Chapter 689: That Is a Heavenly Maiden

Bitter Old Woman appeared before Shu Wanjuan. She was still dressed in her usual attire: a scarf and a coarse cloth outfit, covered from head to toe.

Shu Wanjuan stared at Bitter Old Woman, scrutinizing her from head to toe. "You really haven't changed in all these years," he remarked.

Bitter Old Woman also observed Shu Wanjuan for a moment. "You, however, have changed considerably," she said. "When I first met you, you were like a storyteller in a teahouse; now, you resemble a teacher in a private academy."

Shu Wanjuan adjusted his long robe and produced a fan. "I still dabble in storytelling," he said. "If I take off these glasses and pick up a clapper, earning an ounce of silver a day is trivial. Come visit Chaoge sometime, and I'll put on a private performance for you at the teahouse."

Bitter Old Woman waved her hand. "Thank you for the offer," she replied, "but my bones are too stiff. I simply cannot bring myself to kneel before your venerable Sage. I fear Chaoge is not a place I can visit."

Shu Wanjuan flapped his sleeves. "Let's not mince words," he retorted. "How are you any better than the Sage? Aren't there plenty of people who kneel to you in Bitter Vegetable Village? And aren't they doing so merely to eke out a living?"

Bitter Old Woman shook her head. "I didn't force anyone to kneel," she said, "nor did I compel anyone to come to Bitter Vegetable Village."

Shu Wanjuan smiled. "But you compel people to suffer," he countered. "Whether they study literature or martial arts, engage in business or perform arts, everything is deemed sinful under your philosophy, and all must endure hardship. And after enduring it, they're expected to be eternally grateful to you."

Bitter Old Woman asked, "Do you not suffer by following the imperial court?"

Shu Wanjuan replied, "One certainly suffers by following the court, but there's a limit to that suffering. It's not like in Bitter Vegetable Village, where countless people suffer relentlessly until death, never experiencing a moment of joy or reward."

Bitter Old Woman chuckled. "Then why didn't you remain loyal to the imperial court?" she asked. "Why did you choose to follow the Peddler in the first place?"

Shu Wanjuan spoke with remarkable candor. "As the saying goes: 'Once one masters literary and martial arts, they offer their skills to the imperial family,'" he began. "I always intended to serve the court. However, the previous dynasty didn't value talent, so I sought a new one. Who could have foreseen that the Peddler had no desire to become emperor? With no emperor, where would there be a court? To fight alongside him through thick and thin, only to end up with mere silver – did you truly believe I was risking my life for such a paltry sum?"

Bitter Old Woman genuinely wanted to press the issue. "And are you not risking your life for the imperial court now?" she pressed.

Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "That's entirely different," he argued. "The court granted me a noble title, which is far more valuable than mere silver. Within my own domain, I hold the power of life and death. Whether they are bondservants, commoners, scholars, or even high-ranking officials, all must kneel before me with due respect."

Bitter Old Woman chuckled. "So, when you were fighting battles back then, charging into enemy lines and devising strategies, doing so much for the Peddler – it was all for *this*?"

Shu Wanjuan made no attempt to conceal his feelings. "What's wrong with that?" he retorted. "Is there anything amiss? Why does one spend a lifetime acquiring so many skills and talents? Is it not precisely to become a person of status? What about all the things you do in Bitter Vegetable Village? Mixing sand into perfectly good rice – isn't *that* immoral? 'No pain, no gain; suffer hardship to become superior' – isn't that a phrase you often utter yourself?"

Bitter Old Woman sighed. "You have a silver tongue," she conceded. "I cannot out-argue you. You could probably expound upon these convoluted sophistries for three days and three nights without exhausting them."

Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "This isn't sophistry; it's fundamental truth," he asserted. "Forget three days and three nights—this truth has been debated and expounded upon for millennia across the world, rephrased countless times, yet its core remains the same! A person of status must act the part. What is the Peddler, to presume to overturn a truth upheld for thousands of years? Ask anyone in this world if they truly believe his philosophy!"

Bitter Old Woman smiled. "Why don't you say that to his face?" she challenged.

Shu Wanjuan's expression remained placid. "I cannot say that to his face," he admitted, "because I cannot defeat him! I may not believe the Peddler's reasoning, but I certainly respect his fists. Aren't you the same?"

As he spoke, Shu Wanjuan turned his gaze to He Jiaqing. "You, young man, are quite clever," he observed. "You understand what constitutes truth, and you even know how to rephrase that truth, fabricating a 'bond of flesh and blood' to trick others into sacrificing their lives. To put it plainly, aren't you still aiming to become a Sage yourself?"

He Jiaqing remained silent. Bitter Old Woman then spoke, "I wish to spare this man's life. For the sake of our shared past, will you grant me this favor?"

Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "That is not possible," he stated, "unless he returns the stolen items."

He Jiaqing asked, "What did I steal?"

"The contracts!" Shu Wanjuan frowned. "At this late stage, are you still feigning ignorance?"

He Jiaqing flatly denied it. "Catch a thief, catch him with the goods," he countered. "I have no contracts on me."

Shu Wanjuan chuckled. "My boy," he said, "who taught you that maxim about catching a thief with the goods? Was it Old Pincer Xiao? He misled you. When one truly wishes to apprehend a thief, there's no need for physical evidence. If *I* say you're a thief, then a thief you are."

He Jiaqing frowned. "Li Qi also stole the contracts and even handed them over to Gu Wuyan," he pointed out. "He was caught red-handed. Why didn't you apprehend him?"

Shu Wanjuan's expression became serious. "Although Li Qi stole the contracts, he is no thief!"

"Why not?" He Jiaqing pressed.

Shu Wanjuan replied, "Because he is a Prince! It is not against the law for a Prince to take things. How could he possibly be considered a thief?"

He Jiaqing chuckled. "Senior, you are well-versed in the classics," he said. "Have you truly never heard the saying, 'When a prince breaks the law, he is punished the same as a commoner'?"

Shu Wanjuan laughed and sighed repeatedly. "Young man," he chided, "are you jesting with me? Why on earth should a Prince be subject to the same penalties as a commoner? You're not actually taking such deceitful drivel seriously, are you?"

Bitter Old Woman cut in, "Enough quibbling. I simply wish to ensure this man's safety."

Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "Then I'll tell you the plain truth," he declared. "You cannot save this man!"

Bitter Old Woman waved her hand, and flames erupted around her. Simultaneously, Shu Wanjuan's figure also caught fire. The ink traces evaporated, turning into black smoke that drifted into the air. The true Shu Wanjuan, however, remained standing by the river. Bitter Old Woman could discern that the man by the river was indeed Shu Wanjuan's authentic form.

Bitter Old Woman drew a blade across her own skin, and ink flowed from Shu Wanjuan's body as his form dissolved onto the ground. Yet, it was still merely ink. In a flash, Shu Wanjuan was once again standing by the river. He Jiaqing didn't quite grasp it: Bitter Old Woman had identified Shu Wanjuan's true body, so why did the technique still only affect an ink manifestation?

Bitter Old Woman understood perfectly. This was Shu Wanjuan's Heaven-Bound Technique: as long as there were written characters on his person, they would shield him from harm.

Shu Wanjuan smiled at Bitter Old Woman. "I brought several books with me today," he said. "Shall we wager on whether there are more words in these books or if your life force is tougher?"

Attempting to reverse his luck and render the characters on his body inert? Useless. He likely carried dozens of books, containing tens of millions of characters. The probability of making all ten million simultaneously inert was negligible—even Bitter Old Woman couldn't achieve that.

Bitter Old Woman asked, "So, there's absolutely no way you'll let him go today?"

Shu Wanjuan shook his head. "My stance remains the same," he replied. "Provided he returns the stolen contracts, I can spare his life. The local deities of the New Land were originally subjects of Dashang. Subjects who harbor disloyalty certainly deserve death. However, He Jiaqing is not a subject of Dashang; at most, he's a thief. Whether a thief lives or dies isn't paramount, but the stolen goods *must* be recovered. Once that is accomplished, I will have fulfilled my duty upon returning to Chaoge, and He Jiaqing's fate will no longer concern me."

Bitter Old Woman looked at He Jiaqing. With a calm expression, He Jiaqing said, "I didn't take their contracts. What do you expect me to give you?"

Shu Wanjuan frowned slightly. "Thieves often remember pleasures but not lessons," he mused, "but you, it seems, won't shed tears until you see the coffin. This is your only chance to survive; do you not value it?"

Bitter Old Woman smiled. "I'm still standing right here," she said. "Surely, he still has plenty of opportunities to survive, wouldn't you agree?"

Shu Wanjuan sighed. "Our shared history means something," he said, "but it cannot withstand such blatant squandering. Do you truly believe you can defeat me?"

"Whether I can defeat you is uncertain," Bitter Old Woman retorted, "but I know you can't fight for long." With a wave of her hand, the small river beside Shu Wanjuan suddenly turned crimson, its flowing water transforming into molten lava. Bitter Old Woman pulled He Jiaqing onto the solidified lava, facing Shu Wanjuan. "Come, fight me," she challenged. "Let's see how long it takes you to kill me. You've slaughtered so many local deities; the Peddler will be here soon. How much longer do you think you can hold out?"

He Jiaqing's face was ashen. Standing on the molten rock was agonizing, especially since it wasn't ordinary lava. He knew he couldn't endure it for long.

Shu Wanjuan narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the pair. Eliminating He Jiaqing wouldn't be difficult, but Bitter Old Woman possessed the Heaven-Bound Technique, making it far from easy to kill her quickly. Moreover, Bitter Old Woman was right: Shu Wanjuan had to leave Puluozhou before the Peddler arrived.

After a long silence, Shu Wanjuan did not make a move. Bitter Old Woman then led He Jiaqing away.

As the two figures receded into the distance, Shu Wanjuan allowed himself a faint smile. His objective had been achieved. He had pursued those he needed to, engaged in conflict where necessary, and made his points clear. This was precisely the outcome he had anticipated; rather than engaging Bitter Old Woman in a fight to the death, he had found a more effective solution.

Returning to the assembly hall, Shu Wanjuan pulled two individuals from the pile of casualties: Qian Xiangjun and Chu Yaoxian. He had deliberately spared them. Dazed and disoriented, neither of them dared to resist or attempted to escape.

Shu Wanjuan patted Qian Xiangjun's forehead, whispered a few words to him, then set him aside. Next, he approached Chu Yaoxian and offered a comforting remark: "My dear, are you terribly frightened?"

Chu Yaoxian trembled uncontrollably. "Senior, please spare my life," she pleaded. "I realize my mistake."

Shu Wanjuan smiled. "Don't be afraid," he said. "I'm here to save you. This is your domain, and within your domain, no one dares to kill you, or they would violate the Peddler's rules."

Chu Yaoxian didn't understand. What did he mean? Did this man before her need to abide by the Peddler's rules?

Shu Wanjuan explained, "I don't need to concern myself with the Peddler's rules, but He Jiaqing cannot defy them. He must adhere to the rules, which is why he killed so many local deities, yet spared only you."

Chu Yaoxian became even more confused. How could it be that He Jiaqing had killed the local deities?

Shu Wanjuan reiterated, "It was He Jiaqing who killed the local deities. You must remember this without the slightest ambiguity."

Chu Yaoxian dared not agree; she still couldn't fathom Shu Wanjuan's intentions.

Shu Wanjuan stated, "You may harbor genuine feelings for He Jiaqing, but he holds no such affection for you. He spared your life merely because he feared the Peddler's retribution."

Chu Yaoxian's expression grew momentarily blank, as if she had fallen victim to some unfathomable technique. She *had* indeed been affected by a technique, though it wasn't as profound as she imagined. It was merely a foundational skill of literary cultivators: the "Ground Layer Technique," known as "Speaking with Lotus Tongues."

Shu Wanjuan patted Chu Yaoxian's forehead. "He Jiaqing exploited you to gather these local deities in one place," he explained, "with the sole intention of killing them and monopolizing their territories. If you doubt me, ask him; he's He Jiaqing's subordinate."

Chu Yaoxian looked at Qian Xiangjun. Qian Xiangjun stated to Chu Yaoxian, "All the local deities here were killed by He Jiaqing. He used both the Bitter Cultivation Technique and the Thief Cultivation Technique to dispatch them."

Did He Jiaqing possess the Bitter Cultivation Technique? If Qian Xiangjun said he did, then he certainly must have.

Chu Yaoxian's gaze was vacant as she nodded towards Shu Wanjuan.

Shu Wanjuan said, "As for exactly how He Jiaqing killed these local deities, I've written it all down. You must read it carefully." He produced a document from his sleeve and pressed it against Chu Yaoxian's forehead. Every word of the text permeated Chu Yaoxian's mind. She nodded repeatedly. "Yes," she affirmed, "it was He Jiaqing who killed them. He used the Bitter Cultivation Technique and the Thief Cultivation Technique. Those local deities were originally gathered for a meeting, and they were completely defenseless when He Jiaqing—"

Shu Wanjuan chuckled. "Precisely," he said. "He Jiaqing killed so many local deities, yet he hasn't violated the Peddler's rules. How do you suppose the Peddler will handle this?"

Chu Yaoxian shook her head, her face blank as she stared at Shu Wanjuan.

Shu Wanjuan sighed. "The Peddler will find this difficult to stomach," he remarked. "He can tolerate overt losses and covert losses, but this unspoken, unacknowledged loss – that he truly cannot swallow."

Bitter Old Woman, with He Jiaqing, intended to escape to Bitter Vegetable Village. As they passed through the territory of Qiu Sandao, the Blade Cultivator, and entered a forest, He Jiaqing suddenly halted.

Though his chest was injured by Shu Wanjuan and his legs seared by the lava, He Jiaqing was still capable of movement.

He pulled over a dozen feathers from his robe and scattered them across Qiu Sandao's territory. The feathers drifted on the wind, the furthest settling at the forest's edge. Bitter Old Woman recognized this technique: it was a Thief Cultivation skill, "No Treasure Left Behind."

"What are you doing?" Bitter Old Woman asked.

He Jiaqing replied, "Senior, please grant me a moment."

He lay on the ground, digging where the feathers had landed. He unearthed numerous spiritual artifacts, which He Jiaqing, deeming them insignificant, tossed aside. Upon reaching the twelfth feather, He Jiaqing finally unburied what he sought: Qiu Sandao's contract.

Bitter Old Woman looked bewildered. "How did you know Qiu Sandao's contract was hidden in this forest?" she asked.

He Jiaqing replied, "I've been planning for this for nearly a decade. I've thoroughly surveyed all these territories. I wouldn't claim absolute certainty, but I can assure you I was close enough."

Bitter Old Woman frowned. "It's come to this, and you still insist on stealing?"

He Jiaqing responded, "Since it's already come to this, why *not* steal?"

"Shu Wanjuan might still pursue us."

"As long as I run fast enough, he might not catch me." He Jiaqing then began to run toward Zhuang Jiahan's territory.

Late that night, Li Banfeng entered the stairwell from the sixteenth floor, descending to the twelfth. This floor was somewhat familiar to him, as it had once housed a false data room. On his last visit, he hadn't located it, so this time he was trying a different route, uncertain of the outcome. He opened the hallway door, revealing a large iron door ahead. Li Banfeng smiled; merely seeing the iron door was a vast improvement over his previous attempt. At the very least, he had now triggered the stairwell's labyrinth. With the projector controlling the surveillance equipment and his gloves opening the door, Li Banfeng unleashed Banfeng Yi. "Vanguard, attack!" he commanded.

Banfeng Yi indignantly asked, "You're sending me in empty-handed?" Li Banfeng considered handing over his sickle but worried Banfeng Yi might not return, thus losing the weapon. Instead, he pulled a dagger from his robe and offered it. "This is a new issue from the Dark Star Bureau," he explained. "I haven't even brought myself to use it. It's yours."

Banfeng Yi felt like spitting at Li Banfeng, but alas, he had no saliva. Clutching the dagger, he entered the room. There was no data room to be seen, but a blade immediately descended from above. Banfeng Yi scoffed. "Can this thing possibly harm me?" he thought. He effortlessly dodged the cleaver, only for an invisible blade to slice him in half at the waist. Startled, Banfeng Yi realized he couldn't afford to be careless. A long saber swung at him head-on. To dodge, or not to dodge? There seemed to be no logical reason *not* to dodge. Banfeng Yi swiftly sidestepped, both severed halves of his shadow evading the saber. Then, another invisible blade struck, cleaving the two halves into four. It appeared that dodging the visible blade only led into the trap of the invisible ones. But this trap was too precise; could someone be controlling it?

About ten minutes later, dozens of Banfeng Yi emerged from the room. "At first," one reported, "I thought this room contained mechanisms from a craft cultivator. But after careful investigation, I believe there's a top-tier blade cultivator inside, though he might be a lingering spirit. I lack the 'Golden Eye of Autumn Hair' technique, so I can't pinpoint his location. I suggest you go in and investigate yourself."

Li Banfeng looked at the group of Banfeng Yi and nodded. "The Vanguard is truly becoming impressive!" he commented. One of the Banfeng Yi pointed to the large iron door. "Are you really not going to go inside and see?" he asked. "I think that blade cultivator is quite formidable."

"You already know it's a blade cultivator; why would I go in to see what—" Li Banfeng paused mid-sentence, his expression freezing. He sensed something flashing. *What was it?* Li Banfeng asked the projector, "Are all surveillance devices under control?" The projector replied, "Rest assured, Director Qi, they are all our friends now."

In Room Five, Honglian watched anxiously. "Has the message I asked you to send reached its destination?" she urged. Room Five replied, "It has. I've been flashing continuously!"

Honglian cursed under her breath. "The message was received, so why is she still causing all this commotion? She's utterly frivolous!"

Hongying and Miss Jiu were also watching from Room Five, but they couldn't hear the conversation between the two. They only felt that Li Qi's actions were still far too risky.

Finding nothing on the twelfth floor, Li Banfeng descended three more floors to the ninth. Honglian urged Room Five, "Send the signal again, and faster." Li Banfeng occasionally glanced behind him. Room Five responded, "We can't rush; Li Qi seems to have noticed something." Honglian, however, was resolute, continually pressing Room Five to keep sending the signal. She wasn't concerned that Li Qi would detect it; even if he sensed an anomaly, Li Qi wouldn't easily abandon his investigation. Her concern was that the intended recipient might not be prepared, potentially leading to unforeseen complications.

Li Banfeng pushed open the hallway door and once again saw the large iron door. His gloves opened it. Li Banfeng peered inside to find a white stone statue standing tall. The statue, over five meters high, depicted a remarkably beautiful ancient woman in a long robe, adorned with an ornate headdress. Aside from the statue, the room was empty. Perhaps due to the exceptional craftsmanship, the sculpture appeared strikingly lifelike. The Banfeng Yi were captivated; without Li Banfeng's command, they willingly entered the room and formed a circle around the statue.

Seeing the Banfeng Yi safe and sound, Li Banfeng also entered the room and walked a few circles around the statue. As the portable residence followed the key's movement, Li Banfeng's circling meant that his family, facing the wall of Room Five, also observed the statue.

Jiu'er gasped, "The Celestial Maiden!"

Hongying scrutinized it for a moment. "Indeed," she confirmed, "it's her!" Both then turned to Honglian, knowing that the Celestial Maiden was Honglian's master.

Honglian, drenched in a cold sweat, could no longer restrain herself. "Don't go near it!" she cried out.

Hongying jumped in surprise. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Honglian urgently called out, "Someone warn Li Qi! Don't let him approach!"

Hongying looked at Jiu'er, who remained speechless for a long moment. How could they warn Li Qi now? He was outside the room, beyond anyone's reach.

Honglian cursed inwardly, "Damn it, why is she bringing *this* out again?" She had instructed Room Five to alert Li Qi, but Room Five remained silent. If it were to give a warning now, there were certain matters Room Five would never be able to clarify.

Li Banfeng stood close to the statue, gazing up for a moment. Finding nothing particularly remarkable, he turned to leave. Honglian let out a long breath, believing the crisis had passed. To her dismay, the statue suddenly opened its eyes and smiled at Li Banfeng's retreating back. Honglian's heart leaped into her throat. The statue parted its lips and exhaled a breath towards Li Banfeng's back. Li Banfeng's body convulsed, and he collapsed to the ground. A group of Banfeng Yi fell alongside him. Hongying and Jiu'er were both terrified. Honglian cried out repeatedly, "Quick! Find a way to bring him back!"