Not far off, the group from the Brocade Clan was fuming. “The Five-Palm Sect is too lawless! We thought that the current master, Master Tingchao, might introduce a bit of change, but he’s made things worse than before! There are rumors that they attacked our Brocade Clan just because we were nearby—what kind of nonsense is that? Do they take us for nothing?”
Xiu Zhan looked grim. “No matter what, the Five-Palm Sect needs to give us an explanation. Lang Ruyu and Si Jiushi are both surrounded, but it won’t be easy to take them down. At least they won’t be able to escape. It was the right move to lure people from the Five-Palm Sect here. Too many people here in Ridgeplain resent that sect, and they will definitely take our side.”
“You’re right, Young Lord. Si Jiushi is treating us like fools, claiming that the palm strike was delivered by some unknown expert. Hah! He can’t even come up with a good excuse! We asked him to find that person, and of course he hasn’t.”
“I’m just baffled why the Five-Palm Sect would attack us like that in the first place. They were just asking for trouble, weren’t they?”
“Other people need reasons, but the Five-Palm Sect? They don’t. That’s just who they are.”
“That certainly explains it.”
Lu Yin was speechless. He could not deny that he had managed to pin the blame onto the Five-Palm Sect, but they could have simply not accepted it! Instead, they had readily accepted the blame and had not even tried to explain what had really happened. It was beyond absurd.
Even if Si Jiushi had a hundred mouths, he would never be able to clear the confusion. Without at least reaching Lu Yin’s level, it was impossible for anyone to determine if his palm strike had been the Five-Palms Sect’s genuine technique or not.
“I’m going up,” Ming Xiaolong suddenly announced.
Lu Yin waved her away. “Go ahead.”
Ming Xiaolong looked over at Lu Yin. “Try to restrain yourself from making a mess.”
Lu Yin chuckled. “Don’t you think that this is the perfect time to take action, given the number of Deathmound’s people who are nearby?”
Ming Xiaolong felt helpless. “But there are more variables in play, all because of that woman.”
“Who?” Shui Su asked curiously.
Ming Xiaolong ignored the question, and with a single step, ascended to the floating bamboo slip.
Not just anyone could set foot onto the Autumnspring Slip. Many were visiting Ridgeplain for the Worldscript, but very few were qualified to step onto the scroll. Most could only look at it from afar.
Lu Yin glanced up, but he did not examine the Autumnspring Slip too closely. There was no doubt that the sect had stationed experts there, though that did not matter. As long as there were no Immortals present, Lu Yin could simply ignore all of the powerhouses.
Shui Su wanted to leave, but after looking at Lu Yin, she could not force herself to say goodbye. The man had saved her life on multiple occasions. Simply walking away as soon as she was safe felt wrong. Still, she was unwilling to stay close to him, as it had become clear that he wanted to stir up trouble. What to do? She felt conflicted.
Up on the bamboo slip, Ming Xiaolong’s appearance caused the expressions of Qian Shu’s followers to subtly change.
Everyone was aware that the woman’s brother, Ming Xiaochou, had been set up by the Autumnspring Slip. The Everchange Valley had been rendered helpless in the matter, but it was understandable that Ming Xiaolong wanted to find a way to take her brother home. However, the Autumnspring Slip would never release the man, which made them inherently opposed to Ming Xiaolong.
Qian Shu greeted the woman with a gentle smile. “What an honor it is for this Worldscript to have even you attend, Xiaolong.”
Ming Xiaolong shot a cold glance at Qian Shu, and then she turned her attention to Lu Siyu and that young woman.
Lu Siyu happily ran over and dragged Ming Xiaolong away, whispering something to her. Ming Xiaolong looked at the other young woman and stepped forward to speak with her.
The young woman nodded, though it seemed that her expression never changed at all.
No one had the courage to eavesdrop on their conversation, but Qian Shu was unconcerned. While it was possible for the Seven Fairies to oppose the Autumnspring Slip for Ming Xiaolong’s sake, the other woman would not. She had no faction, and she would never join one. So long as she was present, no one would be able to stir up too much trouble, not even Deathmound.
In fact, Qian Shu was even hoping to see Deathmound’s Long Yin or Ming Xiaolong make a scene, as that might rouse feelings of disgust in the young woman. That would be enough to destroy either of the two.
That thought caused the man’s smile to grow even gentler.
Nearby, Granny Ya shot a cold glance at Ming Xiaolong, but as soon as the other young woman entered the old woman’s sight, she immediately ducked her head. She did not dare to even look at that person. The Autumnspring Slip needed to show the utmost respect towards her.
Down on the ground, Lu Yin continued to wander about. The women from Deathmound were still causing trouble at the Autumnspring Slip’s book stalls, but they did not bother anyone else.
Lu Yin even noticed a brothel, and he wondered who would have the courage to be so open about such activities.
Shui Su’s mind was churning with possible excuses that she could use to get away. Lu Yin knew exactly what was going through the woman’s mind, but he said nothing. His silence only left her feeling even more conflicted.
A few hours later, up on the bamboo slip, Ming Xiaolong gave up, completely frustrated. She had tried to invite the young woman to visit the Everchange Valley, or anywhere else for that matter, but the woman had refused to leave. She had insisted that she could observe life in all its forms by observing the events on the ground below. There’s something wrong with her.
A short distance away, Qian Shu laughed and chatted with his group, completely unconcerned about the trouble that Deathmound was creating.
Seeing the man’s relaxed attitude infuriated Ming Xiaolong.
Lu Siyu ground her teeth. “Fourth Sister, I really want to kick that guy off the cliff.”
“So do I.”
The young woman grew curious. “Kick who?”
Lu Siyu pointed at Qian Shu. “That hypocrite.”
The woman blandly replied, “He seems fine. What makes him a hypocrite?”
Lu Siyu was about to explain, but Ming Xiaolong spoke up first. “What have you been focusing on lately with your training, Sister? Since you’re trying to observe life in all its forms, could it be karma?”
The woman shook her head. “It’s much too difficult to comprehend karma, and it’s beyond me. I’m merely trying to comprehend something that Greater Sancte Green Lotus has spoken of: fate.”
“Fate?” Ming Xiaolong and Lu Siyu both grew uneasy. They were much too familiar with that word. It was that exact word that had prompted their master to try to marry the Seven Fairies to that man. It was absolutely infuriating. In fact, even their presence in the Autumnspring Slip was because of that exact word.
“Fate is a wondrous concept,” Qian Shu interjected with a smile, his voice carrying over from where he stood. “If you truly wish to understand it, you should walk among the common people.”
Lu Siyu snapped back, “How shameless can you be? Really? Eavesdropping?”
Qian Shu smiled calmly. “The young lady is open and direct. All on the Autumnspring Slip are able to hear what she says.”
Others quickly chimed in, “That’s true. I also clearly heard her.”
“So the young lady is trying to understand the word ‘fate.’”
“Her insights are truly beyond ours. Impressive. Most impressive.”
“No wonder she’s...”
Lu Siyu shot a fierce glare at the bootlickers.