Chapter Seventy: Mountain Village

Canglan River lies a thousand miles from Cloudcliff City, winding around a range known as the Heavensplit Mountains. The river is broad and expansive. In a tranquil, secluded bay, there is a mountain village called Vastness Village.

A few years ago, this was the only route for villagers heading east; to cross the river, one had to use the village ferry. But ever since tales of a great demon in the river began to spread and countless villagers met misfortune, the place grew sparse and desolate.

Now, with a mountain road spanning the Heavensplit range newly repaired, desolation reigns here all the more. Only the local villagers and those who depend on ferrying and fishing along the Canglan River come by, and only occasionally.

Along the way, Shen Yu explained the reason for their journey to Lu Caiwei. The young maiden listened in alarm, keeping a safe distance from the riverbank, terrified of being snatched by the river demon.

Soon, the two arrived at the deserted village by the river.

Standing at the village ferry, Shen Yu gazed at the quietly flowing water. It was noon, yet every household had its doors tightly shut, casting an eerie and uncanny air over the place.

He surveyed the surroundings. On the distant wooden pier jutting into the river, a few fishermen lingered. Their lives depended on fishing, so even though rumors of the river demon spread fear, they dared not leave and stop working altogether. Still, they were much less diligent than before, going out only one day in three.

Lu Caiwei asked nervously, “Is the monster really in the middle of the river?”

Shen Yu replied, “Cultivators have used demon-seeking artifacts to search, but neither the river’s heart nor its depths revealed any trace of it.”

Lu Caiwei whispered, “Then what do we do?”

“I’ll find it,” Shen Yu said calmly, “and then you will kill it.”

Lu Caiwei drew a deep breath, her expression growing grave. After a while, she hesitantly asked, “Can’t you just kill it yourself?”

“I can,” Shen Yu answered, “if you return my sword.”

Lu Caiwei flushed with annoyance and snorted.

The sudden arrival of two ethereal strangers in the desolate village drew the curious, scrutinizing gazes of the remaining villagers. Though the newcomers claimed to be cultivators sent by City Lord Baili of Cloudcliff City to subdue the demon, fear kept the villagers from approaching or initiating conversation.

Lu Caiwei racked her brains but got nowhere with her inquiries. In the end, Shen Yu casually tossed out a silver ingot, instantly drawing a crowd of villagers with warm greetings and concern.

The two finally settled in the home Shen Yu had chosen. After tidying up, Lu Caiwei remained somewhat gloomy.

Seated on a simple bench, Shen Yu remarked lightly, “Money, power, women—these are the true principles of the mundane world. Right now, the only thing that will put their minds at ease is money.”

Lu Caiwei sneered, “Do you think everyone is as selfish as you?”

Shen Yu said nothing.

Lu Caiwei felt her words were too harsh and, feeling uneasy, hesitated before asking, “What should we do next?”

Shen Yu did not answer, but instead posed another question. “Back near the Eastern Ancestral Continent, you said my path was not yours. Then what is the path in your heart?”

Lu Caiwei was stunned, at a loss for words. At last, she managed to say, “That good and evil are repaid in kind.”

“In the path of cultivation, there is only benefit and longevity. Good and evil do not exist.” Shen Yu shook his head. “And truly, do you think good and evil in this world can be so easily distinguished?”

Lu Caiwei felt he was wrong, but could not argue back. Frustrated, she retorted, “I can’t win an argument with you, but you’re wrong, you just are!”

Shen Yu smiled. “If you stood before a villain, would you dare to draw your sword?”

“Of course,” Lu Caiwei replied firmly. “I cultivate the sword to uphold justice and punish evil.”

Shen Yu nodded and stood.

Lu Caiwei asked in confusion, “Where are you going?”

“To find the demon,” replied Shen Yu.

In the days that followed, Lu Caiwei wandered the village and its outskirts with Shen Yu. Though the demon remained elusive, they grew familiar with the villagers.

Their hosts were a shrewd woman and her husband, Zhao Da, a ferryman at the village crossing. He was honest and robust, and treated them warmly, often bringing fresh fish to make soup—a luxury in these impoverished parts.

Even Lu Caiwei developed a certain fondness for the taciturn man.

Zhao Da had a child, seven or eight years old, whom both Shen Yu and Lu Caiwei had met—a pure and innocent boy.

Though the household sometimes quarreled over trivial matters, they lived in harmony.

Shen Yu spent his days leisurely, strolling the village and the riverbank, passing time chatting with Zhao Da at the ferry.

Lu Caiwei sometimes thought she had only agreed to rest here because she was exhausted. Still, she was not swayed by Shen Yu’s idleness. Every day, she practiced diligently with her white jade sword in the courtyard, determined that if the demon was found, she would unleash her finest, most dazzling strike—enough to astonish even Shen Yu himself.

Creak.

The courtyard’s wooden door swung open and Shen Yu entered.

“Shall we go out?” For the first time in days, Shen Yu spoke this invitation.

Lu Caiwei, surprised, teased, “Oh? Even you know what boredom is?”

Shen Yu said nothing, simply turning to leave.

Lu Caiwei huffed but followed him out.

As they walked through the village, people gathered, smiling and ingratiating, asking if any sign of the demon had been found. A few idle men squatted under the banyan tree, ready to watch the spectacle. Many cultivators had come before—none left in triumph.

Cultivators, it seemed, were nothing special.

Shen Yu ignored the disdainful looks and made his way to the simple ferry at the village entrance.

Zhao Da was eating a coarse steamed bun, his wife mending tattered clothes beside him. Their child was digging in the sand with a small spade.

The scene was filled with gentle warmth.

Seeing them, Zhao Da grinned. “Master Shen, what brings you here today?”

Shen Yu walked to the ferry’s edge, gazing into the dark depths of the river in silence. This river had swallowed countless innocent lives.

He said quietly, “Just to have a look, and maybe a chat.”

Lu Caiwei approached the child and ruffled his hair.

“Of course,” Zhao Da replied, “I know all the happenings within a hundred miles. Ask me anything, though when it comes to the demon, I might not be much help.”

Shen Yu squatted by the river, scooped up a handful of clear water and let it slip through his fingers. “I think I’ve figured it out.”

Lu Caiwei turned, eyes wide.

Zhao Da was also surprised. “Really? None of the cultivators before you ever said that.”

“It’s not as difficult as it seems,” Shen Yu replied.

“They were simply looking in the wrong place. The culprit was never a demon, but a human.”

“A human?” Lu Caiwei interjected.

Shen Yu’s expression remained calm. “Yes—a person who accidentally consumed a demon core, lost control of the demonic energy within, and ultimately lost his mind.”

Lu Caiwei gasped. “A demon core? Who was it?”

“A water-attribute demon core, of course from the river. So, naturally, it was someone closest to the water.” Shen Yu turned to Zhao Da. “What do you think?”

The honest, sturdy man remained unruffled. “Master Shen, I may not be smart, but I understand your meaning. Still, you’re mistaken. I was born and raised here—never seen or heard of such a demon core. Others have suspected me before, but I live upright, so I’m still here. If I were the problem, why didn’t the other cultivators see it?”

His words were unwavering and sincere.

Shen Yu replied mildly, “Appearances are deceiving. With your disposition, you’d likely make a fine cultivator.”

The silent woman could hold back no longer. She stepped forward and mocked, “Master, accusations require proof. Just because you haven’t found the river demon, will you blame our Zhao Da to save face? If word of this spreads, City Lord Baili will be humiliated.”

Zhao Da’s face darkened. “If you suspect I’ve eaten some demon core, test me if you wish.”

Lu Caiwei watched Zhao Da closely, finding nothing amiss, and furrowed her brow.

Shen Yu stood, saying, “Who said you were the one who ate the demon core?”

The casual remark fell like thunder, and the couple’s faces changed instantly. Lu Caiwei, too, was stunned.

She looked down suddenly. The child, who had stood silently behind his parents, was staring at the ground, face hidden.

“The father retrieved the demon core from the river, thinking it a treasure. The son swallowed it, and became a man-eating monster. To protect him, the parents concealed the truth, even abetting his crimes. Truly, what a helpless plight.”

Shen Yu’s words struck like a blade. “But you must know, your son died long ago. What remains in this body is only the reborn demon.”

He gazed at the boy, whose face remained unseen, and smiled. “If these two weren’t useful, wouldn’t you have eaten them already?”

Zhao Da could no longer hold steady. He trembled, voice shaking. “You… you’re talking nonsense…”

The woman clung tightly to her child, silent, tears streaming down her face.

Shen Yu cast a glance at the still-stunned Lu Caiwei. “It’s your turn.”

Lu Caiwei hesitated, torn with inner struggle.

Suddenly—

A sharp, wet sound.

The woman’s crying ended abruptly. A small hand burst through her chest.

“So noisy!”

The boy’s face was cold and merciless as he drew his blood-stained hand back and tossed the woman into the river. His once-bright eyes now brimmed with murderous intent.

“If you insist on dying, then so be it.”