CHAPTER 25

  Six days earlier.

  Night had fallen over the Heavenly Sword Sect.

  At the summit of the main peak, the Sect Master’s Hall was still illuminated.

  Spirit lamps hung high beneath the stone roof, casting a cold white light across the ancient pillars carved with sword inscriptions. Their shadows stretched across the gray stone floor, slanting through the vast hall and deepening the silence.

  The night wind from the Heavenly Sword Mountains drifted through the stone corridors.

  Wind chimes beneath the eaves trembled softly.

  Inside the hall,

  a sound-insulating formation had just sealed itself.

  A thin veil of spiritual light spread across the entire chamber like mist before gradually settling into stillness.

  The doors were shut.

  Only three people remained inside.

  The Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect — Wu Huaizhang

  The Grand Elder — Wu Zhixiang

  And the Peak Master of One-Sword Peak — Leng Wuqing

  A letter lay opened upon the stone table in the center of the hall.

  The edges of the paper were slightly creased, as though someone had gripped it too tightly while reading.

  The Sect Master stood behind the table.

  Slowly, he unfolded the sheet once more.

  His gaze lingered on a particular line for a long time.

  Then he placed the letter down.

  No one spoke.

  The only sound in the hall was the wind whispering through the high window slits.

  At last, the Grand Elder spoke.

  “Sect Master.”

  His voice was low.

  “I believe… this is not a misunderstanding.”

  The Sect Master did not answer.

  He lifted the teapot on the table.

  Clear tea streamed into a cup.

  Steam rose thinly into the air.

  He stared at the tea for a long while.

  Then he murmured,

  “Enlightenment Tea.”

  The two words fell softly.

  Yet the atmosphere in the hall grew heavier.

  The Grand Elder nodded.

  “It originates from the Western Regions.”

  The night wind slipped through the stone corridor again.

  Outside, the wind chimes rang faintly.

  The Sect Master watched the tea in silence.

  Then he set the cup down.

  “This method…”

  He said slowly,

  “…is quite clever.”

  His eyes drifted toward the letter.

  “Even I…”

  “…do not know whether what I drink every day is truly clean.”

  Silence returned to the hall.

  Leng Wuqing stepped forward.

  Her white robes stirred faintly in the wind.

  She looked down at the letter.

  One line had been circled in red ink.

  Her gaze lingered there for several breaths.

  She said nothing.

  The Grand Elder exhaled quietly.

  “The writer of this letter is the Patriarch of the Su Clan.”

  “The current head of the Wan Tong Consortium.”

  He spoke slowly.

  “If even he is warning us…”

  “…then it means he no longer trusts anyone inside his own consortium.”

  “Not even the upper echelon.”

  The Sect Master let out a faint laugh.

  There was no humor in it.

  He tapped the table lightly.

  The dry sound echoed through the hall.

  “Recently, several Outer Sect disciples died while carrying out missions.”

  The Grand Elder nodded.

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  “The reports say their spiritual power was exhausted.”

  He paused.

  Then added,

  “But it does not feel right.”

  The Sect Master looked at him.

  “You believe they were used to test poison?”

  The Grand Elder did not answer immediately.

  He simply nodded.

  The atmosphere inside the hall sank even lower.

  After a moment, the Sect Master turned toward Leng Wuqing.

  “What other information has the Cloudshade Pavilion obtained?”

  Leng Wuqing answered calmly.

  “Xiaodao reported that this year’s annual auction in Fenglong City will gather many high-ranking figures from across the Eastern Region.”

  “The City Lord of Fenglong will still preside over the event, but most of the organization will be handled by the Wan Tong Consortium.”

  The Sect Master nodded slowly.

  “Then this auction…”

  “…will become a meeting place.”

  “Not only for merchants.”

  “But also for those hiding behind them.”

  He tapped the letter lightly on the table.

  “If the Western Regions are truly moving in the shadows…”

  “…their traces will surface there.”

  The Grand Elder folded his arms.

  “You intend to use the auction to observe them?”

  “More than observe,” the Sect Master replied.

  “We will gather information.”

  “The Wan Tong Consortium controls the central trade network of the entire Eastern Region.”

  “If something is wrong within their ranks…”

  “…the currents will reveal themselves there.”

  He looked toward Leng Wuqing.

  “I need someone inside.”

  “Someone who can move among cultivators, merchants, and wandering swordsmen…”

  “…without drawing attention.”

  The Grand Elder narrowed his eyes slightly.

  “A rogue cultivator.”

  The Sect Master nodded.

  “Exactly.”

  His gaze settled on Leng Wuqing.

  “You should make a trip to Fenglong City.”

  Leng Wuqing answered without hesitation.

  “Understood.”

  The Grand Elder gave a faint smile.

  “Then you should bring a disciple along.”

  He paused for a moment, brushing lightly at the edge of his brow.

  “There is one who would fit rather well.”

  Leng Wuqing looked at him.

  The Grand Elder spoke.

  “Yang Feng.”

  A brief silence followed.

  The Sect Master nodded.

  “Let him enter the peak early.”

  “He does not need to attend the selection assessment.”

  “No one will suspect a Mortal Foundation cultivator.”

  The Grand Elder added,

  “Mobilize the Cloudshade Pavilion.”

  “Have them monitor every high-ranking member of the Heavenly Sword Sect.”

  “Give Li Xiaodao full authority to carry out the investigation.”

  He paused.

  “In secret.”

  The Sect Master nodded.

  “As for the Outer Sect…”

  He looked toward the open doors of the hall.

  The distant mountains were swallowed by darkness.

  “Have Xueni tighten control over it.”

  “As for her father…”

  He spoke slowly.

  “Do not tell her.”

  Leng Wuqing did not ask why.

  She simply nodded.

  Another stretch of silence passed.

  The night wind grew slightly stronger.

  The wind chimes rang again.

  Clink… clink…

  Leng Wuqing turned.

  Her white robes brushed past the spirit lamps.

  The stone doors opened.

  Cold night wind poured into the hall.

  Her figure soon disappeared into the dark corridor.

  Inside the hall, the Grand Elder watched her leave for a moment.

  Then he said quietly,

  “I hope we discovered this early enough.”

  The Sect Master picked up the cup of tea from the table.

  He stared at it for a long time.

  Then slowly…

  poured it onto the stone floor.

  That night.

  The rear courtyard of One-Sword Peak.

  A small rocky platform jutted out near the edge of a vast cliff behind the peak. It was connected to the entrance of the central Cave Abodes, linking the various dwellings scattered across the mountain.

  Over time, this place had naturally become the common gathering spot of One-Sword Peak.

  After long days of training, Yang Feng often came here to roast meat.

  Tonight was no different.

  A wild duck and a large carp slowly roasted over the fire.

  Beside him sat Su Xueni, quietly embroidering a pattern on a piece of silk cloth. It looked like she was making a handkerchief.

  Across from Yang Feng, illuminated by the flickering red glow of the fire, Liao Jiran sat cross-legged on a large stone slab whose surface had been deliberately polished smooth for sitting.

  In her hand she held a thin iron rod, occasionally adjusting the charcoal beneath the grill.

  Suddenly, A gust of wind burst through the courtyard.

  The flames flared violently.

  The surrounding spiritual energy rippled for a brief instant.

  But everyone present already knew what was coming.

  All three young cultivators stood at once and cupped their hands in salute.

  “Greetings, Master.”

  “Greetings, Peak Master Leng.”

  The figure of Leng Wuqing appeared at the entrance.

  Her white robes flickered softly in the night wind.

  The faint sound of footsteps echoed as the mountain wind swept through the Cave Abodes and into the small courtyard.

  Beneath the crescent moon, she stopped before the three of them.

  “You may sit.”

  Then she looked toward Yang Feng.

  “Yang Feng. I have something to inform you.”

  Then she raised her voice slightly, sending it out with a thread of spiritual power.

  “Xiaodao. Lingling.”

  “I know you have returned.”

  “Come out and greet… your new junior brother.”

  Yang Feng, Su Xueni, and Liao Jiran were all startled.

  Not because of those two names.

  The two of them often disappeared from the peak and returned suddenly without warning. That was nothing unusual.

  But the words new junior brother were different.

  Very different.

  A faint breeze swept through the courtyard.

  The surrounding spiritual energy trembled again.

  “Master.”

  A soft landing sounded behind Leng Wuqing.

  Liu Lingling, the second disciple of One-Sword Peak, had appeared.

  She bowed respectfully.

  Then a voice suddenly sounded from somewhere behind Yang Feng.

  “Oh?”

  “So it’s this kid again.”

  “Looks like we meet again… little darling.”

  Yang Feng jerked his head around in surprise.

  Behind him stood a young woman with familiar red hair.

  And that voice, It was unmistakable.

  “Senior sister…!”

  Yang Feng’s eyes widened.

  How could he possibly forget?

  The person who had saved his life more than a year ago.

  Li Xiaodao.

  She leaned slightly closer, her voice soft and teasing.

  “Well, well.”

  “So you still remember me?”

  “Have you been secretly thinking about me all this time?”

  Yang Feng instantly blushed.

  He quickly stepped back.

  “So the one who helped me kill that demonic cultivator last year… was actually the Third Senior Sister of One-Sword Peak.”

  “I truly wouldn’t dare think otherwise.”

  “It’s just… I still remember your voice.”

  Li Xiaodao laughed softly.

  Then she turned toward Leng Wuqing and cupped her hands.

  “Master.”

  “Tell me. What exactly makes this kid worthy of joining our peak?”

  Leng Wuqing only glanced at Yang Feng.

  Then she asked directly.

  “Do you wish to become my disciple?”

  “To enter One-Sword Peak.”

  Yang Feng was still turning the roasted fish.

  He nearly dropped the skewer into the fire.

  He lifted his head and looked straight into her eyes.

  He spoke only two words.

  “This disciple is willing to follow Master.”

  Then he immediately knelt.

  “Kowtowing to accept you as my master.”

  This was the first time he bowed before Leng Wuqing in a completely different capacity.

  No longer an outer sect disciple.

  No longer someone merely staying here.

  But her disciple.

  Leng Wuqing looked at him.

  “Stand.”

  She reached into her storage ring.

  A jade slip of beautiful emerald color appeared in her hand.

  “The complete Eighteen Forms of the Heavenly Sword Art.”

  “And the Heavenly Sword Inner Cultivation Method.”

  “This is your entry gift from your master.”

  “This cultivation method is used to circulate spiritual energy when executing sword techniques. It is different from the standard Qi-refining method.”

  “It is optimized for sword techniques.”

  She looked at him calmly.

  “You have two days.”

  “Memorize its structure.”

  “After that you will follow me to Fenglong City.”

  Yang Feng immediately accepted the jade slip and bowed his head.

  “Thank you, Master.”

  Leng Wuqing then turned toward Su Xueni.

  “Your father has invited me.”

  “To the auction in Fenglong City.”

  “There will be a High-Grade Core Condensation Elixir.”

  “You will need it.”

  “I will go.”

  “And Yang Feng will come with me.”

  “You will stay here.”

  “There is something more important for you to do.”

  Su Xueni lowered her head slightly.

  “Understood.”

  Leng Wuqing then looked at Li Xiaodao.

  “Assemble all members of the Cloudshade Pavilion.”

  “Begin a covert investigation within the inner sect.”

  “Send some people to assist your senior sister in monitoring the outer sect.”

  She paused for a moment.

  Then spoke two words.

  “Internal spy.”

  The atmosphere changed instantly.

  The relaxed warmth around the fire disappeared.

  Only the cold mountain wind remained.

  Yang Feng stood there, still holding the jade slip in his hands.

  Too many things had happened in just a few breaths.

  Becoming a disciple of One-Sword Peak.

  A secret organization within the sect.

  An internal spy.

  His thoughts were a mess.

  He hesitated for a moment, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

  “Master…”

  He paused, clearly struggling to organize his thoughts.

  “Why… did you choose me as your disciple?”

  “And… what do you mean by an internal spy?”

  He glanced toward Li Xiaodao, then back at Leng Wuqing.

  “And…”

  “What exactly is the Cloudshade Pavilion?”

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