Chapter Four: The Blossoms Drift, the Water Flows

Song Xiang, seeing them surrounding him, couldn't help but shout warily, "What? You intend to use your numbers to bully me now, don't you?"

The crowd remained silent, simply staring at him.

"Yu Heishi, you two-faced traitor! All the trust I placed in you, and this is how you repay me!"

Yu Heishi looked down at the pathetic wretch on the ground with a mocking smile, gripping his weapon tighter.

"Palace Master Qin, Palace Master Qin, speak with a clear conscience! I never made things difficult for you, did I? I specifically gave orders to treat you and Palace Master Lin with respect. You cannot forget the kindness I showed you! Please, speak a good word for me to the Primordial Lord, I beg you."

Song Xiang pleaded, struggling to rise, but due to his severe injuries, he could only prop up his upper body before collapsing, unable to move further.

Qin Ying was so incensed by the old rascal that she laughed coldly. "Then I truly should thank you! If not for you, would we have been thrown into the Celestial Prison without cause? If not for you, would my sister Su Xin have had her legs broken? Would her face have been disfigured? You didn't dare touch us because you feared angering the star lords, but since Su Xin holds no official rank or title, you tortured her without restraint, didn't you?"

"And furthermore!" Zhuo Hua added, "If not for you stirring up trouble in the Cloud Palace, how could the wars in the lower realms have become so dire? You lorded over the Cloud Palace, while the common folk below were displaced and their families torn apart. You cannot escape responsibility for any of these crimes."

Lin Bo placed his Hunyuan Blade against Song Xiang’s neck. The scorching heat radiating from the blade instantly seared Song Xiang’s skin. He shrieked, but had no strength left to dodge. Before long, the smell of charred flesh began to fill the air.

Jiaomujiao pulled the blade away from his neck, only to bring it back and gesture with it, saying, "Why waste words with a man like this? Let me just hack him to pieces and be done with it."

With that, he raised his blade, intending to decapitate Song Xiang.

No matter how strong Song Xiang’s physical body was as a ten-thousand-year-old python lord, it could not withstand a thunderous strike from the Hunyuan Blade.

Just as Song Xiang closed his eyes, preparing for death, Zhuo Hua stopped Lin Bo. "Old Jiao, wait. I understand the grievances everyone feels. But the Cloud Palace has its rules. To vent personal spite through an unsanctioned execution is a violation of the Heavenly Laws."

"At a time like this, are we still going to worry about such red tape?" Lin Bo asked, feeling somewhat bewildered and even annoyed.

"The more critical the situation, the more we must uphold the Heavenly Laws. Otherwise, more people will trample upon them, and the world will only descend into greater chaos."

After saying this, Zhuo Hua turned to Kui Mulang and said, "Palace Master Yu, the White Tiger Palace holds authority over the Cloud Palace's guard and penal system. I leave Song Xiang to you."

Yu Heishi clapped his hands together, bowed with cupped fists, and knelt on one knee. "I shall ensure this scoundrel is brought to justice and uphold the righteous Heavenly Laws."

Zhuo Hua felt utterly exhausted, physically and mentally. He pressed his temples and said to the group, "Let us go and see the suffering people of the Cloud Palace."

Qin Ying stepped forward, her heart aching, and began to massage his acupoints. "You must have suffered greatly yourself. Having just returned and already expending so much energy, you should rest first! We three Palace Masters will handle the pacification."

Zhuo Hua shook his head. "Hearts are trembling within the Cloud Palace, and morale is on the verge of collapse. Everyone knows I have returned today; if I do not appear to comfort them personally, it is not just their hearts I shall lose."

Lin Bo nodded in agreement. "The most urgent task now is to win back hearts, boost morale, and reclaim the lost mountains and rivers."

Zhuo Hua closed his eyes, seemingly satisfied with Qin Ying’s technique. He said, "Although I have purged the internal rot, the situation outside is dire. The Dark Evil Army and the Sun-Worshipping Cult are spreading poison across the various continents, assassinating officials and attacking government palaces. Their goal is to seize the holy relics of the seven great clans to plot for the Desolation Cauldron. If the Desolation Cauldron is lost, our Void will cease to exist."

Qin Ying channeled the delicate, freshly generated true energy within her into her fingertips, matching the rhythm of her massage to pulse the energy into Zhuo Hua’s acupoints—a technique that had always left him in awe.

"The previous farce caused the Cloud Palace to lose contact with the seven celestial clans," Qin Ying asked with concern. "Do you know the status of the holy relics outside?"

"Alas!" Zhuo Hua sighed heavily. "According to the latest intelligence, four of the seven holy relics have already fallen into the hands of the enemy. I fought a great battle against the combined forces of the Dark Evil and Sun-Worshipping cults in Tianshui City to save the Smoke Clan's Flowing Cloud Cauldron. The Azure Clan's Cloud-Suppressing Umbrella is with Tian Jialan, and the Tian Clan's Crystal Neon Garment is with Lan Sheng. Both are currently in the Cloud Palace, so they are safe for now."

Zhuo Hua waved his hand, and Qin Ying stopped.

As Zhuo Hua turned to leave the Hall of Seven Sages and Seven Worthies, he saw Yu Heishi still kneeling. "Does Palace Master Yu have something else to say?"

Yu Heishi lowered his head and bowed. "The Primordial Lord has yet to give instructions on how to deal with Ri Xuluo. Please, enlighten me."

Zhuo Hua pondered for a moment and said calmly, "You may handle it in accordance with the law."

With that, he strode out of the Hall.

In the Guanlan Pavilion, Su Xin had been temporarily settled. Despite the name "Pavilion of Viewing Waves," one could not see the vast, surging ocean here; instead, one looked out upon the sea of clouds that lingered perennially among the Cuiwei Mountains.

Zhuo Hua had always pined for the great oceans of the Xuanhuang Void, so Lan Ling had secretly ordered this pavilion to be built at the best vantage point for viewing the clouds of Cuiwei Mountain, gifting it to him for his birthday.

Not long after, however, Lan Ling had mysteriously vanished.

"What exactly was she trying to do? Elder Yu seems to know something of Lan Ling’s past, but she refuses to speak, saying only that Lan Ling did nothing wrong. Could it be that I truly wronged her?"

Zhuo Hua stood alone with his hands behind his back, gazing out at the churning sea of clouds. The dark green mountains appeared and disappeared within the mist like a fairyland.

"Drink some tea. You have been standing here for a long time." Su Xin silently brewed a cup of tea, placed it on the low table, and turned to leave.

"Does the wound still hurt?" Zhuo Hua turned and asked.

"It does not," Su Xin replied with her back to him.

"Turn around."

"Does the Primordial Lord have any other orders? If not, Su Xin will take her leave." She began to retreat, walking with a limp due to her recently healed leg.

Seeing her hobble, a wave of warmth washed over Zhuo Hua’s eyes. He stepped forward and pulled her back, only to notice she was wearing a veil.

"Why are you wearing a veil?"

"Don't ask."

"Take it off and let me see."

"No."

Ignoring her, Zhuo Hua reached out to remove the veil.

"If you dare to take it off, I shall die before your eyes!" Su Xin said viciously, a fierce glare in her eyes.

"If there is a scar on your face, I can repair it. I promise it will be as if it never existed," Zhuo Hua said, releasing her arm and speaking apologetically.

"I know you can do it. You could also heal my feet. But I do not want it." With that, she turned to limp away.

"Why must you be like this?" Zhuo Hua asked, helpless.

"Because I do not wish to owe you any favors. Because I cannot repay them, nor am I worthy of your concern." Su Xin sobbed, her shoulders trembling.

"You have never cared about such things before. Why now..."

Before Zhuo Hua could finish, Su Xin roared, "Yes, you are right! I never cared before! But what else could I do? Should I cry and act timidly like Zhuo Yun every day? Or act spoiled and willful like Qin Ying? What right do I have to do those things? We are all of the demon clan, yet look—did those two suffer anything this time? And look at what became of me! Because I am redundant!"

In her rage, Su Xin ripped off her veil. A deep scar ran from her left eyebrow across her prominent nose, ending just above her lip. The dark red scab on the newly healed wound was jarring and shocking.

"Su Xin..." Zhuo Hua reached out to touch the deep scar, but Su Xin tilted her head and dodged.

"Don't touch me." Su Xin’s tears flowed freely. "If you touch me again, I will leave this place at once."

"I know you are in pain, but let me look. I truly can remove that scar," Zhuo Hua said with concern.

"Do you always treat me as your pet? You feel a pang of pity when you remember me, but cast me aside when you don't? I know you keep me here only because you see me as a shadow of that fairy. Now that the real one has returned, I can disappear."

Zhuo Hua retorted, "Where did you hear such nonsense? Do not believe the rumors outside. You are a descendant of the Xuanhuang; naturally, I must look after you. What does that have to do with being someone’s shadow? You cultivate in the Cloud Palace, and I teach you the heart techniques; we are master and disciple. You have every right to live here."

After Zhuo Hua said this, Su Xin lowered her head in silence. After a long while, she nodded slowly. "I will recover well. If the Primordial Lord is ready to help me restore my face and my foot, please let me know. Su Xin would be most grateful."

With that, she bowed and withdrew.

"What is wrong with you?" Zhuo Hua asked, puzzled. He felt that Su Xin’s change today was truly beyond his imagination.

Su Xin smiled faintly. "Nothing. I have simply woken from a dream."

Zhuo Hua grew even more confused, but he did not press further. He only said, "Rest well. Once you have recovered, I will teach you and Zhuo Yun higher-level heart techniques. Go and rest. I am leaving."

With that, Zhuo Hua left the Guanlan Pavilion under Su Xin’s calm, respectful gaze.

Upon returning to the Lingjue Palace, Zhuo Hua approached the Xuanhuang Mirror. Suddenly, he saw a brilliant glow erupting from within. He peered closely at the image, his heart filling with joy. "Could it be that the Ninth Heaven Star is about to erupt ahead of schedule?"