Chapter 89 — The Good Man and the Wild Dog

Xiaowan looked at Ming Li, then at Qin Wujiu, and felt an involuntary jolt in her heart. These three—the most outstanding young masters of the demonic sects—had met here in secret. The very thought of the reason sent a thrill of confusion and excitement through her.

Qin Wujiu walked up to the monster and nudged its body with his foot. The creature rolled over and lay still.

Qin Wujiu said flatly, "Dead."

Grey, who had been hiding to one side, squeaked twice and leapt up onto Ming Li's shoulder.

Ming Li glanced at the Wild Dog Daoist, then at Zhou Yixuan and Xiaowan. He seemed to frown slightly, then said slowly, "We have said all that needed saying. Let it be at that."

With that, he turned as if to go. Qin Wujiu suddenly said, "Brother Ming Li, the sudden appearance of this thing—neither man nor beast—here is highly peculiar. Have you no thoughts on the matter?"

Ming Li halted but said nothing. It was Jin Pingyue who glanced at Qin Wujiu and said, "What? Do you know what this thing is?"

Qin Wujiu was taken aback, then shook his head slightly. Judging by the looks on Jin Pingyue's and Ming Li's faces, neither of them knew the origin of this half-man, half-fish monster either. Just then, a man stepped forward from the side and said in a clear voice, "I know where this monster comes from."

Ming Li and the other two were startled and turned to look—it was Zhou Yixuan. Even Xiaowan was astonished. "Grandfather, you know?"

A bit of mud still clung to Zhou Yixuan's forehead, but his bearing was now quite out of the ordinary. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his face haughty, and said, "Your grandfather has roamed the wide world all his life—crossed more bridges than you have walked roads. Do you take me for a man who has lived in vain? This creature is called a 'fish-man.' In truth it is no demon at all, but one of the sixty-three alien races of the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains of the southern border—the Fish-Man Tribe."

Ming Li and the others were all taken aback. Everyone knew, of course, of the Ten Thousand Wild Mountains of the southern border, but that the wild lands of the south should harbor sixty-three alien tribes besides—this they had never so much as heard of. Yet judging by Zhou Yixuan's expression, he was not simply making things up.

Jin Pingyue frowned. "That is strange, then. The southern border is no less than ten thousand li from this Dead Marsh. What business would a fish-man have coming all the way here?"

That question stumped Zhou Yixuan, who had been so pleased with himself a moment before. He scratched his head and could only say, "That I do not know."

Those present fell silent for a moment; seeing that further thought would yield nothing, Ming Li was the first to turn and walk away. The monkey Grey, perched on his shoulder, suddenly turned its head, waved at Xiaowan, and grinned.

Xiaowan smiled back.

The Wild Dog glanced at Xiaowan, then followed after. But he had not gone many steps when Xiaowan's voice came from behind him: "Daoist, there is much danger ahead—do take care!"

Jin Pingyue was startled and looked toward Xiaowan, but Xiaowan merely smiled faintly, her expression unchanged. The Wild Dog Daoist, for his part, walked on very fast, and whether he had heard or was pretending not to, he did not look back, but quickened his pace and followed Ming Li.

Qin Wujiu cast a glance in the direction Ming Li had gone, then walked over to Jin Pingyue's side and said with a smile, "Immortal Maiden Jin's 'Purple Radiance Blade' is famed throughout the world. Seeing it today, I find the reputation well deserved."

Jin Pingyue smiled faintly and said, "Young Master Qin flatters me. How could I compare with you? A casual touch of your poison, and this pond is turned into a poisoned pool where not a blade of grass will grow for fifty years."

Qin Wujiu's gaze sharpened, and his expression seemed to grow colder. He regarded Jin Pingyue for a moment before speaking slowly: "This little poison of mine, 'Duckweed,' has been in development barely half a year. It was always a trifling trick, hardly worthy of an expert's notice, and I have never once used it. That you, Fairy Jin, should know of it—truly, I am impressed. Impressed indeed!"

Jin Pingyue met his gaze without the slightest hint of yielding. "Young Master Qin flatters me."

Qin Wujiu looked at her again, a chill light flashing through his eyes, before a smile surfaced on his face once more. He nodded and said, "In that case, I shall take my leave first. As for what we agreed upon..."

Jin Pingyue cut him off. "Rest assured, I know how to handle that matter."

Qin Wujiu gave a faint smile, nodded to Xiao Wan in farewell, and turned to go, soon vanishing into the distant thin mist.

Even after Qin Wujiu's figure had disappeared, Jin Pingyue remained silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a long breath.

Standing behind her, Xiao Wan felt almost at the same instant that Jin Pingyue's body had been taut all along, only now relaxing.

"Sister, are you all right?" Xiao Wan asked, a note of worry in her voice.

Jin Pingyue shook her head slightly, glanced at Xiao Wan, and said softly, "I didn't get here in time just now—you weren't hurt, were you?"

Xiao Wan smiled and shook her head. "I'm fine. It's just that when it rained earlier, I got a bit soaked, but luckily there was... oh no!"

Jin Pingyue was taken aback. "What is it?"

Xiao Wan stamped her foot. "I forgot to return the umbrella to that Daoist!"

Jin Pingyue shrugged. "Then keep it for now. If we meet again someday, you can return it then."

Xiao Wan nodded quietly. Jin Pingyue gazed into the distance, and something seemed to stir in her. She lowered her voice and said to Xiao Wan, "Xiao Wan, you must be careful of those two men from now on."

Xiao Wan did not understand. "What?"

A flicker passed through Jin Pingyue's eyes, cold as frost. She said calmly, "Those two men just now are both ruthless, merciless characters. If you ever see them again, you had best leave at once—do not go near them under any circumstances!"

Xiao Wan fell silent and nodded slowly, but for some reason a sudden sense of bewilderment came over her, and faintly she thought again of that Qingyun youth from years ago, the one Zhou Yixuan had swindled out of his silver.