Chapter 384 - 379: The Risk is Too Great... Seeking Justice

The negotiations probably went smoothly.

On the journey back, Du Youqian observed them carefully. Although the First Queen, Master Su Quan, remained inscrutable, both Shangjian Master and Pu Yu Master were clearly in good spirits.

’I wonder what conditions Master Luo Fan agreed to?’

’Did the Nascent Soul Evil Cultivator backing him show his face during the negotiations?’

Du Youqian wouldn’t dare court death by extending his Divine Sense to eavesdrop on their negotiations, so he remained completely in the dark.

Besides, to be honest, Du Youqian didn’t really care about the outcome of their talks with Starry Valley.

In any case, he had accomplished half of his goal for this trip. While he hadn’t found Zong Hui’s remains, he had tampered with Starry Valley’s Grand Array, planting a seed for the future.

Now, Du Youqian could only hope that Master Luo Fan alone was the one who had killed Zong Hui.

Demanding justice from Master Luo Fan, while risky, was ultimately a more manageable problem.

But if the one who killed Zong Hui was the Nascent Soul Evil Cultivator behind Master Luo Fan...

...Du Youqian would have to seriously consider whether he should still insist on getting justice for Zong Hui.

After all, if he couldn’t get justice for Zong Hui, he wouldn’t be able to put Zong Li’s lingering will to rest. Then he would be unable to fully merge with his physical body, preventing him from breaking through to the next realm.

Forget about Nascent Soul; even reaching the Golden Core Late Stage or Perfection would be impossible.

But then again, he had already gathered most of the information he wanted in this life. The task of building his own power base was also more or less complete. One could say he had already laid a solid foundation for his next life.

He could just burn through the rest of this lifespan, reincarnate, and start a new life.

After returning to the Chen Kingdom, Du Youqian performed a divination. The results showed that Zong Hui was indeed dead, and likely by unnatural means.

Du Youqian was starting to regret that divination.

’I really don’t want to go head-to-head with a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator and a potential Nascent Soul Evil Cultivator!’

’Forget it. I’ll just pretend this never happened.’

Du Youqian gave up. ’Time to wrap up this life and reincarnate.’

So he found an opportunity and slipped away.

To avoid being questioned by the Sacrificial Team, he didn’t summon his Spiritual Boat and race off. Instead, he disguised himself as a mortal and slowly made his way southwest.

That night, he took a room at an inn.

While meditating that night, a pair of eyes suddenly appeared before him.

The eyes were familiar yet strange, and they were filled to the brim with sorrow.

They were his own eyes.

Du Youqian stopped meditating and opened his eyes. Everything was normal again.

He knew it was the lingering will of Zong Li, refusing to rest in peace, pleading and weeping before him.

"Sigh... I’m in a tough spot, too! This is too difficult. The risk is too great; it’s just not worth it."

Du Youqian wasn’t going to lie to himself. He simply felt the matter was too thorny to handle and wanted to wash his hands of it.

The sorrowful eyes appeared once more.

Du Youqian thought back to the moment of the Possession.

The young man had lost all will to live, his eyes devoid of light. His only remaining attachment was to the sister who had endured countless hardships to raise him, only to be forced to leave for a distant land.

Back then, as a boy, he had no power to prevent the tragedy.

Unreconciled, he could only endure it in silence, suffering in despair.

"I know you’re in pain, and I don’t like this either. If the risk were even a little smaller, I’d do it for you. But it’s enormous, and we’re not family. We’re strangers. Yes, I took your body, but I’ve also let you live a glorious life for decades... Alright, I know you don’t care about glory, only your sister. But even if I owe you, it’s not worth risking my life to settle this karmic debt!"

Du Youqian could be a heartless man.

Li Fei had been utterly loyal and deeply in love with him, but he couldn’t have cared less.

’Because... in Du Youqian’s mind, it was a simple calculation: I don’t owe you anything, so why should I care about you? Your feelings for me are your own business. Did I ask you to like me? You’ve done a lot for me, that’s true, but haven’t I rewarded you sufficiently? If a debt can be settled with benefits, don’t talk to me about emotions. I am a Cultivator devoid of sentiment.’

But Du Youqian could also be a man of feeling.

Over the past few decades, Li Fei had worked tirelessly, making immense contributions to the establishment of the Four Principles Sect.

During those decades, he had set aside time every ten days to instruct her in the Dao, cultivating her with great care.

Although he felt not a shred of romantic affection for Li Fei, this bond of companionship, part master, part friend, had taken deep root in his heart.

Li Fei was like a disciple to him. And even though she wasn’t the most promising of disciples, he would find it absolutely impossible to sacrifice her casually or simply let her die.

But toward the young man, Zong Li, Du Youqian had always harbored a sense of pity and guilt.

That was why, even though he could have completely ignored Zong Li’s lingering will, followed his plan, and cast everything aside to reincarnate...

...he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He rose and went to the rooftop. He looked up at the moon, then down at his own shadow.

Within that long shadow, it seemed Zong Li’s despair and sorrow, his attachments and his grievances, were also present.

"Alright, alright! I’ll go take a look, happy now? But I’m not promising I’ll get justice for your sister. I’m just going to give it a try. I’ll try to talk to Master Luo Fan. In any case, I won’t get into a fight with him, and I certainly won’t pick a fight with the suspected Nascent Soul Evil Cultivator behind him."

The familiar yet strange eyes before him finally held a hint of a smile...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

「A few days later, a light rain was falling.」

At the entrance to Starry Valley, Du Youqian appeared as he was, unreservedly releasing the aura of a Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivator.

A Jade Slip flew from his sleeve and into the Grand Array.

The Jade Slip contained only a single sentence.

"Zong Li, Sect Leader of the Four Principles Sect from the Endless Desert Western Domain."

Before long, the dense fog parted, revealing a path.

Du Youqian smiled faintly and stepped forward boldly.

Entering a Grand Array controlled by another was an act of willingly walking into danger—an extremely high-risk endeavor.

But Du Youqian had already tampered with the Array’s nodes, and he could sense that his handiwork had not been discovered.

Even if a fight did break out, while he would have difficulty seizing control of the Array, he was more than capable of protecting himself.

When he arrived before the palace, Master Luo Fan was already waiting. The only difference was that the two concubines by his side had been replaced by a new pair.

"Master Zong Li, I’ve heard so much about you. Your visit today truly brings honor to my Starry Valley!"

’Heard so much about me my ass,’ Du Youqian complained internally. ’Have you even heard my name before today?’

But outwardly, he maintained his smile. "It seems a great man like Master Luo Fan is rather forgetful. This is not our first meeting."

"Oh?" Master Luo Fan looked skeptical.

"Shall we go inside and talk?"

"Of course. Let’s speak inside. Master Zong Li, after you!"

Once they were seated in the palace, two voluptuous concubines slithered over like water snakes, eagerly draping themselves over Du Youqian, one on each side.

This was Master Luo Fan’s style of hospitality, and as a guest, Du Youqian felt it improper to object.

Another concubine nimbly approached on her knees to serve them Spirit Tea and Spirit Fruits. Master Luo Fan slapped one of his concubines on her shapely rear and then laughed heartily. "I don’t recall when this Master has had the pleasure of meeting you before?"

Du Youqian smiled faintly. "Decades ago, Master Luo Fan passed through the Western Domain. At the time, you purchased a group of concubines. Do you recall?"

"Oh! Oh!" Master Luo Fan’s face lit up with realization. "You... you’re... This Master remembers now! You’re what’s-her-name’s little brother! What’s-her-name..."

Seeing that he couldn’t remember Zong Li’s sister’s name, Du Youqian had no choice but to prompt him. "Zong Hui."

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at this memory of mine. Zong Hui!" Master Luo Fan slapped his thigh and roared with laughter. "You were so small and scrawny back then, crying your eyes out. This Master even thought to myself, ’This kid probably won’t live another three years.’ I never expected that the next time we met, you’d already be one of us!"

His words, while not overly offensive...

...were by no means polite.

Perhaps, on a subconscious level, he didn’t see Du Youqian as an equal at all.

Du Youqian did not smile.

"I have come today with only one purpose. Where is my sister, Zong Hui?"

"Ah, Master Zong Li, you’ve come too late." Master Luo Fan offered an apologetic smile, but his words held no trace of apology. "As you know, your sister had no Spirit Root and couldn’t practice Cultivation. Youthful beauty only lasts for a few years. After she grew old and her looks faded, this Master allowed her to leave the palace and find a husband for herself. She probably settled down somewhere here in Starry Valley; this Master doesn’t recall the details. After so many years, I imagine her lifespan has run its course."

Du Youqian was taken aback.

Master Luo Fan’s explanation, while disrespectful, was logical upon careful consideration.

Such things were common even in the grand households of the Mortal World. A wealthy family’s favored concubines or personal maids, if they bore no children, would be released once they grew older and allowed to find husbands of their own.

Kinder families might even provide a small dowry, sending them off with the same ceremony as one of their own daughters.

If Zong Hui truly had been released after her beauty faded, found a husband, and then died an unnatural death for some other reason, Du Youqian would have no grounds to cause trouble for Master Luo Fan.

Of course, if that were the case, it would be a good outcome for both Du Youqian and Master Luo Fan.

It truly wasn’t worth two Golden Core Middle Stage Cultivators coming to blows over a mere mortal woman.

Du Youqian said coolly, "She is my own sister. If she is still alive, I wish to take her back to live out her remaining years in peace. If she has passed away, I must collect her remains and bring them back to our hometown for burial. Surely, Master Luo Fan, you wouldn’t be so stingy as to refuse to look into the matter?"

As soon as Du Youqian finished speaking, a visible frost fell over Master Luo Fan’s face.

His tone was chilling as he spoke, enunciating each word. "Master Zong Li, this Master has already given you a way out. Why don’t you just take it and be done with this?"

The two beautiful concubines were terrified. They immediately flung Du Youqian’s hands off them and scrambled away in a panic.

Du Youqian rose slowly to his feet, his face an emotionless mask. "So, you did kill my sister?"

And before him, in those familiar yet strange eyes, there was only endless sorrow and rage.