The summer heat had finally faded, and cool winds began to sweep through the mountains.
At the foot of the Taikun Mountain Range, in Blackstone County, the streets bustled with life.
Horse carts rumbled past, vendors called out along both sides of the road, and the aroma of food filled the air under rising curls of smoke.
Beside the street stood a small noodle stall. Its stove was set outside under a crude tent of patched canvas, and beneath the rain cloth sat three wooden tables. At one of them, an old man and a young boy were seated.
Both were dressed like wanderers of the martial world. The old man's hair was gray and disheveled, but his posture was straight and strong. A broad blade was strapped to his back, and his eyes were covered with a strip of faded dark cloth.
Beside him sat a boy of about fifteen or sixteen. His skin was darkened by the sun, and his head was wrapped in a gray scarf. A knife was also strapped to his back.
The boy rested his chin on his palm, clearly bored as he waited for their food to arrive.
The blind old man spoke in a hoarse, weathered voice. "Xiao Nan, I'll find an inn for you today. There's something I must take care of alone."
The boy—Ye Nan—frowned at that. "Master, what are you going to do, you old blind man? Don't go wandering off and forget how to come back."
The blind old man didn't get angry. Instead, he smiled faintly. "Have you forgotten what I told you the day I took you as my disciple?"
Ye Nan's expression shifted. "You told me that my duty was only to practice martial arts—and not to ask about your affairs."
As he recalled that day, his tone softened.
The old man reached into his robe and placed a small money pouch on the table, pushing it toward Ye Nan.
Ye Nan's brows furrowed tighter. "Master, what exactly are you going to do? Is there someone in Blackstone County you have a grudge against?"
It had been a year since he became the old man's disciple. They had traveled thousands of miles south together. In that time, Ye Nan's martial skills had grown rapidly—he was no longer the timid, fearful youth of the past.
If his master had enemies, he was ready to fight by his side—even if it meant dying.
The old man replied quietly, "No grudge. No vendetta. I'm doing this on someone's request. Don't ask more. Taking you along would only slow me down. You think your martial arts are decent now, but against a true cultivator trained in inner strength, you're nothing. When I'm gone, spend your time practicing inner cultivation. Remember this well—inner strength is the foundation. External techniques are just tricks."
Ye Nan opened his mouth, but he couldn't refute it. He had seen his master unleash his inner energy before—it was terrifying.
At that moment, the noodle vendor approached, carrying two steaming bowls. "Your noodles are ready!" he said cheerfully.
Ye Nan quickly thanked him and handed his master a pair of chopsticks.
When the vendor had walked away, the blind old man continued, "If I don't return within one month, leave on your own. Find a place to live in peace."
Ye Nan froze, his eyes going wide. "Master! What nonsense are you talking about?" he shouted.
His voice rose so sharply that passersby turned to stare.
The blind old man stayed calm. "Once you walk the martial path, you're bound by fate, not by choice. Someday, you'll understand."
The noodle vendor glanced back over his shoulder. "You two seem troubled," he said kindly. "If someone's giving you trouble or driving you into a corner, you can go seek help from Qingxiao Sect. Maybe they'll lend you a hand."
Ye Nan turned toward him curiously. "How much does it cost to ask for their help?"
He had long heard of Qingxiao Sect. Even though he came from the north, his heart held both admiration and longing for them.
His parents and younger sister had been slaughtered by the Demonic Sect, leaving him alone in the world. When he later heard the news that Li Qingqiu, the Sect Master of Qingxiao Sect, had killed the emperor, he had wept with joy. He could still remember that feeling as if it were yesterday.
But admiration was one thing—he didn't believe any sect would help strangers for free.
The noodle vendor chuckled. "If you're a noble or a wealthy family, you'll have to pay, of course. But if you're just common folk, the sect won't take a single coin from you."
Ye Nan's eyes widened again. "Really? Then why would they do that? What do they gain? The gratitude of peasants? That'll only earn them enemies!"
The vendor sighed. "Enemies, yes—they've already made plenty. Outside these mountains, people are accusing Sect Master Li of committing evil by killing the emperor. They say he caused chaos, that the wars and famine are his fault. Ridiculous! Back when the emperor was still alive, Guzhou starved every few years and rebellions broke out often. No one dared step forward back then!"
As he spoke, the vendor's voice grew passionate.
An old man selling candied hawthorns passed by the stall and overheard him. He immediately joined in, shouting, "Exactly! Those people are shameless! They live in comfort while ignoring our suffering, but when trouble comes, they want us peasants to die for them! As far as I'm concerned, Sect Master Li is the greatest hero under heaven—none can compare!"
His booming voice drew the attention of nearby townsfolk, who began stopping to listen. Many echoed his words, praising Qingxiao Sect and its righteous deeds.
Ye Nan was stunned. He had never imagined that Qingxiao Sect's reputation among the common people was so strong. Even a casual mention of their name could gather a crowd of supporters.
He had never seen a martial sect loved by the people like this. It left him deeply moved.
The blind old man said nothing, quietly eating his noodles.
Seeing that, Ye Nan lowered his head and did the same. But outside, the crowd kept growing, their voices rising with story after story of the sect's kindness.
Healing the sick. Feeding the starving. Wiping out bandits and raiders.
Time and time again, Qingxiao Sect had stepped in to help.
They charged the poor almost nothing—sometimes a single basket of steamed buns could pay for the cure of an illness that had lasted ten years.
They didn't favor the poor either. Whether it was a noble house or a humble family, as long as they suffered injustice, the sect would help them. The difference was simple—the rich offered gold; the poor offered gratitude.
As Ye Nan listened to all these stories, it felt as though he were hearing the legend of heroes told by a storyteller in a tea house. His imagination ran wild, and a quiet yearning took root in his heart.
He wanted to see Qingxiao Sect with his own eyes.
He wanted to join them.
He wanted to walk the same path as those heroes whose name echoed across the land.
…
The night sky was clear, the moon faint among scattered stars, casting soft light over Lingxiao Pavilion.
Inside the courtyard, Li Qingqiu, Zhang Yuchun, Zhu Yan, Li Dongyue, and Zhang Yu sat around a round table as Zhu Yan read through the intelligence gathered by her clan.
"The new ruler of Yuzhou, Jiang Yu, has joined hands with the Lingtian Sect," Zhu Yan said gravely. "He's allowing them to move southward unchecked. The refugees we encountered before—those were sent by their men to stir chaos."
Zhang Yu clicked his tongue in disbelief. "Yuzhou? That's far. This lord just unified a province, and already he's stretching his hand this far? What could he possibly be after?"
Zhu Yan hesitated for a moment before replying. "The Qilin. He's heard a rumor that Qingxiao Sect harbors a Qilin within its grounds. He wants its blood—but he fears our strength, so he's trying to weaken us first."
Zhang Yuchun's eyes narrowed. "I doubt he's the only one."
Qingxiao Sect possessed celestial techniques and auspicious omens. In the eyes of worldly nobles, the sect was nothing less than a treasure trove—a ripe piece of meat that everyone coveted.
Li Qingqiu turned his gaze toward Zhu Yan and asked calmly, "Are the Zhu Clan certain it's him?"
After a moment's thought, Zhu Yan nodded.
Li Qingqiu leaned back slightly, his tone casual but cold. "Then think about who we should send to claim Jiang Yu's head."
He paused briefly before adding, "And if it turns out he's been framed, someone from your Zhu Clan will pay for it."
Everyone froze. None of them had expected him to say that so bluntly.
Zhu Yan's expression tightened. She hesitated, then said, "Sect Master, perhaps I should confirm it once more. I've only been communicating with my clan through letters."
Li Qingqiu wasn't actually doubting the Zhu Clan's loyalty—he simply didn't want them getting too comfortable.
The major families that had aligned with Qingxiao Sect each carried their own ambitions. A little intimidation was necessary, a reminder that the sect would not be used as anyone's tool.
Li Qingqiu nodded faintly. "Remind all the families and officials who feed you information—if they sincerely help Qingxiao Sect, we won't forget their loyalty. But if they think they can wield Qingxiao Sect like a blade… they'd best remember that blades cut both flesh and hand."
Zhang Yuchun, Li Dongyue, and Zhu Yan all responded at once. "Understood."
Zhang Yu couldn't help but whistle softly. In his eyes, Li Qingqiu's methods were ruthless—but he also knew that was exactly what the sect needed. Strength invited opportunists, and only dominance could keep them in check.
The discussion continued as Zhu Yan reported the rest of her intelligence.
Just then, a faint ripple flashed before Li Qingqiu's eyes—an ethereal line of text appeared in the air:
[Due to Qingxiao Sect forging its first magical artifact and advancing Dao Lineage development, you have received one Dao Lineage Inheritance Reward.]
'A magical artifact?'
Li Qingqiu's brows lifted in surprise.
'Who managed that?'
Though he had long assigned a group of disciples to study the Art of Forging, none had achieved any success. He hadn't been paying it much attention lately—and now, unexpectedly, one of them had succeeded.
That was the benefit of a growing sect—unexpected miracles happened all the time.
His lips curved slightly, and his thoughts drifted toward the disciple who had created that artifact.
Zhu Yan caught sight of his faint smile and felt her heart skip a beat. Is the Sect Master… thinking about executing someone again?
Half an hour later, when the reports concluded and the night deepened, Li Qingqiu waved a hand. "That's enough for tonight. Go rest."
Zhu Yan and Zhang Yu had just stepped outside the pavilion when Yuan Qi came rushing in.
"Sect Master," Yuan Qi said quickly, bowing. "Someone has infiltrated the sect grounds. His intent is unclear. When our disciples discovered him, he tried to flee. He's already been captured. How would you like to handle him?"
Zhang Yuchun and Li Dongyue, who were still nearby, paused mid-step and turned back.
Li Qingqiu asked, "What does he look like?"
"An old man—around sixty or seventy years old, blind in both eyes, carrying a large blade on his back."
Li Qingqiu raised a brow. "A blind man sneaking into Qingxiao Sect? That doesn't sound like a good person. Bring him here. I'll question him myself."
He chuckled, clearly in a good mood. "It'll be a good opportunity to show you both the Soul-Binding Curse. Once you learn it, you'll be able to handle interrogations yourselves."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Yuan Qi bowed again and hurried out.
Zhang Yuchun grinned. "You're personally handling this, Senior Brother? Wouldn't it be better to leave it to the Law Enforcement Hall?"
Li Qingqiu stretched lazily. "Until I know what he came for, I can't say it's a small matter."
Zhang Yuchun nodded, conceding the point, and sat back down. Li Dongyue also took her seat.
An incense stick's time later, Yuan Qi returned—this time accompanied by Xiao Wuming, who was restraining an old man.
The captured man was none other than Ye Nan's master, the blind wanderer.
Now, stripped of his blade and blindfold, his hollow eye sockets were visible, eerie in the moonlight. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth—he had clearly been beaten.
Li Qingqiu studied him quietly. Judging from the man's bones and the faint ripple of inner strength within him, he was indeed a martial expert—one who had stepped into the Innate Realm.
Such experts were few and far between in the martial world.
And yet, here one was, sneaking into Qingxiao Sect under cover of night.
Something about this was going to be interesting.