38.2

"And as soon as Princess Shunde left, the young valley master announced that the Valley Master had passed away." The second elder took over.

"He did not even allow anyone to visit the corpse, and burned it so quickly. What he did was really bizarre."

"So, you two elders came to me because you want me to stand up on behalf of everyone and accuse the young valley master?"

The two elders looked at each other. "We want you to be the new Valley Master." Ji Yunhe put down her tea and rubbed her finger around the rim of the cup. "Why bother?" She finally turned her head and looked at them.

"The valley is only this big, we are all trapped beasts in here. Does it make a difference who becomes king?" Between her and Lin Haoqing, one killed Lin Canglan and the other one killed Qing Shu. They were birds of a feather.

Ji Yunhe laughed, "You guys suspect Lin Haoqing of treason, what if I'm the same?" Ji Yunhe's response was not what they had expected. The two elders were confused.

"Although we are somewhat trapped in this southwestern corner of the land, we will never serve a man who killed his own father. The Valley Master did say whoever could complete Princess Shunde's task would become the next Valley Master. Everyone here knows how the jiaoren treats you. If you ask him to serve the princess, it is not impossible..."

"That's enough."

Ji Yunhe cut him short. "The elders can mind their own business. Mine are none of your concerns." The two elders frowned.

"Ji Yunhe, we are mindful that you have made a lot of contributions to the Demon Valley over the years, so we are advising you of this opportunity others cannot even dream of. What exactly are you trying to say here?" Ji Yunhe looked at them with some disdain.

"Nothing, I just don't feel like playing with you anymore."

She was tired of it. Tired of competing and tired of fighting. Ever since Princess Shunde left, all Ji Yunhe cared about was how to make Changyi leave.

Maybe this really was her life. She could not leave the Demon Valley, nor could she escape the shackles of her fate.

She was not going to fight anymore. After sending Changyi away, she would probably only have a month left to live anyway. Seeing Ji Yunhe act this way, the two elders were furious but helpless.

"The Valley Master took care of you all these years for nothing." Then they got up and left. Ji Yunhe gave a sarcastic smile.

"So thankful for your care, Valley Master." She sat down again and continued to drink her tea, thinking about how to drive Changyi away.

Suddenly, the air stirred around her, and she looked up. Luo Jinsang faded in from an outline into solid form, already sitting down at the table. She panted and poured herself a cup of tea without any ladylike manners.

"Hey, rushing back... is... really exhausting." Ji Yunhe threw her a dirty look.

"Still care to come back? Is the monk all good now?"

"Hmph! Forget that dumb monk. I ran over to help him, and he scolded me and told me I was getting in his way, so I left him to fend for himself." Luo Jinsang smiled widely at Ji Yunhe.

"I came back to help you steal the antidote, but I heard that Lin Canglan had died. What happened when I was gone? And those two old men, what did they want just now?" Ji Yunhe smiled.

"Wanted me to become the new Valley Master."

"Huh? A good thing! Did you agree?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Don't want to get involved."

"But don't you want to save the fish? If you become the Valley Master, won't you be able to openly set him free?"

Luo Jinsang was clueless about the complications of the matter, but what she said did remind Ji Yunhe that even the Valley Master would not be able to set Changyi free at will. However, there was a perfect opportunity right now to openly get him out of the valley.

"You are of some use after all." Ji Yunhe poked Luo Jinsang in the middle of her forehead.

She then stood up and walked out the door. Luo Jinsang shouted after her, "The tea is not yet finished, where are you going? "

"To find Lin Haoqing."