CH 123 Guarding Mountains And Land, The Waves In Front And Behind

Mountain Patrol Bureau. 

The dim bronze doors creaked open, and a sliver of long-awaited light pierced through the darkness of the prison, falling on his handsome, pale face.  

Qiu Yuansheng calmly watched as several elders and senior disciples from the Pill Peak entered one after another.  

"Yuan Sheng," the lead elder’s expression was both grave and tinged with anger, "Elder Yan has said many things to me, but I do not believe them. I came here to hear your explanation."  

"Thank you, Master, but there’s no need." Qiu Yuansheng replied earnestly. "Elder Yan is not a person prone to falsehoods, as you know. It is I who have failed you and the teachings you have imparted to me over the years. Please take care of yourself and do not let your disciple's failures disturb your Dao heart."  

"What exactly happened?" another senior member of the Pill Peak frowned and asked. "They claim you were responsible for what happened to Qingdi Peak all those years ago. That’s impossible. At the time, you had only been promoted from the outer sect for twelve years, merely a Foundation Establishment disciple. How could you have accomplished such a thing? If someone is framing you, Pill Peak will ensure justice is served."  

"Indeed," another elder interjected. "When you joined the outer sect, you were just a seven-year-old boy. The lower school is extremely harsh, yet you rose step by step. How could you have done something like this?"  

None of them could believe it.  

Qiu Yuansheng was the most talented and capable disciple Pill Peak had ever seen since its establishment. His behavior was impeccable, and under his leadership, Pill Peak had flourished. Why would he betray them? What external force could offer him more than Kun-Lai?  

Qiu Yuansheng smiled faintly. "You flatter me, my dear senior uncles. But as for what happened back then—though not entirely—half of it was indeed my doing."  

His words caused the elders, who had always regarded him with affection and high hopes, to turn pale.  

Not wanting to cause further trouble, Qiu Yuansheng began recounting the events of the past:  

"My fate was peculiar from birth. The moment I was born, my mother died, and an epidemic swept through the city. I was abandoned by my family and left to die in the wild, only to be rescued by the Great Xuan High Priest."  

"Did he coerce you?" one elder asked in a low voice.  

"He did not," Qiu Yuansheng replied with a smile. "He only taught me strategy and the art of grand schemes but never any cultivation methods. He praised me, saying, ‘Even in ten thousand years, Great Xuan might not produce another prodigy like Ah Sheng.’"  

"And that’s why you remained loyal to him?" asked the elder who had entered last, his voice low and bitter.  

"Not quite. He sent me to Kun-Lai early on," Qiu Yuansheng said, recalling those days with indifference. "Back then, he said, ‘My cultivation techniques are outdated. You should study in Kun-Lai to make the most of your talents. In twelve years, when you come of age, you can decide whether to follow me or stay in Kun-Lai. Observe with your eyes, judge with your heart. If Kun-Lai proves worthy, remain there. If I prove worthy, you may inherit my legacy. Choose once, and there will be no turning back.’"  

"So," the lead elder’s voice was heavy with exhaustion, "you decided Kun-Lai was unworthy?"  

"No," Qiu Yuansheng said calmly. "Kun-Lai is wonderful, but it’s a bit too peaceful for my tastes. Following the High Priest offered a more exciting chance to overturn the heavens."  

"The Qingdi Peak incident—was it his idea?" the elder demanded, his voice shaking with anger as he clenched his fists. "What did the peak master ever do to you?"  

"Twelve years after my arrival at Kun-Lai, I ascended the mountain. At the time, Pill Peak was still part of Qingdi Peak’s alchemy lineage. The High Priest wanted to visit Kun-Lai, but with the Sect Leader around, he naturally couldn't come." Qiu Yuansheng chuckled, as though reminiscing about a fond memory. "The peak master did nothing to me. But the moment I stepped onto Qingdi Peak, I saw flaws everywhere—so many that my hands itched to poke at them."  

Smack! A heavy slap landed on his face. The elder trembled with rage. "All those people on Qingdi Peak who died back then—just because your hands itched? What kind of person are you?!"  

Qiu Yuansheng casually wiped the blood from his mouth and sighed. "I was young and reckless. I wanted to test a plan to incite war with the spirit demon tribes. It was just a casual scheme of mine, but the High Priest, with his Human Immortal-level status, helped me arrange everything. Imagine, as a mere Foundation Establishment youth, being able to manipulate the lives of so many with ease—is there anything more intoxicating in this world?"  

"Your talents are extraordinary, and your elders cared deeply for you. Did you feel no guilt as you betrayed them?" another elder shouted.  

"At the time? None at all." Qiu Yuansheng paused to think before continuing. "My emotions are shallow. The only attachment I’ve developed over the years is to the trust you’ve shown me. That’s why, when you came to ask, I’ve laid everything bare. Even when Qingnu tortured me, I didn’t say a word."  

He figured that whether he spoke or not, Qingnu would torment him anyway—so why bother?  

"Are we supposed to thank you for that?" The elder, once proud of his promising apprentice, felt his fury almost disrupt the circulation of his own spiritual energy. Swallowing a medicinal pill, he steadied himself.  

"That won’t be necessary," Qiu Yuansheng said candidly. "Apart from that incident, I truly admire Kun-Lai and have never caused further trouble."  

If he’d discovered the Kun-Lai internet earlier, perhaps he would’ve stayed and avoided these grandiose schemes—but the world doesn’t deal in what-ifs.  

The elders’ expressions didn’t improve. One finally said heavily, "Tomorrow is your public trial. Are you aware of that?"  

"I am," Qiu Yuansheng nodded. "During the trial, I will confess everything. I won’t allow anyone to think I was falsely accused. Consider it a small recompense to Pill Peak."  

"Do you have anything else to say?" the lead elder, his anger now dulled by sorrow, asked.  

"There’s a rabbit fur doll in my room. If my ashes are recoverable, please bury it with me." Kneeling solemnly, Qiu Yuansheng bowed deeply. "Thank you all for the care you’ve shown me over the years."  

To die was no big deal—he wasn’t particularly attached to life, whether his own or others’.  

"Foolish to the extreme!" an elder roared, stepping forward to slap him again. The senior disciples of Pill Peak stood frozen, their idealized image of Qiu Yuansheng utterly shattered, until the guards from the Mountain Patrol Bureau came to escort them all out.  

The bronze doors shut, and the dark prison returned to silence.  

Qiu Yuansheng rubbed his dislocated jaw, carefully resetting it with a sigh. Getting beaten was tolerable, but the lack of network access was truly unbearable.  

*

Zhaoyue Peak, the Sect Leader’s residence.

Ji Yunlai received an invitation to attend Qiu Yuansheng’s public trial. The Qingdi Peak incident would finally reach its conclusion. Reflecting on the twists and turns of the matter, he felt the treachery of the world keenly and recognized that Kun-Lai still faced many perilous roads ahead.  

He was no longer the sixteen-year-old he once was. The well-being of Kun-Lai’s 30,000 cultivators now rested on his shoulders.  

Leaving Kun-Lai wasn’t an option—not just because of the network.  

He had realized that besides organized expeditions, disciples needed to venture out independently to hone their skills.  

"Xiao Qing." He called out to his apprentice, who was diligently working on assignments at the stone table next to the white camellia bush. 

Xiao Qing, in a blue robe with white trim looked really beautiful, Ji Yunlai thought to himself, mentally checking it off.

"Master?" Feng Qingxiu looked up at him, his expression serious and upright, as if he wasn’t dealing with the assigned tasks from his master, but rather making some major decision.

He’s really good at acting, Ji Yunlai thought. Who was the one who pinned me down last night in the Sealing Demon Palace within my sea of consciousness? Recalling his performance from last night, Ji Yunlai tried to discern any trace of the fox tail in his apprentice’s eyes.

Feng Qingxiu remained calm, letting his master gaze at him. The look in his eyes was obedient and earnest, full of admiration, with no hint of anything different to be found.

"Truly worthy of being my apprentice," Ji Yunlai smiled faintly. "Mingyu has arrived. Go and bring her here."

He needed to build a good relationship between his daughter and Xiao Qing. After all, it wouldn’t be long before they might become a family... Watching Xiao Qing nod and leave, Ji Yunlai elegantly picked up the tea cup that had been set aside, taking a gentle sip.

This was the tea Xiao Qing hadn’t finished... It tasted bitter. When he lifted the cup, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

Inside the cup were white camellia petals, known for their ability to clear heat, detoxify, and stop bleeding. How much nosebleed had Xiao Qing suffered to drink this early in the morning?

He extended a finger, lightly tapping some spiritual rice into the few missing petals of the camellia flower and cheerfully said, "Thank you for your hard work."

The flower moved slightly, and the flower head gently rubbed against his palm in an affectionate manner.

Soon, Xiao Qing returned with Ji Mingyu.

"Father!" Ji Mingyu, wearing a yellow robe and skirt, rushed over like a yellow oriole and leapt into her father's arms.

"Mingyu." Ji Yunlai stood up to catch her, noticing that his daughter seemed to have grown a little taller. After comforting her for a while, he invited her to have a seat.

Ji Mingyu nodded vigorously, chattering on about various matters happening in the sect, both big and small. For example, how the newcomers didn’t know her true identity and thought she was just a pretty face; how some of the juniors of the elders who knew her identity were secretly competing with her; and how a young girl with many wild ideas had written a wonderful book and become her friend. However, Ji Mingyu couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something a little strange about this friend, among other things.

Ji Yunlai listened quietly, until he noticed his Dao Seed silently floating to Ji Mingyu, at which he froze.

Ji Mingyu also paused for a moment, easily picking up the Dao Seed, which only the Sect Leader was able to touch. She asked, "What’s this, Father?"

"This is..." Ji Yunlai was about to explain when the Dao Seed suddenly sank into Mingyu’s palm and turned into a faint imprint. At the same time, he heard a soft voice, similar to his daughter’s, in his mind.

"Main system activated, Mingyu 1.0 Auxiliary System booting up. Dao Seed world simulation and Dao law calculation beginning. Please issue simulation instructions, Mingyu main system!"

What? Ji Yunlai looked up at Mingyu.

Mingyu, looking at the mark on her palm, innocently glanced at him and asked, "What’s wrong, Father?"