First Immortal of the Sword-Chapter 2074 - Choosing a Side

Luo Xuanji personally went to welcome their guest.

Those who didn’t know better might well have assumed that Luo Xuanji was Su Yi’s subordinate. Only those who knew her understood how terrifying an existence she really was!”

Su Yi was inwardly rueful. To achieve their goals, she’s both willing to risk it all and to adapt to her circumstances. It’s no wonder she managed to find a path to life as her epoch of origin disappeared into the past, and no wonder that she’s managed to endure amidst turbulent spacetime until the present day.

He knew how extraordinarily dangerous Luo Xuanji was. She was unpredictable, and he could in no way afford to look down on her.

Of course, peaceful coexistence was best.

Before long, Luo Xuanji led Lie Xingqu and Lie Leng into the residence.

Lie Xingqu held a palm-leaf fan, and he was dressed in Confucian robes like a scholar. He was extraordinarily elegant.

When Lie Leng saw Su Yi, he looked a bit ill at ease.

“I’ve never liked empty pleasantries or intricate displays of etiquette. If you have something to say, just say it,” said Su Yi, remaining seated in his wicker chair.

Li Xingwu didn’t take offense. Instead, he smiled. “You’re straightforward and sincere, Fellow Daoist. Very well.”

He gestured to Lie Leng. “My nephew has been exploited. I’ve come here today to resolve this misunderstanding.”

Lie Leng took a deep breath, then clasped his fist in greeting. “I was completely in the dark earlier. Thanks to your guidance, I managed to change course before it was too late. If I offended you earlier, I humbly request your understanding.”

With that, he bowed.

Su Yi waved. “Enough. No need for that. A trivial matter like that isn’t even worth mentioning.”

Lie Xingqu smiled. “Fellow Daoist, your high moral character and magnanimity are truly admirable.”

He took a moment to flatter Su Yi before saying solemnly, “I also came here to take this opportunity to make my position clear. I was in no way involved in what happened earlier. Someone was using my nephew in a bid to drag me underwater and make me your enemy.”

Su Yi and Luo Xuanji were both stunned.

“Then who was controlling the situation from behind the scenes?” Su Yi asked with great interest.

“Second Libationer Qin Wenxiao,” Lie Xingqu said directly. “He wants to drag me underwater, but I naturally won’t give him what he wants. Furthermore, he caused the problem, and I refuse to let him pin it on me.”

Su Yi said thoughtfully, “You two aren’t allies?”

Lie Xingqu grimaced. “Of course not.”

“No wonder people are abusing the rules of the City of the Beginning. How could the rules possibly be enforced fairly when its three libationers are at odds with each other?” Su Yi said softly.

He made no attempt to disguise the mockery in his words.

Lie Leng couldn’t help but frown. Does Su Yi really think Uncle is a pushover? He’s far too impudent!

But Lie Xingqu just sighed. “Fellow Daoist, you don’t know this yet, but it’s been far, far too long since the Path of the Ancient Gods last opened. Enough time has passed that the City of the Beginning has changed completely.”

“Oh?” said Su Yi. “Might you explain a little?”

Lie Xingqu, “If you don’t mind the disturbance, I’d be happy to stay a while longer and discuss it with you, Fellow Daoist.”

“Have a seat.” Su Yi gestured to a chair.

“Many thanks.” Lie Xingqu noticed the change in Su Yi’s attitude, smiled, and sat down.

Lie Leng knew his place and stood behind Lie Xingqu instead.

The following conversation was amiable and harmonious. No matter what Su Yi asked, so long as Lie Xingqu had answers, he held nothing back.

He even concisely explained some of the three libationers’ personal business and private matters.

Su Yi quickly learned a lot. For instance, three Forbidden Treasures had always maintained law and order in the City of the Beginning. The city’s inhabitants couldn’t change the rules, and not even the three libationers could defy them!

This was why, historically, everyone, regardless of their cultivation, had always scrupulously adhered to the city’s rules. Not even gods could infringe upon them.

The three Taboo Treasures were the Mirror of Acuity, the Divine Punishment Staff, and the Drum of Injustice!

The Mirror of Acuity was under the Chief Libationer’s control, and it was hung in the city lord’s manor. It could perceive everything that happened within city limits down to the finest detail, and it captured every conflict and disagreement in its entirety. It was used to determine guilt and innocence.

The Divine Punishment Staff was under the Second Libationer’s control. It was the only weapon among the three great treasures, and it could suppress both demons and gods!

The Drum of Injustice was under the Third Libationer’s control. This treasure was unique and seldom used. When it sounded, it always meant an injustice had occurred.

This sort of injustice typically involved a violation of the city’s law and order. Someone violated the rules, but they did so due to hidden, extenuating circumstances.

Such rule-breakers could beat the drum to redress injustices and clear their names.

But according to Lie Xingqu, the situation had changed a long time ago. The Mirror of Acuity, once under the Chief Libationer’s control, had been stolen. It had never been recovered.

Meanwhile, the Third Libationer’s Drum of Injustice had lost its mallet. Only the drum itself remained outside the city lord’s manor.

Without the mallet, this divine artifact couldn’t display its true abilities.

Only the Divine Punishment Staff remained. It had always been under the Second Libationer’s control.

Chief Libationer and City Lord Fa Tianming was like a tiger with no teeth. He was the nominal leader of the City of the Beginning, but in truth, he had little prestige or power to speak of. The one actually in charge was Second Libationer Qin Wenxiao.

He controlled the Staff of Divine Punishment, a powerful killer weapon. With it, he could use the power of the city’s Laws to crush those who broke the rules. He had power over life and death, and thus, wielded vast authority.

Furthermore, behind him stood the ancient Qin Family. They were one of the mightiest factions of the Path of the Ancient Gods.

Qin Wenxiao was behind what had happened to Su Yi today. Lie Leng and the city guards had simply been carrying out his orders.

Lie Leng, meanwhile, was Lie Xingqu’s nephew. Qin Wenxiao was just exploiting him in a bid to drag Lie Xingqu underwater!

After grasping the situation, Su Yi couldn’t help but frown. “But why would he want to drag you into this?”

Lie Xingqu sighed, then explained the situation.

The Mirror of Acuity had been stolen, and the mallet of the Drum of Injustice had been lost. Second Libationer Qin Wenxiao was thus fully in charge of maintaining law and order. Meanwhile, the Chief Libationer paid no heed to worldly affairs, and was unwilling to get involved in any conflict whatsoever. He’d simply reaffirmed his attitude: everything was to happen in accordance with the rules.

That meant that if the Second Libationer wanted to take Su Yi down, he had to make sure that everything he did was in accordance with the rules.

But that was the problem. Rules were dead, while people were alive. And without the Mirror of Acuity or the Drum of Injustice, the legality of the Second Libationer’s actions... was entirely up to the libationers themselves.

Chief Libationer Fa Tianming was from the ancient Fa Family. He had never gotten along with Second Libationer Qin Wenxiao.

Thus, if Qin Wenxiao wanted to ensure that his actions were technically within the bounds of the rules and prevent Chief Libationer Fa Tianming from finding fault with him, his best option was to drag Third Libationer Lie Xingqu underwater with him!

According to the city’s rules, so long as any two libationers were in agreement, they could determine whether or not something was in compliance with the rules.

Now, Su Yi fully understood the situation.

He rubbed his jaw and said, “That means that if I’d killed Lie Leng, you wouldn’t have let it go, and you’d have supported Qin Wenxiao in opposing me. Moreover, so long as the two of you agreed, the Chief Libationer would be unable to object. Is that right?”

Lie Xingqu nodded. “Exactly.”

He paused, then added, “That aside, there are several outsiders involved in this plot. They arrived in the City of the Beginning three days ago, and they immediately became the Second Libationer’s most distinguished guests.”

“Experts from prominent factions of the God Domain?” asked Su Yi.

“Yes.” Lie Xingqu nodded.

“No wonder I’ve been targeted so quickly. It turns out that not everyone takes the rules of the City of the Beginning seriously,” murmured Su Yi. A moment later, he suddenly asked, “Tell me, what’s your view of the matter?”

Lie Xingqu was quite interesting. He was the Third Libationer of the City of the Beginning, yet now, he’d come in person, both to make his nephew apologize and to clear up any misunderstandings. He’d even patiently explained the situation to Su Yi in detail, as if he were terrified of any further misunderstandings.

This went far beyond simple forthrightness.

Lie Xingqu suppressed his smile and said solemnly, “To tell the truth, Fellow Daoist, my attitude differs from both the Great and Second Libationers. I’ve come here because I want to be your ally!”

Silence greeted this declaration.

Luo Xuanji had been listening from the sidelines this entire time. Now, her eyes shone with a thoughtful light.

Lie Leng, however, was completely dazed. His mind practically went blank.

Uncle never said anything about joining Su Yi’s cause! Won’t this mean a falling out with the Second Libationer?

“Uncle, I know I was exploited, but in the end, nothing happened to me. You needn’t go to such lengths on my account!” Lie Leng hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

Although he said this, he felt warm and fuzzy inside. It seemed obvious that his uncle was doing this to get even for him!

It was just that the consequences of this decision would be far too dire. A moment’s incaution could cost his uncle everything! He didn’t want his uncle to throw himself into the fire on his account.

Lie Xingqu looked at him in bewilderment. “Who says I’m doing this for you?”

“Well, it's cle... huh? Wait, you aren’t?” Lie Leng looked at him, completely gobsmacked.

Lie Xingqu laughed. “If I were simply trying to get even for you, I could do so without having a falling out with Qin Wenxiao.”

Lie Leng instantly felt awkward. I jumped to conclusions. I’m... actually nowhere near that important!

“So why do you want to join my cause?” Su Yi asked curiously.

Lie Xingqu fell briefly silent. “Forgive me, but I cannot share the specific reasons. That said, I trust that once you’ve overcome the Nine Great Celestial Trials, you’ll understand why I’m doing this!”

Then, he rose from his chair, straightened up his clothes, and said solemnly, “If word of what happened here today leaks, I’ll have nothing to fear, but it might implicate my clan. I humbly request your discretion.”

Su Yi nodded. “Sure.”

Lie Xingqu visibly sighed in relief.

Lie Leng looked on in astonishment. Has Uncle gone insane? He knows he’ll implicate the clan, so why is he doing this? What on earth is he after?

A nigh imperceptible hint of a smile tugged at Luo Xuanji’s lips. It seemed she’d understood something.

“I can assure you that no matter what the Second Libationer is up to, I’ll do my utmost to stand in his way. Furthermore, I’ll personally request that the Chief Libationer upholds justice on your behalf. I’ll do my utmost to see you safely out of the City of the Beginning and onto the path of trials!” Lie Xingqu said solemnly.

But Su Yi just laughed. “I’ll set off tomorrow, but I can’t simply let what happened today go!”

He spoke calmly, but his words were tinged with murderous intent.

Everyone was instantly solemn.