Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Chu Yi Yang was initially angered too, but before he could voice out his sentiments, Xuan Ting had already spoken his mind, and quite rudely at that.

What could Xie Yin Xue possibly say in response?

Chu Yi Yang, being observant, could tell that Xie Yin Xue was a proud person. If Xuan Ting insisted on asking whom he looked down on, Xie Yin Xue would likely reply, "I look down on everyone here equally."

And if the youth did say this, their relationship would certainly sour. But Chu Yi Yang didn't want to create such animosity. Xie Yin Xue was valuable, certainly more valuable than Xuan Ting. Alienating Xie for Xuan Ting wasn't worth it.

After the surge of anger, Chu Yi Yang's temper cooled down. He realized his own emotional imbalance. So, he made Xuan Ting sit and created distance between him and Xie Yin Xue, saying, "Let's not argue. Could the self-destruction attack of the Shan Xia Army have emotional aftereffects? Doesn't anyone else feel their emotions are all over the place?"

"Something does feel off. I'm... emotionally unstable," Bai He Zi reflected after reprimanding Xuan Ting, "All my emotions seem magnified."

For instance, she could have simply asked Xuan Ting about his dark circles, but instead, she felt compelled to mockingly ask if he had been thieving at night because her disdain for him reached its peak upon seeing him that morning.

"I feel the same," Yu Jia Yi sighed deeply, covering her face, "I couldn't sleep well. Every time I closed my eyes, I dreamt of the Tyi creature, just as Qin He described. I feel so sorry for it."

Xin Tian Hao looked at Xie Yin Xue and Liu Bu Hua, "I'm also having difficulty controlling myself... I really want to join your family now. Does your family really not accept new members?"

Xie Yin Xue: "..."

Liu Bu Hua diplomatically declined, "Let's discuss after you've experienced the bitterness of love."

"Maybe I'll just create my own family." Xin Tian Hao, seemingly influenced, extended a sincere invitation to the others, "Would you like to join my family?"

But no one was interested, leaving Xin Tian Hao feeling quite disappointed.

Xie Yin Xue cast a sidelong glance at Liu Bu Hua, "Did your covert visit to the garden this morning result from emotional instability?"

"Indeed, godfather. Otherwise, why would I dig a hole to bury myself?" Liu Bu Hua admitted without hesitation, forming a tiny space with his thumb and forefinger. "You know me. After that near-suffocation incident, at most, I'd eat a tiny bit of dirt to satisfy my craving, just a tiny bit."

Everyone: "..."

The information Liu Bu Hua disclosed was overwhelming. It was clear to everyone that this wasn't his first time undertaking such an act, and once, he even almost lost his life.

Bai He Zi eyed Liu Bu Hua with a look that seemed to say "appearances can be deceiving," remarking with mixed emotions, "Brother, it's a miracle you've survived this long."

Liu Bu Hua responded with confusion, "It's actually been quite easy. I feel invincible, as if I can't die."

"If you truly couldn't die, you wouldn't be standing here with me," Bai He Zi said, suspecting he was exaggerating. "You've only passed a few trials of eternal life. Are you really boasting so confidently?"

Liu Bu Hua hesitated, wanting to speak but then holding back. He didn't reveal to Bai He Zi that this was his last trial, and once completed, he'd be free. Throughout all these trials, he had done nothing but rely on his godfather, and now with allies from his past life assisting and others accompanying him, failing wasn't an option.

However, such blunt truths weren't meant to be spoken aloud.

Liu Bu Hua curiously asked Xie Yin Xue, "Godfather, were you affected too?"

Xie Yin Xue nodded, "Yes."

Whispering to himself, Liu Bu Hua was puzzled, "Where is the influence then? I can't see it at all."

Xie Yin Xue's earlier displayed disdain and contempt towards Chu Yi Yang was a typical reaction for him. He was naturally emotionally detached. Apart from that, Liu Bu Hua couldn't detect any emotional fluctuations in him, leaving him wondering exactly how Xie Yin Xue had been affected.

Xie Yin Xue, on the other hand, knew precisely. Teaching Bu Jiu Zhao to "bark" the previous night was the most significant anomaly.

Both Liu Bu Hua and Xin Tian Hao's emotions amplified their desires, and so did he.

The only difference was that his intensified desires were carnal. With Bu Jiu Zhao not present, it would be strange if Liu Bu Hua noticed.

"Let's not dwell on that," Xie Yin Xue shifted the topic, wanting to avoid further embarrassment. "Now, I want to address the beast responsible for this drought."

Nothing was more crucial at the moment.

With the answer about to be unveiled, Chu Yi Yang leaned in with anticipation, "Who is it?"

With his pale lips slightly parting, the young man uttered two words, "Bo Yu."

"Three hundred li to the southeast lies the mountain called Nv Zeng, where no grass or trees grow. A stream of gypsum water emerges from it, flowing westward into the Ge River. In its midst dwell fish known as 'bo fish' that resemble eels but have only one eye. Their cry sounds like retching. When they appear, a great drought befalls the world."

Pausing slightly in his speech, his ink-black eyes shifted focus, settling on Bai Hezi. With a voice as cool as his gaze, he revealed the true identity of the bo fish in the Yāo Spirit Inn: "Someone you are quite familiar with, Bai Hezi – the Merman Bo Lang."

Bai Hezi's pupils contracted sharply, disbelievingly exclaiming, "Impossible!"

"Thank you, Daoist. Could you explain your reasoning?" Yu Jiayi, frowning, asked Xie Yinxue, "Why do you think Bo Lang is the predatory bo fish? Just because his name contains the word 'bo'?"

Xie Yinxue used to reflexively twirl the pear blossom silver bracelet on his wrist when pondering, but in this instance, his bracelet was missing. Thus, he began to spin a simple gold ring on his ring finger instead, speaking slowly, "'Resembling an eel but having only one eye' suggests that the bo fish has a likeness to an eel and only one eye. Bo Lang's right eye is wrapped in gauze, leaving only the left exposed, which aligns with the appearance of the bo fish—"

Bai Hezi cut him off urgently, "You mentioned it's wrapped in gauze. He might have injured his eye!"

Without breaking his gaze, Xie Yinxue responded uninterrupted, "Furthermore, the bo fish's cry 'sounds like retching.' Recall our first encounter with him. Do I need to elaborate?"

Bai Hezi shook her head, defending Bo Lang once more, "The red-clothed sparrow demon's death was gruesome and shocking. He Yun was also killed by Bu Jiuzhao's blade. Both Yu Jiayi and I were so nauseated we vomited. Bo Lang, like us, retched a few times. That's perfectly normal under the circumstances."

"Bai Hezi," Xie Yinxue said her name with a serious tone, laden with pressure, "Your emotions have been affected. Just as your disgust for Xuan Ting has been amplified, so has your affection and defense for Bo Lang."

Few could withstand the intense gaze of Xie Yinxue, but Bai Hezi held firm, meeting his eyes, "No, I'm clear-headed and rational."

In the girl's eyes, there was no trace of fear or hesitation—only determination and skepticism: "Your two points may hold ground, but so do my counterarguments. You wouldn’t base your claims on reasons I can easily refute. There must be another clue about him that makes you certain of his true nature. Reveal that, and I'll believe you."

Xie Yinxue didn't immediately respond, for Bai Hezi's words were spot on.

If he were to accuse someone, he would present irrefutable, convincing evidence.

His suspicion of Bo Lang being the bo fish wasn't due to Bo Lang having one eye or the prolonged retching sound, but rather a message Bo Lang relayed to Bai Hezi: before He Yun clashed with the Leopard Swordsman, he was dining with two rabbit spirits. Initially reluctant to duel, a glance at the Leopard changed He Yun's mind, making him keen to spar.

Why?

The Leopard Swordsman's eyes bore a striking resemblance to Bu Jiuzhao's—He Yun wanted to discern if the Leopard was the legendary Qiun Qi, hence the duel.

Only the predatory creatures in the Yāo Spirit Inn know about the ancient predator Qiun Qi.

The last words of He Yun, which he couldn't complete, were relayed by the bo fish: the ancient predator Qiun Qi has vertical pale blue pupils.

Revealing this clue would undoubtedly cast suspicion upon Bu Jiuzhao's true nature. Yet, since Bu Jiuzhao asked Xie Yinxue to keep his identity as Qiun Qi a secret, it indicated his identity must remain concealed until the opportune moment.

Xie Yinxue speculated that moment to be after the death of all the common predators.

Therefore, he couldn't reveal his genuine reason for suspecting Bo Lang as the bo fish. Any suspicions cast on Bu Jiuzhao's true identity—even unconfirmed ones—were risks Xie Yinxue wasn't willing to take.

So he produced an excuse once used by Baihe: "Sixth sense."

"Bullshit sixth sense!"

After cursing, Baihe chuckled. She leaned back, speaking triumphantly, "If you can't provide that reason, I won't believe it."

"Hey, why is it that when you claim your judgment of Heyou as a monster is based on a 'sixth sense', Xie Yin Xue can't do the same?" Baihe's nemesis, Xuan Ting, interjected, "Are you playing a double standard?"

Baihe took a deep breath and said impatiently with her eyes closed, "My sixth sense isn't accurate. I was lying to you all."

Xie Yin Xue also started to smile lightly, saying, "What a joke. Do I need your trust?"

There are times when Xie Yin Xue can be utterly ruthless. He's obsessive, mad, extreme. Once he's made up his mind about something, he won't change it. For the Shen family and to earn the right to enter the Lock Immortality, he'd willingly drag Liu Bu Hua into danger, or even sacrifice him if need be. As long as it's for protecting the Shen family, or his young disciple Shen Qiu Ji, he'd even forsake himself without hesitation.

To him, anything standing in the way of his unwavering goals deserves to be eradicated.

No exceptions.

Not Liu Bu Hua, not Bu Jiu Zhao, not even himself.

This ruthlessness makes even his smile seem cold and emotionless, icy to the core: "Bo Lang is Bo Yu. I can't be wrong. Just wait and see if they believe you or me."

Author's note:

① Three hundred miles to the southeast is the Mountain of Nu Zhen. It's barren without any vegetation. A gypsum spring emerges there, flowing westward into the Li water, inhabited by many Bo Yu. These fish resemble eels but have just one eye. Their sounds are like retching, and when seen, a great drought occurs throughout the world. - "Classic of Mountains and Seas."