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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nThe night of the downpour was the darkest of all nights. Not a hint of starlight could be seen in the all-encompassing darkness.

nJing Jiu stood silently atop Bihu Peak, his white clothes fluttering soundlessly in the night wind.

nThe top of Bihu Peak was different from all the other peaks. It was flat and large in size, and there was a lake in the middle, its waters a dark blue color.

n“Bihu” means “blue lake”. So the name of Bihu Peak came from the lake.

nThere was an island in the middle of the blue lake, and a palace stood on the island, looking cold and gloomy in the rainstorm.

nThe Peak Master of Bihu didn’t reside in the palace. Its occupant was someone else.

nLooking silently at the palace, Jing Jiu was deep in thought.

nThe nine peaks of Green Mountain were well protected – because of this palace, Bihu Peak was even more so. There were sword formations everywhere.

nSomehow, Jing Jiu could easily get to the top of the peak without alarming anybody. For him, it was as if the sword formations weren’t even there.

nIf he were a swordsman with the State of Broken Sea, maybe it would have been possible. But he was only a young disciple who had just entered the State of Inherited Will. How could he achieve these feats?

nThe Green Mountain Formation left a passage in the night sky directly above Bihu Peak, like an aperture.

nThe rain continued to fall from the night sky, which was brightened once in a while by countless flashes of lightning. As it struck the island in the blue lake, the lightning looked as if it were breaking the palace into pieces.

nThe white waves rose on the lake, pelted by dense rains, but the thunder and lightning disappeared without a sound, as if being swallowed by the palace. It was a strange sight to behold.

nLooking at the island in the rainstorm, Jing Jiu seemed somewhat solemn.

nFrom the small village to South Pine Pavilion, to Stream of Sword Washing, to Shenmo Peak, Jing Jiu could face anything and anybody with total calm.

nYet tonight was different.

nHe knew that palace was the secret place where the Green Mountain Sect kept the Soul Wood, which needed the thunder for its nourishment.

nThe palace wasn’t guarded by the disciples of the Green Mountain Sect because the White Ghost, one of the four principal guards of the Green Mountains…lived here.

nThe downpour was getting heavier, but the lightning was getting less frequent. Jing Jiu staggered into the blue lake.

nIn his current state, he could walk on the surface of the lake, but he chose not to do so.

nIn so doing, he was afraid he might be seen by the disciples of Bihu coming back from their sword riding excursion.

nYet, the most important reason was that he didn’t want to alarm his opponent in advance.

nWhen he had fallen into the lake from the rivulet flowing out of the rock crack after coming back from his near death experience, he had learned an awkward but efficient way to move in the lake.

nHowever, he didn’t have to hold a heavy stone this time.

nHe sank to the bottom of the lake like a stone, treading forward.

nThe lake became deeper and deeper, but his footsteps were steady as usual, making no noise, barely even disturbing the water around him.

nThe fish swam ceaselessly, disturbed by the rainstorm, but didn’t seem to notice his presence.

nAs time went by, he slowed, his expression becoming more and more serious.

nHe could clearly sense a powerful menace ahead, as if a divine being were waiting there.

nThe closer he was to the island, the more powerful that sense became.

nThe lake water was shallower when he got close to the island, and he could see the white flashes of the lightning from above once in a while.

nHe climbed onto the island. In the night sky above him was the passage opened by the Green Mountain Formation.

nHere the rainstorm was heavier, the night was darker, and one could experience the lightning’s dreadful power at close range.

nThe threat wasn’t from the sky.

nJing Jiu was one with the storm.

nHe watched the palace silently from nearby.

nThis was the residence of the peak guards, and the disciples of Bihu Peak were prohibited from trespassing, so there were many wild animals living on the island.

nSome kind of sound could be heard even in the rainstorm. Dim green glints appeared in the trees.

nJing Jiu knew those were not the eyes of mountain ghosts, but of wild cats.

nThe wild cats were busy licking their soaked fur to no avail, and didn’t notice his approach.

nLooking at the palace in the rain, he took one step forward.

nHe just wanted to make sure he didn’t make any noise while doing so.

nHe held his breath, taking a step between two heart beats.

nBut a gaze fell on him.

nHow could he be discovered so soon?

nIt looked like he would be at a disadvantage in these negotiations.

nThat was what Jing Jiu thought as he looked in that direction.

nAt that moment, a loud boom sounded from the night sky.

nA very broad flash of lightning struck down, illuminating the whole palace.

nThere was a window in a corner.

nThere was a white cat lying on the window sill.

nHis fur was wet even though the rain couldn’t reach him there.

nThe wet long fur on the white cat formed many unsightly tresses.

nIf you looked at them for an extended period of time, the matted fur began to look like daggers.

nThe white cat narrowed his eyes, looking quite lazy and harmless.

nHowever, his pupils exuded an extremely alluring glow, like the most unreal dream or a bottomless abyss. inviting people to fall in.

nIf any regular disciple saw that pair of the devilish cat pupils, they would be scared senseless.

nYet Jing Jiu wasn’t scared, but remained alert.

nOn the top of Sword Peak, Zhuo Yi, a swordsman of the Undefeated State, couldn’t sense his presence, so he could sneak up on him and kill him.

nYet this white cat had discovered him with great ease.

n“Long time no see,” said Jing Jiu, staring at the white cat.

nAmid the rainstorm and occasional thunders, his low voice could be drowned, but he knew his opponent could hear him.

nThe white cat narrowed his eyes, cocking his head and adjusting his posture to make himself more comfortable. Jing Jiu’s greeting didn’t seem to register with him.

n“Whom did Lei Poyun give that Thunder-Soul Wood to?” asked Jing Jiu.

nThe white cat yawned soundlessly. He looked particularly lazy, even for a cat.

nJing Jiu knew this was merely a disguise, and his opponent was ready to attack at any moment.

nAt his current state of cultivation, he wasn’t a match for this white cat. He wouldn’t even have the chance to counterattack.

nEvery once in a while, the lightning illuminated the palace.

nDanger was within spitting distance.

nHeavy raindrops fell in front of him.

nJing Jiu gazed across the waterfall-like rain at the white cat on the window sill. “It seems you are not surprised to me, so you have known it for a long time. It makes sense. You are the most sensitive and alert of the four of you. The other three may not discover it, but it’s impossible for you not to find out such an important thing.”

nThe white cat turned his head slowly, gazing at Jing Jiu.

n“I have already found the answer, and I came here tonight just to confirm it with you,” said Jing Jiu. “I’ll admit I really didn’t want to give up so easily.”

n“Four years ago, when you witnessed my accident, did you ever think that I might not have died?” asked Jing Jiu. “How about I use your bones to sharpen the swords?”

nStaring at him, the white cat erected his tail, exploding out in all directions like autumn reeds spreading out in a swamp, looking beautiful and hideous at the same time.

nThe thunder and lightning intensified in the night sky. The rainstorm was getting heavier. In heaven and on earth, chaos was spreading.

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