Chapter 38

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Chapter 38: Change of Heart

Princess Shunde was finally gone.

However, her trail of flowers remained. Within less than a day, they withered and decayed, and their pleasant fragrance turned into a stench of rot. The late spring weather, in addition to a light drizzle of rain, filled the valley with insects and mosquitoes. Everyone was suffering.

Lin Canglan's body could not stay hidden any longer. Lin Haoqing publicly announced his death without further delay.

Everyone was shocked and caught off guard when the news came out. To most of the demon masters here, Lin Canglan was not a beady-eyed old fox, but an old man who had dedicated his life to the valley.

They saw Lin Canglan as an icon, so even though he was old and frail, and had started to look for a successor, everyone still respected him and believed he would always be there.

Even Ji Yunhe thought this old fox would always be there.

Yet, he died.

Lin Haoqing said he died of illness, but refused to allow anyone to visit Lin Canglan's body. He lit a fire in the middle of the night and burned it.

Ji Yunhe thought that was unwise, but she could not think of a better idea.

The wound on Lin Canglan's neck was so obvious, fire was the only way. Now that the truth had been turned into ash, the rest was up to people's imagination.

Many people did not believe Lin Haoqing.

The elders began to look for Qing Shu, the demon slave who was faithfully loyal to Lin Canglan. At this point, they would believe a demon over the Valley Master's own son.

But how could they find Qing Shu?

The Valley Master suddenly died of illness, and his demon slave disappeared without a trace. Even if Lin Haoqing had the best excuses in the world, he still would not be able to suppress all the rumors flying around.

But that was Lin Haoqing's problem, Ji Yunhe did not care. She did not want the position of the Valley Master, and she shared no common interests with him.

She stayed in her own courtyard and stressed over only one thing.

Not about the antidote next month, nor about Princess Shunde's ten day deadline.

She only stressed over how to get Changyi to leave.

Ji Yunhe had not gone to the dungeon again ever since Princess Shunde's visit. She deliberately distanced herself from Changyi and hoped that he would maybe gradually forget her. Ji Yunhe wanted this so much she sometimes even dreamed of him escaping from the dungeon.

He would push open the door to her room and tell her, "Ji Yunhe, I've figured it out. You live your life and I'll live mine. I'm going back to the sea. I'm not staying here anymore."

And Ji Yunhe would be so ecstatic and cheer for him all the way to the main gate, and wave him off.

She would then watch Changyi's fading back with heartfelt joy.

But that never happened.

"I will not leave."

His tone was so firm, refusing to be swayed by anyone.

How to make him go...

Ji Yunhe pondered over this question wholeheartedly until the elders came.

Two elders with the most seniority in the Demon Valley.

The elders were not the most capable and perhaps their power did not even match that of Qu Xiaoxing, but they were the oldest. After the sudden death of Lin Canglan, in accordance with the rules, they should preside over the inauguration ceremony of the new Valley Master.

But they had no intention of doing so.

When the elders met with Ji Yunhe, they were direct and to the point. "We suspect the young valley master killed his own father."

Ji Yunhe thought in her mind: yes, your suspicions are absolutely correct.

But she did not say anything, and just sipped her tea.

"The day Princess Shunde came, someone went to invite the Valley Master. According to that man, the one who answered in the room was the young valley master."

Yes, and she was there too.

Ji Yunhe continued to drink her tea.

"And as soon as Princess Shunde left, the young valley master announced that the Valley Master had passed away." The second elder took over. "He did not even allow anyone to visit the corpse, and burned it so quickly. What he did was really bizarre."

"So, you two elders came to me because you want me to stand up on behalf of everyone and accuse the young valley master?"

The two elders looked at each other. "We want you to be the new Valley Master."

Ji Yunhe put down her tea and rubbed her finger around the rim of the cup. "Why bother?" She finally turned her head and looked at them. "The valley is only this big, we are all trapped beasts in here. Does it make a difference who becomes king?"

Between her and Lin Haoqing, one killed Lin Canglan and the other one killed Qing Shu. They were birds of a feather.

Ji Yunhe laughed, "You guys suspect Lin Haoqing of treason, what if I'm the same?"

Ji Yunhe's response was not what they had expected. The two elders were confused.

"Although we are somewhat trapped in this southwestern corner of the land, we will never serve a man who killed his own father. The Valley Master did say whoever could complete Princess Shunde's task would become the next Valley Master. Everyone here knows how the jiaoren treats you. If you ask him to serve the princess, it is not impossible..."

"That's enough." Ji Yunhe cut him short. "The elders can mind their own business. Mine are none of your concern."

The two elders frowned. "Ji Yunhe, we are mindful that you have made a lot of contributions to the Demon Valley over the years, so we are advising you of this opportunity others cannot even dream of. What exactly are you trying to say here?"

Ji Yunhe looked at them with some disdain. "Nothing, I just don't feel like playing with you anymore."

She was tired of it.

Tired of competing and tired of fighting. Ever since Princess Shunde left, all Ji Yunhe cared about was how to make Changyi leave.

Maybe this really was her life. She could not leave the Demon Valley, nor could she escape the shackles of her fate.

She was not going to fight anymore. After sending Changyi away, she would probably only have a month left to live anyway.

Seeing Ji Yunhe act this way, the two elders were furious but helpless. "The Valley Master took care of you all these years for nothing." Then they got up and left.

Ji Yunhe gave a sarcastic smile. "So thankful for your care, Valley Master."

She sat down again and continued to drink her tea, thinking about how to drive Changyi away.

Suddenly, the air stirred around her, and she looked up. Luo Jinsang faded in from an outline into solid form, already sitting down at the table. She panted and poured herself a cup of tea without any ladylike manners. "Hey, rushing back... is... really exhausting."

Ji Yunhe threw her a dirty look. "Still care to come back? Is the monk all good now?"

"Hmph! Forget that dumb monk. I ran over to help him, and he scolded me and told me I was getting in his way, so I left him to fend for himself." Luo Jinsang smiled widely at Ji Yunhe. "I came back to help you steal the antidote, but I heard that Lin Canglan had died. What happened when I was gone? And those two old men, what did they want just now?"

Ji Yunhe smiled. "Wanted me to become the new Valley Master."

"Huh? A good thing! Did you agree?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Don't want to get involved."

"But don't you want to save the fish? If you become the Valley Master, won't you be able to openly set him free?"

Luo Jinsang was clueless about the complications of the matter, but what she said did remind Ji Yunhe that even the Valley Master would not be able to set Changyi free at will. However, there was a perfect opportunity right now to openly get him out of the valley.

"You are of some use after all." Ji Yunhe poked Luo Jinsang in the middle of her forehead.

She then stood up and walked out the door. Luo Jinsang shouted after her, "The tea is not yet finished, where are you going? "

"To find Lin Haoqing."

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