Breaking the Precept

Jin Yu?!

Jian Xiaolou's fingers trembled, almost dropping the bone fragment she held. Suhe had said before that a truce existed between the Southern and Western Stars, and for someone like Jin Yu, with his rank and status, to trespass into the Western Star's domain and kill a dragon with an official position was an unforgivable crime.

Suhe had also said that Jin Yu, aged and steeped in the ways of the Buddhist sect, was rigid and stubborn in his conduct. Even if it caused him internal turmoil, he would never commit such a transgression.

But he had.

It seemed Erhu was indeed very important to him.

"Who's speaking so boldly?" Ani's voice, full of surprise and confusion, came through, unaware of what had transpired in the Southern Star.

"Hide in the Earth's Core," Ye You instructed before a gale swept through, likely sending Ani away forcibly. "Xiaolou?"

Jian Xiaolou quickly responded, "Ye You, maybe you should return Erhu to him. You can't use it anyway, and it'll only make my life more inconvenient if I need to find you next time. Jin Yu treats me as if I am Erhu; he won't hurt me."

Ye You responded with an unexpectedly quick "Alright," followed by, "We'll talk later," as he sealed the bone fragment.

His easy agreement was suspicious—almost too good to be true.

Jian Xiaolou had grown somewhat familiar with Ye You's temperament. He appeared harmless and detached but was inherently stubborn and defiant. The more you forbade him, the more determined he was to act against you. He was like a rebellious teenager, almost as if "defiance" was etched onto his face.

How could she focus on cultivation while filled with such unease?

After deliberating for a long time, she finally glanced at the sleeping Xiao Hei. Seeing that his bleeding wounds had stopped, she decisively summoned Erhu and entered the static realm.

Jin Yu stood atop a peak on the Tianhai Mountain range, five hundred feet high, waiting silently after leaving a message.

Behind him, Fengqi remarked, "Master, since we're already here, why not just destroy the mountain range to force him out?"

"I am only here to retrieve Erhu," Jin Yu replied, his spiritual sense scanning the vast and desolate Tianhai Mountain range. Though it was remote, the range was immense, with at least tens of thousands of caves. "Unless absolutely necessary, we must not violate the truce."

"But that dragon destroyed your Spirit-Gathering Tree, and we can't even kill him?"

"Kill him we must, but not within the Western Star's territory, and certainly not within Tianhai Cave."

"Master…" Fengqi sighed, frustrated with his master's rigid adherence to rules. Despite his own search, Fengqi wasn't looking for Ye You but Suhe. The enmity forged in the Exile Realm had festered; revenge burned brightly in his heart, along with the desire for the treasures Suhe carried—seven parts of the Exile Realm's fortune, all supposedly in Suhe's hands.

Discovering Suhe's presence here, Fengqi and Fengluo, along with two tenth-stage followers, had secretly come. However, they had been dumbfounded by Ye You's fierce battle with Ao Qing, the lord of Xuanshen Realm.

Fengqi had tricked his master, claiming Erhu was with Ye You, hoping to use him to eliminate Ye You and then settle the score with Suhe.

"But that sly dragon is full of tricks; who knows—"

Before he could finish, Ye You's disdainful voice interrupted, tinged with amusement. "Didn't your master teach you not to gossip behind people's backs?"

Jin Yu frowned slightly, surprised at Ye You's straightforward appearance. "I thought you'd hide until I dragged you out myself."

Ye You replied calmly, "Since you've sealed off the entire Tianhai Mountain, what's the point of hiding?"

"Fine. Hand over Erhu, and I'll spare you today."

"I won't."

Fengqi was startled. His accusation had been a ploy, but to his surprise, Erhu really was with Ye You.

"I'll ask one last time…"

"No need to ask. The answer is the same."

Jin Yu's pupils contracted as his expression darkened. "Do you think I don't dare to act?"

He raised his arm slightly, a silver trident gleaming in his hand. Ye You's lips curved into a faint smile. "Why waste words? I didn't fear you when you were at the twentieth stage. Why would I fear you now, with your cultivation regressed and injuries from your fight with the Black Flame Demon?"

"You truly are ignorant of the heavens and earth." Jin Yu's body tensed, blood rushing unevenly. He clenched his fist, relaxed it, then clenched it again but refrained from further action.

"Master, Erhu has only forty years left. If it remains with that thief…" Fengqi prodded one last time.

Clang!

Jin Yu drew a flaming blade. "For you, little white dragon, I'll make an exception!"

He was about to strike when a glowing figure emerged from Ye You's ring—a petite figure in a monk's robe. Who else could it be but Erhu?

Jian Xiaolou shot Ye You a sharp glare. I knew you were tricking me!

His golden eyes feigned innocence: What did I lie about?

"My treasure, did he bully you?"

"Respected Lord…" Jian Xiaolou turned to Jin Yu, her legs almost giving out. Gritting her teeth, she forced a response. "Respected Lord, Ye You didn't steal Erhu. I came of my own accord…"

Jin Yu froze. "Why did you come to him?"

"I… I…" Jian Xiaolou stammered, then steeled herself. "I'll tell you in private."

She tried to leave, but Ye You grabbed her wrist and shook his head. Dangerous.

Seeing Jin Yu's rising anger, Jian Xiaolou broke free and signaled Ye You: Be ready to act if needed.

She cautiously flew only a short distance from Ye You before Jin Yu descended, encasing them in a restriction barrier.

For the next half hour, Jian Xiaolou spoke animatedly, her gestures and expressions vivid. Jin Yu's expression shifted repeatedly, from disbelief to contemplation.

Fengqi and Ye You, unable to hear, grew increasingly bewildered.

Finally, Jin Yu sighed softly, gently ruffled Jian Xiaolou's hair, and said a few words with a calm expression.

"Fengqi, we're leaving." The barrier dissolved as Jin Yu flew into the sky. Pausing, he glanced back at Ye You, his earlier killing intent diminished. "Little white dragon, I'll come for your life in fifty years. Take care of my treasure, or I won't spare you!"

"Master!" Fengqi was dumbfounded. "You're letting him go?!"

Jian Xiaolou watched Jin Yu leave, her heart still racing, before muttering, "Life is but a play, and we're all actors…"