Chapter 87: Sister-in-Law Is Good

Miyake’s massive body leaped down, catching the snapped iron chain in midair to gain fresh momentum. Crossing the endless sky, she finally landed steadily at the cliff’s edge. Her footfall carved a deep pit into the ground, sending countless rocks tumbling and shattering. Fortunately she stabilized her form, and only then did Shen Wan release a long sigh of relief. He turned his head toward the floating island shrine. With the final iron chain snapping, the shrine itself began to plummet vertically. The thunderous roar of collapse continued until it vanished into the cliff’s depths, after which only faint echoes remained, followed by utter silence. The Giant Clan was buried here forever. Miyake’s eyes brimmed with tears, yet she forced them back. “Uncle!” “Brother!” “Nine Elder!” Shouts rang out as Lin Bufan and the others sprinted forward at full speed, soon reaching beneath Miyake’s feet. They had witnessed the floating island’s collapse and also seen a giant leap down. Had Shen Wan’s scream not been so thunderous, they might never have noticed that the giant still clutched one of their sect’s elders in its grip. “Release… let go of my uncle!” Lin Bufan drew his long sword and charged forward, voice ringing with fury. Unsure whether the giant was friend or foe, the others braced themselves for battle. Shen Wan, looking down from above, saw their movements and waved frantically, shouting, “Hold your ground, we’re our own!” Miyake lifted her brows slightly, then set Shen Wan gently on the ground. With a thought, her body began to shrink until she resumed her normal human form. She surveyed them without a word; the proud bearing of the Giant Clan was born within her. From her storage pouch she drew a massive black blade and placed it in Shen Wan’s hands, saying only, “Here.” Only then did Shen Wan remember this old companion. Until the Giant Clan leader vanished, the blade had remained lodged on his ankle. “You picked it up for me?” “Mm-hmm.” Taking the Ten Thousand Demons Black Blade, he stroked its length, yet no joy stirred within him at its return. He casually slung the blade across his back and approached Lin Bufan and the others. “You’re all right, then?” Lin Bufan nodded vigorously, the single syllable “um” catching in his throat. He tugged Shen Wan’s sleeve, circling him several times to confirm his uncle’s safety. Only then did the knot of worry in his heart unwind. A black shadow streaked past, and Gu Zhiping seized Shen Wan’s neck in one embrace. “Brother, are you all right? Let me see.” He shook Shen Wan’s head with both hands, as if desperate to press his face against it. His thick lips gleamed, hovering scant half an inch from Shen Wan’s cheek. Disgusted, Shen Wan kicked him away with a sharp thrust. “Get lost. Even if nothing happens, you still manage to stir up trouble for me.” He wiped his face with his sleeve; in that brief span, quite a bit of the man’s saliva had spattered him. Gu Zhiping did not flinch, standing to one side with a foolish grin. Lin Bufan shot him a sidelong glance, wondering when the deputy sect master of Taigu Sect had become Shen Wan’s junior brother. Before he could dwell on it, the others crowded in. Zhu Qianqing, Han Yuechan, Yun Yi, Zhao Dongsheng. Especially Yun Yi, who asked with concern while poking Shen Wan from head to toe with her jade finger, as though checking for hidden injuries. Zhu Qianqing frowned, stepping in front of her and clutching Shen Wan’s sleeves, examining him up and down. Shen Wan felt increasingly awkward and waved them off. “I’m fine, nothing wrong with me. Watch if you like.” He swung his arms and executed a backflip. “Crack!” Damn… my waist… Miyake stood apart, watching the playful exchange, and felt a pang of loss bloom in her chest. She turned silently toward the far shore of the cliff. The grand city stood empty, solitude pressing heavier than ever. She bit her cherry lip, envy rising within her at the man surrounded by so many. At that moment Shen Wan, rubbing his aching waist, caught sight of Miyake’s desolate face. He pushed through the crowd and drew her close. “Come, let me introduce you to a great beauty.” Miyake started, but before she could speak Shen Wan continued, “The last blood of the Giant Clan. Mi… uh, you introduce yourself.” She seemed to recall the Giant Clan leader calling her name in memory, yet she could not recall it now. Miyake closed her eyes briefly, offering a soft smile. “I am Miyake, of the Giant Clan. Shen Wan is my husband.” Shock rippled through the group. The earlier words mattered little; the latter sentence changed everything. Yun Yi and Zhu Qianqing frowned simultaneously, the words stirring strong displeasure. Shen Wan swallowed and explained hurriedly, “It’s a misunderstanding. When we return, I’ll clear it up.” Miyake’s gaze pierced like blades, sending a chill through half his shoulders. “This marriage was ordained by the great prophet Yemi Zhi. The clan leader has already recognized your status; there is no misunderstanding.” She spoke each word with finality. It seemed this girl had made up her mind. Though you are peerless in beauty, still… I cannot defeat you! Shen Wan’s expression twisted. His future suddenly felt as though it were sliding off course, drawing him helplessly toward a one-way path. After presenting himself, Miyake fell silent. She turned once more to gaze at the far shore. After a long moment she leaned close to Shen Wan’s ear and whispered something, then her figure suddenly enlarged. Without greeting the others, she stepped lightly and rose into the air. Massive wings unfurled from her back, white feathers dancing gracefully like a soaring eagle bound for the opposite cliff. Such was the pride of the ancient god clan. Only when her alluring silhouette melted into mist did Shen Wan shiver. “Once I finish my last task, I’ll come find you—the only immortal realm in the world, my husband.” Miyake’s voice lingered in his ears. Shen Wan felt the world darken; it must be that old Yemi Zhi had revealed his secrets to this girl. Now he was utterly transparent, like a wife constantly checking her husband’s phone with no escape. He wanted to weep but had no tears, standing motionless, breath suspended. Gu Zhiping stared at Miyake’s vanishing back, smacked his lips, and murmured, “Brother truly has good fortune. His wife is a treasure.” Then two sharp glares fixed on him, making his neck shrink. He turned to Shen Wan, stunned. The shrine had collapsed, sealing the ancient relic forever. In the star-filled night sky a meteor streaked across and vanished. Shen Wan and the others exchanged pleasantries and prepared to leave, returning to Gu You Sect. But as they moved, footsteps sounded from behind. Zhang Haoyun had led the first wave of Kongling Sect disciples across the valley and into the ruins. This group had no artistic sensibility; they ignored the murals on the cave walls. Exiting the tunnel, standing on the temple platform, they saw the floating island fall yet spotted the vast city on the far cliff in one glance. He touched his gleaming scalp, Zhang Haoyun’s face alight with excitement, as if a great opportunity beckoned. With a command, everyone leaped from the platform and raced toward the cliff edge. Unluckily, they collided head-on with the returning Qianxuan Sect party. Both sides halted. Though night had fallen, one glance revealed Shen Wan in black robes amid the crowd. Enemies meeting always turned the eyes red with jealousy. From the moment they had entered the ruins, unpleasant memories flooded their minds. This man had become an annoying ghost they could not exorcise. Zhang Haoyun’s teeth ground together with a shrill sound. Whether opportunity existed or not, it had long vanished from thought. Rage surged from his heart; evil grew where it was needed. He gripped the long sword at his waist and roared at his disciples, “Brothers, seize him!”