Ch98 - Conspiracy

Xie Zhiwei laid on the bed for one day and one night.

Since being reborn, he had been worrying himself sick while hiding and fighting for the protagonist, then exhausting dealing with the clingy hero and rescuing Chu Zhishi. There hadn’t been a single easy day. He slept so senselessly that it was already morning of the third day when he woke. When he sat up on the bed, he could even taste the faint fragrance of medicinal herbs on his lips—most likely, fed by Mu He while he was unconscious.

Xie Zhiwei had an involuntary thought: He shouldn’t have…fed me mouth-to-mouth, right?

The next instant he boxed his own ears to clear his thoughts. What kind of nonsense is that? Nothing’s happened yet, but I’m already brainwashing myself thanks to trauma from that rebellious disciple?!

In truth, he felt rather regretful now. After hearing the hero narrate his tragic past that night, he’d been too sleepy and softened his heart without noticing, which led to him comforting the youth a few words. But really, the hero was too miserable.

Still, every blackened protagonist had a hundred and ten piles of heartbreaking events from his past. There was all too much for his heart to pity. Xie Zhiwei raised his spiritual energy and found that he had recovered greatly. The rooms were empty and it was light out, but Mu He was not inside. That suited his purposes perfectly, since he wouldn’t be able to leave otherwise.

Before I leave, Xie Zhiwei mused, I should check to see if he’s really all right. Otherwise my trip here would be pointless.

The bed tent of heavenly silk was resting at the head of the bed; he didn’t hesitate to rip off a piece to tie around his face as a mask before setting off with Qingping Sword. As soon as he pushed open the door, the surprisingly perceptive guards looked over in unison and asked, “Who’s there?”

Crap? I was careless, but how did Yin Cangshan barge in the other day without worries?

Keen senses aside, these guards’ skills were miles away from Xie Zhiwei. They hadn’t taken a single step before he’d flown past several courtyards bordering a long strip of forest. He wasn’t worried that they’d chase him because he’d slept in that room for so long that Mu He should’ve offered up some explanation.

But…still, something about all this felt strange.

Xie Zhiwei couldn’t bother with details when two figures suddenly emerged into his sights. It was a bright, clear day and the frosty maple forests were very clean. Inside a courtyard, Yin Cangshan was flying a kite with his daughter atop some ornamental rockery. From a distance he heard Yin Wushuang calling, “Higher, a little higher.”

As the honored guests of the king’s manor, neither Mu He nor the King of Nine Provinces were keeping them company. Instead, only a circle of guards surrounded them at the base of the rockery. Xie Zhiwei was about to circle around them when Yin Wushuang, who had been hopping at the rockery’s edge, suddenly stepped on air and plummeted towards the ground. Her location was about three meters away from Xie Zhiwei’s current pot in the forest, making him the prime person to catch her. Everything happened so quickly that he didn’t have time to consider much more.

Yin Wushuang cried out, “Father, save me!”

She was in despair, but Yin Cangshan’s cultivation base was limited. He ran and even jumped down after her, but it was clear he was too late. As her body went streaking towards the ground, Yin Wushuang shut her eyes in despair. It would probably hurt a lot after she hit the floor.

Yet the expected pain never came. She opened her eyes in alarm to see her father standing and staring at her in even more shock. Looking up, she saw a man in a mask.

“Ahhhh!” Yin Wushuang shrieked in fright, frightening Xie Zhiwei to tremble and toss her out of his arms. Yin Cangshan quickly caught her but was again one step late, causing Yin Wushuang to tumble on the pebbled floor. Xie Zhiwei silently mused, Big bro, quit the group chat.

Yin Wushuang felt aches all over her back and waist. Her delicate face scrunched up as Yin Cangshan hurried to help her up. Pouting, she shoved him aside and started to complain when she sucked in a breath. “It’s you!”

Xie Zhiwei had also worn a mask back at the Buddhist Aureate Sect, so he and Yin Wushuang could be considered well-acquainted. Yin Cangshan studied Xie Zhiwei warily before sheltering Yin Wushuang behind her. “Daughter, do you know each other?”

“That’s right,” Yin Wushuang said unkindly. “Father, that’s the one I mentioned, the monster who robbed the candy lobster from me at Aureate Sect!”

“So it was him?” Yin Cangshan’s expression changed as he stared at Xie Zhiwei. “Why did you run all the way to the King of Nine Provinces’ manor? Here to bully my daughter again?”

Dammit, are you kidding me? It’ll be a blessing if your daughter stops bullying others instead. Metaphorical black lines went down Xie Zhiwei’s face. This bastard and the King of Nine Provinces are really good friends. One spoils his son like mad, one spoils his daughter beyond reason.

But Xie Zhiwei had no fear. Besides the protagonist, no one could block the likes of him, Bixu zhenren! He coolly turned back and left them a back full of immortal bearing, Qingping Sword glimmering in his hands. He was preparing to ride on the sword and fly high enough to use his divine sense to sweep the area. Even if he was caught, he could still escape easily.

But Yin Wushuang’s next words reached his ears. “Father, hurry and call men to capture him. This monster must be here to save that old daoist and that white-robed girl.”

Old daoist? White-robed girl?

Xie Zhiwei’s figure swayed as he nearly dropped his sword.

Yin Cangshan was puzzled. “City Lord Chu? Daughter, how do you know those people?”

“Of course I know them,” Yin Wushuang vowed. “At the Buddhist sect, he and the white-robed girl—”

“Were you…telling the truth just then?” a heavy voice interrupted. Xie Zhiwei had turned back, his eyes filled with astonishment.

—

Chu Zhishi was trussed up tightly like a five-petal flower with iron chains, his whole body leaning upright against the stone wall. Black qi filled his body, turning half of it numb. Even his broken arm was numb to the point that it no longer felt like part of his body.

Although he was gasping for breath, he still snapped out, “What does this count for? You pretended to be…second senior brother to swindle us here. Sure enough…the men of the king’s manor…only use such unseemly tricks…ugh!”

The shadow of a whip snapped over as the black qi shifted and poured over his body. Chu Zhishi’s head lolled to the side before he shut his eyes, completely unconscious. Tantai Meng couldn’t bear the tragic sight and raised her head to ask, “Just what did Senior Chu do to make you all treat him like this?”

“First, he broke the Shizi’s hand. Then, he damaged the king’s dignity. Isn’t this enough to warrant his death?” Faceless said as if fully justified.

“Then what about me?” Tantai Meng was mystified. “I did barge into the king’s manor once, so you can punish or kill me as you like. But why haven’t you done anything yet?”

Actually, Faceless wasn’t sure either. He was about to make up an excuse when a voice sounded from behind him. “Naturally, there are other uses for keeping you alive.”

Faceless bowed towards the visitor. “Greetings to Shizi.”

“Mm.”

Mu He descended the steps, his white robes brushing against the moss on the railings. He looked at the two people locked up in the prisons with no expression on his face. Seeing this, Tantai Meng blurted out all her doubts. “Shizi Mu He, you had that man disguise himself as Benefactor…which means you must have told him our whereabouts too? When you helped us in the past, it was just an intentional fluke?”

“Not bad,” Mu He intoned.

Faceless withdrew to the side. “Shizi is wise and brilliant.”

For a long time, Tantai Meng couldn’t speak. At last she bolstered her courage and asked, “Then what about Benefactor? What have you done with him?”

“Faceless, withdraw,” Mu He said suddenly.

“Yes, Shizi.” Faceless took something out of his sleeve and handed it over to Mu He. “Shizi said before that if I spotted a man in crow-gray daoist robes, I was to use this item to subdue him and bring him back. This subordinate didn’t see him, so I shall return the item to Shizi.”

“Keep it, you might be able to use it later.”

Faceless felt his words weren’t particularly special, but the Shizi’s lips seemed to quirk up as he spoke. He looked…rather gentle overall? Suppressing his feelings, he quickly walked out.

Although he had to help out the Shizi, he also needed to report to the king on the Shizi’s various details. He needed to update the man on all he saw and heard in the past few days.

Mu He faced the prison with his hands behind his back. “Naturally, shizun is doing very well.”

Tantai Meng’s voice was flat. “I don’t believe you. However…”

“What?”

“You couldn’t have caught Benefactor yet. Otherwise, you would’ve already used the iron chains entwined with white light in your hands, right?”

She was obviously provoking him, but Mu He’s smile grew more natural instead. He quickly withdrew the expression and turned to leave.

Finding it strange, Tantai Meng nevertheless sighed and came straight to the point. “Shizi, are you running away? You’re so ruthless and always adamant about avenging yourself. Even if you pretend well enough on the surface, you’re a thousand li away from Benefactor deep down inside. You’ve blinded Benefactor for now, but when he finds out the truth, he…will definitely be thoroughly disappointed.”

“Really?” Mu He’s steps faltered before he muttered to himself. “This Shizi is in a difficult position as well.”

“That’s a strange thing to say, Shizi.” Tantai Meng shook her head. “Did anyone force you to do wrong deeds? Or is someone refusing to let you act kindly?”

“Indeed…” Mu He sighed.

“Ah?”

A sinister gleam entered Mu He’s eyes despite his airy tone. “This Shizi swore a vow: those who hurt me will die a miserable death; otherwise, may I suffer a miserable death of my own.”

Tantai Meng was stunned by his words. “You…”

Mu He kept walking without turning back. With a wave of his hand, a thick, opaque boundary field surrounded the prison cell while black qi swirled outside to seal everything up. Soon enough the room was empty, but a long time afterwards, a figure emerged from a shadowy corner not illuminated by candle light.

Xie Zhiwei had been tightly covering his mouth and nose, suppressing his spiritual energy to nearly zero. He slowly gazed at the solid boundary encasing the prisons before clenching Qingping Sword in his hand.

—

Translator’s Note: *cough* So it looks like Faceless found those “immortal herbs” after all. Anyways, how did the saying go? You gotta feel the sads before you appreciate the joys? Sit tight folks, we’re starting up the angst train…