Chapter 216: Soul Summoning
Inside the stockade, Qin Mu turned around and saw Wei Yong, momentarily startled. A smile spread across his face as he waved. "So it's Brother Wei and the Duke. What are you doing standing outside? Come in quickly."
Wei Yong quickly made frantic gestures with his eyes and brows. "Come out here, I need to talk to you! Over here, something huge has happened at the Imperial Academy!"
Worried about Qin Mu's safety, he was determined to pull him out of this danger zone. "Brother Qin must have just come out for a stroll and doesn't know this is where the Heavenly Demon Sect is settling scores. He stumbled in by accident—how dangerous is this? These Heavenly Demon Sect thugs are vicious brutes. They killed even a first-rank official and sect leader like Sun Nantuo in an instant. Brother Qin's frail body wouldn't even leave marrow behind!"
The Duke of Wei saw that the elderly man and woman guarding the gate had cut off their escape route. Veins bulged on his forehead, and the corners of his eyes twitched. "That bastard Wei Yong causes even more trouble than I do! We probably can't leave now!"
Qin Mu raised his hand, and the old woman behind the Duke of Wei quickly stepped forward. Qin Mu leaned over and whispered a few words to her.
The old woman turned back, grinning. "Duke, young Master Wei, please come inside and sit for a while."
The Duke of Wei's eyes twitched. He shot a deep glance at Qin Mu, took a long breath, and said to Wei Yong, "We're going in."
The two walked into the stockade. It appeared to have been built recently—everything was new, and the scent of wood still lingered in the air.
The Duke of Wei and Wei Yong saw Qin Mu heading deeper into the stockade and followed him reluctantly. The Duke lowered his voice. "Yong'er, how close are you and young Brother Qin Mu?"
"Blood-brother bond!"
Wei Yong said solemnly, "He saved me when the Dragon Taming Sect attacked the scholars' boat!"
The Duke of Wei's head throbbed. "Have you ever saved him?"
Wei Yong shook his head.
"He saved you, but you never saved him. That blood-brother bond is worthless!"
The Duke of Wei's heart was uneasy. "For now, I'll just have to take things one step at a time. That brat has dragged me into this mess. I wonder if the few times I met Li Tianxing count for anything..."
They arrived at the center of the stockade, where there was a wooden platform raised only about a foot above the ground.
The platform wasn't large—about three zhang across.
The Heavenly Demon Sect members were sitting cross-legged on the ground around the platform. The old woman beside the Duke of Wei cackled. "Duke, young Master Wei, just sit down right here. Don't worry, the ground was just mopped. It's very clean."
Wei Yong looked down and saw some dark red bloodstains on the ground. He muttered to himself, "I wonder if they cleaned up properly. What if there's still a head lying around somewhere..."
The Heavenly Demon Sect had wiped out Nantuo's Detached Palace and the first-rank official Sun Nantuo in a single clash. Their strength was terrifyingly overwhelming. Although the Duke of Wei was a battle-hardened veteran, he didn't dare act recklessly here. "The Heavenly Demon Sect made a big show of force this time, but the experts in the capital definitely won't be alerted. They moved too fast. If they killed us two, it would probably be just as quick..."
Several hundred people sat below the platform, silent, waiting for the Sacred Teacher's instructions.
Wei Yong looked around and suddenly spotted Qin Mu. He waved excitedly. "Brother Qin, Brother Qin! Over here!"
The Duke of Wei wished he could shove the fat boy into the ground and stuff a few stinky socks in his mouth to stop his nonsense.
Fortunately, the surrounding Heavenly Demon Sect members seemed completely oblivious to Wei Yong's shouting. They all sat upright and straight.
Qin Mu smiled at Wei Yong, lifted the hem of his robe, and walked toward the platform.
Wei Yong was startled and lowered his voice. "Don't go up on the platform, don't go up—that's where the Sacred Teacher gives instructions..."
The Duke of Wei growled fiercely, "Shut your mouth, you brat!"
Wei Yong quickly shut up. The Duke of Wei fumed, "I'm known for being tight-lipped, so how did I end up with a descendant with a mouth like a broken gong? Haven't you figured it out yet?"
Wei Yong was stunned. He watched Qin Mu walk onto the platform and turn around. The Heavenly Demon Sect members below rose and bowed. "Greetings, Sect Leader Sacred Teacher!"
Qin Mu nodded. "No need for formalities. Sit."
Everyone sat down.
Wei Yong's mouth hung open, his expression dazed. It took him a long moment to recover.
The Duke of Wei sighed and muttered, "I said all along that Ban Gongcuo was suspicious. The Wu Zun Lou Luo Sutra seemed off, and sure enough, it was. Now it looks like the Heavenly Demon Sect's Sect Leader Sacred Teacher came personally. The Heavenly Demon Sect actually chose a youth as their sect leader—quite bold..."
On the platform, Qin Mu also sat down. "Does anyone here know soul-searching or soul-binding techniques?"
A woman stood up and bowed. "Reporting to the Sacred Teacher, I have some skill in that area."
Qin Mu nodded. Suddenly, he performed the Soul Summoning Art. Behind him, a grim, shadowy gate materialized. Black mist surged out, dimming even the light from the oil lamps in the iron cauldrons.
At that moment, everyone saw the souls of Sun Nantuo and the group of monks standing in the gloomy black mist.
Qin Mu said, "Hall Master, I need to know who Sun Nantuo's accomplices are, who he allied with to harm our sect's two Heavenly Kings."
"As you command."
The female hall master stepped forward, took out a gleaming mirror, and performed a secret technique, shining it on Sun Nantuo.
The mirror's light pierced through his soul and fell onto the space behind him. Images appeared in the mirror's glow—scenes from Sun Nantuo's life, flashing by rapidly like a galloping horse. From the moment of his death, it traced backward, quickly reaching the memory of the siege against Heavenly King Lu.
"Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince Yun Boshan, Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince Ting Yanju, Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince Cui Mingzhi, Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince He Qianqiu, and..."
Right Protector Xue Bi'e recorded the figures appearing in Sun Nantuo's memories. Her gaze fell on the last person, and her pupils contracted. "...and the Crown Prince of the Yankang Kingdom, Ling Yuxia."
Qin Mu nodded. "Write it down. Find the right time and send them on their way."
Right Protector Xue Bi'e recorded the Crown Prince's name.
The Duke of Wei's heart shook violently. He opened his mouth but said nothing.
The Heavenly Demon Sect was far too arrogant—they even planned to send the Crown Prince on his way. That was the Crown Prince of Yankang!
However, he couldn't say much. Although Yankang was at its peak, its prosperity had only lasted about two hundred years, rising with the rise of the Yankang National Teacher.
The Heavenly Demon Sect, on the other hand, was a true ancient behemoth with a long history, having witnessed the rise and fall of countless nations and dynasties. The murder of their Heavenly Kings was not only a deep-seated hatred but also a great humiliation. This revenge was unavoidable.
The Duke of Wei could barely save himself, so how could he speak for the Crown Prince?
The female hall master continued tracing back through Sun Nantuo's memories until she reached the moment of the siege against Heavenly King Qian. This time, besides the Crown Prince and the others, there was also the Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince, Master Ruo Piao.
The current Junior Guardian of the Crown Prince was not Gu Linuan—Gu Linuan had been missing for two hundred years, and the Emperor had given the position to Master Ruo Piao.
Master Ruo Piao was also from the Buddhist sect, with the Dharma name Ruo Piao, taken from the saying "Of the three thousand waters, I only take one dipper."
Yun Boshan and Cui Mingzhi were both sect leader-level figures from the Daoist sect. Ting Yanju and He Qianqiu came from aristocratic families, great clans that had followed the founding Emperor in conquering the world.
These five, along with the now-dead Sun Nantuo, were all from the Crown Prince's faction, having all served as the Crown Prince's teachers at some point.
Among the sixteen first-rank officials in the court, the Crown Prince's faction accounted for six.
"Write down Master Ruo Piao's name as well."
Qin Mu said, "It's almost New Year's. Let them have a peaceful New Year and eat their last New Year's Eve dinner. Sun Nantuo is dead, Nantuo's Detached Palace is destroyed, but Nantuo Temple still stands. Protecting Elders, go and raze Nantuo Temple to the ground. Leave no traces."
The Protecting Elders acknowledged the order.
The Duke of Wei breathed a sigh of relief. This young sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect still had some sense. If he caused a ruckus and the court lost six first-rank officials plus the Crown Prince all at once, the Emperor would surely investigate and trace it back to the Heavenly Demon Sect!
The Yankang court was still the legitimate authority. Opposing the court would leave the Heavenly Demon Sect with no place to hide. Add to that the Daoist sect and the Great Thunderclap Monastery, who would surely take advantage of the situation, and the Heavenly Demon Sect would be in danger.
Killing them one by one, spaced out over time, minimized the risk.
For example, this time, Qin Mu killed Sun Nantuo and destroyed Nantuo Temple. He used the identity of the Loulan Golden Palace, brought the temple's supreme treasure to lure the monks of Nantuo's Detached Palace, forced Sun Nantuo to show himself, and lured him out of the capital to this place.
Although Sun Nantuo was a sect leader-level existence, the annihilation of him and Nantuo's Detached Palace happened in an instant. They didn't act in the capital, leaving no trace at all. It was a tightly woven plan, brilliantly executed.
Even if the Emperor wanted to investigate, he wouldn't find any clues, let alone trace it back to the Heavenly Demon Sect.
After Sun Nantuo's death, the Crown Prince would surely be on alert, making it difficult to strike at him. Acting rashly might even lead to a trap, so it was better to wait out this period.
Just then, Qin Mu looked at Wei Yong and the Duke of Wei with a smile. The Duke's heart tightened. He chuckled dryly. "Sect Leader, I have a very loud voice."
"I know."
Qin Mu smiled. "Duke, do you think our sect was efficient in killing Sun Nantuo?"
The Duke's heart leaped into his throat. Qin Mu was implying that he could kill both of them before the Duke could even get a shout out!
The Duke took a long breath. "I have a considerable friendship with your former Sect Leader Li!"
Qin Mu turned to look at the Left and Right Protectors beside him. Xue Bi'e said, "The former sect leader met him a few times. The friendship wasn't deep."
The Duke's face darkened. He discreetly scanned his surroundings, looking for an escape route.
Qin Mu said solemnly, "Duke, our sect has lost two Heavenly Kings, and now two Heavenly King positions are vacant. You are from a noble family, not within any sect. Becoming our sect's Guardian Heavenly King shouldn't face much resistance, should it?"
The Duke of Wei laughed dryly, looking around. He saw that the twenty experts who had jointly killed Sun Nantuo had already stood up, making the corners of his eyes twitch. "I am the Duke of Wei, an official. When would I have time to be your Guardian Heavenly King? Why not give me a more leisurely position..."
Qin Mu smiled gently. "Don't worry. Our sect is quite loose. We only trouble the Duke when there's a fight. You're just a name on the roster. Even I, as the sect leader, am quite idle. If not for this incident, I wouldn't have come personally. If the Duke is unwilling, we won't force you. Just swear an oath not to reveal what you've seen today, and you can leave. The world has too many misunderstandings about our sect, thinking we're bloodthirsty demons. Don't you agree?" He laughed heartily.
The Heavenly Demon Sect members below laughed along, but their smiles didn't reach their eyes, looking ready to turn hostile and silence everyone at any moment.
"I'm willing!" the Duke of Wei quickly said.
Wei Yong hesitated. "Grandfather..."
"Shut up!"
The Duke of Wei turned and snapped, "You've ruined me! My lifelong reputation is completely destroyed by you, you little bastard! If you hadn't called out 'Brother Qin,' we could have walked out of here unscathed!"
Wei Yong pouted. "Grandfather, he said we could leave. Why are you so insistent on joining the sect? Brother Qin is kind-hearted. He's not some vicious criminal."
The Duke of Wei blinked. "You really don't think he's vicious? If he weren't vicious, how could he be the demon sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect?"
Qin Mu coughed. "Heavenly King Wei, we usually call ourselves the Heavenly Saint Sect, not the Heavenly Demon Sect. And I am not the demon sect leader, but the Saint Sect Leader. Please remember that, Heavenly King Wei."
Wei Yong said excitedly, "Grandfather, the title 'Heavenly King' sounds much more impressive than 'Duke'! Brother Qin, give me a position too!"
—I've been coughing all day, and today I finally developed a low fever. My whole body aches, bones and all. Depressing. The weather has been fluctuating lately, and autumn colds are common. Fellow readers, please take care.