gave birth to me and raised me with love. The other is the elder brother I admire and respect. Can you imagine how cruel this is for me?

I’ve never cared for the position of young master. What do I desire? You know better than anyone…

Su He looked at the stubborn youth before him, silent for a long time. Finally, he sighed, “Go back and be the young master. The storms of the mortal world are not for you.”

He then took out the golden needle—the Ninefold Soul-Stealing Needle—and handed it to Baili Wushuang. “Keep it. With me, it would only go unused.”

If you stay with me, you’ll only be dragged down.

It’s better we part. Some things cannot be resolved in a few words.

“You…” Baili Wushuang’s anger spiked. He gripped the needle, tempted to throw it away. What use did he have for this? What he wanted was to return to those harmonious days as brothers. “I won’t go. Unless you kill me.”

Better to die than see you killed by my mother. At least, then, neither of us would have to suffer.

Xian Ge Yue clutched his injured arm, eyes darting about. He found an empty spot on the table and simply sat down, closing his eyes.

He was clever enough to know when to listen and when to stay out of trouble.

After glancing at him, Su He said, “You know my temper. The spiritual energy there will benefit you greatly. Before you have a body, it’s the best choice for you.”

The best? But if I leave, my mother…

Baili Wushuang tried to speak but was interrupted. “I know what you want to say. The Soul Command Sect also practices soul cultivation, and you could go there. But you don’t know—their path is not so simple.”

“I…”

Xian Ge Yue’s brow twitched in dismay. Big brother, your own mother is about to kill someone and you’re still here arguing?

Unexpectedly, Baili Wushuang shot him a glare as sharp as knives.

Xian Ge Yue kept quiet.

With Xian Ge Yue no longer interrupting, Baili Wushuang tried again to persuade Su He to go with him.

At least with him present, their parents would show more restraint.

But Su He turned away, voice cold. “If you still consider me your brother, then go back.”

“Big brother…”

“Recover, and I’ll help you find a chance to restore your body. Until then, you must go. I won’t let you drag me down.”

A word can wound, two words can chill the heart. More, and it cuts to the soul.

But it had to be said.

“Fine, I’ll go. But you must come back alive, or you know my temper.” Baili Wushuang understood, his voice hardening.

You want me to leave, I’ll leave.

But if you don’t return, don’t blame me for not warning you. At worst, we’ll be ghostly brothers in the afterlife. I can’t help my parents, but I can die with you.

After all, that’s what I owe you.

He took the golden needle and waited, intent on hearing the words he longed for.

Su He, in the end, could not harden his heart completely. Despite the gulf between them, the affection of the past was genuine.

“When the chance comes to restore you, I’ll return.”

He didn’t look back, but for Baili Wushuang, it was enough. After years of living and dying, he finally heard these words.

Perhaps it was time to investigate the past…

“Take care.”

With that, he turned and opened the wooden door.

The instant Di Shuiling saw her son emerge, her lips curved in a smile, her beautiful eyes shining—though not reaching their depths. She spoke softly, “Well? Have you thought it through?”

“I’ll go with you. But you mustn’t send people after him again.”

“Heh… Of course. With my status, I needn’t dirty my own hands.”

She ordered the four women, “Escort the young master home.”

“Yes.” Spring, Flower, Autumn, Moon bowed, “Please, young master.”

Baili Wushuang glanced back at the medicine hut. Su He still stood with his back turned, refusing to look.

Baili Wushuang stopped, saying, “Remember to come back. If not, I’ll come find you.”

Hearing this, Su He’s body stiffened, the hand hidden in his sleeve clenching until his knuckles creaked.

After a long moment, he finally relaxed. Behind him, all was silent.

Xian Ge Yue couldn’t help but say, “He’s leaving—aren’t you going to look back?”

“To turn is to betray. Why turn at all?”

The death of their mother was a barrier neither brother could overcome. Nothing could be done.

Baili Wushuang lingered a moment longer outside, but when nothing happened, he finally followed the four women back to the House of Sorrow.

Who knew when they would meet again?

Di Shuiling lifted the gauze curtain, nodding coolly to Fu Qingfeng in parting, then left with her party.

Only Baili Liunian, seeing his goal achieved, slipped away without a word. With Curtain Hate, the Heaven’s Overseer, and the others, he vanished from Wei Leaf Valley.

They came and went as hurriedly as a passing wind, offering no explanation.

Fu Qingfeng looked at the ruined ground, brows furrowed.

Then, with a flick of his finger, the land was restored.

Once the valley was returned to its former state, he entered the medicine hut. “My friend.”

Su He turned and bowed deeply. “Thank you.”

“There’s no need for that between us.” Fu Qingfeng understood his thoughts and helped him back up. Then, turning to the side, he asked, “Are you the fourth son of the Heavenly Lord?”

Xian Ge Yue tossed his bangs back with pride. “Well? Aren’t you moved?”

Fu Qingfeng immediately tossed him a small bottle. “Take this medicine and leave at once.”

“What? After I risked my life for you, you’re turning your back on me already?”

“Troublesome.”

“What… what?”

“You…”

Su He tried to intervene. “My friend, since he’s still injured, might he stay until he recovers?”

He continued, “I know your concerns, but let him heal first—there’s no harm.”

Xian Ge Yue’s identity was, admittedly, a bit troublesome.

But they owed him a debt. Without him to hold off Baili Liunian and the two opposing sides, today’s outcome might have been very different.

That, too, was a favor.

Fu Qingfeng’s gaze darkened. After considering, he said, “He leaves once he’s healed.”

With that, he and Su He went to the wooden house to undo the formation.

Xian Ge Yue grinned wickedly, tossing the bottle and catching it before tucking it away. He glanced at the rocking chair beneath the tree and strolled over, quite pleased with himself.

As the formation vanished from the wooden house, Jade Fragment and Huai Yin hurried out. “Where is everyone? Have they all gone?”

To be honest, Fu Qingfeng’s formation was uncanny—it looked ordinary, but inside, nothing beyond it could be seen or heard.

Commonplace formations, in his hands, were something else entirely.

“Mm.” Fu Qingfeng nodded, leading everyone back inside.

Once seated, Huai Yin leaped up. “Brother, did you succeed?”

Su He’s heart warmed. “Thanks to your help, I am deeply grateful.”

“Oh…” Huai Yin nodded, then realized something was off. “Wait—where are they?”

“They’re gone.”

“…”

Could it be…