Jian Gui had always been cautious in his work. Rather than head straight for the Heavenly Sword Sect's outpost, he first brought Yue Liang to a teahouse nearby. They took a private room on the second floor, where they could watch the comings and goings at the sect's station without drawing attention.
"Jian Gui, when will we go in?"
As soon as Yue Liang emerged from the sleeve of Jian Gui's robe, she hopped up onto the table and leaned toward the window, her gaze fixed on the outpost across the street.
"No rush," Jian Gui replied. "In the day there are too many people and too many eyes. We'll watch for now. When evening comes and most of the disciples return, we'll strike. If there's truly something wrong inside, we'll catch them off guard and subdue them before they can react."
"Mm. That's a smart plan."
Yue Liang's fluffy tail swished as she nodded, clearly approving.
When the server brought in tea, Jian Gui poured a cup for her as well and set it before her.
"I checked it. Nothing wrong with it. You can try it."
Yue Liang nudged the white porcelain cup with her little paw, wrinkling her tiny face. "Zūnshàng also likes drinking tea. I still don't know what's so good about it. Sure, it's brimming with spiritual energy, but it's bitter. Yue Liang doesn't like it."
She tapped the storage collar around her neck and brought out a crystal flask filled with a deep violet liquor.
"I still prefer the spirit wine Zūnshàng brews herself. Here—try some."
She poured a small cup for herself and one for Jian Gui, then took the first sip. Her little furry face melted into an expression of pure bliss.
Jian Gui's lips curved upward. Without standing on ceremony, he downed the wine in a single swallow. The rich spiritual energy surged down his throat, suffusing his organs, flowing along his meridians, and pooling in his dantian. Even the sea of spiritual power there seemed to swell a little.
"Good wine," Jian Gui said with a nod. "Zūnshàng's brewing skills are as fine as ever."
"You've had her spirit wine before?" Yue Liang tilted her head.
"Yes. Back during that trip to the Chilang secret realm, when Jian Lu Zūnzhǔ went to the Sword Tomb for a blade. She almost missed our departure. The mission was supposed to be handled by the two of us, so I'd done all the preparation work alone. She felt guilty and gifted me a jar of her wine."
"That was so long ago. Yue Liang was there too."
"Indeed. Back then, Zūnshàng and I were about equal in cultivation."
The two chatted idly, reminiscing and sharing stories of their years apart, all the while keeping one eye on the sect's outpost until the sun dipped low and shadows stretched long.
At sunset, Jian Gui and Yue Liang exchanged a knowing glance and slipped out of the teahouse.
Jian Gui teleported straight into the Heavenly Sword Sect's outpost. The outer hall disciples froze at the sudden appearance of a high-ranking cultivator, some reacting quickly enough to crush their alarm talismans.
Jian Gui didn't blame them. He simply flashed the jade sword token at his waist, then stepped straight into the inner hall with Yue Liang.
The inner hall's barrier was inexplicably open. Jian Gui's eyes darkened. He activated his sword token and passed through with Yue Liang, heading directly for the central chamber.
Inside were four people: a Nascent Soul steward, two late-stage Golden Core assistants, and a kneeling early-stage Golden Core cultivator.
The moment Yue Liang saw them, her tiny white teeth flashed. She gave Jian Gui a quick shout, then blurred forward to appear before the Nascent Soul cultivator. As the man's face twisted in fury and he prepared to strike, her paw came down.
A shriek rang out. Black smoke poured from the Nascent Soul cultivator's body. Yue Liang had already moved on, appearing before one of the late-stage Golden Core assistants and repeating the same brutal maneuver.
While Yue Liang worked, Jian Gui swiftly restrained the remaining cultivators. By the time she returned to his shoulder, it was over.
The four captives looked stunned. The kneeling Golden Core cultivator in particular tried to resist—until he caught sight of the sword token at Jian Gui's waist and froze.
"You," Jian Gui said, pointing at him. "Explain."
"Senior, I'm not a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect," the man said quickly. "This Nascent Soul senior detained me, accusing me of stealing goods from the outer hall. He dragged me in here by force."
Jian Gui took the main seat at the head of the hall. He didn't bother to verify the story yet. "What sect are you from?"
"I'm just a Loose Cultivator, Senior. No sect affiliation."
Jian Gui nodded and turned to the only Golden Core assistant who hadn't been affected. "Is his story true?"
The assistant bowed. "Martial Uncle, it's true. Yao Zhēnjūn detained this man and summoned me here. I hadn't even begun questioning him when you arrived."
Jian Gui shifted his gaze to Yao Zhēnjūn. "Your explanation?"
Yao Zhēnjūn's face was pale. His Nascent Soul cultivation had already dropped to mid-stage Golden Core, and he clearly didn't understand what had happened. "This junior does not know."
The other late-stage Golden Core cultivator—one who had been freed from whatever had bound him—stepped forward, still looking drained. "Senior, Yao Zhēnjūn was the one being controlled. I don't know what means were used, but at times I would act without realizing it, and afterward I'd have no memory. I wanted to report this to the sect, but I was never able to leave Yaoguang City."
Before he could say more, Yue Liang darted forward and raked her claws across his chest. His robes tore like paper, revealing five deep gashes to the bone. Blood poured down.
"Hmph! You've got it backward. You used your split soul to control Yao Zhēnjūn and make him work for you. Who taught you this foul art? Speak!"
The Golden Core cultivator's eyes went cold. Knowing he'd run into a wall too hard to break, he abandoned his body and tried to flee by burning his Primordial Soul.
Yue Liang had been waiting for that. The instant his soul left his flesh, her paw lit with five glowing talons. She seized the spirit and crushed it into nothing. His scream echoed in the hall.
Only after disposing of him did Yue Liang turn to Jian Gui. "Jian Gui, summon everyone from the outpost. I'll see if there are any more slips."
"Alright. Good work, Yue Liang. I'll report to the Law Enforcement Hall and let the Hall Master decide the rest."
"Good. The remaining three will be locked up until the sect sends word."
Elsewhere, the evil cultivator's wooden puppet shattered into three pieces. Blood-red eyes snapped open, their light dimmer than before, the voice between clenched teeth. "Heavenly Sword Sect… again."
For the next two days, Jian Gui and Yue Liang scoured the Heavenly Sword Sect's outposts in Yaoguang City. Fortunately, they found no other cultivators under split-soul control, and both finally breathed easier.
The Law Enforcement Hall's reply arrived: the sect would send new stewards to replace those detained, and Jian Gui and Yue Liang were to patrol Yaoguang City once more. They were also to await news from the Tracking Hall regarding missing Golden Core cultivators and be ready to assist at any time.
They took the mission, managing the outpost's affairs while patrolling the city, with the city guard lending support. Progress was steady.
Meanwhile, the sixteen Golden Core cultivators that Jian Dan had been worried about, they were in dire straits, holding out desperately for the sect's rescue.