First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2384 – The Wicked Punish the Wicked

Gu Huaxian didn’t even ask what else Su Yi wanted to do. She just said, her gaze decidedly unfriendly, “Does this count as reneging on your word?”

Su Yi laughed. “Listen first, then decide.”

Gu Huaxian forcefully suppressed her fury, then said, “Out with it!”

Su Yi gestured to Yu Xun. “I want to trade his life for Yan Chizhen.”

Yu Xun was stunned. A moment later, his expression shifted dramatically. He would never have guessed that he’d inadvertently muddled his way into becoming one of Su Yi’s bargaining chips!

“Didn’t you say that if we let Yi Chen go, you’d let us leave?” roared Yu Xun.

“That was a deal with your master. It didn’t include you,” Su Yi said flatly. “Of course, if your master doesn’t care about your life, she’s welcome to refuse.”

Yu Xun’s expression was unsightly, and his whole body tensed. He understood his master better than anyone. He might have been her disciple, but she was fully capable of heartlessly tossing him away if it suited her!

“So, you knew that Yan Chizhen has long since fallen into my hands…” said Gu Huaxian. She seemed startled, because this had been kept top secret. Almost no one knew about it!

“Who told you?” said Gu Huaxian with a dark glower.

“Master Golden Crane,” said Su Yi.

Master Golden Crane had left his sectmates three brocade pouches, The third traded Su Yi information of Yan Chizhen’s survival to divert his wrath away from Spirit Vessel Yao Court.

Su Yi had indeed spared them, but that didn’t mean he’d agreed to keep Master Golden Crane’s involvement a secret. On the contrary, he sold out the Master Golden Crane without hesitation. He was actually curious to see if Gu Huaxian would seek him out to settle the score or not.

“So it was that old bastard!” said Gu Huaxian with seething murderous intent. “It’s true. Once a traitor, always a traitor! You can’t rely on a single one of them!”

Su Yi sighed. “When have you ever been able to rely on a traitor like Ol’ Golden Crane?”

Gu Huaxian took a deep breath. “I can agree to release Yan Chizhen, but you must…”

“If you want me to spare your other three Grand Dao Clones, don’t bother asking,” interrupted Su Yi.

“Don’t you care about Yan Chizhen’s life?” Gu Huaxian said with a cold laugh. “He slew Demon Master Shen Ning and Jin Yuanzi to avenge you. It’s because he avenged you that I captured his soul. He did so much for you. Isn’t that worth taking a step back for?”

Su Yi said flatly, “But it seems to me that my terms are generous enough already.”

He looked at Yu Xun. “That disciple of yours isn’t simple. If the old hunchback hadn’t told me the secret in exchange for his life, I would never have guessed that Yu Xun was actually…”

But before he could finish, Gu Huaxian roared, “Shut your mouth!”

Everyone was shocked to discover that she looked extraordinarily agitated, and she’d even lost control of her emotions!

There was no doubt about it. Yu Xun’s origins were top secret. Gu Huaxian would never have lost control like this otherwise! She hadn’t even lost control like this when Su Yi threatened her clones!

This was unquestionably shocking. Just who was Yu Xun, and what secrets was he hiding?

But when everyone looked at Yu Xun, they saw that he was stunned too. He obviously had no idea either!

“I agree to your terms!” Gu Huaxian took a deep breath, then spoke slowly and clearly. “I just have one additional condition. You have to give me the old hunchback’s soul!”

Su Yi pondered briefly, then nodded. “Very well.”

He’d indeed agreed to spare the old hunchback, but returning him to one of his allies wouldn’t violate that agreement.

Of course, everyone knew that since the old hunchback had sold Gu Huaxian out, he’d suffer terribly after winding up in her hands!

Gu Huaxian gave Su Yi the bronze lamp sealing Yan Chizhen’s soul.

Su Yi took it out and examined it for a while before saying, “I’m curious. Who refined the Paired Heart-Guiding Worm, and why do both you and the Dipankara Buddha have access to this strange, taboo technique?”

Back in Cloudy Heights Temple, Su Yi learned that his disciple, Ning Xiu, had had a Paired Heart-Guiding Worm placed in her soul.

Now, Su Yi learned that during his life as Yi Daoxuan, Lu Qingmei had had a Paired Heart-Guiding Worm in her soul, too.

Gu Huaxian said expressionlessly, “If you’re so smart, why don’t you know the worms’ origins already?”

Su Yi thought for a moment, then said, “It’s actually not hard to guess. It… must have something to do with Di E and the old-timers serving him.”

Gu Huaxian didn’t argue.

Su Yi smiled, but didn’t ask any further questions. Instead, he took out the old hunchback’s soul and said, “You’re free now! Gu Huaxian paid no small price to save you, you know.”

The old hunchback froze in disbelief. “You’re giving me to that bitch!?”

Before he could say any more Su Yi tossed him to Gu Huaxian.

“Yi Daoxuan, fuck your ancestors! If I’d known you were this despicable, I’d never have…” The old hunchback completely lost control and launched into a series of expletives. How could he possibly fail to realize how wretched it would be if he wound up in Gu Huaxian’s hands?

But then, Gu Huaxian sealed his soul in another bronze lamp, and his curses came to an abrupt halt.

“Haha! This is what they call ‘the wicked punishing the wicked!’” the River Child clapped and applauded. He couldn’t help but sigh over Su Yi’s masterstroke.

Leaving the old hunchback a path to life had been unsatisfying, but now, he’d given the old hunchback to the very person he’d betrayed. That was far more delightful than just killing him!

“Gu Huaxian might well torment the old hunchback to vent her fury, but there’s no way she’ll kill him,” said Su Yi. “After all, he might just be a wisp of soul, but he’s still an expert who’s touched the threshold of the River of Destiny. Better to make him her dog than to just kill him.”

That was indeed exactly what Gu Huaxian was planning. She laughed coldly. “What I do with the old hunchback is none of your business! Yu Xun, we’re leaving!”

She had no intention of lingering. This had been a complete, abject defeat! Moreover, she was worried that Su Yi might try something else if she stuck around.

“You don’t want to chat?” said Su Yi with an air of hospitality. “As your host, I’ve yet to offer you a cup of tea. I’ve truly been remiss in my manners.”

Gu Huaxian’s expression darkened. She turned and led Yu Xun away without another word.

In the blink of an eye, they’d vanished. Those who remained watched, and a sentence rose unbidden to their minds: “fleeing in disgrace.”

That’s right. As terrifying of an existence as Gu Huaxian was, this time, she’d fallen flat on her face and fled in disgrace!

When they recounted the details, Lu Qingmei and Yi Chen felt as if their close brush with disaster had happened a lifetime ago.

Li Sanjiu had seen the whole thing, and he couldn’t help but say with admiration, “Fellow Daoist Su, I’m impressed!”

The River Child said with a laugh, “His Excellency is naturally extraordinarily capable!”

Su Yi took a sip of wine, then said, “I won this confrontation because I used up my accumulated favors. Once used up, they’re gone for good. I wouldn’t have used them to deal with someone like Gu Huaxian unless it were absolutely necessary.”

He’d asked numerous old friends for help this time. Some had appeared at the battle of Skybright Mountain, like Spear Demon Zang Wushu and Wan Ztian.

But others hadn’t been involved in that battle.

Su Yi had used up his favors to suppress Gu Huaxian completely, but that wasn’t all; now, he even owed a few others new favors!

Favors were a two-way street, not to be used up lightly or wasted.

He owed others a favor, and that meant that one day, he’d have to repay them.

The way Su Yi saw it, if favors were rice, they were safe to eat in moderation, but too many would explode his stomach.

No matter how good his reputation, it could only take so much testing.

Fortunately, at least for now, both his old friends and those he owed favors were people worthy of trust and mutual support.

Still, if it weren’t absolutely necessary, Su Yi wouldn’t have wanted to draw on those connections. It wasn’t exactly fear; he just didn’t want to trouble and implicate other people.

“Fellow Daoist Su, since this problem has been resolved, I’ll be on my way,” said Li Sanjiu, clasping his fist.

Su Yi clasped his fist in return. “I really troubled you this time, Fellow Daoist.”

Li Sanjiu shook his head. “I was working on the young mistress’s behalf. It’s nothing at all.

Something occurred to Su Yi. “Has Miss Qi Wei returned to the Southern Flame Divine Continent?”

Li Sanjiu said, “The young mistress is unlikely to leave the clan’s territory prior to the Dark Days of Legend.”

Su Yu understood. “Indeed, at this juncture, we’ve all got to start preparing.”

Li Sanjiu hesitated, but in the end, he said no more on the matter. He simply bade farewell and left.

He obviously had more to say, but he held back. Don’t tell me that something happened to Qi Wei? Su Yi noticed that Li Sanjiu had had more to say. Something seemed amiss.

But then, he shook his head and gave the matter no further thought.

The Qilin Race’s foundations were ancient and mysterious. They’d existed since the earliest days of the God Domain’s history. Not even top factions dared to provoke them lightly, never mind ordinary people.

Qi Wei was with her own people. Even if she’s run into trouble, her seniors would help her resolve it.

By now, only Su Yi, the River Child, Lu Qingmei, and Yi Chen remain.

The atmosphere was oppressive and hard to read.

The River Child’s eyes darted around, and he considerately slipped into the Umbrella of Tribulations to give them space.

This family’s business was extraordinary and absurd. Better not to get mixed up in it.

Su Yi took out his wicker chair, sat down languidly and looked at Lu Qingmei and Yi Chen. “Let’s chat.”

……

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of an empire steeped in the red dust of mortality, a beautiful woman was gazing into the mirror and combing her hair.

She looked identical to Gu Huaxian.

Except this woman was the favored, most influential concubine of the Great Qin Dynasty. When she wanted wind, it was windy, and when she wanted rain, it rained. Her power was vast and far-reaching.

Even the old emperor had to take her opinion into account. She’d absolutely taken power into her own hands!

Tempering the heart is difficult, but severing the five aggregates is much harder. If I can’t sever this clone’s karmic attachments before the Dark Days of Legend, I’m afraid it’ll impact my plans to achieve Eternity… the woman murmured to herself.

Suddenly, she stiffened, then let out a muffled grunt. Blood gushed from the corners of her lips.

When she looked into the mirror, she saw that her face had aged considerably. Her expression instantly filled with uncertainty.

Someone just destroyed one of my Grand Dao Clones!!

At the same time, a bony old man silently entered the forbidden grounds at the back of the harem, a place others seldom ventured.

“Long time no see, Fellow Daoist Gu.”