94 Heartbeat

At the grand hall of the Lord of Lingyun Peak, all the peak masters had already gathered. Although everyone had heard the news relayed from outside, they still sat upright and waited for Dao Lord Zhuang Shao to come and explain matters.

Han Su glanced at her father, Dao Lord Lanhe. His expression remained calm and unreadable, yet he gave a slight shake of the head, silently telling her there was no cause for concern and she should be at ease. The last trace of unease in her heart vanished at once.

Dao Lord Yu Heng had deliberately waited a little for Dao Lord Zhuang Shao after taking Han Su with him first, so the two groups stepped into the hall almost at the same time.

When the lord of the sect, Dao Lord Tu Ji, saw that all the important figures had arrived, he cleared his throat and said, “My apologies to Senior Brother Zhuang Shao and Junior Brother Yu Heng. What is the situation outside?”

Dao Lord Zhuang Shao stepped forward and said, “Nearly all the small and medium sects from the Starfall Realm have come. They are following a monk invited from the Bodhi Realm, insisting that demon cultivators and ghost cultivators are about to invade. Since Han Su once had dealings with demon cultivators, they have even falsely accused her of colluding with them and demanded that our sect hand her over. Yu Heng and I blocked them.

“Still, it seems those people, though driven back, have been deeply poisoned by the rumor. I fear they will think of other methods. They are still gathered outside the mountain gate and have not left. As for how to deal with what comes next, I ask the sect lord for instructions.”

Dao Lord Tu Ji said, “The two peak masters handled this appropriately. My sect’s disciples cannot allow them to deal with matters so recklessly. However... Han Su, can you say clearly what happened in the Fuhai Realm? Why, not long after your return, did such rumors begin to spread?”

The usually good-tempered Dao Lord Lanhe grew somewhat displeased at this and interrupted, “Sect Lord, what do you mean by that? Those ignorant people spread rumors carelessly. Do you also believe them? Surely the Dark Pavilion has already gone to investigate the Fuhai Realm. You do not trust the message brought back, but trust these rumors instead?”

Dao Lord Tu Ji hastened to soothe him. “Junior Brother Lanhe, do not be angry. I mean no blame toward Han Su. It is merely that, although the Dark Pavilion has sent word, we should still ask Han Su as well, to see whether different people have different perspectives. This matter has now escalated to such a degree; asking Han Su to explain it clearly is not unreasonable...”

The other peak masters all nodded in agreement. Several who were close to Dao Lord Lanhe said nothing, but their expressions showed approval as well.

Though Dao Lord Lanhe was angry, Tu Ji’s request was not excessive, and to refute it would be somewhat unjustified. Yet he absolutely did not wish his daughter to be interrogated, so he was about to stubbornly say, “If one must...”

“Father, it is all right. There is nothing here that cannot be spoken of.” Han Su understood her father’s wholehearted protection, but she did not wish to put him in a difficult position, so she interrupted him.

“That day I was confined in the inheritance hall of the He Xi secret realm. After obtaining the legacy, I waited there in hard endurance for twenty years. During that time I met Huai Yin, the one those people call a demon cultivator.

“Later, I brought him through the sect’s teleportation formation to the Fuhai Realm, and after that we lost contact.

“Until twenty years ago, when I traveled abroad and eventually went to the Fuhai Realm again, we met once more. There, I encountered Cong Baoxin, the son of the deputy lord of Fanyang City; the dean of Flying Star Academy, Yu; and two junior sisters from the Azure Sky Sect. At that time, Senior Sister Su Yun, the daughter of the Azure Sky Sect’s sect lord, was together with Huai Yin.

“After that, I also met Junior Brother Ji Yan and Junior Sister Zi Huanshan, both blood relatives of the sect lord, and I once went with Junior Brother Ji Yan, Senior Sister Su Yun, and Huai Yin to a ruin. Afterward I returned to the Starfall Realm. As for Junior Brother Ji Yan and Senior Sister Su Yun, it seems they are still there.

“After I came back, I never again left the sect, nor did I have any contact with anyone from the Fuhai Realm. If the sect lord has any doubts, you may send a letter to Junior Brother Ji Yan; he will surely know more clearly.”

Han Su’s words not only made her own position crystal clear, but also showed that she was not the only one involved. Su Yun, Ji Yan, and Zi Huanshan from the Azure Sky Sect had all been to the Fuhai Realm; indeed, Ji Yan and Su Yun had even maintained closer relations with Huai Yin and had not returned to this day.

Now the sect lord had nothing to say. Their time, place, and people all matched. Moreover, Ji Yan was still there; if there were any issue, then the problem there must be even more serious. If they insisted on dragging the matter further, they would only drive their own people deeper into trouble.

So he immediately changed his tone and laughed. “Ah, there is no intention of doubting you at all. It is only that many in the sect know nothing of this matter, so I asked you to come and explain it to everyone. Since things are now clear, it proves that our Jade Radiance Sect has no connection whatsoever with demon cultivators. Even if they twist the truth until heaven and earth turn upside down, it will matter little.

“The Dark Pavilion’s message also says that everything is normal in the Fuhai Realm, with no sign of a great war approaching. So everyone need not panic; carry on as usual.

“As for those people outside, if they still refuse to disperse after noon, where is the Hall of Discipline? How can my Jade Radiance Sect allow such rabble to ride roughshod over us? Drive them away if need be.

“Settle the matter thus. You may all disperse. If anyone still follows the rumors without knowing the truth, the Hall of Discipline will handle them!”

Tu Ji’s warning silenced even those who had still harbored some objections.

Dao Lord Lanhe, however, could not help but sneer inwardly. It had clearly been intended as a chance to pressure Han Su, but since the matter had turned toward his own junior, it was now reduced to making a mountain out of a molehill and became a means of warning others instead.

Still, a proud warmth rose in him. His daughter, once so soft and tender, had finally grown up. Hear how she spoke—polite yet persuasive, forceful yet unbowed. It was truly gratifying, deeply gratifying.

After the peak masters left, Dao Lord Tu Ji could not help pacing anxiously.

Ji Yan had been swept into such trouble, yet not a word had been sent back to his clan. What on earth was going on?

The matter was growing more and more serious. Though they said they would drive people away if the trouble persisted, it did not seem so simple. In any case, they had to send him word first.

Meanwhile, the former realm lords were on their way to the Starfall Realm to seek out the spirit of the Heaven-Piercing Mirror. At that moment, Xuan Ting, that is, Ji Yan, received a talisman letter.

It had been sent by his father in this life. After reading it, he felt troubled. Why would such a thing happen for no reason? Could it be that Wu Wu had stirred up trouble again?

He recounted the contents of the talisman letter to the others, but they too were at a loss.

Su Yun frowned. “From the very beginning, Wu Wu has been far smarter than the rest of us. If he wants to do something, who could possibly guess it? Rong Ling, you’re clever too. Analyze this for us—what is going on?”

Rong Ling did not answer. His mind was full of the line saying that Han Su had been taken as someone colluding with demon cultivators.

If it was Wu Wu, why would he target Han Su? That made no sense.

And then there was that Monk Ming Xin—could it be him?

If it were him, how could Han Su possibly escape?

Rong Ling felt restless and disordered. He wished he had wings so he could fly there at once and help Han Su clear everything up immediately.

Distractedly, he said to the others, “I have urgent business. I’ll go on ahead.”

Then he sped toward the Starfall Realm at full strength.

Among those present, aside from him, only Ming Ji still possessed the power of a terrestrial immortal. Yet Ming Ji had been too severely wounded and had not fully recovered, so these days she could only travel at a slow pace.

Now that he exerted himself to the utmost, he instantly left the others far behind and soon vanished without a trace.

Su Yun scratched her head and turned to Huai Yin. “What’s wrong with him? What sudden business does he have to deal with?”

Ever since she recovered memories of her past life, she had always felt awkward around Ming Ji and Huai Yin. This was the first time she had spoken to Huai Yin, and on that day when Huai Yin learned that Su Yun’s past life had in fact been male, and that he had even once had feelings for his mother...

He too had felt deeply awkward, not knowing in what capacity he ought to face her. Now that she had actually said a sentence to him, he was startled as well and did not know what to say.

The group remained puzzled, but could not catch up to him, so they could only continue on at an unhurried pace.

Xuan Ting said, “If the Starfall Realm is truly in such a state now, Huai Yin, you should disguise yourself to avoid trouble. You have half my blood; suppressing your demonic aura comes naturally to you.”

“Hmph.” Huai Yin still resented Xuan Ting for having been unreliable back then and separating him from his mother and child for so many years, so he had always been too lazy to pay him much mind. Even a single grunt in acknowledgment was already a generous display. Xuan Ting could not help feeling secretly delighted. Day by day, there was progress. It seemed the ice in his son’s heart was growing easier and easier to melt.

By the time Rong Ling arrived, Han Su was lying on a large blue stone beside the Lingwu Stream in the Valley of the Stream-Joining Valley on Spirit Mist Peak, lost in thought.

She rested her chin in one hand, thinking over what should be done next.

This had once been her favorite place in childhood, the site where she had cultivated and rested countless times.

Should she give the Heaven-Piercing Mirror to Immortal Rong Ling? She did not know what he was doing now. Last time, he had chased after her all the way to the Starfall Realm, and afterward had taken lodging in this valley. Every day when she came out to cultivate, she could always run into him here.

It was such a coincidence it seemed almost accidental. She rarely spoke to him, and he rarely took the initiative to talk to her. Yet no matter when, his gaze always followed her tightly.

Once, twice, three times—no matter how dull she was, she could not possibly fail to notice.

Was it as she imagined? But had he not been devoted to Immortal Ming Ji all along?

She was not as beautiful as Immortal Ming Ji, not as powerful in cultivation, and her temperament was ordinary, plain, and utterly unremarkable. How could he possibly like her?

And yet... ever since she first discovered Rong Ling’s feelings, feelings he had made no effort to conceal, she often found herself secretly recalling the past.

Recalling her astonishment at first seeing him, recalling the little by little of healing his wounds while he was unconscious, recalling their first conversation, recalling the first time he held her in his arms, recalling...

Perhaps it was simply the right age. Perhaps it was only that she had finally awakened to such things. Perhaps the many tiny moments of their quiet companionship had seeped in, imperceptibly, like rain nourishing the earth. In her heart, he had gradually begun to exist.

It was not because she was infatuated with his appearance, nor because she worshiped his cultivation. It was purely because of him as a person, because of his character, because of the way he interacted with her. A thread of feeling she had once buried deep inside was pressed back to the surface, and with each passing day together it deepened further.

She liked coming to Stream-Joining Valley more and more. Sometimes she sat in meditation, sometimes she made puppets and formation disks, sometimes she practiced sword techniques, sometimes she trained her spells. And sometimes she would place a low table on this blue stone and sit in silent company with him, drinking wine together without a word.

Just as she had secretly decided that the next day she would speak to him, he told her that Ming Ji had awakened, and he was going to the Fuhai Realm.

At that instant, she could not have said what she felt. Perhaps it was sorrow, perhaps grief, perhaps a faint self-mocking bitterness.

As always, she forced a stubborn smile and nodded as she watched him leave, yet in her heart she shut and locked a door.

She did not dare hope for anything with him anymore, nor did she expect anything at all.

Only, the Heaven-Piercing Mirror was of grave importance. Should she give it to him or not? Ah, how vexing.

“What is vexing?”

The clear, pristine voice not far away startled her. How had he come here? Had she said it aloud?