At dawn, Yi Sa heard the sound of vehicles and commotion – Yi Yunqiao had arrived.

Let her come, Yi Sa thought. Even if the king of heaven himself showed up, it wouldn’t disturb her sleep.

Yi Sa tilted her head and fell back asleep, feeling quite content with these days of complete freedom – no worries, no attachments, doing exactly as she pleased.

She slept until late morning when the sound of a message alert woke her. She reached for her phone – it was from Zong Hang.

“Yi Sa, what are you up to? I haven’t made it home yet, I’m getting carsick from this ride.” He added a crying emoji.

From his tone, she could imagine his clueless, bored expression. Yi Sa wanted to reply, her finger hovering over the phone screen for a moment before curling back.

She should remain distant and aloof. No one likes having their warmth met with coldness. Once he experienced enough indifference, he would naturally get the hint and gradually send fewer messages until contact ceased completely.

She tossed the phone aside, got up to wash, and caught someone passing by to ask about Yi Yunqiao. They pointed toward Ding Panling’s tent: “She went in there early this morning with Ding Yudie. They said they’re discussing important matters and don’t want to be disturbed.”

It seemed they were having the big reveal. This was truly a case of later generations reaping what earlier ones had sown – after everyone had worked so hard and racked their brains to piece together the truth, Yi Yunqiao and the others just had to sit and listen to the conclusions.

Yi Sa went to the makeshift cafeteria for breakfast, but having arrived too late, only cold steamed buns and dishwater remained. The cook smiled and suggested: “Why don’t you wait a bit? We’re about to start preparing lunch – you can have the first serving.”

That worked for her. Yi Sa chewed on a wooden toothpick and sat at the table to wait. To pass the time, she borrowed a deck of cards, shuffled them, breathed on them three times, and laid them out to tell her fortune.

Back in Fu Village, she used to play cards often with Chen Tu and learned this fortune-telling method from him. It wasn’t particularly accurate, just for fun.

She laid out five cards each at the top and bottom for the year’s fortune, four cards vertically on the left and right representing male and female friends, and five cards in the middle representing Heaven, Earth, Humanity, Harmony, and Self.

There was supposed to be an order to reveal the cards, but she ignored that and turned over the “Self” card first.

Five of Diamonds.

It meant everything would go against her wishes.

“Damn it,” she thought. Her luck was already bad enough without the cards piling on. Just as she was about to crumple the cards, someone called from outside: “Sasa?”

It was Yi Yunqiao.

Yi Sa responded and walked out looking dejected.

Yi Yunqiao’s hair was still in its usual bouncy curls, though remarkably without any rollers hanging down – probably due to the cold. She was bundled up like a bear.

She immediately gave Yi Sa a stern look, jabbing two fingers at her forehead: “You troublemaker! Last time when I called to ask if you’d heard anything about the drifting cave, how did you answer me? Keeping secrets even from me – are you part of the Yi family or not?”

In the past, Yi Sa might have grinned sheepishly or clung to Yi Yunqiao’s arm, wheedling and begging for forgiveness. But now she felt there was no need to demean herself – after putting on an act for most of her life, couldn’t she be true to herself as death approached?

She tilted her head to dodge the finger jab: “It was for secrecy back then, Uncle Panling said not to tell.”

She glanced at Yi Yunqiao’s expression: “So you know everything now?”

Indeed she did. After sitting through the morning’s revelations – which seemed like a fantastic tale spanning from 1996 back to thousands of years ago – Yi Yunqiao’s head was still spinning: “I don’t know if it’s all true, but we’ll have to go down and see…”

She sighed: “The ones who died back then were Yi family members, and so were the ones who got trapped. You might not remember them, but I knew them all. If I hadn’t been pregnant during the 1996 incident, I would have gone down into the cave too…”

“Also, let me tell you something…” She reached out and put her arm around Yi Sa’s shoulders: “Tell me, why is Ding Panling leading this time? He usually keeps quiet – what gives him the right?”

Yi Sa was exasperated: Aunt Yunqiao always saw ulterior motives in others. At Poyang Lake, she suspected Jiang Xiaoguang of wanting to privately open the golden pool, and now she was jealous of Ding Panling’s leadership…

Just as she was about to speak, something clicked in her mind.

Wait – Yi Yunqiao was writing characters on her back.

“Close your eyes at the right time, don’t speak carelessly.”

This was…

Yi Sa’s heart began racing uncontrollably: Yi Yunqiao was creating a diversion, misdirecting attention. Close your eyes at the right time, and don’t speak carelessly – they were going to cut off the Taisui’s surveillance. This was necessary; otherwise, they’d remain at a disadvantage, with everything they did being observed.

She glanced sideways at Yi Yunqiao: “Aunt Yunqiao, Uncle Panling is quite good. You’ll see once you get to know him better.”

Yi Yunqiao snorted: “I don’t think so. Whatever he can do, I can probably do too. We’re both water ghosts – who’s to say who’s better?”

As Yi Sa watched Yi Yunqiao stride away haughtily, she suddenly realized that when it came to “acting,” everyone was skilled in their own way.

In the coming days, they would all have to maintain one facade while executing another plan.

Early that morning, Ding Xi had made contact with the advance team searching for the drifting cave. They reported having just identified the location and were preparing to place prayer flags. The rear party could break camp in the next couple of days.

Ding Panling was still discussing matters with Yi Yunqiao and the others, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to interrupt. Technically, he could report to Ding Changsheng, but Ding Xi felt that over these past days, Ding Changsheng seemed to have noticed something – his glances had become somewhat strange. So it was better to avoid him when possible.

He waited until Yi Yunqiao, Ding Yudie, and the others had left the tent before going in to find Ding Panling.

After listening, Ding Panling nodded slightly: “Alright, I’ll have Changsheng arrange the camp break.”

Have Ding Changsheng arranged it? Wasn’t this kind of minor task usually his responsibility? While Ding Xi was puzzling over this, Ding Panling beckoned to him: “I’ve been sitting all morning and my back is stiff. The scenery here is nice – come take a walk with me.”

Ding Xi was surprised by this honor, but increasingly confused: with all the water ghosts present, including Ding Yudie, a “direct line” member of the Ding family, how did he end up being chosen as a walking companion?

Full of doubt, he followed Ding Panling out of the camp and up the nearest high slope.

The view was indeed beautiful: snow-capped mountains at the highest points, grey-brown rocks below, and yellow-green marshland at the lowest level, with thin streams threading through it, flashing silver in the clear sunlight.

Ding Panling gestured at the near and far distances: “Look at this scenery, it’s something. When we’re inland, how often do we get to see such an open vista?”

How could Ding Panling be in the mood to appreciate scenery? As Ding Xi wondered how to respond, he suddenly felt his back stiffen.

Ding Panling was writing characters on his back.

When Ding Xi looked up at him, Ding Panling continued gazing ahead, his expression relaxed: “Don’t you agree?”

Ding Xi quickly suppressed his questions and responded naturally: “Yes, indeed.”

He slowly decoded the characters Ding Panling was writing – not just a sentence or two, but lengthy instructions and arrangements.

Occasionally, Ding Panling’s hand would pause as he inserted casual comments about the weather, the return journey, recent meals, or physical discomfort. Ding Xi responded verbally while growing increasingly tense inside.

After what seemed like ages, this difficult “dialogue” finally concluded. Ding Panling withdrew his hand and appeared to suddenly remember something: “Oh right when Sasa and the others went down to the cave last time, they mentioned having to cross some water. It was very cold, and people couldn’t handle staying in it for long. Think of something – go buy some dry suits these next couple of days. You can wear clothes underneath those, so warmth won’t be an issue then. Also, we still need oxygen tanks. Even though water ghosts can stay underwater for a long time, this is still the plateau – oxygen tanks could save lives if people overexert themselves. Go on now.”

Ding Xi acknowledged this but didn’t move immediately.

As Ding Panling was beginning to wonder why, Ding Xi cleared his throat: “Uncle Ling, you must know about my situation by now – about the unpleasantness with Yi Sa due to my previous mistakes.”

“You mean about her friend Chen Heke?”

“Yes. My godfather used the excuse that the drifting cave situation wasn’t clear yet and we needed all hands on deck, so he kept her here. But you know Yi Sa’s temperament – I don’t think she’ll let it go.”

“So?”

“I was hoping Uncle Ling could put in a good word for me.”

Ding Panling smiled slightly.

He had just finished giving Ding Xi instructions, and now Ding Xi was making demands. To put it bluntly, this was almost like blackmail.

Ding Xi seemed to guess what he was thinking: “Uncle Ling, I don’t mean anything by it. Like I said before, I’m just trying to find a way to survive.”

“You think everything will be fine as long as Sasa doesn’t pursue the matter?”

“If she doesn’t pursue it, I’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“What about those people? Do you feel sorry for them? Tell me honestly.”

Ding Xi laughed, then after a pause said: “I don’t feel anything.”

“Uncle Ling, I had no grudge against anyone who died by my hands. I was just following orders. You can’t expect someone to be both a qualified puppet doing dirty work and maintain a conscience full of guilt. That would be like being a prostitute while trying to maintain a facade of virtue – what’s the difference?”

“Yi Sa’s constant pursuit makes me feel very frustrated.”

Ding Panling maintained his composure: “Frustrated?”

Ding Xi gave a cold laugh: “Why keep pursuing me? I’m just a tool, doing whatever I’m told. If we’re talking about guilt, I’m merely an accomplice. They want me to kill, want me to feel sorry, and then push me out as a scapegoat – isn’t that unfair? I’m not trying to criticize my godfather…”

He lowered his voice: “He instructed me to kill Yi Xiao at any cost, make the fake Jiang Jun disappear, and even hinted that if Yi Sa became too troublesome, I could deal with her. Is his guilt less than mine?”

“Because he’s aligned with the three families, helping everyone by considering the bigger picture, and his hands aren’t directly bloodied, you all turn a blind eye to his crimes. What about me? Wasn’t I also helping the three families?”

“Those people who manipulated everything from behind the scenes get away clean, while I’m pushed out as the shield. I can’t accept that. If you want me to admit guilt, fine, but some others need to come forward and take responsibility too… Uncle Ling, I’m telling you all this because I think you’re reasonable. I just hope…”

His words carried hidden meaning: “After working so hard, I deserve some reward.”

Ding Panling was silent for a while before saying: “I understand.”

Ding Xi descended the slope and strode back to camp, got into his Grand Cherokee, revved the engine, and sharply turned the wheel, speeding away.

Nearby people were caught off guard and only managed to shout after him: “Hey, hey, where are you going?”

But they were instantly left behind.

Ding Xi’s face was ashen, full of resentment. He had never been one to show his emotions, but today, somehow, he couldn’t contain himself with Ding Panling.

He didn’t know if this would bring fortune or misfortune, but whatever – what’s said is said, and he meant every word.

He might be guilty and deserve death, but the others who deserve to die shouldn’t hide behind him.

The wilderness stretched vast around him, with no other vehicles in sight. He drove recklessly, almost blindly, before steadying the wheel with one hand and pulling out his phone with the other.

That day Yi Sa told him not to harm people – strange, who had he harmed? Jing Xiu had her legs; if she couldn’t bear to leave, was that his fault?

He found Jing Xiu’s number and was about to dial, but changed his mind and called home instead.

If she had moved in, someone would naturally answer.

Sure enough, soon he heard Jing Xiu’s voice: “Hello?”

Ding Xi was about to speak when he heard what sounded like bubbling from a pot. He paused in surprise before asking: “It’s me. Are you using the kitchen?”

Jing Xiu became slightly flustered: “Yes, I noticed many kitchen utensils were dusty from disuse, so I washed them. Then I started making soup – pots and such should be used more often.”

“What kind of soup?”

“Tomato beef brisket soup.”

Really? Through the cold, damp air, he seemed to catch a whiff of tomatoes, and his mouth watered at the imagined sweet and sour taste.

Ding Xi lowered the car window to let the cold wind clear his head, his tone becoming harsh again: “I want to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Zong Hang is your friend, right? And Yi Sa too. Your friends all think I’m no good and earnestly advise against me. Why haven’t you left yet? Are you deliberately jumping into a fire pit?”

Jing Xiu was quiet for a moment before saying softly: “Ding Xi, I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

Not bad?

Ding Xi laughed loudly: “Are you blind? I’ve killed people, you know that? Done all sorts of dirty work. You still call that not bad?”

Being so frank made Jing Xiu more composed.

“I know. Zong Hang wouldn’t lie to me, but I always felt you’re not rotten to the core. Some things, if you had a choice from the beginning, maybe you wouldn’t have wanted to do them…”

If he had a choice from the beginning…

Ding Xi momentarily lost focus.

An adopted child, raised specifically to do dirty work, hands already bloodied in his teens – what choice did he have?

“Also, you’ve been good to me.”

Ding Xi interrupted her: “I don’t love you, don’t even know what that is. The times I kept you were just casual…”

Because of casual romance, because it was convenient, maybe because he pitied her, like a leaf wavering in the wind, never finding its direction.

Jing Xiu remained calm: “I understand. You said it early on – being with me was just for comfort and ease. I don’t have many thoughts either, just wanted to find someone to rely on. When I was attacked, you helped me get my bag back and took me to the hospital. At that moment, I thought, it had to be you.”

“Later…”

Jing Xiu gave a bitter laugh: “Later Zong Hang told me about your deeds. I felt terrible, but I still wanted to help you, do something for you, or at least see an outcome. You’ve killed people, you might go to prison, might pay with your life.”

“If you’re in prison, I can visit you. If you die, when everyone’s spitting on your grave, I think I can still bring you flowers – from beginning to end, you never harmed me, you helped me. Your guilt is your guilt, my gratitude is my gratitude.”

Ding Xi remained silent for a long while, then suddenly hung up and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.

The car sped on, surrounded in all directions by the unique desolation of the plateau wilderness.

Who knew she could be so loyal?