Chapter 69: Cat Appears

Zuo Yue led the way. Zhuo Qingfeng quietly introduced him to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, saying, "Zuo Yue is Zhao Congwu's eldest disciple and the future sect leader of the Eastern Mountain Sword Sect. Zhao Congwu is already in his late seventies and no longer manages sect affairs; Zuo Yue handles everything.

Zuo Yue's martial arts skills are no less than mine. He also has an excellent character—humble and courteous. He is highly regarded within the sect and has a strong reputation as a hero in the martial arts world. It's safe to say his position as the future sect leader is unshakeable."

Gu Mo nodded slightly.

Although he had only exchanged a few simple words with Zuo Yue, the latter's gentle, humble, and poised demeanor had indeed left a very comfortable impression on him.

Led by Zuo Yue, the group soon arrived at the mid-slope of Mount Dongyue and entered the gates of the Eastern Mountain Sword Sect.

The sect's entrance was imposing. The training grounds were vast, with banners embroidered with the sect's emblem fluttering and snapping in the wind on both sides. Directly ahead stood a magnificent hall, its glazed roof tiles gleaming with colorful light under the sun. Exquisite sword-pattern carvings, lifelike in detail, adorned the flying eaves and Dougong brackets. The plaza was bustling with people, and shouts of challenge echoed from several elevated sparring platforms where martial artists were practicing.

Zuo Yue was indeed popular; along the way, many people greeted him enthusiastically. This included not only disciples from the Eastern Mountain Sword Sect but also those from the other three sects of the Four Directions Sword Alliance.

Before long, the group arrived outside a grand hall. Zuo Yue asked Zhuo Qingfeng and the others to wait while he went inside to announce their arrival. A moment later, Zuo Yue reappeared and said, "Sir Zhuo, Master Gu, Lady Gu, my master requests your presence!"

Immediately, they entered the main hall, passed through two more doors, and found themselves in a small courtyard room. Inside, an old man sat in quiet contemplation. His face was thin and gaunt, deeply lined with wrinkles, yet his eyes held a profound depth and vigor. His gaze was gentle and serene, and his hair and long beard were entirely white, drifting slightly in the breeze, lending him an otherworldly air. This was Zhao Congwu, the sect leader of the Eastern Mountain Sword Sect.

As soon as Zhuo Qingfeng entered, he spoke casually, "Elder Zhao, it's been years! You haven't lost your charm. Can you still eat several big bowls of rice in one sitting?"

"You rascal, you're nearly forty and still so irreverent!" Zhao Congwu said with a smile. "Sit, it's rare that you'd remember to visit me." As he spoke, Zhao Congwu looked at Gu Mo and Gu Chudong and continued, "You two young people should also sit... Oh?"

Zhao Congwu suddenly let out a startled "Oh?" as he scrutinized Gu Mo from head to toe. "Young man, from which sect do you hail, and whose disciple are you? To have reached such a profound state of natural mastery at such a young age is truly remarkable, remarkable indeed!"

Before Gu Mo could reply, Zhuo Qingfeng interjected, "Elder Zhao, this is my friend, Gu Mo. He's a wandering martial artist, practicing inherited family martial arts. Even if I told you the details, you wouldn't be familiar with them."

Gu Mo clasped his hands and bowed to Zhao Congwu, saying, "This junior, Gu Mo, greets Elder."

"Excellent, excellent," Zhao Congwu said, not pressing further, and chuckled. "Young people nowadays are increasingly impressive. Ah, I once thought you, Zhuo Qingfeng, had good talent and could achieve great things. Yet, after so many years, you haven't made much progress. Going to the Six Gates organization was a waste."

Zhuo Qingfeng chuckled awkwardly.

Zhao Congwu then said, "Tell me, I don't believe you truly came just to visit me. You're investigating a case, aren't you? Do you need my help, or have you discovered a case related to my Eastern Mountain Sword Sect?"

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded slightly and said, "Elder Zhao, how many people in your Eastern Mountain Sword Sect know the Whirlwind Willow-Sweeping Sword technique?"

"Quite a lot," Zhao Congwu replied. "Although it's a unique skill of our sect, all my disciples practice it. There are thirty to fifty who have mastered it."

Zhuo Qingfeng then asked, "How many were absent from the sect yesterday?"

Zhao Congwu shook his head. "I no longer manage sect affairs, so I genuinely don't know the answer to that."

Zuo Yue clasped his hands and replied, "Around a dozen. Some junior disciples went shopping for supplies, and a few others went to welcome guests."

Zhuo Qingfeng continued, "Were any of them in Fang County yesterday?"

"Nearly ten," Zuo Yue said. "All those who went to procure supplies were in Fang County, and a few of those welcoming guests also passed through Fang County."

Zhuo Qingfeng persisted, "Are they all within the sect grounds now?"

Zuo Yue replied, "A few are still out, but they will all return tonight. Tomorrow is the Four Sects Martial Arts Gathering."

"Then, Brother Zuo, please guide me to meet them one by one."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

***

Zhuo Qingfeng promptly left to investigate the case. Given Gu Mo's vision impairment, there was no need for him to follow, so he was arranged to rest. Gu Mo himself was quite agreeable to this, as they had traveled through the night to reach the Eastern Mountain Sword Sect quickly and hadn't gotten much sleep.

Gu Chudong, however, was exceptionally energetic. The Eastern Mountain Sword Sect was bustling. Many young disciples from the Four Directions Sword Alliance, as well as youths from various sects and factions who had come to join the festivities, gathered to spar and make friends through martial arts. The several sparring platforms in the training grounds were never empty. Even after nightfall, the area was illuminated by torches, and the matches continued.

Gu Chudong watched the lively scene for a long time, only returning to her room when it was almost dark.

By then, Gu Mo had rested sufficiently and was just getting up.

"Well, was it lively?" Gu Mo asked.

"Yes," Gu Chudong replied, "but brother, I think if I went up to the platform, very few of them could defeat me."

"Then why don't you go try it?" Gu Mo said with a smile. "Those platforms are for exchanging skills and making friends through martial arts; anyone can go up."

"I know," Gu Chudong said, "but I won't."

"Why not?"

"Because I am Lady Gu, the heroine, and I don't bully people!"

Gu Mo reached out and tapped Gu Chudong's forehead, chuckling. "You're getting a bit conceited for a 'heroine.' Are you perhaps afraid of losing and making a scene?"

"No way! I'm really strong now!"

Just then, Zhuo Qingfeng, who had been investigating all day, walked in carrying a small table laden with steaming hot food.

"Quick, eat something. I specially got this from Elder Zhao. His personal chef is a master of culinary arts; his cooking is exceptional."

Although Gu Mo couldn't see, the aroma alone told him the food was excellent.

"How's the investigation going?" Gu Mo asked while eating.

"Almost done," Zhuo Qingfeng replied. "There are three left, but they haven't returned yet. The culprit should be one of them."

Gu Chudong asked nervously, "What if he runs away?"

"If he runs, then it's confirmed, and we can simply launch a search," Zhuo Qingfeng said with a smile. "You've rested all day. Once those few return, would you like to come with me to investigate?"

"Yes, I can."

Shortly after they finished eating, Zuo Yue arrived and said, "Sir Zhuo, my junior disciple has returned."

"You didn't say anything to him, did you?"

"Absolutely not. He's already gone back to his own courtyard," Zuo Yue confirmed.

"Lead the way."

Soon, Zuo Yue led Zhuo Qingfeng and the Gu siblings to a relatively secluded small courtyard. Compared to the noisy training grounds at the front of the sect, this area was remarkably quiet.

"My seventeenth junior disciple, Song Zu, lives here," Zuo Yue explained. "He went to pick up guests and was in Fang County all day yesterday. He only managed to meet them today and just returned."

The group entered the courtyard. The quiet atmosphere made their footsteps feel unusually heavy. Suddenly, a sharp cat's cry pierced the silence. In a dim corner, pairs of eerie, glowing green cat eyes flickered. Then, cats began to emerge from hidden spots in all directions.

Beneath the moonlight, on the rooftops, layers of dark shadows stirred. Upon closer inspection, countless cats were seen crouching, their eyes gleaming with an eerie green light, like ominous will-o'-the-wisps. The wall ledges were also covered with furry forms; these cats slowly paced along the edges, emitting low, muffled meows that carried far in the silent night, like whispers from hell.

Seeing this sight, Zhuo Qingfeng suddenly recalled the description given by Qu Heng and others in prison. They had recounted how countless cats appeared on the rainy night the Blood Tear Stone Mussel was stolen, a scene almost identical to the one before him now.

Immediately, a strong sense of foreboding washed over Zhuo Qingfeng.

"Ah!"

Just then, a shrill scream came from inside the house.

The group quickly rushed forward. Zhuo Qingfeng kicked open the door and saw a person kneeling in a pool of blood, their head slumped forward. In front of them was a pile of shattered, blood-colored glazed fragments.

Zhuo Qingfeng looked around, then immediately ran to the open window beside him. Peering out, he saw a snow-white cat, as large as an ox, standing on the rockery opposite, staring at him with icy eyes.