Perhaps due to the work of the same great craftsmen, the structure of Jile Palace resembles that of Muwei Palace. Both have three layers behind three layers, with the main hall in the center and seven middle halls flanked by side halls on the left and right. Traditionally, the residence of the sect leaders was often set near the fourth layer’s Fatian Hall, at the very center of the palace, to fully control sect affairs.
However, after Mu Qingyan’s great-grandfather lost his beloved wife, he moved with his only son to the last layer’s Wuyu Hall to avoid painful memories. Later, his son married, choosing a strong-willed daughter-in-law. Then, grandson Mu Zhengming was born, grew up, married, and had children… Three generations’ joys and sorrows now lingered within and around the quiet Wuyu Hall.
Since Mu Zhengming took Mu Qingyan to live in seclusion at Busilai on Huanglao Peak, no one had resided here long-term. Thanks to the capable You Guanyue and others managing affairs, they cleaned up the long-vacant Wuyu Hall in half a day, not only allowing their lord to settle in but also accommodating several important wounded individuals.
By the time You Guanyue finally found a moment to change his blood-stained clothes and grab a bite, the vast Hanhai mountain range was once again shrouded in the deep blue night sky. Under the starry sky, the exhausted You Guanyue, burning with loyalty as the new lord’s confidant, hurried to report to Mu Qingyan despite the late hour. To his surprise, he witnessed his revered new lord being forcefully pushed out of a room by Cai Zhao.
The beautiful young girl, her hair disheveled, had bloodshot eyes and a foul mood. She left a message through the door crack, “I’m dead tired and need to sleep. Neither man nor ghost is allowed to disturb me, or they’ll taste my blade.” Then she slammed the door shut, nearly hitting Mu Qingyan’s nose.
Seeing this, You Guanyue turned to leave. However, Mu Qingyan, seemingly unfazed, called him back. You Guanyue promptly reported, “All strategic points and Nie clan followers within Jile Palace have surrendered. Some stragglers who couldn’t return in time to aid Nie Zhe remain scattered outside. I believe they pose no significant threat and can be captured gradually in the future.”
“Since the battle at Qingluo River, their fate was sealed,” Mu Qingyan remarked. He then asked about another matter, “Did you bring the item?”
You Guanyue immediately presented a small boxwood casket, which seemed to be covered in a thin layer of frost.
Mu Qingyan took the casket and inquired, “How is Young Master Song faring?”
“He woke up at nightfall, took his medicine, and went back to sleep,” You Guanyue replied, having learned of Song Yuzhi’s identity from Shangguan Haonan.
Mu Qingyan nodded, “In that case, let’s go check on Young Master Song.”
You Guanyue hesitated, wanting to say that it might not be appropriate to disturb an injured person in the middle of the night. However, he ultimately remained silent.
To their surprise, as they approached the western side hall, they saw Song Yuzhi’s room brightly lit, as if someone was expecting visitors.
Mu Qingyan stepped into the room with a smile, “Brother Song, you still maintain such good composure despite your severe injuries. Truly admirable.”
You Guanyue glanced at Song Yuzhi, who was reclining on a soft couch. His face was pale, his cheeks sunken, unable to hide the weakness of recent recovery from grave injuries. Yet his dark eyes remained deep and powerful.
“I guessed the time, expecting the Young Lord to arrive,” Song Yuzhi said softly.
Mu Qingyan sat opposite him, “How are your injuries, Brother Song?”
“Merely flesh wounds and bone injuries. My essence remains unharmed. I should be able to move after another half day’s rest,” Song Yuzhi, understanding the other’s intention, volunteered the information. He then asked, “What about my junior sister? She’s alright, isn’t she?”
Mu Qingyan smiled, “Zhao Zhao is just fine. I wanted to bring her to see you earlier, but she scolded me fiercely and kicked me out, saying she hadn’t slept enough.”
Song Yuzhi couldn’t help but scrutinize the handsome young man before him, whose smile concealed much. He knew Mu Qingyan better than Cai Zhao did, aware of his nasty personality—the type who couldn’t stand others being happy if he wasn’t, and even if he was happy, he didn’t want others to be. Moreover, he never bothered to hide his caustic nature.
In the past, whenever Song Yuzhi mentioned Cai Zhao, Mu Qingyan would turn sour. Now, his attitude had changed dramatically, as if he wore a mask of gentle warmth, making it impossible to discern his true feelings.
Mu Qingyan continued, “Brother Song, you saved our sect members in their time of need. I won’t forget this debt and will repay it in the future.” Since Shangguan Haonan was his subordinate, it was natural for the lord to shoulder this gratitude.
“Helping those in need is our duty as righteous individuals. The Young Lord need not be concerned,” Song Yuzhi waved his hand dismissively. “What about the Purple Jade Golden Mallow?”
“I was just about to address that,” Mu Qingyan said. “I’ve ordered a thorough search of our treasury, but…”
He paused briefly, “However, we couldn’t find the Purple Jade Golden Mallow anywhere.”
Song Yuzhi was shocked: “Couldn’t find it? The Purple Jade Golden Mallow isn’t in your sect’s possession?” His deduction about the artifact’s whereabouts was based purely on speculation, without any concrete evidence.
“Could it be that Hero Cai didn’t return the Purple Jade Golden Mallow?” Now, the only certainty was that Cai Pingxu had last possessed it.
“The sect is currently in disarray, and many details remain unclear,” Mu Qingyan shook his head.
Seeing the disappointment on Song Yuzhi’s face, he pushed the frost-covered wooden box across the table. “Please accept this, Brother Song.”
Song Yuzhi took the box and opened it, finding a palm-sized piece of jade inside. It was snow-white and emanated an intense cold, with frost seeping through the thick wooden box.
“Thousand-year ice jade from the Great Snow Mountain in the Western Regions?” He recognized it, having grown up in a prestigious family.
Mu Qingyan smiled, “While this item may not be as solid and dense as the Purple Jade Golden Mallow, its effect in soothing scorching internal energy is even better. I hope Brother Song doesn’t mind accepting it.”
He continued, “We’re still sorting out the aftermath of Nie Zhe’s rebellion. The Purple Jade Golden Mallow might have ended up elsewhere. To be honest, for someone of your caliber, it’s not particularly valuable except for treating injuries caused by Netherworld cold energy. If we find it in the future, I’ll send it to you immediately.”
Song Yuzhi slowly closed the ice jade box and nodded in agreement. However, he thought to himself, “Even if you’re lying, do I have any other choice?”
He wasn’t naturally suspicious, as he had come of age after Nie Hengcheng and his loyal followers had long vanished. The righteous and evil factions had entered a period of peaceful coexistence, so he hadn’t truly witnessed the ways of the demonic cult.
However, this venture into the Hanhai mountain range had been a real eye-opener—turning ordinary people under the demonic cult’s protection into corpse puppets; the flesh-corroding Bone-Eating Heavenly Rain; blowing up stone chambers at the slightest provocation, even with their allies inside; not to mention the inhuman tortures Wu Yuanying had endured.
These experiences finally convinced him that his elders were right—the demonic cult was indeed a group of cruel individuals.
“Given Brother Song’s status, there’s no benefit in staying here any longer,” Mu Qingyan stood up. “You should get some more rest. I’ll have someone escort you out at dawn.”
Song Yuzhi cupped his hands in farewell, thinking to himself that he wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway.
…
The night breeze blew gently as Mu Qingyan strode towards the eastern side hall where Hu Fengge was recovering. To avoid keeping his lord waiting, You Guanyue intended to send a maid to wake Hu Fengge. However, they found Hu Fengge’s room already brightly lit, with a visitor inside. If Cai Zhao had seen this scene, she would have surely quipped, “Do none of you in the demonic cult sleep at night?”
Yu Huiyin, originally seated on the couch, was quietly conversing with Hu Fengge. Upon seeing Mu Qingyan and You Guanyue enter, the middle-aged scholar in his thirties became as nervous as a young boy caught kissing his sweetheart behind a fence. He blushed and slipped away.
Mu Qingyan smiled at Yu Huiyin’s retreating figure, “Did I interrupt Elder Hu’s romantic moment?”
Hu Fengge quickly rose from the couch to pay his respects, then laughed heartily, “The Young Lord jests. Huiyin has always been shy since childhood. He has a good heart though, often sneaking in food, drinks, and medicine for me. Alas, he’s been bullied by Chen Shu and Nie Zhe since he was young, always submissive and compliant.”
Mu Qingyan glanced at You Guanyue, who understood and bowed before leaving.
Mu Qingyan gestured for Hu Fengge to lie back and talk comfortably. Hu Fengge replied, “For someone who crawled out of the Tiangangsha Camp, these injuries are nothing. If my body wasn’t tough enough, I’d have died in that poison-breeding ground long ago.”
Mu Qingyan sat down and cupped his hands in respect, “Our ability to turn defeat into victory is largely thanks to Elder Hu’s crucial change of allegiance.”
Hu Fengge, not daring to be presumptuous, quickly knelt on one knee: “I don’t deserve such praise.” The Liejiao sect had strict rules; having acknowledged Mu Qingyan as her lord, she had to remember the distinction between superior and subordinate.
She raised her head slightly: “Young Lord, Yu Huiyin was still young when Nie Hengcheng died and wasn’t involved in any Nie faction activities. After Nie Hengcheng’s death, he angered Nie Zhe with his repeated attempts at persuasion and went into seclusion in the mountains. Perhaps you could…”
Mu Qingyan waved his hand: “As long as Yu Huiyin doesn’t think about reviving any Nie clan glory, I won’t make things difficult for him.”
Hu Fengge tentatively asked, “What about young master Si’en…”
In truth, she had no fondness for Li Ruxin and her son. When she was fighting for her life in the Tiangangsha Camp, she often saw this pampered young lady pass by haughtily, not even bothering to raise an eyebrow at the mud and blood-stained death soldiers below. However, if Mu Qingyan insisted on executing Li Ruxin and her son, it would complicate matters for Yu Huiyin, who felt indebted to Nie Hengcheng.
Mu Qingyan seemed to see through her thoughts and smiled slightly, “If Nie Hengcheng could accommodate my father and me, surely I can accommodate the Nie clan’s mere young son.”
Hu Fengge was overjoyed: “The Young Lord is wise!” After standing up, she added, “Actually, young master Si’en is weak from birth and frail. He can’t practice high-level martial arts, and I don’t think he’ll live long.”
Mu Qingyan waved dismissively, “Let him be.”
Hu Fengge stared at his face, lost in thought: “Young Lord, you look so much like your father…”
“But with a very different temperament, right?” Mu Qingyan said calmly. “I’m not my father.”
Hu Fengge sighed, “I heard that You Guanyue brought your mother, Lady Sun, up the mountain at night. Young Lord, forgive my presumption, but Lady Sun indeed has many shortcomings…”
She was skilled at killing, arson, and torture, but not so eloquent with words. Finally, she managed to say, “There are two types of winged creatures: eagles that brave wind and rain, and sparrows that nest under eaves. Sun Ruoshui, she’s… she’s just an ordinary woman with no ability to protect herself. Please, Young Lord, keep her at arm’s length and don’t bother with her.”
Though her words were tactful, they clearly expressed fear that Mu Qingyan might harm Sun Ruoshui, subtly pleading for mercy.
Mu Qingyan raised a long eyebrow, quite curious, “Elder Hu is speaking up for Lady Sun.”
It was surprising enough coming from others, but Hu Fengge had fought her way out of the Tiangangsha Camp, her hands stained with blood, countless innocent and guilty souls sent to the underworld—yet now she spoke with a face full of pity, pleading for Sun Ruoshui.
Hu Fengge sighed wistfully: “Young Lord, you probably don’t know, but your mother and I were brought into the Liejiao sect together.”
Mu Qingyan noticed something unusual in these words, “Together? Are Elder Hu and Lady Sun from the same village?”
Hu Fengge’s answer was very subtle: “Sun Ruoshui and I are from the same village, but not from the same village as Master Sun.”
“Lady Sun is not Master Sun’s daughter?!” Mu Qingyan immediately understood.
Hu Fengge smiled bitterly: “When disaster struck, the whole village was affected. How could a weak girl escape? Nie Hengcheng wanted to manipulate your father, but the real Miss Sun had already perished. Fortunately, they picked the most beautiful and gentle child from those raised in the village. Since no one had seen the grown-up Miss Sun anyway, they just had to make sure Ruoshui memorized Master Sun’s life story and writings.” After all, Mu Zhengming wasn’t suspicious of someone gravely ill.
Mu Qingyan froze, his eyes filled with icy coldness. A moment later, he regained his warm smile, “So, my father was deceived from beginning to end.”
Seeing him like this, Hu Fengge’s eyes showed the image of that truly kind and generous young master. She couldn’t help but sigh deeply again, “Ruoshui had it hard too. If she were the real Miss Sun, she could have risked everything to confess her troubles, and your father would have protected her from Nie Hengcheng’s harm out of respect for Master Sun—but she wasn’t. What could she do but listen to Nie Hengcheng?”
There was one thing she didn’t mention: during those difficult days, Nie Zhe’s gentle words and comfort had soothed Sun Ruoshui.
Mu Qingyan smiled, “Nie Hengcheng doesn’t keep useless people. Those who enter the Tiangangsha Camp either have good physique or good looks. Lu Chengnan is particular about style, always letting recruits choose between being death soldiers or spies. Elder Hu chose the former, while Lady Sun chose the latter, I suppose.”
In terms of personnel, he had already thoroughly investigated Hu Fengge’s past. The conclusion was that even if Hu Fengge didn’t work for him, she was still a person worthy of respect. This respect was regardless of gender.
Hu Fengge was stunned—the choices made back then seemed like a lifetime ago, and she had almost forgotten.
To make herself completely give up, she had even used broken porcelain to scar her face, just to cut off any retreat. From then on, she could no longer rely on her looks for gain and had to rely on hard-earned skills.
She unconsciously touched her scarred face, feeling emotional. She had once been a beautiful, beloved young girl, but she didn’t want to entrust her safety and honor to others’ pity, love, or lust. She wanted to hold the weapon herself, even if it meant dying without a proper burial one day, which was better than waiting for someone’s mercy.
The choice made over twenty years ago now seemed to have determined their fates. She was still a high-ranking Seven Stars Elder, while Sun Ruoshui would inevitably spend the latter half of her life in seclusion.
Hu Fengge knew that even if she were still wandering and living on the edge of death now, while Sun Ruoshui continued to live a pampered life of luxury, she would not regret her decision.
Having said this much, Hu Fengge knew there was no need to persuade further. At most, she could visit Sun Ruoshui more often during her future seclusion, fulfilling the bond of childhood village sisters.
At this moment, You Guanyue entered, “Young Lord, Elder Yan has awakened.”
Mu Qingyan nodded, bid farewell to Hu Fengge, and turned to go to the last room in the eastern side hall.
The room was filled with a strong scent of medicinal wine. Yan Xu sat cross-legged on the couch like a twisted old Buddha statue. Seeing Mu Qingyan, he respectfully saluted from the bed, “Yan Xu greets the Young Lord. After the upcoming succession ceremony, this old man will record you as the second Sect Leader of our sect.”
The old man raised his face and smiled, “This old man refused to record Nie Zhe as the Sect Leader and wanted to ask your father to return and lead the sect again. That’s why I incurred Nie Zhe’s hatred, and he set a trap to capture me.”
“Is this what you wanted to tell me?” Mu Qingyan stood by the couch with his hands behind his back. “Were you this happy and excited when you recorded Nie Hengcheng as the first and only Sect Leader from outside the family?”
Yan Xu raised his voice, “I know you’re unhappy about what happened back then, Young Lord, but I must say, Nie Hengcheng’s succession as Sect Leader was justified!”
“When your great-grandfather lost heart and indulged in self-pity after his wife died, it was the young Nie Hengcheng who was determined to reform the sect’s affairs.”
“When your grandfather and his troublemaking wife were caught up in their domestic drama, Nie Hengcheng was working tirelessly day and night for the sect.”
“When your father was busy finding his peace, Nie Hengcheng was preparing to compete with the Six Sects of Beichen!”
“Young Lord, what do you think the sect is? Some object you can pick up or put down at will? Or your family’s backyard farm that you can cultivate or abandon as you please? Bah! It’s hard to persuade those bent on self-destruction! Your family’s three generations were controlled by Nie Hengcheng, but who can you blame? You reap what you sow!”
“I was born and raised in this sect, my loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon! If anyone in your family had been willing to listen to advice back then, why would I have supported Nie Hengcheng’s succession as Sect Leader!”
The tall figure standing by the window remained motionless as if frozen into an ice sculpture.
Seeing Mu Qingyan’s reaction, Yan Xu knew his words had hit home and was overjoyed. He decided to strike while the iron was hot, putting on a solemn face, “Young Lord, since you’ve taken this to heart, quickly break it off with that smiling young lady! A great man need not worry about finding a wife. Leave your marriage to this old man, I guarantee to find you a…”
“Her surname is Cai,” Mu Qingyan finally spoke. “Her name is Cai Zhao. Her father is Cai Pingchun, the master of Luoying Valley. Her mother is Lady Ning. Her uncle is Master Juexing of Changchun Temple. She also had an aunt who passed away, named Cai Pingxu.”
According to the Liejiao sect’s rules, once someone became the official historian, they couldn’t interfere much with sect affairs and had to stay as neutral as possible in internal conflicts, striving to record the sect’s history impartially. So while Yan Xu was somewhat confused about Cai Pingchun, Ning Xiaofeng, and Master Juexing, the name Cai Pingxu was extremely well-known within the Liejiao sect!
Yan Xu immediately jumped three feet high off the bed: “Cai Pingxu! That Cai Pingxu! You, you, you… how could you…” He was so furious he didn’t know what to say.
Mu Qingyan’s great-grandmother was just a bit frail, his grandmother was just a bit stubborn, and his mother was just a spy sent by Nie Hengcheng—although they were all unreliable people, at least they were from within the sect.
Who would have thought that Mu Qingyan would surpass his ancestors, going a hundred steps further, and directly bring in a little demon from the Six Sects of Beichen! Heavens above, which deity wants to destroy our Liejiao sect?!
Yan Xu collapsed on the bed, his head buzzing.
Mu Qingyan was still calmly giving orders nearby: “I have something to attend to later. Since Elder Yan is in good spirits, why don’t you come and watch? Guanyue, have someone bring a sedan chair.”