On top of the city wall, Mu Yun pondered briefly. He did not rashly enter the dense forest, but instead blurred and doubled back into the city. Circling around to the outer side of the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall, he found a concealed spot and lay in wait, biding his time.
Time slipped by; the night grew deep, the cold wind howling. Some four hours later, before the first glimmer of dawn touched the sky — the darkest moment just before sunrise — sure enough, a dark figure swept quietly in from the distance, moving with extreme speed, and landed before the gates of the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall.
Mu Yun's gaze sharpened. It was precisely the black-clad man he had been trailing!
His thoughts raced; no more hesitation.
A cold light flashed within his storage bag, and a long saber was in his hand. His form moved, his willpower erupting with a roar, his Qi Refining aura surging like a tiger pouncing into the forest — he dove straight at the man!
Shrouded in the night, Mu Yun was like a streak of shadow. In a howl of wind he was already before the black-clad figure, saber-light rending the air, its momentum like thunder!
Yet the black-clad man reacted with startling speed. With a stomp of his foot, he launched himself into the air at a bizarre angle, narrowly dodging the descending slash.
At the same instant, two cold lights tore through the air — flying blades flying straight at Mu Yun's face!
Mu Yun swept his saber, batting the flying blades aside, then rolled and landed, sidestepping just in time to avoid a heavy spinning kick from the black-clad man.
He was just about to rise when two more flying blades arrived, their angle vicious and precise, aimed straight at his vitals.
"What a poisonous style — every move is meant to kill!" Mu Yun thought in alarm.
Just then, a flash of inspiration struck his mind, and the words burst out of him: "Object-driving... could it be — Uncle Lei?!"
The man's assault faltered, his steps drawing back slightly, his brow lifting. "Young Friend Mu Yun?"
The saber's momentum had not yet fully dispersed, but Mu Yun's form had already pulled back. He drew a deep breath and said: "It is this junior."
The black-clad man harrumphed, smiling in that ambiguous way. "You, Mu Yun... so the one sneaking after me earlier was you all along?"
"Heh heh... seen through by a senior — this junior is ashamed." Mu Yun scratched his head with an awkward smile.
Lei Gang put away his flying blades, his gaze sweeping darkly over him. "This place is no good for lingering. Come with me."
With that, his form swept into a dark shadow and sped away. Mu Yun hurried to follow.
Inside the secret chamber of the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall.
Two dark figures entered one after another. In the faint lamplight, Lei Gang and Mu Yun removed their masks, their expressions grave.
After a moment of silence, Lei Gang spoke first: "Since Young Friend Mu has already spied out the Mu Manor by night, you must already have some inkling. Let us be open with each other — there is no more point in hiding."
Mu Yun nodded slightly. "After bidding farewell to your son today, I returned home, then encountered the Mu family's second daughter, Mu Fei, on the road. According to her, her elder sister Mu Lin is being hunted by Mo Bai, and she sought my help. Mu Lin once showed me kindness, so I agreed to help and slipped into the Mu Manor to scout."
He had already weighed it in his heart. Lei Gang was an old acquaintance of his grandfather, and his cultivation far exceeded his own; had he harbored ill intent, he would have struck just now — why go through this whole dance? Thus he told all plainly, recounting Mu Fei's plea and his own scout of the Mu Manor.
At this, Lei Gang pondered a moment, then nodded slowly. "So it lines up."
He paused, a graver look settling between his brows. "At dusk, my scouts reported that sudden upheaval had broken out in the Mu Manor — Mo Bai had actually exchanged blows with the Mu sisters, the two sisters were no match, and they fled in different directions. Soon after, Mo Bai actually returned with Mu Lin in tow, while her sister Mu Fei has been missing ever since."
"Mu Feng and I are old acquaintances." Lei Gang's tone softened slightly, his gaze deep. "These years he has stayed in seclusion, claiming he is attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment... but Lei Gang has always felt there is something strange in this."
He turned to Mu Yun, his voice lowering. "Yesterday's upheaval has only deepened my doubts. Though Mo Bai's influence in the Mu Manor has grown, he is ultimately no more than a disciple. That he dares openly move against the Mu sisters — unless someone behind him is backing him, how could such a thing be possible?"
He rose slowly and paced with hands behind his back. "I had no wish to meddle in the Mu Manor's affairs, but this is simply absurd. I fear... the Mu Manor has already undergone some upheaval."
At this, his tone grew even lower. "Or rather — Mu Feng is no longer the man he was."
He looked up at Mu Yun, then turned his gaze into the distance.
"Seeing this, it is true that Mu Fei came to seek your help."
"But as for Mu Lin — she already fought Mo Bai, so why would she return to the Mu Manor alongside him?"
He paused, a cold light suddenly flashing in his eyes: "Unless—"
"She is being controlled." Mu Yun took up the words, his voice like cold iron striking stone, his gaze deep as an abyss.
A silence fell over the secret chamber, the atmosphere heavy as lead.
After a moment, Mu Yun drew a scroll of xuan paper from his robe and spread it gently on the table.
"This map was drawn by Mu Fei — a rough layout of the Mu Manor. The key spots marked on it, this junior has scouted one by one, but found nothing. I wonder, did Uncle Lei's own search yield anything?"
At this, Lei Gang shook his head, his expression steady. "I am not familiar with the Mu Manor. My scout was much the same as yours — the endpoint was also the dwelling where Mu Lin lives. Sensing something amiss, I withdrew at once. Mo Bai and his personal guards have formidable cultivation; lingering too long would only walk into danger."
"Uncle Lei speaks wisely." Mu Yun nodded, then suddenly looked up and asked: "I wonder if Uncle Lei knows where City Lord Mu Feng's seclusion chamber is?"
"How could such a thing be guessed at?" Lei Gang shook his head, his tone earnest. "The seclusion place concerns the foundation of one's life. If it were carelessly leaked, would that not be destroying one's own foundation? Even his own son might not know its exact location."
Mu Yun's fingertip tapped the map. "Mu Fei once said that these past years, Guard One has often relayed messages on his behalf, coming and going from these few spots."
As he spoke, he took up a brush and with a few strokes sketched out the places where the marked routes converged — plainly appearing on the map.
Lei Gang's gaze sharpened, his eyes lighting up. "This place... is truly suspicious! Even if it is not the seclusion chamber, it must be a key stronghold of the Mu Manor."
He nodded slowly, his tone steadier. "If Mo Bai has never shown himself since entering the manor, I fear this place is where he is hiding. Young Friend — this place must be investigated."
Mu Yun, too, bowed his head to study the map, his gaze darkening, and replied slowly: "That is precisely my intention."
"Uncle Lei." Mu Yun spoke in a low voice, his gaze steady. "This junior wishes to scout the Mu Manor again. I wonder if you would accompany me?"
At this, Lei Gang pondered briefly, then nodded. "Mu Feng is an old friend of mine — how could I stand idly by? Of course I will go."
He shifted tone, his expression turning slightly grave. "However—" A light flashed in his eyes, his voice sinking. "The Treasure Gathering Pavilion tournament is upon us; to Lei Gang, this is the foremost matter. Moreover, there is barely an hour until dawn. This outing of ours can only gather intelligence; we must not act rashly. After the tournament, if I return whole, I will devote myself to investigating this."
Mu Yun pondered a moment, then finally nodded. "As Uncle Lei says."
With that, the two donned their masks once more, swept off, and sped straight for the Mu Manor.
...
In less than a quarter hour, the two had circled to the rear of the Mu Manor. Following the map, they quickly reached the spot suspected of being Mu Feng's seclusion chamber.
Lei Gang halted, scanning his surroundings, and said in a low voice: "Young Friend, we lie in ambush here and watch. Remember — do not move rashly. Once conflict breaks out, we risk startling the snake."
Mu Yun nodded and at once hid behind a grove of vines; Lei Gang crouched in the shadow of a rockery. Both hid with extreme care, their auras concealed like two invisible statues, melting into the night.
Dawn was approaching, the world not yet light. Sure enough, moments later, two figures came quietly from behind the courtyard, their steps hurried — plainly men of the Mu Manor.
They wore the standard uniforms of personal guards; cultivation rippled in their movements, though from not far off Mu Yun could not for the moment determine their identities.
As they drew near, their words came clearly to his ears.
"...Eldest brother, what Mo Bai has done this time truly chills the heart. City Lord Mu has treated us with profound grace. Must we three brothers... become the tiger's claws?"
"Sigh, Third brother," the other man sighed, his voice full of helplessness. "Mo Bai has already attached himself to another — a power beyond what you or I can resist. Right now we are only clinging to a thread, scraping by to survive. We can only hope that after this is over, Mo Bai keeps his word and lets us three brothers leave, to flee far away..."
Mu Yun's heart shook at these words —
"It really is... Guard One and Guard Three!"
"Is City Lord Mu Feng... all right?" Guard Three lowered his voice, a thread of unease in it.
"Hard to say..." Guard One pondered a moment, then replied softly: "Every time I go to receive his orders, he does see me personally. His bearing, his words, show no flaw. By rights... it should be him, no doubt."
He paused, then finally sighed. "Let us not speak of this for now. Since we have already sworn obedience to Mo Bai's command, we can only walk this road to the end. Still — Mu Lin and Mu Fei are, after all, girls we watched grow up. We will protect them by whatever small measure we can. Once the storm passes, if there is still a chance, we will leave them a way out."
As he spoke, he raised a hand and clapped Guard Three on the shoulder. "Go and keep watch over her. I am off to see Mo Bai — he has summoned me to discuss matters."
Guard Three nodded in reply and turned back the way they had come.
Hidden in the shadows, Mu Yun glanced at Lei Gang, whose gaze was steady. Quietly he made a gesture — follow!
Mu Yun smiled to himself: "This Lei Gang is quite sharp." He felt a new measure of conviction in the man.
Several breaths later, the two quietly circled and intercepted Guard Three outside a side alley. Their forms were like lightning, their auras like blades; in moments, they had captured him alive.
"We mean no harm to your life." Lei Gang spoke coldly, his palm shaking as he sealed the man's spiritual meridians. "Where is Mu Lin being held?"
"Who... who are you people?!" Guard Three struggled fiercely, his eyes full of rage and wariness.
"You need not know." Mu Yun stepped forward, the edge of his saber pressing against the man's throat, its cold light menacing. "Dawn is coming. We spare your life because you still have a shred of humanity. We both know you are merely forced into this. In that case, stop putting on a brave front."
His gaze was like lightning, his voice cold yet not murderous, carrying an unyielding resolve. "Rest easy — we are not here to slaughter indiscriminately. So long as you tell the truth, the past is forgiven."
After several breaths of silence, Guard Three finally spoke in a low voice: "...She is locked in a secret chamber. In the east wing of the courtyard, on the right wall there is a hidden-door mechanism — it leads underground."
"Is there anyone else in the secret chamber?" Lei Gang asked again, his gaze like lightning.
"Aside from me, only Mu Lin alone." Guard Three replied in a low voice, his expression quite anxious.
Lei Gang nodded slightly and turned to Mu Yun. "Young Friend, go quickly. I will restrain this man and stand watch for you."
This was no excuse. His cultivation far surpassed Guard Three's; having confirmed the chamber was empty, his guarding the outside to prevent any variable was undoubtedly the most prudent plan.
He looked up at the sky — the night was ending, daylight about to break. His tone turned heavy: "Remember — after one stick of incense, succeed or not, you must withdraw."
"Good." Mu Yun said no more, and was off, his figure flashing into the courtyard.
Lei Gang turned back to Guard Three, his gaze cold as frost. From his robe he took a black pill and tossed it slowly before the man.
"Swallow it — or die."
Guard Three's face changed. He swallowed, then finally bowed his head and submitted, taking the pill into his stomach.
The cold light in Lei Gang's eyes did not fade. He said slowly: "What happens tonight, not half a word may leave you. Afterward, I will personally deliver the antidote."