17 A Guest Cultivator No More

Sun Yin stared at the master who was looking up at her. Her smile dropped into a pout that wished to understand what he meant. By saying 'either way was a bad choice', he seemed to say being as powerful as the Bride of Corpses was not a good idea. The woman sat down where she should, bringing her elbows on the table. She leaned close, trying to get a good look at Lin Kun's face from below his eye level. His eyes naturally followed her face.

"Do you not want to be strong, Lin Kun?" Those were the honest words of a maiden. In the back of her mind, she felt bitter asking. It was the same words a god said to her before she committed herself fully to her answered revenge.

"Of course, I want to be strong, Sun Yin." The master smiled at her, finding her curious expression funny. He had always wondered why his brother would describe her as a funny woman, despite being alluring and dangerous to most men. Perhaps this was what Lu Bang sees most of the time. Such a funny, little face.

He shook his head a little, going back to her question. "However, if you say that this Hushe Path creates another 'you'—another Bride of Corpses that haunted the Society longer than she had seen the world, then I must decline." He sighed, pulling out Xiangwei from the sheath on his waist. "The Hushe Path sounded so dark that you barely shine through the darkness. The Huayuan Lin sect wished to stand as one of the pillars of light of the cultivation world, among the brightest beacons of hope for the people. How can I be a representation of what is good if I have taken the path of evil?"

The girl left her mouth with a small gape, her mouth shaped with a small 'o'. Her hand reached out to Xiangwei's blade, patting it. She then grinned at him. "Sign me up."

"Excuse me?"

"You had asked me before… that I join the Huayuan Lin sect. So many times that I lost count as to how many 'no' should I say to match them." She straightened her back and looked at him straight in the eyes. "When you first asked those questions, I saw you as only one of those power-hungry sect leaders. Now that I had seen your answer to their invitation to walk the Hushe Path, I change my mind." She watched the light glitter from his eyes. "Though it would be temporary. I am only going to deal with the thief. We both know that I—this existence and power—shouldn't be allowed to be out here again.

"My time had already come to pass. This is just a sudden clean-up. After this, I won't make mistakes again." Sun Yin hummed.

Lin Kun only nodded at her. "I shall accept your terms for now. Should you push for a longer stay, I would be happy to have you here." He straightened his back. "But please understand that the sect comes before you. I may support you personally, Sun Yin, but there could be a moment in the future that the sect would be safer if I sever my ties with you."

"I will not blame you, Master Lin." She bowed again. This time, her head remained low.

That night had seemed to end for Lin Kun, but Sun Yin continued to loiter around after so. She had a satisfied smile on her face, walking around the grounds of the temple. She remembered destroying this place more than thrice upon finding remnants of her attacks. She re-imagined the perfect forms of those broken pillars that laid on the ground or were left standing incomplete.

A guest cultivator. That was what she was called before this night. Starting from this night, she was part of the Huayuan Lin sect, and her actions would be recognized as the stance of the Huayuan Lin sect. She would carry their spotless China rose on the new hanfu she would receive as a member of the Huayuan Lin sect.

She climbed up the highest roof in the temple grounds and sat on the peak ridge. She looked up at the midnight sky tainted by the faint glare of the moon and the stars. The sun's light had not drawn over the horizon, but its color blended with the night behind the mountains.

For the first time, she felt excited about something new. She was only six when she lost her family's sect, and she had been cut-off from other people since then. She had assimilated herself into different families only to betray them in a span of days. She did not belong to anywhere just for the sake of having a home.

She only chose Huayuan for its tricky range of mountains where she chose to sleep in for eternity. Now, she was so happy she made that stupid choice.

"Someone's happy." Lu Bang's voice pierced through her silent grinning. He got up the roof and lied down next to her. "You didn't make a shameless deal with Lin Kun, did you?"

"Ah, it's the first time I felt so in love with the person in my bed—"

Lu Bang would choke if he was drinking. He only grabbed her arm as if threatening her to say only the truth.

Sun Yin only laughed out. She then exhaled in contentment. "I joined the Huayuan Lin sect. Starting tomorrow, I would be wearing your colors and fighting your battles." She then twitched and fished the map she hid inside her robes. "However, that would be after I recover Yuanyan. I must get her before those chicks from Heici Xu sect get their hands on her.

"Lu Bang, do you know how we can navigate towards Haiyang?" She raised the open map to her face, illustrations facing the man. "Master Lin said I could go under the name of Huayuan Lin sect… as an investigator of the conspiracy behind the apparent murder of the late master Lin Guwei."

"That title is a mouthful." Lu Bang did not even dare repeat her words. He only shook his head. "Let me guess: I'm stuck with you?"

"Ah, definitely. You're the late Lin Guwei's son, too, so Master Lin wanted you to be his facet in this investigation." Sun Yin laughed out as she grew excited about their adventure. "Can you believe it? He's letting you out of the cage!"

The placid brother arched an eyebrow at her. "Excuse me, investigator of the conspiracy—ah, dammit—but I can leave the city whenever I want. I just chose to stay in for a while." He took the map and studied it. "I know the harbors, but not the route per se."

Sun Yin nodded at him before humming as she stared at the vacant part of the sea. The boat routes from her time used to pass by that area, but now, they were all avoiding it. She pointed and tapped at that part. "Say, Lu Bang, why are they not going this way now? The route to Haiyang used to be simpler before."

"Ah, it's because there's a wild beast in the water. Night hunts were done to contain the beast, and yet it would always win. They said it would stay in one place as if guarding it so." The man hummed as he stroked at his chin. "I don't know much since no boats go that way these—are you thinking about it?"

"Yes. If the beast is guarding it and it is the water beast I am thinking of, it might be possible that… it is guarding a piece of my core."

Lu Bang tilted his head to the side in denial. He really wished Sun Yin was wrong. "The Storm Snake is a Level Four Demonic Beast. Please tell me it's not the one you know."

The maiden stared at him and blinked once. "Huh? What if it was? Why are you making that face?"

He sighed and turned to the direction of the western gates. "You have another pet disturbing the city. The people had gone weary because they knew the Huiqi Tiger lurked the area near the gates. You did say you were feeding a pet that night, right?"

"Ah, yes, yes, I was." She giggled, pressing both sleeves on her mouth as if being modest. "The Huiqi Tiger is a pet of mine. Not that I owned him, but it was more like… I turned him into a demonic beast…"

"You can turn animals into demonic beasts?"

"There are a lot of things that I can do, Lu Bang." Sun Yin waved her finger at the man as if she was lecturing him. "I am a woman that existed in a legend which lived longer than the woman herself. I am the Bride of Corpses that haunted generations of cultivators all over the Society and more." She brought her hands down and looked up at the fading darkness. "I am Sun Yin, the Mother of the so-called Hushe Path…

"My power was great and overwhelming, and yet... it's hideous. So hideous…"

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