The Path Toward Heaven

It wasn’t uncomfortably hot on the Green Mountain, and the breeze coming from the stream was rather pleasant.

Bai Zao looked at Liu Shisui silently while standing by the window.

Liu Shisui wondered how such a feeble countenance and a peace could show in the face of the same person

In the next moment, he thought of the rumor he heard in Cloudy Town, musing that she might be his young mistress if he had the same master and servant relationship with Jing Jiu.

Thinking of this, his expression grew cautious, asking, “May I ask what it is you wanted to talk to me about?”

Bai Zao was curious about him as well.

When Guo Nanshan and other disciples of Liangwang Peak suggested him as the candidate a dozen years ago, she didn’t understand why they favored this young man who had just joined the Green Mountain Sect or why they believed that he could accomplish such a difficult task.

Yet, what happened later had proven that Guo Nanshan and others were correct to have chosen him. Liu Shisui had successfully deceived the whole world and joined the Old Ones, and obtained the critical evidence against them.

Another event had occurred during the process. Liu Shisui made use of this scheme to have killed her Big Brother Luo Huainan.

Bai Zao somehow couldn’t figure out what kind of person Liu Shisui actually was.

She said to Liu Shisui calmly, “I heard that Jing Jiu likes you very much. It’s even been said that you would be the Big Brother on Shenmo Peak if you hadn’t joined us.”

Liu Shisui remained silent for a while before saying, “I’m a disciple of Liangwang Peak. I don’t think that my Young Master would have a problem with it.”

Bai Zao said, “I have already told the people of Liangwang Peak about Luo Huainan, so they won’t bug you about it anymore.”

Liu Shisui was surprised that this troubling issue had been solved so easily.

He thought that the Center Sect would have never admitted Luo Huainan’s guilt, seeing as he was the principal disciple of the Center Sect and enjoyed excellent standing until his death. If people knew his true nature, the reputation of the Center Sect would suffer.

“But the truth of this event can’t be told to the outside world for the time being.”

Bai Zao said this while looking at him, apologetic.

Liu Shisui realized that his suspicions were confirmed.

He wasn’t the same stubborn and naïve youth who had just left that small village.

He had quickly matured after more than ten years of withstanding mental pressure, as if he had learned difficult breathing in the dark swamp.

Yet, why would the Center Sect let him, a disciple of the Green Mountain, take the blame to maintain their own reputation?

He didn’t say anything, only looked at Bai Zao in silence.

Bai Zao said, “We will compensate you adequately.”

“It’s up to me to decide the adequacy, and how many years do I have to wait?” demanded Liu Shisui.

Bai Zao said, “Ten years at most.”

Liu Shisui thought about it for a while and said, “I don’t want to conceal it from my masters, and I would like to obtain the approval from them.”

Bai Zao knew the masters he mentioned included Jing Jiu, and Jing Jiu was probably the most important one.

“I will go to Shenmo Peak to ask for his opinion,” she said.

Liu Shisui asked after some hesitation, “You really want to have my Young Master as your…”

Bai Zao cut him off calmly, “Yes. This has been merely a rumor so far; but the rumor is actually true.”

Liu Shisui thought she was really courageous. Then he thought of something, saying to her sympathetically, “But you don’t have a chance. Young Master won’t bring anybody with him.”

This statement had a deep meaning, but it was also understandable.

Bai Zao asked Liu Shisui after a moment of silence, “If that day comes, will you be disappointed?”

Liu Shisui replied, “The path toward heaven has always been a lonely one. Besides, Young Master doesn’t owe us anything, so he is not obliged to take us with him.”

…

…

The two of them left the classroom and came to the bank of the stream.

The disciples who came to see him had already left and Guo Nanshan, Gu Han and a few others were the only ones remaining.

Lin Wuzhi guessed that they had something important to discuss, so he signaled Xiao He with his eyes not to go over.

Knowing the agreement that had been reached between Bai Zao and Liu Shisui, Guo Nanshan and others didn’t say anything, but Gu Han furrowed his eyebrows.

“In this case, Young Brother Liu will continue to be blamed for assassinating Luo Huainan. If someone wants to use this event to harass him, or even harm him, what should we do then?”

“I believe nobody on the Green Mountain could harm him. Our Center Sect will take care of whoever wants to harm him outside the Green Mountain.”

Having said this, Bai Zao bid her farewell and left, showing full self-confidence. What happened in the next few years had proven what she said was true. The matter of Liu Shisui assassinating Luo Huainan didn’t stir up too much turbulence. The Cloud-Dream Mountain had promptly and quietly suppressed the occasional enthusiasm or scheme to avenge Luo Huainan. After a while, the Cultivation circle had figured out the reason, and Liu Shisui, as a result, became even more famous.

“I didn’t think Cultivationist Huainan would be unable pass this final test even though he had been a respectful person all his life.”

Thinking of his dead friend, Guo Nanshan felt complex emotions.

Gu Han looked at Liu Shisui, who had up to then been silent, and said, “You shouldn’t feel bad about it. Since he did something evil, he had to face the consequences. You had done nothing wrong.”

Guo Nanshan came back to his senses and said to Liu Shisui, “That’s right. Punishing the criminals and purging the evildoers is the goal of the disciples of our Liangwang Peak.”

“I don’t see it that way. Nothing fatal happened to Bai Zao and senior master Jing Jiu, but Luo Huainan died by your hands. The event made those of us who knew the scheme feel extremely embarrassed at the time. Even though we can put this matter aside, what about this devil vixen?”

Jian Ruyun looked in Liu Shisui’s eyes while pointing to Xiao He standing outside the Sword-Washing Hall, saying, “You come back with us to the peak first. I have another matter to ask you about.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Han’s face looked terrible, and Ma Hua narrowed his eyes even more while observing Liu Shisui’s reaction unnoticeably.

There was another matter? What could it be? Liu Shisui suddenly felt uneasy. “I have to see my Young Master on Shenmo Peak first,” he said without hesitation.

Gu Han wasn’t happy to hear it. “You are a disciple of Liangwang Peak. It’s not right to go to other peak first after returning to the Green Mountain. What are you afraid of? Since I’m here to protect you, who would dare to falsely accuse you?!”

After a moment of silence, Guo Nanshan said, “I think it’s a good idea to see Senior Master Jing. You two haven’t seen each other for many years.”

Then he added with a laugh, “You didn’t witness it. He was really pissed off after you had been expelled back then.”

…

…

Liu Shisui led Xiao He as they walked toward the peak of Shenmo Peak.

He didn’t ride the sword in order to show his respect, like what Guo Nanshan did many years ago; meanwhile he could have more time to think things over, to prepare himself mentally for the meeting.

Xiao He asked, “What kind of person is that immortal master Jing Jiu?”

Liu Shisui replied after some thought, “He is quite lazy.”

“And?” Xiao He pressed.

Liu Shisui remained silent, meaning there was nothing else to say about Jing Jiu.

Xiao He remarked confusedly, “He was so famous in the Cultivation world; it’s impossible for him to have only this one trait. Didn’t you say that you knew him very well?”

Liu Shisui felt sentimental, saying, “Actually, I haven’t seen him in many years.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao He felt ill at ease.

She thought that Liu Shisui was a big hero at the Green Mountain Sect and should receive a warm welcome and reward; under the circumstances, it would be much easier for her to stay in this sanctuary, free of trouble.

The problem was, after returning to the Green Mountain, the warm welcome was materialized, but the reward was nowhere to be found; and the most of all, the atmosphere of the earlier conversation by the stream was not quite right.

The reason she asked about Jing Jiu was because she wanted to have another option in advance.

Outside the classroom of the Sword-Washing Hall, Lin Wuzhi told her a few things about Jing Jiu.

If Zhao Layue listened to Jing Jiu for everything, Jing Jiu had the power of the peak master on Shenmo Peak then, and he was of course an important figure at the Green Mountain Sect.

If she could gain the favor of Jing Jiu through Liu Shisui, then she would have nothing to worry about, right?

However, they hadn’t seen each other in many years, how much of their old friendship had there been left?

As for the promise Jing Jiu made her in front of the Sea-God Temple years ago, she had already forgotten about it completely; even if she could still remember it, she didn’t hope that Jing Jiu would keep his promise.

Seeing her anxious expression, Liu Shisui knew what was on her mind. “Young Master will help us for sure,” he said with a smile.

When he recalled what his Big Brother said to him by the stream, he felt a warm sensation forming in his chest, so he sped up his steps.