Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada

The aura of the Netherworld flickered briefly around these few dancing immortals. Yet, I couldn't discern which one was the Netherworld maiden disguised among the Celestials. To get to the bottom of it, only a thorough investigation would suffice.

So I found a secluded spot and changed back into the appearance of a celestial attendant. I summoned the mask I’d chosen from Lord Wuxiang and fitted it to my face. Brushing aside my disheveled hair, I glanced at my reflection in the water. As expected, my face had changed completely, now as unfamiliar and striking as the attendant who had guided me through the Palace of Myriad Transformations.

No matter what I looked like, as long as no one from the Netherworld could recognize me, all would be well. The immortal lady and the dancing immortals were already some distance away; without bothering to tidy my hair, I hurried after them and grabbed the immortal lady by the arm.

She turned and, seeing me soaking wet with my hair in a wild tangle, was startled. She recoiled several steps, panic-stricken, and stammered, “You—you're not the Nameless Maiden, are you?” At her words, the dancing immortals leapt back in fright.

“Don’t come any closer! My celestial arts are not weak! Take another step and I’ll kick you back in!” she threatened, trembling.

“Nameless Maiden? Kick me back in?” I was taken aback. What was she talking about? I was only wet, with messy hair—was that enough to be mistaken for a ghost?

I quickly waved my hands and danced a few steps to reassure her.

“Auntie! It's her! It's her!” the clever little fairy pointed at me and shouted.

The immortal lady and the other three shrieked and turned to run.

I stood there, mortified and at a loss. I couldn’t explain myself, nor could I use magic to write with my sword and reveal my identity. Who was this “Nameless Maiden”? It sounded like she belonged to the same infamous company as the “Flower Thief.”

I thought to myself that I’d been too hasty and startled the prey. I hadn’t expected the immortals of the Celestial Palace to be so skittish, always jumping to the worst conclusion. If a strange man couldn't speak and picked a flower, he was a thief; if a woman was drunk, she was an amorous concubine; if someone climbed out of the water, she was the dreaded Nameless Maiden to be kicked back in. Was everyone here so jumpy? With such a vast celestial world, what was there to fear? Yet the atmosphere was so narrow-minded.

The clever little fairy hopped after her fleeing companions, calling, “Don’t run, Auntie! She’s not the Nameless Maiden. Yesterday I saw a fairy dancing beautifully—it was her!”

Could it be that she’d seen me dancing drunk last night? Or had she witnessed the incident with Tiande as well? My heart skipped.

Hearing this, the immortal lady and the dancing immortals stopped in their tracks.

“You mean she dances well?” the immortal lady asked the clever little fairy. I’d just danced a few steps, but she’d been too frightened to notice.

“Yes! Auntie, I told you yesterday—I saw a fairy dancing so beautifully in the Peach Orchard. I was busy at the time and couldn't call out to her. When I went back, she was gone. It was her! I remember her dance, it was just the one she did!” the little fairy chimed in, her voice as clear as silver bells.

“Oh? You scared me to death,” said the immortal lady, patting her chest.

The three newly-selected dancing immortals relaxed as well, though their eyes never left me.

“How did you fall into the water?” the little fairy asked as she tidied my hair and clothes.

“Are you a maid from the Peach Orchard? Have you come to the Jade Pool?” The immortal lady, regaining her haughty demeanor, raised her chin and asked.

I nodded, gestured to my throat, and waved my hand.

“Auntie, it seems she can’t speak,” said the little fairy.

The immortal lady scowled, “How dare you! A lowly, disabled maid from the Peach Orchard dares disturb me! Do you think the Jade Pool is a place anyone can enter? What’s your rank, to block my way? What punishment do you deserve?”

I quickly bowed and saluted her, amused by her arrogance.

“Speak! Were you sent from the Peach Orchard to spy on the Jade Pool’s secrets?” she demanded.

Jade Pool’s secrets? What secrets could there possibly be? I wondered.

“You go back and tell your stupid immortal official! This time, our Jade Pool’s dance at the Peach Festival will be first! Our immortal fruit wine is the finest in the heavens. If you’ve come to steal our recipe, you’re dreaming!”

I thought, “Fool! I’m here to catch spies, and you think I’m the spy?”

Unable to speak, I pinched my arm hard. The sting brought tears to my eyes, and I contrived a pitiful look, waving my hands pleadingly at her.

“Our dance is the best, of course! Because Auntie has an eye for talent! She really dances beautifully. Auntie, see how pitiful she looks? She can’t speak, and she’s so pretty—she must have been bullied by the rough maids in the Peach Orchard,” the little fairy explained on my behalf. I thanked her with a bow.

The immortal lady, though sharp-tongued, was soft-hearted. Seeing my state, her tone softened. “Keke, are you sure you’re not mistaken? She really dances beautifully?”

So the clever little fairy was named Keke.

“Auntie, have I ever lied to you? It’s true!” Keke insisted.

“How could a disabled celestial maid qualify as a dancing immortal?”

“Auntie, she doesn’t seem to be faking it. Besides, she can’t speak, so she can’t spread our Jade Pool’s secrets. She’s so pretty, and she can dance—why not give her a chance?”

I nodded eagerly.

“Keke, you dance a difficult piece for her. Let’s see if she can do it,” said the immortal lady.

“Watch closely,” Keke said, as she danced a few steps—her movements were clever and graceful. Though challenging, compared to my master’s Crane in the Empty Valley technique, it was nothing. I mimicked Keke’s movements with ease.

The immortal lady nodded, “You have a solid foundation. Quit your post with the Peach Orchard and come to the Jade Pool. Don’t waste your talent as a menial maid under that fool of an immortal official.”

I bowed in agreement. After all, God Yu Fei had trained for two thousand years in the Pure Jade Realm, perfecting every basic form of hand and sword technique—if my foundation were lacking, I’d have no business being here.

As we walked, the lively and enthusiastic Keke began her introductions. “This is Auntie, our supervisor of the Jade Pool’s dancing immortals. I’m Keke, her assistant. These three are newly selected from the lower celestial mountains—Zhenzhen, Hehe, and Lianlian. What’s your name?”

I greeted the three new dancing immortals with a smile and wrote “Feier” in Keke’s palm.

“Yesterday, when I was in the Peach Orchard on an errand, I saw you dancing. You were incredible! If I hadn’t been so busy, I would have brought you here right then. Will you teach me?” Keke chattered away as we walked—she reminded me so much of my Eleventh Senior Brother.

I nodded.

“What is the Nameless Maiden?” I wrote in Keke’s palm.

Keke whispered in my ear, “It’s nothing, really… Just a misunderstanding. One of the dancing immortals mistook a lotus for a maiden. Auntie doesn’t allow anyone to mention it. Only she, that immortal, and I know. Don’t tell anyone, or the higher immortals will investigate and it’ll be a hassle. We’d have to grease some palms.”

I pointed to my throat, indicating I had no way of telling anyone.

Keke laughed, “That’s exactly why I dared tell you!”

Her talkative nature truly was like my Eleventh Senior Brother. Still, if not for her sharing these details, I wouldn’t have been able to guess which was the one from the Netherworld.

Originally, I thought I’d have to investigate further, but after all this, Keke’s words helped me pinpoint the suspects. Perhaps all three of the new dancing immortals were involved!

The term “Nameless Maiden” wouldn’t alarm those unfamiliar with the story—most would simply be confused. But these three new dancing immortals had just come from the lower celestial mountains; how would they know about it? I’d been in the Celestial Palace for days, listening to all manner of gossip among the Peach Orchard maids, but never heard of the Nameless Maiden. Keke said Auntie forbade mention of it, fearing an investigation. Auntie herself, though she forbade it, had blurted it out in fear upon seeing me. The three new dancers’ behavior was clearly forced—they mimicked every reaction, even their fear and surprise, trying too hard to fit in. And when Auntie relaxed, thinking I was a Peach Orchard maid, they remained on high alert, still watching me closely.

Clearly, the Netherworld had staged a diversion at the South Heavenly Gate with my Fifth Senior Brother’s corpse, causing chaos, while quietly planting these three Netherworld maidens here. The real newly selected celestial maidens may have met with foul play. What was their goal? If I acted now and they escaped, or if I failed to control them and they took their own lives, I’d be left at a disadvantage. With the Peach Festival only two days away, I’d be better off watching them and catching them in the act.

And so, instead of a Peach Orchard maid, I became a Jade Pool dancing immortal. With the festival approaching, the prominent beauties had no time for a newcomer like me. I simply followed along, mimicking the others.

Keke danced beautifully, overseeing the rehearsals with a lively and cheerful spirit. She chatted away to me about all sorts of celestial news and bizarre tales, just like a female version of my Eleventh Senior Brother. I listened and played along, all the while keeping my eyes on the three Netherworld maidens.

As expected, with the grand event drawing near, rehearsals intensified. One dancing immortal twisted her ankle and was replaced by one of the Netherworld maidens. After another rehearsal, two more suffered injuries—waist and neck sprains—and the remaining two Netherworld maidens took their places.

All three disguised Netherworld maidens possessed high-level magic, covering their tracks flawlessly—none of the ordinary dancing immortals suspected a thing. It was clear they intended to use the performance at the Peach Festival.

Were they planning an assassination?

Most likely, their target was my master, the Heavenly Emperor, or one of the important ministers—perhaps just my master. Mingzhong might have already learned of my master’s injury from soul-capturing techniques and was seizing the opportunity to eliminate him.

This time, except for Chunfeng, who was busy with seasonal duties, my master and many high gods and immortals would be present. There was no need for me to confront them alone and risk injury. Better to monitor them and capture them during the act. With one day left before the Peach Festival, I’d keep them under surveillance and warn my master and senior brothers in time for a coordinated effort.

So be it!