Chapter 22

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Chapter 22: Showdown

Princess Shunde had three wishes. The first was for the jiaoren to speak human words. The second was for him to grow legs. The third was for him to serve without rebellion.

Now, Princess Shunde's first wish had been granted.

And it was Ji Yunhe who made it happen. At the beginning of this competition, she was determined and confident that she could make him speak before Lin Haoqing.

But...

Not like this.

The light from the sky streaked in from broken walls, and stopped exactly one foot in front of the high seat.

Lin Canglan sat in the shadows, his eyes looked more shady due to the contrasting light. His face was covered with wrinkles as deep as rolling hills.

Qing Shu stood behind him, more concealed than his shadow. Lin Haoqing stood on the right side of the hall in the daylight. At first glance, he looked tall and steady and his face was calm, as if he were still the gentle big brother Ji Yunhe had known.

Other demon masters stood along both sides of the hall.

Everyone watched in silence as Ji Yunhe walked step by step toward the master's high seat, and finally stopped three feet before Lin Canglan. "All hail the Valley Master," she knelt down and saluted as usual.

Lin Canglan smiled, and the folds on his face deepened a little more. "Arise. You are now a meritorious servant of the Demon Valley."

"Thank you, Valley Master." Ji Yunhe got up and remained standing in the center of the hall.

Lin Canglan continued, "The jade phoenix has caused pandemonium inside our valley and took away Snow March. A number of demon masters were killed, injured or still missing..." He coughed twice, seemingly in discomfort. "The court was furious. They have sent the Grand Master to hunt down both the demon bird and Snow March."

Ji Yunhe's face remained emotionless, but her heart sighed with relief.

Still wanted meant not caught yet.

Snow March was free and safe.

This chaos had at least granted one person's freedom.

"The court originally wanted to condemn our valley, but, well, you..." Lin Canglan pointed to Ji Yunhe, "you completed Princess Shunde's first wish. She was very pleased and spoke in our favor to the emperor. Yunhe, you have brought mercy upon the Demon Valley."

Releasing the jade phoenix was a threat to national security, yet getting the jiaoren to speak was a private matter. This current emperor... Ji Yunhe scornfully laughed inside her head. This little emperor was truly incompetent.

It was apparent that his sister, Princess Shunde, held more power.

Ji Yunhe's face showed no trace of what she thought to herself. "Yunhe just got lucky."

"Valley Master," a man walked out from the side and saluted Lin Canglan. "It is fortunate for us that the stubborn jiaoren spoke, but I have a few questions I would like for Master Warden to answer."

Ji Yunhe glanced at him. This was one of Lin Haoqing's men. Lin Haoqing was trying to cause her some trouble.

She stayed silent.

Lin Canglan would know of Lin Haoqing's intentions. If Lin Canglan allowed this, then it would be Lin Canglan who wanted to trouble her.

The only one she needed to deal with inside this hall was Lin Canglan.

Lin Canglan stared at the man for a moment and coughed twice, "Proceed."

Ji Yunhe took a breath. This old fox, he really just could not handle anyone living in peace.

"Yes. I would like to know, when we fought with the jade phoenix, Master Warden was nowhere in sight. Master Warden is highly capable but did not fight such a strong enemy with us, may I ask where were you and what you were doing at the time? This is my first question."

"Secondly, you all know the jiaoren is stubborn. Master Warden disappeared with him. Where did they go and what did they do? Why did they appear in the backyard of Li Feng Hall? This is my second question. Thirdly, after they reappeared, when Master Warden fell unconscious, the jiaoren guarded her and protected her with his life..."

Protected her with his life...

Changyi, you silly fish, did you have to...

Ji Yunhe's heart fluttered emotionally, but she did not dare to let it show.

"After being captured, the jiaoren's first words spoken were to inquire about her safety. I want to know, what is the relationship between him and Master Warden?"

The demon master stopped. Ji Yunhe turned her head and asked him, "Are you done?"

Her eyes were cold, and the person who had asked the questions was visibly frightened.

He forced himself to be calm. "Master Warden, please provide some answers."

"Basically, you just want to know what exactly I have been doing all this time. There is nothing to hide."

Ji Yunhe looked around at the crowd. "I did not participate in the battle with the jade phoenix because after the cat demon broke the seal, I saw the crack in the ground was heading straight for the jiaoren's prison. I was worried about him running away, so I went ahead to check on it. The battle with the jade phoenix was extremely important, so was ensuring the jiaoren did not escape. All of you fought with your lives to protect the reputation of the Demon Valley, to keep the jiaoren secure was also our duty."

"And with the jade phoenix, whether I helped or not wouldn't make a difference. But to handle the jiaoren, I alone would suffice."

Ji Yunhe spoke loudly and confidently. Her words were neither fast nor slow. The demon masters looked at each other, and no one stood out to refute her.

"I found him and his cage embedded in the cracks between the rocks, and was wondering about what to do when the Ten Square Formation reactivated. You all should remember what it was like."

The crowd nodded their heads.

"The jiaoren and I disappeared because we were pulled in by the Ten Square Formation."

There was an uproar in the hall.

The demon master who had asked the questions asked again, "The Ten Square Formation had been broken, the Valley Master only used the remnants of the formation to deal with the jade phoenix, how could you be pulled in by it?"

"Why would I lie? There were ten eyes of the Ten Square Formation. One was under the jiaoren's cage, and another was in the backyard pond of Li Feng Hall. That's why the jiaoren and I suddenly appeared in the pond. If you don't believe me, then explain how I was able to drag such a large, shiny fish, avoid everyone's eyes and ears, and mysteriously walk from his dungeon to Li Feng Hall? And why would I do such a thing?"

"Well..."

"Furthermore, The jiaoren protecting me and caring about my safety, what's wrong with that?"

In fact, Ji Yunhe had hoped someone would question her. Else she would not have the opportunity to gloat.

"When I teach the newcomers in the valley, I always say harnessing a demon is not about beating them into submission. We have to see into their hearts, identify and relate with them, so as to make them obedient out of their own will. Don't forget that Princess Shunde not only wanted him to talk and grow legs, she also wanted him to be loyal."

Ji Yunhe condescendingly looked at the demon masters in the hall. None of them talked back when it came to their profession.

Ji Yunhe then asked, "The stubborn temperament of the jiaoren, aren't you all well aware of it? If he could be made to submit by ordinary means, why would Princess Shunde send him to our valley? Why can't I use gentler tactics to make him submit in a different way? I'm a demon master, is it a crime to put on an act before him?"

The whole room was silent.

She told half truths and half lies, no one could question anything.

The only thing she did not mention was stealing the medicine from Lin Canglan's study.

But Qing Shu had told her that they were just common cold medication, and that the master would not condemn her for this. He also wanted her to stay alive, and protected her Master Warden title.

So even though Ji Yunhe lied openly and honestly in front of Lin Canglan, he would not call her out on it.

He made it difficult for her just so his son could witness how this treacherous Ji Yunhe would cunningly dig her way out of trouble. He wanted to tell his son that these tactics used on her were not good enough.

Using Ji Yunhe to educate his child.

This old fox had always been like this.

She briefly looked at Lin Haoqing. As expected, his face was gloomy and his hands were held into fists.

Ji Yunhe no longer felt anything in these scenarios. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to being hated.

Lin Canglan openly used her under the watch of everyone, today, Ji Yunhe decided to also make a request under the public eye.

"Valley Master, in the Ten Square Formation, I thought about ways to tame this jiaoren to be more docile, so as to fulfill Princess Shunde's wishes."

"Oh?" Lin Canglan stared at Ji Yunhe. "What have you thought of?"

"Due to his stubborn nature, I believe a gentle, coaxing technique is the only approach. And now that I have gained some trust from the jiaoren, I hope the Valley Master will grant me the right to command others to leave or to stop punishing him."

Ji Yunhe looked at Lin Canglan with a cold face, as if she really was going all out to tame the demon for the competition.

He would think she really had the ambition to be the next Valley Master. He would also think she was planning to use this competition to rebel.

But he would never guess that she simply did not want Changyi to get beaten again.

She did not want to see him tortured, and half dead.

He deserved the best this world could offer.

And such a simple thought would never cross Lin Canglan's mind.

Lin Canglan stared at her, then soon made his decision. He was always confident that he could calculate a few steps ahead of others.

He coughed then said, "Of course. Although there is a competition between you and Haoqing, the heart of the Demon Valley is to serve the royal family. Whoever can accomplish Princess Shunde's task has my full support."

Ji Yunhe's lips curled into a smile.

In full view of the public eye, Lin Canglan was bound to make such a choice. Because it would be impossible for the court to control everything remotely. Among the demon masters here, there had to be a spy or two.

So Lin Canglan could not act without reason, and Ji Yunhe's words were not just for the people of the valley to hear.

Another power was watching over them.

But Ji Yunhe was truly happy. From now on she could rightfully stop those endless torments on Changyi.

And as for what others thought of her smile, she did not care.

"However," Lin Canglan spoke again, "Yunhe just woke up from a loss of consciousness. The priority now is to recuperate the body. You are all my children, take care of your health."

Ji Yunhe was not sure what Lin Canglan had intended with this statement, so she made a salute and nodded “yes.”

Lin Canglan then waved his hand. "An old body tires easily. You may all leave."

The demon masters saluted then dispersed. Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing walked behind the crowd. They did not greet each other, but Lin Haoqing glanced at Ji Yunhe as he passed by.

"You won the first round."

Ji Yunhe quietly watched him leave.

She left only after everyone else was gone.

The day was bright outside the ruined hall. Ji Yunhe lifted her head and basked in the sun for a moment before walking on.

She liked the sun, the only true source of light inside this dark valley full of trickery and deceit.

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