Chapter 625 - 268: Shui Tianxin
Chapter 625: Chapter 268: Shui Tianxin
"In truth, ever since the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror was created, it has never truly circulated in the Jianghu."
Fang Shuwen and Luo Shuqing exchanged a glance.
They didn’t know whether her words were true or not. But if they were... then the current commotion in the East Sea was truly absurd.
More importantly, why didn’t anyone else know this? How did Shui Tianxin, of all people, find out?
And why had she told Fang Shuwen instead of the other Forbidden Lands?
Fang Shuwen’s expression grew complex.
Shui Tianxin met his gaze fearlessly, then took something from her sleeve and handed it to Fang Shuwen.
It was a piece of metal, but completely unlike any normal iron. Fang Shuwen couldn’t discern its exact material.
It was inscribed with a script Fang Shuwen couldn’t understand. After a couple of glances, he had no choice but to pass it to Luo Shuqing.
Luo Shuqing glanced at it, her expression turning peculiar.
"I’ve seen this script before in ancient records. It’s at least a thousand years old."
"Deciphering it would be incredibly difficult... Palace Master Shui, just tell us. What’s recorded on it?"
"So you can’t read it either?"
Fang Shuwen’s voice held a hint of gloating.
"..."
Luo Shuqing ground her pearly white teeth with an audible CRUNCH.
’Is that the point?’
’Is this really the time to be gloating? Are you serious?’
She couldn’t resist secretly pinching Fang Shuwen on the thigh.
But even if she pinched hard enough to break her own fingers, how could she possibly injure Fang Shuwen in the slightest?
Shui Tianxin glanced at the two of them with some surprise. They were all masters; such a small movement naturally wouldn’t escape her notice.
But she pretended not to see anything and said in a solemn voice,
"My good-for-nothing son discovered this by chance in a stone grotto on a deserted island."
Fang Shuwen paused. He recalled Shui Qianrou had indeed mentioned that Shui Qianliu was once stranded on a deserted island, surviving by eating a certain type of fish there.
He had reaped immense benefits from it, his Martial Arts Cultivation advancing by leaps and bounds.
’Could this have come from that same island?’
"After I acquired it, I had it investigated. I never expected it to be a message left by the very person who chronicled the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror."
"It marks the location of the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror but also warns that the place is fraught with peril."
"To claim the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror, one needs wisdom, courage, and Martial Arts—not a single one can be lacking."
Shui Tianxin said softly,
"I originally had no intention of sharing this with the other Forbidden Lands, which is why I never revealed it."
"After all, even I harbor ambitions of becoming the master of the East Sea."
"But as things stand, you have become a thorn in the side of the Eight Forbidden Lands."
"Only by revealing this can you and the Eight Forbidden Lands bury the hatchet."
"The current crisis will be resolved in an instant."
"Palace Master Shui is being so kind?"
Luo Shuqing looked at Shui Tianxin.
"How surprising."
"Does Miss Luo always speak this way?"
Shui Tianxin looked to Fang Shuwen.
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"It’s just a childish temper. I hope Palace Master Shui isn’t offended."
Luo Shuqing, furious, secretly pinched Fang Shuwen’s thigh again.
Fang Shuwen ignored her. Instead, he toyed with the metal tablet in his hand and mused,
"But Miss Luo has a point. Palace Master Shui, since things have come to this, let’s be frank."
"What do you want?"
"I want Young Hero Fang to accompany me to the location marked on it. If the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror is truly hidden there..."
"...I am willing to share the East Sea with you."
Shui Tianxin lifted her gaze to Fang Shuwen. Her face wasn’t breathtakingly beautiful, but her eyes were as clear and bright as droplets of water.
Fang Shuwen tapped his fingers lightly on the table and chuckled.
"Palace Master Shui, are you serious?"
Shui Tianxin said solemnly,
"If a single word of what I’ve said is false, may I be struck by lightning!"
Luo Shuqing sneered inwardly. ’If Fang Shuwen believes even one word of that, I’ll eat my hat.’
Yet, the thought had barely formed when she heard Fang Shuwen say decisively,
"Fine!"
"I believe you. It’s a deal."
Luo Shuqing whipped her head toward Fang Shuwen. ’What the hell? You believed her just like that?’
Shui Tianxin was also a little surprised, but getting Fang Shuwen’s promise was her objective, so she immediately smiled.
"Excellent. Young Hero Fang is as decisive as they say."
Fang Shuwen tucked the metal tablet into his robes.
"I’ll hold onto this for now. Palace Master Shui, your ship can follow mine."
"Your visit today has likely made those people very uneasy."
"Once we reach Wuxia Island... we’ll be frank with the assembled heroes of the East Sea."
"Everything will be as Young Hero Fang says."
Shui Tianxin stood up and cupped her fists in salute.
"I’ll take my leave."
"Please."
Fang Shuwen returned the gesture.
Luo Shuqing bowed along with him, then escorted Shui Tianxin from the room. Only after watching her depart did she turn back to Fang Shuwen.
"Do you really believe her?"
"Fifty-fifty."
Fang Shuwen said,
"She was being candid, in a way. She just left a few things unsaid."
"Like what?"
Fang Shuwen thought for a moment, then said,
"For instance, the reason she didn’t reveal it earlier is her fear that the other Forbidden Lands would team up to seize it from her."
"Knowing that bunch, they would fight to the death over a mere clue like this tablet, long before they even glimpse the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror."
"And another thing... a place that dangerous will surely require enough ’pathfinders.’"
As he said this, he glanced at the large ships trailing them from a distance.
"See? Don’t they look like good ’pathfinders’?"
"It’s not just them. I imagine the other Forbidden Lands are also her ’pathfinders,’ right?"
Luo Shuqing took a deep breath.
"By approaching you now, she not only puts you in her debt, but if she actually obtains the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror and builds the Profound Nether Copper Ship... she may offer to share the East Sea today, but tomorrow you’ll likely find your grave at the bottom of it!"
Fang Shuwen smiled.
"That’s why you don’t listen to what she says. You watch what she does."
"But that’s all for later..."
"So the next hurdle is Wuxia Island?"
Luo Shuqing snorted.
"They’re ready to fight to the death before even seeing the Profound Celestial Iron Mirror. Now we’ll see if your methods, Young Hero Fang, are enough to overwhelm all those heroes!"