87 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 87: The Fishing Village The trio rode their swords swiftly along the road, soon reaching the Yuxu Sea, located at the southwest border. The Yuxu Sea is connected to the East Sea and is said to border closely with the domain governed by the Dragon King. As soon as Yan Jue landed, she began to observe her surroundings. What unfolded before her eyes was a fishing village. The village was densely filled with thatched houses lining the streets. It was the height of summer, scorching under the intense sun. People walking under the sun could barely keep their eyes open. The air was saturated with the scent of sea water. Yan Jue's gaze drifted to the distant sea. The vast and turbulent ocean was said to be the mythical homeland of the merfolk. Qi Xian Qing stated, "It's getting late. Let's stay in the village overnight and look for the merfolk tomorrow." Due to the remote location of the Yuxu Sea, there were few travelers, and as such, the village did not have inns or similar accommodations. Yan Jue and her companions arrived in the village, where Qi Xian Qing had to negotiate with several households before a somewhat courteous man agreed to take them in. The man, dressed in simple coarse fabric, sat at the table with a hearty laugh, "Our house has plenty of rooms; you can stay as you like. Just avoid the backyard where we keep some livestock; it's not convenient for visitors." Qi Xian Qing replied, "Thank you for your hospitality." After all, staying as guests without payment seemed inappropriate. The villagers here were mortals, unused to dealing with spiritual stones or the like. Qi Xian Qing frowned slightly, puzzled, but then saw Yan Jue take out a string of copper coins from her storage bag and place it on the table. "Five days' stay, is this amount sufficient?" Both the man and Qi Xian Qing were taken aback. Qi Xian Qing was surprised that Yan Jue, while traveling, had the habit of carrying money. The man, on the other hand, didn't expect Yan Jue to offer so much. Given the village's secluded location, they rarely had visitors. Even when they did, guests wouldn't usually pay. The man immediately smiled, "This amount is more than enough for ten days, not just five. The day is ending, ladies, please rest well in your rooms." The man's house was indeed one of the better-off in the village, with many vacant rooms available. As Yan Jue stood up, her peripheral vision caught sight of several figures by the kitchen door. Four round-headed, yellow-haired children were peeking at them with wide, curious eyes. When Yan Jue approached, they scampered off in fear. A cute little girl with delicate features remained, looking timidly at Yan Jue. Yan Jue teased her, "Where's your mother?" The little girl stared at her dazedly, "Mother went out." Before she finished speaking, Yan Jue felt a chill at the back of her neck and turned around, only to find the man of the house standing behind her at some point, "It's already dark, go to your rooms to avoid embarrassing our guests." He only gently scolded her, with a tone that suggested affection rather than sternness. Yan Jue didn't dwell on it and asked Jiang Meng Chu, "Which room would you like?" Jiang Meng Chu surveyed the area, "I want the room on the far left where I can see the sea. Is that alright?" Yan Jue nodded, "Alright." Yan Jue took a few steps forward, then turned back as if remembering something and said to Jiang Meng Chu, "Wait for me in your room for a bit, I'll come find you." Jiang Meng Chu nodded, yawning as she entered her room. Qi Xian Qing watched from behind, slightly taken aback. - Yan Jue returned to her room for a brief rest. After nightfall, Yan Jue went to Jiang Meng Chu's room and knocked gently. Jiang Meng Chu opened the door, her eyes bright, "Sister Yan Jue." Yan Jue asked, "Did your master tell you that I would help you with your energy healing?" Jiang Meng Chu replied, "Yes, she mentioned it. Thank you, Sister Yan Jue." ... In the quiet room, Yan Jue sat cross-legged on the bed, closing her eyes as she placed her palm on Jiang Meng Chu's back. Yan Jue silently recited her technique, slowly channeling energy. The qi surged, gradually flowing into Jiang Meng Chu's meridians. Perhaps knowing Qi Xian Qing lacked the patience for healing, Xing Ye Dao Ren didn't entrust Jiang Meng Chu to her care. But he had clearly instructed Yan Jue, mentioning that Jiang Meng Chu's memory had suffered severe trauma. Due to her unique constitution, Jiang Meng Chu often couldn't remember recent events. Xing Ye Dao Ren hoped Yan Jue could help her regulate this on their journey. He also promised Yan Jue rich rewards. Naturally, Yan Jue agreed. At Autumn Leaf Pavilion, Xing Ye Dao Ren taught Yan Jue a set of techniques specifically designed to counter the backlash of the "Supreme Spirit Body," called the "Ten Directions Mind Technique," which only required daily application. Jiang Meng Chu groaned in discomfort, "Hmm... hmm..." Her voice trembled with difficulty. Meanwhile, Qi Xian Qing walked out of her room, carrying a tray. It held a selection of steaming snacks she had brought from Five Dragon Mountain, including quail soup, milk cakes, and spicy pickles. Qi Xian Qing intended to check with the two about their appetite. As she approached Jiang Meng Chu's room, she unexpectedly heard sounds from inside, giving her pause. She had knocked on Yan Jue's room earlier, but received no response. Could it be that Yan Jue wasn't in her room but in Jiang Meng Chu's? Standing at the door, many thoughts flashed through Qi Xian Qing's mind. Ever since Yan Jue returned from Sword Tomb Valley, her relationship with Jiang Meng Chu seemed unusually close. The voices of the two emerged again from the room, faint and indistinct. Was their relationship so close that they could have late-night chats? Standing at the door, Qi Xian Qing felt a strange surge of frustration. This emotion was foreign and unexpected, something she had never felt before. Time passed as she stood there, seemingly lost in her own musings. Suddenly, the door creaked open from inside. Yan Jue emerged with a serious expression, surprised to see Qi Xian Qing at the door. Yan Jue blinked, "Senior Sister, what are you doing here?" "I was just passing by." Qi Xian Qing softly questioned, "Why aren't you in your room?" She then offered the snacks she was holding, Yan Jue's eyes lit up, accepting them with gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Sister." "Before we left, Uncle Xing Ye mentioned that I should help Junior Sister Jiang by running through a technique daily to aid in recovering her lost memories." Yan Jue inquired, "Did Uncle Xing Ye not tell you about this?" Qi Xian Qing paused, "Is that so? You were just helping her with a method?" Knowing about Jiang Meng Chu's unique constitution, Qi Xian Qing was somewhat aware. But she was surprised Xing Ye Dao Ren had entrusted her to Yan Jue. Yan Jue seemed to adapt even better than she had expected. Yan Jue affirmed, "Yes." Qi Xian Qing fell silent, her previously troubled heart suddenly clearing. The emotional shift was so abrupt, making her feel as if her own Dao heart was not stable. Qi Xian Qing frowned. It was such a peculiar feeling. - The small fishing village by the Yuxu Sea was surrounded by beautiful scenery. Even late at night, one could hear the distant crashing of the waves. Yan Jue had a strange dream. In her dream, she and Qi Xian Qing stood together on a flying sword, beneath an endless expanse of purple clouds. Above, the stars shimmered brightly. The sword flew on endlessly, as if it could never stop. Feeling sleepy, Yan Jue rested her head on Qi Xian Qing's shoulder and drifted into slumber. When Yan Jue awoke, it was already daylight. She lay in bed in a daze for a few moments before recalling her whereabouts. Qi Xian Qing was already sitting outside the thatched house. The temperature by the sea was always particularly hot. Even in the morning, there was a hint of heat in the air. Qi Xian Qing, in a light outfit, sat sipping tea at the table. Yan Jue went over and had a bowl as well. Possibly due to the village's poverty, the tea tasted especially weak. As Yan Jue ate, a thought struck her, prompting her to ask, "Where is Senior Sister Jiang from?" Qi Xian Qing slowly lifted her gaze to Yan Jue, scrutinizing her for a moment before saying, "Junior Sister Jiang is quite different from many people on Five Dragon Mountain." She paused, "She only joined the mountain at fifteen." Yan Jue felt a slight surprise. For a cultivator, the earlier one joined the mountain, the better. Fifteen was past the coming-of-age ritual; joining a sect at that age was considered quite late. Qi Xian Qing added, "I only know this from occasional mentions by our teacher. As for where Junior Sister Jiang was before she joined, I’m not sure." Yan Jue nodded. Qi Xian Qing continued, "That day, it was already during the final stage of the competition. Junior Sister Jiang is an exceptional disciple, her constitution unique, a 'wood' element among celestial spirit roots. Her strong-willed nature led her to be overly aggressive in deploying divine abilities, which resulted in her current state." "Losing some memory has altered her personality." Yan Jue frowned slightly, "So Junior Sister Jiang wasn't like this before." The early morning by the sea should be the most pleasant time. Yan Jue suddenly remembered the beast egg in her pocket and summoned it out. Covered in intricate patterns, the pitch-black beast egg glimmered faintly in the sunlight. Qi Xian Qing's eyes flickered with an imperceptible hint of amusement as she leaned forward to pick up the black beast egg, placing it in the sunlight to bask. The sunlight was gentle as she crouched before the egg, covering it with her palm and infusing it with spiritual energy. The egg emitted a faint glow. After Yan Jue infused it with qi, Qi Xian Qing followed suit. The two took turns tending to the egg, ensuring it absorbed both the sun and the infused energy before placing it back into the storage bag. Just then, Jiang Meng Chu joined them. After a bowl of tea, they all headed to the beach behind the small fishing village. - The sea was vast and majestic, presenting a breathtaking scene. Qi Xian Qing retrieved a small conch shell from her storage bag. The merfolk had always maintained good relations with humans. This conch shell served as a tool of communication between the two races. Years ago, the merfolk had promised the humans that anyone possessing this conch could call for their aid by blowing it at the seaside in times of danger. This particular conch was a gift from Qi Xian Qing's master, the Celestial Mistress Yun Zhen. Their mission was to find a merfolk pearl. Given the vast expanse of the sea, finding the merfolk directly was challenging. Hence, they decided it would be more efficient to summon them using the conch. Qi Xian Qing infused the conch with a trace of her consciousness, causing it to emit a sound. The melodious tone echoed across the ocean. After waiting at the same spot for a while, the group still saw no sign of the merfolk. Yan Jue was puzzled. Could it be that the merfolk didn't hear? Qi Xian Qing set the conch down and pondered, "By right, once the conch sounds, the merfolk should appear regardless of the time." "This was an agreement between the merfolk and humans." They waited a while longer at the seaside, but despite the repeated calls of the conch, no merfolk appeared. - When they returned to the fishing village, it was noon. The adults had left for work. Yet the village was lively. The muddy streets were filled with children, notably many five or six-year-olds laughing and playing tag. Suddenly, something collided with Qi Xian Qing. She looked down to see the little girl from the house the previous day. The girl merely stared at Qi Xian Qing, frightened and speechless. Yan Jue was slightly surprised and asked, "Little sister, where are you going? Are you leaving the village?" They were near the village entrance, and if the girl continued, she'd soon be outside. The little girl, lips tight, said, "I'm waiting for my mother at the village gate." Instinctively, Yan Jue glanced backward. Beyond the village lay the sea and numerous green hills. The girl looked to be only five or six, which was too young to safely leave the village. Yan Jue told Qi Xian Qing, "Senior Sister, I'll take her outside the village. You can go back first." Jiang Meng Chu added, "I have nothing to do; I'll come along." Qi Xian Qing stayed silent, emotionless as she followed Yan Jue closely. Yan Jue felt a bit helpless. They followed the little girl up a winding mountain path. She stopped by a large tree, eagerly watching the distant path. Yan Jue stood beside her, patiently waiting with her. As the sky darkened, they waited but saw no sign of the girl's mother. The girl looked disappointed. "Mother still isn't coming back today." Yan Jue squatted down, asking, "Did your father mention when your mother would return?" The girl seemed clueless, indicating she didn't know. And so, another day passed. They followed the girl back to the village. By dusk, the village men had returned, a rough-looking group carrying fishing nets, chatting and laughing as they headed home. The simple thatched houses bustled, filled with the sound of children's laughter and men's voices. Qi Xian Qing's gaze shifted slightly, "Did you notice something?" Yan Jue frowned, "I did." Qi Xian Qing noted, "There's something off about this village. It's full of men, but not a single woman is in sight." "Yet there are so many children. Where have these men's wives gone?" Yan Jue frowned, keeping her own counsel. They returned to the house to find the man had already prepared a meal for them. Perhaps because he was an honest fisherman by nature, he treated them warmly, even offering aged homemade wine. The fragrance was rich, and Jiang Meng Chu, particularly fond of it, drank several sips. After dinner, Jiang Meng Chu complained of a headache and listlessly returned to her room to rest. Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue discussed making another trip to the sea the following day before retiring to their respective rooms. - Nightfall. The moon hung against the deep night sky, casting its soft glow over the world. In a large house by the small fishing village, five men huddled together, speaking in low tones. One man muttered, "Liu Er, I hear you've got three women staying at your place?" "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" The one called Liu Er chuckled, "They just arrived last night. They gave me a lot of money, probably city ladies looking to enjoy the countryside." "This morning I saw them all heading to the beach." Another man chimed in, "Such luck, Liu Er! We haven't seen women in ages. Tonight, we must enjoy ourselves thoroughly!" Liu Er nodded, a lecherous grin spreading across his face, "I've already spiked their drinks with a sleeping draught..." "Tonight, let's sneak in and have our fun."