Mistaken Identity

"Ah."

A feeling of compassion for all living things rose in Su Che's heart.

What was the point of humiliating me like this?

It was like how you could never wake someone pretending to sleep.

Likewise, even if you shouted yourself hoarse, could you make someone who was already socially dead die twice?

I, Su Che, the Little Overlord of Jiankang's Iron Whip, the super-scumbag who once stopped the forty-nine-year-old wife of a certain Ministry of War Vice Minister and got up to all sorts of nonsense with her.

Though none of those things actually had anything to do with me, my reputation was far beyond the reach of a mere "you're so fast."

You could not destroy something that had never existed in the first place.

Su Che took a sip of tea that was nearly cold, then calmly walked up to the Sword Case and bowed to it.

The Sword Case trembled lightly, as if asking a question.

How about it? Shall I cut down this noisy old woman for you?

"You need to understand the situation. You're trapped here by me, and in three days, you'll vanish into thin air. Fighting me won't help your current predicament."

Su Che looked at the monster. "And you also need to understand that I'm the only one who can help you now."

"And there is a possibility for cooperation between us."

"Cooperation? Isn't telling you such a huge secret already enough sincerity?"

"Cooperation means I ask, you answer. You tell me what I want to know, and then I give you your freedom—not that you fob me off with things I have no need to know."

What a joke. This brother did not even have Ninth Rank cultivation yet. Rice had to be eaten one bite at a time, and roads had to be walked one step at a time.

It was better to be steady in life.

"Let me ask you—do you know about the silver stolen from the treasury?"

The Qi Household's sister-in-law frowned. "What stolen silver?"

"Come on, calculate it for me. Who stole the silver?"

"Can't calculate it."

"What kind of attitude is that? Aren't you supposed to be good at fortune-telling?"

"Young Master Su, is this your first day wandering the martial world? Don't you know that nine out of ten fortunes are scams?"

Mm, actually, three months ago, I had a very stable job.

The monster explained why her calculations were accurate. It was nothing more than gathering more information, observing people's expressions and behavior, and using clever rhetoric.

In any case, Yinshan County was not that large. There were only so many households in total, and she had the ability to roam at night. Toying with these people was hardly difficult for her.

For example, that honest man who wanted to have his wife treated.

The monster had first learned the condition of the man's wife, then discovered that Old Song from the coffin shop had something that happened to correspond to her illness. Thus, she pointed out the way as though she were an immortal.

As for that Jade Fat Flower, it was inherently a yin object. Taking it naturally disrupted the balance of yin and yang, resulting in childlessness.

If the man remarried, the monster planned to send his household some gold, silver, and money, ensuring that his days would flourish and prosper.

All in all, Su Che was utterly baffled by this whole operation.

"You eavesdrop outside people's walls every night, making money and stirring up trouble everywhere. What are you doing all this for? Aren't you tired?"

"Who told you I wasn't tired? But there's no helping it. It concerns the incense offerings of the mortal world. Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand."

The monster wore an expression that plainly said Su Che's realm was too low—there was no point telling him, because he would not understand anyway.

"What sort of demons are there around Yinshan County?"

"Demons come and go frequently. Didn't I just move here from the Ten Isles of the Eastern Sea? Among the demons around Yinshan County that have truly grown into something, aside from One-Eye whom you've met, there are plenty more. Especially Old Monster Black Mountain, Master Qing, and Lord Yutu. They're all great demons with solid foundations. That sword case of yours can't suppress them."

"How do you compare to them?"

"Hmph."

The monster's meaning was clear enough: the gap between herself and those demons was enormous.

"Does Young Master Su have any more questions?"

"No."

Su Che said.

At first, he had thought this monster was a genius. Who would have thought she was the hard-working type of genius? That inevitably made things rather dull.

It seemed the silver treasury theft would still have to rely on him.

"Then Young Master can undo this shameful thing now, yes?"

"Mm, no problem." Su Che smiled. "We agreed on it. You help me, and I'll help you."

"Then undo it!"

"No problem. In three days."

"In three days, I'll be gone."

"I know. Don't be in such a hurry."

For no apparent reason, a trace of sleepiness rose in Su Che's heart.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'm going to sleep for a while."

"Wait a second—hey, you can't be serious, can you?"

Su Che slowly returned to his room and quietly lay down on the bed.

At this moment, at the northernmost pole of heaven and earth, where neither sun nor moon could cast their light.

A person wearing a tall crown and robes of stars and clouds slowly walked across a plaza paved with jade. The plaza was empty, while countless statues of immortals, divine generals, and heavenly maidens floated overhead. Some smiled with lively grace; others closed their eyes in meditation. Each was lifelike.

Orchids pushed up through the jade, emitting a clear, crystalline glow.

An enormous azure dragon slowly swam through the sky. It held a condensed ball of firelight in its mouth, illuminating the heavens above.

At the very center of the plaza stood an immense bronze divine tree, extending layer upon layer toward the sky and thrusting into its deepest reaches. All manner of images shifted across its trunk.

There were giants wielding axes and shields, dancing proudly, and monstrous beasts with dragon bodies and human heads, roaring into the void.

The person slowly walked beneath the giant tree, where a massive long table of green jade stood. Naturally, he took the seat at its head.

A flat bronze mask, smooth as a mirror, covered His face. His temples were already streaked with gray, carrying an ancient air.

He sat upon a high chair of green jade, His eyes seeming to sweep across the four seas and eight wastes through the bronze mask.

At last, His gaze settled on a certain spot at the long table.

Because of someone's foolish stirring, the original plan had to be moved forward once again.

He extended both hands, tracing and shaping in the void, creating an image.

It was a mask.

Made of green wood, shaped like a bird, with tiger markings across its face.

He softly breathed out.

"Return, oh return..."

A figure crossed the void and suddenly appeared upon a long chair.

Su Che sat quietly on a green-jade chair, looking at the person seated at the head.

"Mm, hello."

Su Che considered his wording and felt it was better to greet the other person first.

"Everyone here has a codename. You may call me Zhongyuan. And your codename is this."

That lofty figure indicated the mask before Su Che.

"Everyone here has their own hatred, their own purpose, and something they wish to obtain. All that fury condensed together, and thus this place came to be. Put on this mask, and you will have chosen another kind of destiny."

The one calling himself Zhongyuan said, "I can feel your pain. You were plotted against until your reputation was utterly ruined, and even the fate of the Six Harmonies Azure Dragon was stolen from you. That must have been painful, yes?"

Sorry, big brother, are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?