Chapter 225: Powerful Shopkeeper

Duan Fei asked, “What exactly did you do?”

The cook took a deep breath and began, “Six years ago, the six of us brothers were full of youthful ambition, plundering everywhere, committing all sorts of evil. However, we always knew our limits and never provoked those we couldn’t afford to offend. So, despite our many crimes, the authorities never took it too seriously, and no top martial sects in the jianghu pursued us.

But then, one day, as we passed through a small village, we saw a merchant caravan. Seeing they were just ordinary merchants, not bearing the flag of any renowned sect, we attacked and robbed them.

To our absolute shock, that seemingly unassuming caravan was transporting official silver and military weapons. We instantly realized we were in grave trouble. We didn’t know why military payroll and supplies would be escorted by a regular merchant caravan, but we knew we were in monumental difficulty.

We immediately destroyed all evidence on the spot, taking everything with us to create the illusion that the original escorts had embezzled the goods themselves. We didn’t dare to touch any of those items; we hid them all deep within the mountains. We stayed in the mountains for over a year, rarely descending except for occasional procurement.

During that year in the mountains, we ate an insane amount of meat and stopped practicing martial arts, allowing ourselves to get fat and completely change our appearance. We lived in constant trepidation. Eventually, to our surprise, the authorities never pursued the matter; there was no movement whatsoever.

We didn’t know why, but we breathed a sigh of relief, knowing our lives were safe. However, we dared not take any more risks. We decided to change our names and live in seclusion, and so we’ve been living in this small county town for four years.”

Duan Fei said gravely, “Are you saying that the military supplies and payroll you robbed back then can still be found now?”

“Yes, we buried them very deep, they can definitely still be found.” The cook took another deep breath and said, “Lord Duan, we know we are doomed to die; we ask for nothing else but, in exchange for our cooperation, to be granted a swift death. Please spare us the agony of slow slicing!”

Duan Fei’s pupils contracted slightly. He said, “If what you say is true, I can petition the yamen for you to be spared slow slicing and instead be directly beheaded.”

“Thank you, my lord!” “Thank you, my lord!”

The cook and the accountant were once notorious bandits and deeply understood the Six Doors’ methods of torture. Now that they were captured, all they sought was a quick death.

Immediately, Duan Fei summoned his men and returned to the Six Doors’ centurion office with the bodies of the other four Huaihai Bandits and the two captives, the cook and the accountant.

Upon returning to the office, Duan Fei promptly issued an official letter to Gu Mo confirming Six Doors’ reception of wanted criminals. He didn’t delay at all, for as a member of Six Doors who often dealt with martial artists, he had naturally heard of Gu Mo’s eccentric obsession and ritualistic need for slaying and apprehending wanted criminals.

The moment Gu Mo received the official letter, a system prompt sounded in his mind:[Slay/Apprehend five-star wanted criminal][Receive five-star reward - Max-level Taixuan Sutra][Claim?]

At this moment, Gu Mo finally obtained the legendary immortal cultivation martial art.

The Taixuan Sutra, based on Li Bai’s five-character ancient poem “Xia Ke Xing,” contains twenty-four lines, each a unique martial art. It encompasses various techniques such as swordsmanship, lightness skill, fist arts, and internal cultivation, making it incredibly comprehensive.

The concept behind this martial art is profound; upon mastering it, one no longer needs to use internal energy or memorize specific moves. Actions become spontaneous and effortless, transcending ordinary martial arts.

Overall, its five-star rating isn’t necessarily because it’s inherently stronger than arts like Sizhao Divine Skill or Mingyu Skill. Its primary advantage lies in its extreme comprehensiveness. Upon grand mastery, it reaches a state of spontaneity and effortless perfection, untraceable yet unstoppable, capable of merging various true qi into a higher-dimensional “attribute-less primordial qi,” thereby breaking the limitations of martial arts forms.

Not long after, as if in a flash of thought, or as if countless years had passed with oceans turning into mulberry fields, when his consciousness returned to his body, he had already comprehended the full essence of the *Taixuan Sutra*, achieving instant mastery. At this moment, his martial arts realm gained another state of extraordinary transcendence.

Different martial arts possess different realms; there is no inherent hierarchy between them. For instance, Mingyu Skill’s “Formless Asura, Tendon-Changing Nirvana, Tranquil Dream Roaming” and Sizhao Divine Skill’s “Martial Saint Realm” are all powerful martial arts realms, but it’s difficult to determine which is superior, as it depends solely on the practitioner.

“Just one more, the Little Phaseless Skill!”

The six attributes of Primordial Return to Origin Qi’s多元归一 (multi-attribute unification) now only lacked the final converter, the Little Phaseless Skill. Gu Mo had already decided that once this current matter was over, he would use all his connections to find the whereabouts of the Blood Hand Zither Master.

That evening, Gu Chutong returned with Duan Fei, excitedly running to Gu Mo. “Brother, we really found it! We found many weapons and official silver in the mountains—tens of thousands of taels of silver, and hundreds of excellent steel blades and bows. It’s not a small sum. It’s really strange that such a huge matter has had no official investigation whatsoever!”

Gu Mo asked, “What did Qianhu Duan say?”

“He didn’t say anything,” Gu Chutong replied. “But his face was very pale. He forcefully demanded that everyone keep silent and specifically warned me not to speak of it. Brother, is this matter very serious? He seemed a little scared!”

Gu Mo nodded. “Extremely serious. In a way, it might even be more serious than the kidnapping of ten thousand children thirty years ago.”

“No way, right?” Gu Chutong asked, puzzled.

Gu Mo chuckled softly. “All military supplies are fixed and specially made. Military weapons are generally of the highest quality, far surpassing those used in the jianghu. Losing even one or two weapons is no small matter, let alone hundreds of weapons and tens of thousands of taels of military payroll in one go. That would be a world-shattering incident for any army unit. Yet, after all these years, there has been no movement whatsoever. Furthermore, under what circumstances would military supplies and payroll need to be escorted by an ordinary merchant caravan?”

Gu Chutong’s eyes lit up. “Brother, are you saying someone embezzled funds? Or created ghost soldiers?”

Gu Mo nodded. “Exactly. That’s why, despite losing so many weapons and so much payroll, the culprits dare not investigate it, and may even still be trying to cover it up. It’s because they absolutely cannot make it public. Such a massive amount of weapons and payroll could never be consumed by an ordinary person; it must be someone with immense power and influence. So, do you think Qianhu Duan wouldn’t be scared? If he doesn’t investigate, the matter has already been exposed. If he does, he might accidentally provoke a powerful figure who could crush him with a single finger!”

Lin Hai City, Prefect’s Office.

Prefect Pei Yuanzhen was engrossed in reviewing memorials in his study when a knock sounded at the door. It was his aide.

The aide entered, cupped his hands, and said, “Master, the matter has been clarified. Seven Fiends Pavilion acquired a large quantity of weapons—swords, basic blades, and many bows and arrows and armor—through various merchant guilds across different regions. Wang Mingxiu, in turn, used his authority within Six Doors to facilitate their passage.”

Pei Yuanzhen said gravely, “It is indeed as I suspected. Seven Fiends Pavilion has not abandoned their plan to raise an army from years ago. This time, they are acquiring weapons on such a massive scale; it seems they intend to act. Have you notified the Coastal Defense Army?”

The aide nodded. “I personally met with General Lin Jing of the Coastal Defense Army. He was quite surprised to learn that the deposed Crown Prince’s descendants might be raising an army and seemed somewhat disbelieving. However, after I handed him your secret letter, although he still harbored some doubts, he agreed to proceed with the plan. He will covertly follow, and once the hiding place of the deposed Crown Prince’s army is found, they will annihilate them in one fell swoop.”

Pei Yuanzhen asked, “You went to the Coastal Defense camp; you must have observed the army’s discipline. Do you have confidence?”

The aide nodded. “General Lin is skilled in training troops. He led the navy to victory in many major battles during the war with Chu. His army’s combat strength is naturally beyond reproach. I toured the camp; although I didn’t see many soldiers, every single one was spirited and well-trained.

As for the deposed Crown Prince’s army, they’ve been holed up on an island, at best impersonating pirates to rob merchants. They certainly can’t compare to General Lin’s regular army. Furthermore, the Coastal Defense Army uses the best weapons, while the deposed Crown Prince’s army is only now preparing weapons on a large scale, and these are all common martial arts weapons. They are even less likely to be a match for the Coastal Defense Camp.”

Pei Yuanzhen nodded. “Now, everything is ready, just waiting for the east wind. Wang Mingxiu luring Grand Xia Gu away clearly indicates he intends to assassinate Master Dongjing. We’ll just wait for him to make his move. If I weren’t afraid of alerting them and affecting General Lin’s operation, I would capture Wang Mingxiu directly right now.”

The aide chuckled softly. “Let’s wait for them to fall into the trap. We’ll act on two fronts: General Lin’s side will track down the deposed Crown Prince’s main base, and our side will track down Seven Fiends Pavilion’s onshore headquarters!”

East City, Wang Residence.

Wang Mingxiu entered the dimly lit room. He didn’t light a lamp, simply fixed his gaze on the swaying rocking chair in the center. Seated there was a person wearing a ghost mask, the Grand Steward of Seven Fiends Pavilion.

“You Seven Fiends Pavilion are truly amusing,” Wang Mingxiu said, with a hint of mockery. “You said you’d impersonate the Six Huaihai Bandits to lure Gu Mo away. And now, you’ve led the *real* Six Huaihai Bandits to him. Why don’t you go meet Gu Mo? Given Gu Mo’s enthusiasm for wanted criminals, he might even thank you for your good intentions. Perhaps you could even become friends!”

The Grand Steward’s eyes were closed, the chair gently swaying, and a voice of indeterminate gender spoke, “I genuinely admire Gu Mo. How to put it? He and I are the same kind of people, those who are out of step with this world. You’re right, he and I will become friends.”

Wang Mingxiu chuckled softly. “Do you dare to appear before him? He is a ‘capturing official,’ and you are a wanted criminal. You are inherently adversaries. Oh, right, he is known for no wanted criminal ever escaping his grasp.”

“I am different,” the Grand Steward stated. “I will definitely become friends with him. Of course, it’s not out of the question that he might die by my hand.”

Wang Mingxiu slowly walked to a corner, pulled out a tinderbox, and lit an oil lamp. The room instantly brightened. He turned and said, “I have completed what I promised you. All the goods you wanted to send out have been delivered for you. Now, it’s time for you to fulfill your promise.”

The Grand Steward remained with closed eyes, his fingers gently tapping the chair. He spoke softly, “You choose a place, and I will bring Dongjing to you tonight. Don’t worry, I always keep my word.”

Wang Mingxiu thought for a moment and said, “The outskirts, by Shuangqing Lake.”

“Good.”

The Grand Steward suddenly opened his eyes, and his right hand slowly extended forward. It was at this moment that a cross-breeze swept through. The next moment, the door hinge creaked open, and a gust of wind, laden with dust from the corridor, rushed into the room. The indoor lamp flickered violently. Just as the Grand Steward’s outstretched hand was halfway, his entire being, along with the rocking chair, transformed into a blurry green silhouette and vanished in the swirling wind.

Wang Mingxiu’s pupils constricted slightly. The chair continued to sway, and the ripples in the teacup on the nearby table still spread in circles. Outside the courtyard, a sudden whirlwind erupted, sweeping dead leaves three times around a pillar. In the hazy moonlight, a faint green silhouette was vaguely visible standing beneath an old locust tree, its wide robes and sleeves billowing in the wind. The Grand Steward stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly gazing at the sky, or perhaps contemplating something. Then, that whirlwind suddenly reversed, sweeping the Grand Steward’s figure skyward, transforming into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating. The moonlight dimmed for a moment, and when one looked again, the tree shadows in the courtyard swayed, but there was no longer a single soul!

“How can such lightness skill exist in this world?” Wang Mingxiu was inwardly shaken.

At this moment, that wisp of clear breeze had drifted far away, reaching outside Clear Breeze Inn.

The wisp of clear breeze passed through streets and alleys, like a nimble snake, soaring straight towards the end of the long street. Moonlight poured down like water, and suddenly, a faint green silhouette materialized from the moonlight, as if condensed from mist, instantly transforming into a human form. This person was powerfully built, dressed in a dark black cloak billowing in the wind, with a half-worn jade pendant hanging from their waist. It was none other than the elusive Grand Steward. His steps were unhurried, yet made no sound on the bluestone slabs, leaving only a series of faint, elusive afterimages behind him.

In the shadows of a street corner, the soft scuffing of boots on the bluestone was as dense as the rustling of autumn cicada wings. Thirty-seven black-clad figures descended like night crows preying, their masked faces revealing only pairs of ice-cold eyes. Short blades in their sleeves glinted with a cold sheen under the moonlight as they headed towards Clear Breeze Inn.

The leader had just stepped onto the inn’s steps when three poisoned tripwires suddenly sprang from beneath the threshold. A teacup clattered inside, followed by three signal flares that shot up into the night sky with a “whoosh,” exploding and scattering sparks onto the eaves.

The Six Doors constables were well-prepared. Immediately, Six Doors constables and Seven Fiends Pavilion assassins clashed.

While blades flashed and swords danced fiercely in the front yard, the bamboo curtain of the main room in the back yard was lifted by the wind. The back courtyard, however, remained as quiet as ever. A wisp of green smoke silently passed through the back wall, swirling like a filament around the large locust tree, heading directly for the main room. The door clicked open, and the Grand Steward stepped inside.

In the main hall, Master Dongjing sat before an octagonal table. The purple clay teapot still emitted steam, and tea foam swirled in a coarse ceramic bowl. He ran his fingertips along a chip in the bowl’s rim, looking at the suddenly appearing Grand Steward with not much surprise, evidently accustomed to all sorts of elusive assassins.

From outside the window came the sound of breaking tiles; presumably, an assassin or a constable had been kicked onto the roof.

Master Dongjing picked up his teacup and took a sip. The Grand Steward, reflected in the tea, was walking towards Master Dongjing. After taking just two steps, the Grand Steward suddenly stopped, uttered a soft “Hmm?” and whispered, “I wonder which members of the Night Department are present?”

“We haven’t even revealed ourselves, and Grand Steward already knows it’s us?” A white-haired elder appeared in the small courtyard.

The Grand Steward turned and looked at him, saying, “The Night Watchman, eh. You Night Department folks are all so imbued with yin energy, who needs to see you?”

A hunched figure shuffled into the courtyard, white hair like frost scattered beneath a faded grey headscarf. A deeply wrinkled neck was deeply sunken into the patched coarse linen collar, and the back was heavily stooped. This was the famous “Night Watchman,” one of the twelve leaders of the mysterious Imperial Intelligence Organization, the Night Department.

It was widely known in the jianghu that the imperial court possessed a highly secretive and talented intelligence organization. However, they rarely appeared, and no one knew how many people were in the Night Department. It was only known that the Night Department had twelve divisions, each led by a commander who possessed the combat strength of a jianghu Grandmaster. There were even rumors that the most mysterious Boatman and Mirror Grinder could individually challenge the top ten Grandmasters on the Gan Nation Heavenly Rankings.

The twelve leaders of the Night Department were known by their aliases: the Porter, the Boatman, the Night Watchman, the Fisherman, the Woodcutter, the Peddler, the Scholar, the Physician, the Matchmaker, the Embroiderer, the Butcher, and the Mirror Grinder. No one knew their real names; only these twelve code names, making them extremely mysterious.

At this moment, the Night Watchman held a rusty copper gong in his left hand and a wooden mallet wrapped in rags in his right. Each step he took seemed arduous. His scattered white hair obscured his face, making him appear like an ordinary, frail old man. He spoke in a hoarse voice, “Grand Steward, we have been waiting for you for a long time!”

The Grand Steward twisted his neck and said, “If that’s the case, why are the others still hiding?”

As the Grand Steward’s voice faded, a man in a green robe slowly appeared on the courtyard wall. Dark patterns subtly showed through his wide sleeves. His face was as pale as paper, his black hair loosely tied with a white jade hairpin, with a few strands falling. He held a brush in his hand. This person was the Scholar, one of the twelve leaders of the Night Department.

Next, two more figures appeared from inside the room behind the Grand Steward. One was burly like an iron tower, his coarse linen clothes stained with pine resin and grass clippings. A few withered leaves clung to his grizzled beard, and a seemingly ordinary rope was tied at his waist. This was the Woodcutter, another of the twelve leaders.

Standing to the right of Master Dongjing was a middle-aged man wearing a faded animal skin hat. His bronzed neck and arms bore several scars. His coarse short tunic was stained dark brown with meat juices and blood, and a half-section of a pig bone hung from the hemp rope loosely wrapped around his waist. He held a pig-butchering knife in his hand. This was the Butcher, also one of the twelve leaders.

The Grand Steward looked at the four and let out a light chuckle. “You really think highly of me, sending four Night Department leaders at once. Butcher for offense, Woodcutter for defense, Night Watchman for ranged attacks, and Scholar for hidden weapons. Excellent, excellent. It’s been years since I had a proper fight. Wonderful, wonderful!”

The Night Watchman said hoarsely, “I heard that the Grand Steward of Seven Fiends Pavilion considers himself a martial arts prodigy, seen once in three hundred years—mastering palms, legs, fists, claws, blades, spears, swords, halberds, and more, proficient in myriad martial arts, and always killing his victims with the martial art they are most skilled in.”

The Grand Steward waved his hand. “Empty words, merely a reputation. I just happen to know a bit more. Hmm, how about this, since you are all going to die today anyway, I will satisfy your curiosity.”

The Grand Steward pointed at the Night Watchman and said, “You are most skilled in sound wave attacks, so I will kill you with the same sound wave techniques.” He then pointed at the Scholar and said, “You excel at hidden weapons and lightness skill. I will let you run first, then chase you down and kill you with hidden weapons.” He then turned to the Woodcutter and the Butcher and said, “Woodcutter’s horizontal training makes him invulnerable to blades and spears; I will smash through your defense with my fists. As for the Butcher, your knife technique is very fast. Coincidentally, I also know a thing or two about knife techniques!”

“Presumptuous!”

As the Night Watchman snorted, a muffled rumble seemed to roll in his throat. His wrist flicked extremely slowly, striking the rust-covered copper gong, producing a buzzing sound. The sound waves crawled across the bluestone slabs like old tree roots, causing dust in the brick cracks to leap up. When the sound waves hit the corridor pillar, they truly sounded like thousands of iron cavalry trampling the night, even shaking the copper bells on the eaves upside down, their chimes shattering into powder.

The Butcher’s sneer was like a dull knife scraping on a whetstone. The veins on the back of his knife-wielding hand were even thicker than the ribs at his waist, and a piece of old, un-rendered pig fat was embedded in the calluses on his palm. The pig-butchering knife unsheathed without warning; the sound of the sheath hitting the ground had not yet spread when the blade had already plowed three white streaks before the Grand Steward’s face—so fast that the etched words “Paoding” on the back of the blade dragged afterimages in the air, so fast that the bloodstains on his apron fluttered with the blade’s wind.

A golden glow instantly enveloped the Woodcutter’s body. The sound of him lifting his foot and crushing a bluestone slab was three times louder than the watchman’s clapper at the yamen. Each step was as if he carried an entire mountain on his shoulders, and his golden fist instantly swelled many times, becoming larger than a human head.

The Scholar still held the Xiangfei bamboo brush, and the ink stain on his green sleeve was three shades darker than before. He lightly tapped the tip of his brush on his palm, and the ink drops he flicked out actually condensed into silver needles as fine as ox hair in mid-air, with a trailing wisp of an ink line, exactly like an unfinished landscape painting.

As the four attacked, the Night Watchman’s gong was still buzzing, the Butcher’s blade light still hung in mid-air, the Woodcutter’s footprints still steamed, and the Scholar’s brush tip still held a half-drop of ink.

The Grand Steward let out a soft chuckle and extended his hand.

Instantly, a great battle was on the verge of erupting!

Clear Breeze Inn was exceptionally boisterous that night, the commotion far exceeding that of the assassination attempt a few days prior. Constables of Six Doors were clashing with assassins on all sides of the courtyard, and the battle within the courtyard itself was even more intense. However, it did not last long.

A snapping sound echoed from within the courtyard, spreading like a wave. In that instant, all the masked assassins immediately retreated. They paid no mind to the bodies of their fallen comrades on the ground; those who couldn’t escape bit the poison in their mouths, choosing suicide. Out of thirty-some assassins, only about ten managed to escape.

At this point, the Six Doors constables realized something was amiss and rushed towards the central courtyard. They saw only a black-robed figure wearing a ghost mask, holding Master Dongjing, silhouetted against the night sky. The black-robed figure seemed to be wreathed in mist. Before anyone could react, he transformed into a wisp of green smoke and vanished into the vast night.

A crowd of Six Doors constables immediately gave chase. Some, however, rushed into the courtyard where Master Dongjing had been staying and witnessed a shocking sight: all four leaders of the Night Department were dead!

“What did you say?”

In the Prefect’s Office, Pei Yuanzhen, who had been quietly awaiting news, suddenly shot to his feet. His face was pale as he stared at his aide, saying gravely, “The four Grand Leaders… are dead? How is this possible?”

The aide wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. “The Six Doors’ investigation concluded that the Scholar was caught by the opponent’s lightness skill while attempting to escape and died from a hidden weapon piercing his heart. The Woodcutter was smashed to death, his Golden Body broken. The Butcher had both hands severed by a faster blade, then his throat was slit. The Night Watchman’s brain was shattered by the same sound wave attack! All of them were killed in the very fields they excelled in!”

Pei Yuanzhen slumped onto his chair, muttering, “How can this be? The four Grand Leaders were all Grandmasters in their respective fields. Furthermore, my Grandmaster once said that while the Grand Steward claimed to be proficient in everything, in reality, he was only ‘half-competent’ in everything, with nothing being truly top-tier; his strength lay only in his comprehensiveness… Could it be… that my Grandmaster made a mistake in his deduction?”

Pei Yuanzhen felt numb, his mind reeling. According to his plan, the one who would attempt to assassinate Master Dongjing this time would either be a high-ranking member of Seven Fiends Pavilion or the Grand Steward himself. He had anticipated that if it were one of Seven Fiends Pavilion’s three Jade Card assassins (who were above Gold Card assassins), they would surely be captured alive by the four leaders, thereby yielding valuable clues about Seven Fiends Pavilion. If it were the Grand Steward personally, there was a small possibility of capture, but most likely he would be repelled by the four leaders, though he would still leave some traces. However, the chances of discovering actionable clues would be small. Yet, he had never even considered that the four leaders, acting in concert, would be counter-killed, and Master Dongjing would be abducted. That’s why he had dared to confidently allow Gu Mo to cooperate and leave Lin Hai City.

The current outcome, however, was something he had never even contemplated.

The aide also looked anxious. “Master, please don’t worry about whether the Imperial Advisor’s deduction was wrong. The primary issue now is that Master Dongjing has been captured. We must find him quickly!”

Pei Yuanzhen quickly regained his composure. “Right, right, right, find Master Dongjing… Quick, go to the Wang residence… No, go to Shuangqing Lake in the outskirts. We will immediately gather our forces here, and also notify the ambushing parties there: once Master Dongjing appears, save him at all costs… I will go personally!”

As he spoke, Pei Yuanzhen stood up. His only consolation at this moment was that he had consistently kept men watching Wang Mingxiu, knowing that Wang Mingxiu had quietly gone to Shuangqing Lake that night and that Seven Fiends Pavilion’s Grand Steward would surely hand Master Dongjing over to Wang Mingxiu.

That night, on Shuangqing Lake.

Wang Mingxiu sat quietly in a covered boat, waiting. Under the night sky, the lake was illuminated by moonlight, making it quite clear. At a certain moment, a sudden gust of wind stirred on the lake. Two figures quietly appeared on the boat: the Grand Steward holding a somewhat dishevelled Master Dongjing.

The moment Wang Mingxiu saw Master Dongjing, his eyes turned red.

However, at that very moment, under the cover of night, a large crowd of people surged from all directions, flying towards the covered boat. Wang Mingxiu’s expression changed slightly, as he recognized those people: they were all experts from the Prefect’s office and Six Doors who were supposed to be out on other missions recently. They had apparently been monitoring him all along, behind his back. He realized that he had been exposed.

The Grand Steward, however, remained unhurried. With a gentle wave of his hand, the vast lake waters began to churn, instantly raising large waves that carried the covered boat rapidly towards the center of the lake, causing the pursuing experts from the Prefect’s office and Six Doors to miss their mark.

Inside the cabin, seeing the Grand Steward using his skill to evade capture, Wang Mingxiu decided not to ponder too much. He walked up to Master Dongjing and said coldly, “Old man, I am also a member of the Mu clan.”

Master Dongjing, though dishevelled, remained calm, showing no great fear. He said, “I guessed as much.”

Wang Mingxiu said gravely, “I truly regret it. I should have risked everything from the very beginning and killed you directly at Clear Breeze Inn.”

Master Dongjing chuckled softly, “It’s the same now. You still have nothing.”

Seeing Master Dongjing’s calm demeanor, Wang Mingxiu was enraged and humiliated. He grabbed Master Dongjing’s collar, snarling, “Old scoundrel, stop pretending. You must be terrified inside, aren’t you? The glory, wealth, and reputation you gained at the cost of hundreds of lives of my Mu clan—today it’s all gone. I don’t believe a dog like you isn’t afraid of death!”

Master Dongjing looked surprised. “Do you still believe your Mu clan died unjustly? Didn’t the Grand Steward tell you the truth?”

“Huh?” Wang Mingxiu asked, puzzled. “What nonsense are you talking about now?”

Master Dongjing chuckled softly. “I thought you knew the truth and still wanted to kill me for revenge for the Mu clan? So after all this time, you’re still seeking revenge blindly? Qianhu Wang, it’s fine for you to seek revenge from me; I did indeed order the slaughter of the Mu clan back then. However, they were not wronged in the slightest!” As he spoke, Master Dongjing turned his head to look at the Grand Steward outside the cabin. “Grand Steward, as fellow descendants of the Seven Dark Guards, isn’t it inappropriate for you to hide the truth from him and use him?”

The Grand Steward replied, “He doesn’t know the truth, unlike us. He has no loyalty. If I hadn’t hidden it, I feared he wouldn’t cooperate with me.”

Wang Mingxiu was dumbfounded, roaring furiously, “What are you two talking about?! Dongjing, Grand Steward, what are you talking about!”

Master Dongjing sighed. “During the Jiawen era, the Kangde Crown Prince rebellion case—you should know about it, right?”

Wang Mingxiu said gravely, “What does that have to do with me?”

Master Dongjing explained, “Crown Prince Kangde had Seven Dark Guards: Yin-Yang, Wind-Thunder, Heaven, Earth, Mountain, Fire, and Water. Back then, when Crown Prince Kangde’s rebellion failed, the seven leaders of the Dark Guards fled with the Crown Prince’s descendants. Later, the descendants of the Seven Dark Guards changed their identities and secretly plotted acts of rebellion. To train their army, they kidnapped over ten thousand children. When they were finally discovered, the descendants of the Yin-Yang Department chose to cover their escape and were annihilated. These Yin-Yang Department descendants were the Mu clan. So, I say it’s perfectly fine for you to seek revenge from me, but the Mu clan was not wronged at all! The Mu clan was deeply involved in the kidnapping of those ten thousand-plus children, and they willingly chose to cover the retreat, confusing our investigation and causing us to miss many clues. The Mu clan’s ultimate fate was purely their own choice. So many families were ruined because of them; not being subjected to slow slicing was already an act of mercy!”

“Nonsense, you’re talking nonsense!” Wang Mingxiu suddenly felt his world crumbling. As a Qianhu of Six Doors, he naturally knew that if Master Dongjing’s words were true, then the Mu clan’s annihilation was purely their own doing. What meaning then did his and Mu Liu’s decades of persistence hold?

Master Dongjing continued, “Back then, the seven great leaders came from the same lineage, dividing an ancient and unparalleled divine martial art, the ‘Tian Yuan Gui Ji Qi Sha Fu,’ into seven parts, each cultivating one. The Mu clan cultivated the ‘Yin-Yang Fu’!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingxiu’s mind exploded with a “buzz.” “Yin-Yang Fu… Yin-Yang Secret Manual…” He abruptly looked up at the Grand Steward and asked, “You knew?”

The Grand Steward nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Wang Mingxiu demanded.

“Why should I tell you?” the Grand Steward retorted.

“Didn’t you tell me there was someone else behind this old scoundrel Dongjing?”

The Grand Steward chuckled softly. “Wasn’t there? He handled things beautifully back then and earned the Emperor’s favor; the Emperor is the one behind him. As for the Mu clan, I never told you they were wronged. I only told you that a single Mu clan couldn’t orchestrate such a massive case. And indeed, they couldn’t; it was the seven Dark Guards of that time working together!”

Wang Mingxiu collapsed onto the ground, muttering, “Then what am I… What has my whole life been for?”

At that very moment, Wang Mingxiu suddenly grabbed Master Dongjing and threw him out of the boat. He then lunged at the Grand Steward, twin palms extended, Yin and Yang energies surging forth in a torrent.