In late autumn, with winter fast approaching, the vast prison cell built of massive basalt stones was chillingly cold and oppressive.
Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue descended the long stone staircase side by side, followed by a long line of subordinates. The rhythmic clanging of their leather shoes against the cold, hard stone floor echoed through the air.
“This is the last group, right?” You Guanyue shook a useless feather fan, maintaining a scholarly demeanor.
Shangguan Haonan touched the bandage on his forehead. “Uncle Bali said this was their last hideout. Everyone on the list has been captured.”
Switching the fan to his other hand, You Guanyue sighed, “Uncle Bali has worked hard. He should take good care of himself now.”
Accidentally pressing on his wound, Shangguan Haonan grimaced, “Everyone’s had a tough year. Who hasn’t gotten a few injuries? Damn, those traitors! We finally wiped them all out—every last bug and cockroach!”
He glanced sideways. “You should stop waving that broken fan. You got hit by Wu Qiutong’s nerve-severing technique and took two poisoned darts. Doesn’t it hurt?”
Unyielding, You Guanyue hid the fan behind his back.
The thick double iron doors slowly opened, revealing faint echoes of moans from the endless corridors beyond.
You Guanyue, sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes, addressed Liu Jiangfeng, the guard behind the door. “Are they all alive?”
Liu Jiangfeng, his face streaked with blood, grinned. “Except for a few small fry, we have fifty-eight main leaders. Eight committed suicide, the rest are strung up by their pipa bones.”
“Make sure they don’t die.”
“Don’t worry, our brothers are skilled.”
Walking on the rough basalt floor, the strong stench of blood filled the dungeon. They passed numerous rusty iron torture racks, where many once brave gang leaders now hung like salted meat.
Cruel iron pipa hooks pierced through their flesh, dripping with fresh blood. Almost no intact skin remained. The barely alive bodies started cursing the moment they saw the newcomers—
One of them shouted, “Dog son! Come fight me with honor if you dare!”
Shangguan Haonan laughed, “Li Hall Master, give it a rest. Even I can defeat your Tiger Claw technique in fifty moves. Stop dreaming about challenging our leader.”
Another, spitting blood, yelled, “It’s only because Master Nie was too merciful. If he had wiped out your family back then, we wouldn’t have today’s disaster!”
You Guanyue chuckled, “If Nie Hengcheng were so capable, why didn’t he establish his sect openly? Instead, he plotted to steal the Mu family’s two-hundred-year foundation. Hmph, he raised a child who turned on him—what a disgrace!”
His sharp words caused several loyalists of the Nie family to faint from anger.
The group continued deeper into the dungeon, where the cold grew more intense, but the smell of blood faded.
At the end of the dungeon, two people hung on a torture rack, their bodies covered in blood and wounds, but they gritted their teeth, refusing to moan. Beside them was a small, clean cell holding Li Ruxin and her child.
“Elder Lü, Senior Yu, long time no see. How have you been?” You Guanyue smiled, shaking his fan again.
Lü Fengchun, looking old and disheveled, glared with hatred. “Since our defeat and retreat from the Hanhae Mountains over a year ago, you’ve hunted us down relentlessly! I sent messages several times to negotiate with Mu Qingyan, but you ignored them, pushing us to our deaths!”
Shangguan Haonan shouted, “Elder Lü, that’s not fair. You should know our sect despises traitors. From the moment you raised your flag of rebellion, you should have been ready to risk your life.”
Lü Fengchun snorted, “Your elders Yaoguang and Kaiyang were once Nie Hengcheng’s close aides. Now, you serve the Mu family wholeheartedly—such ingratitude!”
Shangguan Haonan remained unfazed, “Nie Hengcheng took over his foster father’s estate and didn’t feel ungrateful. Why should I?”
He turned to the dungeon, addressing everyone, “A year ago, our leader could have captured these traitors in one fell swoop. But he chose to save us, his former comrades under Nie Hengcheng, giving Lü Fengchun and his ilk a chance to escape. That’s why it took another year to eliminate them all.”
“The descendants of Yaoguang and Kaiyang are honorable men. We know how to repay kindness. We follow Leader Mu, don’t we?”
Shangguan Haonan, known for his cheerful and bold personality, was highly respected. His words quickly garnered agreement from the guards.
“Brother Haonan speaks plainly. Leader Mu is wise and compassionate. Who wouldn’t follow him?”
“Brother Haonan, we’re with you. We’ll pledge our loyalty to Leader Mu!”
“Elder Lü, what do you want from us?”
You Guanyue, seeing Shangguan Haonan’s influence, felt a bit envious. He cleared his throat, raising his voice, “The leader wants everyone to understand that the Nie family’s power is gone. From now on, the sect will no longer remember Nie Hengcheng…”
These harsh words echoed through the dungeon, angering the prisoners. Li Ruxin’s voice rose above the rest, sharp and fierce.
“Don’t you dare say that! Master Nie may be gone, but his spirit remains with us. We’ll remember his every word and deed—his spirit and bloodline still exist!”
The loyalists of the Nie family echoed her sentiments.
You Guanyue smiled, “Bloodline… I almost forgot.” He turned to Shangguan Haonan, “Do you want to handle this, or should I? It’s a sensitive matter.”
Impatient, Shangguan Haonan stepped forward, “After so many brothers have died, you’re still hesitating? Let me handle it!” He addressed Yu Huayin loudly, “Do you know your crime?”
Yu Huayin slowly raised his head, “I, I…”
Without waiting for an answer, Shangguan Haonan continued, “Yu Huayin, when did you and Li Ruxin start your affair?”
Caught off guard, Yu Huayin stammered, “No, no, I didn’t…”
Li Ruxin, proud as a statue, coldly replied, “We had no affair. Don’t slander me.”
You Guanyue interjected, “Senior Yu, just admit it. Nie Hengcheng treated you fairly. After his death, you never mourned him. Besides Li Ruxin, what other reason did you have to rebel?”
Shangguan Haonan, annoyed at being interrupted, elbowed You Guanyue. “It’s more than that! Nie Si’en is your son with Li Ruxin!”
The revelation hit like a stone in a calm lake, causing an uproar in the dungeon.
Shangguan Haonan pressed on, “Many remember that Nie Zhe had a severe mumps infection as a child, which left him sterile. Only two doctors knew the truth, but they were too afraid to speak.”
The noise grew louder, with accusations and confusion filling the air.
Those who joined the rebellion out of loyalty to Nie Hengcheng were now questioning their allegiance, wondering if Nie Si’en was indeed a product of betrayal. Some were cautious, while others openly cursed Yu Huayin and Li Ruxin.
Pale and trembling, Li Ruxin cried, “You’re trying to destroy Master Nie’s bloodline!”
Shangguan Haonan, feeling vindicated after years of torment by Nie Zhe, declared, “I stand by my words. If you doubt it, I’ll show you proof… Come forward!”
Everyone turned to see a familiar young girl at the back of their group—Qiu Cuilan.
Lü Fengchun glared at her venomously. She flinched but stood firm, having guards open the cell and pull Nie Si’en from Li Ruxin’s arms. Amidst the child’s cries, she exposed his left collarbone, which protruded oddly.
“Oh, there it is.” Shangguan Haonan revealed Yu Huayin’s identical left collarbone.
You Guanyue loudly proclaimed, “Such a unique trait is rare. How is it that both Yu Huayin and Li Ruxin’s son share it?”
Li Ruxin screamed, banging against the bars, “You’re lying! Si’en is Master Nie’s son!”
Ignoring her, Shangguan Haonan said, “Two doctors can confirm it. If you doubt, go ask them!”
Qiu Cuilan added quietly, “Nie Zhe’s many lovers also suspected.”
Shangguan Haonan praised her, “Well said! You’ll be rewarded.”
Lü Fengchun seethed, “I underestimated you, wretch!”
Qiu Cuilan retorted, “You and Nie Zhe treated us as expendable.
Shangguan Haonan greatly admired, “Well said! I will reward you handsomely; you can choose any fertile land or luxurious residence you desire!”
Lü Fengchun, furious, retorted, “I underestimated you, you little wretch!”
Qiu Cuilan sneered and retaliated, “Neither you nor Nie Zhe treats your subordinates as people. I devoted myself to your service, yet when you found me useless, you planned to discard me like a broken tool! Should I wait to be trampled by thousands? Let me tell you, not only did I reveal the anomaly on Nie Si’en, but Elder Hu is also alive!”
Yu Huiyin was stunned, “Feng Ge, Feng Ge she…”
Shangguan Haonan laughed heartily, “This is another pleasant surprise. Elder Hu’s heart is slightly right-sided. When you had no time to handle the bodies, you threw them all, including Elder Hu, into a mass grave. Lady Qiu snuck in at night and discovered Elder Hu was still alive. She secretly fed him ginseng soup for several nights until Lian Shisan rescued him.”
Yu Huiyin’s expression was complex, a mix of joy and guilt, relief, and worry. He murmured, “This is wonderful, truly wonderful…”
Lü Fengchun was enraged, “I regret not destroying the corpses back then!”
You Guanyue inwardly scorned these people. They used Nie Hengcheng’s name but failed to learn even half his demeanor.
Back in the day, Nie Hengcheng’s subordinates, including skilled beauties like Sun Ruoshui, were well-treated. Those who completed their missions were given peaceful retirements—land and servants for those seeking tranquility, shops, and mansions for those wanting to enjoy urban life. Failures were executed without hesitation, but trained operatives were never discarded. With their skills and resentment, it was courting disaster.
“Everything has been said, the cult leader is waiting.” You Guanyue finally spoke.
At his command, several burly men stepped forward, chaining Yu Huiyin, Lü Fengchun, and Li Ruxin, and led them away.
The Fifth Hall of the Palace of Bliss, named Guan Miao, was deep and spacious. Between layers of light silk curtains, a faint incense lingered, cold and eerie, like ghostly flowers blooming. As the sound of chains approached, You Guanyue brought the three prisoners inside.
A clear, youthful voice from behind the curtains said, “Let them sit.”
Shangguan Haonan fetched three lacquered chairs and arranged them in a row.
Lü Fengchun, severely injured and exhausted, sat down with difficulty, gasping for breath. Looking up, he saw his old colleague Yan Xu behind a desk, pen in hand, glaring.
“Brother Yan!” Lü Fengchun burst into tears, showcasing his theatrical skills. “Brother, I truly regret…”
Yan Xu, furious, snapped, “Shut your mouth, you traitor!” He quickly glanced at the back of the hall and fell silent.
Yu Huiyin felt uneasy. He had seen Elder Yan Xu drunk and disdainful of peers, pointing fingers at the four disciples, but always cautious before Nie Hengcheng. Now…
The curtain lifted, and Mu Qingyan stepped out.
He wore a simple, light-colored robe, his hair tied with a jade pin, looking like a gentle scholar. No one would suspect he had just slaughtered the cult.
“I won’t beat around the bush.” He approached the bronze brazier and casually stirred the coals. “The cult’s greatest sin is betrayal, and I cannot spare your lives.”
Yu Huiyin trembled, “This was all Lü Elder’s doing, it doesn’t involve women and children.”
Li Ruxin, drenched in sweat and tears, her appearance disheveled, shouted, “Who needs your plea? We live and die as Nie’s people. If Mu wants to kill us, let him!”
Ignoring her, Mu Qingyan continued, “I don’t wish to harm women and children. Answer my questions truthfully, and I won’t touch Li Ruxin and her child, and you two will have a swift death.”
Yu Huiyin, still wary, asked, “You won’t harm them, but what about your subordinates?”
Mu Qingyan smirked, “As long as you cooperate, no one in the cult will harm them.”
He then turned to Lü Fengchun, “Elder Lü, you know the penalty for treason. How do you wish to die?”
The cult, often labeled as demonic, was known for its cruel punishments. Since the first cult leader Mu Xiuque, the leaders had been ruthless, and unafraid of the most horrific tortures. Treason, the gravest sin, guaranteed a slow, agonizing death, far from a quick end.
Lü Fengchun’s face twitched with fear at the thought of the torture. He gritted his teeth, “Ask your questions.”
Mu Qingyan put down the tongs and stared at the three, “Who was the one orchestrating your actions from behind?”
Li Ruxin looked confused, Yu Huiyin’s eyes flickered, and Lü Fengchun’s face twitched.
Mu Qingyan had his answer.
He approached Yu Huiyin, “Years ago, Li Ruxin drugged you during a reunion. Days later, you left Hanhai Mountain after a quarrel with Nie Zhe, only returning when Nie Si’en was born. You lived in seclusion, uninterested in power struggles. Why support Elder Lü’s rebellion?”
Li Ruxin’s eyes reddened, trying to break free and shout.
You Guanyue stepped forward, sealing her moot point, impressing even Shangguan Haonan with his reflexes.
“You supported Elder Lü for Li Ruxin and her child.” Mu Qingyan’s cold gaze pierced Yu Huiyin, “Someone threatened you with Nie Si’en’s lineage. Who was it?”
Yu Huiyin paled as if stripped naked in broad daylight.
“Yes.” He breathed heavily, “Over a year ago, I heard of your aggressive plans to reclaim the cult. Fearing for Li Ruxin and her child, I rushed back. To my surprise, you spared them. I planned to secretly take them away, but one night, a man in black entered my room…”
“A man in black?” Mu Qingyan pressed.
“Yes, a man in black.” Yu Huiyin continued, “He was highly skilled. We exchanged several moves in moments, and I couldn’t touch him. He threw me Li Ruxin’s hairpin, threatening to kill them if I didn’t comply. I had no choice but to listen. He said…”
[“You need to do nothing but stay in the palace and occasionally place a few guards for Lü Fengchun. Given Hu Fengge’s affection for you, it shouldn’t be hard. When Lü Fengchun rebels, support him at the right moment.”]
“You only met him once?” Mu Qingyan frowned.
“Yes, just once. But he exposed my secret and informed Elder Lü. Since then, Elder Lü has blackmailed me whenever I hesitated.”
“Don’t push all the blame on me!” Lü Fengchun shouted, “We rebelled under Nie’s banner, not Lü’s! Li Ruxin, obsessed with Nie Hengcheng, incited me to use her son’s name to rally supporters. Without her, would I dare start a rebellion? It’s true, cult leader!”
Yu Huiyin wore a look of contempt. “At this point, you still want to blame a woman? Liu, do you have any sense? Before he died, our adoptive father said you were a cowardly schemer, too scared to act decisively. He said you were untrustworthy and needed to be watched carefully. If not for keeping up appearances, he would have disposed of you long ago! For someone as illustrious as Elder Right Protector Linghu, having a nephew like you is truly disgraceful!”
Hearing this, You Guanyue cast a sarcastic glance at Shangguan Haonan, who angrily glared back.
The Liu of old was now Shangguan Haonan.
Right Protector Linghu Cheng and then-Left Protector Pan Ti were not only peers but also comrades who had faced life and death together. Both were loyal confidants of Mu Qingyan’s great-grandfather, Mu Lingxiao. They were not only competent but also fiercely loyal. When Mu Qingyan’s grandfather, Mu Chen, abruptly broke off an engagement, an enraged Left Protector Pan took his niece and left for overseas. This marriage was something Linghu Cheng had worked hard to arrange, and seeing it fall apart left him disheartened. Not long after, he left on a distant journey.
However, their departure left behind a strong group of followers. Half of them, dissatisfied with the Mu family’s actions, joined Nie Hengcheng. The other half fell under the control of the Second Protector’s only descendant, Liu Fengchun. Despite his lack of talent and virtue, Liu Fengchun ascended to the position of Elder.
Liu Fengchun’s face alternated between red and green under Yu Huiyin’s insults. He roared back, “You dare bring up Nie Hengcheng? If he knew you had cuckolded his nephew, he’d kill you himself! Feeding a dog would have been better than feeding you!”
Listening to their bickering, Mu Qingyan frowned slightly.
“Both of you, shut up! The Sect Leader still has questions!” Shangguan Haonan shouted first, trying to show his awareness, earning a glare from You Guanyue.
“So, you don’t know the true identity of the man in black?” Mu Qingyan turned his gaze to Liu Fengchun. “What about you, Elder Liu? You should have had more dealings with him.”
” I only met him once,” Liu Fengchun began to sweat again. “It’s true, Sect Leader. I wouldn’t dare lie at this point! He said he would help me achieve great things. Naturally, I didn’t believe him, so he said…”
“No need for Elder Liu to take risks,” a raspy voice echoed from the corner of the room, impossible to identify. “Elder Liu, just wait patiently, and opportunities will present themselves. Just don’t be timid when the time comes.”
Despite his interest, Liu Fengchun initially put on a tough front. “Who do you think you are, trying to manipulate our sect…”
Before he could finish, the shadowy figure chuckled sinisterly. “If you insist on being a loyal dog, I can help. Over the past decade, you’ve secretly established numerous strongholds outside the Han Sea Mountain Range, filled with weapons and supplies—this is a grave offense. When Mu finds out, let’s see how loyal you remain.”
Recalling this, Liu Fengchun felt a pang of regret. “Since then, I’ve only communicated with him through secret messages, using agreed-upon codes. It was always him informing me of when to act or who to place.”
Feeling increasingly wronged, tears streamed down his face. “I’m old now, without any grand ambitions! Sect Leader, it’s because he holds something over me. I dare not disobey…”
“Then you have no clue about his identity?” Mu Qingyan interrupted Liu Fengchun’s sobbing.
Liu Fengchun thought for a moment, and then his spirits lifted. “Sect Leader, while I don’t know who he is, he must be connected to the Beichen Six Sects! Every time he sent someone to contact me, I secretly had experts follow them. No matter how much they changed their appearance or route, they always ended up in Beichen Six Sects’ territory!”
You Guanyue thought to herself, the Sect Leader already knew that.
“Which sect?” Mu Qingyan pressed. Seeing Liu Fengchun’s hesitation, he added, “If you try to deceive me, I have ways to verify. When that happens, how many of your family members do you think will survive?”
Yan Xu’s heart skipped a beat, nearly spilling ink on the snowy silk fabric.
Liu Fengchun, fearing for his family, replied with difficulty, “Sect Leader, I wouldn’t dare lie. Sometimes the messenger disappeared in the Jiangnan region, sometimes near Qingque Town, and other times towards the Guangtian Sect… it’s hard to say.”
Mu Qingyan patiently continued his questioning, inquiring about the black-clad man’s build, martial arts, and behavior. However, since both Yu Huiyin and Liu Fengchun had only seen the man once and under stressful conditions, detailed observations were impossible.
After several rounds of questioning, Mu Qingyan had to give up. He seemed unsurprised and, after a moment’s thought, tapped his fingers on the desk. “Elder Hu, please come out.”
The curtain on one side lifted, revealing Qiu Cuilan cautiously supporting a pale, frail woman—it was none other than the miraculously surviving Hu Fengge.
Yu Huiyin exclaimed, “Fengge, you’re alive?! This is wonderful, I always thought… Oh, I’m so sorry. When I was forced to attack you, I hoped you’d survive…”
This mix of surprise, joy, and guilt made both Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue feel nauseated.
“I should have known you liked her,” Hu Fengge said softly. Despite a year of recovery, she was still painfully thin, her cheeks sunken, and her high cheekbones accentuating her proud phoenix-like eyes.
“You secretly liked Li Rushin but couldn’t express it. That’s not your fault,” she continued. “But misleading me into thinking we were mutually in love was cruel.”
She spoke as if oblivious to Yu Huiyin’s frantic explanations. She also pondered that Li Rushin, neither skilled in martial arts nor knowledgeable in pharmacology, couldn’t have produced any potent drug. With Yu Huiyin’s training and experience, if he didn’t want it, even being in bed wouldn’t have led to Nie Si’en.
She gently pressed her chest, where a deep scar remained from being stabbed by the one she had admired since childhood. In her daze, she recalled the teachings of a mentor who was both like a brother and a father to her—
“Xiaofeng, why aren’t you practicing in broad daylight? Sneaking off to see Huiyin again? It’s just a minor cold, no need to worry… Alright, alright, I know Huiyin treats you well, but that’s just his kind nature. He’s considerate to everyone.”
“Sigh, Xiaofeng, you’ve been alone and stubborn since you were young. I’m just afraid that because of a bit of kindness, you’ll become completely devoted to someone. Haven’t you noticed how Huiyin looks at Miss Li… alright, alright, I’ll stop.”
“The two branch sects east of the coastal region have been causing trouble lately. I’m sending you with Master Xu to enforce discipline. Heh heh, I wouldn’t just send you away for no reason. Ah it’s a pity the Young Master is missing; with him around, he would surely protect you. Very well, I promise to take good care of you. When you turn fifteen, I’ll personally make you a hairpin.”
“But Xiao Feng, you must promise me one thing. Your heart chamber is slightly shifted to the right, different from others. This must never be revealed, not even to close relatives. You are soft-hearted, and I’ve always worried you might face great hardship in the future. Who knows, perhaps this anomaly will save your life one day.”
A prophecy was fulfilled.
Few now remember the once brilliant and knowledgeable Lu Chengnan.
Just a year after her rescue, she learned from Mu Qingyan where Lu Chengnan was buried. She weakly made her way to Wuan Mountain, digging out Lu Chengnan’s coffin from the back mountain of the Chang Family’s stronghold, intending to give him a proper burial.
While sorting his bones, she discovered a small golden phoenix hairpin tucked in his sleeve.
As seasons passed, the man who died young, and this age-old promise traversed through the dust of time, still shining brightly, as exquisite as ever.
Looking at the uncertain Yu Huiyin, Hu Fengge suddenly felt tired. She didn’t bother dealing with this fake and cowardly person anymore—she was a girl raised by Lu Chengnan, daring to love and hate, decisive and straightforward. If you have no heart for me, then I’ll leave; if you deceive or harm me, I’ll repay you a hundredfold!
“Leader, can I handle Yu Huiyin as I see fit?” Hu Fengge turned back slowly.
Mu Qingyan’s eyes were indifferent. “Do as you wish, Elder Hu.”
Hu Fengge bowed her head and thanked him. “There shouldn’t be bloodshed inside the hall. Take her outside.”
You Guanyue immediately offered two subordinates to move the immobilized Yu Huiyin, chair and all, outside the hall. Hu Fengge continued out of the hall with Qiu Cuilan’s support.
Qiu Cuilan seemed to realize something, her face turning pale as she stumbled, almost tripping over the high threshold of the hall.
Seeing this, Shangguan Haonan, leaning against the wall, sighed poetically, “Such a beauty, I almost pity her.”
You Guanyue squinted at him. “What’s that? Thinking of adding another one to your home’s flock of birds? Four people make a good group for gambling and chess?”
Shangguan Haonan stroked his chin. “That’s not entirely impossible.”
“Hmph! You flirtatious man!” You Guanyue angrily flicked her sleeve.
They had only exchanged four sentences when two short screams came from outside.
You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan exchanged glances. The screams came from Yu Huiyin, but with her cultivation and temperament, even under torture, she wouldn’t scream so soon, let alone this quickly.
Soon, guards rushed in to report, “Reporting to the Leader, Elder Hu has severed both hands and feet of the traitor Yu Huiyin and thrown her to the wasteland behind the mountain to feed the wild dogs!”
You Guanyue gasped, Shangguan Haonan cursed under his breath, and Yan Xu’s body stiffened, almost unable to continue writing.
Only Mu Qingyan smiled lightly. “Good, Elder Hu has finally relaxed.”
You Guanyue quickly agreed, “Exactly, a tiger does not show its might, it will be taken for a sick cat. If we don’t have something ruthless and spicy, people might think Elder Hu’s illustrious reputation was just hearsay.”
Yan Xu couldn’t comment a single word. After all, because of the rebellion of Lu Yu, many loyal and upright people of the church have died.
A thunderous roar sounded, and suddenly it started raining heavily outside.
Shangguan Haonan personally escorted Yan Xu out, immediately rushing to Jiexian Cliff for execution, Yan Xu knew that there must be many followers waiting to watch the execution.
You Guanyue saw the color of Mu Qingyan’s eyes and immediately released Li Ruxin.
Li Ruxin saw and heard everything that happened just now. Her body trembled slightly and she forcibly calmed down, “The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. How do you deal with us, mother and son? I have nothing to say! But you are the leader, every word you say must not be forgotten!” In the last sentence, anyone can see that she is already very stern.
Mu Qingyan sighed softly, “Actually, deep in my heart, I’ve always secretly admired Nie Hengcheng.”
Yan Xu was taken aback. How did the conversation suddenly turn to this?
You Guanyue and Li Ruxin were equally surprised.
“Compared to my willful and reckless grandfather, and my father who was indifferent and inactive, Nie Hengcheng is more worthy of the position of Leader.” Mu Qingyan’s voice rang out late at night, clear yet tinged with hoarseness.
“Think about it carefully. Since childhood, I’ve been determined to oppose and challenge myself with all my martial arts, strategies, and efforts. It’s never been against Nie Zhe, but Nie Hengcheng—his last disciple, the legacy he left behind, and the loyal followers who never forget him.”
He stepped out from the shadows cast by the lamp, his young and fair face bearing the weight of experience. “Though I harbor a deep hatred for the Nie clan, I haven’t allowed Elder Yan to erase Nie Hengcheng from the lineage of past Leaders. Nie Hengcheng remains indisputably the eleventh-generation Leader of our sect.”
Li Ruxin, overwhelmed with grief, cried out, “Father-in-law, father-in-law… Why did you leave us so soon? You’ve abandoned us, what are we supposed to do? What are we supposed to do?”
Nie Hengcheng was a towering colossus, casting a long shadow that enveloped everyone around him. When he was alive, everyone obeyed his commands. They submitted to him, trusted him, and were intimidated by him.
Upon his death, it was as if a towering tower collapsed, leaving the people exposed in the sunlight, unsure of what to do, as if they had reached the end of the earth.
If Lu Chengnan hadn’t died, leading and taking responsibility, there might have been a chance for a recovery, but…
“Realizing this, I can finally let go of a burden. After all, treating Nie Zhe as an opponent and engaging in a life-and-death struggle is rather embarrassing,” Mu Qingyan sighed softly with a bitter smile. “So I began to understand Nie Hengcheng…”
“You said, you said!” Li Ruxin stared fixedly at the figure above, her eyes showing both greed and longing. It had been more than a decade since she had heard anyone speak of Nie Hengcheng so seriously.
Mu Qingyan continued, “Nie Hengcheng was a man of great talent…”
“No need to outline it. But it made me realize… Madam Li, do you know? Nie Hengcheng, he’s always favored those he chose.”
“In his youth, pressured by social obligations and networking needs, he reluctantly took on a few disciples. However, it was never his focus, and few knew about it. It wasn’t until his power grew that he carefully selected Zhao, Chen, Han, and Lu as his disciples, nurturing and protecting them.”
Li Ruxin was stunned. “What are you trying to say?”
Mou Qingyan continued, “These four disciples chosen by Nie Hengcheng—Zhao Tianba is his fiery and impulsive side, Chen Shu is his cunning and deceptive side, Han Yisu is his bold and fierce aspect, and then there’s Lu Chengnan, embodying his ideals of excellence, kindness, and loyalty.” — It could even be said that Lu Chengnan is Nie Hengcheng’s ideal self, which is why he cherishes and favors him the most.
“What exactly are you implying?!” Li Ruxin cried out, sensing something amiss.
“Nie Zhe, Yu Huiyin, and you, none of you were chosen by Nie Hengcheng himself. You were responsibilities he ‘had to’ accept.” Mou Qingyan’s tone was cold yet piercing. “Nie Zhe is the son of his deceased brother and sister-in-law, Yu Huiyin died for him, and you are the orphaned daughter of his sworn brother. Nie Hengcheng ‘had to’ take care of you three, but it wasn’t his choice.”
“Don’t try to drive a wedge between me and my adoptive father!” Li Ruxin shouted hoarsely.
“You know these are all true,” Mou Qingyan stated matter-of-factly. “Compare how Nie Hengcheng treats you three with his four major disciples, and you’ll understand everything. Though he cares for you and shows no neglect, he never guided you on how to conduct yourself or taught you martial arts, medicine, poison, star formations, or any skills. Instead, he allowed you to become arrogant and skillless, facing an uncertain future!”
Li Ruxin trembled violently, tears streaming down her face, repeating in disbelief, “You’re lying, you’re lying! He loves me, pities me, he couldn’t bear to see me suffer! He promised to protect me for a lifetime, he did!”
Her cries were desperate and filled with despair, almost too painful for Yan Xu to transcribe.
Mou Qingyan approached Li Ruxin slowly, speaking clearly. “Regardless, Nie Hengcheng died long ago, on the summit of Tu Mountain over a decade ago, at the hands of Cai Pingshu. He died cleanly and decisively. Holding onto his ghostly shadow is futile.”
“As for Nie Si’en’s lineage, you may deceive everyone, even yourself, but can you deceive the Nie Hengcheng in the underworld? The Nie Hengcheng there, looking at the sons born of two people he did not care for, carrying his name and blood. How would he feel about that?”
With these words, Mou Qingyan gestured for You Guanyue to silently lead Li Ruxin away.
At this moment, Li Ruxin was like a statue, motionless and silent, as if drained of all her spirit, leaving only an empty shell.
Mou Qingyan nonchalantly returned to his desk, writing on a piece of white silk, his thoughts inscrutable.
A couple of hours later, Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue returned together with their reports.
Shangguan reported that Lü Fengchun and fifty-eight key rebels had been executed, and Yu Huiyin had also passed away on the mountain.
You Guanyue, on the other hand, stated that in the dungeon, in front of everyone, Li Ruxin first strangled her son, Nie Si’en, then dashed her head against a stone wall and died.
“Elder Yan, this segment can conclude,” Mou Qingyan said softly, still writing.
Yan Xu murmured his agreement, his pen trembling as he finished the final lines, sealing the scroll into a brocade bag, which he handed to Mou Qingyan. As he turned to leave, he noticed the white silk on the desk with the words ‘Mou Zhengyang’ written in the center, surrounded by winding lines pointing to different people and events.
Before leaving the hall, Mou Qingyan suddenly spoke up. “Elder Yan, I recall from the records that to safeguard the secrets of the sect, the early generations of Scribes-in-Chief would mutilate their tongues as a sign of determination when they assumed office. It wasn’t until the fourth generation, under Master Mu Huaning’s compassion, that this rule was abolished.”
Yan Xu shuddered and immediately knelt, gritting his teeth. “Old servant will cut off this meddling tongue…”
“That won’t be necessary,” Mou Qingyan said calmly. “However, now that the rebellion is quelled, all sect affairs should return to normal, and Elder Yan should consider the conduct of his predecessors.”
Yan Xu left the hall drenched in sweat.
He knew Mou Qingyan disapproved of his interference and meddling. The duties of the Scribes-in-Chief were upheld even before the Elder of the Seven Stars. The iron rule for the Scribes-in-Chief was ‘seeing, hearing, acting, but never speaking.’
A few steps later, he stopped.
Something was wrong. Since Mou Qingyan took charge, he had praised the young and dignified new sect leader for every decision. He had never opposed him before.
Wait a moment, he remembered now. There was one thing, only one thing, he had never said or disagreed with.
Yan Xu sighed helplessly and continued walking.
He saw a dozen or so people rushing over from the side, heading straight to the Pavilion of Delightful Observations. It seemed they had completed their mission and returned to report. Yan Xu wondered what news the sect leader had sent them to investigate.
The sudden rain had stopped, the morning sun was rising, and the golden sunlight gradually covered the magnificent and vast Paradise Palace with its colorful glazed tiles, shining brightly.
Taking in the fresh air without the stench of alcohol, Yan Xu felt ten years younger.
He thought to himself, if the sect leader wanted to be more powerful, so be it. He could just quit drinking and speaking less in the future.
And from this morning onward, the nearly century-long Nie family rebellion against the sect was finally over.