Night faded, and daylight once again spilled down stingily, waking Greenstone Valley from its slumber. Last night's slaughter and purge were like a drop of ink falling into the ocean, stirring not the slightest ripple. The cultivators in the valley still rushed about earning their living, and cries of hawkers and voices in conversation filled the streets once more, as though nothing had happened in the rear courtyard of the Guests Return inn.
Ye Chen and the others had packed up early. Shi Meng still felt rather unsatisfied, grumbling that he had missed the chance to head to the front hall for another round of "farewell drinks." Ye Ling, meanwhile, carefully infused fresh vitality into the spiritual plants in the courtyard that had wilted somewhat from the shock waves of last night's battle, restoring some of their vigor.
Lin Qingxue and her guards stood to one side, their expressions complicated. After last night, they fully understood the gulf between themselves and Ye Chen. It was not merely a disparity in strength, but a difference rooted in their very levels of existence and dimensions of understanding.
"Young Master Ye," Lin Qingxue stepped forward and bowed solemnly, "thank you for saving my life and sheltering me these past few days. I... must take my leave now. If the opportunity arises someday, I will surely repay you."
She knew that she and Ye Chen were, in the end, walking different paths. Ye Chen and his companions were mysterious and powerful, and their ambitions surely ran deep, while she bore her sect's mission on her shoulders and had to hurry to the Mystic Maiden Palace in the Northern Border to seek aid.
Ye Chen glanced at her. He did feel some admiration for this woman who had kept her sword heart clear even in the depths of despair.
"There is no need for such courtesy, Miss Lin. It was no more than lifting a hand," Ye Chen said evenly. "The road ahead is perilous. Take care."
He neither asked her to stay nor offered to escort her. Everyone had a path they had to walk, and too much interference was no good thing.
"Thank you for your kind wishes." Lin Qingxue bowed again and exchanged a glance with Uncle Chen and Uncle Li. The three turned and resolutely left the little courtyard, merging into the valley's crowds as they headed north.
After seeing Lin Qingxue off, Ye Chen turned his gaze beyond the valley, toward the Blood Skull Stronghold.
"Young master, are we going straight to wipe out the Blood Skull Stronghold's nest next?" Shi Meng asked excitedly. Last night's small test of his blade had clearly not been enough to satisfy him.
Ye Chen shook his head, an inscrutable smile on his lips. "No. We wait."
"Wait?" The others were puzzled.
"For that Inspector from the Sacred Emperor Palace." Ye Chen's gaze grew distant. "The Blood Skull Stronghold is no more than an itch on the skin, easily scraped away. But this Sacred Emperor Palace... since we have crossed paths with them, we ought to see what they are made of. Besides, Old Man Greenstone warned us yesterday that the Inspector's purpose in coming is unclear. It may be connected to the undercurrents stirring in the Wasteland lately."
He paused, then continued, "What is more, we are newcomers here. We need suitable identities and a base. The Blood Skull Stronghold occupies a good location, but its name stinks too badly. That will have to change."
Understanding dawned on the others. Their young master meant to borrow momentum—or perhaps... create it?
"So we just sit here in the valley and wait?" Shi Meng scratched his head.
"Of course not." Ye Chen looked at Ye Xiaoshan. "Xiaoshan, keep studying that fragment and the iron piece. See whether you can discover more in a relatively safe environment. Ye Yun, you will keep watch. Pay particular attention to those concealed Spirit Transformation auras in the valley, especially any connected to the Blood Demon Sect. Mo Yu, secretly track the Sacred Emperor Palace Inspector's movements. Report immediately if you learn anything."
"Yes, young master!" They accepted their orders.
"Shi Meng, Ye Ling," Ye Chen said, looking at them, "come browse the valley with me and buy some of this world's local specialties, particularly jade slips and books recording its customs, historical legends, geography, and mineral deposits. If we are to establish ourselves here, this basic information is indispensable."
"Heh heh, now that's something I like!" At the mention of shopping—mostly because it might offer a chance to sample the local food and wine—Shi Meng immediately perked up.
Ye Ling smiled and nodded as well. She was also very interested in this other world's plants and medicinal herbs.
With the arrangements made, Ye Chen led Shi Meng and Ye Ling out of the courtyard like ordinary cultivators on a journey, once again blending into the bustle of Greenstone Valley.
Over the next two days, Ye Chen and his companions visited nearly every shop in the valley, large and small. Ye Chen remained lavish with his spending, but no longer to the startling extent he had displayed at the exchange gathering. He simply made targeted purchases of large quantities of jade slips containing information, along with samples of ores and herbs that looked ordinary but carried unusual energy fluctuations. Shi Meng, meanwhile, got his wish and sampled the "fine wines" at several taverns in the valley. Although he curled his lip every time and pronounced them "watery and tasteless" or "full of muddled spiritual energy," he never drank any less for it. Ye Ling also reaped a rich harvest, collecting many seeds and specimens of spiritual plants unique to this world for future study.
To the valley's cultivators, their behavior seemed more like that of a wealthy young master from some major power traveling abroad. Rich though he was, he did not cause another sensation like the one at the exchange gathering. The Blood Skull Stronghold's people also seemed to have lowered their banners and muffled their drums, making no further trouble. Whether they feared Old Man Greenstone or had been left afraid to strike lest they break something precious after Scar Wolf and the others vanished, no one knew.
On the evening of the third day, Mo Yu returned with news.
"Young master, the Sacred Emperor Palace Inspector's party has reached a point fifty li outside the valley. They are expected to enter early tomorrow morning. The party is small, only a dozen or so people, but their auras are strong. Their leader is a middle-aged general in golden armor. His cultivation... appears to be late-stage Spirit Transformation. They are not traveling quickly. They seem to be investigating something along the way."
"Late-stage Spirit Transformation? And he's just an Inspector?" Shi Meng was somewhat surprised. "This Sacred Emperor Palace certainly puts on a grand show."
Ye Chen nodded, unsurprised. An orthodox power capable of ruling the surrounding lands and pressuring the Heavenly Sword Pavilion naturally could not have shallow foundations.
"Did you uncover the specific purpose of their journey?" Ye Chen asked.
Mo Yu shook his head. "They are tight-lipped and have revealed nothing. However, I noticed that along the way, they seem to be searching for traces of some sort of... spatial fluctuations."
Spatial fluctuations?
A sharp gleam flashed through Ye Chen's eyes. Could this be connected to that fissure at Mount Annihilation? Or have the powerful figures of the Primordial World detected the spatial anomaly caused by our crossing between worlds?
"Keep watching them. Stay concealed," Ye Chen instructed.
"Yes."
Mo Yu's figure merged into the shadows once more.
Ye Chen rose and walked to the window, looking toward the valley entrance. Beneath the dusky yellow sky, Greenstone Valley was as "peaceful" as ever, yet he could feel an invisible pressure quietly settling over it as the Sacred Emperor Palace Inspector drew near.
"Before the mountain rain arrives, wind fills the tower..." he murmured, yet a faint smile of anticipation lingered on his lips.
The waters of this pool are growing muddier and muddier.
And muddy waters are just the place to catch fish.
He gently rubbed the warm Nameless Fragment tucked against his chest, sensing the faint, elusive resonance between it and the Black Iron Piece.
Tomorrow might prove very interesting.
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