Chapter Sixty-Five: Conviction

Blood seeped from the wall and dripped onto the floor. Jiang Jianghu’s once arrogant face was locked in a look of utter disbelief, his eyes wide open as if he hadn’t even realized what had happened before death claimed him.

The only conscious person in the scene, Lu Caiwei, stood stunned, her mind blank as she gazed at the sight. A martial artist at the fifth layer of the Initial Sensing Realm was formidable among both common folk and cultivators; how could such a person die so easily?

She turned to look at the man in azure robes, whose demeanor was as calm as a breeze and drifting clouds. Though she had known him for some time, at this moment he seemed utterly unfamiliar, as if she were meeting him for the first time.

Shen Yu, holding a wrapped bundle, walked out the door without a word of explanation.

Lu Caiwei hurriedly called out, “Wait.”

Shen Yu looked at her.

Her expression was complex as she asked, “Why did you deceive us?”

Shen Yu replied, “What did I deceive you about?”

Lu Caiwei was taken aback, realizing he spoke the truth. From the very beginning, Shen Yu had never spoken of himself, let alone lied.

Recalling previous events, she asked, “Earlier, at that narrow pass—was it you who saved us?”

Shen Yu did not answer.

Lu Caiwei pressed her lips together and said softly, “Thank you.”

“No need. Everything has its cause,” Shen Yu replied indifferently. “If you hadn’t paid me, I wouldn’t have acted. It was simply a transaction. Perhaps that seems cruel to you, but to me, it’s perfectly ordinary. I didn’t save you out of pity.”

He was not lying.

Over the long years, through the tumultuous chaos of the mortal world, the age when demons ran rampant, Shen Yu had witnessed countless tragedies and helpless suffering.

Because of this, what lay before him seemed commonplace.

People experience life and death, joy and sorrow, union and separation, just as the moon waxes and wanes.

Thus, so many in the world seek cultivation, aspire to attain immortality, to escape the cycle of reincarnation.

For reasons she couldn’t fathom, Lu Caiwei’s eyes dimmed.

“I don’t know what happened, but you’re not suited for cultivation. If you don’t want to die, you should go home,” Shen Yu said, unusually offering her advice before leaving the courtyard without another glance.

Exiting the inn, feeling the bustle of the street, Shen Yu frowned.

He sensed a subtle change.

In the past, he wouldn’t have spoken so much unnecessary nonsense. Since his rebirth, his personality seemed to be shifting in subtle ways—even he hadn’t noticed before.

He shook his head lightly, dispelling these strange thoughts, and made his way toward the city gate.

As for that maid—or perhaps a lady in disguise—what she thought, what choice she made, what future awaited her, none of it concerned him anymore.

There were wanderers in the world who liked to draw their swords and intervene at every injustice, but those things were foreign to Shen Yu.

Besides, he had many other matters to attend to.

As he walked through the street, a sudden commotion erupted, followed by a furious voice echoing throughout the ancient town of Pingyao.

“Who dares steal an immortal treasure from the Guiyun Immortal Sect? If I discover your identity, you will beg for death!”

With this aged voice, a powerful aura spread across the town.

Shen Yu was surprised, his expression turning slightly strange.

Amid the flowing crowd, a small figure moved against the tide, arriving in front of Shen Yu in an instant, looking extremely pleased.

The black-clad child opened his mouth but before he could speak, Shen Yu covered it with his hand.

A moment later, their figures flickered and appeared in a secluded corner.

Far above, the elder from Guiyun Immortal Sect was still raging in the sky.

The child, full of excitement, said, “Sir, did you hear that?”

“I heard. Guiyun Immortal Sect,” Shen Yu replied, somewhat troubled. “Did you do it?”

“Of course.” The child patted his chest with pride. “In the whole town, that place had the densest spiritual energy—clearly a treasure absorbing it! I snuck in, knocked out a few people, and then…”

Shen Yu ignored his boasting, turning calmly to sense the aura in the sky.

The Three Supreme Realms in the world:

Bodhisattva of the Buddhist Sect.

True Immortal of the Daoist Sect.

Sage of the Confucian Sect.

Each realm had its strengths, but none was superior.

Take Huike of Lingyin Temple, for example: a great Bodhisattva of the Buddhist Sect’s Supreme Realm, attaining such a rank at a young age was already world-shaking in Linghuang.

Judging from the spiritual energy fluctuations, the old man in the sky was likely a cultivator with one foot in the Supreme Realm—a bit stronger than Zhang Zhi at the peak of the Divine Wandering Realm.

Shen Yu thought for a moment—there was no way the item could be returned, and he wouldn’t give face even to a soon-to-be Supreme cultivator. Still, if the theft was discovered, Li Fugui would surely be no match, and trouble would follow.

When facing Daoist cultivators, especially those of lower realms, Shen Yu’s innate Dao body and residual memories allowed him to compensate for two major realms—his familiarity with Daoist cultivation was ingrained in his bones, which is why he could repeatedly defeat high-realm disciples like Fang Hen.

But this advantage disappeared when fighting non-Daoist cultivators; it was impossible to kill across realms so casually, not even for Shen Yu.

Seeing Shen Yu deep in thought, the child grew nervous and said, “Sir, did I cause trouble? Should I sneak it back?”

Shen Yu shook his head, patted his shoulder, and said, “No. Don’t worry, things from Guiyun Immortal Sect—take them as you please.”

“Huh?” The child was confused.

Without explaining, Shen Yu mused, “Since we took it, there’s no reason to return it. But what if we can’t win?”

Li Fugui answered without hesitation, “Hide.”

Shen Yu nodded. “Makes sense.”

With that, he walked into a quiet little shop behind them, his demeanor as light as the wind.

The child was left speechless.

…

In the days that followed, someone died at the Tianhe Inn, but surprisingly, it caused no ripple—like a stone dropped in the sea.

Instead, the theft of the Guiyun Immortal Sect’s treasure became ever more dramatic. The ancient town was surrounded by soldiers of the Great Li Dynasty, and terrifying pressure lingered overhead, as if searching for something.

Staying in the small inn, Shen Yu finally learned what Li Fugui had stolen.

It was a bronze mirror, simple and old-fashioned.

Shen Yu found it familiar—three thousand years ago, there was a similar item, though that one was the treasure of Kunlun.

The black-clad child turned it over and over in his hands, curious. “Sir, what kind of treasure is this?”

Shen Yu said, “A Demon Revealing Mirror. It prevents monsters from taking human form, identifies their origins, and controls their fate.”

The child’s mouth dropped open, his eyes shining with gold. But before he could rejoice, Shen Yu poured cold water over his hopes.

“Of course, this item from Guiyun Immortal Sect is only a replica.”

Shen Yu examined it seriously and said indifferently, “Barely passable, nothing special.”

With Shen Yu’s vision, even the real Demon Revealing Mirror wouldn’t impress him, let alone a mere imitation.

The child sighed again.

Shen Yu continued, “Still, the material is decent—it might be useful in a fight.”

The child had no energy left to express disappointment. “Sir, can’t you just say it all at once?”

Shen Yu chuckled, opened the window, and gazed at the ripples of energy in the sky. “It’s time to leave.”

The child’s eyes lit up at once. These days of idle waiting had been nearly unbearable.

The soldiers’ patrols were no longer so frequent, and Guiyun Immortal Sect’s vigilance was waning—clearly, no one believed the thief would dare linger here.

To continue east from Pingyao, they’d need to board a boat and cross an outer sea to reach the eastern provinces.

They arrived at the old town’s ferry.

Countless boats of all sizes crowded the wide river, which connected the town to the sea.

Shen Yu suddenly stopped.

A familiar face appeared before him.

It was the woman whose path of cultivation had been cut off days ago. She stood quietly, her clothes dusted, as if she had waited a long time.

Her expression was weary, but her eyes were unusually bright. She spoke, “I want to make a deal with you. Take me to Guiyun Immortal Sect—name your price.”

Shen Yu replied lightly, “I don’t need money. There’s no point in such a thing.”

Lu Caiwei’s face remained calm as she produced an item. “This, too, is yours.”

“You’re clever,” Shen Yu remarked, eyeing the silver bracelet in her hand. “But if you go there, you’ll only die. I don’t take meaningless jobs.”

The woman, plain in appearance but mature and alluring in figure, stepped closer, stopping a foot away. She said calmly, “The Treasure-Falling Bracelet, five hundred gold taels, and… my body.”

Shen Yu gazed at her indifferently.

Lu Caiwei’s face showed no emotion as she continued, “I am still a virgin. I only have this chance. Though I cannot yet remove my mask, I am confident my beauty surpasses any woman in the world.”

Her tone was confident. To Shen Yu, a woman's pride in her looks was much like a cultivator’s pride in their realm—self-assured, even arrogant.

But Shen Yu cared little for such words.

He looked into Lu Caiwei’s eyes and found them calm as stagnant water, with a trace of hidden tenacity and sorrow.

“You said I’m not suited for cultivation, so now I’m learning what to do. Give me what I want, and I’ll give you everything I have.”

Lu Caiwei’s expression betrayed a hint of contempt. “Aren’t all men like this? We each get what we need. Why hesitate?”

Hearing this, the black-clad child was about to curse, but Shen Yu waved him silent.

Shen Yu nodded. “Agreed.”

“What?” Li Fugui was shocked, staring at Shen Yu in disbelief.

Lu Caiwei’s contempt grew deeper. She sneered, “I hope you treat me with some respect on the journey. When I accomplish what I must, I will fulfill my promise.”

She took a deep breath, her voice complicated. “Don’t squander what little goodwill I still have for you.”

Shen Yu looked at the ship approaching the harbor, ignoring her mockery. “It seems you’ve learned some of the rules and truths of the cultivation world, though you disdain them.”

Lu Caiwei said coldly, “Those are your rules—selfish, profit-driven. I can’t change or resist them, but I don’t believe everyone is like this. I will cultivate, but the path I choose will not be like yours.”

“Very well,” Shen Yu nodded. “I hope you prove it to me someday.”