First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 2165 – Seeking Reconciliation?

The light of the heavens was bright and clear.

The blood of the fallen turned into mist that still hovered through the air. When the radiant sunlight streamed through it, it was an extraordinarily jarring sight.

The little monkey turned, fixed his golden eyes on where Yang Shuang’er and her companions were hiding, and asked, “Master, should I kill them, too?”

All three of them shook from head to toe and almost fell limply to the ground.

‘Master’!! That terrifying yao god is actually Xiao Jian’s subordinate!?

“Xiao Jian, you can’t kill us! We’re from the Celestial Yao Mountains. We’ve got yao gods too!” shouted Yue Man.

The tall, stalwart yao immortal had been so fierce and domineering earlier, but now, his face was ashen and bloodless, and his thighs quivered with fright.

Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh at Yue Man’s attempt to threaten him.

The little monkey grinned too. Only he knew just how many gods his master had killed over the years. Using gods to threaten Su Yi was just… naive!

Yue Man suddenly raised Li Changqing and cried out, “What about him? Surely you don’t want to watch him die?”

The monkey scratched his ears and sneered. “Just try and kill him?”

Yue Man quivered, then hissed, “Do you think I wouldn’t dare? Why force our hand? Why must you kill us all?”

Su Yi just sat there quietly and said, “You’re wrong. You’re the ones who forced our hand.”

The little monkey’s eyes flashed, and he boomed in a voice like spring thunder, “Kneel!”

Yue Man felt a rending pain in his soul, as if a massive axe had cleaved into it. His whole body went limp, and his knees thudded to the ground.

Meanwhile, the little monkey deftly rescued Li Changqing.

“I was wrong! I was wrong! Please, spare me, Senior! Spare me!” Yue Man desperately begged for his life.

“Make it quick,” sighed Su Yi.

The little monkey nodded and unleashed a thread of its aura, but that was enough. Yue Man died on the spot, his body and Dao destroyed.

Yang Shuang’er felt a chill in her hands and feet. Her heart sank.

The golden-robed man trembled, looking as glum as if he were attending his parents’ funerals.

The little monkey was just too terrifying!

They understood that better than anyone. So what if they were core disciples of the Celestial Yao Mountains, and so what if they were lofty yao immortals of extraordinary status? In the face of a true yao god, they were no more than ants!

In the Billowing Blue Realm, gods were the true, unparalleled, supreme rulers!

Su Yi turned his attention toward the man in golden robes. “You just said you wanted to see how I’d resolve this crisis. Well, what do you think?”

Thud!

The man in golden robes knelt of his own accord, then lowered his head to the ground and said in a quavering voice, “There was an expert before me, but I didn’t recognize him. Please, forgive me, Senior! I promise to turn over a new leaf and make amends. I absolutely won’t make the same mistake again.”

Su Yi instantly lost interest. “Send him on his way too.”

The little monkey snapped his fingers, and the golden-robed man was destroyed with an audible pop.

Yang Shuang’er was the only one left!

That face so reminiscent of A’Ling’s was deathly pale. She pursed her lips and stood there, seemingly terrified out of her wits.

But then, A’Ling seemed to rally her courage. She stepped forward and said, “Big Brother Xiao, can… can I request mercy on my big sister’s behalf? Can you… spare her just this once?”

Her fearlessness was, perhaps, born of ignorance. Her limited experience meant she had no idea how powerful the little monkey was, nor did she understand the gods’ terrifying power.

All she knew was that if she didn’t save her big sister now, she’d regret it for the rest of her life, and she’d carry that guilty conscience forever.

Yang Shuang’er reacted as if awakening from a dream. She looked at A’Ling, her expression complicated.

The little monkey scratched his head, unsure of his master’s relationship with that young woman.

Su Yi’s expression softened. “A’Ling, if you ask for mercy, how could I possibly refuse? But I’d like to know why. Why plead for mercy on her behalf?”

“Big Sister… isn’t evil.” A’Ling hesitated, then said softly, “She might be crafty and resort to underhanded means, but she accepted me as her little sister.

“Earlier, she said she wanted to take me to the Celestial Yao Mountains to cultivate. Even though I got angry at her, she let it go without punishing me.”

A’Ling paused, then continued, “And earlier, when that man tried to hit me, Big Sister stepped in to save me.”

When Yang Shuang’er heard that, her expression only grew even more conflicted. She had no idea how to describe her emotions.

There was regret, shame, and sadness.

She’d taken pride in her status and looked down on Grassy Creek Village. Even when she met her sister, it was with an air of lofty superiority. She thought her sister ignorant of the enormity of the world and the darkness of the human heart, like a frog in a well.

Who’d have thought that same little sister would speak up for her when her life hung in the balance?

How could Yang Shuang’er not be ashamed of herself?

“Big Brother Xiao, I… I hope you can give my sister a chance to make amends,” A’Ling said softly, a bit ill at ease. She wasn’t sure if her request would provoke Su Yi.

But after hearing her plea, Su Yi nodded. “Very well.”

A’Ling froze, then lit up with delight. “You’re really okay with that, Big Brother Xiao?”

Yang Shuang’er was stunned too, then a bit bewildered. I wasn’t at all polite to him earlier. No, I was downright vicious, and I threatened him repeatedly, so why… is he just letting me go?

“As I said, this is a trivial matter,” Su Yi said warmly. “Your sister left the village at just three years old. At the time, she was too young to understand and as pure as a sheet of white paper. Years of cultivating in the outside world have given her some bad habits, but that sort of thing is hard to avoid. It’s enough that she tries to improve them.”

Even if A’Ling hadn’t requested mercy on her sister’s behalf, the blood of the Yi Family flowed through Yang Shuang’er’s veins. Su Yi would have happily given her a chance to make amends either way.

Of course, that was on the precondition that she had to change her behavior!

“Many thanks, Big Brother Xiao!” A’Ling said gratefully.

Li Changqing suddenly asked, “Shuang’er, do you understand what you did wrong?”

Yang Shuang’er pursed her lips and said softly, “I acknowledge my defeat, but… I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

The group was stunned.

Su Yi gazed intently at her. “Do explain.”

Yang Shuang’er took a deep breath and said, “I returned to my hometown on my master’s orders, but I never once had any ill intentions for my sister or anyone else in the village. How… did I do anything wrong?”

Su Yi said calmly, “You were acting on your master’s orders. There’s indeed nothing to find fault with there. But you shouldn’t have tried to force your sister into following your will, and you really shouldn’t have just stood back and watched as your companions took the village elder hostage.”

He paused, then looked at her. “You really don’t think you’ve done anything wrong?”

Yang Shuang’er’s expression shifted. In the end, she just sighed. “Whether you believe me or not, I had nothing but my little sister’s well-being in mind this entire time, and I would never have let anything happen to the elder. What happened earlier was just a temporary measure, that’s all.”

“A temporary measure, huh?” Su Yi chuckled. “To tell the truth, when I compare you to A’Ling, I’m truly disappointed. You’re lacking in comportment and a sense of duty, and worse, you’ve developed smug, self-conceited pride!”

Here, his voice was suddenly harsh.

Even the little monkey found this strange.

The Master he knew had always disdained lecturing other people about morality, and he’d always been a man of few words. If his words didn’t get through, he wouldn’t waste his breath. When someone refused to see the light, he’d either disregard them or kill them and be done with it.

Yet now, it seemed his master was angry at that girl, and he was uncharacteristically taking the time to chastise her! It was just too strange.

But although the little monkey didn’t know it, Su Yi saw both A’Ling and Yang Shuang’er as his descendants.

How could Yang Shuang’er’s behavior not aggravate him?

Yang Shuang’er fell silent, but Su Yi could tell that she wasn’t convinced.

“Don’t you want to live, Shuang’er? Hurry up and apologize!” Li Changqing said frantically. He was terrified that if she kept arguing, she’d completely provoke Su Yi.

A’Ling hurriedly joined in.

But A’Ling stubbornly stood there, lips pursed. “I’m an immortal. I know what I’m doing! I’ve admitted defeat. Kill me if you must. I no longer care what happens to me!”

Silence fell. It was as if they were seeing her for the first time. Their expressions filled with confusion; they couldn’t figure out why she was being so stubborn.

A hint of a smile tugged at Su Yi’s lips. She might have developed a long list of bad habits, but she’s at least got backbone!

“On the contrary, I’m worried about your situation,” said Yang Shuang’er. She scanned the group, then looked at Su Yi. “We’re from the Celestial Yao Mountains. Two of my sectmates died brutal deaths here. There’s no way the sect will stay out of this.

Su Yi was stunned.

The little monkey grinned.

“I don’t mean that as a threat. It’s simply a reality!” said Yang Shuang’er, her brow furrowed. “I’m in no position to threaten you, but I’m sure you know that I’m not kidding.

“Xiao Jian, I know you’re accompanied by that powerful senior, but the Celestial Yao Mountains have multiple yao gods overseeing things!”

She sighed. “You might not fear these threats, as you can flee whenever you please, but what are the people of Grassy Creek Village supposed to do? What are my little sister and the village elder supposed to do? This is the Billowing Blue Realm, the Celestial Yao Mountains’ territory! Don’t tell me you plan to stay here and protect the village for the rest of your life?”

Li Changqing and A’Ling fell silent.

They both knew that a mysterious figure like Xiao Jian didn’t belong in Grassy Creek Village. He’d inevitably leave sooner or later.

Yang Shuang’er’s words might have been unpleasant, but… they were logical, too.

Su Yi listened quietly as she spoke. When she’d finished, he said, “I can tell that you think the Celestial Yao Mountains’ position in the Billowing Blue Realm is unshakeable, and that even if you die, your sect will seek retribution against us.”

“Am I wrong?” asked Yang Shuang’er.

Su Yi didn’t answer. Instead, he looked at the little monkey. “Get ready. We’re setting course for the Celestial Yao Mountains tomorrow morning.”

The little monkey agreed without hesitation.

Yang Shuang’er gaped at them. “Are you… planning to seek reconciliation?”

Before Su Yi could answer, she sighed in apparent relief and murmured, “But then, that makes sense. With that senior accompanying you, you’re worthy of negotiating with the Celestial Yao Mountains. Compensate them appropriately and apologize, and you might really be able to smooth things over with them.”

“That way, A’Ling, the elder, and the others won’t be implicated any further. That couldn’t be any better!”

“…” Su Yi and the little monkey had no idea what to say.