The cliff below the Nether Temple by the sea? Yu Qing thought briefly and knew it was a place he had been to before, the place where the Sea Clan woman had appeared.
He noted the location. Concerned about the letter, he asked, “Then when you sent the letter, was it not also discovered by others?”
Nan Zhu said, “No. I was worried about this too, so I asked her what to do. She took the letter and said she would arrange for it to be sent as soon as possible. Afterwards, she told me not to rush back, afraid that people would notice something amiss. She had us deliberately wander around the Sea Market, otherwise we would have returned even earlier. Even so, she seized every moment to meet me briefly. There was no time to say more.”
Yu Qing nodded silently.
Nan Zhu said, “We have already been exposed. What do we do next?”
Yu Qing said, “Does being exposed mean we must die? Who stipulated that we cannot come to the Sea Market? It is merely a bit more troublesome.”
Nan Zhu sighed, “Is it merely a bit of trouble? If you insist on saying so, then what more is there to say? We might as well roll up our sleeves and wander about everywhere.”
Yu Qing said, “Wait until we meet her and clarify the situation before deciding.”
There was nothing to do but wait. He took out the map that had cost five hundred taels and studied it carefully.
He waited until nearly noon, then jumped directly from the balcony. Relying on the route he had memorised, he went through streets and alleys, heading straight for the strait area.
After crossing the suspension bridge, he came directly to the outside of the Nether Temple again. This time, however, he did not enter. Instead, he walked around the perimeter wall. When he reached the cliff edge, he leaped directly down and landed in the reef area below.
Just as he was looking around and saw no one, a head suddenly emerged from the calm water amidst a cluster of messy reefs. It greeted him, saying, “Over here.”
Yu Qing turned his head and saw a familiar face. It was Liu Piaopiao.
“Follow me.” Liu Piaopiao called out, then sank back into the water.
Yu Qing immediately hopped over and also plunged into the water. He caught sight of her figure underwater and followed her, swiftly swimming away.
He did not know where they were going. He simply kept following her underwater.
When they emerged again, they found themselves in a small cave. There was a crack in the cave about the size of a palm, letting in light.
Looking out through the crack, he saw it was the strait separating the two shores. Opposite them was the cliff face of the trading market, where people could be seen coming and going.
Liu Piaopiao was already asking from behind him, “How did you end up running to the Sea Market? And you even brought a child along.”
“It is a long story.” Yu Qing, who had been lying by the rock crevice, turned around. “We have some business to attend to, and we also wanted to meet you. The immortal peaches from Little Cloud Realm, we agreed there would be a share for you. We have been unable to wait for you to come, so we could not simply remain silent forever. We had to give you an explanation. We also came to understand why, after so long, you have not gone to Youjiao Port?”
Liu Piaopiao smoothed her skirt with both hands and sat on a stone. She sighed, “I want to go too. It is just that after coming here, I realised my previous thoughts were too simple. Many things are already beyond my control. Furthermore, I heard that you seem to owe a pile of debts over there. Would it be appropriate for me to run over and demand benefits from you?”
“Hey, my debts are my debts. That is because the peaches could not be sold. What does that have to do with you eating an immortal peach?” Yu Qing looked left and right. Unable to find another suitable place to sit, he simply plopped down beside her, squeezing in. “How are things beyond your control? We cooperated quite well in Little Cloud Realm. Has not Tian Yu already favoured you? With his status, could he not look after you? Or did he forget to promote you after leaving Little Cloud Realm?”
Being squeezed in like this, Liu Piaopiao subconsciously shrank back. Her gaze flickered about fleetingly. Her movements slightly awkward, she shifted her bottom sideways. “It is not that he forgot me. He is still fairly attentive to me. But his level is too high. He is already one of the few most important figures under heaven. To have caught his eye is already my good fortune.
The problem is my own strength is limited. At his level, those he employs are basically Upper Profound Realm experts, all people with considerable ability.
I am only at the Initial Profound Realm. There are many things I lack the ability to accomplish. He could not forcibly place me in a high position. It would be difficult for him, and those below would not accept it. It would be bad for everyone. Besides, my time at Thousand Streams Mountain has been short. I have no foundation. If I force my way up, I would likely die a miserable death.
You do not think he can do as he pleases, do you? His current days are not too easy either. He is currently keeping his tail between his legs. How much more so for me.”
Yu Qing was astonished. “The dignified Third Cave Master of Thousand Streams Mountain needs to keep his tail between his legs?”
Liu Piaopiao said, “It is still the matter of Little Cloud Realm. At the time in Little Cloud Realm, I did not know. Only after returning to Thousand Streams Mountain did I hear that Sinan Mansion and the Grand Enterprise Office are biting at him and not letting go.”
Yu Qing was stunned. “Why are those two biting at him? Can those two biting at him affect his status at Thousand Streams Mountain?”
Liu Piaopiao said, “Have you forgotten Yun Xi? When Yun Xi’s demonic body collapsed, were you not present at the scene? After Tian Yu tore Yun Xi’s physical body from her demonic form, he grabbed her and left. Meng Po of Sinan Mansion and Xiang Lanxuan of the Grand Enterprise Office naturally could not let Thousand Streams Mountain take all the spoils. The two pursued relentlessly. In the midst of the chase, Tian Yu did something rather difficult to explain. He killed Yun Xi’s physical body.”
Yu Qing truly had not seen that such a thing had happened behind the scenes of that incident. He immediately realised the severity of the matter. “He killed Yun Xi before interrogating her. Did he learn some secret from Yun Xi’s body?”
Liu Piaopiao said, “That is the crux of the problem. Naturally, he would not admit it. He said it was because he was injured, and Meng Po and Xiang Lanxuan were pursuing him too urgently. He momentarily forgot that Yun Xi could not be exposed to light, and thus accidentally killed her. How could Sinan Mansion and the Grand Enterprise Office believe such an explanation? Naturally, they are biting at him and not letting go.
However, Tian Yu’s rebuttal is also quite forceful. He said that in such a short time, how could Yun Xi have told him any secret without interrogation? Did Yun Xi not know that the secret was the key to preserving her own life? Would she speak so hastily, seeking death?”
Yu Qing nodded. “Indeed. Yun Xi truly could not have spoken any secret so rashly.”
Liu Piaopiao said, “Who says otherwise? However, no matter how it is explained, the deed was indeed somewhat amiss. Those who sit as if upon clouds have all walked through blood and storms. Their suspicions are heavy, and their schemes are deep. Words of one side alone are difficult to move them.
The Great Sage would not hand Tian Yu over to Sinan Mansion and the Grand Enterprise Office. He also comforted Tian Yu, saying he believed him. But some things, how should I put it, I do not know if it is true. The Great Sage may secretly still be watching Tian Yu. Such a major matter, I reckon, could not be treated as if nothing happened.
Tian Yu can be considered to have some self awareness. Using the excuse of nursing his injuries, he no longer participates in many affairs. He has almost cut off contact with the outside world, and rarely even leaves his door. The people under his command have all been restrained by him. Clearly, he wishes to avoid suspicion. You say that even he is like this. What can a small fry like me possibly accomplish?
If the Great Sage is truly secretly watching Tian Yu, he cannot be watching only him alone. Those under him have likely all been placed under observation. You tell me, would I still dare to sneak off to Youjiao Port to find you? I cannot be careful enough.”
Having spoken to this point, Yu Qing nodded in understanding. He more or less understood why she had not gone to find them. He no longer pressed the issue. Changing the subject, he said, “You said we have been exposed. What is the situation?”
Liu Piaopiao gave a cold sneer. “I still want to ask what is the matter with you. Does our Tanhua Lord still think his fame is not great enough, or what? Did you need to be so ostentatious coming to the Sea Market? Are you afraid others do not know you came to the Sea Market, or what? Would it not be better to come quietly and leave quietly? Killing a Sea Clan merman is one thing. Quietly dealing with it would have been the end. Yet you actually dragged the merman’s corpse ashore under the gaze of the masses, under the eyes of thousands. Do you take Thousand Streams Mountain for deaf men or blind men? If they do not watch you, who would they watch?
You think covering your face with a cloth can solve your worries? Do you take Thousand Streams Mountain for a decoration? Not long after you came ashore, I moved at the first whiff of news to watch you. I saw you go to the Nether Temple, and I saw you come out of the Nether Temple. After coming out, you were even more brazen. You actually tore off that cloth covering your face and openly met with Nan Zhu and the others. If I could not recognise you lot, then I would be blind. Afterwards, where you went and where you stayed, I know it all clearly.”
Yu Qing was also puzzled by what she said. He was not stupid. Actually, when he did those things, he had already realised there was a possibility of being watched.
But there was no other way. The three of them, master and brothers, knew too little about the various circumstances, including the Nether Temple.
Just based on the Nether Temple’s reputation, those who had never dealt with it could feel immense pressure from that name alone, let alone barging in.
He truly dared not guarantee what the result would be if he quietly ran to the Nether Temple. He felt it was safer to make a bigger fuss.
It was also because he had sensed someone in the Nether Temple coveting his ring, and detected the possible danger, that he did not keep a low profile afterwards. Instead, he openly met with Nan Zhu and the others.
He had done all this with a fluke mentality. He had not expected to still be watched.
At the root of it, from the very beginning he had not expected that the ferry merman would actually strike a lethal blow at them. They had shown their faces at Star Array Island. He could not guarantee that after killing the merman, the Nether Temple and Thousand Streams Mountain would not investigate. Otherwise, they would have directly destroyed the corpse and eliminated the evidence. Why would they have taken the risk of going to the Nether Temple?
This was one wrong step, and suddenly he felt constrained everywhere.
Despite this, he still acted against the adverse current, thinking of every way to mitigate the physical effects on Old Seventh and Old Ninth.
Thinking back, actually from the very beginning when they met Little Black on the road, they had already been led astray by that little rascal, their plans thrown into chaos.
They had thought they would meet Wu Hei at the Sea Market or somewhere else. Being too low key and secretive, they were afraid Wu Hei could not find them. This caused them to openly show their faces at Star Array Island. As a result, everything that followed went completely awry.
Later, upon learning that Little Black had secretly sneaked out on his own, he had nearly died of anger. He truly wanted to break that little fellow’s legs.
What is meant by one rat dropping spoils the whole pot? He believed Little Black was that rat dropping.
Thinking through the causes and consequences, he could only let out a sigh. “Ah, do you think I wanted to do this? Do not speak to me about this matter. My guts are blue with regret. I nearly wanted to find a rope to hang myself. By the way, you started watching me as soon as I came ashore. What is going on? How could you have fixed your eyes on me so quickly? Why do I feel something is slightly abnormal?”