CHAPTER 31: WHERE THE HEART FINDS PEACE

The masked man dipped his hand into the glass-clear pond, its surface shimmering green. Thinking he'd come to feed them, several black fish darted toward him. Casually, he closed his fingers around one, slick and sticky to the touch.

The fish lay quietly in his palm, offering no resistance.

The masked man chuckled. "On second thought, I won't eat fish today."

He flicked his wrist. A stream of water leapt upward, carrying the fish back into the pond.

Watching the dark shapes in the water below, he muttered, "Tell your mother you'll soon be setting sail."

Plucking another fish, he slipped it into a bamboo tube and fastened it at his waist.

Then, his gaze shifted toward the corpses scattered across the ground. A glimmer flashed across his eyes.

Should I search the bodies?

***

Elsewhere...

Zheng Jianghe strode forward in black battle robes, his expression grim. "The Black Mountain Sect is staying at the Chen estate?"

A Golden Light Hall disciple gave a tight nod, eyes burning with fury. "Yes."

Zheng Jianghe clenched the Yin Wood Pearl until it shattered. "The Black Mountain Sect has gone too far!"

Only half a month ago, Chu Tianxiong had massacred the Chen family, painting the estate walls in blood. It was supposed to be a day of celebration. Instead, the entire family was slaughtered in one night, and even the bride went straight to the underworld.

When Zheng Jianghe arrived, only hell awaited him. The bride's father, dusty and worn from travel, collapsed before him. He kowtowed again and again until his forehead bled. The image of the white-haired old man kneeling in despair was seared into his mind.

After Chu Tianxiong left, the stubborn father brought his wife to kneel outside the Divine Light Sect's gates. They had remained there for more than ten days.

The hatred blazing in their eyes was something Zheng Jianghe would carry forever. And now, hearing Chu Tianxiong lodging in the Chen estate, what could it be but adding insult to injury?

Zheng Jianghe gnashed his teeth. "Come with me to the Chen estate!"

At first, he'd intended to send men to keep watch from afar, but in the end, he resolved to go himself.

Thus, a small group moved as one through the night. Carrying air of solemnity, their faces taut with heaviness. Everyone was painfully aware that they were powerless against Chu Tianxiong and his fellow disciples. What happened last time made it clear, and there was no reason for it to change.

Suddenly, Zheng Jianghe halted.

"Blood," he muttered.

He drew a deep breath, casting a daoist technique to sharpen his senses. The stench of blood grew thick, it was unmistakable. Furthermore, it came from the Chen estate.

Zheng Jianghe's heart clenched. Did another slaughter take place?

He urged. "Hurry!"

They quickened their pace. However, just as they reached the gate, a slow creak broke the silence. A white-robed man with a strange mask emerged.

Zheng Jianghe halted at once. Every instinct flared, his hair standing on end. Black Mountain Sect? No... something is wrong. Their disciples always carry that faint reek of blood, yet this man bears no such taint. But why had he emerged from the Chen estate? Where are all the others?

Though the masked man was likely an acquaintance of the Black Mountain Sect disciples, Zheng Jianghe chose to err on the side of caution and warn him.

"Senior..." Zheng Jianghe hesitated, then continued, "the Chen estate harbors many Black Mountain Sect disciples. Be cautious, they are vicious by nature."

Naturally, Qi Yuan recognized Zheng Jianghe. He rasped, "They were well-behaved enough. I only wanted to catch a fish, so they opened the gates for me."

Zheng Jianghe was dumbfounded. The other disciples glanced at each other, baffled.

"My wife is about to give birth. I'll be off now," said the masked man.

With that, he vanished into the night.

The group was left in disarray. Soon Zheng Jianghe's eyes returned to the gate, where the smell of blood was stronger still.

He stepped forward.

Thump. Thump.

A knock echoed through the stillness of the night. There wasn't so much as a stir from the Chen estate, let alone an answer. Zheng Jianghe exchanged uneasy glances with his companions, a dreadful thought already coiling in his chest. He forcibly suppressed his rising fear. Staring at each other again, he lifted his foot and drove it hard against the gate, which swung open with a crash.

When they looked inside, their breath was caught in their throats. More than a dozen corpses lay in the courtyard. Amid that ghastly sight, Zheng Jianghe's gaze fell upon a severed head. It was Chu Tianxiong.

One disciple cried, his voice trembling, "Black Chicken Ancestor! Look, it's Black Chicken Ancestor!"

Zheng Jianghe looked across the courtyard. There lay the once-mighty Black Chicken Ancestor, cut clean in half at the waist. His eyes bulged wide with disbelief. He was a Core Formation Master, his golden core already formed. Yet there he lay, dead.

A wild laugh tore from Zheng Jianghe's throat as he cried, "Good riddance! Very good!"

His thoughts leaped back to the masked man from moments ago. Could that man have done this?

He'd guessed as much inwardly, but seeing it with his own eyes still struck him with indescribable shock. Yet, he composed himself just as quickly. He knew full well how grave this matter was, and how dire the consequences would be. The Black Mountain Sect itself wasn't strong, consisting of only a few Core Formation Masters. However, the dreaded Black Rooster Demon loomed behind them.

Without any hesitation, Zheng Jianghe ordered. "Set the fire, burn them all!"

At once, the Divine Radiance Sect's disciples scattered, gathering torches to set the Chen estate aflame.

Zheng Jianghe meant to cover the masked man's tracks, though he knew it would do little in the end. Still, better this than nothing at all.

***

Night had settled in

Outside the Divine Radiance Sect's gates, an old man kneeled upon the cold ground. His hair was white as frost, his forehead beaded with sweat. He was frail, death ready to claim him at any moment—be it from a fall, or in the quiet of sleep.

At his side, a gray-haired woman tugged at his sleeve, urging him. "Enough. Come back."

He shook his head. "Let me kneel a little longer. If a passing immortal sees us, perhaps they'll be moved and avenge Xixi."

The woman's eyes misted.

In this world, mortals lived by the whim of fate. Born in the territory of Black Mountain Sect, their lot was misery. With the Divine Radiance Sect, they could at least hope for peace. Powerless against Chu Tianxiong, they could only beg, kneel, and hope. Yet, to those who soared above, mortal suffering was nothing more than ants beneath their feet.

Just then, someone said in a clear voice, shattering the silence. "I caught a fine blueflower fish today. I am in a good mood. Why don't you have some soup?"

Qi Yuan appeared, carrying two steaming bowls of fish soup. The fragrance drifted on the night air.

The old man's eyes lit up with sudden excitement, ready to kowtow. "Immortal, I beg you, please seek justice for my poor daughter!"

Qi Yuan flicked his finger, a strand of qi catching the old man before his forehead struck the ground. He placed the bowls before the couple.

"The sect already knows of your grievance," he said calmly. "Drink this soup, and rest well."

He turned away, then paused, his eyes growing distant. "The great ones spoke true: if heaven has feelings, it too will wither. The way of the world is ever the rise and fall of ages. Since ancient times, love has left only grief that lingers through the years. Justice that arrives too late is no justice at all. Yet where the heart finds peace, there lies its home."

Qi Yuan rambled once again. He sighed. "Hopefully none who hear my words will be led astray by them."

With that, he vanished into the night.

The old couple dropped to their knees, bowing again and again, tears of joy welling in their eyes. At last, an immortal had noticed them! Their stubborn vigil had not been in vain!

Of course, in this world, most perseverance ends quietly—without answer, without reward.