A Decade of Nightscape Lights

The next morning, the Night Orchid had withered, leaving behind only a large cluster of emerald green stems and leaves.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Granny Ajiang tearfully led the villagers in uprooting the entire Night Orchid, dousing it with tung oil, and setting it ablaze until nothing remained. Cai Zhao felt a weight lift from her shoulders, thinking that at least no one could cultivate that sinister Purple Star Sutra anymore.

Song Yuzhi was eager to find Song Xiuzhi for answers, Cai Zhao was anxious to learn about her parents' safety, and Mu Qingyan wanted to ask Grandmaster Yang Heying a small question regarding logistics. Thus, they promptly bid farewell to Granny Ajiang and the others.

Before leaving, Mu Qingyan let Cai Zhao and the other two go ahead while he and his two companions lingered a few steps behind. Once Cai Zhao and the others were far enough away, he took out all the gold leaves from his pocket and ordered Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue to empty their pouches of gold ingots and silver notes. Gathering everything together, he solemnly placed the bundle into Granny Ajiang’s arms, his demeanor devoid of any condescension.

Granny Ajiang clutched the heavy bundle of gold and silver, her aged face, weathered with damp moss, breaking into an odd smile. "...You noticed."

Mu Qingyan replied, "Last night, the fresh bedding you brought out was made of coarse silk—something the Blood Marsh cannot produce. It occurred to me that while outsiders cannot enter the Blood Marsh, its inhabitants can leave. I figured you and the others must occasionally step out to reunite with your children and grandchildren for a few days."

Granny Ajiang lowered her gaze to the wealth in her arms and murmured, "This land is barren and perilous. When our children leave, we cannot provide them with anything. They must start their lives empty-handed, and it is very difficult for them."

Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue exchanged glances, only now realizing that these people were not proud warriors of the Martial World but ordinary, hardworking villagers.

Mu Qingyan said, "Don’t blame Zhao Zhao. She grew up without want and wouldn’t naturally notice such things. Besides..." He chuckled. "Even if she had noticed, she probably wouldn’t have had much silver on her."

Cai Zhao was careless with details, Song Yuzhi came from immense wealth, and even Fan Xingjia hailed from a prosperous family in the southern countryside—none of them were particularly attuned to the struggles of common folk. When they left the Azure Tower Sect, they assumed they were heading to the affluent Vast Heaven Gate, where they would live in luxury, so they hadn’t brought much traveling money.

Granny Ajiang shook her head with a faint smile. "Back then, Miss Xiaoshu didn’t realize it herself either. It was only after my foolish little daughter kept stealing glances at her clothes and hairpins that she belatedly understood."

Mu Qingyan said, "To be honest, Granny, these worldly riches mean little to me. When I say this is but a modest gift, I am not being polite. Please accept it."

Granny Ajiang no longer refused. She bowed slightly. "Thank you."

After a few steps, she turned back, gazing at Mu Qingyan’s jade-like handsome face, which briefly overlapped with another’s in her memory before separating again. "You and Young Master Yang... you’re actually not alike."

She seemed lost in thought. "Miss Xiaoshu truly didn’t notice our hardships because she never lacked for anything. But I knew Young Master Yang had realized long ago—he just didn’t care."

"You and him... you’re different."

After leaving the Blood Marsh village, Shangguan Haonan couldn’t help but exclaim, "So they needed money? They should’ve just said so! Next time, I’ll haul over dozens of chests of gold and silver—enough to keep them feasting on delicacies and draped in silks outside..."You Guanyue said resentfully, "Shut up. Do you think you're the only one who thought of that? The Cult Leader must have other plans."

Mu Qingyan had been pondering the last words of Granny Ajiang. Hearing this, he smiled faintly, "They're probably leaving. No one will live in that Blood Marsh anymore."

Shangguan Haonan exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't they say they couldn't leave that Blood Marsh?"

"When Cai Anning transformed this Blood Marsh, they were still young. Though I'm not well-versed in herbalism, after fifty years of purification, even the most stubborn toxins would have mostly dissipated."

Mu Qingyan walked ahead with his hands behind his back. "If I'm not mistaken, they were all children raised by Cai Anning. The reason they stayed was likely because they couldn't bear to leave Cai Anning's burial site and the Night Orchid she transplanted there."

You Guanyue understood, "So that's it. Now that the Night Orchid is destroyed, they have no more ties here. Ah, if we'd known they were leaving to reunite with their descendants, we could have asked where they were going so we could look after them in the future."

Mu Qingyan laughed, "Better not ask. Getting involved in the Martial World's grudges is no good thing."

The Blood Marsh gradually faded behind them as a gentle breeze rustled through the dense forest, leaves whispering in the wind.

The tall, handsome young man walked with an air of ease, his long hair fluttering in the breeze, exuding a carefree spirit.

"I think the Cult Leader seems a bit happy," You Guanyue whispered.

Shangguan Haonan was puzzled, "Of course I'm happy to leave that stifling, dangerous place full of snakes, insects, and rats!"

"Idiot!"

The three soon caught up with Cai Zhao and the others.

Song Yuzhi, well aware of Mu Qingyan's cunning, asked humbly, "I need to question my elder brother. What are your plans, Cult Leader Mu?"

Mu Qingyan replied, "The Bone-Corroding Sky Rain belongs to our Cult. We can't just let anyone take and misuse it. I must discuss this matter with Sect Leader Yang."

Cai Zhao thought to herself that she really didn't need to go to Vast Heaven Gate with them. First, she had no grievances with Song Xiuzhi, and second, the Bone-Corroding Sky Rain wasn't from Fallen Blossom Valley. Right now, she was more concerned about her parents' situation.

"What does Junior Sister think?" Song Yuzhi asked, as eight other pairs of eyes turned to her intently.

"...Let's find a place to bathe and change first," Cai Zhao sighed. "Then have a proper meal and get some real rest before going to Vast Heaven Gate after dark." — It would be easier to escape under cover of darkness.

Fan Xingjia was delighted, "Excellent idea!"

Noticing everyone's gazes, he quickly added, "I don't know if you've noticed, but the six of us smell like we've been buried in a pile of rotten meat and fish for three days and nights."

Even Song Yuzhi, despite his anxiety, had to agree, "Junior Sister is right. We've been traveling and fighting nonstop and are exhausted. Besides, both Junior Sister and I are injured and need some rest before making plans."

Mu Qingyan gave an indifferent nod.

Not wanting to trouble another place, the six slipped back to the deserted teahouse outside Vast Heaven City.

The light snow still fell gently, the tea stove still steamed with white vapor, and the old proprietor still sat at the entrance lamenting the lack of business. The six decided to rent the entire teahouse and had the old man close up shop.

This time, it was Cai Zhao who paid. She took off a delicate gold bracelet to settle the bill, giving Mu Qingyan a strange look. "You're out of money? Don't you always carry a pouch of gold leaves when you go out? Is the Demonic Cult that poor now?"You Guanyue muttered under his breath, gazing at the sky with longing, wishing he could immediately fetch two carts of gold to dazzle Young Lady Knight Cai’s eyes. Shangguan Haonan swallowed hard, bravely and tragically resisting the urge to say a word.

Mu Qingyan smiled. "The way Young Lady Knight Cai insists on paying is truly delightful to witness. In the future, you must remember to eagerly offer to pay more often."

Cai Zhao couldn’t hold back, her emerald brows relaxing as a radiant smile bloomed on her face. "Oh, shut up! ‘Delightful’ my foot! Of course you’d be ‘delighted’ spending someone else’s money! Since the Demonic Cult is in dire straits these days, let me teach you a way to make money, Sect Leader Mu. All you need to do is pretend to be a down-and-out scholar and set up a calligraphy and painting stall on the street. With your looks—"

Song Yuzhi coughed heavily, and Cai Zhao immediately stopped, straightening her face before heading back to her room to freshen up.

Mu Qingyan’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes turned icy. "Even a blind man could see she’s happier with me."

Song Yuzhi replied coldly, "Can that happiness make up for never seeing her parents and elders again? Or never returning to Fallen Blossom Valley? Sect Leader Mu, there’s no need to search for the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower on my behalf anymore. After this matter is settled, our debts are cleared."

Mu Qingyan’s gaze was piercingly cold, sending chills down Fan Xingjia’s spine. Song Yuzhi met his stare unflinchingly until Mu Qingyan finally let out a cold laugh and turned away.

You Guanyue cursed Song Yuzhi inwardly—that damned brat! The sect leader had just begun to show a bit of liveliness after leaving the Blood Marsh, but now he was back to his gloomy self again.

Pale snowflakes swirled in the dark night as Mu Qingyan, Cai Zhao, and four others stealthily made their way to Vast Heaven Gate under cover of darkness. Despite moving cautiously, the sprawling complex of Vast Heaven Gate, with its thousands of buildings arranged in countless rows, made it impossible to locate the Four Stallions Gate members, even with Song Yuzhi’s familiarity with the terrain.

The night was like a vast cloak of invisibility, shrouding everything beneath it.

"Maybe we should come back during the day?" Fan Xingjia suggested. "They’ll have to eat then, and we can track their movements to find the Four Stallions Gate people. At this hour, even the dogs are asleep. We can’t just search every room one by one."

"Fifth Senior Brother, catch your breath first. It’s easy for you to say—you weren’t the one half-dead from leading the escape last time. If we confront the Four Stallions Gate leader in broad daylight and alert the surroundings, we’ll just end up in another frantic chase," Cai Zhao disagreed.

Fan Xingjia’s lips twitched. He thought that given Cai Zhao’s ‘relationship’ with Mu Qingyan, the three of them wouldn’t stand idly by if they needed to flee—but he couldn’t say that out loud.

With no leads, the six randomly subdued a few patrolling Vast Heaven Gate disciples along the way for questioning. Though they still didn’t know where Yang Heying was staying, they learned another significant piece of news—Qi Yunke, accompanied by Zhou Zhizhen and Fakong, had just arrived earlier that day. By evening, a senior disciple surnamed Li from Azure Tower Sect had also arrived. They had already met with the Song family’s senior elders during the day.

Cai Zhao clutched her chest in relief. "Blessed heavens, thank the ancestors we came at night! If we’d come during the day, we’d have run straight into Master’s hands—and Senior Uncle Li is here too!" Her back ached faintly at the thought.

Fan Xingjia added, "Since Master and the others are here, we don’t need to sneak around anymore. We can just explain everything to them and let the elders handle it."

Cai Zhao wholeheartedly agreed.Mu Qingyan indicated they could do as they pleased—he was still determined to find Yang Heying. Fan Xingjia and Cai Zhao were overjoyed, but unexpectedly, Song Yuzhi insisted on joining him for the nighttime visit.

"We have no concrete evidence, only deductions based on words. How can we make Yang Heying confess before our masters? If only the Demonic Cult members are present, he might reveal the truth under pressure."

This reasoning was sound, and Fan Xingjia rubbed his nose and fell silent.

Mu Qingyan smiled with hidden meaning. "Indeed, 'no concrete evidence, only deductions based on words'—it truly is hard to convince others."

Song Yuzhi recalled his many arguments with Cai Zhao about how "Mu Qingyan’s accusations of North Star’s internal collusion with the Demonic Cult, based solely on speculation, were too rash." Now, the same situation had fallen upon him, and his expression darkened.

"Enough, enough. Let’s just hurry and find where that old turtle Yang is hiding," Cai Zhao cursed inwardly, thinking Mu Qingyan couldn’t go a moment without being sarcastic. "Third Senior Brother, where do you think Yang Heying is staying?"

Song Yuzhi speculated that since Yang Heying had achieved a great victory in his schemes, he would surely reside near the central main hall of Vast Heaven Gate to flaunt his triumph. Mu Qingyan scoffed and immediately commented on the relationship between Yang Heying and Song Xiuzhi.

"Even his own father and brother were shown no mercy—how could Yang trust him? The main hall of Vast Heaven Gate is heavily guarded at all key points. If conflict breaks out, Four Stallions Gate would be trapped like a turtle in a jar."

According to Mu Qingyan, the Four Stallions Gate delegation would stay at a location somewhat removed from Vast Heaven Gate’s main buildings, close to a downhill escape route, with independent kitchens and water sources to ensure both food safety and a smooth getaway. Song Yuzhi felt his family had been subtly insulted again but suppressed his discomfort. After a moment of thought, he finally recalled a suitable location.

Following Song Yuzhi, the five of them circled halfway around the mountain before spotting a cluster of elegant courtyards nestled in the shaded valley, adorned with pavilions and towers reminiscent of Jiangnan’s scenic charm. Fan Xingjia, rarely seeing such familiar scenery, clicked his tongue in admiration. "Your family elders have refined taste, Senior Brother."

Cai Zhao thought, Refined taste, my foot. This was probably some past Vast Heaven Gate leader’s secret love nest, and that Jiangnan beauty must have clashed fiercely with the official wife—otherwise, why bother with separate kitchens and water sources?

Just then, Mu Qingyan’s mocking voice sounded beside her: "This must have been the residence of some Song family leader’s favored concubine. The official wife was likely a tigress—imagine the spectacular battles back then. I wonder who won in the end."

Cai Zhao burst out laughing but quickly stifled it.

Song Yuzhi’s face darkened, but he said nothing and led the group forward.

Upon entering the courtyard, they indeed spotted shadowy figures of Four Stallions Gate disciples patrolling in the darkness. Song Yuzhi and Fan Xingjia both inwardly acknowledged Mu Qingyan’s cunning—his predictions were eerily accurate.

Concealed by the howling wind and snow, the six of them approached the main house of the compound. One room stood out with particularly bright lamplight, and faint scolding voices could be heard. They crept closer silently, incapacitating the guards along the way.Originally, Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue had planned to simply snap the necks of their targets—quick, clean, and effortless. But after an enraged Cai Xiaozhao hurled two fist-sized rocks at their foreheads, they had no choice but to switch to knocking people unconscious by striking pressure points instead.

After clearing the area outside the house, the six of them entered the dark partitioned room. Shangguan Haonan used a palm strike to sever the wooden latch on the small window, and You Guanyue swiftly propped it open with a twig. Peering through the gap, they saw Yang Heying berating a frail, sallow-faced young girl.

"You wretched girl, daring to defy your father’s orders! Who taught you such disobedience? And you—how did you raise such an unfilial brat?!" Yang Heying’s voice was sharp as he pointed accusingly at the middle-aged woman cowering beside the girl.

"N-no, I would never encourage Xiaolan to disobey you! Please don’t be angry, husband, I’ll talk sense into her!" Madam Zhuo shrank back, clearly terrified of Yang Heying.

Yang Xiaolan straightened her neck, tears streaking her face. "Father ordered me to marry Song Xiuzhi, and I dare not refuse. But if you expect me to do anything else underhanded, I cannot obey!"

A loud slap rang out—Yang Heying struck without restraint, splitting Yang Xiaolan’s lip and drawing blood.

"You insolent wretch, have you grown too bold?!" Yang Heying roared.

Seated nearby in an armchair, Madam Sha gave a coquettish laugh. "Oh my, is our young miss already acting high and mighty just because she’s about to become the Vast Heaven Gate’s mistress? Forgetting her own father, are we?"

Sha Zuguang drawled lazily, "They say a married daughter is like spilled water—gone for good. But in our young lady’s case, the water hasn’t even been spilled yet, and she’s already turned her back on her own father."

"Beat her to death, Father! Beat her to death!" Yang Tianci clapped his hands gleefully.

Madam Zhuo sobbed as she clung to her daughter. "Lan'er, just listen to your father! He’s your own flesh and blood—he wouldn’t harm you!"

Though trembling with fear, Yang Xiaolan still managed to argue in a shaky voice. "Whether Song Xiuzhi is good or bad, he’s the husband Father chose for me. If Father dislikes him, I won’t marry him at all! But if you expect me to poison him when his guard is down—I will never stoop to such vile tricks!"

Yang Heying stamped his foot repeatedly. "How many times must I say it? It’s not poison, not poison! Just a means of control! Lately, Song Xiuzhi has been outwardly respectful but doing as he pleases—he’s no simpleton. But once he ingests our sect’s Soul-Tethering Powder, with the antidote in my hands, he’ll have no choice but to obey!"

Fan Xingjia’s heart stirred. He had heard Lei Xiuming mention that while the Soul-Tethering Powder was indeed potent, administering it was troublesome—it required continuous doses over several days, making detection likely. Only someone extremely close to the target could pull it off.

Yang Xiaolan’s voice was thick with sorrow. "If Father knows Song Xiuzhi isn’t simple, why send me to poison him? If I’m caught, do I even stand a chance of surviving?"

Yang Heying’s expression flickered with discomfort. "With me here, he wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you."

Madam Sha simpered, "Oh, come now, young miss. Not only do you have your father backing you, but even if things go wrong, what’s a little suffering for the sake of your own father?"

The group outside the window shook their heads inwardly. Whether Yang Xiaolan succeeded or failed in poisoning her future husband, her reputation would be ruined for life. They say even a vicious tiger wouldn’t harm its own cub—yet in the human world, such cruelty was all too common.Inside the room, Yang Heying was still pressuring his daughter, while the timid Madam Zhuo wept on the side. The Sha siblings occasionally fanned the flames, but Yang Xiaolan clenched her teeth and refused to yield.

Mu Qingyan grew impatient. With a crash, he shattered the window and leaped inside, followed swiftly by Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue. The three swept in like a gale, eliciting startled cries from those inside—"Who are you?" "How dare you cause trouble!"

Yang Heying saw a shadowy figure dart toward him with lightning speed. Before he could identify the intruder, he raised his hand and formed a sword gesture—the third stance of the Four Stallions Gate's secret technique, the "Nine Luminaries Divine Sword," known as "Lunar Eclipse Strikes the Sun." Yet his opponent moved like a ghost. Before Yang could even muster his Inner Force, three rapid strikes landed on his left shoulder, right arm, and chest. The blows felt as though his bones would shatter, and a vicious, overwhelming energy surged into his meridians, leaving his entire body numb and weak. The third strike sent him sprawling into a large armchair. As he struggled to rise, a sharp pain shot through his neck, forcing him to slump back—his throat was now firmly gripped in the assailant's grasp.

"Brother-in-law!"

"Don’t hurt my father!"

Sha Zuguang and Yang Xiaolan, seeing Yang Heying in peril, rushed forward.

You Guanyue chuckled as he effortlessly knocked Sha Zuguang flying into the wall with a few punches and kicks. He even had the leisure to smirk at the terrified Madam Sha, warning her to keep Yang Tianci from crying—or else mother and son would both meet their end.

Shangguan Haonan exchanged three or four moves with Yang Xiaolan in an instant. Their final clash sent Yang Xiaolan flying back like a reed caught in a gust, while Shangguan Haonan staggered two steps backward.

Outside the window, Cai Zhao watched in silent shock. She knew Shangguan Haonan well—though he appeared rough and reckless, his martial prowess was fierce and formidable, ranking among the finest of the Demonic Cult's younger generation. Yet Yang Xiaolan, who seemed like a meek and oppressed young wife, possessed surprising skill.

Gritting through the pain in his throat, Yang Heying looked up and realized his captor was none other than Mu Qingyan. The fingers around his neck pulsed with restrained Inner Force, a clear threat.

"Y-you… what do you want? I wasn’t the mastermind behind trapping you last year! Don’t—don’t act recklessly!" He assumed Mu Qingyan had come for revenge over last year’s humiliation. He wanted to call for help but feared Mu Qingyan would unleash his Inner Force, shattering his meridians and leaving him crippled if not dead.

Mu Qingyan seemed to read his thoughts and smiled faintly. "Rest easy, Sect Leader Yang. Last year’s capture was my own lack of skill—I’ve no complaints. I’m not here for vengeance. I merely wish to ask you one small question. Answer truthfully, and no harm will come to you."

Yang Xiaolan, poised to intervene, hesitated upon hearing this.

Yielding to the Demonic Cult was a grave taboo for North Star disciples, but with only family present, Yang Heying reasoned the shame wouldn’t spread. Reluctantly, he softened his tone. "What do you want to know?"

Mu Qingyan asked, "Where did you obtain the Bone-Corroding Sky Rain?"

Yang Heying stiffened. "It… it was seized when my sect raided one of your cult’s outposts after Nie Hengcheng’s death—ahhh!" Mu Qingyan tightened his grip, cutting off Yang’s breath with a spike of agony."An unparalleled weapon like the Bone-Corroding Sky Rain—if it had been distributed to various branch halls twenty years ago, why is it so rarely known in the Martial World? To be honest, when Nie Hengcheng was alive, the Bone-Corroding Sky Rain was never sent out of the Nether Bamboo Path," Mu Qingyan said slowly. "Sect Leader Yang, you'd better think carefully before answering, lest you damage the harmony between us."

Yang Heying stammered, his eyes darting nervously: "Actually, actually, this Bone-Corroding Sky Rain is..."

Mu Qingyan didn’t wait for him to fabricate an excuse and turned to You Guanyue. “Guanyue, if Sect Leader Yang refuses to answer truthfully, kill his beloved concubine first. If he utters another lie, twist off his precious son’s head.”

“As you command!” You Guanyue stepped forward with a sinister grin.

Madam Sha clung to her son, trembling and weeping like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “Sect Leader, my husband, just tell them. There are no outsiders here. Tianci is your only flesh and blood—he can’t be harmed…”

Outside the window, Fan Xingjia frowned. “His only flesh and blood? Isn’t Miss Yang his daughter?”

Cai Zhao replied coolly, “That’s not wrong. To some people, only sons count as their own flesh and blood. But from what my mother (who traveled extensively with Cai Pingshu) observed, the more parents think like that, the more useless their sons tend to be.”

Yang Heying glanced around the room again. Apart from Mu Qingyan’s group, only his own family was present. Gritting his teeth, he finally relented. “Fine, I’ll talk. The Bone-Corroding Sky Rain wasn’t seized from your branch, but I don’t know its origins either. One night several months ago, a black-clad man broke into my chamber. He claimed to have a deep grudge against the Demonic Cult and wanted to gift me several jars of Bone-Corroding Sky Rain he had obtained by chance. After naming a location, he vanished.”

“I was skeptical—afraid it might be a trap, yet hopeful it was real. Years ago, I’d heard of the fearsome reputation of Bone-Corroding Sky Rain. Though rarely seen in the Martial World, its power was said to be devastating. Those who encountered it were left without intact corpses—only those who severed their own limbs in time could escape alive. With such an opportunity before me, how could I resist?”

“A few days later, I sent men to the location the black-clad man mentioned. Sure enough, they unearthed five jars of Bone-Corroding Sky Rain. After testing it within the sect, I confirmed it was truly the deadliest poison in the world!”

As he spoke, Yang Heying’s eyes gleamed with greedy triumph, like a gambler holding a winning hand.

Mu Qingyan frowned. “Do you know who that black-clad man was?”

Yang Heying scoffed. “Hell if I know! He only appeared once, vanishing without a trace. That night, I was too busy staying alert to study his movements or origins.”

Cai Zhao sighed inwardly. Just as Mu Qingyan had predicted—another dead end.

Inside the room, You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan accused Yang Heying of withholding the truth, then taunted him into swearing an oath—that if his words were false, his line would perish, and so on. Yang Heying trembled with rage, shouting that a scholar would rather die than suffer humiliation.

Madam Zhuo tearfully pleaded with Mu Qingyan, “Since my husband has answered truthfully, please spare him…”

Just as Song Yuzhi grew impatient and was about to storm in to demand answers about his own family’s affairs, Mu Qingyan suddenly raised his voice. “Fine, we’ll set aside the Bone-Corroding Sky Rain for now—but where did Sect Leader Yang learn to refine Corpse Puppet Slaves?”

The three outside the window held their breaths.

Yang Heying’s face darkened, his eyes flashing with malice. “Mu, don’t you dare slander me! Don’t pin Song Maozhi’s crimes on me!”

Mu Qingyan smiled. “Whether Song Maozhi refined Corpse Puppet Slaves or not, I know better than you. Let’s speak plainly, Sect Leader Yang. Tell the truth.”

You Guanyue took another step toward Yang Tianci and his mother, prompting a chorus of terrified shrieks from the women and children—pleas of “Save us, Father!” filling the air.Yang Heying thought to himself, admitting to other matters might still be passable, but the accusation of refining Corpse Puppet Slaves was absolutely unacceptable. "Refining Corpse Puppet Slaves is your Demonic Cult's specialty. How would I know? If you want answers, go ask Song Maozhi!"

Mu Qingyan raised an eyebrow. "Do you know? You and Song Xiuzhi made a mistake in your little act. The people under Nie Zhe who knew how to refine Corpse Puppet Slaves were all killed by me, and Nie Hengcheng himself despises Corpse Puppet Slaves. Therefore, it’s impossible for Song Maozhi to have learned how to refine them from the Nie Clan."

Yang Heying’s heart trembled, but he stubbornly insisted, "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

Mu Qingyan took two slow steps around the room. "If I’m not mistaken, when Lu Fengchun was cornered by me and desperate, he ordered his men to find a hidden location to refine a large number of Corpse Puppet Slaves to resist my siege. By chance, you stumbled upon them and decided to take both the men and the cauldrons back to the Four Stallions Gate. Am I right, Sect Leader Yang?"

Yang Heying, both guilty and terrified, flew into a rage. "The Demonic Cult framing the Big Dipper Six Sects is nothing new! I know nothing about any Lu or Nie!"

"...Father, is this about that incident half a year ago?" A timid young girl’s voice suddenly spoke up.

Yang Xiaolan’s face was pale. "Late one night half a year ago, Father suddenly brought back several injured strangers and cleared out a secluded courtyard in the back mountains to imprison them. Over the next two months, villagers from nearby areas kept disappearing. Rumors spread of fox spirits eating people, causing panic. When the villagers, desperate, came to beg Father to investigate, he agreed. The next day, that courtyard in the back mountains caught fire, burning everyone inside to ashes."

Outside the window, Fan Xingjia was confused. "I thought the Corpse Puppet Slaves were discovered at Seven Bath Mountain. How does the Four Stallions Gate come into this?"

Cai Zhao whispered in response, "After capturing Lu Fengchun’s men, Yang first imprisoned them at the Four Stallions Gate and tested the method on nearby villagers. When he realized things were getting out of hand, he moved the operation to Seven Bath Mountain."

Fan Xingjia suddenly understood. Song Yuzhi clenched his fists, his pupils burning with intensity.

Yang Heying, exposed by his daughter, immediately lifted a heavy armchair and hurled it at her, roaring, "You wretched beast! How dare you spout such nonsense! I’ll kill you!"

Madam Zhuo also tugged at her daughter’s sleeve. "Lan’er, don’t talk nonsense! People will misunderstand your father—"

"Mother, don’t you see?" Yang Xiaolan grasped her mother’s shoulders, tears in her eyes. "If Father really refined the Corpse Puppet Slaves, then who killed Grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, and our cousins?!"

Madam Zhuo swayed unsteadily, forcing a smile as she tried to reassure her daughter. "What nonsense are you spouting, child? How could your father do such a thing? Absolutely not! Don’t listen to outsiders slandering him!"

"You little wretch!" Yang Heying bellowed, lunging for his daughter.

Mu Qingyan flashed in front of him, blocking his path with a smile. "Sect Leader Yang, calm down."Yang Heying let out a furious roar, drawing his sword with a clang. He unleashed an unrelenting series of the Nine Luminaries Divine Sword techniques—"Sun's Benevolence," "Moon in the Heavens," "Eclipse of the New Moon"—like a storm so fierce it left no room to breathe.

Mu Qingyan deftly dodged several times using the Azure Cloud Leap, then seized upon a flaw in Yang Heying's stance. He kicked Yang Heying's knee and swiftly grabbed his longsword, snapping it in two with a sharp crack. With a forward thrust, the broken blade pressed against the pulsing artery in Yang Heying's neck.

Madam Zhuo and Madam Sha gasped in unison, pleading with Mu Qingyan to show mercy.

Yang Heying knelt on one knee, feeling the cold edge of the blade tremble against his throat, his face drained of color.

"Elder Yang," Mu Qingyan said slowly, "you know our methods well. Since I’ve come to ask you directly, we already know everything we need to. Why bother denying it?"

Yang Heying clenched his jaw, hatred seething in his voice. "If you’ve already uncovered everything, why bother questioning me?!" His words amounted to an admission.

Madam Zhuo nearly fainted, while Yang Xiaolan wept and accused, "Father, was it really you who killed Grandfather’s family?! How could you commit such a heartless, wicked deed…"

Hearing this, Song Yuzhi could no longer restrain himself. With a sharp crack, he leaped through the window. Cai Zhao had no choice but to drag a reluctant Fan Xingjia in after him. The sudden appearance of the three shocked the Four Stallions Gate disciples—especially Yang Heying, who realized his earlier disgrace and confession had been witnessed. A murderous intent surged within him.

Mu Qingyan smirked, withdrawing the broken blade from Yang Heying’s throat and stepping back, hands clasped behind him.

"Yang Heying, you shameless, deranged old villain!" Song Yuzhi stepped forward, his voice low and heavy. "Our Song family bore you no grudge, yet you framed my elder brother without cause and ultimately killed him. This enmity is irreconcilable!"

Yang Heying gave a sinister chuckle. "Your father, in his arrogance, flaunted the wealth and power of the Vast Heaven Gate, looking down on the Four Stallions Gate and humiliating me time and again. I endured it for half a lifetime—until I finally had the chance to watch his sons turn on each other and his house crumble to ruin. Hahahaha…"

Song Yuzhi’s heart sank. "How much did Song Xiuzhi have to do with all this?"

"What do you think?" Yang Heying’s eyes gleamed with malicious triumph. "Your elder brother was truly a master of deception—even I underestimated him…"

Just as Song Yuzhi was about to press further, a familiar voice drifted eerily through the window—

"If Third Brother wishes to know the details, he need only ask me. Why trouble Uncle Yang?"