When Di Mo finally turned the conversation toward him, Qiu Ling’s heart did not stir in the slightest.
From the moment he stepped onto Qionghu Island, he knew this moment would eventually come. He did not enjoy dealing with such things, but he had no other choice.
Long, long ago, he had not been the silent, taciturn man he was today. Back then, like his own flesh and blood brother, he had been someone who enjoyed conversation and was filled with curiosity about the world. However, he soon discovered that whatever he said seemed to take on an unusual significance because of his family.
He began to try and avoid it all. Yet, no matter how silent he remained, how low a profile he kept, or how he stripped his clothing of all conspicuous colors and patterns, people could still identify him in a crowd with a single glance. After a few words, they would inevitably drag him out, ask for his opinion, and then pick apart his brief remarks to weave together groundless conclusions.
He had grown used to it. He knew that as long as the past of the Black Moon remained uncleansed, such days would never end.
Even though twenty years had passed, even though he had fled to the martial world, temporarily setting aside the name of the General of the South’s Estate and his title as the Jade-Bearing Inspector just to be a wandering swordsman for a day, these people still refused to let him go.
Since that was the case, there was no need to retreat.
Countless inquisitive gazes converged from all directions upon the man in the green robe. The latter merely looked up, accepting those gazes in full, before speaking with neither arrogance nor humility.
"I am deeply honored to receive the Manor Lord’s trust. However, firstly, I have come to observe this ceremony in my capacity as a disciple of Kunxu. I have no intention of bringing up my status as an investigating inspector. I fear that if I speak on the matter of the investigation and the authorities later use it as evidence to summon you all for questioning, it would be quite unpleasant. Secondly, the Qingping Road case occurred three months ago while I was still in the capital. I know very little regarding the details or the process of the crime; it would truly be inappropriate to speak recklessly. And thirdly..." He paused here, a trace of helplessness and a bitter smile appearing on his face. "...Thirdly, my master has a violent temperament. Since I am the sole representative of my sect tonight, I must be cautious in my words and deeds before my seniors. Otherwise, returning to Kunxu to receive a lashing is a small matter; my master flying into a rage and descending the mountain with his sword is a grave one. Thus, it is better if I say as little as possible."
These words were tightly woven and struck home. Even Di Mo could not immediately press him further.
In particular, when that last sentence landed, even the silent old foxes of the martial world couldn't help but nod in agreement. Clearly, no one wanted to see that old man from Kunxu; they would rather forgo a bit of entertainment now than face him later.
Qin Jiuye, who had been watching with a racing heart, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Alongside her relief, a sense of admiration grew.
Previously, she only knew that Duan Yu Jun was a principled gentleman who stuck to his guns. But now she understood that for him to be appreciated by the General of the South at such a young age, to take on the title of Inspector and return to Jiugao alone to investigate, to withstand the pressure from the capital, to face off against Lord Fan in the city, and to never give up on secretly probing the truth of the Su Estate case—all of this could not be summarized by the word "integrity" alone. This polished endurance and perfectly measured tact, set against his flawless character, were even more precious. Indeed, no second successor more suitable than him could be found in all of Jiugao.
Seeing that this hot potato of a case could not be passed off, Di Mo did not become anxious or angry. Instead, he shifted his tone and brought up another matter.
"Duan Yu Jun has always been cautious in his conduct. However, the martial world is not like a city or a town; it has never had clear boundaries, and many things need not follow the rules so strictly. I heard that when the Baoshen Pavilion of the underground market met with trouble last month, you personally led the men to seize it. It is only a pity you were a step too late, and someone burned it to the ground. I wonder if any clues were found regarding the arsonist?"
Compared to the massacre of Fangwai Temple, the chaos at Baoshen Pavilion seemed hardly worth mentioning.
However, those in the know clearly did not think so. Although Baoshen Pavilion was merely a gathering place for the lower rungs of the martial world, Yuan Shuqing’s copper chest at the time was anything but simple, and the contents within were even more thought-provoking. Thus, as soon as Di Mo spoke, the ears of many present perked up in unison.
Yet, Duan Yu Jun seemed to have anticipated that everyone was waiting for this free information. After a moment of deliberation, he still chose to avoid the topic.
"To be honest with the Manor Lord, I was previously occupied with another important case. The matter of Baoshen Pavilion has been handled entirely by the Prefectural Governor’s office. I have not followed the details."
The conversation was pushed back once again. Di Mo nodded, appearing to show understanding.
"Duan Yu Jun is busy with official duties and truly cannot be in two places at once. However, Baoshen Pavilion is considered a place of the martial world. Since something happened, the Manor naturally cannot sit idly by. I sent men to investigate secretly a while ago, and we did indeed gain something."
He turned and gestured. A disciple of the Manor, who had been waiting at the side, stepped forward quickly and presented a fox mask charred black by fire.
Most of the mask had been destroyed in the blaze. The remaining half, after being cleaned by specialists, had the texture of a broken ceramic shard, making its edges even clearer. On the inner side of the mask, a double-knot pattern was clearly visible.
Wang Xiao, being the closest, peered at it and whispered, "This mark... could it be the Chuanliu Courtyard?"
Wang Xiao’s words echoed in the grotto, stirring a thousand waves among the crowd. Qin Jiuye’s heart also tightened upon hearing this.
Earlier, when Qiu Ling had mentioned the Chuanliu Courtyard to her, she had a premonition. If Qiu Ling could find the person behind Baoshen Pavilion, then Manor Lord Di Mo would certainly not be ignorant of it. She just hadn't expected him to bring it up publicly, and that he had actually investigated it thoroughly in private. This inevitably added to her worries about Li Qiao’s future situation.
But everything was already set. Di Mo’s voice rang out eerily once more.
"Correct. The culprit who burned down Baoshen Pavilion is none other than the Master of the Chuanliu Courtyard. This person not only secretly supported Baoshen Pavilion to amass wealth but also used this underground market to spy on the privacy of those who entered, listening for their news. They then privately colluded with fierce bandits and treacherous merchants, using despicable means to harm many righteous figures of the martial forest. After seizing their treasures, they turned around and sold them at high prices in Baoshen Pavilion. Their misdeeds are numerous and beyond description."
As Di Mo finished speaking, the half-charred mask in his hand fell to the ground. Simultaneously, as if some invisible command in the air had been triggered, angry denunciations rose one after another, every word directed at the "unpardonable" Chuanliu Courtyard.
Qin Jiuye kept her mouth tightly shut.
She didn't know about other things, but she knew that the merchants who frequented Baoshen Pavilion were no fools. If everything were truly as dangerous as Di Mo claimed, the vendors of Qingyang Market would never have set foot in that pavilion.
Perhaps the most important part of today’s "grand play" was to find a target. A target for Fangwai Temple to vent its fury upon, while simultaneously demonstrating the justice and majesty of the Peerless Manor, and allowing Di Mo to quietly suppress his opposition.
Attributing the various tragedies of the Qingping Road massacre to this was undoubtedly a brilliant move that killed three birds with one stone.
But Qin Jiuye felt that, besides this, the move would bring another hidden result. Once the crimes of the Chuanliu Courtyard were solidified, the Qingping Road bloodbath would be settled once and for all. The focus thereafter would fall on crusading against the Chuanliu Courtyard, and no one would have a reason to pursue the missing copper chest of Yuan Shuqing or its contents.
If that were truly the case, the Peerless Manor likely did not want the people of the martial world to investigate the secrets of that formula. Yet, when she was on the Qiushan Sect’s boat, the fragments of information Wang Xiao let slip clearly suggested that someone had already leaked word of the formula and pointed it directly toward this Opening Ceremony.
Whether Di Mo had these intentions, Qin Jiuye could not be certain. But she had to layer this suspicion upon him, simply because she felt an almost instinctive wariness toward this man—the same feeling she got when encountering a snake in the mountains.
"In that case, I did indeed enter Baoshen Pavilion in search of my adoptive father’s belongings. If everything is as the Manor Lord says, then is it not highly likely that my adoptive father and fellow disciples were also secretly harmed by the Chuanliu Courtyard and died without cause?"
Yuan Qi’s voice rang out at the right moment, laced with a hint of shock and uncertainty, his emotions perfectly measured.
"I have one thing I do not understand; I ask the Manor Lord to enlighten me." Wang Xiao did not look at Yuan Qi, only speaking his views in a deep voice. "After the incident, to clear my suspicion, I gathered the disciples of my sect along with the forces of the Minshan and Lingxiao sects to investigate Qingping Road. We found that the corpses there were all killed by someone with superlative saber skills, and there were faint traces to be found, enough to discern the profound essence of the Blue Saber techniques. I wonder if the Chuanliu Courtyard, which controls Baoshen Pavilion, possesses such skill?"
As soon as he said this, the surroundings fell into an uproar.
That the Qingwu Saber would appear tonight was a fact everyone tacitly understood, but that Li Qingdao himself might be making a comeback was something no one had expected.
Furthermore, Wang Xiao’s attitude was quite intriguing. Even the victim, Yuan Qi, had splashed the dirty water elsewhere, so why was Wang Xiao suddenly being so stubborn? Was he afraid the Qiushan Sect would clear its name too easily? Or had the Qiushan Sect also seen through something, smelled the scent of a conspiracy, and refused to simply follow Di Mo’s wishes?
Qin Jiuye, watching intently, was also somewhat surprised.
The theory that the Qingping Road bloodbath was related to the Blue Saber was not something she was hearing for the first time. Previously, at the Hall of Listening Winds, Tang Shenyan had also mentioned it unintentionally. But at that time, she had no idea of Li Qiao’s true identity, so she hadn't thought much of it. Hearing it now from Wang Xiao’s own mouth, her heart couldn't help but pound.
Was that youth and the Blue Saber truly the same person? But based on the timeline of the Blue Saber’s retirement from the martial world, Li Qiao’s age didn't seem to match up...
"This matter is not difficult to judge. I believe what First Seat Wang says, I believe what Guanzhu Yuan says, and I believe even more in the evidence found by my Manor’s people. If what all three parties say is true, then there is only one possibility."
Di Mo’s voice rose again, seemingly about to give the answer everyone had long awaited.
"I have heard that those gathered in the Chuanliu Courtyard are descendants of the fallen state of Juchao, a group of ambitious people harboring resentment and hatred. As for whether there are saber masters among them, I cannot confirm. However..." Di Mo pondered for a moment, seemingly weighing his next words, before saying with a sigh, "...I do have some understanding of the Master of the Chuanliu Courtyard. That person is likely the former Shadow Envoy, Sun Yan, who defected from my Manor."
The grotto fell instantly silent. Di Mo intentionally let this silence spread for a moment before continuing.
"Back then, this person could enter and leave the Dongzhu Pavilion, where the Manor’s secret martial arts manuals are kept, in his capacity as a Shadow Envoy. If the opportunity arose, it would not be impossible for him to comprehend the Blue Saber techniques. However, his heart was not in the right place. He eventually fell into madness due to practicing the Manor’s forbidden arts and committed heinous crimes. The Manor also suffered heavy losses in the attempt to bring him to justice. Unfortunately, his remains were never found, and we failed to eradicate the evil entirely. This matter began because of the Manor, and a single lapse in judgment on my part buried this hidden danger. I am to blame. Today, thanks to the words of Duan Yu Jun and the others, I have been enlightened. But it is too late for regrets. I ask you all to please impose punishment upon me to show fairness."
With a few words, he had carved out an image of himself as a man who had been betrayed after trusting sincerely, and who had painfully severed ties to destroy a relative for the sake of justice. And while Qiu Ling had clearly not uttered a single word regarding the Qingping Road case, he was repeatedly dragged into the matter by Di Mo, which was quite telling.
Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, countless ambiguous gazes fell upon Qiu Ling once again.
The Xiangliang Dynasty valued literature over martial arts. The reason Qingzhong Mountain Academy held such a high status was that it focused solely on the books of sages and did not concern itself with military or martial affairs. Because of this, the Academy had only ever produced two students who practiced both literature and martial arts and made a name for themselves in both. One was naturally the Duan Yu Jun currently being placed on the spot, while the other was rarely mentioned anymore—the very Sun Yan Di Mo had just named.
Only back then, few people knew that Sun Yan was actually that capable and ruthless Shadow Envoy of the Peerless Manor. They only thought he was a man of crooked heart who played with power, leading to his downfall at the hands of both the imperial court and the martial world.
*Yan* means beautiful jade.
With "Fine Jade" (Yan) before and "Jade-Breaker" (Duan Yu) after, no one had thought much of it when they weren't mentioned together. They only thought the name "Duan Yu" was taken from the phrase "Kun Saber cuts jade," which gave enough face to Kunxu and suited the conduct of the Qiu family’s eldest son perfectly. But now, the association was meaningful. Whether the Academy had intended to signify "cutting off the past" and "planting a better tree" when they bestowed the name upon Qiu Ling was something only those involved would know.
The crowd’s thoughts were a whirlwind, but the grotto was only silent for a short while. Soon, "righteous" voices spoke up with heated indignation.
"How can the Manor Lord take all the blame upon himself for that villain’s actions? The Chuanliu Courtyard has harbored evil intentions for a long time and habitually wanders the fringes of the martial world. If they wanted to secretly cause trouble or oppose the Manor, it would be impossible to guard against. The Manor Lord did not hide this matter to avoid suspicion but chose to make the truth public—that is where true justice lies!"
The one speaking seemed to be the Hall Master of the Youyou Hall. This person had not appeared on the first night to participate in the moonlit fraud, but he had made quite a splash in the "Ringing Gold and Striking Jade" competition on the second day, so Qin Jiuye had some impression of him.
"Such demonic and crooked paths should be punished by everyone. The Manor Lord painstakingly established the Manor not for his own sake, but solely for this martial world. How can he be compared to them?"
If Qin Jiuye’s guess was somewhat vague when the Youyou Hall Master spoke, she was seventy to eighty percent certain once she heard the person from the Tiantong Sect speak.
Those two who were so eager to speak were Di Mo’s confidants, or rather, his eyes and ears planted within the martial world. Although they usually claimed to be independent sects, they were in fact merely "godsons" adopted by the Peerless Manor. They usually remained hidden, waiting only for the critical moment to charge into battle and guide the direction for their "father."
Now, another member was added to this camp—the Fangwai Temple, which had just shown its loyalty.
Before Yuan Qi’s words of agreement could even land, other clever people quickly followed suit, fearing they would fall half a step behind and fail to show their loyalty, only to have some handle used against them later.
A person can use force to conquer another, but the moment they choose to sell themselves to power, they are destined to face the day they are abandoned by that power. Watching the play reach this point, Qin Jiuye felt that these posturing martial artists were perhaps not worth fearing from the bottom of her heart.
Just then, amidst the noisy clamor of voices, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out.
"Speaking of which, I recall something." Zhu Fuxue’s gaze swept over the people of Fangwai Temple before she continued slowly, "I have heard that the Chuanliu Courtyard is particularly skilled in the art of hiding in the marketplace and changing their appearance. I shall take the liberty of offering a suggestion: I wonder if Guanzhu Yuan has thoroughly investigated his own fellow Daoists and disciples since that incident? As the saying goes, an open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. Perhaps the trouble originated from within your own ranks."
Qin Jiuye wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she seemed to see a momentary freeze on Yuan Qi’s face. However, he quickly followed Zhu Fuxue’s lead.
"Now that you mention it, there is indeed something strange."
As Yuan Qi spoke, he slowly turned his gaze toward the person standing beside him.
"May I ask Daoist Yin Huaizhang—when my adoptive father decided to personally lead the team to the Qiushan Sect to seek peace, he said he wanted you to support him. But you claimed illness and did not come out on the morning of the departure. Is that a fact? After the Qingping Road incident, I was exhausted and coughed up blood, falling unconscious; you were also the first to lead people to the scene. Seeing that my adoptive father trusted you in life, I never harbored any suspicion toward your reports. Now that I think about it..."
Qin Jiuye squinted and watched for a moment, finally recognizing that Yin Huaizhang was the sword-bearing Daoist who had stood by Yuan Qi’s bedside when she boarded the boat to examine him.
Poor Yin Huaizhang had stepped onto Qionghu Island with the heart to stand together with Fangwai Temple and seek justice. He never expected that the one waiting to be thrown into the pot would be himself. He was frozen in place, unable to even speak words of defense for a moment, merely staring with wide eyes at Yuan Qi.
Yuan Qi did not look at him. From beginning to end, his body was turned toward the masked man, who remained silent for a long while before speaking eerily.
"No one understands the pain of being betrayed by one’s own people better than I. However, if a festering sore is not removed early, it will eventually erode the bone and rot the entire body. The future of Fangwai Temple depends on Guanzhu Yuan’s decision."
There was a brief silence in the grotto. A moment later, Yuan Qi slowly spoke to Yin Huaizhang.
"Can you prove your innocence?"
Yuan Qi’s question seemed to be giving his own man a chance, but anyone with clear eyes could see that he had already made his choice, intending to sacrifice a limb.
The burning emotions in Yin Huaizhang’s eyes gradually cooled because of this single sentence. He knelt on one knee, performing the grand salute of a Fangwai Temple disciple, and said with a trembling voice.
"I entered the sect at the age of seven and followed the old Guanzhu for thirty-six years. My hard work is known to heaven and earth; my loyalty can be witnessed by the sun and moon! The blood feud of Fangwai Temple has not been settled, yet the Guanzhu now wants to point his sword at his own people. Have you thought of the old Guanzhu’s soul in heaven? Have you thought of the innocent Daoists of Fangwai Temple who died in vain?!"
He paused several times while speaking, his emotions so turbulent he could hardly speak. After finishing the last sentence, he looked like a man exhausted after a great battle, clearly drained of strength by grief and fury.
At this moment, even though this man had previously held a sword to her throat to threaten her into treating Yuan Qi, Qin Jiuye had to admit she believed seventy to eighty percent of his loyalty.
However, while she thought so, Yuan Qi seemed completely unmoved. He merely cast a cold glance at the kneeling figure and spoke the conclusion he had prepared in his heart long ago.
"My adoptive father was my adoptive father, and I am I. Now, I am the master of Fangwai Temple. Since you cannot prove your innocence and you rely on your seniority, I can only hand you over to the Manor Lord for disposal. If you have nothing to do with the Chuanliu Courtyard, the Manor will surely investigate and return your innocence."
As soon as Yuan Qi said this, the last trace of sound from the kneeling Yin Huaizhang vanished.
The reputation of the Peerless Manor regarding interrogations was clearly even worse than that of Lord Fan’s Prefectural Governor’s office. He understood that once he left Fangwai Temple, he would enter a state worse than death. By then, the result would no longer matter, and he likely wouldn't even be able to seek death.
The last glimmer of light faded from his eyes. Yin Huaizhang finally stopped looking at Yuan Qi and instead raised his neck to look upward, as if wanting to have a sorrowful and indignant conversation with Yuan Shuqing’s soul in heaven.
However, this grotto blocked the sky and the moon. He could see nothing but darkness.
"...Good, good, good! Since things have come to this, why should the Manor Lord bother? This heart of loyalty—take it!"
As Yin Huaizhang’s words landed, the long sword at his waist unsheathed. A cold light flashed within the cave, and in the next moment, the sword was buried deep in his chest.
The heavy thud of a body falling echoed endlessly, followed by a deathly silence. The vast grotto was so quiet one could almost hear the sound of blood flowing from the corpse, yet not a single person’s breathing could be heard.
The air was filled with the scent of blood and trembling.
Finally, the masked man nodded with satisfaction.
"Guanzhu Yuan is young, but he is decisive in action. He will surely be of great use in the future. Fangwai Temple has suffered this tragedy and its vitality is greatly damaged; the sect’s reorganization will also require manpower. I am willing to dispatch Manor disciples to be at Guanzhu Yuan’s disposal. I ask that Guanzhu Yuan does not refuse."
Yuan Qi bowed in salute. His entire person had changed from his previous pale weakness; even his voice seemed to have gained substance.
"Yuan Qi thanks the Manor Lord for his divine grace!"
Di Mo gave a virtual lift, signaling Yuan Qi to rise, while he himself turned toward the saber in the stone niche. His voice held a hint of perfectly timed hesitation.
"As for this Qingwu Saber..."
His voice had barely paused when a keen-scented hound spoke up at the right time.
"I believe that since the entire Fangwai Temple died under these Blue Saber techniques, it would indeed be inappropriate to use this saber as a reward. I urge the Manor Lord to retract the order to bestow the saber."
As soon as one person’s words landed, another immediately echoed them.
"I heard that Li Qingdao was arrogant and bloodthirsty back then, showing no mercy in duels and not even asking for names when taking lives. He made many enemies in the martial world. Surely this Qingwu Saber is also heavily laden with baleful energy; it is truly inauspicious and should be returned to the Manor for proper disposal."
If the previous person was merely being high-sounding, then this echo was the height of hypocrisy.
What was the martial world? It was a world formed by the fusion of iron and blood. Once you entered it, there would be grudges and life-and-death stakes. Who among the people of the martial world dared to say they were entirely innocent? Who could withstand a so-called judgment of right and wrong? Even if everyone in this grotto were added together, not one such person could be found. What right did such a group have to "sentence" a weapon?
Perhaps those who spoke did not fail to understand this. They were merely another set of vocal cords beneath Di Mo’s mask.
Across a distance of a hundred paces and the shifting figures of hundreds of people, Qin Jiuye suddenly felt she had seen through the true purpose hidden beneath the Manor Lord’s mask.
If Li Qingdao were truly the flamboyant and unrestrained genius saber-user Tang Xiao had described, he would never have retired from the martial world in his prime to find a mountain gully to grow old in. Such a person had been missing for many years without a word; those with clear minds already knew he was likely dead in some wilderness.
But tacit understanding was different from being called out in public. It was like a kite that had flown away with a broken string; when you didn't see it fall, you thought it was just free, perhaps wandering somewhere in the sky. But once you saw it fall from the clouds, shattered and unrecognizable, all former illusions and beautiful expectations would vanish like bubbles.
Qin Jiuye felt that Di Mo had never intended to give the Qingwu Saber as a reward from the start. He merely used Li Qingdao’s name to build momentum, then knocked him from the clouds to demonstrate his own power.
When a person’s physical body is destroyed, they are not yet completely gone, because their deeds remain, their spirit remains, and those who follow and admire them remain.
But tonight, her saber had become a prize for this Opening Ceremony, turned into a piece of common iron under the admiring gazes of the crowd. The "rising stars" who wanted to obtain it would not treat it with sincerity; they would only use it as a stepping stone to join the first-rate ranks of the martial world, never to be thought of again once they had stepped over it. And now, when her saber techniques had also become a murderous method for inciting sectarian strife, she had changed from an unkillable spiritual existence into a debt of crime that could be judged and sentenced.
If the Blue Saber in the folk legends and plays was a swan song, then the Blue Saber at tonight’s Opening Ceremony was death in the truest sense.
What kind of grudge must exist between people for someone to feel that death alone is not enough, that one must be destroyed spiritually for it to be considered an end?
Or perhaps no grudge was needed at all; that unscrupulous Manor Lord could do such a thing regardless. He chose to do all this simply because he needed to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys every once in a while, to integrate the various forces of the martial world and nip any rebellious sprouts in the bud before they could break the soil. The existence of the Blue Saber just happened to fit his needs.
Even the entire martial world was merely a walnut he held in his hand to play with, rubbing it from time to time and occasionally holding it up to the sunlight to check its luster. As time passed, the walnut became smoother and brighter, long forgetting what kind of sharp-edged, unyielding appearance it originally had.
Whether Di Mo, the Lord of the Peerless Manor hiding behind the mask, was ugly or beautiful, Qin Jiuye couldn't tell. But she was certain that the soul within that shell was a thorough puppeteer and control freak.
Seeing that all the groundwork was complete, Di Mo finally, slowly, struck the final note.
"What you all say is reasonable. Since the Blue Saber has entered the demonic path, this weapon is also extremely vicious. It should only be hung quietly as a warning and is not suitable to be worn. Xie Xiu of the Qiushan Sect won the Ringing Gold competition; he possesses a noble character and the quality of unpolished jade. He naturally deserves another reward." As he spoke, he took something from his person and held it high. "This object is my Manor’s Lotus Token. With this token, one may enter and leave the Dongzhu Pavilion day or night to study the martial arts techniques and moves within. No one shall obstruct you."
The eyes of Xie Xiu from the Qiushan Sect lit up instantly, and his entire body trembled slightly with excitement.
Not just him—the young disciples of various sects who were watching all became restless in unison. Gazes of surprise, envy, and jealousy focused on Xie Xiu in an instant, making the latter feel even more proud and ecstatic.
He was a sword cultivator to begin with; the Qingwu Saber was not of much help to him and was merely a hollow title. Moreover, it was something someone else had used, and Li Qingdao’s end was unfortunate; no matter how famous it was, it would inevitably cause some discomfort. It was far less beneficial than the martial arts of a hundred schools.
Thinking of this, he hurriedly straightened his sleeves and appearance, performed a grand salute, and bowed down in an extremely respectful posture, raising his arms high above his head and saying loudly.
"Many thanks to the Manor Lord! I, Xie, have received this great honor and will surely defend the righteous path and serve the martial forest, living up to the Manor Lord’s high expectations in bestowing the saber!"
Di Mo did not make a sound, merely slowly bestowing the Lotus Token upon Xie Xiu.
His movements were very slow, seemingly intended to highlight this moment worth celebrating and remembering. Qin Jiuye, however, felt that the face hidden behind the mask must be wearing a smug smile.
All of this was for the Qiushan Sect to see, and for the entire martial world to see.
If the previous slaughter and suppression directed at the Chuanliu Courtyard were to warn everyone that he would never tolerate those who defied him, then now he wanted everyone to understand: as long as he wished, he could also bestow grace at any time.
Xie Xiu likely hadn't shown such reverence even to his own master, yet now his back was bent by a light wooden token, looking exactly like a dog wagging its tail for food.
Qin Jiuye’s gaze shifted slightly. Sure enough, she saw that the Qiushan Sect Leader’s face held not a trace of joy. Two deep wrinkles were pulled at the corners of his mouth, and his brow was filled with unspeakable sorrow and bitterness. The old foxes standing at the head of each sect also appeared somewhat silent.
It was no wonder they reacted this way. Even an outsider like her could see the mystery within.
Where was this Lord of the Peerless Manor rewarding the rising stars of the martial forest? He was clearly using the name of "Opening" to pluck the best sprouts.
The great achievements of the world’s techniques all come from purity, not breadth.
Xie Xiu, who had won the competition, was the most promising disciple of the younger generation in the Qiushan Sect. He practiced his own sect’s techniques. To ensure the purity of the techniques, from the time he first touched the basics at age three or four to his current state of enlightenment, he relied on one part talent and nine parts persistence, requiring a focused mind that did not covet more. Now, with a few words and a Lotus Token, Di Mo had shattered the original heart this man had guarded for years. In the future, once he entered the Manor, he would be like a small boat entering the sea; the more eager he was for quick success and more gains, the more likely he was to lose himself. In the end, not only would he fail to master the techniques of a hundred schools, but even his own sect’s techniques would be lost.
A successor whom a sect had poured everything into and spent years cultivating was about to head toward destruction in this beautiful and warm atmosphere. The Qiushan Sect Leader clearly understood this in his heart; his already pale face had turned completely ashen, and his whole person looked as if his essence had been drained overnight, leaving only an aging shell.
But his beloved disciple was entirely unaware, his eyes always greedily watching the Lotus Token in his hand, as if seeing his own glorious and dazzling future.
He held the Lotus Token high, taking the lead in offering his oath.
"The Manor Lord is wise, eradicating demons and defending the Dao! We are willing to follow, to jointly build a golden age for the martial forest!"
The lotus was originally a noble thing, often used to suppress evil and cleanse turbid air. Now, it had become a symbol of suppressing dissent and monopolizing power. The more exquisitely and delicately the lotus petals were carved, the more particularly piercing and ridiculous the token appeared.
Voices declaring oaths and professing loyalty rose one after another in the grotto, becoming noisy due to the echoes, like a colony of bats fluttering their wings, ready to swarm out.
Qin Jiuye’s gaze swept over those young and longing faces one by one. She suddenly felt that even if Li Qingdao were still alive, it was normal that he couldn't find a disciple. After all, this younger generation of the martial world looked bright and beautiful on the outside, but their insides were already rotten beyond repair.
If Qionghu Island were a giant medicine pot for brewing medicine, these various people of the martial world were the medicinal ingredients Di Mo had weighed one by one on his scale. After careful selection, they were sealed in one place, allowed to press against each other and boil together, eventually squeezing out a few drops of essence to be fed into that insatiable lesion. The rest would sooner or later become dregs, with not even a complete corpse to be found.
Qin Jiuye slowly lowered her gaze, no longer wanting to look at that grand yet hypocritical revelry.
From the first day beneath the stone boat, she had vaguely sensed that this martial world carried a sickly air. Now, the deeper she went, the more certain she was of her intuition as a physician.
This half-dead martial world was seriously ill. And the largest lesion being nourished within was the very hand holding the medicine pot—the Peerless Manor.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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川流院 | Chuanliu Courtyard | A mysterious organization linked to the Baoshen Pavilion.
影使 | Shadow Envoy | A high-ranking operative or agent of the Peerless Manor.
孙琰 | Sun Yan | A former Shadow Envoy and student of Qingzhong Mountain Academy.
东祝阁 | Dongzhu Pavilion | The library/archive of the Peerless Manor containing secret techniques.
莲符 | Lotus Token | A special pass allowing access to the Dongzhu Pavilion.
青芜刀 | Qingwu Saber | The legendary saber of Li Qingdao, also known as the "Green Overgrowth" saber.
