Chapter 129
Chapter 129: A Shout at Injustice
Wu Yuan had just left when he suddenly remembered there was one more matter he had not mentioned to Shi Ji Cai, so he turned back.
Seeing that only the first layer of restriction on Shi Ji Cai’s cave abode was open, he walked in without a second thought.
Because the two had always gotten along and Wu Yuan visited often, the first layer of the cave’s restriction had long been set to allow him through.
As he stepped inside again, the sight before him made his eyes widen in shock: several iron cages in the courtyard stood open, and the spirit beasts within had all been disemboweled.
At that moment, Shi Ji Cai was clutching the heart of one such beast; with a vicious squeeze, the heart burst apart.
Blood splashed onto Shi Ji Cai’s body, and then, unbelievably, several streams of it were drawn into Shi Ji Cai, absorbed into the flesh.
When Shi Ji Cai noticed Wu Yuan’s return, their gaze visibly faltered.
Wu Yuan came to himself and barked in anger: Shi Ji Cai!
He demanded: What are you doing? These spirit beasts… why would you treat them like this?
Looking at the carcasses with hearts and organs gouged out, he felt a trace of pity cross his face.
When his gaze fell on several corpses that looked wholly drained of blood, his pupils dilated in shock.
Even if cultivators inevitably stain their hands with blood, killing should be swift and clean; even for spirit beasts.
Such cruel methods made it clear the beasts had been tortured before death.
Shi Ji Cai’s expression shifted as they tried to explain: I did not do anything…
With a complicated look, Wu Yuan shook his head, disappointment in his voice: Shi Ji Cai, you—
Suddenly, as if something occurred to him, he demanded: Is this what you’ve been hiding for a month to do?
He snapped: How is this acceptable? How are you any different from a demonic cultivator?
He started: Shi Ji Cai, you—
Wu Yuan’s voice cut off.
He looked down in disbelief, eyes wide: at some unknown moment, the shadow beneath his feet had warped into the shape of a great blade.
That blade now stabbed into his dantian from behind.
His dantian shattered, spiritual energy spilling away.
His mid-stage Golden Core cultivation plummeted like a breached flood.
Shi Ji Cai leaned close to his ear and whispered: Why did you come back? I had not planned to kill you.
They continued, voice low: I meant to take that assignment with you and then lure you out.
They added: But since you discovered this, do not blame me.
As they spoke, Shi Ji Cai thrust a hand into Wu Yuan’s chest, hooked hard, and crushed his still-beating heart.
Then, with a push, Wu Yuan’s body toppled to the ground.
He had already breathed his last.
His eyes remained open, fixed on Shi Ji Cai, refusing to close in death.
…
In Cloud Link City, after making a long circuit of the area she was monitoring, Rong Shu received Lin Dao’s method for altering the Formation Disc.
Following his instructions, Rong Shu quietly made the changes. Fortunately, it was an incomplete Formation Disc, so adjusting it was not too difficult.
Once she finished, she sent Lin Dao a brief message, then—business done—she sneakily sent another: senior brother, when are you coming back?
After a moment, Lin Dao replied: Soon.
Seeing those two words, Rong Shu brightened.
Stowing the Nine Palace Mirror, Rong Shu pinched Little Hamster’s chubby cheeks and said: Senior brother will be back soon; I’ll introduce you then.
At that, Little Hamster blinked. [Senior brother? What senior brother?]
Rong Shu suddenly realized something and peered at Little Hamster in curiosity: Right, all this time I don’t think I’ve ever heard your voice, Yan Yan. Yan Yan, give me a call.
Hearing that, Little Hamster immediately tucked its head back.
Seeing this, Rong Shu flicked her finger and drew it out again.
Little Hamster hid several times, but each time Rong Shu teased it back out; at last she caught it in her palm.
Little Hamster puffed its tiny mouth and refused to open it even a little.
Rong Shu poked lightly, trying to make it give up resistance.
The more it resisted, the more curious Rong Shu became.
She coaxed softly: Yan Yan, don’t be afraid. If your voice isn’t nice, I won’t laugh at you.
Mice should squeak, she thought; as for hamsters, she was not sure, having never really heard one.
Just then, a bird flew in and perched on a distant eave, cooing.
Little Hamster, inspired, finally made a sound: Gu…
Rong Shu froze. Seeing no reaction, Little Hamster forced out two more coos, then fretted in its heart: [This should be right, yes?]
Rong Shu looked at the creature in her palm, her gaze growing stranger. Do hamsters call like this? It seemed… not quite right.
She poked the guilty Little Hamster again and said: Yan Yan, one more.
Very obedient now, Little Hamster cooed again: Gu.
Rong Shu pressed her lips hard to keep from laughing and said: Cough, cough… very, very good; it sounds lovely.
Playing with its fluffy fur, she laughed inwardly. [Since you can coo, you must stick with it and always coo.]
Sensing the ruse had worked, Little Hamster secretly exhaled in relief. The night wind blew, and its little body shivered; seeing this, Rong Shu tucked it back into the pocket before her chest.
Rong Shu felt she had gained plenty tonight: she had discovered a large entangling array the demonic cultivators were preparing, and quietly left herself a back door. She prepared to return.
Unexpected trouble arrived all at once. On her way back, Rong Shu faintly heard broken cries for help: Is anyone there? Save me! Don’t come any closer! If you dare lay a hand on me, once my sect elder finds out, he’ll have you torn limb from limb. Senior brother, senior brother, how are you? Don’t die…
Rong Shu immediately sensed something was wrong. Pressing herself to a pitch-black wall, she merged with its shadow and slipped toward the source.
When she reached it, she saw a young man and woman—two junior disciples from a small righteous sect—stumbling along, supporting each other as they fled. Behind them, a demonic cultivator watched their panicked flight with a hunter’s amusement and said: Hahaha, you cannot escape. Be good and become one of the Soul Soldiers under my Soul Summoning Banner; that is your blessing. As for your sect elder, he will soon go keep you company.
Hidden in the dark, Rong Shu first probed their cultivation. The demonic cultivator was at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. The two junior disciples were at the eighth and fifth layers. The male at the eighth layer had once had the strength to fight, but now seemed badly wounded. The girl at the fifth layer was too weak; she could neither fight nor outrun him, and terror filled her face.
Save them, or not?
Rong Shu kept her eyes on the three, but most of her attention went to the surroundings. After checking three times and confirming no other demonic cultivators lurked nearby, she shed her “Xu Liu” disguise and, after a moment’s thought, put on the “demoness” appearance she had used in the sect’s secret realm.
This demonic cultivator was only ninth-layer Qi Refining; Rong Shu could beat him and kill him. The two junior disciples were from a righteous sect; since she had seen them and had the ability to help, lending a hand would do no harm. [Senior brother said this counts as accumulating virtue, didn’t he?]
[See injustice on the road, give a shout; when it’s time to act, then act. Awoo (??????) x3.]
Rong Shu put Little Hamster back into the Beast Taming Pouch to ensure its safety, then drew her Twin Blades from her Storage Pouch. The next instant, she slipped into the shadows again.
On the other side, still exhilarated by the hunt, the demonic cultivator had no idea he had become the prey. Even when Rong Shu suddenly rose from his shadow behind him and sliced his throat with a single stroke, he failed to fully react.
He was only a ninth-layer Qi Refining demonic cultivator, his cultivation below Rong Shu’s, and she held the darkness and the initiative. If she could not end it in one strike with such an advantage, then the past year of her cultivation would have been for nothing.
What seemed commonplace to Rong Shu left the two sect disciples in utter shock. Who is she? She killed a ninth-layer Qi Refining demonic cultivator in complete silence just like that—how incredible.
They had watched many bouts in the sect tournament and seen all kinds of gifted disciples, yet none of those images matched the person before them. Or was she… not a sect disciple?
Rong Shu turned and, seeing the wariness in their eyes, offered a brief explanation: Don’t be nervous. I’m a sect disciple as well. I just happened to be passing through, and when I saw you in trouble, I lent a hand.
At that, the two finally relaxed. They said: Many thanks for saving our lives, fellow Daoist. If there is ever anything we can do in return, we will do our utmost. They added, eyes bright with relief: Benefactor, you’re amazing. A ninth-layer Qi Refining demonic cultivator, cut down by a single stroke.
Seeing their joy and excitement, Rong Shu reminded them: This is no time to chat. Let’s leave this troublesome place first; there might be a second demonic cultivator.
They sobered and nodded repeatedly: All right.
Rong Shu let them go on ahead while she handled the scene. She burned the corpse and washed away the bloodstains, ensuring not a trace remained. Then she left and quickly caught up with the pair, who thanked her again.
Watching them, a thought rose in Rong Shu’s heart. She could not report the demonic cultivators’ movements to the sect as “Rong Shu” right now, but she could spread the word through these “lucky-to-survive” disciples. After all, they had nearly been killed by a demonic cultivator inside Cloud Link City; if the warning came from them, it would carry more weight, and the sects would take it more seriously. The demonic cultivators had grown so brazen that even knowing a grand sect tournament was underway in Cloud Link City, they still dared to slaughter sect disciples inside the walls.
With that in mind, Rong Shu said: When you get back, be sure to tell your sect elders to be on guard against demonic cultivators in the city.
The girl looked startled and asked: Benefactor, do you mean… there are other demonic cultivators in the city?
Rong Shu nodded, then posed a question in return: Otherwise? Do you think a mere Qi Refining Stage demonic cultivator would dare attack sect disciples during the tournament? They must have something backing them. It might be that a larger demonic cultivator force has already been planted in the city.
At this, their faces changed. They said: Benefactor, this is serious; we’ll go report it at once. Rong Shu nodded, putting on a mysterious air: Good, go.
Watching them depart, Rong Shu followed quietly at a distance. On the one hand, she needed to head back herself; on the other, she wanted to make sure they returned safely. Otherwise, her freshly minted plan would die before it began.
Nothing else happened on the way back. Once she saw the two safely enter Dragon Ridge Palace, Rong Shu returned to her own quarters.
Inside, she set Little Hamster gently on the bed and considered the next steps.
First, keep constant watch on the demonic cultivators’ movements, missing not the slightest anomaly, and, if possible, learn in advance the exact time they will act.
Second, make sure the little tweaks to the Formation Disc are not discovered.
Third, inform Cheng Bu Fan in secret, and, through the rescued sect disciples, leak the news to the other sects.
Fourth, keep each cover identity airtight and the disguises intact; none of the three fronts can collapse.
Fifth, do not forget the promise to Liu Kai to “kill Rong Shu.”
She ran through the plan several times in her mind, confirming nothing had been overlooked. [I wonder if the demonic cultivators will wait until the tournament ends before making a move?]
Rong Shu felt it unlikely. If she were a true demonic cultivator and the mastermind behind the board, the best time to strike would be at the climax of the tournament—then give everyone a “surprise” they cannot guard against.
After thinking for a long while, Rong Shu rolled her stiff neck and, from the corner of her eye, noticed Little Hamster had finally succumbed to sleep on the bed. Its forepaws clung to the edge of its nest, the small body leaning against it, and its tiny head, heavy with drowsiness, kept bobbing downward.