Chapter 252 : When in Doubt
Chapter 252: When in Doubt
Chen Ming gazed at the high platform in the center. Before the Third Elder sat a black alms bowl, and a chilling ghostly aura coiled around her body. He found the situation rather troublesome.
That black bowl was undoubtedly a treasured artifact—even the Taiyue Sword could not pierce it.
Moreover, the purple mists swirling around her were clearly designed to attack the soul, the kind of technique that made one’s hair stand on end.
Though this Third Elder ranked lower than the Second Elder, she was, in his eyes, the more dangerous of the two.
Due to his current cultivation limits, his divine soul was naturally weaker than that of a First Grade expert. Facing such a strange opponent with bizarre means, if he were even slightly careless, a wound to his soul might become an irreparable injury. That would be a great loss indeed.
Still, now that she had mistaken him for a successor of Elysium Island, this was also an opportunity.
That Second Elder—a dignified First Grade expert—had kneeled before him earlier. Most likely, that hadn’t been an act.
There was no need for it to be.
Chen Ming spoke calmly, “Give me a reason not to kill you.”
The Third Elder bowed respectfully. “This old woman can swear upon her Yin Spirit—to recognize you as my master and obey your every command from this day forth.”
Yin Spirit?
Chen Ming’s heart stirred slightly. He had read many historical records mentioning Fangshi—cultivators of the old. In the previous dynasty, there had even been legends of such practitioners.
However, within the Great Jin Dynasty, such cultivators had nearly vanished, save for a few surviving sects. The most famous among them was, of course, the Celestial Master Residence.
Most of the ancient legacies of cultivation had passed to the other two nations—to the south, Southern Chu, and to the west, Western Kang.
It was said that cultivators from Third to First Grade trained their Yin Spirit.
Beyond the First Grade, they refined the Yang Spirit.
This woman was, then, a rare cultivator—who knew which sect she came from?
Chen Ming said coldly, “Not enough.”
Did she think a mere oath could deceive him? Too naïve.
The light of the Taiyue Sword in his hand flared even brighter, purifying all the ghostly energy drifting around him.
Sweat beaded upon the Third Elder’s forehead.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have feared a Second Grade opponent—even one rumored to be the disciple of Elysium Island’s master.
But just earlier, during her monthly star divination, she had foreseen an omen of death. Her heart was in turmoil. Then, this man had come storming in right after—how could she not be terrified?
This man must be the death star from her divination!
Her trust in her astrological arts was absolute, and that was why she had kneeled so decisively.
Now, seeing that he was about to strike—
The Third Elder gritted her teeth and cried out, “Wait! This old one is willing to hand over my Life-Bound Yin Bead to you. From then on, my life and death will be within your control—betrayal would be impossible!”
As she spoke, her brow shone faintly, and something beneath her skin bulged outward. A moment later, a black bead emerged.
Once the bead left her body, her vitality seemed to drain away—she visibly weakened.
“Master, please accept this.”
She pushed the bead forward, eyes full of reluctant sorrow.
Chen Ming didn’t take it by hand. Instead, he used the Taiyue Sword to lift it up.
Life-Bound Yin Bead?
He didn’t know what that was.
Should he take advantage of her current weakness and just finish her off?
Chen Ming pondered. Killing her would indeed be the safest—no hidden dangers left behind. He would even earn two million experience points.
However, he did lack a loyal subordinate—someone to handle matters inconvenient for him to act on personally.
If he had such a follower earlier, things wouldn’t have turned so troublesome this time.
But could he trust her words?
Was that Yin Bead truly capable of controlling her life and death?
Chen Ming hesitated briefly, then a thought flashed across his mind.
When in doubt—ask the Tortoiseshell.
He channeled a sliver of his mind into the tortoiseshell he carried in his robe and silently asked, “Can I trust her?”
A wave of information flowed through his consciousness, and he instantly had his answer.
Chen Ming asked aloud, “Do you still have a strand of my hair on you?”
“Yes.”
The Third Elder didn’t hesitate. She lifted her outer robe and pulled a small leather pouch from her waist, tossing it toward him. “This was given to me by Sun Chuxian.”
Chen Ming caught the pouch with a wave of his hand and thought, Good thing I’m cautious. Otherwise, I’d likely already be dead from a soul-curse technique.
This Third Elder carried many such pouches—each likely tied to an important figure.
He asked, “So, you were killing people on Sun Chuxian’s behalf?”
“Yes. Sun Chuxian would give me the target’s hair or skin, and I would use it as a medium to sever their souls.”
“The other four elders—were they also killed by you?”
“Yes.”
Chen Ming pressed on, “Why would you obey him so completely?”
That was something he truly wondered. No one with true skill would willingly serve as another’s killing blade. In the Great Jin, cultivators were rare and precious—why not seek a stronger patron?
The Third Elder answered bitterly, “The resources I require for cultivation can only be obtained from Secret Realms. Without Sun Chuxian’s support, I cannot survive.”
So that was it!
Chen Ming understood—mutual benefit. Moreover, for her to know so much about Elysium Island, she couldn’t be walking a righteous path.
“Oh, right.”
He suddenly remembered something. “Recently, did Sun Chuxian order you to kill anyone?”
The Third Elder replied, “A few days ago, he commanded me to slay the soul of the White Feather Sect’s Sect Master.”
As expected!
Chen Ming had long suspected this after learning that the White Feather Sect was affiliated with Jin Yutang. Now he had confirmation from her mouth.
So, Li Jinchuan truly was just a scapegoat.
That poor kid—an orphan who had relied on a family servant since childhood. After finally joining a sect and finding stability, he was dragged into such a vast conspiracy.
Who knew where he was hiding now?
Chen Ming instructed, “From now on, act as usual. Don’t let Sun Chuxian suspect a thing. If I need you, I’ll come find you.”
“Yes, farewell, Master.”
The Third Elder remained kneeling. By the time she raised her head, he had vanished.
That was close!
She exhaled deeply, then suddenly remembered something. Pinching her fingers to divine, her expression brightened. “It’s the omen of Extreme Misfortune Begets Fortune—the calamity has passed.”
That meant her judgment was right—the death omen had indeed referred to that man.
Although she had paid a heavy price—offering up her Life-Bound Yin Bead—as long as she lived, what did it matter?
She had to survive.
To live was more important than anything else.
……
After leaving the Third Elder’s courtyard, Chen Ming walked straight out of Jin Yutang without the slightest hesitation. With the greatest threat gone, there was no reason to linger.
Next, he intended to find Yu Haitang.
After the battles with the Third and Second Elders, he realized that his current strength might still be insufficient to kill Du Rusong.
The Second Elder held a lofty position and probably hadn’t fought seriously in years.
Du Rusong was different. As a Purple-Robed Inspector of the Six Doors Headquarters, he had fought countless battles on the frontlines. His combat experience was unmatched—not someone easy to kill.
A single mistake might even result in being killed instead.
It was safer to find an ally.
Once Du Rusong was dead, the world would be wide open for him. He could change his identity, find a quiet place, open a martial school, recruit disciples, spar daily, and slowly accumulate experience points.
Ever since he had been drawn into the affair of the Eternal Life Emperor’s False Tomb, his life had been one of blood and danger. He had killed many, grown stronger rapidly—but the peril was too great.
Chen Ming preferred a more peaceful life.
Determined, he slipped through the streets and alleys.
Back in the Secret Realm, Yu Haitang had given him an address where he could find her.
After their previous transaction, a measure of trust had formed between them.
Coincidentally, he knew that address well—it was where he had lived before, in the courtyard right next to Hall of Eternal Life.
There, he had spent memorable days with Su Zhining and Yu Haitang.
Swish, swish, swish!
Suddenly, Chen Ming heard the sound of air being cut in the distance. For someone to be using movement techniques in the middle of the night—it couldn’t be good.
He didn’t plan to interfere and was about to move faster when a familiar voice reached his ears.
“Senior Sister, what do you mean by this?”
Huo Qianqian?
He stopped abruptly, then flickered backward silently, landing on a rooftop without a sound, peering down into the courtyard below.
In the faint moonlight stood seven or eight people. Huo Qianqian was surrounded at the center, her face full of grief and anger.
“You tricked me into coming here and even let outsiders interrogate me. Aren’t you afraid Martial Uncle will hold you accountable?”
An older woman sighed. “Junior Sister Huo, don’t you understand? Without Martial Uncle’s permission, how could we have brought you here?”
Huo Qianqian’s face went pale.
Another woman said harshly, “No need to waste words. Huo Qianqian, before the fellow disciples of the White Feather Sect, you will speak—whether you wish to or not! Confess quickly, and you’ll suffer less.”
Huo Qianqian said miserably, “I’ve already told you everything I know. I truly don’t know where Junior Brother Li is. You simply refuse to believe me.”
On the other side stood two haughty-looking men. One of them roared, “How dare you call that traitor Junior Brother in front of us? You’re clearly in league with him! Speak now—or we’ll make you taste the agony of torn sinews and shattered bones!”
A woman from the Xiaoshui Sect tried to persuade her gently, “Junior Sister Huo, just tell them. Why ruin yourself for some distant junior brother? If you help the White Feather Sect capture that traitor, it’ll count as a great merit. With your talent, Master will surely favor you—perhaps even make you Sect Master one day. Can’t you tell which choice is wiser?”
“Yes, Junior Sister,” another added. “You know how close the White Sect Master was to our Master. When she learned that Sect Master Bai was slain, she fainted from grief. At such a time, as her disciples, shouldn’t we share her burden?”
They tried to coerce and persuade her in turn, with both soft words and threats—all to make Huo Qianqian reveal Li Jinchuan’s whereabouts.
Under the cold, pale moonlight, Huo Qianqian’s slender body trembled. It seemed she might collapse at any moment.