บท 45: Is That So?
Chapter 45- Is That So?
"It all started with the treasure my late husband and Miao Hua Cheng had obtained a long time ago."
"Around a decade ago, my late husband and Miao Hua Cheng were journeying near Sea City when they chanced upon a strange turtle shell with a treasure map inscribed on it. Since that was the case, they split it into two and kept one piece each."
Su Mu sat in front of Madame Jiang, calmly sipping his tea.
Next to his chair was Miao Hua Cheng, who had been tied up by Su Mu after sealing his cultivation.
After Su Mu was done listening to Cui'er's story, it didn't take him long to dispose of every member of the Miao Family, leaving only Miao Hua Cheng alive.
While he decided to talk to Madame Jiang, her daughter, Huan'er, was in the next room, treating the injured Cui'er.
"Years later, my late husband settled down in Tong Estate and started up in own business, while Miao Hua Cheng remained in the Sea City, studying his half of the shell and uncovering some clues. He then planned my late husband's death, and asked us to come to Sea City, then, he made our escorts betray us. All for the sake of the other half of the treasure map."
'This treasure map, could it be the one that leads to the Soul Warming Lotus?'
Although it sounded rather farfetched, Su Mu couldn't deny that possibility.
From what Cui'er had told him, on their way to the Sea City, the three of them were saved by Yang Kai.
And Miao Hua Cheng's son, Miao Lin, was an Inner Court Disciple of the Red Cloud Sect's Island, the same island where Yang Kai currently was at.
"And from the looks of it, you gave the turtle shell to Miao Hua Cheng, right?"
"How do you know?" Madame Jiang asked, surprised.
"The fact that he was ready to kill you means that he already has what he needs." Su Mu stated, turning towards Miao Hua Cheng. "So, where is your piece of the turtle shell?"
"I- They are with my son, who is at the Red Cloud Sect. The Red Cloud Sect plans on doing a large-scale voyage to the secret island mentioned in my piece of turtle shell in a week."
"It's good to see that you are no longer using the Red Cloud Sect's name to defend yourself." Su Mu nodded, turning back towards Madame Jiang.
"So, what is the difference between these pieces of a turtle shell?"
"According to the inference of my late husband before his death, their initial hypothesis was wrong. The two pieces of the shell are not meant to be placed together. Miao Hua Cheng had the portion which shows the navigation to the secret island, but the one my late husband had was the complete map of the internal structures of the treasure island."
"How far is that secret island from Sea City?" Su Mu looked at Miao Hua Cheng, who shivered under his gaze.
"Around 13,000 miles, and with the Endless Sea being inhabited by countless Monster Beasts, even Immortal Ascension Realm Cultivators cannot travel that much." Miao Hua Cheng's face held a frightened look as he spoke. It was evident that this whole situation was a nightmare for him.
'13,000 miles, huh? For the current me, it will be a bit tiring even with the Seven Divine Steps, but it's not a big deal. But if that island is protected by a Defensive Array, it will be difficult to break it with just brute strength, and breaking it by exploiting its weakness would take at least half an hour, but I doubt the Monster Beasts would just let me do it. First, let's visit the Red Cloud Sect's Island.'
"It seems that I'll be paying the Red Cloud Sect's Island a visit tomorrow." Su Mu smiled slightly, giving Miao Hua Cheng a knowing look.
"Y-Young Master! I have already told you everything you asked for, so you will let me live, right? You promised!" Miao Hua Cheng asked.
"Hm?" Su Mu raised an eyebrow. "I promised that I will grant you mercy if you cooperate. But when did I say anything about sparing your life?"
"Y-YOU BASTARD!" Miao Hua Cheng tried to back away, but his head was grabbed by Su Mu's right hand.
"For a traitorous thing like you, death is the biggest mercy."
Su Mu let go of Miao Hua Cheng's head, and the latter's body fell to the ground as the light in his eyes disappeared.
Seeing the person who had ruined her life die, tears started falling down Madame Jiang's eyes, and soon, she bowed towards Su Mu.
"Young Hero, thank you for saving us, and bringing justice to the Jiang Family!"
"Justice, huh?" Hearing her, Su Mu chuckled.
"Is something wrong, Young Hero?"
"No. I saved you because I wanted to, there is no need to label my actions as a mere actions for justice. Not everything in this world is as black and white as you think."
Cultivators gained the strength to fulfil their ambitions, and to do things they wanted to. So why would Su Mu need a reason like justice to save someone?
He saved them because he wanted to, and didn't need to justify his actions to anyone.
"So." Seeing the confused expression on Madame Jiang's face, Su Mu changed the topic. In the first place, he never expected her to understand what he meant. "What do you plan on doing?"
"I..." Madame Jiang couldn't find the words. From the moment Miao Hua Cheng captured her, she lost all hope of living. And now that she and her daughter were given a second chance, she had no idea what she was supposed to do. "I don't know, Young Hero."
"Does anyone else know who you are within the Sea City?" Su Mu asked.
Madame Jiang shook her head.
"The only one who currently knows our identities are Miao Lin, Miao Hua Cheng's son, but he is on the Red Cloud Sect's island. And since he is the one with the turtle shell pieces, the Red Cloud Sect will most likely not inform him about the massacre of the Miao Family."
"Why do you think that?"
"Miao Lin is a Red Clouds Sect's Inner Court Disciple. But that only became possible because he had the map to the treasure island with him. It was all because of that rotten child, who had no hope of gaining recognition within the Red Clouds Sect that Miao Hua Cheng was after the shell that my late husband owned. The Red Cloud Sect wouldn't want anything to get in their way to the treasure island, so not informing Miao Lin is something they're bound to do. And they will most likely dispose of him after he fulfils his purpose of guiding them to the treasure."
That was just the kind of place Red Cloud Sect was.
"You're right." Su Mu nodded.
"Umm, Young Hero?" Madame Jiang seemed hesitant.
"What is it?" Su Mu calmly asked.
"Does Young Hero plan on visiting the treasure island?"
"I do." Su Mu nodded. "If I am not wrong, that island should contain the thing I am looking for."
Madame Jiang's eyes widened, and she stated. "Young Hero, I still have the map of the inner structures of the secret island. Although I have no way to tell you how to get there, it should be useful after reaching that island."
"Hm? Didn't you hand over the shell to Miao Hua Cheng?" Su Mu asked.
"In actuality, after my late husband had obtained the other half of the tortoiseshell, he too had spent years studying and researching it. Similar to how Miao Hua Cheng obtained the map that instructed on how to get to the island, my late husband also obtained the other portion of the map from the shell, and passed it onto me."
"I see." Su Mu nodded. "So, where is the map?"
"It's on me." Madame Jiang replied with an unnatural voice.
After staying silent for a long time, the Madame finally affirmed her resolve and opened her mouth to speak. "Young Hero, please excuse me!"
Su Mu watched as Madame Jiang turned around, and unbuttoned her dress, causing it to fall off, giving him the view of her snow-white back.
"The map has been embroidered onto my skin by my late husband!" Hanging her head down in embarrassment, Madame Jiang roused up all her courage to do the deed.
Su Mu looked at the map. There was a place with high mountain ridges, which formed the shape of the island. Many areas on the map were specially labelled in great detail. What's more, there was an obvious winding pathway that was meant to be taken.
"Hm. This map is embroidered using a heated needle, inked with coloured pigment. For a normal person to be able to endure this much pain, it's commendable." Su Mu said.
Hearing his compliment, tears started falling down Madame Jiang's eyes, wondering if all the pain she has been through will finally end.
Su Mu read the map for a few minutes, and while he was at it, he also corrected the parts that were most likely embroidered incorrectly.
Meanwhile, the Madame was still shaking. As both her eyes were kept shut, her tears keep flowing.
"I have memorised the map." SU Mu stared, making Madame Jiang nod before she wore her dress again.
"Young Hero, thank you for all your hard work." Madame Jiang sat in front of Su Mu while speaking in a soft voice.
"You look like someone who has fulfilled the purpose of her life." Su Mu commented.
"Haven't I?" Madame Jiang asked.
"I don't think so." Su Mu chuckled. "You have your whole life ahead of you, and you need to look after Huan'er and Cui'er, don't you? If you were to give up like that, what will they do? I'd say you have plenty of things to live for, even after all you have been through."
'Life is a precious thing, and as someone who had lived twice, I understand it very well.'
But that didn't mean that all lives were equal.
Every person would consider his life and the lives of those important to them to be above the lives of strangers.
And Su Mu was no different.
He would never risk the lives of Su Yan, Hu Jiao'er, Hu Mei'er, Xia Ning Chang, or any of his women, no matter what the situation might be.
It was not even something he would need to consider.
"I never thought of that." Madame Jiang seemed dishearted, but soon, she nodded. "But even if that's the case, I have no idea what I should do, or what will be best for my daughter."
"Is that so?"
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A/N-
My head hurts thinking about what to do.
I'll just do it according to a vote.
Take them with him or not.
The next chapter will be tomorrow.
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