Immortalis

Tong Xue Twelve

No one knew who first spread the news.

The rumor seemed to emerge overnight and quickly reached the ears of those Jianghu figures who had just descended from Immeasurable Manor and embarked on their return journeys.

This year's three young heroes who passed the martial examination, in their search for longevity and investigation of Boundless Sword Manor's old cases, unexpectedly uncovered the past incident of the Huai River Yu Clan's two children, Yu Dongxue and Yu Xiahe, being poisoned to death.

With evidence suggesting both bloody cases were connected to Dong Zhu of the Green Rain Sword, one of the Immeasurable Seven Swords, the three young heroes, unfamiliar with Jianghu customs, actually intended to report this directly to the authorities.

As one might expect, given the Green Rain Sword's reputation in the Jianghu, many martial artists who hadn't traveled far from West Wind Town immediately turned back. Within three days, even many townsfolk from West Wind Town who had received the Green Rain Sword's care spontaneously went up the mountain, solely to clear the Green Rain Sword's name.

While chaos erupted at the mountain gate, the "three young heroes" from the rumors were in the Sword Nurturing Pavilion, facing the solemn Immeasurable Seven Swords in silence.

"This... we did find some things, but we truly never intended to send Senior Dong to the authorities."

Zhou Huai's usual debonair demeanor had completely vanished, his face now longer than a bitter melon.

"Jianghu matters should be settled within the Jianghu. Even if those two are newcomers who don't understand the rules, I'm from White Rainbow Tower, raised there since childhood. How could I possibly do something that violates Jianghu principles?"

As he spoke, he looked toward the other two. Shen Qingshi remained silent, while Yang Wujian wore a helpless expression: "Young master, why look at me? The key evidence is in his hands..."

"Young heroes, this is no trivial matter. Please truthfully tell us what you've discovered. Senior Brother's reputation is well-known, and such slander is ultimately inappropriate."

After a long silence, it was Shen Mian of the Fangqiong Sword, typically the mildest-tempered and skilled in both medicine and swordsmanship, who stepped forward.

He was the Green Rain Sword's junior brother. The two had often studied medicine together in the past and had saved many wounded soldiers during the military conflict fifteen years ago.

"Senior Brother has been charitable all these years, helping countless people. Even if he is truly connected to this matter, it must be a misunderstanding. Young Hero Shen, I think..."

Before he could finish, Shen Qingshi interrupted him, his usually calm tone tinged with slight irritation.

"Reporting to the authorities wasn't my intention. After all, we still need to make our way in the Jianghu in the future. Doing something as foolish as reporting to officials probably wouldn't benefit us either, right?"He crossed his arms and thought for a moment, then added: 'Probably our investigations caused some rumors to spread.'" Combined with the martial examination just concluding on the mountain, with many people still nearby... too many mouths talking. If this matter is settled privately, neither Senior Dong nor we can clear our names. Why not have those who came up the mountain stay overnight? Tomorrow morning, we'll explain everything before the various sects and townsfolk, giving Boundless Sword Manor a proper account."

"This..."

With the manor lord absent, even the Fangqiong Sword didn't dare make decisions alone. For a moment, the Seven Swords all looked toward the Green Rain Sword.

This concerned the Green Rain Sword's reputation, and the investigation into Longevity Palace was also led by him. This matter could only be decided by Dong Zhu himself.

After a long silence, a bitter smile appeared on Dong Zhu's thin face.

"Let's proceed as Young Hero Shen suggests. This matter indeed doesn't only concern me, but also these three young friends. I too don't wish for them to bear unjust blame."

As he spoke, he instructed his sword attendants."Guests who come are to be treated with courtesy. Though the manor master is in seclusion, we must not neglect proper etiquette... Let those who have come up the mountain stay in the guest rooms first. If there aren't enough, clear out the disciples' quarters and have the Sword Manor disciples move to the back mountain. By tomorrow, everything will become clear."

Afterward, the three were taken to the guest rooms. As the sun set in the west and confirming no one was around, Zhou Huai couldn't help but complain quietly.

"If Boundless Sword Manor finds out that White Rainbow Tower was the one who leaked the information, and in anger cuts off business with White Rainbow Tower, my father will probably kill me."

No matter how he thought about it, his investigation this time was too big a gamble. Although Zhou Jinglei rarely restrained him, he was still his father. Sending him to gain experience in the martial world wasn't meant to undermine White Rainbow Tower.

"Is Young Master Zhou scared already? Or has the young master of one of the Old Four Seas Alliance finally become like those hypocritical orthodox martial factions, able to turn a blind eye to injustice and unrighteousness?"

Yang Wujian smiled as she took a sip of tea, originally intending to provoke Zhou Huai, but unexpectedly attracted an icy gaze falling upon her instantly.

Yang Wujian thought to herself, these Zhaoming Guards are truly terrifying when they stare at people, like ghosts wanting to skin her alive.

Or perhaps, this person still didn't completely trust her, and had been looking for her flaws all along?

Feeling unnerved by the stare, Yang Wujian eventually had to turn to Shen Qingshi.

"Never thought you'd be quite good at saying the right things at critical moments, Young Master Shen. Seeing how you usually look like you can't be bothered to speak with us, I never imagined you'd be so skilled at fabricating lies?"

"......"

Shen Qingshi didn't respond, merely sipping his tea silently, but his mind recalled what Cao Zhao had said to him by candlelight in the Zhaoming Division's secret archives before his first entry into the palace as a child.

"Qingshi, your naturally cold temperament and emotional detachment are good things. In this palace, everyone is acting. Ordinary people need to hide their true selves to perform well, but you - your true self is a blank sheet of paper. Whatever you paint on it will work, so naturally, you'll only perform this act better."

After he became a Zhaoming Guard, Shen Qingshi gradually learned how to paint different masks.

He used one in the inner palace, another in Zhaoming Prison, and yet another in private. Now that he had come to the martial world, naturally... he needed a new mask too.

As the sun was about to set, Shen Qingshi put down his empty cup: "It's getting dark. Are you sure this method will work?"

Yang Wujian smiled: "Young Master Shen, the way you say it - if you thought it wouldn't work, you wouldn't be going along with this act. Moreover, we've already guessed who that person is. Now we're just doing some verification."

"Then let's rest early. There's still much to do afterward."

As always, Shen Qingshi dropped a sentence and left. Yang Wujian was already used to it by now, and said to Zhou Huai: "Later, bring Yu Qiao along too. The sins created by the previous generation - he's caught in it, he can't escape. He should know eventually."

"Got it, got it. So taking care of kids is all my responsibility, right?"

Zhou Huai felt wronged, but fortunately he was easy to placate. Yang Wujian pinched his cheek and the young master regained his spirits, humming a little tune as he returned to his brightly lit guest room.

In the blink of an eye, the sun set and stars shifted, approaching the hour of Hai.

With important matters awaiting the next morning, everyone who had come up the mountain had already gone to sleep by now, and Boundless Mountain grew quiet.In a small courtyard to the north, aside from Zhou Huai's room where the candlelight remained lit all night, the occupants of the other two rooms had long extinguished their lamps.

It was at this moment that someone entered.

His footsteps were light, almost silent, as he approached Shen Qingshi's door.

Another nearly inaudible sound followed—the soft push of a window—and the figure nimbly slipped inside.

By the faint moonlight, he could see Shen Qingshi lying quietly on the bed, chest rising and falling steadily, seemingly fast asleep.

The intruder scanned the room. Shen Qingshi possessed very few belongings; his only travel bag hung at the head of the bed, appearing stuffed with numerous items.

Holding his breath and relying on his decent lightness skill, the intruder slowly approached the bedside. However, just as he reached out to take the luggage, a cold laugh suddenly came from the bed.

"You've finally come."

It was a voice devoid of emotion yet utterly clear and awake.

The intruder looked down and met Shen Qingshi's icy gaze in the darkness. Immediately after, a chillingly sharp palm strike swept toward his face. Had it not been for his well-trained lightness skill, he likely wouldn't have dodged it in time.

"I didn't expect you to keep me waiting this long."

Shen Qingshi leaped down from the bed. Only then did the intruder notice he was still wearing his outer robe—in other words, Shen Qingshi had indeed been waiting for him.

In the darkness, a loud crash of shattering windows immediately roused the lightly sleeping Zhou Huai. He rushed outside in a panic and saw Shen Qingshi nimbly vault onto the roof, sword already drawn.

"Someone's here to steal the evidence—call for help!"

With those words, Shen Qingshi chased after the figure. It was clear that his lightness skill was on par with the black-clad intruder's. The two flitted between the buildings of the sword manor, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

"Someone's here to steal the evidence!"

Zhou Huai didn't dare delay. He hurried out, shouting to alert the Sword-Wielding Disciples on night watch. In moments, lanterns flared up, and half the manor was stirred by the commotion, chasing after the two figures toward the center of the estate.

In the darkness, whether out of panic or poor judgment, the black-clad intruder, pursued relentlessly by Shen Qingshi, ended up directly outside the Sword Pavilion where several elders of the sword manor rested. The clamor of their fight soon drew the Immeasurable Seven Swords and others from the manor.

"It seems you have nowhere left to run."

As the crowd around the Sword Pavilion grew, even Green Rain Sword emerged from Qingyu Pavilion, draped in an outer robe. Seeing the intruder's situation was hopeless, Shen Qingshi raised his sword to strike. Unexpectedly, the black-clad figure suddenly produced a pouch of blinding lime powder. Before the Immeasurable Seven Swords could join the fray, the intruder vanished into the cloud of white dust.

"What petty daredevil dares to cause trouble at Boundless Sword Manor? Where are the Sword-Wielding Disciples on night watch? What have they been doing?"

Fangqiong Sword Shen Mian roared in anger upon seeing this and summoned the Sword-Wielding Disciples to search the mountains. Just then, Yang Wujian, emerging from nowhere, shouted, "Wait!" She leaped forward and swiftly seized one person from the crowd.

Zhou Huai had already nodded in confirmation—it was him.

"Thank you for the peanuts you sent us earlier... I must say, you acted quite convincingly."

Yang Wujian looked at the panicked young man before her—the mute waiter from the inn at the foot of the mountain. Grinning, she unceremoniously kicked his knee, forcing him to his knees."What are you trying to do, Miss Yang..."

Dong Zhu frowned, but before he could intervene, Yang Wujian had already pulled out a white paper packet from his bosom, forced open the waiter's mouth, and poured all the white powder inside.