Chapter Seventy-Nine: No Destiny

Li Yue bit her lip lightly and murmured, "Ignorant."

Wang Erjun's face showed unease, mixed with anxiety, as he said, "How can we possibly win? Hurry and call your master down here. Whatever these people want to do, just let them be. The affairs of this town have nothing to do with us."

Looking at Li Cangshui, I suddenly recalled what Granny Li had once said to Mr. Wang: that if he ignored the matters of Baihu Village, he would inevitably be entangled by karma.

As expected, Mr. Wang returned to Baihu Village afterward and met a violent end.

Even someone like Granny Li, whose spiritual attainment was not particularly high, understood this principle. Li Cangshui, no doubt, adhered even more strictly to such notions of karma.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. If that was the case, then as long as Li Cangshui took away the skin parchment used for stealing longevity, he would surely help me.

"You know nothing, you fat fool. Even if something truly auspicious happened in this town, Master would never take it for himself. First, he wouldn't care for it, and second, even if he did seize some luck that wasn't his, he would find a way to repay it elsewhere."

"But if you turn a blind eye to disaster unfolding before you, karmic retribution is certain!"

Li Yue spoke with conviction.

She did not step forward, as if she had no fear that Li Cangshui might be in danger.

Wang Erjun, by contrast, was more anxious. "What sort of logic is that? Your master's about to be thrown in the river!"

I shook my head, lowering my voice. "Don't worry, Erjun. Li Yue's master is far more formidable than Granny Li. These people can't do anything to him."

Wang Erjun was momentarily stunned into silence.

A trace of smugness flashed in Li Yue's eyes before she cast a look of contempt at Wang Erjun. "You fat fool, I bet you’re the type who only gets up early for profit and runs away from danger faster than a rabbit!"

"Let me tell you, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Whatever you gain, you will lose something in return. When you come across something like what's happening in this town, if you have the ability and happen upon it, then it has already become your business. You might get hurt or pay a price for it, and perhaps see no benefit at the time."

She paused, then continued, "But you will have saved the lives of everyone in this town. Unseen, they all owe you a life. That is karma. The laws of heaven are unerring. Even if these people cannot help you in the future, heaven itself will arrange a stroke of fortune for you when you need it most."

Wang Erjun looked utterly bewildered, lost in a fog of confusion.

But I was inwardly shaken.

To stand up for what is right is such a simple principle. The world is full of people seeking profit, but there are also many who are charitable. There may be a saying that good people don’t live long and scoundrels endure for centuries, but in my experience, I have never seen a wicked person live to a contented old age.

Hearing such words from the mouth of a girl not yet twenty was still hard to believe.

Li Yue no longer glanced at Erjun or me, her gaze returning to the riverbank.

I too suppressed my wandering thoughts and looked toward Li Cangshui.

He sat calmly atop the coffin.

Roused by the old Taoist’s instigation, many of the townsfolk wore angry expressions.

“Get down from there!”

“Yeah! Get off right now! Look at those rags you’re wearing, coughing up blood, and you still dare to spout nonsense!”

“Even if something happened in our town, it’s none of your business! Taoist Zhou has protected us for decades. You’re an outsider and you dare to challenge him!”

The townspeople hurled curses, pressing in around the coffin.

I clenched my fists, uncertain how Li Cangshui would respond. After all, there were so many people—would he really strike out and subdue them all? If so, how could he handle the matter of the coffin?

What’s more, who knew how many people lived in this town—surely several times more than Baihu Village. If Li Cangshui acted, it would not be just those gathered by the river.

The townspeople drew close. Bold ones reached for Li Cangshui’s arm.

Li Cangshui furrowed his brow and stood up.

He did not attack. Instead, he leapt aside, landing beyond the crowd.

The crowd did not press in further. Instead, they jeered, saying he was no more than a coward; wasn’t he just running away like anyone else?

And if the coffin was truly an omen of great disaster, how had he dared to sit on it in the first place?

Now the Taoists gathered around the coffin.

Li Cangshui shook his head at the old Taoist, his voice calm, "A coffin in the water draws wealth, but there is a kind of coffin that moves against the current—what it brings is resentment. The ghost within does not close its eyes, longing to return home. If you wish to avoid evil, do not open it. Only by suppressing it with something more ominous ten meters belowground can you avert disaster."

But the old Taoist spat at Li Cangshui and sneered, "What nonsense! A coffin moving upstream can’t be stopped—who are you to pretend otherwise?"

At that moment, Li Yue marched over, cheeks puffed with anger, glaring at the old Taoist. "You’re a master to so many disciples and yet you talk like a street thug. What sort of example is that?"

"You—"

The old Taoist raised his hand, as if to slap her.

But Li Yue, face flushed with rage, did not flinch.

"Xiao Yue, don’t make trouble."

Li Cangshui suddenly spoke.

A trace of grievance flashed in Li Yue’s eyes.

Suddenly, someone cried out, "Taoist Zhou! Come look at this—what is it?"

The old Taoist coldly retorted, "Don’t let me see you again. Otherwise, I’ll have you thrown out at once!"

Li Cangshui said nothing and turned to leave.

This did not surprise me, though I felt a pang of unease—Li Cangshui hadn’t even looked at me.

Li Yue hurried after Li Cangshui, and I too followed.

Wang Erjun tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "Xie Yuan, is he really as formidable as you say? He looks meek enough. Doesn’t seem like a master at all. Even Granny Li could lay everyone flat with a single talisman."

I shook my head and told Wang Erjun not to judge by appearances.

As I spoke, I glanced back at the coffin.

The townsfolk were crowding around it in excitement, some already shouting to open it.

The old Taoist, Taoist Zhou, made no move to stop them, instead grinning and calling for a ritual to open the coffin at dusk, bringing great fortune to the town.

A chill crept into my heart—a sense sharpened by too many recent dangers.

“All these people are going to come to harm.”

The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them, and I hurried after Li Cangshui.

He and Li Yue walked quickly, and I could not catch up.

Only with Wang Erjun supporting me did I make it back to the guesthouse.

Upstairs, I saw Li Yue standing at the door, biting her lip and hanging her head, looking awkward.

A pang of anxiety struck me.

Li Yue bit her lower lip and whispered, “Master says you should leave. He says your fate has passed. The matter with White Liu no longer concerns him. That thing, he no longer wants; you have it now, so that is your karmic fate. Blessing and misfortune are intertwined. He need meddle no more.”

My expression changed.

Wang Erjun was equally astonished. “What does this have to do with White Liu again?” he muttered.

Unwilling to give up, I said nothing more to Li Yue and strode to Li Cangshui’s door, knocking hard. My voice was hoarse: “Daoist Li, I’m not sure if I should call you that. I was thoughtless before, back in the village, and hurt you. But I came here sincerely, with no hidden motives.”

A moment later, Li Cangshui’s calm voice came from within: “At Wangjia Pass, meeting you was your chance and my karma, all because of White Liu. Now our connection is over. The paper that brought White Liu’s sin is with you. You have already left Wangjia Pass. In the end, you owe Li Yue a debt. I have no need to help you any longer.”

“And even if you want my help, I cannot give it.”

My heart froze. Was there a deeper meaning to his words?

“You came here for someone who is already dead, hoping to save another who died long ago. The ties are too deep—I cannot help you.”

With that, Li Cangshui’s words completely extinguished my hope.