Days passed...
The wind rustled the leaves in the bamboo forest. The elegant dance of a sword moved back and forth.
Su Lianyue couldn't blink, mesmerized by Zhao Mingxuan's sword techniques.
The sword was silver, with ancient carvings in the middle, making it look even more elegant.
"If you keep practicing, you'll recover quickly," Su Lianyue said with a small smile.
Zhao Mingxuan only nodded. He would practice for a few days to normalize his Qi. After that, he would return to his main objective.
Suddenly, a red shadow flashed behind Su Lianyue, making Zhao Mingxuan wary. He looked around, causing the girl to be confused.
"Yhahahhaa!"
A girl's laughter echoed through the forest.
"Red Moon Sect," Zhao Mingxuan thought to himself. He pointed his sword in various directions.
Zhao Mingxuan clutched his chest in pain. He couldn't directly fight the demon; otherwise, his training would be in vain.
He remembered his master's words: if you're not ready, prepare to flee.
In a matter of seconds, Zhao Mingxuan grabbed Su Lianyue's hand and pulled her away from the spot.
Fortunately, they reached Su Lianyue's hut safely, but Zhao Mingxuan was a little confused. Why didn't the demon pursue him?
"Mother, where have you been?" Su Lianyue asked, seeing her mother return with her medicine box.
"The villagers were just attacked by a demon."
"What?" Su Lianyue exclaimed in shock.
"Don't tell me it's the Red Moon Sect," Zhao Mingxuan thought to himself.
"For now, don't go out too often," Su Qianru said.
The night passed. As before, Zhao Mingxuan stayed in the room, gazing at the ceiling. He saw Su Qianru leave through the window and meet someone, making him suspicious.
Zhao Mingxuan followed her, eavesdropping from behind a tree.
"I already suspected he would come here."
Su Qianru nodded slowly. "What should I do next?"
"You just monitor him and give this medicine to the man your daughter just helped."
"Su Lianyue will be suspicious. She knows the difference between medicine and poison. Don't be foolish and expose this so quickly." Su Qianru refused and returned the medicine.
"Have you forgotten? Master will return. Don't refuse orders."
"And one more thing, after the full moon arrives, lead the villagers to Anji mountain forest."
Su Qianru was forced to accept it. Zhao Mingxuan was so shocked. When the black-robed man removed his hood, he saw a scratch on his cheek. As he walked away, Zhao Mingxuan clearly saw the emblem on the back of the mysterious man's robe.
"Dark Sect?" Zhao Mingxuan thought to himself.
"That sect was supposed to be annihilated. How can he be here? And Su Lianyue's mother?" Zhao Mingxuan's mind raced with questions.
As Su Qianru began to walk back, he remained hidden behind a large tree, clutching his sword.
"I have to get out of here," Zhao Mingxuan muttered. He continued to run away from the hut of the person who had just helped him.
Soon after, a sword suddenly appeared at his neck, making Zhao Mingxuan swallow hard and stand still.
"Colluding with human traffickers and slandering the Grand Minister."
Zhao Mingxuan turned to face the man who intended to harm him. "What do you mean?"
"At the Shuyi city gate, were you waiting for a carriage?" the man smiled mockingly.
"Indeed, but what do you mean by trafficking and slander? I don't understand!"
Mu Qingye pressed his sword harder, injuring Zhao Mingxuan's neck.
"I truly don't understand!" Zhao Mingxuan tried to speak honestly.
"Then why were you there?"
"I will tell you the truth in detail. Lower your sword."
Mu Qingye slowly lowered his sword, allowing the man before him to speak the truth.
"I am Zhao Mingxuan from Yongki. At the Shuyi gate, I was indeed going to Shuyi yesterday. I don't know about human trafficking. My father only told me to safely escort that cart inside. It only contained raw materials, not humans."
"What kind of materials?" Mu Qingye asked, intimidating him.
"Niter, charcoal, and Zhusha."
"Zhusha, Dark Sect?" Mu Qingye thought to himself.
Zhao Mingxuan rubbed his slightly bleeding neck. They sat by the water's edge and began to light a fire.
"Hey, where are you from?" Zhao Mingxuan asked.
"Guazhou."
"From the clothes you're wearing, you don't seem like an ordinary person. Are you Young Master Guazhou?" Zhao Mingxuan hit the mark.
Mu Qingye only nodded slightly. "You once suspected my fath-"
"What are you saying? My father is a good man and devoted to the country," Zhao Mingxuan interrupted.
"Then how could he tell you to escort those illegal materials into Shuyi?" Mu Qingye asked, making Zhao Mingxuan silent.
"Bringing so much Zhusha, for what?"
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhao Mingxuan asked, annoyed.
"Zhusha, when refined into Gong, this poison can freeze Qi and even make it unstable, and that's only the work of the Dark Sect. And I know there's residual poison in your body."
Zhao Mingxuan looked at the man before him with intense curiosity. "How do you know?"
"And I also investigated; they brought cold grass and soul sand. You're lucky you managed to escape. If those materials are combined, they can turn you into a human puppet."
"Damn it!" Zhao Mingxuan clenched his fists tightly. How could he not have realized this before?
"I can help you normalize your Qi, but I don't want to lose anything."
Zhao Mingxuan nodded in agreement. "Whatever it is, I will pay."
"I need information in Shuyi about human trafficking."
"I will help you investigate it," Zhao Mingxuan said.
Mu Qingye allowed Zhao Mingxuan to sit. From behind, he began to release his inner energy to penetrate Zhao Mingxuan's soul.
Suddenly, someone appeared in his mind.
"What should I call you now? Mu Qingye?" a man looked at Mu Qingye with a small laugh.
"Mu Qingye, this martial arts world is not as beautiful as your home-"
"Does Master think there aren't many problems there?" Mu Qingye interrupted.
"Alright, why have you come to see Master?"
"I received information, whether it's true or not, I'm still doubtful, that the Dark Sect still exists. And the attackers in Guazhou were human puppets."
"So what do you want?"
"I can't just stand by. They're taking the souls of the villagers and turning them into puppets!"
"Mu Qingye, you must know one thing. In the martial arts world, suffering is common. The weak can only hide, and the strong don't always have a reason to help."
The Master sighed softly and looked at Mu Qingye.
"With so many dangers and you yourself wanting to help, sacrificing your life, is that worth it?"