Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âDo we have to worry about their anger?â
âThe difference in strength is simply too great, so there is no need to worry, unless heaven and earth will totally change.â
âWhat would the total change of heaven and earth be like?â
âThe spirits in Chaotian have been depleted, and the energy sources have drained.â
âIs that possible?â
âMaybe one day, but not now.â
âWhat about now?â
âThe real threat for the human race is from the Snowy Kingdom.â
Jing Jiu continued, âSo the only worry about the total change of heaven and earth is the invasion of the Snowy Kingdom from the north.â
Back when the monsters of the Snowy Kingdom invaded south, those Cultivation practitioners who didnât choose to flee had almost all died. The Cultivation sects of either orthodox or deviant factions on the northern land had nearly been wiped out. There was no order in the human world. The populace had to flee their homes, becoming homeless, and later, bandits. As some of them obtained the wealth of those Cultivation sects and the magic treasures disowned, they traveled around without fear, robbing, killing and burning everywhere. They had done all kinds of evil deeds.
âThen came three months of fire and water,â Zhao Layue said.
Jing Jiu said, âThatâs right.â
Zhao Layue suddenly thought of a person.
âIf it wasnât due to the Broadsword King, more mortals would die. He is a Cultivation practitioner, but it seems that the mortals are not grateful for what the Cultivation practitioners have done, only feeling hatred and anger.â
âCao Yuan isnât a regular Cultivation practitioner, he is a Buddha. Few Cultivation practitioners could become the Buddha.â
Zhao Layue asked, âBut many Cultivation practitioners have died in order to resist the Snowy Kingdom and to suppress the Underworld; why canât they win the mortalsâ appreciation?â
Jing Jiu countered while looking her in the eyes, âDid they fight for the mortals, or for their own sects?â
âI donât think there is any difference,â Zhao Layue replied.
âOf course there is a difference, because they have to consider what the priority is when facing the test of life and death.â
Jing Jiu asked, âIf they could save their Cultivation sects, do they really care about the lives of the mortals?â
Zhao Layue thought of her colleagues on Liangwang Peak, like Guo Nanshan and Gu Han, and she couldnât find an appropriate answer.
Jing Jiu continued, âBesides, if every Cultivation practitioner acts like Cao Yuan, the mortalsâ hatred and anger would not go away.â
Zhao Layue couldnât understand this point, asking, âWhy?â
âBecause of jealousy,â Jing Jiu answered.
Zhao Layue imagined that she would be a regular aristocratic mistress in Zhaoge City if she couldnât get involved in CultivationâŠshe would miss all those sceneries above the clouds, feelings that couldnât be described by words of human world, the experiences that couldnât be had in the mortal world, and the peaceful and free Cultivation life style. Of course, she would be jealous of all these!
For the populace who had to work hard to make the ends meet, they would have even more reasons to be jealous of the Cultivation practitioners.
Jing Jiu stood up and walked to the front of the corridor, looking at a patch of green bamboo.
âThe hardest problem for the mortals is the fact that the Cultivation practitioners can live up to hundreds of years, or over a thousand years old, even longer, but mortals can only live for a few score years.â
Yes, this was the hardest problem.
It was quiet in the corridor.
âAnyone would be jealous of real longevity.â
Zhao Layue asked while looking at his back, âIs that why the Grandmaster Jing Yang had the mishap?â
Jing Jiu didnât turn around, and he didnât answer her question either, as if he hadnât heard it at all.
He closed his eyes, his eyelashes very long.
The sunlight passed through the bamboo branches in front of the corridor, landing on his face as the shadows of the bamboo leaves were projected upon it.
Zhao Layue walked to his side, saying after a moment of silence, âI donât think you are the sort of person who would bother themselves with such things.â
âI came from the human world, and have to think of the human world.â
Jing Jiu opened his eyes, and said, âBut thinking of the human world is enough.â
Looking at his face, Zhao Layue asked, âWhy is it enough to simply think of it?â
Jing Jiu replied, âBecause you would know after thinking of it that nobody could find a solution for the problem.â
âSo this is it?â Zhao Layue pressed with the arched eyebrows.
âWhat else can we do?â
Jing Jiu said, âGo back to the mountain first. The Cultivation is the most important thing. When you are not thinking of these issues, you can come to the human world again.â
Looking at Jing Jiuâs profile, Zhao Layue asked seriously, âHave you found the person you are looking for?â
Jing Jiu shook his head, saying, âBut I can tell that he has appeared, and he has already met me by certain means.â
âOkay, but be careful during the Cultivation tournament,â said Zhao Layue after some thought.
Jing Jiu felt surprised, asking, âWhy would I participate in the Cultivation tournament?â
Zhao Layue felt even more surprised, countering, âWhy wouldnât you?â
Jing Jiu said, âAs I have told you, itâs very risky to âseek plums by stepping on bloodâ, and I seldom take risks.â
Zhao Layue opened her eyes wide, and asked while staring into his eyes, âWhy?â
Jing Jiu answered, âBecause Iâm afraid of dying.â
On his way to Zhaoge City, when the fake second manor house of the Immortal Jing Yang was about to open, Jing Jiu went to observe undercover. However, he was discovered by the Peak Master of Xilai, Fang Jingtian, who had even attempted to kill him.
It was at that moment that felt the immense danger.
It was the first time he had felt that way in years.
That night, Fang Jingtian didnât draw his sword, but later in the old plum garden, Tian Jingren attacked.
Later, he realized that he wasnât the same as before.
Before, he had been used to his invincibility, so he could travel and act at will; but it was different now, as many people could try to kill him.
Hearing about the assassination attempt on Zhao Layue the other day created feelings inside him even though he looked the same on the outside, and it had to do with his feelings of vulnerability. Jing Jiu didnât like this feeling at all, so he decided to be more cautious in his later actions, meaning he shouldnât always travel in the world to entice that person to show himself. It would be safer to return to Green Mountain.
Zhao Layue didnât expect him give her such an answer. âYou always wait for him to find you; why donât you go out to find him?â asked she.
Jing Jiu looked at the sky above the eaves, saying, âI have this feeling that he wants me to participate in the Cultivation tournament and then discover something.â
âIf you believe that you are right, why donât go have a look?â Zhao Layue suggested while looking at him.
Jing Jiu thought about it for a while. âIt makes sense,â said Jing Jiu, while reaching out his hand to rub her head.
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The final determination for Shi Fengchenâs case was suicide, though this still didnât stop a lot of people from suspecting the Green Mountain Sect.
Certain forces intended to utilize this incident to cause some trouble, but Zhaoge City was still peaceful.
It seemed that there was a secret force in the imperial court that wanted to suppress all the issues. As a result, many people had responded with feelings of fear and respect. This was Zhaoge City, not Tianâan; but who would have thought the Green Mountain Sect had such a strong influence here, no less than the Center Sect?
The more respect and fear people showed to the Green Mountain Sect, the harder time Royal Concubine Hu had, because almost everybody believed that she was the main conspirator of Zhao Layueâ assassination attempt.
The recent period of time had been very exhilarating for Royal Concubine Hu. She had just been allowed by the Emperor to have a child, having his singular affection, only to be placed in such a difficult situation soon after.
âDo you think me that stupid or hard-headed? Iâm not a disciple of Lian Sanyue! How could I do anything so irrational at this critical time?â
Royal Concubine Hu didnât put on make-up, looking quite tired. âThat Shi Fengchen had made a big trouble for me!â she claimed angrily.
The old female servant said with a bitter expression, âYou shouldnât have sent money to them. Doing so would give others the reason to suspect you.â
âThis is a different matter. Shi Fengchen had done something for me. Now that he is dead, I have to show my appreciation.â
Royal Concubine Hu said solemnly, âOne has to repay the kindness one received to end the cycle of cause and effect. This is what the Young Zen Master taught me.â
The old female servant thought cause and effect were not such simple things. âWhat should we do now?â she asked worriedly.
Royal Concubine Hu was worried as well.
The Emperor hadnât visited her in the last couple of days.
On the surface, her life was still the same as before, but the atmosphere around her had become suffocating.
She suddenly asked, âThe Young Zen Master still doesnât want to see me?â
âNo. I thinkâŠâ
Glancing at her once, the old female servant said carefully, âMaybe State Duke He hasnât even taken the message to the Net-Perception Temple.â
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âIâd like to meet Zhao Layue in person. Is that possible?â she asked with the furrowed eyebrows.
The old female servant answered, âShe is badly wounded and recuperating right now; so she certainly doesnât want to see any visitors. And I heard that she is about to return to the Green Mountain for treatment.â
Royal Concubine Hu fell silent for a while before asking, âWhat about Jing Jiu?â
The expression on the old female servantâs face changed slightly as she replied, âHe has gone to the Cultivation tournament, of course.â