Chapter 26 Astonishing the World with One Remarkable Achievement (Ⅱ)

　　Everyone waited for the result. The victim, Ruo Shui, was not particularly concerned; a thirst nagged at her. Yun Bumei passed by and whispered, “Senior Yun, may I have some wine?”

　　“Wine?” Yun Bumei seemed puzzled. “What for?”

　　Ruo Shui scratched her brow. “Liquid courage.”

　　Yun Bumei chuckled. “This is Zhaoyao; with the sect master and several elder uncles here, what are you afraid of?”

　　It was precisely because this was Zhaoyao that she was afraid. “My craving hits. Please.”

　　Yun Bumei hesitated, seeing her pitiful look, and relented. After a while he returned with a water skin. Ruo Shui frowned — wasn’t she asking for wine? Yun Bumei said nothing and walked away. She shrugged and, thirsty, pulled the plug and took a gulp. Bitter! The skin held wine, barely diluted, and almost floored her; tears stung her eyes. The scent was faint and sweet — perhaps fruit wine. Whatever it was, she drank as if it were water.

　　As dusk fell, the inspections neared completion. No one matched the description Qiwu Jun had given; several bore wounds, but not on their backs. Feng Xinzi returned with a sullen face. “Maybe he’s gone,” he muttered.

　　Yun Bumei said, “When Your Majesty summoned you, the mountain gate was sealed. There was no sign of anyone leaving; none should have been able to slip away.”

　　Qiwu Jun asked, “Are we certain all present have been checked? Has anyone been overlooked?”

　　Mu Lin Jun scanned the crowd. “Is Yingzhou’s young master absent?”

　　Elder Qiu of Yingzhou stepped forward. “My son has been ill; since arriving he’s had a weak constitution and has been resting indoors.”

　　Mu Lin Jun urged, “Then please have your lad come out. Today everyone else has been inspected; he is the only exception. That is suspicious.”

　　Elder Qiu bristled. “What do you mean? We came all the way from Yingzhou; you suspect my son?”

　　“If not, then let him be examined. If he is innocent we will not wrong him; if guilty, we will not let it pass. Hiding him only invites rumor,” Feng Xinzi said hotly. Under these circumstances, the young master of Yingzhou became the prime suspect.

　　Shortly after, Elder Qiu, annoyed, brought forth his son, Gu Ning. He looked pale and indeed ill, as if still suffering from the voyage. Feng Xinzi moved to examine him, while Ruo Shui’s eyes fluttered. She pointed at Gu Ning. “It’s him!”

　　Elder Qiu scoffed, “Little girl, you’re drunk.”

　　Ruo Shui tipped the empty skin and belched. “Maybe I drank a lot, but my eyes are not blurred.” Yun Bumei wiped imaginary sweat — the skin had been full, and she had emptied it.

　　Qiwu Jun said, “Elder Qiu, if you please, show us your son’s back.”

　　Seeing there was no escape, Gu Ning blurted, “She and I were mutually enamored; swept away by passion.”

　　“Nonsense,” Feng Xinzi muttered. She had only just awakened from months of sleep in the Medicine Valley; when had she become mutually enamored with Gu Ning?

　　Ruo Shui, though drunk, was clear-minded. “I don’t even know who you are. Who says we were in love? You took advantage of me while I slept.”

　　“I am Gu Ning, the young master of Yingzhou and heir apparent. I truly mean to marry you. My father has only me as a son; I will be master of Yingzhou, and you shall be my lady—”

　　Before he finished, Qiwu Jun’s voice rose coolly. “She is my wife. She cannot be your lady.”

　　“My wife? Your wife?” Gu Ning stared at Ruo Shui. Everyone stared. This was the famed wife of Qiwu Jun — she did not seem remarkable, standing there tipsy and disheveled, hardly matching his immortal bearing.

　　Feng Xinzi stood petrified. He remembered her words: she had been married, deceived, forced into a union and abandoned. The echoes forced belief upon him.

　　Ruo Shui gazed at Qiwu Jun, dazed. He had acknowledged her. All her fear dissolved; with him present, she felt at ease.

　　Gu Ning, cornered, lashed out. “She seduced me! You secluded yourself for three years; she was lonely and tempted me.”

　　“You lie,” Ruo Shui retorted. She feared Qiwu Jun might believe him. “Trust me. I did not.”

　　Qiwu Jun did not look at her, only at Gu Ning.

　　“If I were to stray,” Ruo Shui added stubbornly, “I wouldn’t choose someone like him.”

　　Qiwu Jun finally turned his gaze upon her. “Oh? Then whom would you choose?”

　　Drunk yet emboldened, she surveyed the crowd and pointed at Feng Xinzi. “At least someone like him — handsome, wealthy, able to heal.” She swayed. “No, you’re not Feng the Divine Physician; you’re Fuyi Jun. I deceived you, you deceived me. We’re even.”

　　Fuyi Jun smiled bitterly. Qiwu Jun glanced at him; he instantly lowered his head, uneasy.

　　Some dared not speak, some watched with amusement, others quietly enjoyed the spectacle.

　　“Qiwu Jun, see clearly — she harbors a second heart,” Gu Ning pressed.

　　Qiwu Jun looked at Ruo Shui. “How do you think he should be punished?”

　　“You’re asking me?” she said, pointing to herself. “Whatever I say?”

　　“Speak.”

　　She pondered briefly and declared, “Strip him of his cultivation, destroy his spiritual foundation, and forbid him from cultivating for life.”