Chapter Fifty-Three: The Remarkable Knight

Su Jiu was greatly shocked by what he heard. He stared at Chen Jiu, pondering, then asked, “Where is that path?”

“Do you know the great river outside Hongyu Village?” Chen Jiu suddenly replied.

A glint flashed in Su Jiu’s eyes as he fell into deep thought, then seemed to recall something.

“That river, it seems, originates from Hongyu Mountain. Within its waters dwell not only those bizarre giant red fish, but on every full moon night, the river runs as bright red as blood.”

“You mean, there’s a way to enter the heart of Hongyu Mountain through the river?” Su Jiu pressed.

Chen Jiu’s expression shifted slightly. “Though I can’t be certain, isn’t it worth a try?”

Su Jiu nodded faintly, and a smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

“You’re not as weak as you seem. You’re quite clever after all.”

Chen Jiu was silently resentful. If it weren’t for the man’s mysterious background, he would have dealt with him already. To dare drag him into this mess and act so nonchalant about it—it infuriated him.

With a stony face, Chen Jiu mounted his lotus platform and flew away.

Su Jiu pursed his lips and muttered, “I was just testing the waters with you, is it worth getting so worked up over? It’s not like I’d stand by and watch you drown…”

After grumbling to himself, he too transformed into a ball of light and followed.

...

On the broad river, skiffs drifted along, each carrying an old fisherman in a straw raincoat, bent over, tending to his nets in preparation for fishing.

Chen Jiu piloted his lotus platform above the river.

The water surged on, and amidst the splashing waves, glimpses of fish could be seen frolicking in delight.

In the farthest distance his eyes could reach, at the end of the river, stood a great mountain. From afar, one could see only its hazy silhouette.

Su Jiu soon caught up, manifesting beside Chen Jiu and standing midair.

“Let’s go.”

“Wait,” Chen Jiu called to him.

“What is it?”

Chen Jiu glanced at the handsome young man before him, narrowing his eyes. “Are you really here to avenge the insect master?”

Su Jiu was momentarily taken aback, then nodded, then shook his head. “Not entirely.”

“But don’t worry. When we find that insect master, you won’t need to lift a finger. I’ll take care of him myself,” he added.

Chen Jiu moistened his parched lips and nodded. “Since you’re so confident, I shall look forward to it.”

Then, the lotus platform beneath his feet glowed with waves of green light that wrapped around him, and in the next instant, he plunged into the surging river, vanishing with a splash.

Su Jiu followed without hesitation, diving beneath the waters as well.

Chen Jiu guided his lotus platform, traveling through the river for half an hour before finally arriving at a subterranean stream.

Darkness enveloped him on all sides—no trace of light but for the green glow of the lotus platform piercing a small patch of blackness.

Suddenly, the sphere containing the strange insect in Chen Jiu’s hand began to glow brightly.

Above!

A surge of joy rose in Chen Jiu’s heart.

Without hesitation, he summoned his spell sword and small banner.

As the lotus platform slowly rose, after the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Chen Jiu finally broke the surface.

The moment his head emerged, he was instantly alert.

The surroundings were not the pitch black he’d imagined.

It seemed to be a limestone cave.

On the rocky wall by the water, several moonstones glimmered, casting a gentle “moonlight.” By this light, Chen Jiu saw a path at the water’s edge leading deep into the cavern.

Splash!

Su Jiu broke the surface as well, arriving beside Chen Jiu.

“As expected! Hongyu Mountain hides a world within,” Su Jiu said, his voice tinged with barely suppressed excitement.

Chen Jiu didn’t understand, and merely reminded him, “My cultivation is inferior to yours. Please, lead the way.”

Since you’re so arrogant and think you can take on the insect master alone, you can blaze the trail… This was Chen Jiu’s thought.

Su Jiu’s expression turned odd as he teased, “What’s wrong? Lost your nerve?”

“You’re a grown man, and you want me to go first?”

Chen Jiu raised an eyebrow, his look equally odd. “And what are you, if not a grown man yourself?”

At that, Su Jiu’s face changed. He gave an awkward cough. “Ahem, out of the way!”

Chen Jiu: “…”

Thus, the two proceeded in single file through the dim, winding passage.

After the time it takes to eat a meal, a secret chamber suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor.

Su Jiu’s expression shifted. The door to the chamber was half-closed, and bright candlelight spilled out from within, as if someone had recently been there.

Chen Jiu held his spell sword before him, one hand on his sword pouch and the other gripping the small banner.

If anything went awry, he’d strike like thunder.

His greatest reliance now was the sword pouch Yan Chixia had given him.

This item could slay cultivators of the “Core Embryo” stage!

He couldn’t use it many more times, but Chen Jiu believed that each time it unleashed its power, it could save him from certain death.

Su Jiu summoned his ancient mirror, which shone with blinding silver light—its power was formidable.

When Su Jiu pushed open the door, they discovered the chamber was empty.

“It seems the insect master isn’t here,” Chen Jiu remarked as he surveyed the peculiar little chamber.

It was small, able to hold just one or two people.

But along the walls, numerous recesses had been carved, each filled with stacks of books.

It felt almost like a study.

Suddenly, Chen Jiu’s attention was drawn to a badge hanging on the wall.

He stepped forward and took it down.

“Strange Talent…”

On the front of the badge, two large characters—“Strange Talent”—were written in gold lacquer.

Noticing this, Su Jiu came over.

When he saw the badge in Chen Jiu’s hand, his face changed drastically.

“He’s actually with the Bureau of Public Order…!”

Chen Jiu was startled.

Someone from the Bureau of Public Order?!

“How do you know?”

Su Jiu took the badge, studied it closely, and snorted. “Doesn’t the badge make it clear?”

“The General Bureau of Public Order is divided into the ‘Hanging Eye’ and ‘Strange Talent’ offices. The ‘Hanging Eye’ is responsible for assassinations, eliminating the bureau’s hidden enemies. The ‘Strange Talent’ office cultivates elites for the bureau—geniuses from all across the Jin Dynasty, remarkable figures of their generation.”

“And the badge you see here belongs exclusively to members of the ‘Strange Talent’ office.”

Chen Jiu listened, his heart growing cold.

But he asked, “But how can you be sure the insect master is one of them?”

A deep unease settled over Chen Jiu.

If the insect master really was a lackey of the Bureau of Public Order, and also knew he possessed the “Heaven’s Eye”—wouldn’t that be a nightmare come true!

Su Jiu’s tone was unfriendly. “Hmph, when I was a child, my father told me that in the ‘Strange Talent’ office, there was a cultivator who controlled strange insects—he spent his life among them, could not go without them, even needed poisonous bugs with every meal…”

“Although that person later vanished without a trace, I’m certain the insect master must be from the Bureau of Public Order!”

Hearing this, Chen Jiu grew yet more wary of Su Jiu.

From what you’re saying, it sounds as if you’re not a stranger to the Bureau of Public Order either…

“Don’t just stand there like a wooden dummy! Hurry and look for more clues!”

There was only one door in the secret chamber, with no other exit.

If they couldn’t find anything useful, their efforts would be wasted.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they had searched through all the books in the chamber.

They found neither hidden passages nor teleportation arrays.

But among the books, they did discover something.

It seemed to be exactly what had drawn the insect master here.

Chen Jiu gazed at a yellowed, tattered silk scroll. At the top, in bloodstained, jagged writing, were two words:

Blood Demon.