Outside the imposing Law Enforcement Hall of Rakshasa Peak.
The martial forest plaza, used for executions, was packed with people. Disciples in Daoist robes even hovered on the treetops, creating a lively scene.
"You think that kid is really the murderer of Cao Guang? He doesn't look like it!" A stout, ruddy-faced cultivator chewed on a greasy chicken leg in front of a tree stump, speaking with curiosity.
"What do you know? Do you understand that appearances can be deceiving? I heard this kid, on his very first day, managed to enrage the Elder lecturing at Biyun Peak to the point of losing control. He's no easy target!" a young, well-proportioned cultivator with a straight nose and square mouth said scornfully from a tree branch.
In his opinion, Cao Guang was indeed killed by someone hired by Xu Mu, and the strange person encountered by Lan Yu and his companions was also Xu Mu's doing.
The question was, who was that strange person?
"Regardless of which peak they're from, to display such strength in the Thunder Pool, and to be affirmed by Senior Brother Zuo Mingqiu, there are no more than a handful of such individuals. And none of them have any connection to this surname Xu."
Standing before the entrance of the Law Enforcement Hall, Qing Si's face was grim as he pondered the identity of the strange person. Numerous names flashed through his mind, only to be dismissed one by one.
"We can only start by investigating the newly recruited disciples," Daoist Wuyin said indifferently, turning to ask Yao Song, who was leading the way, "Did you notice anything suspicious when you brought people up the mountain?"
"Me?" Yao Song stood beside the crowd, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
When he was leading people, his mind was preoccupied with how to trick them into seeing True Person Liu Ru to take a cut. How could he possibly notice anything suspicious?
"Oh, right!" Seeing the atmosphere growing colder, Yao Song suddenly clapped his hands and said with excitement, "I remember now! When this Xu Mu entered the mountain, it took him almost an entire day, and he was covered in dirt and disheveled. He barely passed the entrance test."
"After passing, this kid went crazy, constantly asking if anyone had seen a monkey. How could I not know if there were monkeys? They were all scared away by a strange mist back then. Where would there be any monkeys!"
Li Yuan's eyebrows twitched at this.
A strange mist?
"And the peculiar thing is, such a weak person in terms of strength and talent, yet True Person Tai Wu assigned him to Xianyue Peak!"
"It took nearly a whole day..." Many disciples murmured in surprise among the execution grounds in the forest.
They had all attempted the misty formation at the mountain entrance. It was a very basic formation, primarily testing one's disposition and talent, and not significantly related to strength.
In other words, as long as one had good talent and disposition, even a seven-year-old child who hadn't awakened their abilities could pass through the mountain.
Most people would complete the mountain entrance within an hour. Those with good talent might only need half an hour, or even less.
For instance, Zuo Mingqiu only took the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, which was precisely the speed of an ordinary person climbing the mountain.
For a seeker of the Dao like Xu Mu, who walked from dawn till dusk, barely meeting the entrance requirements, he was already quite rare. Such individuals were usually assigned to the outer sect of Biyun Peak and were weeded out from Heavenly Master Mountain through repeated assessments. Everyone was accustomed to this.
But Xu Mu, who performed so poorly during the formation trial, had entered the inner sect of Xianyue Peak?
"All of you, shut up!"
Hearing the buzzing discussions in the area, Daoist Wuyin, risking the severe disrespect that could affect the interrogation within the Law Enforcement Hall, loudly reprimanded them.
Everyone froze, not knowing what had happened.
Daoist Wuyin's face was grim, and his eyes, like a hawk's, fixed on Yao Song. "You yourself said that the peak Xu Mu would go to was decided by True Person Tai Wu."
"By questioning his talent and disposition here, you are questioning True Person Tai Wu, and you have committed a great offense!"
Upon hearing this, Yao Song's face instantly turned ashen. He hurriedly knelt on the ground, his lips trembling, "I didn't! I didn't mean that!"
"I just wanted to know why Xu Mu entered Xianyue Peak, I didn't mean to question True Person Tai Wu!"
"Slap!" Daoist Wuyin's expression was extremely unpleasant. He directly slapped Yao Song across the face and reprimanded, "You're still questioning!"
"I see you've grown tired of being on Heavenly Master Mountain. Shall I send you down the mountain and find you another job?"
Yao Song knew this meant having his martial arts crippled and being expelled from the mountain. He immediately began kowtowing, his face losing all pretense of dignity as he wept,
"I was wrong, sir, I was wrong!"
"There is no problem with Xu Mu entering Xianyue Peak. It was my own ignorance that offended True Person Tai Wu. I will work tirelessly to atone for my mistakes from now on. Please, do not expel me from the mountain!!"
The others looked at Yao Song, who was kneeling on the ground, hugging Daoist Wuyin's leg and begging with humble tears. They all shook their heads with disdain.
As cultivators, the thing they valued most was backbone. A man's knees are made of gold; they should not be knelt upon so readily.
Daoist Wuyin looked at the prostrate Yao Song beneath him, a strange smile flickering in his stern eyes.
He feigned extreme reluctance, kicked Yao Song away, and then waved his hand, "Forget it, forget it. Considering this is your first offense, I will not hold you largely responsible."
"However, for the next five years, you will study under me, learning the precepts, and sincerely repent each day. Do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Song, filled with emotion, kowtowed in gratitude, relieved to have saved his life.
Yet, at this moment, he was completely unaware that he had fallen into a trap set by Daoist Wuyin for him. From this point forward in his life, he would be used as a pawn.
And the root of it all was simply his desire for revenge against Xu Mu and to regain his pathetic pride.
Yao Song bit his index finger and pressed his thumbprint onto the contract. Daoist Wuyin looked at it and nodded with satisfaction.
"Get up."
Yao Song stood up, his mind a blank as he looked at the surrounding crowd.
What had just happened?
Why had he cried, knelt down, and signed a contract? Wasn't he here to see Xu Mu be beheaded and displayed? Why had he been so confused as to sell himself?
One question after another surfaced in his mind. Yao Song, not being particularly foolish, quickly understood. He had likely been affected by some soul-influencing ability, causing his reactions to become sluggish, and thus signing an extremely humiliating contract.
That contract meant that from now on, he belonged entirely to Daoist Wuyin.
Then, Yao Song saw Qing Si smile slightly.
Daoist Wuyin also revealed a meaningful smile. Clearly, there was a connection between these two.
This was a scheme targeting Xu Mu, and also a scheme targeting him, Yao Song. Xu Mu would die, and he, Yao Song, would become Daoist Wuyin's servant.
Thinking this, Yao Song's eyes widened with fury, but he dared not let Daoist Wuyin discover it. He turned his head and stared at Qing Si, transmitting his voice, "Qing Si!"
"We are all working for Elder Liu Ru. I provided you with strategies and information, yet you turned around and did this to me!!!"
Qing Si heard him and sneered dismissively, looking at Yao Song with amusement.
"Yao Song, you also know that our Biyun Peak is inherently weaker than other peaks. If we don't unite, then in the next Sword Trial Assembly, our Biyun Peak will likely not be able to compete for any resources."
"Accept your fate. Not just you, but those on Biyun Peak who don't align with us and don't cultivate diligently, who only think of wasting time in pleasure, they will all eventually submit to us."
Yao Song looked at Qing Si. Qing Si spoke these words with utmost calmness, completely unlike his usual demeanor, making Yao Song realize that he seemed to be meeting Qing Si for the first time.
"Integrate, submit..." Yao Song was suddenly startled and asked with wide eyes, "This is definitely not for the Sword Trial Assembly. What exactly do you want to do!"
Qing Si's expression turned cold. "That is not something you need to worry about."
"Yao Song, you are now merely a servant under Daoist Wuyin. Do whatever he tells you to do, know whatever he tells you to know. Do not ask, and do not speak of anything else, understand?"
After Qing Si finished speaking, Daoist Wuyin also smiled slightly and transmitted his voice, asking, "Understand?"
Yao Song looked back and forth between the two, then nodded powerlessly. The contract had already been signed. Although it wasn't a master-servant contract, if its terms were enforced, he would be no different from a servant.
What brought him a sliver of comfort now was that Xu Mu was about to die.
Yao Song gritted his back teeth, his gaze fixed intently on the doors of the Law Enforcement Hall. His eyes seemed to bore through to kill Xu Mu, who was being interrogated inside.
"It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, I should be in the Warm Fragrance Pavilion right now, with beauties in both arms, eating the finest snow cream crabs!"
"After you die, I'll find an opportunity to kill that old bastard Liu Ru. Since I'm on this sinking ship, I might as well become the captain of this ship, and make everyone who ever mocked me suffer a terrible fate!!!"
Yao Song roared in his heart.
He blamed all his current predicament and suffering on Xu Mu.
Therefore, he wished for Xu Mu to 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, devouring peaches with a blank expression, a look of astonishment appearing on his face for the first time.
"Is there a possibility that True Person Tai Wu summoned Xu Mu not because of Cao Guang's matter, but for something else?"
Ning Yuanchen and Zhe Hao heard this and felt an inexplicable tremor in their hearts. They both chuckled dryly and said in unison, "That's unlikely."
Ning Yuanchen: "Xu Mu is just a newly recruited disciple. Even if he's a genius of Xianyue Peak, why would he be summoned unless he violated sect rules? The True Person is the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall!"
Zhe Hao also said nervously:
"Yes, yes, this Xu Mu was clearly summoned because of Cao Guang's matter. Otherwise, why would it be such a coincidence that True Person Tai Wu called him away right after he came out of the Thunder Pool?"
Li Yuan heard this and slowly shook his head:
"It's just a premonition."
He gazed at the golden-haired monkey, which had disappeared from the eaves, and at the peach pit that rolled down from the roof, lost in thought for a moment.
Then, Li Yuan looked towards the doors of the Law Enforcement Hall again, his eyes gradually sharpening.
If Xu Mu could really emerge from the doors of the Law Enforcement Hall, then perhaps he would already know who killed Cao Guang.
...