Chapter 33

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Chapter 33: Accomplice

Lin Canglan's body was already cold next to Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing.

The room was so quiet, it was as if they both had died too.

Finally, Ji Yunhe got up from the bed and stood face to face with Lin Haoqing. She was half a head shorter but her stance did not lose to him.

"Lin Haoqing," she also called him by his full name, "after all that's happened, I will feel a pity if I make an enemy out of you again. But I am not afraid to either."

"Huh," Lin Haoqing let out a sneer. "I see that you are not thinking clearly. If you take away the jiaoren, not only will you make an enemy out of me, but also the entire Demon Valley. Or worse, out of Princess Shunde and the entire imperial court!" Lin Haoqing took a step closer to her face. "Let's not consider whether or not you have the ability to take him away. Even if you do, do you think it'll be over then? That you two will be carefree?"

Lin Haoqing threw one word at Ji Yunhe, "Ignorant."

"I don't care if it's ignorant or not," Ji Yunhe said. "I only know he belongs in the sea, not here."

"His tail has been split, do you think he still belongs in the sea?"

Ji Yunhe's fist tightened and she went silent. Finally, she lifted her head and looked directly into his eyes.

"Yes, he does."

Whether or not he grew legs, or changed into some other form, his big beautiful tail had existed, and it would never be forgotten.

In Ji Yunhe's mind, Changyi would always belong to the clear blue sea and all of its magnificence, whether in the past, the present, or in the future. And she firmly believed that he would eventually return to it.

Lin Haoqing looked at Ji Yunhe. "Think carefully, I will only give you this one opportunity. You've been wanting freedom for so many years, are you going to give it up for a demon?"

Ji Yunhe cocked her head. "Lin Haoqing, you wanted to kill Lin Canglan and I happened to come and help you, so this opportunity was not given to me by you, it was given to me by fate. And my freedom is not for you to grant. It is rightfully mine."

Ji Yunhe decided that she had completely spoiled this negotiation with Lin Haoqing today.

After a brief reconciliation, they were now back at each other's throats.

She turned to leave, but Lin Haoqing suddenly asked, "Don't you want the antidote?"

"I want it, but you can't give it to me right now." Ji Yunhe pointed to Lin Canglan's dead body on the chair. "You should think about how to dispose of him. The old men in the valley, the eyes of the court, and the Grand Master will not allow a man who murdered his own father to become the next Valley Master. What they want is someone obedient."

Ji Yunhe exited the inner room and headed for the door, reaching out to push it open. But the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside.

"Valley Master! Valley Master!"

A demon master shouted in panic as he stopped at the door and knocked anxiously.

His shadow was cast onto the door screen by the rising sun.

Ji Yunhe's hand reaching out froze in mid air.

After her conflict with Lin Haoqing, it would be better for Ji Yunhe to take him down and become Valley Master herself. The best way to do that was to publicize his killing of Lin Canglan. He would be abandoned by everyone and exiled by the court. Ji Yunhe would then have the power to save Changyi.

But...

She and Lin Haoqing were both inside this room covered in blood.

It was not clear at all who had killed Lin Canglan.

Ji Yunhe turned her head and looked at Lin Haoqing.

He walked over to stand next to her. They both stayed quiet until the person outside knocked on the door again. "Valley Master!" The demon master sounded anxious as if he was ready to push open the door and barge in.

"The Valley Master is not feeling well and is currently resting," Lin Haoqing finally answered. "What's all the commotion?"

"Reporting to the young valley master! News came from the front, Princess Shunde's imperial chariot has just arrived outside the main gate!"

Ji Yunhe froze, and her heart started to beat violently.

"What did you say?" Lin Haoqing asked, also in shock.

"Young valley master, Princess Shunde's imperial chariot has arrived outside the main gate! Please quickly inform the Valley Master, and organize a formal reception!"

Princess Shunde...

The one seated high above everyone in the world, who existed only inside legends and rumors… had unexpectedly, personally come to the Demon Valley...

Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing glanced at each other, then they both looked at Lin Canglan's dead body.

Ji Yunhe sighed.

Lin Canglan's time of death was truly inconvenient. If Princess Shunde found out they had killed Lin Canglan, they would both be branded as disloyal, ungrateful, and guilty of treason. The court did not like rebellious people, and that was especially true of Princess Shunde.

"Young valley master!"

The man outside urged.

Ji Yunhe nudged Lin Haoqing, who was slightly lost in thought, with her elbow. Lin Haoqing recollected himself and responded, "Got it. Take everyone to the main gate first, I will head over after I wake the Valley Master."

"Yes."

The messenger outside hurried away.

Thanks to his rush, he did not notice anything wrong with the Valley Master's residence after last night's fight.

Lin Haoqing and Ji Yunhe did not speak, but they both went back to the inner room.

The two looked at the broken Lin Canglan in his wheelchair. His eyes were still open, as if he had so much lingering desire for life, while the wound on his neck gaped at them hideously.

Lin Haoqing gently stroked his hand over Lin Canglan's eyes, shutting them.

"The old man lived at a wrong time, and also died at a wrong time," he said dispassionately.

"You can hate him when he's alive. Now that he's dead, nothing has anything to do with him anymore." Ji Yunhe looked around. "Carrying him out to bury right now would call too much attention, we don't have time for it."

"What do you want to do?"

Ji Yunhe raised her hand and pointed to the bed. "Put him on the bed, cover him with a quilt and hide the wound on his neck."

"And then what?" Lin Haoqing said sarcastically. "Wait for him to come back to life?"

"If he comes back to life, you and I will still die." Ji Yunhe looked at Lin Haoqing. "Put away your attitude for now. Between you and me, we can compete when there's a competition, fight when there's a fight, but in front of Princess Shunde, you and I are two bugs on one string. You killed Lin Canglan, my hands are not clean either. So let's be good, join hands and put on a show together. Send that uninvited guest away as soon as possible."

Ji Yunhe spoke firmly with authority and control. Lin Haoqing looked at her, and the sneering smile was slowly taken off of his face.

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