"This is the second matter I would lay before you," White Lotus said, her voice trailing. "Save that innocent water creature."
Her words seemed to hover at Jiang Chen's ear, and no less to bore into his heart, interrogating his very soul. "So what will you do now? Refuse — or fulfill your oath?"
Jiang Chen drew his sword.
He burst from his hiding place, man and blade bound into a single vertical line, splitting the air, and in the space of a breath closed upon the black-clad man. The man, who had been doing this sort of work in the Clear River, was naturally alert, a hand-seal already formed and held at the ready.
A Water-Wave Shield rose to bar the way.
Jiang Chen's one stroke tore it apart, then pressed on, violet aura surging to the heavens. Forced to defend himself, the man in black hurled the sack from his shoulder straight at Jiang Chen.
In older days, once he had launched such a fierce stroke, Jiang Chen could never have stayed his hand. But after all this time sparring with Zhao Lang, the killing method of his Violet Dawn Sword Art had become second nature, and he could bend it to his will on a moment's notice.
The blade's momentum dissipated at once. Jiang Chen reached out, caught the sack, and spun through several turns, shedding the force behind it even as he kept his guard up against his opponent.
But the man in black had already used that opening to flee far and fast. He had been plying this trade in the Clear River; were the River's water army to catch him, it would be instant death, with no one on earth able to save him. So he dared not linger for a single exchange.
Jiang Chen did not give chase either. With one stroke of his blade he cut the sack open and saw inside a clam maiden, unconscious and nearly bare.
In outward form she was wholly a human beauty, save that two shells of clam covered her breast. Jiang Chen immediately untied his outer garment and draped it over her. Then he felt for her breath and judged that she still lived. He raised one hand in a seal, gathered a wisp of water vapor, and laid it across her face.
The clam maiden stirred slowly awake. Catching sight of Jiang Chen, she started in alarm; then, reaching down and finding the clothing that covered her, she recovered some measure of ease.
"Do not be alarmed, miss." Jiang Chen's tone was gentle. "The man who seized you has been driven off by me. You may return to the Clear River now."
The clam maiden clutched the garment about her, her eyes half-frightened, half-melancholy, her voice soft and clinging. "This lowly one is named Xiao Shuang. Might this servant ask the honorable name of my savior?"
"My name is of no importance. I only wish you to know that among the human race, not all are wicked. Some will harm you, and some will save you. The night is deep and the dew heavy — please hurry home, lest your family grow worried."
The water folk are all born with Dao meridians; they are not weaklings to be slaughtered at another's pleasure.
Xiao Shuang studied Jiang Chen a long moment, then, holding her clothes about her, dissolved into a stream of water and leapt into the surging Clear River.
"There now — the beauty is far away!" Only then did White Lotus appear before Jiang Chen, deliberately passing a hand before his eyes. Whatever he was thinking, she paid it no mind.
Jiang Chen came back to himself and noticed that White Lotus held a black-clad man by the arm.
"This is...?" He frowned.
White Lotus met his gaze with those beautiful eyes of hers, smiling all the while. "I should tell you — the trade of seizing creatures from the water is not one just any power could ply. You showed your face tonight. Had I let him run, the force behind him would have your whole story laid bare before a single day passed. Then it would not be your life alone stretched upon the knife, but your brothers', your friends', your little sister's..."
Even as she laughed, she tossed the man in black to the ground. "So. There is a choice before you now."
Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Jiang Chen's blade had already drawn a line across the captive's vital points.
"I had no choice."
Jiang Chen sheathed his sword, his expression set hard. "That is what you meant to tell me, is it not?"
"No." White Lotus laughed. "What I meant to tell you is that behind this man stands the Justice Enforcement Bureau — stands Zhuang Ting — stands the very thing you long for!"
She was so pleased with herself, it seemed, that the joy in her voice could not be hidden.
And Jiang Chen's face fell as still and dark as water.
"I don't believe it," he said.
"Then explain this." White Lotus went on. "Explain why, after centuries as allies, Zhuang Ting trembles so at the thought of a rising of the Clear River's water folk. Why is it that the moment the water army stirs, the city guard of the whole Clear River commandery is nearly emptied out to meet it — leaving so vast a gap that the calamity of Little Grove Town came to pass?"
She said: "Because they know all too well what they have done. All too well that were the evidence once seized, the Clear River Water Palace might well throw all restraint aside and wage open war!"
Jiang Chen was silent.
"Zhuang Ting — what is it in your heart? Bright? Lofty? A figure like a father?"
"Do you truly think the Justice Enforcement Bureau emptied itself before the Little Grove Town affair to hunt the Heart-Devouring Demon?"
"One paltry Heart-Devouring Demon, worth mobilizing all those men? Their real strength was all 'guarding' those murderous beasts..."
Jiang Chen could stay silent no longer, and his voice came out hoarse and strained. "You are like a devil. You are dragging me step by step into the abyss."
"Don't slander me — no one is dragging you. From Jade Balance Peak to this place, these are all choices you made yourself. Are they not?"
"You know me very well. You pretend to give me a choice, knowing full well I have none." Jiang Chen looked at her. "Who are you, truly? What is your purpose?"
"I am..." White Lotus spoke low, as though about to give a real answer, but then broke into a flirtatious laugh. "Your savior."
"I am very grateful you saved my life. But to be honest, right now I almost wish you had not." There was pain in Jiang Chen's voice — the ache of a faith falling to ruin. He was tearing down the value system he had built up over the years, and from its wreckage a new one would have to be born.
It was an agonizing process.
"Then who will look after your little sister?"
"My brothers will see to her very well."
"You are far too naive! In this world no one can be certain of taking care of anyone — not even you could manage it, let alone those sworn brothers of yours. Have you forgotten how Fang Heng died?"
Jiang Chen said heavily: "You are too dark-minded!"
"Heh." White Lotus gave a light scoff. "I am simply not naive."
"The matter is done. I will take my leave." Jiang Chen wanted no more of this talk; in words he had never once gotten the better of White Lotus.
"Before you go, consider one more question," White Lotus called from behind him. "If the people sacrificed at Little Grove Town gave their lives to rescue more of those common folk who live under such conditions — to release them from their miserable fate as 'feed' for those murderous beasts — then were they truly evil?"
She watched his back, waiting on his mood, wondering whether he might change.
"Or is it, perhaps, another kind of justice?"
Jiang Chen stopped dead, and whirled about! He pressed hard upon his sword, his long hair flying wild!
"Those damned mongrels! Whatever cause they put on it, whatever excuse they drag in, they have nothing to do with the word 'justice'! White Lotus, I owe you a life. But if you stand with them, then take it back!"
For an instant, both wind and moonlight went silent.
White Lotus blinked, then broke into a pretty, lilting laugh. "What are you saying? Of course I stand with you."
"Some things are no joking matter, White Lotus," Jiang Chen said, quite seriously.
"There, there." White Lotus nodded dismissively, and was about to say something more when, without warning, she struck out at Jiang Chen with an open palm, a soft current of force turning him in the air and driving him a full ten zhang away.
"Don't look back. Run!"
Mid-air, Jiang Chen dared not turn his head.
For he had already sensed the arrival of that terrible pressure, like a mountain bowing down, like a river toppling over.
But even as he fled with his back turned, he could make out the white radiance that flared up in an instant behind him, glorious and blinding.
The light was of an unspeakable violence, an unspeakable brilliance.
And in that instant, it seemed to swallow all sound, and to cover all sight.
Even with his back to it. Even seeing only its edge.
It seared the eyes, and the tears would not stop.