Chapter 88 — The Deathmire

Xiao Wan gave a wry smile. "Sister, my grandfather, he... well, I know your powers are vast. Could you help him?"

Jin Pingyue glanced at Zhou Yixuan with some disdain, but then, turning back to Xiao Wan's pleading eyes, she shrugged. "Very well. For your sake, he shall have this favor."

With that she drew a small white jade bottle from her robes and handed it to Xiao Wan. "There is some medicinal water in this bottle. Have him smear it on his body, and the mosquitoes will keep their distance."

Xiao Wan took it delightedly, her face beaming. "Thank you, Sister." She hurried to Zhou Yixuan and handed him the bottle. He stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly leaped up and shouted angrily, "You had such a good thing and you didn't even—"

Jin Pingyue's face turned cold and she fixed her eyes on him. Zhou Yixuan's voice died at once. As though he had some guilty conscience, he lowered his head, took the bottle, poured out the liquid, and smeared it over himself. In a moment a faint fragrance rose, and sure enough the mosquitoes that had been dancing and plaguing him moments before fell silent, and his whole body and mind relaxed.

Xiao Wan walked slowly back and returned the bottle to Jin Pingyue. After a moment's hesitation she said in a low voice, "Sister, do you still hold it against my grandfather for the wrong he did back then?"

"Hmph!" Jin Pingyue's face turned slightly cold. "Three years ago by the Eastern Sea, his wild ranting nearly put me in a place of eternal damnation. Had you not discovered it early, sister, and willingly sacrificed a year of your own lifespan to work the Wondrous Soul-Retrieving Formation for me and rid me of the demon spirit possessing my body, I would by now be worse off than dead. That old reprobate—if not for..."

Xiao Wan gently took Jin Pingyue's hand and called softly, "Sister."

Jin Pingyue glanced at her and gave a faint sigh, then a smile surfaced on her face and her eyes filled with tenderness. She patted Xiao Wan's hand. "Enough, enough. With a good sister like you, I let go of the past long ago; only sometimes, looking at that grandfather of yours, I still find him hard on the eyes and can't resist letting him suffer a little. Heh heh, good sister, you won't blame me, will you?"

Xiao Wan smiled and shook her head.

Jin Pingyue smiled as though to speak, when suddenly her face chilled. She whirled about and cried, "Who goes there?"

Xiao Wan and Zhou Yixuan both started and looked all around, but saw only vast mist and thick water-weeds. Apart from the occasional bubble rising on the water, there was not the slightest stir.

Yet somehow, seeing Jin Pingyue's face—always so composed—now suddenly grave and wary, and utterly unlike the gentle, quiet manner she showed when chatting and laughing with Xiao Wan, a cool hint of killing intent showing through her calm, as though she had become another person altogether, it seemed that whatever had come was a formidable foe not to be taken lightly.

After a moment, from deep in the distant mist a voice came drifting, saying mildly, "Immortal Maiden Jin, we agreed to meet yesterday at the Blackwater Trench to discuss grave matters. Why did you not come?"

Jin Pingyue seemed now to know who it was, and her expression eased slightly, yet the wariness in her eyes did not diminish in the least, and her tone was not the least bit courteous. "I don't know the road."

The one in the mist seemed taken aback and said nothing for a good while. At length he said, "What, from Immortal Maiden Jin's meaning, has the Mighty Soul Sect no interest in the matter here?"

Jin Pingyue gave a snort and, eyes fixed ahead, said, "Three days ago, four disciples of my Mighty Soul Sect were murdered six li northwest of Dawang Village, poisoned with the deadly Black Toad Powder. Was that your doing?"

The one in the mist seemed to start. "No."

Jin Pingyue said coldly, "Black Toad Powder is the exclusive property of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. How do you explain that?"

The one in the mist said nothing, and after a long silence said mildly, "Immortal Maiden Jin, if I had struck, there would have been no need for poison."

Jin Pingyue snorted again, but did not refute him; plainly on this point she had no objection.

The other continued, "But since this concerns both our sects and my name has been dragged into it, when this matter here is done I will naturally give you an accounting. What say you? This westward journey has brought many strange happenings, and I fear there is something else afoot. I hope you will weigh it carefully, Maiden, and put the greater matter first."

Jin Pingyue frowned slightly and pondered a moment, then turned to Xiao Wan. "Sister Xiao Wan, you and your grandfather rest here a while. I'll go ahead and discuss some matters with the others; I'll be back before dark." She paused, then lowered her voice. "That thing I gave you—do you still have it?"

Xiao Wan nodded and patted her left side.

Jin Pingyue smiled faintly and took her hand. "The Deathmire is full of peril. I will be close by, just ahead; if anything happens, I'll be with you in an instant. Only you must on no account wander about, and above all not stray far from this spot."

Xiao Wan nodded. "Don't worry, Sister. I understand."

Jin Pingyue smiled, released her hand, and said, "Take care in all things. Call me if anything happens."

With that she cast another glance around, then suddenly her body rose into the air. Beneath her garments a violet radiance appeared, bearing up her lovely form as she flew forward into the thick mist.

Xiao Wan watched Jin Pingyue's figure fade into the mist, then turned and went to Zhou Yixuan's side. He was leaning against the little tree; with the mosquitoes gone, he was much more at ease, yet he still grumbled, "Had I known this place was like this, I'd have died before coming."

Xiao Wan laughed. "No one forced you to come. You tagged along of your own accord."

Zhou Yixuan snorted, then said to Xiao Wan, "I say, you'd do well to keep your distance from that woman. Haven't you heard the tales these past few years—that she's killed countless people, and is shameless besides, seducing countless innocent young men..."

Xiao Wan spat. "Grandfather, how can you say such things!" A flush of anger crossed her face.

Zhou Yixuan stuck out his tongue and said no more.

The two of them waited there. The already overcast sky gradually darkened, yet Jin Pingyue still had not returned. Xiao Wan grew slowly anxious and thought of going ahead to look, but mindful of Jin Pingyue's instructions—and lacking any confidence in herself besides—she did not dare.

After waiting a while longer, Xiao Wan grew fretful. She looked up at the sky and saw the dark clouds thickening; by the look of it, not only was night coming on, but rain was likely as well.

Xiao Wan suddenly gave a soft cry of dismay. She remembered that in her haste to set out she had remembered to bring everything—except rain gear. If it rained now, what a disaster it would be. She turned quickly to Zhou Yixuan. "Grandfather, did you bring an umbrella?"

Zhou Yixuan started. "Umbrella?" A moment later he understood, looked up at the sky, and was struck dumb. "I—I thought you brought one."

Xiao Wan said anxiously, "Oh! This is awful. If it rains, whatever shall we do?"

Zhou Yixuan looked all around. Nearby there was only the little tree behind him, and beyond that only ponds and water-weeds—nowhere at all to shelter from the rain. He groaned. "We're done for. Why don't we find somewhere to hide from the rain?"

Xiao Wan shook her head at once. "No. Sister Ping'er said we mustn't wander about, or we'll be in danger."

Zhou Yixuan said peevishly, "Can't move? If we can't move and the rain comes down, we'll be in danger of consumption!"