Chapter Eighty-Five: The Willow Leaf Gold Blade

The fifth elder of the Ma family’s inner circle was named Ma Zhenlei, renowned for his overwhelming strength. In his youth, he ascended Mount Mao to study the Taoist arts, and at forty, having mastered his craft, he descended the mountain. Ma Zhenlei’s return marked the spark that ultimately led to the Bai family’s destruction. At that time, he entered the Bai family’s old residence and nearly sealed the White Immortal Lady within the Seven-Star Coffin.

Years ago, Ma Zhenlei had already achieved the state of Refining Qi into Spirit. The Maoshan Sect had once tried to keep him by offering the title of Chief Disciple, but Ma Zhenlei had no intention of staying. Thus, it was no surprise that the Ma family held such sway in Baiqiao Town. In smaller branches of the Taoist order, having a single Spirit Master was a luxury, and yet the Ma family, merely a secular Taoist clan, possessed one. It was enough to inspire awe not only in a single town but even among minor Taoist sects.

Among the elders of the Ma family, I also recognized Ma Zhenxing—the very elder who once visited the Old Grave Slope in Laojieling Village. His apparent resurrection exuded an unspeakable and uncanny aura, as did Ma Zhenhai. The other elders were strangers to both me and Niu Dahuang, so we couldn’t identify which among them was Ma Zhenlei.

Trailing behind these elders were a hundred small coffins. A hundred coffins together could move one to tears; fathers raged, mothers wept in helplessness. On both sides of the road, the parents of those children gathered. They watched the coffins, covering their faces in silent grief, powerless to intervene—a sight to break any heart. The one hundred Yin-Yang Children were offerings from the Ma family to the River God, and so the Ma family took strict precautions; elite disciples surrounded the coffins, guarding them closely.

Behind them came wedding dowries and sacrificial items. In the days before, the Ma family had already constructed an altar by the White River, near the fifth White Bridge, precisely where Ma Zhenxing’s body had once sunk.

The Nine-Dragon Suppression Formation beneath the town was designed to pin down malevolent beings. If released, they would bring disaster. Under no circumstance could the River God’s marriage be allowed to succeed. Niu Dahuang and I resolved to act before the children were sacrificed, to rescue them. If the White Immortal Lady saw what was happening, she would surely lead her three thousand Ghost Dao followers to our aid.

When the Ma family’s procession reached the altar, preparations began immediately. It was less than half an hour to midnight. They set up the offerings, and then the eight great elders lit incense and prayed.

As the elders prayed, the previously calm river suddenly began to swirl, though nothing emerged from the depths. At this moment, the chief elder Ma Zhenxing stepped forward and proclaimed, “Today is an auspicious day. The River God’s marriage is a blessing for Baiqiao Town. Our prayers have been received, and at the stroke of midnight, the River God himself will appear and bestow his favor upon us!”

His words were grand, yet an uneasy silence fell. No one dared to speak.

When he finished, a decorated pleasure barge was prepared by the altar. The vessel was adorned with red silk and festive symbols. As joyful music and firecrackers sounded, the bride emerged from her sedan chair, dressed in a brilliant red gown—the craftsmanship clearly that of Lady Wang, the spirit medium, and fashioned from paper.

Her figure was exquisite, and her appearance as she stepped out was stunning. Lady Wang approached and helped her forward. Though the red veil concealed her face, I felt an uncanny familiarity in her silhouette. Uncertain, I hesitated to trust my intuition. Beside me, Niu Dahuang nudged my elbow and whispered, “Could this be Lady Weiyang?”

“Impossible,” I replied. Given the Ma family’s might, they couldn’t have captured Weiyang and forced her to marry the River God.

“It looks just like her. Could she too have fallen into the Ma family’s hands?” Niu Dahuang murmured, deepening the unease in my heart.

Though Weiyang was a Spirit Master, Ma Zhenlei’s power was formidable. He had nearly sealed the White Immortal Lady, which spoke to his strength. Could Weiyang truly not be his match?

But that couldn’t be. Only yesterday Weiyang had visited the Bai family residence. If she’d been captured, she wouldn’t have come and gone freely.

I said, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. With Weiyang’s abilities, she wouldn’t be so easily trapped by the Ma family.”

Niu Dahuang nodded slightly. “If she’s not a captive, then she and Lady Wang must be working together.”

I nodded, hoping that was the case.

Night winds curled around the altar, flickering the candles and swaying the bride’s red veil. Still, I could not see her face.

Amidst the music and firecrackers, the bride descended the steps, supported by Lady Wang, and boarded the pilotless barge at the riverbank. She sat at the prow, resembling a bride seated at her wedding chamber’s edge. Though her face was hidden, I was now certain it was Weiyang.

Lady Wang did not board. With a gentle push from the Ma family, the barge drifted toward the river’s heart. As it floated four or five meters out, the surface, once calm, stirred again. At first, only ripples lapped the shore, but in half a minute, a whirlpool formed at the river’s center, and the barge began to spin, slowly sinking.

I nearly lost my composure, but Niu Dahuang held me back. “Don’t worry, Yiwa. If it really is Weiyang, she’ll be fine. With the Nine-Dragon Suppression Formation still in place, nothing beneath the river can stir.”

Watching Weiyang vanish beneath the waters, Lady Wang stood motionless on the shore, her expression untroubled. Perhaps Niu Dahuang was right.

But the people on the bank could bear it no longer, knowing their children would soon share the same fate. Though I believed Weiyang unharmed, my heart was restless.

Many parents clung to each other in silent tears, unable to bear another glance at the small coffins on the altar. There was movement inside—the children still alive. But with seven heavy silver nails sealing each coffin, no matter how they struggled, escape was impossible.

Each coffin was drilled with holes for air, ensuring the children were conscious upon entering the water, and to allow the river to flood in more quickly. Stones were tied atop each one, so they would sink faster.

After the bride was submerged, Ma Zhenxing declared, “The grand offering of a hundred Yin-Yang Children to the River God will now commence! Ma family disciples, send the coffins into the water!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Ma family responded as one and began carrying the coffins toward the White River.

The parents could hold back no longer, and many burst into tears. One woman broke free from the guards and rushed onto the altar. She threw herself onto a coffin, clutching it desperately and sobbing, “Please, Ma family elders, spare my child, spare my child… I beg you…”

She pleaded, kowtowing with tears streaming down her face.

But as she did, an elder rose. He looked middle-aged, but his long, jet-black beard was so immaculate it almost seemed false. A flash of cruelty passed through his eyes.

Suddenly, a stream of black energy flowed from his palm, entwining several willow leaves by the riverbank. With a sudden gleam, the leaves flew like hidden darts toward the woman’s face.

Seeing this, I summoned my strength, broke through the Ma family’s guards, and reached her in time, catching the leaves in my hand. They writhed, almost alive, trying to pierce my palm, but lacked the power.

With a twist, I reduced them to ash, which scattered in the wind.

“Maoshan Sect’s Willow-Leaf Golden Blade—you must be Ma Zhenlei?” I fixed my gaze on the middle-aged man.

At my words, Ma Zhenhai stood as well. “That’s him, Lin Yi—the one who took my life. Fifth Elder, if he’s not dealt with, he’ll ruin the River God’s wedding!”

Ma Zhenlei stroked his beard, scrutinizing me. “So, you’re Lin Yi. I heard someone shattered Zhang Changlu’s spirit with a single punch at Baiqing Temple—was that you?”

“It was,” I replied.

That Ma Zhenlei knew of this was no surprise. As a disciple of Maoshan, word of that event had spread through the Taoist world.

My admission caused the other elders to rise, each fixing me with a piercing gaze. Ma Zhenhai even touched his forehead and muttered, “So it was him—no wonder!”

The rest of the Ma family elders were clearly shaken, though Ma Zhenxing sat unmoved, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Ma Zhenlei looked at me and sneered coldly.