Chapter 983: You Choose to Blindfold Yourself, Yet the World Remains Turbid

“Senior Water Ghost, where do you plan to go next?” Xiao Kongtong looked up and asked, with matters here concluded.

Having finally encountered another Saint Servant, he still had much to lament and implicitly suggested accompanying him.

*Of course, I’m strictly executing my hunting plan…* Xu Xiaoshou replied inwardly.

Little Nian, who had transformed into the Gold-Swallowing Dragon, had found him someone. It wasn't a trial officer or an assassin, but the senior disciple of Can Yue Immortal City. This was truly fortunate, for the assassins at least. But it was also unfortunate, for it portended their future misfortunes!

Even though two of the five gold-ranked bounty hunters targeting him were now gone, Xu Xiaoshou remained unsatisfied. In the deep sea, there were still too many people he wanted to eliminate: the remaining three assassins, Night Owl, and even Rao Yaoyao.

“I still have some personal vendettas to settle; I need to eliminate one more person,” Xu Xiaoshou said calmly.

“Who?”

“Night Owl.”

Xiao Kongtong was startled. “Night Owl? The head of the Dark Division, Night Owl? Why?”

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at him impassively. “As I said, a personal vendetta.”

Xiao Kongtong immediately fell silent. What kind of personal vendetta required settlement underwater? Yet, he mused, the deep sea was Senior Water Ghost’s domain. If a personal vendetta were to be settled, doing so here in the deep sea would undoubtedly be the best choice.

“My identity cannot be exposed…” Although their conversation had been pleasant and he had earned Senior Water Ghost a favor, urgent matters called. Xiao Kongtong reluctantly said his goodbyes. “Senior Water Ghost, we may have to part ways now.”

“Why are you here?” Xu Xiaoshou wasn't about to let this powerful asset leave.

“For Xu Xiaoshou,” Xiao Kongtong replied with a complicated expression. “Even though he’s not human, my master’s mission is important, so I still have to protect him.”

“Insulted, Passive Point, +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou: “…”

“He’s indeed not human, but I also came here to protect him. Our goals don’t conflict. Eliminating Night Owl is just a secondary objective, and whether we even encounter him is uncertain. For now, we can travel together,” Xu Xiaoshou said indifferently.

Xiao Kongtong raised an eyebrow. *The deep sea is your domain; how could you not find someone?* However, Senior Water Ghost clearly intended for him to stay. If Xiao Kongtong couldn't grasp that, he’d have lived for decades in vain.

“In that case, it would be disrespectful for this junior to refuse,” he replied. He nodded, agreeing to accompany him, but stated earnestly, “However, if we truly encounter Night Owl, I regret that I cannot intervene, nor can I even reveal my presence.”

Xu Xiaoshou smiled faintly, clasped his hands behind his back, and scoffed, “A mere Night Owl? He’s not worth mentioning. Why would I need your help?”

*Dominating!*

Xiao Kongtong had no doubts whatsoever. He knew how difficult it was to kill Night Owl, the head of the Dark Division. Otherwise, when they met in the spatial rift above Lone Sound Cliff, neither side would have chosen to back down. If they truly fought to the death, a pyrrhic victory would be a mild outcome. Mainly, Transcendent cultivators are hard to kill, and the head of the Dark Division is also known as “Death”—a guardian of the underworld’s gates in the dark world, making him even harder to kill.

*But Senior Water Ghost is so confident; his strength must surpass mine…* Xiao Kongtong’s thoughts drifted.

“Oh, right.” Just then, after some deliberation, Xu Xiaoshou decided to disregard his “Water Ghost” persona and ask a question that might undermine it: “Within the forbidden barrier, can you still exert your full combat power?” He was clearly still reeling from the image of Xiao Kongtong effortlessly extinguishing the Gold-Swallowing Dragon with a single touch, and then thought of Rao Yaoyao.

“Indeed.” Xiao Kongtong looked at him with a hint of suspicion but didn’t dwell on it, explaining, “The forbidden barrier does indeed seal off this junior’s spiritual essence, but for ancient sword cultivators, spiritual essence is secondary. My Sword Dao can move unimpeded underwater.”

*So, you’re truly omnipotent, aren’t you?*

Xu Xiaoshou was aghast. He scanned Xiao Kongtong’s ethereal figure, recalling Gu Qingsan, and asked, “Swordless Art?”

“Yes,” Xiao Kongtong nodded. “I have touched upon all nine major sword arts, but only superficially. This is the ‘Boundless Sword Flow’ technique of the Swordless Art.”

*That’s overly modest! Boundless Sword Flow is clearly the first realm of Swordless Art. If that’s merely ‘superficial,’ then which swordsman in the world could be considered proficient in Swordless Art?*

Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue in amazement. He hadn’t understood it before, but Gu Qingsan’s technique had nearly exhausted him to death. Fortunately, at that time, Gu Qingsan genuinely had only a superficial understanding of Swordless Art, merely using this technique for defense, and his offensive methods were limited to the ‘Point Path’ of the Three Thousand Sword Dao. Only then could Xu Xiaoshou see through the art and successfully defeat him. Looking back now, if Gu Qingsan had advanced just one more step in Swordless Art back then, whether Xu Xiaoshou could have defeated him would have been uncertain.

As for Xiao Kongtong… Without a doubt, only a fraction of what the other person said could be believed. Even if the senior disciple of Can Yue Immortal City claimed to have mastered the second realm of Swordless Art, Xu Xiaoshou would have considered it perfectly reasonable!

“Does Rao Yaoyao know this technique?” Xu Xiaoshou followed up, voicing a doubt, as the “naive” Red Dress Dominator was also on his hit list.

Xiao Kongtong pondered briefly, clearly taking Senior Water Ghost’s question very seriously. Soon, he gave his answer: “Rao Yaoyao is proficient in ‘Emotion Sword Art.’ She likely has some understanding of Swordless Art, but perhaps hasn’t yet mastered ‘Boundless Sword Flow.’ After all, the complete cultivation method for Swordless Art is only passed down in the ‘Sword Tomb of Buried Swords.’”

*So how do you know it?* Xu Xiaoshou almost blurted out the question but quickly figured it out himself. Xiao Kongtong’s master was Ba Zun’an, and Wen Ting, the current guardian of the Sword Tomb of Buried Swords and one of the Seven Sword Immortals, was a friend of Ba Zun’an. Thus, it made perfect sense for the senior disciple of Can Yue Immortal City to have mastered the first realm of Swordless Art, ‘Boundless Sword Flow’!

“What powerful connections…” Xu Xiaoshou sighed. After careful thought, he realized that in Ba Zun’an’s era, even setting aside the Ten Sovereigns, almost anyone who left their mark on history seemed to have some connection with the “Eighth Sword Immortal.” For better or worse, there was always a connection. But wasn't this precisely a microcosm of complex social relationships centered around one individual?

Xu Xiaoshou thought of himself. As he grew, and with the emergence of the First Tower in the Sky, the bonds he forged in this world deepened. Look! At merely the Master realm, he could become the primary bait on Lone Sound Cliff, attracting both good and bad. Naturally, Ba Zun’an’s manipulation was evident in this, but Xu Xiaoshou knew he had many flaws himself, and his trouble-attracting nature ultimately stemmed from within. His… *ahem*, self-awareness, he still had a bit of that.

Xiao Kongtong seemed to have understood Senior Water Ghost’s implied meaning, but it was normal for spiritual refiners to know little about ancient sword cultivation. He added with a smile: “Senior, if you intend to personally confront Rao Yaoyao in addition to Night Owl, you’ll need to be exceptionally cautious. Rao Yaoyao might not be proficient in Swordless Art, but her understanding of Emotion Sword Art is probably unparalleled in the world, save for my master. This deep-sea forbidden barrier is useless to ancient sword cultivators, and as for water pressure—” Xiao Kongtong paused, then continued, “Rao Yaoyao’s ability allows her to easily imbue the deep-sea water with spiritual emotions. If she wills it to be ‘fear,’ the water will not dare to approach her.”

Xu Xiaoshou was astonished to hear this. *This was also a unique application of ‘Emotion Sword Art’? To imbue inanimate objects with the spirituality of living beings? Fear would make them retreat, while joy would draw them in? Emotion Sword Art… My understanding was indeed shallow!*

Xu Xiaoshou grew even more determined to find Ba Zun’an and truly study the nine major ancient sword arts. Before, he lacked the foundation, so he didn’t even dare to consider it. But now his “Sword Art Proficiency” had reached the Sovereign level. Theoretically, with a little guidance, achieving the title of a Seven Sword Immortal wasn’t impossible!

Uncertain whether Xiao Kongtong’s words were a test, Xu Xiaoshou remained outwardly calm and stubborn: “Rest assured, I’ve clashed with Rao Yaoyao before; I know her capabilities. She has the Azure Sky Divine Sword, and I have the Sea-Commanding Halberd. If we truly meet, the deep sea is my domain; I won’t be defeated. However, my primary mission isn’t Rao Yaoyao right now. If I encounter her, I won’t engage; on the contrary, I’ll give her some leeway.”

Xu Xiaoshou twirled the illusory Sea-Commanding Halberd in his hand, his expression beneath the golden beast mask radiating feigned absolute confidence.

“This is one of the ten great supernatural weapons, the Sea-Commanding Halberd…” Xiao Kongtong’s gaze unconsciously fell upon the great halberd in Senior Water Ghost’s hand. After observing for a moment and finding nothing particularly extraordinary about it, Xiao Kongtong, though not understanding, felt awe, and praised, “What a magnificent halberd, truly magnificent!”

*You must be blind; that’s just a lump of ordinary water…* Xu Xiaoshou chuckled inwardly. He didn’t linger on something that could easily expose his identity. He stepped forward into the water, his tone indulgent: “Let’s go. Before we encounter Night Owl, accompany me. It will be better for your safety.”

“Thank you, Senior,” Xiao Kongtong replied. Although he didn’t need extra care, this warmth was something his master had never offered, and he was still touched.

*Such a naive child, truly easy to deceive! What a pity. I hope that when you learn the truth later, you won’t resent me. It would be best if you resented the Water Ghost for being so incompetent that anyone could impersonate him.*

Xu Xiaoshou led the way, silently chuckling. After flying for a while, even though his “Perception” could tell him the person was there, he still turned back. After personally confirming that Xiao Kongtong, the great bodyguard of Can Yue Immortal City, was indeed following, Xu Xiaoshou immediately felt at ease.

“Senior?” Xiao Kongtong, however, was bewildered by the faint, almost imperceptible smile on Senior Water Ghost’s face.

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled reassuringly, “Don’t worry, if we encounter Night Owl, just turn around and leave.”

*Senior Water Ghost is truly a good person; he even shows empathy, which is completely different from my master, who only knows how to give orders…* Xiao Kongtong felt a warmth in his heart.

“Received a secret compliment, Passive Point, +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou retracted his gaze, the smile on his lips turning peculiar. He mused inwardly that he had truly changed, no longer the innocent little lamb who was only used by others. What he really wanted to say was…

*“Don’t worry, if we truly encounter Night Owl, I, Xu Xiaoshou, have ten thousand ways to inadvertently expose your identity as the senior disciple of Can Yue Immortal City, forcing you to intervene and eliminate him. If you can escape, then my name, Xu Xiaoshou, can be written backward!”*

The water sphere rippled through the deep sea. Before the dying Shou Ye, only empty, discarded elixir bottles and honey jars floated. He was on the verge of collapsing! Previously, the lowest-grade elixirs he consumed were Master-level (fifth and sixth rank), and even his Sovereign-level (third and fourth rank) elixirs were depleted. Now, even with the numerous honey jars Xu Xiaoshou had given him, how could these low-grade elixirs withstand the water sphere’s increasingly powerful spiritual essence-draining force?

“Ghost Beast…” His consciousness began to blur, and besides his fading vision, darkness occasionally descended. But what sustained Shou Ye, a Dao Slashing cultivator, until this moment was not the honey jars, but Xu Xiaoshou’s cry… “Ghost Beast Lu Ke!”

*He’s deceiving me. No, Xu Xiaoshou might deceive me in small matters, but he only does so to survive. This fellow disregards trivialities, but on matters of principle, he is absolutely unwavering. This is also the fundamental reason he refused to join the Red Dress. Moreover, a dying man’s words are good. Even if I’m the one dying, he has no reason to keep lying to me…*

Shou Ye felt his eyelids heavy and his head dizzy. Yet, whenever he thought of giving up, the little fellow in his mind, who only spouted nonsense, would appear to strike him.

“Shou Ye, don’t sleep! You still have more important things to do! You still have Sword Immortal Wuyue to save. Your strength may be small, but a moth flying into a flame can still momentarily illuminate! Hold on… Hold on until a turning point arrives, and someone will add fuel to the fire, ensuring the flame of justice is passed on, eternal and undying!”

Shou Ye was conversing with what he didn’t know was either a tiny figure in his mind or Xu Xiaoshou’s will, yet he felt a sense of humility. *How could I, an old man, possibly be worthy? As a mere ordinary member of the Red Dress, I cannot ascend the Sacred Mountain of Gui Zhe to meet the Saint and pay homage; nor do I have the time to investigate the truth and verify Xu’s words. If I live, the endless vexations of the Red Dress will surely crush me, making it hard to breathe. If I die, it would rather be a release. What do truth and justice matter to a small figure like me?*

“Xu Xiaoshou… This old man, I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you…”

At the last moment, Shou Ye, skeletal and drained of his life essence by the water sphere, finally closed his eyes, allowing his consciousness to completely descend into darkness. Flickering memories streamed past, and his soul plunged into his reckless youth…

“Senior Wuyue, today I choose to join the White Dress, and I will have no true name hereafter; from this day forward, ‘Shou Ye’ will be my codename! When darkness ceases, when justice descends, my name, Shou Ye, will no longer exist in this world. If not… then I, Shou Ye, will forever guard the dark front lines, never retreating in this lifetime!”

At that time, Gou Wuyue, resplendent in blue robes, with the demeanor of a banished immortal, had no gray hairs at his temples, and the Slavelance in his hand exuded a powerful sword aura. And he, though slightly older, was willing to call himself a junior and serve Sword Immortal Gou Wuyue faithfully his entire life.

“Your ambition is like mine when I chose to join the Holy Divine Palace,” Senior Wuyue’s reply echoed clearly in his memory. Shou Ye’s memories paused and focused, finally settling clearly on Gou Wuyue’s answer from back then. At that time, Senior Wuyue’s eyes still held a hint of mockery: “Yet my choice was questioned by a friend. He said…”

“Who? What did he say?”

“Nothing important, just some trivial matter from a self-indulgent person…”

The light and shadow shifted again, and Shou Ye, who had fought from the White Dress to the Red Dress, had accumulated considerable prestige within the Holy Divine Palace. At their farewell, he saw Senior Wuyue for the last time. The ribbon on Wuyue’s forehead was already creased, and wrinkles had deepened around his eyes. Constant campaigning had left him weary, yet his clothes, though new, seemed old, and his famous sword was as pristine as ever. Alas, things had changed, and people were no longer the same!

“Shou Ye, I have something to tell you,” Senior Wuyue said at this moment, his eyes clearly lacking the initial sparkle from their first meeting, replaced by a subtle bewilderment.

“What is it?” Shou Ye, by contrast, looked even more weathered, with more battle scars.

“A question you once asked, but perhaps have forgotten…”

“Uh, Senior, I genuinely forgot. Could you perhaps give me a hint?”

“Words my old friend left me before his demise, words I once dismissed when you joined the White Dress…”

Shou Ye fell silent. Because by this point, the bewilderment in Senior Wuyue’s eyes was no longer concealed.

“What words?” Shou Ye asked.

“He said…” Gou Wuyue chuckled, “You chose to blind yourself, yet the world remains turbid.”

“What does that mean?” Shou Ye was stunned.

Gou Wuyue’s lips curved as he whispered into his ear, “It means, ‘Once embroiled, escape is hard; regret is unbearable.’”

“Huh?”

“Hahaha, just kidding! Go on, join the Red Dress. Rao Yaoyao’s authority is far greater than mine. I wish you a splendid future!”