Both disciples were greatly startled by these words.
Of the two, Jiufang Ziming knew less about the matter. Hearing Ren Yijue speak with such assurance, he was unconsciously overawed and instinctively turned toward his senior brother, hoping for an explanation.
Jiufang Shixuan knew rather more. When he had accepted his assignment, the family head had told him that the Demon Calamity had begun with a demon thrall. Dongxun City had merely reported that they were fortunate to have received help from esteemed benefactors, without naming anyone. Now that Ren Yijue had identified what had happened so readily, Shixuan knew he must be right. Besides, people of their cultivation had little reason to deceive two juniors.
“We did not realize that the two seniors were here. When the Demon Calamity broke out in Dongxun City, the danger must have been terrible. Without your assistance, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Please accept a bow from me.”
Jiufang Shixuan hurried to his feet. Jiufang Ziming did not understand what was going on, but the admiration and reverence on his senior brother’s face told him that this was a matter of tremendous importance, so he stood up as well.
Ren Yijue smiled faintly and extended a hand to support them. “The Jade Beauty commands such respect that even I get to share in it.”
The two disciples felt a gentle force surge beside them. No matter how they tried, they could not bow, and for a moment they stood awkwardly in place. Then the gentle force pushed them back down onto their stools, leaving them bewildered.
“I did nothing, so I cannot possibly accept your bows. That reminds me, I forgot to ask. Jade Beauty, do you enjoy having people bow to you?”
Ren Yijue’s expression was full of teasing amusement.
Qian Xuelang gave him a cold look but said nothing. Ren Yijue did not mind. He laughed cheerfully at the two disciples. “The Jade Beauty does not care for it either. Your good intentions are enough. There is no need to go through the formalities.”
The two disciples looked a little embarrassed. Ren Yijue observed that they were still quite young, with probably few twists and turns in their thinking. An idea suddenly occurred to him.
“But Dongxun City is Dongxun City. What does its trouble have to do with your Jiufang family of Daihai?” Ren Yijue asked, resting his cheek on his hand. “Surely it cannot be that old nonsense about every sect and clan being branches of the same tree? Hm, judging by your expression, you actually believe it. You little ones are rather adorable, taught to care for one another so dearly. I wonder how you will avoid falling into other people’s traps in the future.”
Jiufang Shixuan was left speechless by the barbs. He greatly respected the two heroes who had expelled the demons, and although Ren Yijue’s irreverence displeased him, he could hardly voice his objection.
Jiufang Ziming, however, protested indignantly. “What is wrong with the clans and sects standing together? What is wrong with being taught to care for one another? What is so funny about it? When the Demon Calamity strikes, should everyone simply stand aside and do nothing?”
Only then did Ren Yijue turn serious. “I did not mean to make fun of you. It is certainly good that you think this way. You all have a common purpose when confronting the Demon Calamity, but you should know that even people of one mind can develop conflicting intentions.”
Jiufang Ziming flew into a rage at this, but Jiufang Shixuan sensed something amiss and gently pulled him down. After some hesitation, he asked, “How can people of one mind develop conflicting intentions? Please enlighten us, Senior. Could your journey to Daihai have another purpose besides clearing Madam Shui’s name?”
Qian Xuelang thought something was wrong with that question. What other purpose could possibly have brought them to Daihai? But when he looked at Ren Yijue, he knew that the man must have another headful of schemes brewing, so he remained silent and let him ask away.
Ren Yijue blinked and said to Jiufang Shixuan, “You seem to know more than Jiufang Ziming. You know what a demon thrall is, don’t you?”
Jiufang Shixuan nodded and offered the studious-looking Jiufang Ziming a brief explanation. Ziming listened in horror. “Does such a terrifying curse really exist?”
“That is more or less what I know of it,” Ren Yijue said. “Such terrible curses do exist. But more frightening still is human greed. Everyone fears death, and everyone wants to prevail over others. That is how a demonic brand can be imposed on someone without their ever noticing. I have turned Madam Shui’s strange case over in my mind again and again these past few days. Look at it now. What was the eventual outcome?”
“The eventual outcome…” Jiufang Ziming murmured. “Wait! I have it! Madam Shui was confined to her residence, and Lord Dingtao almost got expelled from the Jiufang family!”
Ren Yijue tapped his fan against his palm. “Exactly. And who benefited most from those two things?”
“Who benefited most…” Jiufang Ziming and Jiufang Shixuan exchanged a glance.
Jiufang Shixuan suddenly stopped Ziming before he could speak and said gravely, “The Heavenly Demon benefited most. Of course. Madam Shui is a half-demon, and the Heavenly Demon, as the leader of the demons, would naturally know that. If Lord Dingtao had not been caught up in love back then, even if he had not inherited leadership of the Jiufang family, someone of his ability would certainly have participated in the Demon-Extermination War sixty years ago, giving the righteous side a better chance of victory.”
“And when Lord Dingtao broke away from the Jiufang family and traveled everywhere to defend Madam Shui’s reputation, the clan fell into internal strife and naturally lost much of its power…”
Jiufang Shixuan’s face suddenly turned deathly pale.
Ren Yijue smiled faintly, twirling his fan between his fingers. After a moment’s thought, he said, “Speaking of which, I have not yet told you two about White-Brow Child and Bone Lingding, have I? I have not even had time to tell Miss Wuchen. Come along. I expect she and her husband would very much like to hear this good news.”
Qian Xuelang was puzzled. White-Brow Child and Bone Lingding are both dead, and we failed to catch White-Jade Skeleton. Does that count as good news?
At this point, Jiufang Shixuan and Jiufang Ziming had little choice but to come with them. If the earlier Taishu bloodshed had merely implicated Jiufang Ce, they now faced a conspiracy involving the entire Jiufang family.
Most frightening of all, since the Heavenly Demon was still alive, the demon thralls who had served him back then might still be hiding somewhere in Daihai.
The four were about to leave when Jiufang Ziming, bringing up the rear, looked back at the two steamed buns and three cakes still on the table. He grew awkward, struggled with himself for a long while, and finally said, “Ren… ahem, Senior Ren, there is some food left. I thought we ought not to waste it…”
Ren Yijue looked back and could not help laughing. “You senior and junior brothers should keep it. The Jade Beauty and I stopped needing food long ago; we only eat something now and then when we crave a taste. You two are young and still growing. You ought to eat your fill.”
Jiufang Ziming swiftly wrapped the food back up in the oiled paper and tucked it inside his robes, finally feeling a little more secure.
He had never lacked food or clothing for as long as he had lived. Only during these two days at Tidewatch Pavilion had he learned how unbearable the torment of an empty stomach could be. His embarrassment could not compare with his fear of going hungry. Once he had gathered everything, he left the room and closed the door for Ren Yijue on his way out.
Qian Xuelang stamped one foot. Several flower servants and grass servants poked their heads out of the ground in a daze. Only after a long while did their bodies emerge as well. The moment they appeared, they sprawled half-dead among the ornamental aquatic plants in their bronze urns.
After searching through the crowd of plants, Qian Xuelang picked up a grass attendant that still seemed fairly spirited. It had been somewhat wilted, but at the sight of his face it suddenly brightened. Every blade of grass turned a vivid, dripping green as it waved them vigorously.
Qian Xuelang said coldly, “Go. Fetch Shui Wuchen and Jiufang Ce to see me.”
Ren Yijue could not help remembering Shui Wuchen’s remark about “the master of everyone under heaven.” Suppressing his laughter, he reminded Qian, “We had better meet in the front hall together.”
Qian Xuelang glanced at him, but amended his order. “Tell Shui Wuchen and Jiufang Ce to meet me in the front hall.”
The two juniors behind them were already staring, open-mouthed and at a loss.
Before long everyone had gathered in the front hall. The Jiufang couple arrived hand in hand as usual. Shui Wuchen had barely taken her seat when she began teasing him. “Brother Xue…”
Qian Xuelang gave her a cold look. Shui Wuchen immediately grew serious and changed her tone. “Brother Xue, did you discover anything on your journey?”
“If the name White-Jade Skeleton counts, then I suppose so. White-Brow Child and Bone Lingding are both dead.”
His answer was concise, but everyone was thoroughly confused. They knew only the outcome, not how matters had unfolded. Ren Yijue had no choice but to give a broad account of the whole affair.
Qian Xuelang added, “You told me that ‘reputation’ might refer to the mastermind’s standing among the Eccentrics. Thinking back on it now, I believe it means more than that. The man who spoke had seen White-Jade Skeleton’s true face. Perhaps he meant that the man was highly regarded under both of his identities.”
The remark came without explanation. Apart from Shui Wuchen and Ren Yijue, everyone looked taken aback.
While Shui Wuchen was still thinking, Jiufang Ce suddenly asked, “You mentioned a crimson glow. What shape did it take?”
Ren Yijue smiled faintly. “I did not see it clearly at the time. You will have to ask the Jade Beauty, who actually fought him.”
“It was blood,” Qian Xuelang said coldly.
Jiufang Ce was silent for a moment. The two disciples had not understood earlier, but now even they began to see a possible connection. Jiufang Ziming stammered, “Wh-what does that mean? Two identities? His true face? And what do you mean by blood?”
“The man who told the seniors about the true culprit saw White-Jade Skeleton’s real face. White-Jade Skeleton heard the news, rushed over to silence him, and used blood as the basis of his techniques.” Jiufang Shixuan explained everything at an unhurried pace, gripping the arms of his chair so tightly that his hands hurt. “You two seniors suspect that White-Jade Skeleton… that White-Jade Skeleton belongs to the Jiufang family.”
Ren Yijue smiled. “A suspicion is only a suspicion. I would not dare state it as fact. Besides, whether he does or does not belong to the family is no longer all that important.”
Jiufang Shixuan reacted quickly this time. “Why is it no longer important?”
“Because the Jade Beauty and I came here to investigate whether that man’s account was true. Now that we have confirmed it, we need only make another trip and bring the man himself here.”
“Ah!” Jiufang Ziming exclaimed in surprise. “But didn’t you say earlier that it was inconvenient to tell us about him? Why are you suddenly going to bring him here?”
“Circumstances change,” Ren Yijue said, tapping his fan against his palm. “Just because it was inconvenient a few days ago does not mean it is still inconvenient. Do you not even understand that?”
After a moment’s consideration, Shui Wuchen smiled. “If that is the case, so much the better. Whatever we speculate here is only talk without evidence. Naturally White-Jade Skeleton must be investigated, but that need not be our immediate concern. Something else is more urgent.”
Qian Xuelang asked, “What is it?”
“The Demon Calamity has risen again.” Shui Wuchen frowned slightly and looked across the faces of the two young men before sighing softly. “You have remained at the pavilion only because you hoped Ce-lang would give in. You have underestimated him. He is just as concerned about the Demon Calamity as you are. He has finished attending to his urgent affairs these past two days, and today he will return to the Jiufang family with you.”
Jiufang Ce said nothing, merely stroking his wife’s hand gently.
Both Jiufang disciples looked delighted, but Jiufang Shixuan soon hesitated. “But… if that happens, Madam, you will be the only one left at the pavilion. Would that not mean…”
Shui Wuchen gave a carefree smile. “Precisely. We are inviting our guest into the trap. Once Ce-lang returns to the Jiufang family and Brother Xue leaves to find the witness, I will be alone at home. Let us see which place this White-Jade Skeleton goes after first.”
She lifted a lock of her long hair, gazing lovingly at her husband. Her voice was resolute as she said slowly, “As for me, there is no need to worry. Never mind the formations surrounding this pavilion. I am no longer afraid of frightening anyone.”