In the Yin Bamboo Forest, within a pavilion.
Two cups of tea were already placed on the stone table, one of which was still steaming, clearly prepared for me by Fifth Gege.
My heart rejoiced. How wonderful it would be if my future wife were like this. After sitting down, I picked up the teacup and took a sip. Good tea, it tasted truly excellent. Fifth Gege's tea was indeed extraordinary… I showered Fifth Gege with a torrent of flattery, using all sorts of modern embellishments.
When I felt my throat getting dry from talking, I noticed Fifth Gege hadn't even lifted her gaze. She sat sideways, presenting a perfect profile, her eyes gazing deeply into the depths of the bamboo forest, as if contemplating a problem, or perhaps gazing at something. She seemed completely uninterested in my flattery.
“Fifth Gege?”
“Hm? Finished? You can make a cup of plain water sound so spectacular, you’re more entertaining than the storytellers in the opera houses.” Fifth Gege’s voice was gentle, seemingly a compliment, but I felt she was actually venting her dissatisfaction.
Indeed!
The Tiger Kui Seal was a divine artifact crucial to the safety of the Half-Yin Realm. Whoever possessed the Tiger Kui Seal controlled the Half-Yin Realm, equivalent to owning a second Underworld. How could such a divine artifact not drive people mad?
Now, spreading this news was akin to using the Tiger Kui Seal as a pretext to put Fifth Prince and Fifth Gege on the spot. If it worked, everyone would be happy. If it didn't, I might have to disappear from the mortal world for the rest of my life.
I let out a sigh and asked, “You know everything?”
“Yes!” Fifth Gege didn’t deny it, admitting generously, “Although I reside in the Half-Yin Realm, I have been watching the movements of the Tiger Kui Seal. From the moment it left Moribund Village with you until now, I know everything that has happened to you.”
“Wh-what? Everything?” I nearly jumped out of my skin.
I carried the Tiger Kui Seal with me constantly, never letting it out of my sight, not even when using the restroom. As for bathing, it was out of the question. If that was the case, did I have any secrets from her at all?
My unease was naturally visible to her, and she continued, “There are some things I don’t look at, nor do I have the inclination to, I merely observe its location.”
Hearing this, I finally felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, I felt as if I were speaking to her completely exposed, and the discomfort was unbearable, a feeling worse than death.
“What do you think of this plan?”
Fifth Gege remained silent for a long time. Just as I was about to press her again, she replied, “Mediocre!”
I blinked, not understanding. Such a well-conceived plan, and she called it mediocre?
Although this stratagem carried many risks, the rewards were also immense. Firstly, it would resolve the Hu family’s trouble with Chen Yun, repaying the old monk’s favor. It would also draw the attention of the Southern Yin practitioners and Daoist sects, which would help contain the great demon in North Mountain Mining Town. Lastly, it would attract the attention of important figures in the capital, thereby reducing the pressure on my master.
My master’s hasty departure made me feel that something extremely important must have happened. Otherwise, given his nature, he wouldn’t have been forced to leave without even having time to call me. Su Dan Novel Network
Anyone capable of pushing my master to such an extent could not be ordinary. My master, who had lived peacefully in the Northeast for over ten years without conflict with the Hu family, ruled out disputes within the Yin practitioners. That left only the secular world.
Despite the secular authorities’ constant propaganda about not believing in ghosts and spirits, dismissing them as old feudal superstitions, they actually believed in them more than anyone else, but ordinary people simply didn't see it.
“Mediocre? Is it good or is it good because it’s not good? I came here precisely to seek your opinion. After all, the Tiger Kui Seal is related to the safety of the Half-Yin Realm. If anything goes wrong with it, I will have failed Prince Wu’s trust.”
“You also know it’s related to the safety of the Half-Yin Realm, and that you’ll fail my father if anything goes wrong. Yet, you still intend to proceed? You’re asking me, aren’t you just seeking peace of mind?” Fifth Gege’s voice was considerably colder than before, as if she were somewhat angered.
Seeing that she seemed genuinely upset, I backed down first. My own life was saved by her; why should I argue with her?
“If you disagree, then forget it. Consider my previous words unsaid. I’ll go back and think of other solutions with Zhang Dabiao.” With that, I prepared to leave, to find Zhang Dabiao and brainstorm a new approach. I wondered if he had already spread the news. If he had, it would be disastrous.
Before I could leave the pavilion, Fifth Gege’s voice reached me again.
“Leaving already?”
“What else? If Zhang Dabiao spreads the news soon, it will be impossible to fix later.” I prepared to force myself to wake up, to avoid further awkwardness by staying.
“Aren’t you going to explain to me what exactly is going on with that Chen Yun?”
“Chen Yun? Explain what?” Fifth Gege’s question left me utterly bewildered. She was a descendant of the old monk, and during the war, her host family was mine. What was there to explain?
Seeing my continued confusion, Fifth Gege turned from her sideways posture to face me directly. Her bright eyes shone with a moon-like radiance. A white veil covered her cheeks as she said, word by word, “Why did you let her stay in your room?”
Stay in my room?
At this point, even if I were the densest person, I would understand. I might not have eaten pork, but I’d seen pigs run. It was obvious Fifth Gege was feeling jealous.
Instantly understanding the situation, I found myself stunned facing Fifth Gege, whose eyes were sparkling. I couldn’t figure out why she was jealous. We were just friends, with no other connection. Even the closest of friends shouldn’t prevent me from interacting with living people, should they?
“Fifth Gege, the truth is, it’s like this…” I briefly recounted my trip to Tianhua City and also explained how the old monk had enlightened Bai Ling’er into human form.
“The situation is what it is, and this is how it happened. She wanted to stay in my room not to live with me, but to use the geographical location of my room to help repair her loss of Yang energy. Understand? Okay?”
After hearing my explanation, Fifth Gege’s shining eyes dimmed. She turned sideways again, leaving me with a beautiful profile, “I thought modern women had long lost all sense of shame. Since that’s the case, then it’s settled. You can leave.”
That’s it?
I was somewhat dumbfounded. Was all this fuss just for a bout of jealousy?
“What about the Tiger Kui Seal matter?”
“Do whatever you want with the news about the Tiger Kui Seal! It was merely a seal from my father’s life. In your mortal world’s terms, it’s probably called an antique. Besides fetching some money, it has no special value. Even if it’s lost, it won’t cause any harm to the Half-Yin Realm.”
“Wh-what? The Tiger Kui Seal isn’t the key to controlling the Half-Yin Realm? Then you had me take it from Moribund Village, weren’t you playing with me?”
Wasn’t this a joke?
I thought I was carrying a nuclear bomb that the world was searching for, only to be told later that it was a fake with no value. It was like earning a salary of 3000 while worrying about the US President; it was a huge loss.
“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained. You should go back. Someone is looking for you.” Fifth Gege didn’t let me explain further. With a wave of her jade hand, I was ushered out of the Fifth Prince’s mansion.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of large eyes staring intently at me. I suddenly looked up.
“Ouch…”