While the two were talking, Jinni and Jiang Ling also arrived.
Seeing that everyone was present, Mu Congyun recounted the strange behavior of the maidservants from last night and just now.
Just as he was about to warn them to be cautious, he noticed both of them looking increasingly uncomfortable, their faces flushed.
???
Mu Congyun frowned, hesitating before speaking.
“You two didn’t already…”
“Of course not!”
Jinni was the first to protest.
“Do I look like someone who’d fall for that so easily?!”
Jiang Ling also complained, “Those maidservants clearly appear to be ordinary people without cultivation, yet their expressions and voices seem capable of bewitching the mind. Before I knew it, I almost fell under their spell.”
Mu Congyun hadn’t felt any bewitchment himself, but considering Jiang Ling’s severe injuries and Jinni’s relatively low cultivation, it made sense they might have been affected.
He mentioned the strange butterfly markings he’d seen on the maidservants’ backs.
“The Poison Sect may seem peaceful now, but there’s something eerie everywhere. You must stay vigilant and not let your guard down.”
After the three discussed their plans, they went together to find Baili Zhen.
No matter how many oddities the Poison Sect held, they still needed to use the “Sin Cleansing” ritual.
With Xiao Guanyin still unresponsive to their messages, they had no choice but to feign ignorance and maintain a facade of harmony.
Baili Zhen proved true to his word and immediately instructed Zhang Qing to take Jiang Ling for the “Sin Cleansing.”
The “Sin Cleansing” was a massive bronze cauldron large enough to hold three or four people, filled with a deep green toxic liquid.
Jiang Ling needed to soak in it for seven days to purge his body completely and rid himself of his cultivation.
If successful, the Spiritual Power within him—along with the remnants of the Corrosive Mist-would be entirely cleansed, allowing him to start cultivating anew.
Standing before the cauldron, Jiang Ling steadied himself for a few moments before removing his outer robe and shoes and stepping inside.
The moment he submerged, the calm green liquid began to boil violently.
Jiang Ling’s face twisted in pain, but he gritted his teeth and didn’t cry out.
Struggling to speak, he said, “You all should go back. Once the seven days are up, I’ll come find you.”
“Take care of yourself. If anything happens, send us a message.”
With Zhang Qing present, Mu Congyun couldn’t say too much.
He placed the sword case containing the Yaori Sword beside Jiang Ling.
“I’ll leave this with you. If it gets too hard to bear, look at it for strength.”
Jiang Ling stared at the sword case for a long time before finally nodding.
After parting ways with Jiang Ling, the three didn’t return to the Red Rose Courtyard immediately.
Mu Congyun glanced at Jinni, who immediately caught on and struck up a conversation with Zhang Qing in a familiar tone.
“Brother Zhang, since we’ve come all this way to the Poison Sect, we’re quite curious. Would you mind showing us around?”
Zhang Qing, being rather straightforward, agreed readily. “Where would you like to go first?”
Jinni walked ahead with him, pointing at the vibrant roses blooming all around.
“Let’s just wander. Before coming here, I never imagined the Poison Sect would be so lush and full of life. I thought all its disciples kept poisonous insects and venomous creatures.”
“Actually, the sect used to be more like what you described. These roses were planted later because the Madam loves them the Sect Leader had them transplanted specially for her.”
Zhang Qing scratched his head.
“The Madam is gentle and kind-hearted. She can’t stand the sight of snakes and poisonous creatures, so we usually keep them sealed in jars and rarely bring them out.”
Jinni looked surprised.
“I’d only ever heard that Sect Leader Baili was obsessed with poisons and venom. I never imagined even a hero like him could be swayed by beauty.”
Zhang Qing didn’t dare comment on the sect leader’s private affairs and could only chuckle awkwardly.
“Speaking of which, since Sect Leader Baili values his wife so much, why wasn’t this wedding grandly celebrated?” Jinni turned his head around curiously, questions tumbling out one after another: “We didn’t hear any rumors before coming. I’ve seen other Profound Ridge elders take cultivation partners—their ceremonies were all quite extravagant.”
Not expecting him to suddenly bring this up, Zhang Qing hurriedly covered Jinni’s mouth.
After looking around to ensure no one overheard, he lowered his voice nervously: “You mustn’t speak of this anymore. The sect leader would be furious if he heard.”
Seeing the confused expressions on Jinni and the others’ faces, worried they might unknowingly breach etiquette again, he quietly explained:
“The sect leader’s wife is just an ordinary person who hasn’t begun cultivation. The sect leader met her during his travels in the mortal world. It’s said she suffered fundamental injuries in her youth and cannot cultivate. Out of compassion, the sect leader feared outside gossip might hurt her feelings, hence the low-key wedding-only planning to invite our sect’s senior elders as witnesses.”
“I see,” Jinni showed an expression of sudden understandi
praising: “The sect leader truly cherishes his wife deeply.”
Zhang Qing chuckled and didn’t elaborate further about the sect leader and his wife, dutifully taking up his role as guide to show them around.
Mu Congyun and Shen Qi followed behind, their eyes scanning the busy disciples.
The climate in Shu Province was sweltering.
Although the Poison Sect was located in deep mountain valleys that were relatively cooler, the midsummer sun was still unbearable.
Thus, the Poison Sect disciples wore light, revealing clothing—most with their short jackets open, working bare-chested.
Mu Congyun’s gaze swept over them, noticing that all bore tattoos to varying degrees—mostly of centipedes, snakes, scorpions and other poisonous creatures, with a few having butterfly or bird patterns.
But none had a butterfly resting between their shoulder blades like the maid he’d seen that morning.
Another oddity was that all the disciples they’d encountered so far were male.
Jinni clearly noticed this too, asking curiously: “Why have we only seen senior and junior brothers along the way, but no senior or junior sisters?”
Zhang Qing explained: “There aren’t many female disciples to begin with. After the madam arrived, they were all reassigned to serve her.”
“But the maids around the madam all seem like ordinary people, not cultivators,” Mu Congyun interjected.
If their cultivation was advanced enough, they could naturally conceal their realm.
But in the Poison Sect, only Sect Leader Baili Zhen had reached the Supreme Celestial Realm.
Given how difficult cultivation was nowadays, Forget Dust Fate Realm disciples wouldn’t be numerous either-most were still in the Mortal Shell Shedding Realm.
And for those in the Mortal Shell Shedding Realm, careful observation would reveal differences in their aura compared to ordinary people.
“This…”
Zhang Qing showed slight hesitation, but with three pairs of eyes fixed on him, he finally said: “If I tell you, you mustn’t spread this around.”
Jinni immediately nodded in assurance: “Senior Brother Zhang, you can trust us!”
Only then did Zhang Qing explain: “The senior and junior sisters reassigned to serve the madam… it’s said they violated the sect leader’s taboos. They were all thrown into the Ten Thousand Poison Pit.”
Speaking of the Ten Thousand Poison Pit, he shuddered himself and glanced around before lowering his voice: “The Sect Leader only began to temper his temper after meeting Madam. Before that, one or two disciples who displeased him would be thrown into the Ten Thousand Poison Pit to feed the venomous insects every month.”
Jinni rubbed his arms, showing a fearful expression: “Then we’ve all benefited from Madam’s grace.”
Zhang Qing laughed: “Exactly, we’re all very grateful to Madam. Except for those few senior and junior sisters who violated taboos, no disciples have been thrown into the Ten Thousand Poison Pit for over a year now.”
Jinni nodded in agreement and shifted to other topics for casual conversation.
Led by Zhang Qing, they wandered around for half the morning before returning to the Scarlet Rose Courtyard by lunchtime.
The maids were already waiting in the courtyard and went to call for the kitchen to serve the meal upon their return.
Mu Congyun glanced over and noticed that all the maids today were unfamiliar faces.
His gaze lingered on the back of one maid, spotting a butterfly right in the center of her shoulder blades.
However, it wasn’t a living creature but an incredibly lifelike butterfly tattoo.
The three martial brothers exchanged meaningful looks.
After all the maids withdrew, Jinni went to the door to look around before closing it securely.
“That Madam Liu doesn’t sound right,” Jinni said.
Mu Congyun nodded in agreement: “There’s something suspicious about those female disciples’ deaths, and Baili Zhen’s transformation is also rather peculiar.”
For a Supreme Celestial Realm expert who pursued the art of poison and gu as his life’s work to suddenly become infatuated with love and marry a mortal woman was already highly questionable.
Then there were those female disciples of the Poison Sect.
Even if they were truly transferred to serve Madam Liu, if she was truly as kind- hearted as Zhang Qing claimed, given Baili Zhen’s devotion to her, a single word from her could have saved those disciples’ lives.
Yet in reality, those female disciples all died one after another after being transferred to serve Madam Liu.
Then there were those maids who seemed to have learned seduction techniques—their behavior in the Scarlet Rose Courtyard also appeared to be under Madam Liu’s direction.
If Madam Liu knew nothing about the affairs in Scarlet Rose Courtyard, those maids from yesterday and this morning wouldn’t have been replaced.
Jinni looked worried: “Junior Sister Xiao still hasn’t sent any messages-could she have fallen victim too?”
Mu Congyun couldn’t be certain either.
Xiao Guanyin possessed exceptional talent and comprehension.
Though Baili Zhen had used her as a “human gu” for thirteen years, after just half a year of treatment at Profound Ridge and two and a half years of staying there, she had become no different from ordinary people.
If not for Shizun constantly restraining her and insisting she build a solid foundation, Xiao Guanyin’s cultivation would likely have advanced further by now, not just remaining at mid-stage Forget Dust Fate Realm.
And he, though four years older than Xiao Guanyin, had only reached the peak of Forget Dust Fate Realm.
After much deliberation, Mu Congyun still believed Xiao Guanyin wouldn’t easily fall victim.
After joining Profound Ridge, she not only mastered peerless sword techniques but also, due to her annual stays at the Poison Sect, fully inherited the arts of poison and gu.
Baili Zhen feared her yet couldn’t cultivate another “human gu,” so he taught her while remaining wary of her.
And Xiao Guanyin felt the same toward Baili Zhen.
She addressed Baili Zhen as foster father, but one of her motivations for diligent cultivation was to one day kill Baili Zhen with her own hands.
“Jiang Ling still needs seven days. We’re constrained by circumstances and can only watch and wait.”
After careful consideration, Mu Congyun spoke slowly, “Spend the day gathering information. Tonight, I’ll find an opportunity to scout ahead and see if I can find any trace of Junior Sister.”
Jinni nodded in agreement.
*
“After lunch, I’ll go investigate.”
After lunch, Jinni went out to gather information.
Mu Congyun, who was not skilled in social interactions, chose not to go.
Instead, he stayed in the courtyard to instruct Shen Qi in sword practice.
Shen Qi gripped the sword, his back turned to Mu Congyun, his expression dark.
As someone who had wielded a sword for years, many of his sword habits were hard to conceal.
Not wanting Mu Congyun to notice any flaws, he could only pretend to be clumsy.
Horizontal slash, vertical thrust, a sweeping strike in midair.
Following Mu Congyun’s instructions, Shen Qi delivered the sword moves awkwardly, without any strength behind them.
After each set, he would turn to Mu Congyun with feigned delight.
“Senior Brother, did I do it right?”
Not a single move was correct-how was he supposed to answer that?
Unable to bring himself to discourage Shen Qi, Mu Congyun avoided the question.
He stood up and walked behind him, guiding his hands
to teach him how to wield the sword properly.
“Power comes from the arm, and flexibility in the wrist allows you to change angles and techniques. Understand?”
He wished he could break down everything he knew and stuff it into Shen Qi’s mind.
Shen Qi smiled and nodded. “I understand!”
Then he proceeded to execute another set of sword moves, even more haphazardly than before.
Mu Congyun: “…”
How could someone be so hopeless?
Meanwhile, Shen Qi continued practicing earnestly, appearing to put in great effort to mimic Mu Congyun’s movements.
But perhaps he truly lacked talent in swordsmanship—no matter how hard he tried to replicate the moves, neither the form nor the spirit matched.
Instead, during a horizontal slash, he lost his grip on the sword. It flew out of his hand and struck his own arm.
Shen Qi instinctively raised his arm to block—
Though the wooden practice sword wasn’t sharp, the force behind his swing left a red mark on his left forearm.
Hissing in pain, he lowered his head dejectedly when he met Mu Congyun’s gaze.
“Senior Brother, am I really this stupid? After so long, I still can’t even master one set of sword moves.”
Mu Congyun rolled up Shen Qi’s sleeve and sighed at the red mark.
“Does it hurt?”
Shen Qi looked up at him, some of the unease in his eyes fading as he hesitated before nodding.
“It hurts.”
Mu Congyun picked up the sword and rubbed Shen Qi’s arm, finally conceding.
“No more sword practice. If you can’t learn this, we’ll try something else. Profound Ridge isn’t limited to just sword cultivators.”
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