Questioning Fate

At the bottom of Cibi Lake.

Su Yao stood at the bottom of the lake with his hands behind his back, looking at the four characters "Cibi Water Palace), and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.

He has been living on Golden Ao Mountain for over twenty years and has been a neighbor of the lake god for over twenty years.

Aside from that brief encounter in the Great Void when I broke through to the Purple Mansion last time, I haven't seen them since.

Today is our first formal meeting, but I've come to ask for a favor.

He didn't rush to reveal himself, but instead used the Prism to look into the depths of the water palace.

The next moment, two orbs of light appeared in his deep eyes, one large and one small, floating gently at the boundary between the Great Void and the mortal world.

The larger one was crimson, with a dazzling halo, which must be the Purple-Blue Secret Realm. A dragon-shaped halo surrounded it, sealing the entrance like a chain.

The smaller one is gray, and its aura of the water palace is so dense that it is almost tangible. It should be the Water Palace Secret Realm where the lake god resides.

Knowing what was going on, Su Yao removed the concealment of his Great Yin Dharma Robe and suddenly appeared a few steps in front of the Water Mansion, his robes fluttering gently in the dark current.

He looked towards the water palace and said loudly:

Would the Lake God be willing to meet you?

No sooner had the words been spoken than a figure with a single horn on his forehead and dressed in gray appeared before the Water Palace; it was none other than Ao Xiao, the Lake God of Cibi Lake.

Upon seeing that it was Su Yao, he greeted Su Yao with a broad smile.

"Master, why didn't you inform me of your arrival beforehand? I have been so negligent."

As he spoke, he turned slightly to the side, gesturing for them to join in, and continued:

"Abbot, please come into the underwater palace for a chat."

Seeing this, Su Yao shook his head:

"The matter is urgent, so we won't go in. We'll just have to trouble the lake god."

He paused, then said:

"We still need the help of the Lake God."

Upon hearing this, Ao Xiao's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a wary expression. He glanced at Su Yao and slowly shook his head:

"Other matters are easy to discuss, and I will certainly accompany you. As for the Purple-Blue Secret Realm, we can certainly enter together with the Abbot. However, if it involves matters concerning Proclaiming Earth, Nanzhao, or the imperial court... please forgive me, but I cannot help you."

Su Yao was speechless for a moment.

The way this lake god behaved was truly different from the dragons, jiaos, and chisels he knew from the Dragon Palace of the South Sea.

He suppressed his emotions and said:

"The Lake God is located within the territory of Nanzhao. It's unlikely he can remain uninvolved indefinitely. After all, the matter of Proclaiming Earth was agreed upon by several parties."

Ao Xiao shook his head repeatedly. "As the Abbot knows, I rarely leave the Water Mansion to avoid trouble. Back then, my favor towards the Lu Household was merely to open the secret realm left behind by Wu Nuo, a disciple of the Spirit Witch Dao Lord Daoist. Coincidentally, the Lu Household had a talented individual, so I wanted to nurture him for future use. Who knew he would offend the Abbot and die? I dare not oppose the Abbot, but my attitude has become much colder..."

As he spoke, he glanced at Su Yao a few times, then added:

"If the Abbot wishes to hold me accountable, I will not shirk my responsibility. I only ask that the few Lu Household disciples who are currently practicing Witch Talisman in my Water Palace not be implicated."

He paused, then continued, "The matter of Proclaiming Earth will take at least a few more years. During these years, I will use Secret Method and numerous elixirs to ensure that those Lu Household can cultivate to the Foundation Establishment. When the Longchuan Heaven Descendant arrives again, and we find those two Spirit Treasure, we can open the secret realm. At that time, I request that the Abbot join me in entering. After all, Cibi Lake is ultimately located at the foot of Golden Ao Mountain. Once this matter is settled, I will resign from my position as the Lake God, hand over the divine office to the Abbot, and return to the Dragon Palace."

Su Yao couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he listened.

He had always thought that the lake god was aloof and cold, but he never expected him to be like this.

Moreover, when he observed the Purple-Blue Secret Realm with the Prism just now, he had already realized that it wouldn't be so easy for this person to return to the Dragon Palace of the South Sea.

To open that secret realm, it would probably require not only the bloodline of the Lu Household, but also the Purple Mansion Dharma Body and spiritual energy of the person before us.

But he wouldn't say it outright.

Su Yao didn't respond to the question, but went straight to the point:

"There are four people in the city now, and I will surely kill them. Does the Lake God truly refuse to lend a hand?"

Seeing that the other person's expression was becoming increasingly unpleasant, he ignored it and continued:

"If the Lake God is willing to intervene, I will certainly protect you if necessary."

Ao Xiao's face darkened completely, and he said with a grim expression:

"Then please return, Abbot. Aside from the Purple-Blue Secret Realm, I will not interfere in any matters related to Proclaiming Earth, nor will I offend the imperial court."

Having said that, he turned and walked towards the Water Palace.

Seeing this, Su Yao was unwilling to say anything more and was about to leave when he saw Ao Xiao turn back just as he was about to step into the water mansion, and say:

"I will inform the Abbot when the secret realm is opened."

After saying this, he disappeared straight into the underwater palace.

Su Yao shook his head, thinking to himself: It seems I have to go find those two.

The Greater Yin energy enveloped him once more, and his figure vanished.

Two days later, in front of the Langqiong Government Office.

Zheng Qingci, Xuanping, Heyin, and Mujian have been guarding the county government office for five days. During these days, all affairs of the county government office have been suspended, and no one dares to approach this place.

The four men had different expressions. Zheng Qingci calm, Xuanping was anxious, Mujian was angry, and Heyin was worried. They didn't speak to each other, and even among Xuanping, Mujian, Heyin, no one said a word. The atmosphere was as stagnant as still water.

Suddenly, a ray of light descended from the Great Void, and as the light faded, Su Yao's figure appeared.

His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Zheng Qingci, and he asked calmly:

"Has the magistrate made up his mind?"

Zheng Qingci silent upon hearing this, simply turning her head away.

Mujian, however, gritted his teeth and spoke up:

"Abbot, we are guilty, and we are willing to atone for our sins by performing good deeds. Please spare our lives!"

Su Yao turned to look at him and scoffed:

"Since you know you're guilty, then you deserve to die!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of anger appeared on the faces of all three.

No matter what, they were all Purple Mansion True Person. Now, being ridiculed like this by a junior who had lived for less than a hundred years, even the most gentle-natured Heyin could not hold back and said in a deep voice:

"Master, we are ultimately beings of the Purple Mansion; no matter where we go, we will still retain some dignity."

Su Yao raised his hand, waved it casually, a cold smile playing on his lips, and slowly said:

Those who oppose me deserve to die.

After saying this, he ignored the three of them and turned to look at Zheng Qingci, emphasizing his words:

"Magistrate, have you made up your mind?"

Zheng Qingci raised her head slightly, which had been hanging low, but then lowered it again.

Looking back twelve years ago, not long after he took office as the magistrate of this county, he personally went to Golden Ao Mountain to disgust Su Yao for the sake of those things promised by Confucian School.

At that time, no matter what, Su Yao still had to be polite on the surface.

How could his life and fortune have been in the hands of the other party in just twelve short years?

He could only bury his head deeply and couldn't help but sigh.

There is great terror between life and death.

Even though he had made preparations beforehand, when the moment actually came, he couldn't help but back down.

At this moment, Su Yao's third question followed immediately, falling like a heavy hammer:

"Magistrate, have you really thought this through?"

After a long silence, the surroundings were completely still.

Just when Su Yao thought he wouldn't speak, Zheng Qingci suddenly raised his head and looked at Su Yao. There was no fear or regret on his face, but instead a faint smile appeared.

His smile carried an indescribable composure, as if at this moment he had regained the confidence he had when he climbed Golden Ao Mountain twelve years ago.

"As a disciple of School of Names, I have always looked down on Confucian School," he paused, then continued, "But only now have I realized that the sage's words, 'Whether the Way will prevail or decline, is also a matter of fate,' were actually spoken to the abbot."

After speaking, he looked directly at Su Yao, his gaze calm and unwavering.