A Decade of Nightscape Lights

The Hanhai Mountains were not a single peak, but an entire mountain range.

At a glance, one saw layer upon layer of peaks and undulating ridges. By day, the landscape was lush and verdant; by night, ghostly fires flickered amidst dim lanterns, making it impossible to distinguish man from specter.

Two hundred years ago, the founding sect leader, Mu Xiu, chose this place to establish their sect. He first built the Paradise Palace and the Nine Provinces Treasure Scroll Pavilion. Subsequent sect leaders expanded the grounds, constructing sacred sites such as the Sacrificial Immortal Cliff and the God Devouring Platform. From these central locations, countless hidden passages and secret doors sprawled outward like spiderwebs, silently disappearing beneath the towering mountains.

The only publicly accessible path was located within a dense grove of ink-black bamboo, flanked by countless mechanisms and traps. The Martial World called it the "Nether Bamboo Path."

At this moment, the Nether Bamboo Path was eerily quiet—not even a single ghost fire flickered along the way.

At the eastern edge of the dense black bamboo grove stood a brightly lit mansion, guarded by three layers of armed sentries, all on high alert. You Guanyue flashed his token and hurried into the inner study, where a tall, elegant figure was bent over a desk beneath the lamplight.

"Come in," said the coldly handsome young man without looking up. His long lashes cast deep shadows beneath his eyes, accentuating his pale skin.

You Guanyue knelt and bowed. "Greetings, Young Master."

Mu Qingyan asked, "Is everything prepared?"

You Guanyue replied, "Wang Tianfeng has gathered all able-bodied men from the villages around the Vermilion Bird Altar. Liu Jiangfeng is lying in wait outside the altar, while Tang Qing leads the remaining forces under the Celestial Authority Seat. They await only your command."

"Rise first," Mu Qingyan said, lifting his head with a sigh. "Elder Chou was loyal to the Mu family—his devotion was as clear as daylight. But after his death, people scattered like tea gone cold. His followers either died or defected, leaving only a handful behind."

His gaze shifted to You Guanyue, who stood before the desk. "Among those who remain, you hold the highest rank. From now on, I shall rely on your talents."

You Guanyue bowed again. "I would gladly die in your service!"

Mu Qingyan continued, "Shisan, have the swords from the Sword Cave been retrieved?"

You Guanyue started in surprise as a slender youth emerged from the shadows. Silent as a ghost, Lian Shisan had been in the room unnoticed.

Lian Shisan answered softly, "I counted the men outside. Fifty or sixty swords should suffice."

Mu Qingyan chuckled. "Shisan, you’ve learned well from Cheng Bo’s accounting—always frugal. Pass the order: once they see that 'thing,' they must not engage in prolonged combat. Sever its neck and spine with the swords. Go distribute them."

Lian Shisan acknowledged and left.

You Guanyue’s face lit with excitement. "I once heard that over a century ago, a sect leader was obsessed with sword forging. He gathered master smiths from across the land and spent twenty years crafting hundreds of blades sharp enough to slice through iron, then hid them somewhere in the mountains—I never thought it was true!"

Mu Qingyan smiled wryly. "Even a broken ship has three pounds of nails. At least the Mu family still has some assets the Nie clan doesn’t know about."

You Guanyue studied Mu Qingyan’s expression and ventured cautiously, "Young Master, we don’t actually need to charge in head-on. I know of several hidden passages in the Vermilion Bird Altar. If we take those, with your skill, you could cut down Xiong Qianjin in a single stroke—wouldn’t that be easier?"Mu Qingyan pondered for a moment before nodding: "Right, you served as deputy Altar Lord of the Vermilion Bird Altar for several years, so you must know quite a bit. But as for taking the easy path—I tried that over a year ago. This time, I want to try a different approach. Do you know the best way to clean a filthy, disgusting house?"

You Guanyue gave an awkward smile: "Please enlighten me, Young Master." Though inwardly, he thought: Our entire group has staked our lives and futures on you—don't pull any reckless stunts now.

Mu Qingyan gazed at the dim lamplight: "Before, I thought simply changing the owner would suffice. Later, I realized this house isn't just filthy—its very beams and pillars are infested with snakes, insects, and rats. The best way to clean such a house isn't cleaning at all—it's burning it down and rebuilding from scratch."

"Over a year ago, I rashly challenged Nie Zhe, thinking my martial arts had progressed enough. The result? Attacked from all sides, severely wounded, forced to flee. This time, I won't confront Nie Zhe directly. I'll advance inch by inch from the Nether Bamboo Path all the way to Paradise Palace." He turned to the large map on the wall. "The first target is the Vermilion Bird Altar."

You Guanyue was stunned: "Young Master, you—you mean to conquer each location one by one? That—that would be extremely laborious. Besides the Vermilion Bird Altar, there are still the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise Altars—three main altars. I at least know something about the Vermilion Bird Altar's situation, but the other three? I'm completely in the dark!"

"Indeed, it will be difficult. Are you still willing to serve me?" Mu Qingyan's eyes were like icy springs—utterly cold yet dazzlingly beautiful. When his gaze settled on You Guanyue, the latter felt his back turn cold.

He hurriedly replied: "Of course!"

Mu Qingyan studied him quietly: "You Guanyue, at age six, you were sold into the sect by human traffickers. Elder Chou noticed your cleverness and decent potential, selecting you from a group of children to serve as a alchemy chamber attendant. After Elder Chou's time, your youth allowed you to escape the Nie Clan's purges. Later, your efficiency and competence earned you promotion to a local branch Altar Lord."

"Five years ago, you seized the chance to befriend Xiong Qianjin, Altar Lord of the Vermilion Bird Altar. Riding on his 'favor and trust,' you rose to deputy Altar Lord. Unfortunately, the good times didn't last—Xiong Qianjin soon took two new favorites. Zhang Xun and Li Zhang replaced you as left and right deputy Altar Lords, and you were sidelined to an outer branch again."

You Guanyue shrank where he sat, cold sweat pouring down as humiliation and resentment filled his heart.

Mu Qingyan continued: "I don't care whether you truly remember Elder Chou's kindness or just crave power after climbing back up. I only need you to remember one thing—since you've pledged yourself to me, you'll do exactly as I say. After Xiong Qianjin dies, you'll be the new Altar Lord of the Vermilion Bird Altar."

You Guanyue's eyes gleamed, his blood heating with excitement.

He rose and knelt beside Mu Qingyan's chair, deliberately loosening his collar to reveal his handsome collarbones. Just as he opened his mouth with a smile, he noticed Mu Qingyan's gaze—cold as lightning, piercing to the bone.

Shuddering, he hastily pulled his collar back up.

Mu Qingyan said slowly: "I'll say this only once—I dislike anyone coming within three steps of me."

You Guanyue quickly knelt farther away, resolving to adopt a 'chaste and distant' approach henceforth.

Lian Shisan finished distributing the sharp swords and came to report: "Young Master, the time is almost upon us."

Mu Qingyan said: "Guanyue, go get a sword too. We begin now."

...The night seemed scorched by blood as the valley echoed with battle cries, corpses strewn everywhere.

Mu Qingyan's figure flashed through the night sky like a sword slicing through the heavens. With two consecutive palm strikes, the massive iron-reinforced wooden gate of the Vermilion Bird Altar shattered with a thunderous crash.

Eager to impress Mu Qingyan, You Guanyue charged at the forefront, his sword cutting left and right with unstoppable force.

Lian Shisan was slightly surprised. "So this You fellow's skills aren't bad."

Mu Qingyan replied, "He's always been among the elite of the younger generation in our sect, excelling in both cultivation and talent. It's just that Nie Zhe would never give him important responsibilities no matter what."

As one of the four main altars, the Vermilion Bird Altar should have been filled with masters. However, Nie Zhe's jealousy of talent meant the more capable someone was, the more they were sidelined. Xiong Qianjin, whom Nie Zhe personally promoted, exemplified this attitude in personnel matters.

With You Guanyue leading the charge and Mu Qingyan overseeing from the rear, they systematically eliminated the enemy's strongest fighters. After seventeen or eighteen masters fell, the tide of battle turned.

Seeing You Guanyue advance relentlessly, Zhang Xun's delicate features twisted in fury as he ordered decisively: "Release the Corpse Puppet Slaves!"

A strange, twisting flute melody rose, and a group of grayish-skinned figures marched forward in unison.

These "people" had vacant eyes, withered flesh clinging to their bones, exuding the aura of death. Their throats emitted eerie clicking sounds, like demons from hell walking the earth.

Under the moonlight, a horrifying and bizarre scene unfolded.

The flute's tune suddenly shifted—sharp and urgent—and these walking corpses that should have been buried long ago launched their attack. Though lacking martial techniques, they possessed tremendous strength and felt no pain.

When one corpse's arm was severed, no blood sprayed—only thick, dark-red liquid oozed slowly.

"Don't slash randomly!" You Guanyue shouted. "Sever their necks or spines!"

The group quickly followed his method.

The corpses' bodies were stiff and hard as ice. Fortunately, Mu Qingyan had distributed sharp swords beforehand, preventing casualties.

But the sheer number of corpses gradually forced You Guanyue's group to retreat.

Mu Qingyan listened carefully, finally locating the flute's source. With a sudden leap, he shouted mid-air: "Begone!"

A short, emaciated man screamed as he toppled from behind the crowd, thin streams of blood flowing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth before collapsing dead—a small iron flute still clutched in his hand.

Zhang Xun hastily ordered another to take over flute-playing duties. But sound-based martial artists fear nothing more than having their dantian shattered by energy-infused shouts—a fatal blow.

Following the new flute's sound, Mu Qingyan channeled inner force into his shouts, successively breaking two more flutists' dantians.

This turn of events caught Zhang Xun completely unprepared.

Previously, when he deployed Corpse Puppet Slaves en masse, targets either panicked helplessly or couldn't discern how to counter them. Never had he encountered someone like Mu Qingyan who understood their weaknesses perfectly.

With the flute silenced, the numerous Corpse Puppet Slaves became like kites with cut strings—motionless where they fell.

"Shisan, have the villagers come now," Mu Qingyan suddenly instructed.

Lian Shisan immediately went to summon them.

Seeing no formidable enemies remained, You Guanyue seized a moment to retreat beside Mu Qingyan, fawning: "So the Young Master had prepared for this! Those energy-infused shouts of yours carried such profound force—far surpassing any Lion's Roar technique!""Shut up." Mu Qingyan's tone was indifferent. "That day when you came to pledge your allegiance to me, there were actually two others whose cultivation surpassed yours. Do you know where they are now?"

You Guanyue froze. "...Does the Young Master mean Brother Han and Brother Wu?"

"Han was already working for Nie Zhe, trying to infiltrate as a spy. Wu was fickle-minded and attempted to pry the location of the Nine Provinces Treasure Scroll Pavilion from me—both have been dealt with."

Mu Qingyan spoke as casually as if he'd crushed two ants. You Guanyue shuddered. "Y-young Master acted rightly."

"You've also wavered several times, switching allegiances to many. Do you know why I kept you?" Mu Qingyan seemed unusually patient with him. "Because you still remember the rules Elder Chou taught you."

"The people of the Vast Sea Mountains—peddlers, laborers, farmers, weavers—are either descendants of Nether Sect disciples or ordinary folk willing to submit to our sect. Year after year, they dutifully pay their tributes without fail. In return, the sect protects them. This is the rule the Mu family established."

The Vast Sea Mountains had rivers, marshes, slopes, and farmland... much like Nine Conch Mountain, it could sustain itself.

When Mu Xiu first founded the Nether Sect, his followers were all trusted generals. But like the Big Dipper Six Sects, after a couple of decades, the population inevitably grew. Moreover, when sect members died in battle, their families needed support. When new experts were recruited, they needed places to settle—a community of thousands required food, shelter, and supplies.

Over two centuries, markets, towns, and villages flourished throughout the Vast Sea Mountains.

"Even at his most domineering, Nie Hengcheng still followed this law. But Nie Zhe, for personal gain, has wantonly violated sect rules—someone needs to teach him a lesson." Mu Qingyan turned to You Guanyue. "Nie Zhe doesn't dare capture people from the Big Dipper Six Sects to make Corpse Puppet Slaves, nor even outsiders. He only preys on our own."

"You fell out of favor with Xiong Qianjin not because you lacked skill, but because Zhang Xun and Li Zhang could deliver dozens of able-bodied villagers for him to refine into Corpse Puppet Slaves, while you only managed a few. Over time, Xiong naturally favored them more."

Mu Qingyan's gaze was clear and penetrating, as if he could see through everything.

You Guanyue trembled, unsure whether from fear that Mu Qingyan had investigated him so thoroughly or from emotion that someone had finally noticed his hidden intentions.

"Cai Pingshu once said: To judge a person's character, don't look at how good they are at their best, but how bad they are at their worst." Mu Qingyan gazed distantly at the sky, as if thinking of someone.

"You've had your ups and downs, yet never crossed the line. That's why I kept you."

You Guanyue didn't dare act frivolously before Mu Qingyan, standing rigidly at attention with proper decorum.

By then, the villagers had flooded in like a tide, and few formidable opponents remained. Recognizing acquaintances—even family members—among the motionless Corpse Puppet Slaves, they wailed in grief.

Wang Tianfeng, a kindly plump middle-aged man, saw the time was ripe and immediately rallied the able-bodied villagers to storm the Vermilion Bird Palace and drag out Xiong Qianjin to avenge their loved ones.

When Mu Qingyan and You Guanyue entered the Vermilion Bird Palace, it was already in shambles.

Xiong Qianjin and a dozen of his closest followers were completely surrounded.From afar, he spotted Mu Qingyan and stretched his dark, greasy face into a wide grin. "Well, if it isn't our young master Mu! Over a year ago, you fled in such a panic that everyone thought you were dead. The sect leader even erected a cenotaph for you—you should be grateful! How could you turn around and act so ungrateful?"

Mu Qingyan ignored him and ordered the giant windows on all sides to be opened wide. Pointing at the pitch-black darkness outside, he said, "The weather is getting warmer. I recall Father mentioning that around this time every year, households would begin preparing for the Spring Festival. The area around the Vermilion Bird Altar should be bustling with lights and activity. Why is it so desolate and silent now?"

Xiong Qianjin's flabby face twitched, but he remained silent.

"Have you forgotten all the sect's rules, Altar Lord Xiong?" Mu Qingyan asked.

Xiong Qianjin gritted his teeth and forced a smile. "This wasn't my decision to make. I wouldn't dare disobey the sect leader's orders. I haven't touched a single brother from our sect—only ordinary mortals with no cultivation. Those people are nothing but insects—why should you care about them, Young Master? If you spare my life, I swear to pledge my allegiance to you!"

The surrounding villagers glared at him with seething hatred, but he paid them no mind.

Mu Qingyan let out a light chuckle. "Filth like you isn't even fit to feed livestock—the stench would be unbearable."

You Guanyue bowed respectfully. "Young Master, please execute this traitor with your own hands."

To his surprise, Mu Qingyan shook his head. "Xiong Qianjin deserves to die, but not by my hand—you will kill him. Face him one-on-one in a fair duel. If you survive, you will be the next Altar Lord of the Vermilion Bird Altar."

You Guanyue was stunned. "This... this..." Though Xiong Qianjin was despicable, he had held the position of Altar Lord for so many years—his cultivation was formidable. You Guanyue wasn't confident he could win.

He forced a weak smile. "Young Master, whether I become Altar Lord or not is trivial. I just fear I might embarrass you."

Mu Qingyan shot him a cold glance and said quietly, "Do you know what others say about you? That you climbed to your current position by being Xiong Qianjin's pretty plaything. If you want to be the Vermilion Bird Altar Lord—or even a future elder or guardian—you can't carry that filthy reputation forever."

"You can rely on flattery and charm to get by, but can you rely on them to earn genuine respect from your subordinates? Go. Kill Xiong Qianjin with your own hands—let this be your grand debut."

With that, he raised his voice. "Altar Lord Xiong, if you defeat You Guanyue today, I will let you go."

Instantly, all eyes turned to them. You Guanyue felt like an ant under a magnifying glass, his entire body burning with tension.

The crowd silently parted to clear a path for him. He knew there was no turning back now.

Xiong Qianjin burst into laughter. "My little Yue has such delicate skin—I’d hate to bruise him!"

Gritting his teeth, You Guanyue raised his sword and charged.

Xiong Qianjin's fists moved with overwhelming force, each strike carrying a fierce gust of wind. His body was tempered like steel, impervious even to sharp blades. You Guanyue had no choice but to dodge and weave, searching for an opening to strike his vital points. Having been close to Xiong Qianjin for years, he knew the man's weaknesses lay in his lower body and face. He alternated attacks between high and low, forcing Xiong Qianjin to roar in frustration as he countered. Several times, the sheer force of Xiong Qianjin's punches nearly grazed him, leaving You Guanyue drenched in cold sweat.

Several exchanges passed in an instant. You Guanyue had already identified Xiong Qianjin's flaws, but every time he was about to land a critical strike, Xiong Qianjin would retaliate with a faster punch, forcing him to abandon his attack to evade.Thus, You Guanyue found himself at a disadvantage. Xiong Qianjin, born with immense strength, saw You Guanyue's Inner Force gradually waning and burst into laughter as he intensified his attacks.

At that moment, Mu Qingyan's calm voice drifted over, "The Vermilion Bird is also known as the Phoenix. To be reborn from flames, it must shed its flesh and skin."

A spark of realization flashed through You Guanyue's mind.

Meeting Xiong Qianjin's lecherous and murky gaze, he instinctively flinched. As he flipped away to evade the sweeping force of the opponent's fist, he caught sight of the Vermilion Bird carving on the palace beam—crimson as raging fire, fearless in the face of death.

He understood everything.

When Xiong Qianjin swung his fist again, You Guanyue did not dodge. Instead, he let out a roar from the depths of his lungs and decisively thrust toward a vital point.

When two meet on a narrow path, the brave one prevails—no need for further words.

Thud! Thud! Thud! You Guanyue was struck three times in succession—on the shoulder, chest, and face—by Xiong Qianjin. His vision blurred, his ears rang, and it felt as though his nose had been displaced, blood gushing freely. The sound of cracking bones echoed from his shoulder and chest, and even his internal organs suffered injuries from the impact.

Yet, he had also struck Xiong Qianjin's Danzhong acupoint and, following the ribs, slashed downward, tearing open his abdomen.

Xiong Qianjin howled like a wild bull. Enduring excruciating pain, You Guanyue seized the moment to sever the tendons in his hands and feet with swift strikes before staggering back, clutching his nose.

He declared loudly, "Xiong Qianjin has committed countless atrocities, tormenting the people for years. Today, I have crippled him, leaving him barely alive for everyone to vent their hatred. Step aside, all of you!"

He turned his gaze to Mu Qingyan.

The cold and aloof young man, for the first time, revealed a genuine smile and said simply, "Well spoken."

Meanwhile, Lian Shisan directed the crowd to attack Xiong Qianjin's subordinates—the two deputy Altar Lords—inflicting critical wounds before handing them over to the enraged villagers.

Xiong Qianjin and his men finally felt fear. The villagers, whom they had once treated as mere livestock, surged forward, tearing their limbs apart piece by piece...

You Guanyue, dragging his severely wounded body, stumbled toward Mu Qingyan.

The crowd instinctively parted to make way.

He sensed the shift in the gazes fixed upon him—less of the usual wariness, scorn, and mockery, replaced instead with solemnity and admiration. He knew establishing authority was no overnight feat. From this day onward, he would start anew.

You Guanyue knelt before Mu Qingyan, pressing his forehead to the ground, letting his nosebleed flow freely.

With utmost sincerity, he spoke word by word, "From this moment forth, I pledge my loyalty to you, Young Master. I would die ten thousand deaths without hesitation!" Then, he laughed heartily, even though it sent waves of pain through his body. "Where to next, Young Master? Give the order—no matter how arduous the task!"

"You still don't understand," Mu Qingyan smiled faintly. "This time, I seek not merely the position of Sect Leader—I aim to reclaim the entire sect."