SWNOVELXO Chapter 146: Saving the Holy Maiden
Chapter 146: Saving the Holy Maiden
Not a natural cause?
Yu Meng didn’t immediately grasp the gravity of the information behind this statement, and like Yu Long, she was momentarily stunned.
“What does it say?”
You Su spoke for the first time since returning. His voice was as cold as iron under moonlight. When he had read the diary earlier using his divine sense inside the Dimensional Bag, he hadn’t noticed the torn suicide note.
Yu Meng then recited the contents to You Su. By the time she reached the last sentence, You Su suddenly tightened his grip on the sword hilt and urgently asked:
“How long did the previous Holy Maiden live?”
“Thirty… three years,” Yu Long replied dazedly.
You Su furrowed his sharp brows. Only now did he realize something was off.
Based on what they knew before, the moment the Holy Maiden’s beauty began to fade also marked the approach of her death.
Even though the previous Holy Maiden was mortal, she wasn’t like peasant women exposed to sun and wind every day. The Holy Maiden lived a life of luxury, with everything from food to clothing being of the highest quality.
At just thirty-three years old, would she really become ugly?
After all, a mature woman can still retain charm, which might even surpass the allure of youth. Many people prefer beauties who are slightly older.
“Have either of you seen the previous Holy Maiden?” You Su asked.
Both women shook their heads. Judging by their age, they were likely younger than the eighteen-year-old Yu Die. In their known history, the previous Holy Maiden had died a natural death.
But it was now clear that this was far from the truth. The previous Holy Maiden must have been deliberately murdered! She couldn’t expose the murderer publicly, so she left behind a torn suicide note, which Yu Die, the current Holy Maiden, had luckily found.
Yet Jade Ring Pool had secluded itself for fifty-four years—how could anyone infiltrate it to kill her? There was only one answer: someone from within Jade Ring Pool killed her!
You Su sucked in a breath of cold air, his expression suddenly turning grim. He almost shouted:
“I’m going to find the Holy Maiden!”
…
“Yu Zhen, do you think, among all the generations of Holy Maidens, whether Yu Die’s beauty ranks in the top three…”
Inside Little Pond Palace, Venerable Shenxi stood beside the pool platform exclusively for Yu Die, gazing at the water scenery with fascination.
Despite the dim starlight of the night, there was a massive halo of light in the lake, like a giant glowing jellyfish drifting about.
Yu Zhen, however, kept his head deeply bowed, not daring to glance at the halo even once.
“Each Holy Maiden is a renowned beauty across the Five Continents. But it must be admitted, although Yu Die is a mortal, she possesses an extraordinary beauty.”
“And compared to those celestial maidens listed on the Celestial Beauty Rankings spreading wildly outside, could Yu Die make the list?”
Yu Zhen thought for a moment before replying: “Venerable Shenxi, are you longing for the outside world?”
Venerable Shenxi turned his head. His hair was meticulously combed, not a strand disturbed by the lake breeze. He countered:
“Don’t you?”
Yu Zhen was momentarily taken aback but avoided answering directly, as if this was a topic unsuitable for open discussion. He redirected the conversation back to Yu Die:
“Yu Die may be beautiful, but fleeting beauty holds no meaning.”
“That’s true… Yu Die’s death will at least be more meaningful than the previous one’s.”
Venerable Shenxi sighed deeply, then chuckled, seemingly looking down on Yu Zhen’s weakness.
This elder, who had risen from the lowest depths of Jade Ring Pool, possessed a steady yet sharp demeanor. Every step he took was firm, yet brimming with ambition. Had he merely been a diligent cultivator devoted solely to the Dao, he might have become an elder, but not necessarily the family head.
Just then, the sound of wind chimes rang out, and Yu Die’s personal maid appeared at the entrance of this secluded pool.
“Venerable Shenxi, Master Yu Zhen, Young Master You has requested an audience again.”
“Young Master You? Didn’t I tell you that the Holy Maiden sees no one?” Yu Zhen frowned.
“I told him, but Young Master You said he isn’t here to see the Holy Maiden. He’s here to see Venerable Shenxi.”
“Oh? It seems our Young Master You isn’t entirely foolish.”
For the first time, this composed elder showed a hint of surprise, which quickly turned into a smile. He exchanged a glance with Yu Zhen, his eyes gleaming with excitement:
“Let him in.”
“Yes.”
Soon, You Su, clad in black robes and carrying a black sword, appeared at the entrance.
The lake wind howled mournfully, and the dark golden sash around his waist fluttered like a dancer, blending seamlessly into the night.
“You Su pays respects to Venerable Shenxi and Master Yu Zhen.”
You Su raised both hands in salute but neither bowed nor bent his waist.
“Young Master You has been at Jade Ring Pool for eleven days. Today, we finally meet.” Venerable Shenxi seemed completely unfazed by You Su’s arrogance, as if he had been waiting for a long-awaited guest.
“Back when your master, Lotus Sword Venerable, attained enlightenment at Jade Ring Pool, I already knew her. To me, meeting you feels like seeing the brilliant Lotus Sword Venerable of the past… What brings you here?”
You Su pursed his lips, not responding.
“If it’s about the Lotus Root Heart Third Elder requested, you needn’t worry. By tomorrow, the Lotus Root Heart will ripen, and you can take it with you when you leave Jade Ring Pool.” Venerable Shenxi maintained his calm, smiling demeanor.
“May I ask, Venerable Shenxi, what exactly is wrong with the Lotus Root Heart?”
“Young Master You doesn’t need to know that. Just wait until tomorrow to take it and go.”
“The Lotus Root Heart is colorless and odorless, buried in the five-colored soil at the bottom of the lake, nurtured by Jade Ring Pool’s spiritual energy. It’s hailed as the purest sacred object of Jade Ring Pool. Yet, it seems even it harbors unseen filth.”
Venerable Shenxi’s brows knitted together, his voice hissing:
“Young Master You appears… to come with ill intent.”
He appreciated confident individuals but despised overbearing arrogance. To insult a sacred object in front of the pool’s owner—You Su clearly fell into the latter category.
As his words faded, the air currents froze. This was Venerable Shenxi’s ability—he could control not only his own breathing but also the surrounding winds after attaining enlightenment in the Void Realm.
You Su felt his breathing grow difficult. He spoke in a low voice:
“Release Holy Maiden Yu Die. I won’t reveal that Jade Ring Pool killed the previous Holy Maiden.”
A dead silence enveloped the small pool area. Within three zhang of Venerable Shenxi, the wind stilled completely.
“Young Master You, even if you are Lotus Sword Venerable’s disciple, you should choose your words carefully. Such baseless accusations wouldn’t be believed by anyone.”
Venerable Shenxi stared intently at You Su’s increasingly fierce expression. In front of a Void Realm elder, a mid-level cultivator like You Su was no different from an ant.
Yet You Su gritted his teeth and spat: “A mortal’s life is still a life! They aren’t tools for you to test whether Jade Ring Pool is ready to re-enter the world!”
Venerable Shenxi paused, surprised. The air around them, like a toy under his control, began moving again. Not only You Su, but even Yu Zhen, who had remained silent, gasped heavily, staring at You Su in astonishment.
“Young Master You, despite being blind, sees through things quite clearly. How did you figure it out?”
You Su steadied his breathing, speaking coldly: “Jade Ring Pool is beautiful, but beauty isn’t meant to be admired alone—it’s meant to be shared. That’s why Jade Ring Pool has always kept its doors open, eager to proclaim its beauty to the entire world. Its current seclusion is clearly forced. I’ve never seen a holy site behave so awkwardly—teeming with vitality yet rarely opening its gates. This shows you’ve grown tired of admiring yourselves in isolation and are desperate to reconnect with the outside world to restore past prosperity.”
“Go on.”
Venerable Shenxi clasped his hands behind his back, now taking the young man seriously.
“But your only way to determine if Jade Ring Pool has recovered enough to re-emerge is through the Holy Maiden’s spiritual veins. If she lacks them, it means Jade Ring Pool hasn’t fully recovered. However, there are two issues: First, the Holy Maiden won’t die unless killed, preventing a new one from emerging; second, spiritual veins are innate and cannot regenerate later. This creates a problem—if Jade Ring Pool recovers while the mortal Holy Maiden remains alive, you’ll have no way to judge whether you’re ready to return! So…”
You Su clenched his fists, glaring coldly at Venerable Shenxi:
“You treat mortal Holy Maidens as tools! When you’re desperate to know if you can emerge, you kill them off to allow a new Holy Maiden to provide answers! Disregarding mortal lives—how are you any different from evil sects?!”
“How dare you lecture us!”
Venerable Shenxi roared, reaching out into empty space. An invisible hand seized You Su by the waist and lifted him into the air.
Seeing his anger, You Su, though restrained, seemed to have the upper hand. He sneered:
“I doubt Venerable Shenxi would act so impulsively. If I dared to speak these words, I naturally have reasons not to fear an elder killing me.”
The invisible hand tightened further, but You Su showed no trace of fear.
After a tense standoff, You Su suddenly felt lighter. Venerable Shenxi had turned away, gazing at the dreamlike white glow beneath the dark lake.
“Jade Ring Pool acts honorably. We aren’t as dirty as you claim. Both the previous Holy Maiden and Yu Die chose to die willingly. Mortals living among immortals don’t endure as easily as you imagine…”
You Su stood dumbfounded, realizing he had overlooked the possibility that the previous Holy Maiden had chosen death. Recalling the disappointment and sorrow in her suicide note, it made sense that she’d want to end her life early.
“I…”
“Enough, Young Master You. Please leave. Tomorrow, Yu Zhen will bring the Lotus Root Heart to exchange for the Emperor’s Dwelling Tree seed. You may then depart Jade Ring Pool. After leaving, feel free to say whatever you wish about Jade Ring Pool. We hold no guilt.”
“But I can sense that Yu Die still clings to life. How could she possibly choose death?”
Venerable Shenxi sighed softly: “This round’s Lotus Root Heart has issues. Once removed from the five-colored soil, it will wither and cannot be taken away. Surely, Young Master You seeking the Lotus Root Heart for Third Elder must have other important purposes. Yu Die knows she doesn’t have much time left and understands many clansmen await her death. To ensure you leave successfully with the Lotus Root Heart, she chose to sacrifice herself, using her mystical connection with Jade Ring Pool to transform into the perfect nourishment, completing the cultivation of the flawed Lotus Root Heart. Do you understand now?”
You Su staggered backward several steps, looking utterly lost:
“I knew she approached me with ulterior motives, so my indulgence and tolerance were mere pretense—I couldn’t stay at Jade Ring Pool for her… But she never intended to keep me here. She even went this far to ensure I could leave without worry. Why is she so foolish…”
“Perhaps the Holy Maiden has already fulfilled her wish because of you. There’s no need for grief, Young Master You. Return and wait quietly until tomorrow.” Venerable Shenxi advised again.
“Isn’t there another way? She’s still alive, right?” You Su took two quick steps forward, urgently asking.
“Not unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless Young Master You can bring Lotus Sword Venerable here. She attained the Dao at Jade Ring Pool and shares high affinity with it. Perhaps only she could take the still-flawed Lotus Root Heart out.”
“Bring my master here?”
You Su hesitated visibly.
Venerable Shenxi glanced at him indifferently, murmuring:
“However, Lotus Sword Venerable is aloof and icy by nature. It’s unlikely she’ll do favors for others. Besides, Yu Die only has one night left. Forget about her death, Young Master You. Leave.”
“Just one night…”
Suddenly, You Su’s voice thundered: “I can’t watch her die!”
“But if she doesn’t die, Young Master You can’t take the Lotus Root Heart. The Holy Maiden is merely a passerby in your life. Let it go.”
“It’s possible to take it without her dying!” You Su’s eyes burned with determination.
Yu Zhen, hidden in the shadows, smirked faintly, marveling inwardly at Venerable Shenxi’s skillful baiting. He had truly hooked the biggest fish with that tiger-striped lure.
Venerable Shenxi paused briefly before saying:
“The Holy Maiden lies within the glowing white algae below. Her decision to die was her own. I won’t defy her wishes. If Young Master You wants to save her, go yourself.”
He flicked his finger in the air, and a strange barrier of wind formed around You Su:
“This will make entering the water easier. Your body won’t get wet, and you can breathe normally. The rest is up to you.”
“You Su thanks Venerable Shenxi.”
Feeling the changes around him, You Su cupped his hands in gratitude toward Venerable Shenxi, then leaped into the secluded pool.
His form was agile, executing a textbook dive. With a soft splash, barely any water was disturbed.
Venerable Shenxi watched with satisfaction as You Su swam toward the glowing white algae. Beside him, Yu Zhen also revealed a satisfied smile.
Underwater, You Su opened his eyes. Thanks to the barrier, no water entered his sight.
To his astonishment, the glowing white algae were visible to him even without relying on his eyes! Each strand of white algae resembled a slithering snake, encircling the naked Yu Die like prey bound tightly by serpents. The spiritual essence within her, belonging to Jade Ring Pool, was being absorbed by the algae and funneled into the five-colored soil below to nurture the incomplete Lotus Root Heart.
This was You Su’s first time seeing the Holy Maiden’s face. Even pale and swollen, her beauty still left him awestruck.
You Su hurriedly accelerated, swimming toward the Holy Maiden.
Fortunately, the glowing white algae weren’t aggressive. Without harboring any improper thoughts, You Su swiftly pulled and severed the algae binding Yu Die, determined to rescue her as quickly as possible.
“Mmm, mmm?!”
Yu Die slowly opened her eyes. Unable to speak underwater, she could only emit muffled cries.
“Don’t speak. I’ll bring you back!”
You Su’s tone was decisive, his hands working tirelessly. Some strands were tightly wound, but given the urgency, he didn’t bother with restraint.
Already weak, Yu Die could only half-recline in You Su’s arms, allowing him to act freely.
She had long prepared herself for death. No one in this vast family wished for her survival except, unexpectedly, an outsider she had spent only six days with… Her eyelashes trembled, and a few crystalline droplets that didn’t belong to the pool mingled with the clear lake water.
You Su removed the final strand of white algae, freeing Yu Die completely. He averted his gaze, avoiding the expanse of bare skin before him. He then removed his black robe and wrapped it around the Holy Maiden underwater.
From start to finish, the Holy Maiden simply smiled faintly, unwilling to tear her gaze away from You Su’s face even for a moment.
“Let’s go.”
You Su cradled the Holy Maiden in his arms, channeling strength into his feet to propel them upward.
But in a flash, the drifting white algae seemed to come alive! They transformed from resembling white snakes into saw-like teeth glowing within a spiraling mouth!
The “white algae” abruptly contracted, swallowing You Su’s legs whole and yanking him downward just as he was about to ascend.
The barrier left by Venerable Shenxi shattered instantly, and water surged into You Su’s body like a flood.
You Su looked back in terror, catching sight of rhythmic movements within the five-colored soil behind the white algae. Deep beneath this body of water lurked an eerie aquatic beast!
Without hesitation, You Su used all his strength to push Yu Die upward. Under the powerful current, Yu Die shot toward the surface. Despairingly, she watched everything unfold. She wanted to scream, but water filled her throat like an inescapable void, silencing her.
In an instant, You Su was swallowed whole by the spiraling maw.
Just before plunging into darkness, You Su suddenly remembered a warning Old Yu had given him before entering the pool—one he hadn’t taken seriously:
“Never go into the water!”