Chapter 141: Crescent Moon on the Horizon, Short Spears at His Feet

“What are you doing, Xiaoshuanzi?”

Wan Yuxuan’s eyes blazed with fury. His figure flashed, his arm tracing a sharp, merciless line—like a heavy hammer.

The instant Zhang Xiaoshuan struck, Wan Yuxuan moved.

But Zhang Xiaoshuan was too close to Chen Jiashang. Even with Wan Yuxuan’s perfected ninth-grade strength, a sudden killing blow was beyond stopping.

At that moment, the round-faced Wind Justice Courtyard disciple, who had just slain a traitor to the organization, still wore a look of sacred fervor.

Yet when Wan Yuxuan’s fist wind bore down, his eyes suddenly dimmed. Instinctively, his gaze drifted to the brightly lit martial hall not far away.

—

Bang.

Zhang Xiaoshuan was hurled backward, collapsing limply to the ground.

He gasped in great heaving breaths, staring at the senior brother he once revered most, a wretched smile tugging at his lips. “Senior Brother Wan… I’m sorry!”

Wan Yuxuan’s expression was grave. “Why didn’t you dodge? If I hadn’t held back fifty percent of my strength, that punch would have taken your life.”

Zhang Xiaoshuan struggled to prop up his upper body, leaning against a rotten tree stump, a gentle smile forming at the corner of his mouth. “All the skills I have were taught by Senior Brother Wan. Even entering this Wind Justice Courtyard was thanks to your recommendation.”

“You’ve shown me great kindness, Senior Brother. Even if I died, Xiaoshuan would never raise a hand against you.”

Wan Yuxuan’s gaze fell on the red cloth strip at Zhang Xiaoshuan’s side, his expression complex. “Xiaoshuanzi, why bother with this? You were a fine martial hall disciple—why do something like this?”

“Senior Brother, you were born into the Wan family in the embassy district. You wouldn’t understand. You wouldn’t understand what people like us are really after.”

A strange light suddenly gleamed on Zhang Xiaoshuan’s face. Struggling, he turned his body, picked up the red cloth strip from the ground, solemnly wiped away the dust, and carefully tied it around his wrist.

Wan Yuxuan watched him quietly, then suddenly spoke. “Xiaoshuanzi, when did you join the Southern Revolutionary Army?”

Zhang Xiaoshuan’s movements froze, a bitter smile piling at his lips. “Senior Brother, you must know who we are. I can’t answer your question.”

“Was Chen Jiashang one of yours?”

“Yes. He wanted to betray the organization, so I executed him.”

“Then what are you trying to do?”

“Senior Brother, I can’t answer your question.”

Wan Yuxuan’s pupils contracted slightly as he stared deeply at this junior brother who had once fought life-and-death battles alongside him. “I don’t want to fight you. Come back to the Wind Justice Courtyard with me and face judgment according to the court’s rules.”

Zhang Xiaoshuan gave a bitter laugh, his voice soft. “Senior Brother, I can’t go back.”

Wan Yuxuan’s brows shot up, a thunderous shock exploding in his heart as sudden understanding dawned.

His figure flashed, and he seized Zhang Xiaoshuan’s chin. “Xiaoshuanzi, what did you take?”

In the darkness, this usually lazy direct descendant of the Wan family had eyes splitting with rage.

Though nearly suffocating under the immense force, Zhang Xiaoshuan’s face revealed an utterly gentle expression.

A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Zhang Xiaoshuan grasped Wan Yuxuan’s hand and gently shook his head. “Senior Brother, it’s too late. I just took ‘Five Mines Powder.’”

Wan Yuxuan’s body trembled, his face filled with desolation.

“I betrayed the sect and failed you, Senior Brother—that’s all on me. But since I chose this path, I have no regrets.”

Zhang Xiaoshuan’s face grew paler, yet he forced a smile. “We always say we’ll slaughter all the aristocratic families under heaven. But after meeting you, Senior Brother, I realized that even among those families, there are good people.”

Wan Yuxuan stared blankly at Zhang Xiaoshuan, his expression grief-stricken.

“It’s a pity Xiaoshuan won’t follow you to hunt demonic beasts anymore… won’t taste the beast meat you grilled.”

Zhang Xiaoshuan’s smile grew weaker, yet with his last strength, he clung tightly to Wan Yuxuan’s arm.

“Senior Brother, Xiaoshuan has only one final request!”

“Don’t go to Great Blue Garment Ridge in half a year—absolutely don’t go!”

With those words, a relieved smile spread across Zhang Xiaoshuan’s face. He no longer had the strength to hold himself up and instantly collapsed to the ground.

The boundless night reflected in his dark pupils.

He slowly closed his eyes, letting the darkness swallow all consciousness.

—

Wan Yuxuan’s body shuddered. He said nothing, only bent down gently and untied the red cloth strip from Zhang Xiaoshuan’s hand.

The hazy night outlined his slightly hunched figure.

“I’ll report tonight’s events to the Wind Justice Courtyard.”

“Wind Justice Courtyard disciple Zhang Xiaoshuan bravely pursued a traitor of the Southern Revolutionary Army. He was ambushed with Five Mines Powder by this Chen Jiashang and thus perished.”

“And you… are the witnesses.”

Xiangzi and the others were stunned but nodded.

Jiang Wangshui hurriedly agreed, “Senior Brother, rest assured. Rest assured—we all know it was that scoundrel Chen Jiashang’s doing.”

As a son of a great household, Jiang Wangshui naturally knew what the “Southern Revolutionary Army” entailed.

Only the dark-faced youth Xu Xiaoliu stared blankly at Zhang Xiaoshuan on the ground, unable to speak.

On that young martial hall disciple’s face lingered a trace of contented smile.

Xu Xiaoliu didn’t know why some people weren’t afraid of death, why some would abandon a bright future in the martial hall for such foolish things.

He came from Rickshaw Yard in the eastern city and didn’t understand what “revolution” meant.

But he knew that in these people’s hearts, there was surely something more precious than life, more important than a future in the martial path.

—

In the silent night, hurried footsteps echoed.

The fire in the apprentice compound wasn’t large, yet it drew all five court masters to gather at the gate.

Five purple robes fluttered together in the night wind—a rare sight indeed.

They must have received word from the back gate of the apprentice compound earlier. All five court masters wore grave expressions.

Even the ever-impassive head of the Wind Justice Courtyard, Xi Ruoyu, had a glint of gloom in his eyes.

Standing behind them, Wan Yuxuan had regained his usual carefree demeanor.

“Li Xiang, don’t wander outside in the dead of night. Head to the outer sect—there’ll be a miscellaneous court disciple to lead you in.”

Court Master Old Liu, looking somewhat weary, spoke to Xiangzi.

Xiangzi said nothing, his expression calm as he clasped his fists toward the court masters.

After Xiangzi left, Xi Ruoyu, standing with hands clasped behind his back, suddenly spoke. “This kid’s not bad. If not for his fingerprint idea, we might not have rooted out that culprit.”

“Uncle-Master Liu, this apprentice trial has truly been exhausting.”

Old Liu’s face broke into a proud smile—back when the old hall master left, entrusting him with the apprentice trial duties, many had questioned it.

Now, with this towering figure emerging, no one could find fault.

Hearing this, the other court masters also turned their gazes to the broad back of that figure—it was hard to imagine that all of tonight’s schemes had come from this outer sect disciple who, upon just entering ninth grade, had stunned everyone with his Bright Force.

He was the one poisoned, and he was the one who devised the fingerprint method. Most crucially, those silver dollars couldn’t actually yield fingerprints.

The plan was simple: just four words—beat the grass to startle the snake.

But the timing was grasped with exquisite precision, the arrangements wonderfully clever.

Especially since he had even kept these court masters in the dark.

It could be called “meticulous as a hair, thorough and intricate in planning”!

Yet the snakes startled tonight… seemed a bit too astonishing.

The Southern Revolutionary Army?

These red-turban troops, long active in the south and nearly controlling half the region, when had they infiltrated Forty-Nine City and burrowed into Baolin Martial Hall?

And right at this critical juncture, when the old hall master had taken Lin Junqing to Shen City.

—

Arriving at the outer sect, with his jade token, a rather young miscellaneous court disciple led Xiangzi through the gate.

“Master Xiang, you’re truly young.”

Perhaps seeing that Xiangzi wasn’t as aloof as other ninth-grade cultivators, the miscellaneous disciple smiled and said this.

Xiangzi smiled but didn’t respond.

The miscellaneous disciple shut his mouth and carefully led Xiangzi into the outer sect compound.

Unlike the pavilions and towers of the apprentice compound, this place was filled with two-story houses of gray bricks and red tiles, the courtyards packed with stone locks, iron horses, and other training equipment.

“Master Xiang, what weapon do you usually favor? Just say the word, and tomorrow a senior brother from the Hundred Herbs Court will deliver it—no need to spend oceans. It’s hall rules.”

Xiangzi’s brows lifted—such treatment?

After pondering a moment, Xiangzi smiled. “I have a weapon I’m comfortable with. But if I don’t want a blade, can it be converted directly into oceans?”

The miscellaneous disciple was stunned, but his face remained impassive. “Master Xiang, I’ll make a trip for you tomorrow morning and ask.”

Xiangzi smiled and pulled a silver dollar from his pocket, tossing it over.

With the dollar in hand, the miscellaneous disciple’s eyes lit up with joy, lavishing praise.

Xiangzi smiled and waved a hand. “I’ll have to trouble Junior Brother in the future.”

Junior Brother?

Hearing this, the miscellaneous disciple’s face froze.

By rights, these apprentices who became miscellaneous court disciples were indeed Baolin Martial Hall disciples.

But with no hope of ninth grade and the miscellaneous court holding the lowest status among the five courts, who truly took them seriously?

This miscellaneous disciple had been in the court for over a month, and this was the first time he’d heard such a solemn form of address.

For a moment, a haze of bewilderment and emotion filled his eyes.

Back then, when he entered Baolin Martial Hall as an apprentice, wasn’t he also a “heaven’s chosen” in others’ eyes?

“No need for such formality, Master Xiang. Just call me Little Ma.”

“Then I’ll trouble Junior Brother Little Ma!”

—

As the saying goes, “The King of Hell is easy to meet, but his little demons are hard to deal with.”

This was Xiangzi’s first time in the outer sect; he was unfamiliar with many things and would inevitably need this miscellaneous disciple’s help in the future.

Though he had the miscellaneous court master backing him, he couldn’t run to Old Liu for every little thing—that would make him seem incapable, wouldn’t it?

Pushing open the courtyard gate,

The room was clean and spacious, faintly scented with pleasant aloes.

Not only were there body-tempering tools, but clothing and daily necessities were fully provided.

Even the furniture was polished redwood.

And the plank of that large bed was “water fir” imported by the Qian family mines from outside—perfect for restoring the spirit after tempering the body.

Such treatment, if back at Harmony Rickshaw Yard, would be more comfortable than Liu Tang’s courtyard in the eastern tower.

Xiangzi went to the bath room and enjoyed a luxurious soak.

The bath room was similar to the bathing area in the apprentice compound’s back courtyard, with brass pipes connected directly to the tub.

Amid the soft meshing of steam engine gears, white mist billowed.

Xiangzi didn’t use the “Blood Energy Broth” beside the tub—by rules, outer sect disciples could claim one free portion per week.

For other broths and medicines, they needed merit points or stipend to obtain from the Hundred Herbs Court.

Come to think of it, first-class apprentices had better treatment?

That made sense; after all, first-class apprentices risked their lives for that ninth-grade chance.

There was no free lunch in this world. The martial hall provided techniques and lodging, naturally expecting these outer sect disciples to uphold its reputation.

Those so-called external trials were surely for that reason.

Otherwise, how could such a vast martial hall maintain its transcendent status?

—

After bathing, standing before the mirror,

This was Xiangzi’s first serious look at himself after reaching ninth grade.

Perhaps from no longer pulling ore carts for so long, or perhaps due to ninth grade enhancing skin grinding, the darkness on Xiangzi’s face had faded, his skin even tightening a few degrees.

Beyond appearance, the greatest change was his aura.

How could the blood, energy, muscles, and bones of a ninth-grade martial artist compare to an ordinary person?

Especially the jade-like, compact blood energy red pearl within Xiangzi’s body.

With every breath, blood energy surged through his limbs and bones, radiating an invisible majesty.

Xiangzi smiled wryly. The man in the mirror—where was even a trace of the sweat-soaked rickshaw puller from before?

Even old acquaintances would struggle to recognize him now.

Changing into a black robe, Xiangzi felt no urge to sleep. He simply carried a chair out to the courtyard, sat gazing at the crescent moon on the horizon, and watched quietly for a long time.

At his feet lay two short spears.