Chapter 45: Before Parting

Qinghe Sword Sect was far from Cui Xian; by the time Su Chuyi returned, the entire city was draped in white, every sight filled with funeral banners.

Every household wore mourning, and the scene resembled Cui Xian having just fought a war.

Su Chuyi's heart leapt in alarm—had the boy and girl chosen as offerings already met their end?

But Su Chuyi hovered midair, carefully sensing, and found few households in the city weeping, little visible grief; instead, many passersby wore hidden smiles, bowing their heads to suppress their laughter.

Such strangeness left Su Chuyi utterly bewildered.

If the whole city wore mourning, why did everyone smile?

As Su Chuyi pondered, she lowered her swordlight and landed in the city. Illusory magic concealed her arrival; no passerby noticed the immortal descending from the sky.

After walking dozens of steps, Su Chuyi arrived before the teahouse.

Bai Ye Teahouse looked no different from before, yet inside, the usual bustle was gone—only two customers remained, one of whom was Chen Ye.

Seeing Chen Ye, Su Chuyi inexplicably sighed in relief.

No matter what calamity had struck Cui Xian, with Chen Ye here, she finally had someone to consult.

Su Chuyi sat beside Chen Ye with perfect ease, even failing to notice the girl with her head bowed beside him.

Chen Ye picked up the teapot and poured Su Chuyi a cup, greeting: "Miss Su, you've finally returned—have some tea and rest."

Su Chuyi took a sip and exclaimed in surprise: "This tea tastes better than last time."

Chen Ye smiled: "Of course—it's real tea this time, not leaf dregs."

Su Chuyi took only a small sip, then asked anxiously: "Has the matter of the boy and girl offerings been resolved?"

Chen Ye nodded.

"Most children have been sent home, though not all. These past days, I had Xiao Shitou help track them down to ensure every surviving child was properly placed."

Though the children were well cared for, some parents had resisted when the boy and girl offerings were forcibly taken—Cui Xian's magistrate was no gentle soul, and some had died.

Hearing Chen Ye's words, Su Chuyi looked at the silent girl and sincerely said: "This should have been my duty, yet I merely watched from the sidelines. Thank you both for your help."

Lan Shi looked up at Su Chuyi, nodded silently, and said nothing.

Su Chuyi naturally sensed the girl's sorrow and dared not press further, so she continued asking Chen Ye for details.

Chen Ye offered no concealment, briefly recounting the full story: "I used the same method I employed against the Kuei Monk… Though the Princess bears blame, she ultimately perished alongside the old demon, thus atoning for her sins…"

Su Chuyi listened carefully, her expression growing ever more astonished.

She never imagined the tale could be so convoluted—that the Old Man Elder Tian Wu, this demon, had secretly manipulated the imperial court and committed these horrific acts.

"So the entire city is in mourning because of the Princess's death?"

Su Chuyi assumed only royalty could command a citywide mourning.

Chen Ye replied: "The Princess left no corpse—no one knows if she's dead; she's merely listed as missing. Cui Xian is in mourning because I killed the county magistrate. Alongside that corrupt official, I also eliminated other officials and ruffians who aided him, based on their confessions. Unfortunately, I couldn't find Najiang Shiyue—whether he fled or hid, I don't know."

Chen Ye's first target had always been Najiang Shiyue, this young demon, but he was too good at hiding; even with his spiritual eyes, Chen Ye searched Cui Xian for days without success, so he killed the magistrate instead.

Who knew the magistrate's family was so brazen—they demanded the entire city wear mourning clothes for him. But once the magistrate's death became known, nearly everyone in Cui Xian wanted to laugh three times, hence this bizarre scene: every household in mourning, yet everyone smiling.

Chen Ye simply watched them destroy themselves.

The Princess vanished in Cui Xian, and though no one could find this golden branch and jade leaf, they still held a grand funeral for the magistrate—the consequences were inevitable. The magistrate's family had always been arrogant and tyrannical, with not a single clever soul among them.

Su Chuyi cared nothing for Chen Ye killing an official—she already knew the magistrate's crimes; anyone who asked would know the corrupt dog deserved ten thousand deaths.

But Qinghe Sword Sect's rules were strict—Su Chuyi could not arbitrarily harm mortals.

Chen Ye was not a Qinghe Sword Sect disciple, so he had no such restraints.

Su Chuyi merely felt a pang of regret: "Had I known this earlier, perhaps I could have saved the Princess."

Looking at the heartbroken Lan Shi, Su Chuyi couldn't help saying: "If she hadn't been in utter despair, she wouldn't have invoked Qinghe Sword Sect's name. She hoped Qinghe Sword Sect would save her life. Had I noticed sooner, handled things more carefully, she might have lived—and you wouldn't have had to risk yourself…"

Chen Ye shook his head: "Miss Su, the demon's fault—why take it upon yourself? The Princess sought death; even immortals could not save her."

"Besides, I'm not your sect's junior, nor an ignorant child. I am a cultivator. Though my realm is low, we are peers. My life and death are mine alone—it cannot be blamed on you."

Su Chuyi pondered a moment, then asked doubtfully: "Your words make sense, but my master taught me: cultivators must act righteously, speak for the suffering, never oppress the weak, never act recklessly and endanger innocents. Mortals are weak and suffering—if cultivators are careless, countless lives hang in the balance."

"Since I asked you to investigate for me, your safety is naturally my concern."

Chen Ye listened, utterly baffled—was Qinghe Sword Sect's code really like this?

Too righteous, even slightly perverse?

By normal logic, Chen Ye should have agreed with Su Chuyi, accepted the favor, and if he'd humbled himself further, he'd have left her burdened with guilt—and benefits would follow.

But Chen Ye said: "Miss Su, Qinghe Sword Sect's compassion for the world is admirable. I have no grounds to question your sect's rules. But in my view, righteous action requires first understanding cause before considering consequence. I could have walked away—I chose to risk myself against the possessing demon."

"Thus, the cause lies with me, not you. Even if I'd been killed by the demon, I could only blame my own recklessness—not you."

After this incident, Chen Ye paid greater attention to cause and effect.

Clarifying cause and effect simplifies complex matters. Su Chuyi confuses "I am willing" with "I should"—if this continues, she may develop a heart demon.

But Chen Ye could only hint at it; Su Chuyi's realm far surpassed his, and further words would seem arrogant.

Su Chuyi listened carefully, then nodded: "Thank you, Mr., for clarifying this. Meeting you during this journey has been the greatest fortune of my life."

This made Chen Ye slightly embarrassed—he was the one who benefited.

After a few modest remarks, both fell silent, each knowing it was time to broach the topic neither wished to mention.

Finally, Su Chuyi spoke first: "The matter in Cui Xian is settled. What are your plans henceforth?"

Indeed—their collaboration had existed solely to resolve the forced conscription of children. Now it was done. It was time to part.

Chen Ye felt a faint reluctance, but said: "I am a lone cultivator—what plans do I have? My qi sea has coalesced; next, naturally, I must strengthen it and enter the Gangsha realm as soon as possible."

Unfortunately, no pills can aid this realm—the key is the cultivation technique.

Major sects possess secret methods to accelerate qi sea expansion, but they are guarded treasures never revealed. Chen Ye could only rely on his own exploration, hoping to create a technique, or else gather materials tainted by Gangsha in advance to prepare for body refinement.

This meant Chen Ye must leave mortal society and enter true places of danger.

Su Chuyi knew this was logical, yet she felt reluctant, and couldn't help asking: "If you're willing, perhaps I can recommend you to the sect leader for admission to Qinghe Sword Sect. The sect leader has praised you highly and instructed me to convey that your secret technique is of great importance—Qinghe Sword Sect is willing to offer a treasure as thanks."

"Has your sect leader heard of me?"

Chen Ye sucked in a sharp breath—his name had reached the ears of the world's number one, and that was truly frightening.

A typical cultivator living in solitude would rejoice at hearing this, counting it as several extra years of life, but Chen Ye was filled with dread.

His own record was far from clean; he could fool someone like Su Chuni, an inexperienced girl, but this world's number one had killed countless demonic cultivators—trying to deceive him was asking for death.

As for the Qinghe Sword Sect's reward, Chen Ye was not particularly tempted.

He couldn't even properly use the sword case Su Chuni had given him; his cultivation level was the biggest problem—he couldn't use a flying sword even if they gave him one. He'd rather trade for pills to quickly raise his cultivation.

But this matter wasn't urgent; they could discuss it slowly.

"Miss Su's kindness weighs heavily on me, but I'm afraid I cannot abide by the Qinghe Sword Sect's rules. In my eyes, exterminating demons and defending the Dao is merely incidental—I seek immortality, and I fear I'll be purged from the sect within days."

Su Chuni looked slightly disappointed, but she understood the sect's strict rules—few cultivators in the world could endure them, which was why Qinghe Sword Sect's disciples were so few.

But after today's parting, they might never meet again.

As if sensing Su Chuni's thoughts, Chen Ye said to her: "Still, before we part, I have one request of Miss Su."

Su Chuni's eyes lit up. "Mr. Chen, please speak."

"The young demon Jiang Shiyue has fled. He, too, has committed countless atrocities. As the saying goes, eliminate evil thoroughly—I ask you, Miss Su, to help me find this demon. Only by killing him can the matter in Cui Xian be truly resolved."

Su Chuni smiled and said to Chen Ye: "Mr. Chen speaks wisely. This time, I will not let you face danger alone."