Qingxu Temple, Law Enforcement Hall side hall.
This place was not as solemn and dignified as the main hall, but had more coldness and iron-blooded resolve. Walls of cast iron reflected a cold gleam. The air carried faint sandersmoke and a trace of blood-tinged scent—that left by regularly adjudicating disciples who violated sect rules. The hall's furnishings were simple: one table, one chair, and one wooden shelf displaying various implements of punishment and sealing artifacts—that was all.
Liu Yun sat upright on that sole iron chair, her posture still straight as a pine, but the sharpness and flamboyance of her brow had diminished, gaining more composure and inward depth. She wore a brand-new elder's robe of law enforcement, deep cyan as the base, edged with silver lines symbolizing iron law and thunder, rendering her naturally coldenergynature even more unapproachable. Beside her hand rested a sheathed sword. It was not the light and swift "Autumn Water" she had always favored, but a wide-bladed heavy sword named "Iron Rule." Even sheathed, it already emanated adeepmuddledlikemountain sense, the meaning of measuringsin andpunishment.
A law enforcement disciple bowed in report, his voice carrying reverence: ". Elder, yesterday during inspection of the outer disciple area, three disciples were found having a private fight over a dispute, destroying three fen of spirit fields. They have been punished per sect rules—twenty lashes, three months' salary confiscated, and ordered toprotectreply the spirit fields." Liu Yun's gaze lowered, staring at the characters recording the case on the table. Her fingertips lightly tapped the cold iron desk, producing soft tapping sounds.
This sound echoed in the silent hall, making that disciple's head bow even lower. "Private fighting led to destruction of sect public property?" Her voice was not loud, yet carried icy pressure: "Spirit fields are the sect's foundation, cultivating spiritual grain to support disciples. Destroying three fen of fields—how could this be compensated by mere lashes and fines? Transmit my orders: the three, besides the alreadydecided punishment, shall additionally be punished with six months' service at the 'Cold Iron Mine Pit,' as a warning to others.
If they offend again, they shall be expelled from the sect." That disciple shuddered all over. The Cold Iron Mine Pit's environment was harsh, spiritual energy sparse, labor brutal—it was universally acknowledged as the sect's hardest labor location. He dared not speak more, quickly responding: "Yes! Disciple obeys!" After that disciple withdrew, the side hall returned to silence.
Liu Yun slowly leaned back against the chair, closing her eyes, taking a deep breath. The power of a Law Enforcement Elder—one order could determine a disciple's future, even life or death. This weight was far heavier than her former "Autumn Water Sword" of swift retaliation and quick decisions. Unconsciously, scenes flashed through her mind.
It was during the demonic cultivators' siege of Qingxu Temple—the fellow junior brothers and sisters who might have previously quarreled with her or complained beneath her strict training, falling beside her, blood staining the mountain gate stone steps. It was her master, True Immortal Xuan Lin, that usually cold and impartial master who had been strictest with her—during the final moments, resolutely self-destructing his life-bound treasure to buy time for disciples to retreat, perishing with several demonic cultivators. That resolute yet satisfied gaze was branded forever in her heart. It was Tang Xiaoqi—that junior she had once thought mediocre, requiring her constant oversight—who stepped forward in despair, purifying demonic energy with unbelievable power, turning the tide.
Between life and death, there was great terror, but also great enlightenment. The former Liu Yun had a fiery temper, hated evil as she hated enemies, her sword in hand was her logic. She pursued extreme sword speed and lethality, believing protecting the sect meant slaying all invaders. When teaching Tang Xiaoqi, though she was earnest, it was more impatient strictness and severity born ofhatespiritual lightwasbecomesteel.
However, when truly facing sect-annihilation danger, when she witnessed different forms of sacrifice and protection, when she saw Tang Xiaoqi not relying on pure killing but on the faith of purification and protection to gather strength, her rigid cognition was shattered. Protection was not only one form—rushing forward, slaying demons and eliminating threats. Her master had fulfilled the law enforcer's ultimate responsibility with his life—protecting sect law and legacy regardless of self. Tang Xiaoqi had protected more living beings' hopes with tolerance and purification.
So what about Liu Yun? Her sword remained swift. After tempering through life-and-death edges and heart transformation, her cultivation had naturally broken through to late Foundation Establishment, her sword intent even more condensed. But she felt that depending solely on the sword in hand was not enough.
The sect was rebuilding, all things to be restored. External threats remained, internal hearts wavered. Someone was needed with iron authority to rectify conduct and unite hearts, allowing disciples who had experienced trauma to find security and belonging under strict laws and order. The Law Enforcement Hall, which she had previously thought somewhat rigid and impractical, now became in her eyes another form of "battlefield." Here, she could use her own methods to protect the sect's foundations and those disciples who survived the demonic calamity—perhaps already leaving shadows in their hearts—helping them understand that the sect still had laws to follow and rules to obey.
Choosing to take on the Law Enforcement Elder's heavy responsibility was not a momentary impulse. This was the result of careful thought during countless sleepless nights after her master's death. This was an inheritance, and also a reorientation of her own path. The door creaked open, interrupting Liu Yun's thoughts.
She opened her eyes and saw Tang Xiaoqi standing at the entrance, a gentle smile on his face. "Third Senior Sister." Xiao Qi walked in, his gaze sweeping this cold, rigid side hall, finally falling on Liu Yun in that deep cyan elder robe: "This place. suits you rather well." Liu Yun's lips slightly twitched, a response to his teasing. She gestured to the stool beside her: "Sit." Tang Xiaoqi sat as told, feeling this place's markedly different solemn atmosphere, sighing: "Senior Sister is now Law Enforcement Elder, in a position of great power. If Iwascoordinating with Liu Yun's supportswiftly carrying Xiao Qi on her back violate sect rules in the future, I hope Senior Sister will show mercy." Had it been before, Liu Yun might have glared at him or directly given him a knock on the head.
But at this moment, she merelynot a bitnot a bit looked at him, her tone calm and unchanging: "Before the law, everyone is equal. If you transgress, the Iron Rule shows no favor." Tang Xiaoqi touched his nose, smiling sheepishly. He could sense that Third Senior Sister had changed. No longer that passionate, emotionally expressive Senior Sister, but likemadespiritual lighttempered through trials, compressing all edge and heat inward, becoming calm, resolute, even somewhat. cold.
But beneath this coldness, he felt a deeper, more reliable power. "Heard you punished several disciples for destroying spirit fields today, sending them to the Cold Iron Mine?" Tang Xiaoqi changed the subject. "Mm." Liu Yun nodded. "In extraordinary times, severe measures must be used. Without severe punishment, wicked people cannot be deterred, sect order cannot be maintained.
Spirit fields are the foundation—they cannot be lost." "Senior Sister has a point." Tang Xiaoqi agreed. "Sect reconstruction truly requires stable internal environment. However. law enforcement also needs moderation. Too rigid breaks easily. Some disciples, having experienced great battle, have unstable emotions.
Perhaps they need guidance more than punishment."