The night the minor tournament ended, three figures arrived outside Servants' Courtyard, Room C-7.
They were not Lin Tianying's lackeys.
They were enforcers from the Law Hall.
All three wore black. The man in front was middle-aged, broad-faced like a carved stele, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. A black iron discipline ruler hung at his waist, glinting coldly beneath the moon. Two younger disciples followed behind him, faces stiff, hands tucked into their sleeves like winter frost made flesh.
Wang Duobao opened the door—and nearly collapsed on the spot.
"Wu… Wu Enforcer…"
"Where is Jiang Muchen?"
Wu's voice struck like iron on stone.
Inside the room, Jiang Muchen had been changing Lu Hanshan's bandages. The Rejuvenation Pill had already begun sealing the wounds, though the internal damage would take time. Hearing the call, he capped the medicine bottle and rose.
"I am here."
Wu Enforcer's eyes swept over him, pausing briefly on the jade-green flute at his waist.
"Come with us. The Law Hall has questions."
"For what matter, Enforcer?"
"You'll find out when you arrive."
Wu stepped aside, leaving no room for negotiation. "Please."
Jiang Muchen glanced back once.
Lu Hanshan struggled to rise. Wang Duobao's face was bloodless. Zheng Xiaoqi's fist clenched tight. Zhou Xiaohuan's eyes were red at the corners.
"It's fine," Jiang said calmly. "I'll be back."
The path out of the servant quarters lay drowned in night.
No voices. No footsteps. Only distant lights flickering across the main peak like stars half-drowned in fog. The Law Hall squatted on the western flank of the mountain—a solitary structure of black stone. White lanterns swayed beneath its eaves, casting long shadows across the steps, like a stairway descending into the underworld.
Inside, Wu Enforcer led him past the main chamber and into a side hall.
Dim lamplight. A long table.
Three figures sat behind it—two elderly men and a middle-aged woman.
Jiang Muchen recognized the men at once: Elders Chen and Sun from the Transmission Hall. The woman was unfamiliar, but her bearing was unmistakable—inner sect, high rank.
"Disciple Jiang Muchen greets the elders."
The woman studied him calmly. "So you're Jiang Muchen—the one who disrupted two matches today with flute music?"
"Yes."
"What technique was that?" Elder Chen asked, his voice dry as sandpaper. "I've watched outer-sect tournaments for decades. I've never seen sonic interference used like that."
"It wasn't a technique," Jiang replied evenly.
"Just a jade flute I happened upon. It calms the mind. I discovered that certain rhythms can… mildly disturb an opponent's focus."
"Mildly?" Elder Sun snorted. "Using unclear methods to interfere on the arena borders on breaking the rules."
"I wasn't aware it was prohibited," Jiang said, lowering his head.
"The flute was gifted by a senior of the sect. The melodies are orthodox. If the elders find fault, I accept punishment."
Flawless.
A gifted item. Orthodox music. At worst—cleverness, not violation.
The three elders exchanged glances.
The woman smiled faintly. "We didn't summon you to punish you."
"Sit," she said, gesturing to a chair.
Jiang sat, posture straight, occupying only half the seat.
"I am Liu Rumei," she said. "Elder of Tianyin Peak."
Tianyin Peak.
One of the sixteen main peaks—masters of sound arts and illusion.
"Your flute work is crude," Liu Rumei continued, "but interesting."
"You flatter me, Elder."
"You didn't disrupt Lin Bao's rhythm by chance," she said sharply. "You understand musical structure. Who taught you?"
"No one," Jiang answered. "Self-study."
"From what?"
"A fragmentary score called Clear Heart Manual."
Liu Rumei's eyes lit up.
"Written by Jade Resonance Immortal, three centuries ago?"
"I don't know," Jiang said honestly. "The manuscript was incomplete—barely ten passages."
"Can you write them down?"
Jiang paused. "I can try. But I only remember seven or eight."
"That's enough."
She slid a jade slip across the table.
Jiang accepted it and etched several simplified passages from the Myriad Spirit Resonance Art into the slip—deliberately omitting key transitions, subtly altering rhythms. Real enough to convince. Incomplete enough to protect the core.
Incense burned down.
Liu Rumei scanned the slip, delight flashing across her eyes.
"It is Jade Resonance's style."
She turned to the other elders. "Thoughts?"
Elder Chen stroked his beard. "It's not a rule violation. But winning twice this way invites criticism."
"Criticism?" Elder Sun scoffed. "Lin Tianying used a Diamond Talisman. Lin Bao mixed his blade with Gale Pills. If we dig deep, who's clean?"
Jiang's heart skipped.
Gale Pills.
A speed-boosting prohibited drug.
So that explained it.
Liu Rumei waved a hand. "Enough. Jiang Muchen—would you join Tianyin Peak? Your cultivation base is mediocre, but your musical intuition is rare."
This was an invitation.
Jiang shook his head.
"I thank Elder Liu. But I've received guidance from Artisan Firecloud of the Refining Hall, and kindness from Senior Sister Lin of Pill Cauldron Peak. Changing peaks now would invite needless trouble."
Liu Rumei raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what Tianyin Peak offers?"
"I do."
"Then why refuse?"
"Because I need roots," Jiang said quietly.
"And I promised my companions—we're entering the Azuremist Herb Valley together."
"Herb Valley?"
Her gaze sharpened. "That place kills nine out of ten at your level."
"I know," Jiang said. "But some paths must be walked."
Silence lingered.
Finally, Liu Rumei sighed. "Very well."
She paused, then added, "May I see your flute?"
Jiang offered it without hesitation.
Her fingers brushed the jade. Surprise flickered.
"Ten-thousand-year ice core… warm jade heart… Cold Palace craftsmanship?"
"The senior never said."
She lifted it to her lips and played a single note.
Pure. Clear. Resonant.
Even the lamplight trembled.
"A fine instrument," she said, returning it. "Treat it well."
Then, dismissively: "This matter ends here. You may go."
Outside the Law Hall, Jiang realized his back was soaked through.
Wu Enforcer escorted him out and spoke quietly, "Elder Liu shielded you. But Lin Tianying won't forget."
"I understand."
Jiang slipped him a small pouch—five crushed spirit stones wrapped in red paper.
Wu accepted without comment.
The night wind cut cold as Jiang walked back alone.
This hurdle had passed.
He had been tempted by Tianyin Peak—but it was too far from the roots he was planting. He needed the lower layers, the networks, the slow weaving of leverage.
More importantly—
He had promised the others.
The Herb Valley awaited.
The servant room was ablaze with lamplight when he returned.
They all exhaled in relief.
"You're okay?" Wang Duobao blurted.
"I'm fine."
Jiang checked Lu Hanshan's wounds. "Elder Liu only asked questions."
"From Tianyin Peak?" Zheng Xiaoqi whispered.
"Yes. And she confirmed something else."
He looked up.
"Lin Bao used Gale Pills."
Silence.
"That bastard!" Wang cursed.
"No proof," Jiang said calmly. "And it no longer matters."
He scanned the room.
"The top ten list is announced tomorrow. Lu Hanshan and I should qualify. Duobao. Xiaoqi. You must win tomorrow."
They nodded hard.
Jiang pulled out a thin booklet.
"Starting tomorrow—we prepare for the Herb Valley."
Then, after a pause:
"I'm going to see Lin Yueyao."
"Why?"
"Pill Cauldron Peak has safe harvest routes," Jiang said.
"And she owes me a favor."
Tongue Dao Maxim:
When the powerful reach out to you, don't rush to climb. First ask—will that rope pull you up… or tear you out by the roots?