Chapter 38: Change of Heart

Princess Shunde was finally gone. However, her trail of flowers remained. Within less than a day, they withered and decayed, and their pleasant fragrance turned into a stench of rot.

The late spring weather, in addition to a light drizzle of rain, filled the valley with insects and mosquitoes. Everyone was suffering. Lin Canglan's body could not stay hidden any longer. Lin Haoqing publicly announced his death without further delay.

Everyone was shocked and caught off guard when the news came out. To most of the demon masters here, Lin Canglan was not a beady-eyed old fox, but an old man who had dedicated his life to the valley.

They saw Lin Canglan as an icon, so even though he was old and frail, and had started to look for a successor, everyone still respected him and believed he would always be there.

Even Ji Yunhe thought this old fox would always be there. Yet, he died. Lin Haoqing said he died of illness, but refused to allow anyone to visit Lin Canglan's body. He lit a fire in the middle of the night and burned it.

Ji Yunhe thought that was unwise, but she could not think of a better idea. The wound on Lin Canglan's neck was so obvious, fire was the only way. Now that the truth had been turned into ash, the rest was up to people's imagination.

Many people did not believe Lin Haoqing. The elders began to look for Qing Shu, the demon slave who was faithfully loyal to Lin Canglan. At this point, they would believe a demon over the Valley Master's own son.

But how could they find Qing Shu? The Valley Master suddenly died of illness, and his demon slave disappeared without a trace. Even if Lin Haoqing had the best excuses in the world, he still would not be able to suppress all the rumors flying around.

But that was Lin Haoqing's problem, Ji Yunhe did not care. She did not want the position of the Valley Master, and she shared no common interests with him. She stayed in her own courtyard and stressed over only one thing.

Not about the antidote next month, nor about Princess Shunde's ten day deadline. She only stressed over how to get Changyi to leave.

Ji Yunhe had not gone to the dungeon again ever since Princess Shunde's visit. She deliberately distanced herself from Changyi and hoped that he would maybe gradually forget her. Ji Yunhe wanted this so much she sometimes even dreamed of him escaping from the dungeon.

He would push open the door to her room and tell her, "Ji Yunhe, I've figured it out. You live your life and I'll live mine. I'm going back to the sea. I'm not staying here anymore."

And Ji Yunhe would be so ecstatic and cheer for him all the way to the main gate, and wave him off. She would then watch Changyi's fading back with heartfelt joy. But that never happened.

"I will not leave."

His tone was so firm, refusing to be swayed by anyone. How to make him go...

Ji Yunhe pondered over this question wholeheartedly until the elders came. Two elders with the most seniority in the Demon Valley. The elders were not the most capable and perhaps their power did not even match that of Qu Xiaoxing, but they were the oldest.

After the sudden death of Lin Canglan, in accordance with the rules, they should preside over the inauguration ceremony of the new Valley Master. But they had no intention of doing so. When the elders met with Ji Yunhe, they were direct and to the point.

"We suspect the young valley master killed his own father." Ji Yunhe thought in her mind: yes, your suspicions are absolutely correct. But she did not say anything, and just sipped her tea.

"The day Princess Shunde came, someone went to invite the Valley Master. According to that man, the one who answered in the room was the young valley master." Yes, and she was there too. Ji Yunhe continued to drink her tea.