Outside the imposing Law Enforcement Hall of Luosha Peak, the execution grounds in the forest were crowded with people. Even the treetops were occupied by disciples in Daoist robes, creating a lively scene.
"You guys think that kid really killed Cao Guang? He doesn't look like it!" a plump, ruddy-faced cultivator chewed on a greasy chicken leg by a tree stump, speaking curiously.
"What do you know? Don't you know people can't be judged by their appearance? I heard this kid, on his first day, made the lecturing elder of Biyun Peak blow up in anger. He's no easy one to deal with!" a young cultivator with a straight nose, square mouth, and well-proportioned build sneered from a tree branch.
In his opinion, Cao Guang was killed by people Xu Mu hired, and the strange person Lan Yu and his companions encountered was also Xu Mu's doing.
The question was, who was that strange person?
"No matter which peak they're from, those who could display such strength in the Thunder Pool, and be affirmed by Senior Brother Zuo Mingqiu, are no more than a handful. And none of them have any connection to this surname Xu."
Standing grimly before the Law Enforcement Hall's entrance, Qing Si meticulously considered the identity of the strange person. Names flashed through his mind, only to be dismissed.
"We can only start investigating from the new disciples," Daoist Wuyin said indifferently, turning to the guide, Xiao Song, and asking, "When you led them up the mountain, didn't you notice anything suspicious?"
"Me?" Xiao Song stood beside the crowd, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. When he was guiding them, his mind was focused on how to trick them into Liu Ru Zhenren's place for a commission. How could he have noticed anything suspicious?
"Oh, right!" Seeing the atmosphere grow colder, Xiao Song suddenly clapped his hands, his expression excited. "I remember now. When this Xu Mu entered the mountain, it took him almost a whole day, and he was covered in mud and grime, barely passing the entrance test. After passing, the kid went crazy, asking if anyone had seen a monkey. How would I not know if there were monkeys? They were all scared away by a strange mist back then, where would any monkeys be!"
Li Yuan's eyebrows twitched at this. Strange mist?
"And the weirdest part is, such a weak person in terms of strength and talent, yet Tai Wu Zhenren assigned him to Xianyou Peak!"
"Took almost a whole day..." Many disciples in the forest execution grounds began to discuss with surprise upon hearing this. They had all gone through the mist array at the mountain entrance. It was a basic formation, primarily testing one's temperament and talent, and not heavily reliant on strength. In other words, as long as one had good talent and temperament, even a seven-year-old child who hadn't awakened their powers could pass. Most people would complete the entrance within an hour, with talented individuals taking perhaps half an hour or even less. Zuo Mingqiu, for instance, only took the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, which was precisely the time an ordinary person would take to climb the mountain. A seeker like Xu Mu, who took from day to dusk, lingering on the edge of the entrance requirements, was already a rare existence. Such people were usually assigned to the outer sect of Biyun Peak and weeded out from Tianshi Mountain through repeated assessments. Everyone was accustomed to this. But Xu Mu, performing so poorly during the array trial, had entered Xianyou Peak's inner sect?
"Shut up, all of you!" Hearing the murmurs in the crowd, Daoist Wuyin, risking the grave disrespect of interfering with the Law Enforcement Hall's interrogation, bellowed. Everyone froze, unsure what had happened. Daoist Wuyin's face was grim, his eyes like a hawk's as he fixed on Xiao Song. "You yourself said that which peak Xu Mu goes to is decided by Tai Wu Zhenren. If you question his talent and temperament here, you are questioning Tai Wu Zhenren. You have committed a grave offense of disrespect!"
Xiao Song's face turned ashen. He quickly knelt on the ground, his lips trembling. "I didn't! I didn't mean that! I just wanted to know why Xu Mu got into Xianyou Peak, I didn't mean to question Tai Wu Zhenren!"
"Slap!" Daoist Wuyin's expression was terrible. He slapped Xiao Song directly across the face and reprimanded, "You are still questioning! I think you've had enough of Tianshi Mountain. Do you want me to send you down the mountain and find you a new job?"
Xiao Song knew this meant his martial arts would be crippled and he would be expelled from the mountain. He immediately began kowtowing, crying without regard for his injured face. "I was wrong, sir, I was wrong! There's no problem with Xu Mu entering Xianyou Peak. I was blind and offended Tai Wu Zhenren. From now on, I will serve you diligently to atone for my mistakes. Please, don't expel me from the mountain!!"
Watching Xiao Song kneel on the ground, hugging Daoist Wuyin's leg and begging tearfully, the others shook their heads with disdain. They, as cultivators, valued integrity the most. A man's knees are made of gold, how could he kneel so easily?
Daoist Wuyin looked at Xiao Song, who was groveling at his feet, a strange smile appearing in his fierce eyes. He feigned reluctance, kicked Xiao Song away, and then waved his hand. "Forget it, forget it. Considering it's your first offense, I won't hold you too responsible."
"However, for the next five years, you will study the precepts under me and repent sincerely every day. Understand?"
Xiao Song, hearing this, excitedly kowtowed his thanks, relieved to have saved his life. Little did he know, he had fallen into Daoist Wuyin's trap. From now on, he would be used as a pawn. And all of this stemmed from his desire for revenge against Xu Mu and to regain his lost pride.
Xiao Song bit his index finger and pressed his fingerprint onto the contract. Daoist Wuyin nodded with satisfaction.
"Get up."
Xiao Song rose and looked at the surrounding crowd, his mind a blank. What had just happened? Why was he crying, why did he kneel and sign a contract? Wasn't he here to watch Xu Mu be executed? Why had he so confusingly sold himself out? Questions flooded his mind. Xiao Song wasn't foolish and quickly understood. He had likely fallen prey to some soul-affecting ability, which had made his reactions sluggish, leading him to sign a deeply humiliating contract. That contract meant he now belonged entirely to Daoist Wuyin.
Then, Xiao Song saw Qing Si smile slightly. Daoist Wuyin also revealed a meaningful smile. Clearly, there was a connection between the two. This was a trap set for Xu Mu, and a trap for Xiao Song as well. Xu Mu would die, and Xiao Song would become Daoist Wuyin's servant.
Thinking of this, Xiao Song's eyes widened in fury, but he dared not let Daoist Wuyin notice. He turned his head and transmitted his voice to Qing Si, demanding, "Qing Si!"
"We all work for Elder Liu Ru. I provide you with strategies and information, and you do this to me in return!!!"
Qing Si scoffed and looked at Xiao Song with amusement. "Xiao Song, you know that our Biyun Peak is already at a disadvantage compared to other peaks. If we don't unite, then at the next Sword Trial, our Biyun Peak probably won't be able to secure any resources."
"Accept your fate. Not just you, but those in Biyun Peak who don't align themselves and only seek pleasure will eventually submit to us."
Xiao Song looked at Qing Si. Qing Si spoke with extreme calmness, unlike his usual demeanor. Xiao Song realized he seemed to be meeting Qing Si for the first time.
"Integration, submission..." Xiao Song was suddenly startled and asked with wide eyes, "This is definitely not for the Sword Trial. What exactly are you trying to do!"
Qing Si's expression turned cold. "That's not something you need to concern yourself with."
"Xiao Song, you are now merely a servant under Daoist Wuyin. Do as he tells you, know what he tells you to know. Ask nothing else, and speak nothing else, understand?" After Qing Si finished, Daoist Wuyin also smiled slightly and transmitted his voice, asking, "Understand?"
Xiao Song looked back and forth between the two, then nodded powerlessly. The contract had been signed. Although it wasn't a master-servant contract, the clauses, if enforced, would make him no different from a servant.
What gave him some comfort now was that Xu Mu was about to die. Xiao Song gritted his back molars, his gaze fixed on the Law Enforcement Hall's entrance. His eyes seemed to want to pierce through and kill Xu Mu, who was being interrogated inside.
"It's all your fault. If it weren't for you, I should be at Warm Fragrance Pavilion now, with women on both sides, eating the finest snow cream crab!"
"After you die, I'll find a chance to get rid of that old man Liu Ru. Since I'm on this pirate ship, I'll become the biggest pirate captain on this ship, ensuring that everyone who ever mocked me dies a miserable death!!!" Xiao Song roared inwardly. He blamed all his current predicament on Xu Mu. Therefore, he wished Xu Mu would die quickly.
But would Xu Mu really die?
"I have a premonition." Li Yuan looked at the golden-haired monkey on the Law Enforcement Hall, a look of stunned disbelief appearing on his usually expressionless face for the first time.
"Is there a possibility that Tai Wu Zhenren summoned Xu Mu not because of Cao Guang's matter, but for something else?"
Ning Yuanchen and Zhe Hao's hearts inexplicably sank at this. They both chuckled dryly and said simultaneously, "No way."
Ning Yuanchen: "Xu Mu is just a new disciple. Even if he's a genius of Xianyou Peak, why would he be summoned unless he broke a sect rule? Zhenren is the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall!"
Zhe Hao also said nervously, "Yes, yes. Xu Mu is clearly being summoned because of Cao Guang's matter. Otherwise, why would Tai Wu Zhenren call for him so coincidentally right after he came out of the Thunder Pool?"
Li Yuan shook his head faintly. "It's just a premonition." He gazed at the golden-haired monkey that had disappeared from the eaves, and at the peach pit that rolled down from the roof, lost in thought. Then, Li Yuan looked back at the Law Enforcement Hall's entrance, his gaze gradually sharpening.
If Xu Mu could truly emerge from the Law Enforcement Hall, then perhaps he would already know who killed Cao Guang.
...