Chapter 99

"The elder believes the Xianzun is unworthy of his position. Under his control, the Heaven's Mandate Tower has declined year after year. In recent years, the offerings from followers have dwindled, and they can no longer sustain the gods."

"The elder doesn't want to see the foundation he built squandered by the Xianzun, so he wants to kill the Xianzun and reclaim his position."

"I don't know who you really are, whether you're one of us or if you've planted spies in the tower, but since you know the Heaven's Mandate Tower so well, you must be aware that the Xianzun has been gravely ill lately, and his cultivation is weakening."

Truly, one question led to another, and to her surprise, the Heaven's Mandate Tower was hiding so many secrets.

Lin Yu pondered for a moment, then asked what she already knew: "So his illness is because your elder poisoned him?"

The older disciple pressed his lips together and admitted, "Yes."

"What else?" Lin Yu pressed, wanting to glean more from him.

The older disciple racked his brain. The trivial secrets wouldn't interest Lin Yu, and he had already spilled the more important ones. What else was there...

After a long pause, he finally offered another: "The Heaven's Mandate Tower is riddled with secret passages, almost everywhere. There's even one that leads directly to the imperial palace."

Lin Yu: "Anything else?"

"No more..." The older disciple's face flushed red, unable to think of anything else.

Lin Yu said nothing, just stared intently at the older disciple.

Though blindfolded, he could feel Lin Yu's piercing gaze. His heart raced, and unable to bear the pressure, he forced out another sentence.

"Twenty-three years ago, the elder did something shameful, possibly involving the former emperor and empress's Ascension. The elder seems to have harmed them. Over the years, he's often shown remorse. I often see him go to the God of War temple at night and kneel for whole nights."

After saying this, the disciple hastily added, "Of course, the part about the former emperor and empress is my guess; it might not be them. Maybe I'm wrong, but the shameful deed is real. The elder mentioned it once when drunk, and it's true that he always goes to the War God temple to kneel all night."

When he finished, the torture chamber fell silent for a long time. The others present knew some of the other secrets, but the elder harming the former emperor and empress was unheard of.

Lin Yu inexplicably felt the breathing around her grow heavy. She stared at the older disciple, seriously mulling over his words. Learning several things about twenty years ago in one go left her thoughts somewhat tangled.

"Fine." After a long pause, Lin Yu tossed a Gu worm to the ghost attendant and said, "Take him out. Have him draw the map of the secret passages he knows. Once he's done, give him the antidote and release him with the others."

As the man was led away, Lin Yu turned back to the remaining few. She deliberately threatened them, "Your lives now have only the span of one incense stick. If you don't take the antidote soon, you'll die an ugly death."

"Let me warn you: I hate ugly things. Bleeding from all seven orifices—that's hardly a dignified end, is it?" Lin Yu chuckled, but to the others it sounded like a sneer. "If you have nothing to trade, then go with the ghost attendants outside now. Don't die in front of me."

The remaining five didn't want to throw their lives away. They erupted in chatter, and in their agitation, the iron chains binding them clinked.

"I know other secrets—ones they didn't tell!"

They scrambled to speak: "I know about the other elders..."

"Do you want to know the formation eye on the Divine Mountain? I laid the formation; I know everything..."

They babbled on, and the torture chamber, which had been quiet, was now quite noisy. But clearly, what these people confessed wasn't as significant as what the first two had said. Still, there were more of them, so they had more to say.

Lin Yu listened carefully as they rattled off a whole basket of information. Finally, she handed the remaining Gu worms to the ghost attendant. "Give them the antidote and send them out together."

Lin Yu watched the last person swallow the Gu worm, saw the chains undone, and watched as two ghost attendants escorted him away. The torture chamber fell silent again.

Lin Yu let out a long breath. After two days of running around, she could finally take a brief pause.

Ting He emerged from the shadows. "Are you leaving?"

Lin Yu turned to look at Ting He, then pulled the wispy figure along as she walked out. "Yes."

Lin Yu sighed. "I have to go. I planted Gu worms in them, so I need to make sure they survive the trip back. If they return without completing the task, they'll be punished."

Ting He shrugged. "Being a disciple in the Heaven's Mandate Tower is miserable. Your own people either kill you or maim you. What's the point?"

Lin Yu successfully led Ting He past the Ghost Gate, and the Buzhou River appeared before them. "They're after fame and status. When ordinary people hear the title of cultivator, they immediately put you on a pedestal."

"It's only within the tower that they suffer suppression, but once outside, they're respected cultivators. Of course there are those willing to do it."

At that, Lin Yu looked at Ting He seriously. "You've avenged your enemy now. What are you planning to do next?"

Ting He was caught off guard and didn't know how to respond. "Me? I don't know. In this state, I can't appear in daylight. I can only survive at night..."

As she spoke, Ting He's gaze drifted. "I'm going to die soon, you know?"

Ting He looked at her fingertips slowly dissolving. "Maybe tomorrow, maybe in a few days."

Her tone brightened again, and she smiled. "But it's fine. I've lived a free life, and I've been lucky. I got everything I wanted, and accomplished everything I set out to do. No regrets."

Lin Yu couldn't change the fact that Ting He would soon vanish. With one person after another dying around her, it was hard not to feel melancholy.

Her gaze settled on the flowing water, recalling the fire at the medicine shop. It had been less than four months—in just four months, to this day, she had truly lost all her former family.

What had caused all this? Was it the times, or were people's hearts too greedy?

In four months, she had gained much, but it seemed she had lost more. She couldn't bring any of it back.

Ting He's candid words fell on Lin Yu's ears, and Lin Yu asked uncertainly, "Truly no regrets?"

"None. I had some before, but now they're nothing." Ting He said firmly. "Every day I live now is a bonus. How can I dare to think about the future?"

A small boat appeared before them, stopping their conversation. It came to a halt at the edge of the river, and Lin Yu pulled Ting He onto it.

The ferryman had seen Lin Yu several times and recognized her, so he didn't introduce himself as usual. The atmosphere was quiet, with only Ting He excitedly watching the misty river.

The boat glided along the water. A few sparse stars in the sky drifted across the horizon. It was very quiet, with not even a bird in sight, only the gentle sound of the oars stirring the water.

Whether it was her imagination or not, Lin Yu felt the river was flowing faster than usual. Before long, she saw the people waiting on the shore.

Unlike Lin Yu, Ting He was in good spirits. She merged into the shadows and said goodbye to Lin Yu, "See you around. Hope I live until I see you again."

Before Lin Yu could respond, Ting He vanished into the night. When Lin Yu turned back, the space beside her was empty. She whispered to the darkness behind her, "See you."

...

After finally dismissing the senior brothers and sisters who had escorted her back, Lin Yu pushed open the door to her quarters, and Chen Lu immediately surrounded her with chatter.

"Where did you go? Why are you back so late? It's really late." Chen Lu reminded her.

Lin Yu was a bit surprised. "Why are you back today? Aren't you supposed to be learning from the elder?"

Ever since Chen Lu started studying talismans, she had become very busy and often didn't come back. Lin Yu was almost used to her absence.

"The elder sent us back for some reason and told us not to look for him these two days." Chen Lu counted on her fingers. "I've been waiting here for two days. I've been alone the whole time."

As she spoke, Chen Lu became pitiful, blinking and sneaking glances at Lin Yu. "I went to find you, but I couldn't find anyone. You're always going out early and coming back late. It's okay not finding you, but even Sister Yulin is missing. It's just me..."

Lin Yu interrupted her with a smile, "Isn't there a cat keeping you company? Where's the cat?"

"I had a fight with it. Now we're sworn enemies. Don't mention that bad cat in front of me!" Chen Lu pouted. "I'm not playing with it."

Lin Yu chuckled and patted Chen Lu's head. "Alright, you're sworn enemies. Got it."

"Why aren't you asleep this late? It can't be because the cat made you angry?" Lin Yu asked.

"Of course not!" At that, Chen Lu trotted to the table and picked up a piece of yellow paper to show Lin Yu. "This is the best talisman I've drawn! I just tested it, and it can actually freeze someone in place!"

Chen Lu looked very excited. "Am I amazing?"

Lin Yu took the talisman and examined it. She didn't know much about talismans, but she could see Chen Lu's handwriting was neat. As she was about to praise her, Lin Yu suddenly noticed something off.

"Freeze someone in place?" Lin Yu repeated. "Didn't you say you couldn't find anyone?"

"Who did you freeze?"

Chen Lu pressed her lips together and hid her hands behind her back, looking guilty. Under Lin Yu's inquiring gaze, she finally whispered, "...That bad cat."

Lin Yu relaxed. As long as no one was hurt. "Where's the cat?"

Chen Lu: "In the yard."

Lin Yu didn't rush to find the cat. A talisman drawn by a child just learning couldn't freeze the Snow God. He was probably just humoring Chen Lu.

Lin Yu patted Chen Lu's head. "Go back to sleep. It's late. If kids don't sleep, they won't grow tall."

Chen Lu turned back several times, reluctant to leave now that Lin Yu was finally back. She was almost pushed out, and only gave up when Lin Yu closed the door.

Passing through the yard, Chen Lu caught a glimpse of the white cat in the corner. She let out a soft "Pfft" and threw a few taunts before leaving.

But even the softest sound couldn't escape Lin Yu's ears. Hearing the commotion from inside, she couldn't help but laugh softly.

Lin Yu walked to the table, which was covered with various talismans, some still wet with ink. It looked like Chen Lu had been drawing all night.

Lin Yu collected the talismans, extinguished all the candles, and lay down on the bed. So much had happened in these two days; she closed her eyes and slowly reflected.

Having been awake for two straight days, her body was exhausted to the limit. Soon after closing her eyes, drowsiness crept in. As she drifted between sleep and waking, the door creaked open.

Under the moonlight, a figure quickly slipped into the room.