Chapter 78: A Betrayal That Crushes the Soul

When it came to selecting the new sect master, there was little real dispute. With Sun Yougong’s disciples from Wan Tide Peak excluded and the Nascent Soul cultivators of Brocade Peak almost completely wiped out, and with Ying Qi of Winter’s End Peak still too junior in standing, all eyes fell upon Mu Fengshan, the master of Incense Peak. Mu Fengshan was of high seniority, had held the position of peak master for centuries, and was deeply respected by the wood-aligned disciples. He himself was a formidable Nascent Soul cultivator. If there was any regret, it lay with the water-aligned cultivators, who found it unsettling that for the first time in generations, the sect master would not be of the water element.

Among the water-aligned elders, only Shui Zongming could match Mu Fengshan’s stature, but unfortunately, Elder Shui had left with Jing Baixi to the Demon Refining Prison and had yet to return. At this crucial moment, he was absent from the sect.

He had no direct disciples of his own. Wen Chuiyang, Ling Xuzi’s eldest disciple, tried to advocate for his own master, but just as he began to suggest, “No one knows where the sect master’s hereditary jade slip has gone. Perhaps we should wait for Elder Shui’s return to discuss this further,” he was interrupted, much to his helplessness, by none other than Ying Qi, the peak master of Winter’s End Peak.

“No one knows when Elder Shui will return. With such turmoil in the sect, someone must take charge. As for the hereditary jade slip, it must be found in due time. But surely, whoever finds the jade slip cannot simply be made sect master on that basis.”

Wen Chuiyang wanted to protest further, but his junior, Jing Li, quietly tugged at him and advised, “Senior Brother, let it be for now. Many disciples are still cultivating in the secret realm, and it will soon be time to open it. Such an important matter can’t go without someone presiding over it. In my view, we should have Uncle Mu act as temporary sect master, and once the jade slip is found, we can reassess.”

Wen Chuiyang fell silent. Only now did he remember that most of the hundred Foundation Establishment disciples in the sect’s secret realm were from their own Crimson Wheel and Brocade Peaks. No wonder Mu Fengshan’s ascension to sect master seemed so unanimously supported.

Through the eyes of her senior brother Ding Chunxue, Hong Jian watched Mu Fengshan’s barely concealed satisfaction and saw the unwillingness on the faces of her own master and senior uncles. Dai Mingchi and Master Gong Da, on the other hand, seemed quite pleased with the outcome. Dai Mingchi even said, “Sun Yougong’s body is destroyed and his Nascent Soul cannot have gone far. The Northern Prison is searching the seas with all their might. Should any news of your sect’s hereditary jade slip arise, you will be informed at once.”

She glanced at Chen Zaizhi in confusion. Was all this murder and framing, all this venomous intrigue, simply to put Mu Fengshan on the sect master’s seat?

Chen Zaizhi could not make sense of it either. If, as the grandmaster had feared, the target was Danya Sect itself, then with Mu Fengshan as the new head, the lineage would at least remain unbroken. Was everyone mistaken? Was it something precious on Elder Jin or the sect master that drew such covetousness?

Hong Jian returned the “Flowing Water’s Melody” to Chen Zaizhi. Not long after, Chen Zaizhi reported that Dai Mingchi, Master Gong Da, and their party had left the Hall of Huahua. Mu Fengshan and the other elders resolved not to mourn for now, but to focus on finding the hereditary jade slip, while those of Wan Tide Peak were ordered to return to their quarters and enter seclusion.

This “seclusion” sounded pleasant, but in reality, it was just a form of covert house arrest, awaiting interrogation one by one.

The cultivators of Wan Tide Peak, weak in influence, could only resign themselves to this injustice, save for a few like Huo Chuanxing and Yan Changqing, who showed true worry. Most felt that their old peak master had been wronged, and that they themselves suffered unjustly by association, but the innocent need not fear; someday, the truth would come to light.

Ding Chunxue, following orders, returned to Wan Tide Peak for seclusion. Throughout, he never had the chance to even exchange a few words with his master or senior uncles, only quietly sending word to Chen Zaizhi, telling him and Hong Jian to stay out of sight for now. Clearly, Ding Chunxue, too, sensed something sinister beneath the surface calm.

Hong Jian was worried about her younger brother, Fang Zheng. She did not know if he had gone into hiding at Jinbo Court, and her continued absence would surely cause him much anxiety. Yet leaving him there indefinitely was no solution either.

She sat across from Chen Zaizhi, both troubled, uncertain whether to remain hidden or not. But keeping too far away would not do either, so they lingered within reach, hoping for some breakthrough from Ding Chunxue.

By now, Chen Zaizhi was used to consulting Hong Jian on all matters. Calming himself, he voiced his doubts, “Those murderers just left like that?”

“If they have not retreated for now to lay some deeper trap, then their evil purpose must have already been achieved,” Hong Jian said bitterly, plucking at the tender leaves of a nearby tree until a small pile had gathered before her, only to be swept away by the wind. She tilted her head and muttered, “...But what was their purpose?”

The next evening, Ding Chunxue, still at Wan Tide Peak, made contact of his own accord, clearly signifying some new development.

Chen Zaizhi, anxious with waiting, hurriedly cast his spell to link their sights. Through his senior brother’s eyes, he saw Ding Chunxue being questioned by a wood-aligned cultivator—a Jin Dan of Incense Peak named Fei Chengji, whom Hong Jian happened to recognize.

It seemed Fei Chengji had learned from others that Sun Yougong had valued Ding Chunxue highly, and that the latter had been absent from the sect when the incident occurred.

In Fei Chengji’s view, if there were any demonic remnants in the sect, Ding Chunxue was a prime suspect. Thus, his interrogation was exhaustive, from how often Ding Chunxue met with Sun Yougong and what they discussed, to the peak master’s usual preferences, and whether anything unusual had happened before and after Jing Baixi’s misfortune. Again and again, Fei Chengji pressed the same lines, clearly looking for inconsistencies in Ding Chunxue’s responses.

A long time passed. Midway, Chen Zaizhi’s spiritual power began to flag, so Hong Jian took over the “Flowing Water’s Melody,” listening until her anger nearly burst.

At last, Fei Chengji asked about what happened after Ding Chunxue had gone out to sea that day and why Chen Zaizhi, who had left with him, had not returned to the sect and had since vanished.

By now, Ding Chunxue was clearly angry as well. At this point, there was no longer any reason to speak truthfully, so he lied, saying, “Uncle Fei, after going out to sea, Junior Brother Zaizhi and I went south to cultivate and met two cultivators from South Screen Island. When they learned that Junior Brother Zaizhi was the nephew of their matron, Mistress Ying, they invited him to the island as a guest. If you doubt me, wait until Mistress Ying brings him back to the sect and you can ask for yourself.”

Perhaps Chen Yingjiang and Fei Chengji had some old grudge from her time at Danya Sect, for Hong Jian only heard Fei Chengji snort coldly and say no more.

Apart from this, Ding Chunxue had nothing to fear from Fei Chengji’s questioning. When Fei Chengji finally asked about Hong Jian, Ding Chunxue feigned ignorance, and Fei Chengji left with nothing.

Because Ding Chunxue had half of the “Flowing Water’s Melody” with him, Hong Jian could not see his expression, but she hardly needed to. If Fei Chengji’s attitude represented Mu Fengshan’s, it was deeply disappointing.

The situation had now evolved into utter confusion for Hong Jian and Chen Zaizhi. What were they to do next?

The three days of the Azure Cloud Festival passed in the blink of an eye, and it was time for the sect’s secret realm to be opened. The two young people dared not approach the sect, so they could not witness the unlocking of the secret realm. Judging by the height of the rising sun, they guessed Mu Fengshan and the others must be there in person. At that moment, “Flowing Water’s Melody” suddenly stirred.

“Uncle Wen, Master,” Ding Chunxue’s voice sounded first in Chen Zaizhi’s mind.

Chen Zaizhi froze. These forms of address—was his senior brother speaking with Master Yan Changqing?

But the next voice was not Yan Changqing’s. “Chunxue, I know your character best. Uncle Mu is busy with the secret realm today, so Senior Brother Wen and I came to check on everyone. When he is free, we’ll go discuss things with him. There are too many doubts about what happened between your master and Senior Sun and the matter on Wan Tide Peak cannot be dragged out any longer. It needs a swift resolution.”

Only then did Chen Zaizhi realize that the visitors were the two senior uncles from Crimson Wheel Peak, Wen Chuiyang and Jing Li.

At that moment, through Ding Chunxue’s vision, Chen Zaizhi saw the two men before him—Ling Xuzi’s disciples, Wen Chuiyang and Jing Li. The one who had spoken was Jing Li, who had taught Ding Chunxue during his Qi Refining years—hence the “Master.”

A sudden thought struck Chen Zaizhi: “Rather than struggling alone, why not tell Uncle Wen and the others the truth?”

He looked up to consult Hong Jian. She had already drawn near upon learning that Uncle Wen and the others were seeing Senior Brother. Understanding Chen Zaizhi’s meaning, she nodded.

Chen Zaizhi’s trust was simple, but Hong Jian’s thinking was more calculating. In her mind, even if Uncle Wen and Jing Li did not dare oppose Dai Mingchi openly to avenge their master, they surely could not stomach the suppression of the three great water-aligned peaks, nor allow Mu Fengshan to have his way.

Though of one mind, neither dared interfere with Senior Brother’s decision. But Ding Chunxue evidently had come to the same conclusion. After a moment’s silence, he suddenly said, “Uncle Wen, my grandmaster had no dealings with demonic cultivators. He and the sect master both fell to the treachery of the Talisman Sect…”

Wen Chuiyang’s face showed shock, while Jing Li hastily waved his hand, and at once the “Flowing Water’s Melody” in Chen Zaizhi’s hand fell silent.

Chen Zaizhi looked up in alarm. “Uncle Jing cast a sealing spell—the connection has been cut.”

Senior Brother had just reached the heart of the matter, and Chen Zaizhi was desperate to know Wen Chuiyang and Jing Li’s reactions on hearing the truth.

Hong Jian quickly took the “Flowing Water’s Melody” and tried to reestablish contact, but there was no response from Ding Chunxue. Previously, Ding Chunxue’s own spells could not block the device, but Jing Li’s had no such limitation.

Hong Jian poured more and more spiritual power into the instrument, growing increasingly anxious, comforting both Chen Zaizhi and herself: “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine in a moment, Uncle Jing is only being cautious…”

Just then, Hong Jian felt a violent surge of magical energy from the “Flowing Water’s Melody,” causing the artifact to tremble.

In an instant, the two separated spaces connected. Ding Chunxue’s anxious, hoarse voice came through first: “Jing Li has killed Uncle Wen—cut the connection! Don’t return to the sect—run! Hurry—!”

His panicked voice was abruptly cut off, and in Hong Jian’s mind appeared the face of Uncle Jing Li, his treacherous scheme achieved.