Unravel the Dead Knot; Water Master Battles Demon Xuan

TW: Violence

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Ming Yi's voice came from behind them. "What are you grumbling about all by yourself?"

Shi Qingxuan's body stiffened. "I…I…I…"

Xie Lian wanted to help him respond, but the tongue was refusing control. It couldn't be helped; his most trusted, beloved friend turned out to be the one he feared the most, hiding next to him by his side. Now that there was no one around, who knew what he was going to do; who wouldn't be scared?

Suddenly, Ming Yi's fingers dug in. Pain flared in Shi Qingxuan's shoulder, and he was pushed downward.

A pale white hand suddenly lunged out from out of the creek and grabbed for Shi Qingxuan's neck.

A water ghoul!

With Ming Yi's push, that hand missed. Then, he blasted it with his palm, and screams came from the waters. That creature was probably obliterated by the blast. Shi Qingxuan sat on the ground, having fallen over, and Ming Yi pulled him up.

"Do you have something wrong with your brain, washing your face with just any water from the Black Water Demon Lair?"

"…"

Shi Qingxuan used the creek water that had been soaking the corpses of water ghouls just now to calm down, and should be feeling disgusted, yet he had no mind to notice those details. His face and hair were still dripping, drenched like a drowned dog, lost and forlorn. He dazedly let "Ming Yi" pull him up, and dazedly followed after him.

Truthfully, when thinking about it closely, everything relating to this "Ming-xiong" had always reeked of dubiousness.

He was the Earth Master. Therefore, very matter of factly, every Distance-Shortening array on the road was drawn by him. That should've been his specialty technique, yet it had frequent issues.

Leaving Puqi Shrine, the four of them were sent to the town of Fu Gu for some unknown reason, and problems also occurred when both the Wind and Water Masters were being transported out of the Black Water Island. Was it the transportation chamber, that had wasted away through the years in need of repairs? Was it something else causing trouble? Was the culprit behind the scenes too omnipotent?

Why think so much? The simplest answer was that it was Ming Yi who had meddled in everything!

The first time the Wind Master was taken away by the "Reverend of Empty Words", it was "Ming Yi" who lost sight of him. The Wind Master who lost his spiritual powers was also first discovered by him, the one who stayed by Shi Qingxuan's side and knew inside and out his fears and actions was him, the one who knew the Wind Master's verbal password and could command the "Reverend of Empty Words" to threaten Shi Qingxuan to open the doors to that protection array at the Terrace of Cascading Wine was also him.

At that time, he cracked the establishment plaque to the Temple of Wind and Water with his own hands without feeling. Maybe it was done out of necessity, or maybe he was doing it on purpose in the first place.

Under the guise of an excuse, to openly dismantle the establishment plaque of his enemy, and his enemy had to be grateful, too; what daring arrogance.

With little odd actions such as these, it wasn't like Xie Lian was never suspicious, and he had tried to probe, asking those three questions. Yet he had never thought that something this inconceivable, this audacious, could happen: that a ghost had impersonated a heavenly official, and had always been hiding amongst them!

The Ship-Sinking Black Water had always been low-key?

To exist under a different identity for years, of course he's low-key.

"Ming Yi's" response at the time really didn't have any flaws. He had devoured the Reverend of Empty Words and possessed its powers, able to command it like a minion. A Supreme Ghost King could naturally override its might, unfettered by the restrictions of its unique trait. If he wanted to speak the truth, then he could speak the truth, if he wished to deceive, he could speak lies.

That skeleton had dexterous hands and feet, corresponding with the identity of the Earth Master. Why worship it in the Nether Water Manor? It had to be done. Those were the remains of a heavenly official, after all; if they weren't treated with solemn respect and carelessly buried, the bones wouldn't rest in peace and the coffin would not hold. Thus, he could only regard it with grand formalities, and worship it within his own halls.

However, what made Xie Lian guess his identity wasn't just this, but that lunge.

The Water Master asked why the skeleton would experience terminal lucidity. Ming Yi answered in a rush to say it was, "as long as that thing won't stand in my way, it doesn't matter who he is". But in actuality, what really provoked the real Ming Yi wasn't that, but the words after: "Lord Earth Master"! Because he was the real Earth Master!

And the one impersonating him was standing right before him, nonchalantly and intentionally leading them astray.

Sometimes, "Ming Yi" would also do the opposite on purpose and pull them back on track to escape suspicion. For example, he said to Hua Cheng, "you really do have spies in the heavens". Yet wasn't that spy himself? That was why Hua Cheng responded so ironically, "don't you already know that?"; implying, "why play pretend?"

However, the word "spy" was probably inaccurate. An agreement was more likely between those two. Such as, an exchange of information.

The two Supreme Ghost Kings cooperated out of mutual benefit, so it was a win-win situation. Black Water snuck into the Heavenly Court and observed all movement in the heavenly realm, big and small; Hua Cheng took root in the mortal realm, expanding the number of worshippers. Besides this, whether they cooperated in other matters, it wasn't known.

Jun Wu sending the "Earth Master" to infiltrate Ghost City was no different than flooding the Temple of the Dragon King¹; sending thieves to a bandit's lair.

Up until now, there were probably only two accidents that arose while he was undercover. The first one was that Ascending Fire Dragon spell.

An impostor obviously wouldn't do something so pointless. Xie Lian was more inclined to think that the one who cast the Ascending Fire Dragon spell was the real Ming Yi, who had managed to escape.

In order to disguise oneself as someone completely different and sneak into the Heavenly Court, one must have a thorough understanding of that person. Thus, the impersonated must be kept alive, so small details such as experiences, skills, spiritual device manipulation, and so on, could be dug out little by little. The fake Ming Yi more than likely kidnapped and imprisoned the real Ming Yi right after he passed his Heavenly Calamity, but before his ascension. Otherwise, if the real Ming Yi had already made contact with other heavenly officials, it'd be easy for the imposter to be discovered.

That was an accident, so when Hua Cheng received the news, he had to go back to help his partner deal with the aftermath. Coincidentally, Xie Lian also received the mission from Jun Wu: Ghost City rescue.

He didn't think so at the time, but thinking back now, he realized: maybe that operation went a little too smoothly? Xie Lian really did rescue the "Earth Master" from the dungeons of Paradise Manor, but how did he find the dungeon in the first place?

Wasn't it because he first saw the cursed shackle of Hua Cheng's subordinate, the one who wore a demon mask, then saw him sneaking about Paradise Manor?

Something like a cursed shackle was a sign of humiliation, and normally when heavenly officials were banished, they would hide it away. So why did that masked man wear it on his wrist so openly? And why did he hide it afterwards? Besides carelessness, the other explanation was it was done intentionally to grab Xie Lian's attention, so Xie Lian could follow along and discover the "imprisoned" fake Earth Master. The real Ming Yi who had set off the distress signal was probably killed after this. Because his corpse couldn't be destroyed, but his flesh couldn't be kept to allow others to find clues of his identity, he was dissolved to nothing but white bones.

The second accident was after Shi Qingxuan was spooked by the Reverend of Empty Words, and he sought Xie Lian for help.

It was obvious Hua Cheng didn't want Xie Lian to be pulled into this affair, which was why at the time, Ming Yi declared, "coming here was not my intention". Afterwards, when they were at the Terrace of Cascading Wine, when Hua Cheng went away, it was probably to meet up with Ming Yi and question what was going on.

Xie Lian didn't have the chance to explain all of this to Shi Qingxuan in detail, but Shi Qingxuan himself must've gradually thought each detail through too, the hands hiding under his sleeves trembling.

The two walked side by side, and Xie Lian's mind was churning; just where had Shi Wudu gone?

The first one to cross through that array to leave was Shi Wudu, and the last one was "Ming Yi", so he shouldn't have been able to jump over Shi Qingxuan to do anything to Shi Wudu. Which meant there were three possibilities: first, Shi Wudu was sent somewhere else; second, there was something else waiting where Shi Wudu was sent and he had already fallen victim; third, Shi Wudu left on his own.

If it was the first or second possibility, then there was no reason for Ming Yi to keep acting in front of Shi Qingxuan right now, searching for Shi Wudu.

Having thought this far, Xie Lian suddenly heard "Ming Yi" ask, "Where's your golden locket?"

Shi Qingxuan was momentarily puzzled, but Xie Lian was immediately filled with dread. Ming Yi asked a couple times before Shi Qingxuan responded, "Huh?"

"Ming Yi" said gruffly, "Didn't you say those two golden longevity lockets were forged by the golden cores of you and your brother, and if the master is hurt, they would cry?"

"…"

Shi Qingxuan told Ming Yi everything, so naturally he also knew how that spiritual device worked. Which meant, he was going to use the golden locket to find Shi Wudu!

"But…but, my scratches are healed!" Shi Qingxuan said.

"That's easy to solve," Ming Yi said coldly.

Then, he raised his arm slightly. Xie Lian was alarmed, was he going to cut Lord Wind Master??? He tensed in defense, however, Ming Yi squeezed the gash on his own arm instead. The gash that had already ceased bleeding oozed again.

"Give me the locket, I'll wear it," he said.

"…"

Seeing this, Xie Lian couldn't help but be awed.

If this gesture hadn't stemmed from hidden maliciousness and murderous intent, then such a person truly would have been worth befriending!

However, Shi Qingxuan was still rooted to the spot, hesitant to move. The moment he gave the longevity locket, the two golden lockets would cry for each other. Should Shi Wudu notice, he would for sure come find him directly.

Ming Yi furrowed his brows. "Are you scared stupid?"

"…No!" Shi Qingxuan said. "Actually, this, this locket, didn't I tell you? It only works if I'm the one who wears it."

Ming Yi looked doubtful. "Really?"

Shi Qingxuan gripped the longevity locket tightly and nodded his head firmly. "That's right!"

"Ming Yi" stared at him for a moment, but then seemed to abandon the idea. He looked at the gash on his own arm, but didn't say anything. Just then, that longevity locket around Shi Qingxuan's neck suddenly started vibrating.

The colours of Shi Qingxuan's face instantly changed, and "Ming Yi" reacted immediately, going in the direction the longevity locket was pointed without pause.

The golden locket's cry meant Shi Wudu was hurt. When he entered the array earlier he was perfectly fine, so what hurt him?

Xie Lian could sense that Shi Qingxuan was anxious to go, but also not. They were trapped in the illusion within the Black Water Lake, and there was no one else on the island. Pei Ming was building a coffin boat outside the boundary, waiting for their return. Shi Qingxuan was mortal right now; if Shi Wudu was hurt, none in heaven or earth could heed their call. If they were to give themselves up, how could they possibly escape?

After rushing for a while, Shi Qingxuan spoke up. "Ming…xiong, I think it's a trap. It's probably best not to go!"

"What trap?" Ming Yi asked.

Shi Qingxuan lied bold-facedly, "How can my brother possibly get hurt? It mustn't be him over there."

However, "Ming Yi" had more reasons and rationale than he did. "We're in the territory of a Supreme Demon King. Lord Water Master might not have what it takes to protect himself. No matter what it is, let's go take a look first."

Shi Qingxuan couldn't think of an excuse not to go, and Xie Lian couldn't come up with anything either; he watched silently instead, ready to act at a moment's notice.

Following the growing vibrations of the longevity locket, the two walked closer and closer to the target. Soon they saw Shi Wudu lying on the ground, scruffily curled up, holding his stomach, looking to be in immense pain.

Shi Qingxuan was shocked, and shouted, "GE!"

He rushed over with Ming Yi close behind. Yet, when they approached Shi Wudu, he suddenly leapt to his feet and embraced him, bursting out in crazed laughter. Fully enveloped in his arms, Shi Qingxuan was exceedingly bemused, and only then did he realize that man bore a twisted face—it wasn't Shi Wudu! It was only an insane maniac dressed in Shi Wudu's robes and wearing that golden locket!

He hadn't yet opened his mouth to speak when Ming Yi, who was next to him, suddenly collapsed. A small ball-sized black hole appeared on his chest, spilling fresh blood.

A figure in white leapt off a tree, then grabbed Shi Qingxuan and ran, shouting, "RUN!"

Xie Lian looked closely, and saw this was the real Shi Wudu!

"GE?!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed.

Shi Wudu barked with a low voice, "Don't talk, and come with me! He's no good!"

In a flash, Xie Lian understood. Turns out, Shi Wudu wasn't one to be underestimated either. The moment he walked out of the transportation array and saw he was still in the Nether Water Manor, he had already known something was amiss. He didn't think things as complicated as Xie Lian did, and he was much sharper. The first one he suspected was Ming Yi, so he hid to make himself invisible, watching from the shadows to see just what he was up to. He was probably sent to a different location than Shi Qingxuan, otherwise he would've taken Shi Qingxuan along to hide with him. After finding Ming Yi and Shi Qingxuan together, he dragged a maniac over, dressed it in his outer robes and put the golden locket around its neck, then smacked it with a blast, garnering Ming Yi's attention first before ambushing. It was a rather ruthless move—there wasn't any solid proof that Ming Yi did anything, yet Shi Wudu was going straight for his life!

Shi Qingxuan couldn't help but look back, but when he did, he saw "Ming Yi", whose heart was now blasted through, lie for a bit before sitting up. He stoically lowered his head to look at that bloody hole, before slowly rising to his feet. Xie Lian could feel Shi Qingxuan's blood run cold all the way to his own heart. Even for heavenly officials, who could move so easily after being struck like this? It had to be something inhuman!

The two brothers dashed for a while when suddenly, the hairs on Xie Lian's neck stood.

He shouted, "WATCH OUT!"

He pulled the Water Master, and a sharp whistling sound shot through the air, chillingly flashing by. If it wasn't for Xie Lian's tug, the Water Master would've lost his head already.

It was those invisible creatures from the water's reflection!

Shi Wudu cursed. He flipped out the Water Master fan and swung; several thin and long water arrows jetted out through the waves on the surface of his fan, encircling their bodies, forming a protective circle. Now those invisible creatures couldn't do anything to them. The two continued to flee, and Shi Qingxuan couldn't help but look back again. This time, he could feel chills down his spine.

"He…he's catching up!"

Sure enough, "Ming Yi" was only about twenty feet behind them, walking forward slowly. Although it looked like his steps were slow, with every step, the distance between him and the

two ahead would instantly pull significantly closer; looking like with several more steps he could touch the hems of their robes.

Shi Wudu never looked back, but with one more swing of his fan, twenty to thirty more razor-sharp dragon-like water arrows shot out from the surface of his fan. Even though they were made of water, they ripped through the air like steel blades. With another swing, their numbers doubled. Fanning a few times, hundreds of water arrows jetted towards "Ming Yi", attacking him from all around. With but one misstep, his body would be pierced with holes. Yet, "Ming Yi" caught the first water arrow with his bare hands and yanked like it was a rope; that Water Master fan was snatched out of Shi Wudu's hand!

The moment the fan left his hand, the water dragon arrows that were dancing wildly in the skies instantly dissolved into drizzles, falling from above. Shi Wudu abruptly stopped in his step and looked at his hand in disbelief. Hundreds of years, and this was the first time anyone was able to take the Water Master fan from his hand. He knew he couldn't escape anymore, and finally looked back. That "Ming Yi" was walking towards them with steady steps.

His entire person seemed to be going through an intricate transformation. With every step, a change happened. That already-blanched face seemed to become even paler, with the same bloodless translucence as Hua Cheng; his forehead became sharper, his brows deeper, which naturally made him appear even more somber. The hems of his once- plain black robes silently and inconspicuously grew patterns of waves, woven with thin threads, shimmering with a mysterious silver glow. Once he had arrived before the Wind and Water Masters, his face was about the same, but he was already a completely different person.

The Earth Master wasn't a martial god, so he was no good at martial arts, his spiritual powers average. However, obviously neither of these points applied to the one before them now.

"Just who are you?" Shi Wudu demanded, cautiously.

"Ming Yi" seemed to have found the question funny, and squinted his eyes. "You're standing in my territory, and you need to ask who I am?"

"…Black Water Demon Xuan?" Shi Wudu ventured.

"Ming Yi" glanced at Shi Qingxuan, but Shi Qingxuan didn't react.

Shi Wudu continued, "You've always been the Earth Master? Or…" He trailed off as he guessed, too. "I see."

However, what he figured out was only that Demon Xuan had infiltrated the heavens.

Shi Wudu said, "You and I have always minded our own business; well waters don't interfere with rivers, we've ruled over our own domains. Intruding in your territory wasn't my intention, so why don't we both take a step back?"

"Water Tyrant," Ming Yi said. "So there are also times when you don't dare to be tyrannical?"

Shi Wudu was proud by nature, and hearing this, displeasure flashed across his face. Since they were under someone else's roof, and his younger brother was by his side, he had to lower his head. Still, he wasn't willing to back down.

"If it wasn't the wrong place and time, I wouldn't be afraid of you."

"Ming Yi" took another step forward, and said chillingly, "Shi Wudu, look at my face. Do you know who I am?"

Shi Wudu watched him with a frown. He had seen the face of the Earth Master a few times, so he didn't understand what he was trying to say.

"You want me to tell you who you are?" After a pause, he thought he was trying to imply his identity couldn't be revealed, so he said, "It doesn't matter who you are. I swear on my Water Master name, as long as you don't involve me or my brother, I won't care for anything you do…"

He hadn't finished his sentence before "Ming Yi" cut him off icily.

"Noble people really are forgetful. Water Tyrant, how many mortal names and mortal births did you flip through, back then, to so arduously find the one me? What, it hasn't even been a few hundred years, and you've already forgotten what I look like?"

Hearing this, Shi Wudu's face was starting to twitch, little by little.

An expression like "seen a ghost" that only mortals experienced was now showing on his face for the first time. Shi Wudu's pupils shrank to the smallest they could, and he blurted, "You're still alive?!"

"I'm dead!" He Xuan said coldly.

Then, he suddenly raised a hand, pressed his fingers together, and swung his palm upwards. Xie Lian felt a sudden pain lunging at his head, and it seemed Shi Qingxuan was affected by He Xuan's spiritual might and fainted.

An unknown amount of time went by before Xie Lian slowly came to, along with Shi Qingxuan's consciousness. Before his eyes were opened he could already feel something rubbing against him, back and forth.

As he sluggishly opened his eyes, he found they were several hairy and foul heads. A band of those madmen surrounded his person, watching his face with nutty giggles and feeling him all over with their hands. Xie Lian was still fairly calm, because he immediately determined that this wasn't a life-threatening situation; those madmen were just a little filthy, not a threat. However, Shi Qingxuan was stunned and instantly wanted to push them away. Yet, there came loud clings and clangs of iron shackles, a coldness on his wrists and ankles, and he couldn't move a limb. He looked up, and it turned out he was cuffed onto a wall by several iron chains thick as a wooden club, his arms raised and suspended.

Seeing the floors and the ceiling, he was probably back at the Nether Water Manor. Xie Lian could feel exactly what Shi Qingxuan was feeling, and it was a deep searing pain in his head. He was just about to say, "Lord Wind Master, be calm, I'll teach you how to break free from cuffs like these…", when suddenly he realized that he couldn't make a single sound!

Perplexed, Xie Lian quickly diagnosed himself. A large portion of his spiritual power really had been lost, and although his spirit was still able to remain in Shi Qingxuan's body, he could no longer manipulate him, not even voice any warnings. Could the powers he borrowed from Hua Cheng be all used up?

Impossible. He knew exactly how much spiritual power it took to perform the Soul-Shifting Spell. The powers Hua Cheng lent him could only be more, and never less. Yet, he could sense his spiritual powers were rapidly slipping away, driving him to anxiety. Just then, a raspy voice called out from across:

"Qingxuan!"

Shi Qingxuan's eyes were bleary, but when he bemusedly looked to where that voice came from, he saw it was Shi Wudu who was calling him.

He wasn't fettered by any iron shackles, but his white robes were filthy and unkempt. He was kneeling on the ground, and when he saw Shi Qingxuan come to, he showed a glad expression. He seemed to want to come over, but was instantly kicked down by someone next to him, forcing him to kneel anew. That man stood with fists clenched at his sides, his expression cold and sinister, his skin so pale it brought shivers; it was that Black Water Demon Xuan. Or rather, He Xuan.

Behind him was a divine altar, and four obsidian-black and smooth urns stood serenely upon it. Two shredded fans were thrown onto the floor—it was the Wind Master fan and the Water Master fan.

Father, mother, sister, fiancee.

"Prostrate," He Xuan said.

Shi Wudu's eyes were fixed on Shi Qingxuan, and from his lips he uttered an answer, "Fine."

With that, he actually knelt before the altar and dong, dong, dong, kowtowed over ten times before the urns soundly. Then, as he rose slightly, He Xuan stomped down on his head.

He said coldly, "Did I permit you to get up?"

This stomp instantly crushed Shi Wudu's head onto the floor, and he bled from his orifices. He gritted his teeth.

"…no."

The elder brother, who was once so proud his head was never bowed, was now being trampled onto the ground by another. Although Shi Qingxuan knew what he had done deserved a retribution ten times worse than this, blood was thicker than water; in the end, he still couldn't bear to see him like this.

"Ge…"

Hearing his voice, He Xuan's chilling eyes swept over. Even if he couldn't raise his head, Shi Wudu knew that meek sound wasn't going to bring down anything good.

He immediately shouted, "YOU BE QUIET!"

After pondering for a moment, He Xuan removed the boot from his head. Shi Wudu was filled with trepidation, but he couldn't get up.

He groaned, "Qingxuan!"

He Xuan languidly approached. Those madmen were terrified of him, and they scampered away whimpering; though they were still sneaking glimpses at Shi Qingxuan, as if watching for something on his person. Shi Qingxuan was chained onto the wall, and he watched as that face—the one he should be more than familiar with, but was now dreadfully foreign—came closer with every step.

He Xuan crouched down in front of him, paused, then asked, "Is the Reverend of Empty Words scary?"

His tone was cool and impassive, but Shi Qingxuan was bug-eyed, his lips quivering, unable to speak.

The Reverend of Empty Words back then was already extremely horrifying. Yet this person before him now, who had swallowed the Reverend of Empty Words, was ten times, a hundred

times more terrifying than the nightmare of his younger years. But this terror was something he should've endured from the beginning.

"He Xuan," Shi Wudu spoke up. "A man must answer for what he has done alone. It was my idea to use you to prevent his misfortune. This has nothing to do with my little brother."

He Xuan sneered. "Nothing to do with him?"

He stared at Shi Qingxuan, unblinking, enunciating each word.

"Your little brother, an ordinary, common mortal, obtained the ability to ascend; his endless glory was robbed from my fate, plundered from my divinity. And you tell me that this has nothing to do with him?"

Every word was like a blade, and every blade pierced the heart. This was said for Shi Qingxuan to hear, and even though Shi Qingxuan already knew everything, he still bowed his head, feeling like he could never hold it high again in his life.

Shi Wudu said with forced calm, "Since…you've always been by his side, then you should know very well that I didn't deceive you. He's not one to hide anything, he really didn't know anything about this!"

He Xuan exclaimed sharply, "THAT'S PRECISELY WHY HE'S SO CONTEMPTIBLE! WHY IS HE ALLOWED TO KNOW NOTHING?!"

Shi Qingxuan's head was bowed even lower.

What right did he have to suck another's blood, trample another's bones to reach the skies, and still maintain peace of mind, enjoying all such luxuries without any sense of burden?

He Xuan added, "He didn't know then, but is he still ignorant now?!"

Shi Qingxuan looked up and said with a quivering voice, "Ming-xiong, I…"

"SHUT UP!" He Xuan shouted.

His face was almost savage. When Shi Qingxuan saw, a cold shiver went down his spine, and he fell silent. He Xuan whipped around and started pacing back and forth within the hall of Nether Water Manor, growling.

"I've given you chances!"

Shi Qingxuan shut his eyes, clenching his fists. Xie Lian recalled that excessively furious "fine. Very well!" back at the town of Fu Gu, and that scene of "Ming Yi" blocking Shi Qingxuan's path to follow Pei Ming in going to the East Sea.

Only, every time, Shi Qingxuan had chosen to help Shi Wudu.

He whispered, "…I'm sorry."

He Xuan stopped. He demanded, "And what good is your apology?"

That row of four urns was placed squarely in front of Shi Qingxuan, as if they too were jeering at his feather-light sorry, drilling misery into his heart, scorching his innards, like everything he said would be seen through.

Shi Qingxuan begged, "…I know it's futile, but I…"

He Xuan said cooly, "But you what? You know it's futile, but you still want to express your utmost sincerity, hoping you can move me, that I would let go of this grudge and dissolve this resentment?"

Shi Qingxuan hastily said, "NO! No! That's not what I meant! It's just.. It's just, I, I, I really am very sorry I've wronged you. Really. Ming…He…Young Master He. I know both my brother and I are in the wrong. At this point, there's no turning back, so…"

He Xuan was listening intently. "So?"

Yet at this very moment, any more words would only sound weak and pathetic. Shi Qingxuan tried desperately to come up with something but drew a blank, unable to continue.

He Xuan said coldly, "Well, talk. Why did you stop? So are you willing to die for your sins?"

Shi Qingxuan was taken aback. Shi Wudu couldn't listen anymore, and shouted, "HE XUAN!!! The offender is me, it's the Reverend of Empty Words. Qingxuan's sin doesn't deserve death, you…"

"And who in my family has sinned?" He Xuan countered. "Who in my family deserved death?"

Shi Wudu choked.

He Xuan continued, "Go on. Tell me. Are you willing?"

"…I am," Shi Qingxuan whispered.

Hearing this, He Xuan sneered. Since Shi Qingxuan had his head bowed, Xie Lian couldn't see his expression, but even if he saw, he probably wouldn't be able to tell what he was feeling right this moment.

Then, He Xuan walked away with his fists by his sides. That band of madmen saw him leave and came to surround him once more, hugging Shi Qingxuan's arms and thighs, refusing to let go. Some were also pulling at his hair, some hooked around his neck, each of them with mad glints in their eyes, as if they wanted to stuff him alive into their stomachs. Even though Xie Lian had lived among the homeless before, he too felt his blood run cold, and he wondered, "Just who are these people? Why did Demon Xuan collect such a group of madmen here?"

However, Shi Qingxuan only silently endured the pushing and shoving of those madmen, tolerating their pulling and dragging, scared to make a sound. He Xuan watched with cold eyes for a while, then he spoke.

"Do you know who these people are?"

A few decaying stick-like fingers clawed at Shi Qingxuan's face and felt all over his person, but he didn't even dare to breathe, so of course he hadn't the time to ponder who those people were, and he shook his head.

He Xuan answered, "Vile fates. Sordid fortunes. Lives lower than beasts. Fates that can drive a man mad."

"…"

A deep sense of chill crawled into Xie Lian's heart, and he could roughly guess what He Xuan planned to do. Shi Wudu also understood in a flash, his eyes bulging.

"…YOU?!"

He Xuan stood between Shi Wudu and Shi Qingxuan and said coldly, "Now, I give you two options."

He pointed at Shi Wudu first. "Option one. You, pick one from this crowd and exchange your brother's fate with them. Then, you make yourself disappear in the mortal realm."

Shi Wudu's eyes were growing bloodshot, his shoulders starting to shake.

He Xuan continued, "Since you enjoy switching fates so much, you must be quite skilled at it. No need for me to teach you."

If the reasons behind this move were disregarded, then it was truly malicious. Although Shi Qingxuan's original fate wasn't good enough to ascend, it was still a life that was filled with peaceful luxury and leisure. Looking at those madmen, they were either wrought with disease and rotten sores, or driven to madness by adversities. No matter what, it was clear that they were all those who suffered wretched and miserable fortunes. If Shi Qingxuan was to exchange fates with any of them, wouldn't he fall into the same tragic state? Those were lives that could drive a man mad, and henceforth he would suffer endless agony and torment.

This trial, it was obvious Shi Wudu had failed to pass his Heavenly Calamity this time. And now that the affair with the Reverend of Empty Words had been outed, he would no doubt be banished. After being banished to the mortal realm, he would not be able to provide Shi Qingxuan with a good fate any longer. A common mortal with his powers stripped away, and a sordid man suffering vile fortunes, how could they possibly continue to live their lives?

Shi Wudu huffed a breath and gritted his teeth. "And the second option?"

He Xuan continued, "The second option. You."

This time, the one he eyed was Shi Qingxuan.

He slowly enunciated each word. "I won't touch your fate. But, here in this place, chop off your brother's head for me."

CLANG! He threw a rusty blade onto the ground. Shi Qingxuan stared at that blade, his eyes wide.

He Xuan continued, "Then, never show yourself before me again, and I will pretend you've never existed in this world."

A hatred so deep that it had seeped into his bones for hundreds of years finally erupted at the peak; anyone could see the colour of fervent madness burning in his eyes. Anyone could see that he wasn't bluffing.

After a moment of silence, Shi Wudu croaked, "…I'll end myself. Let me do it myself."

"You've no right to bargain with me," He Xuan said.

Shi Wudu looked at Shi Qingxuan and mumbled miserably, "You're asking for our lives…"

Shi Qingxuan, however, wasn't as despairing as he was, and said hurriedly, "Ge! Ge! Let's, let's choose the first option. The first one."

A moment later, Shi Wudu calmed down. "No. I choose the second one."

"…" Shi Qingxuan was dumbfounded. "Why the second option? Can we not both live? Ge, I can't do it, I really can't."

Shi Wudu said furiously, "QUIET! Don't you understand? To have me lose everything and watch you become a grimey creature, you think I can do it?! Why don't I just go ahead and die from madness!"

"Ge!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. "Nevermind…living is still better than death. Besides, really, if you think about it, we've…we've lived for hundreds of years already, it's time to…it's time to…"

As he talked, he seemed to remember just how well he lived the past few hundred years, and he was so ashamed he didn't dare continue.

He Xuan was still watching them coldly. Shi Wudu finally crawled to his feet, grabbed that blade spotty with rust, and stumbled to the wallside.

He grasped his younger brother's shoulder and said, "Come!" Then he whispered harshly, "…Go find General Pei. Ask him to take care of you."

That blade was terrifyingly heavy and covered in rust; nevermind killing a man, even killing a chicken it'd be difficult. If this blade was used to cut off anyone's head, both the executioner and the target would suffer great pains. Shi Qingxuan was so horrified he couldn't keep a hold of it in his hands, dropping it a number of times on the ground.

"Nevermind, ge, nevermind! Didn't you tell me yourself? Everyone only cares for themselves in this world, why would anyone take care of us? Haven't we always taken care of each other? Don't give this thing to me, DON'T GIVE IT TO ME!"

Shi Wudu shouted, "QINGXUAN! Don't be so immature!"

Then, he smiled bitterly. "…Your brother's been named the Water Tyrant, you know this. Having summoned so many waves over the years, there's at least a thousand. I've enemies covering the heavens to the earth. It'd be easier if I die. If I die, then nothing else will happen to you. If I don't die but have nothing, then that's truly a fate worse than death. If I'm not the Water God, I can't take care of you. I won't even be able to protect myself. I'm scared that we won't even last two days…TAKE IT!"

Shi Qingxuan was going to weep from horror, and cried uncontrollably, "NO! I CAN'T I CAN'T I CAN'T, GE, I CAN'T, I REALLY CAN'T! DON'T FORCE ME! DON'T GIVE IT TO ME!!! HELP, HELP, HELP!!!"

He started screaming with every fibre of his being until he was hoarse, crying for help.

Shi Wudu exclaimed, "IT'S ALRIGHT! Don't be scared, Qingxuan, this won't hurt as much as exchanging fate or stripping spiritual power…"

He Xuan had been infinitely patient up to this point, but now he suddenly kicked out. Without warning, Shi Wudu was knocked to the side and he spat out a mouthful of blood, tumbling on the ground, unable to get up.

Shi Qingxuan yelled from the wall, "GE!"

He Xuan said chillingly, "Quiet! Enough of that disgusting display of brotherly love. Open your eyes and see where you are. No one will be moved by you here."

Unexpectedly, after Shi Wudu puked out mouthfuls of blood, he suddenly leapt to his feet and grabbed for Shi Qingxuan's neck. Xie Lian was stunned, feeling his breathing stop, and blood rushing to his head.

Shi Qingxuan gasped, "…Ge?"

Shi Wudu gritted through his blood-covered teeth, "Qingxuan! I can't leave you alone like this! If I die, there's no way you'll be able to survive in this world, so you might as well come with me!"

Then, he exerted more strength in his hands and gripped harder. Shi Qingxuan's sight was going dark, and dying groans were escaping from his throat. Xie Lian was shocked to the core, was the Lord Water Master really going to strangle Lord Wind Master to death?!

Suddenly, the pressure on his throat disappeared; fresh air poured in, and Shi Qingxuan coughed unceasingly from the choking, finally catching his breath. He Xuan was standing right next to them, and it was he who had ripped off Shi Wudu's two arms from the elbows down that had previously been wringing Shi Qingxuan's neck.

He said coldly, "Did I give you a third path?"

With his two forearms torn off, Shi Wudu was spurting blood like a fountain, yet he started laughing uproariously. He Xuan tossed the forearms aside like they were trash.

"What are you laughing about?"

Shi Wudu waved those empty, blood-soaked long sleeves, and said, "I'm laughing at you! I'm laughing at you thinking you've got the upper hand! Did you think you've finally taken your revenge after enduring for so many years? Does it feel good?"

"Seeing you broken like this, it does feel good," He Xuan said.

"Is that right?" Shi Wudu said. "Then let me tell you, I feel good too!"

He used those broken arms that were bleeding profusely to tug He Xuan's collar.

"Because I see the you right now, who is so filled with rage, so filled with suffering, so filled with hate, yet you are still powerless in bringing your family back. You're still nothing more than a ghost in the gutters of the shadows. BE AS MAD AS YOU WANT, THEY'RE LONG GONE! But me, and my brother, we've lived for so long, and we've been heavenly officials for hundreds of years; even if he can't be one any longer, even if he can't live anymore, he still profited. I'M STILL THE VICTOR, SO I FEEL EVEN BETTER THAN YOU! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA…"

The more he listened, the more He Xuan's pale face dropped, as if a cold, barren land had caught with ghost-fire. Suddenly, the air in the chamber dropped steeply in temperature.

Shi Qingxuan was terrified to the core, and croaked with a hoarse voice, "…Ge, stop talking. Can you please stop talking. Ge, my god, what are you saying? What nonsense are you spewing…"

He Xuan whipped out his hand and choked Shi Wudu's neck. "HAVE YOU NO REMORSE?!"

Shi Wudu laughed wildly. "Remorse? HMPH! WHAT A JOKE! And to think you're a Supreme Ghost King, the Ship-Sinking Black Water. YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT REMORSE? LET ME TELL YOU, THERE IS NO SUCH THING!"

Shi Qingxuan wailed and Shi Wudu continued with his head held high.

"EVERYTHING I HAVE TODAY, I FOUGHT FOR MYSELF. I WILL FIGHT FOR WHAT I DON'T HAVE. I WILL CHANGE FATE I DON'T POSSESS. MY FATE IS UP TO ME AND NOT THE HEAVENS²!"

This was the first time Xie Lian had heard this interpretation of "my fate is up to me and not the heavens", and he was blown away. He Xuan also burst out laughing, sounding like his eyes were opened to a new world by Shi Wudu's unshakable tenacity in refusing to admit wrongs. His expression was growing more and more frightening, and Shi Qingxuan broke down.

"…Gege, I beg you I beg you, please stop talking, please shut up. Help…"

However, Shi Wudu's smug arrogance was undaunted. "Qingxuan, gege will go ahead first. I will wait for you down below. Hahahahaha…"

Before he finished his sentence, He Xuan placed his hand over his head and gripped his hair. Shi Qingxuan's soul was going to leave his body, the iron chains banged and clanged against the wall madly.

"MING-XIONG! MING-XIONG! I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY! WE'RE THE ONES WHO SINNED! WE'RE THE ONES WHO ARE WRONG. IT'S MY FAULT! MY BROTHER ONLY DID WHAT HE DID BECAUSE OF ME. MY BROTHER'S GONE MAD, HE'S CRAZY CAN'T YOU SEE! I…YOU…YOU…"

He wanted to beg, to pray for mercy, but his pleas wouldn't leave his lips, and he could only use his eyes to kowtow. He Xuan watched him, and in a fleeting moment, he seemed to have remembered something. He calmed and stopped.

Seeing this, it was like there was a thread of hope, and Shi Qingxuan let out a breath of relief, tears finally rolling down. But before he could speak, he heard He Xuan's cruel voice.

"You've called the wrong person."

Then, his hand shot up and wrenched Shi Wudu's head from his neck!

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH——!!!"

With the head separated from the body, blood erupted from the clean breach of Shi Wudu's neck, spraying far onto Shi Qingxuan's body and face. Finally, Shi Qingxuan couldn't take it anymore, and he started screaming like he was crazy.

To see a headless corpse stand without collapsing, those madmen found it incredibly interesting. They were all crazed with delight, spinning around him in circles, their bare feet smearing bloody footprints all over. They clapped and cheered as they spun.

"YO YO YO! HE'S DEAD HE'S DEAD!"

"DEAD, DEAD! HEHEHE!"

Shi Qingxuan screamed for who knows how long, screamed until it felt like his soul and spirit had fled, and he couldn't remember when he had stopped. When he regained his awareness, he was already a lifeless heap on the blood-soaked floor.

He Xuan was standing not far from him with Shi Wudu's head, still with eyes round and wide, dangling from his hand. He was looking down on Shi Qingxuan, watching from above.

A moment later, He Xuan asked blandly, "Do you have anything else you want to say?"

"…"

Shi Qingxuan's eyes were dead, his gaze unfocused as he stared at that row of urns atop the altar before him, and those two shredded fans on the ground. It was a long time before he mumbled, "…I want to die."

He Xuan said coldly, "Dream on."

Then, He Xuan extended a hand towards him, and Shi Qingxuan closed his eyes.

At the same time, Xie Lian's soul was suddenly yanked out and thrust upward!

When he fell back down and reopened his eyes, he was lying limply in the embrace of a red-clad man. With one hand gently grasping his chin, Hua Cheng was kissing him deeply. No wonder Xie Lian felt the spiritual power supporting the Soul-Shifting Spell was slipping away so rapidly. Turns out, Hua Cheng used the fastest and most effective way to suck out all the powers he lent Xie Lian, and successfully brought Xie Lian's soul back into his own body.

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Translator Notes:

¹Dragons controlled water and weather in Chinese lore, so this was basically saying Jun Wu's actions were futile.

²Fundamentally, Daoism is about working within the equilibrium of the universe to create good fortune and avoid the bad, and this is essentially the meaning of the proverb "My fate is up to me and not the heavens". In this context however, SWD is twisting equilibrium and upsetting order to change his, SQX and HX's fates, which is why Xie Lian had the reaction he did.