One incense stick of time after Zeng Mu met his end beneath the Cold Wolf Banner.
"Elder Pan, an urgent crane dispatch!"
Yuansong Temple's Enforcement Hall had six elders in all, every one of them at the Foundation Building realm or higher. Elder Pan Ang was among the most senior, standing second only to the hall master and vice temple head, Zhuo Ding.
Temple Head Old Daoist Wu spent his years in quiet seclusion, rarely taking an interest in administrative affairs.
Vice Temple Head Zhuo Ding had recently been dispatched upstream along the Lan River following the discovery of a spiritual vein. He was busy negotiating alongside several major factions with the demons under the Guangling Water Palace, and there was no telling when he might return.
The elders of the Scripture Hall were all ascetic recluses.
Consequently, Elder Pan Ang currently held considerable authority within the temple.
Upon the high, cushion-backed chair positioned first on the left side of the Enforcement Hall sat an elder of roughly fifty years. He had a square face, large ears, starkly defined features, thick brows, and coarse hair, presenting an exceptionally imposing appearance.
Beside him were two others. One was a man in his forties with fiery red hair, a long face, a broad nose, and thick lips—none other than Elder Luo, the most explosive-tempered among the Enforcement Hall's elders.
The other was a grizzled, small-stature elder, barely five chi tall and draped in an ample robe. He possessed a mild temperament that formed a stark contrast with Elder Luo.
This was the Enforcement Hall's resident peacemaker, Elder Weng Shanfang.
The three of them had abruptly gathered in one room because of the unearthly wails and eerie shrieks heard earlier.
In a modest place like Pingyuan Commandery at the easternmost edge of Yunzhou Prefecture, hardly anyone would believe that someone had mastered some heaven-shaking divine art. Rather, they suspected Netherworld demons of stirring up trouble.
That was what truly threatened the temple's safety.
When the demons of the Netherworld went on a rampage, they cared nothing for whether one belonged to the Daoist, Buddhist, demon, or monster paths, sinister sects, or the myriad orthodox schools. Their slaughter left a thousand li devoid of human life.
As the three were deliberating, the arrival of the crane dispatch cut them short. Pan Ang scanned the contents, and his eyelid twitched at once.
"What is it?" Elder Luo asked.
Though a surge of irritation flared within Pan Ang, he was a man of deep calculation and kept his composure. "That boy Qin Xuan went down the mountain. I sent Zeng Mu to track him with a spiritual pigeon, but unexpectedly, the pigeon was eaten by a cat from Lianyun Manor. Zeng Mu felt too ashamed to face me, so he simply packed up and ran off."
"What?!"
Elder Luo slammed his palm onto the table. "Audacious! This Zeng Mu is even more insolent than Qin Xuan!"
Beside them, the diminutive Weng Shanfang wore a strange expression. "Brother Pan, if I remember correctly, your spiritual pigeon was bred by Daoist Ou from the Luogu Peak lineage. How could it possibly be caught by a domestic cat? That sounds like a complete farce."
Hearing this, Pan Ang's face darkened.
If word got out, it would not merely humiliate him; people would mock Daoist Ou for not knowing how to raise pigeons. That would be intolerable!
Weng Shanfang continued, "It seems to me that Zeng Mu committed some infraction, dared not return to the temple, concocted a wild pretext, and absconded with your spiritual pigeon."
Elder Luo nodded. "That makes great sense. We should dispatch men immediately to drag the wretch back and interrogate him."
Pan Ang let out a cold snort. "I wager he wouldn't dare deceive me.
"That Manor Lord Zhu used to be on friendly terms with us, yet recently the medicinal supplies he delivers have noticeably shrunk—my share has dropped by thirty percent. In my view, he intends to sever ties with Yuansong Temple, and he might even be colluding with demon sects. I doubt it was any domestic cat; more likely, it was a cat demon."
Having said that, he called toward the door, "Jiwei!"
"Disciple is here!"
A solemn-faced youth stepped in from outside. He was Song Jiwei, one of Yuansong Temple's thirteen core disciples.
He kept a low profile within the temple, having always cultivated under the Enforcement Hall, and was highly regarded by Pan Ang. Among the thirteen core disciples, his standing was quite similar to Qin Xuan's.
"Pay a visit to Lianyun Manor. Convey my words: tell Manor Lord Zhu to lend me his cat for an inspection. Furthermore, inform him that the spiritual pigeon his cat ate was bred by Daoist Ou of Luogu Peak, and even I possessed only two. Tell him to handle things accordingly."
"Understood."
Song Jiwei had been listening outside the whole time and naturally understood the context. Without asking a single question, he took his orders and departed.
Although Lianyun Manor had some foundation, a considerable gap remained between it and Yuansong Temple, the foremost power in Pingyuan Commandery. Pan Ang was by no means overstepping by issuing orders to Manor Lord Zhu in this manner.
Weng Shanfang asked, "Brother Pan, is this appropriate? Manor Lord Zhu is an acquaintance of our temple head, after all."
Pan Ang offered no direct reply, turning instead to Elder Luo. "Brother Luo, which holds greater weight: personal ties or rules?"
Elder Luo answered resolutely, "Without rules, nothing can stand."
"Precisely. I intend to take this opportunity to suppress them a bit, lest they feign compliance while secretly acting against us."
While Pan Ang spoke those words aloud, he was already calculating how much profit he could wring from Lianyun Manor.
Elder Weng, however, followed up on Elder Luo's words: "Brother Luo, I heard you went storming off in search of Qin Xuan earlier. On that matter, I would like to offer a few words."
"Speak."
"Ever since this disciple joined the mountain sect, he has cultivated assiduously and never once transgressed against temple regulations. When it comes to abiding by the rules, hardly any among the core disciples can rival him. Otherwise, the temple head would not have regarded him with special favor."
On that last remark, his tone grew slightly heavier.
Yet Elder Luo was still fuming, remaining stubbornly silent and unmoved.
Pan Ang gave an easy smile. "Brother Weng, people change. You need not trouble yourself over this matter; Brother Luo and I will handle it. If his conduct is truly blameless, he will reveal no flaw no matter how I interrogate him."
Elder Weng merely smiled and let the topic drop.
The three then shifted the conversation toward the Netherworld demons and the movements of the demon sects.
***
Before long, Zeng Mu's letter found its way into Zhou Cang's hands. He compared the handwriting with Zeng Mu's previous correspondence, confirming beyond doubt that it came from the same person.
Puzzled, he asked, "You're saying Zeng Mu is dead?"
"Yes. Most likely by Qin Xuan's hand. That fellow's methods are far sharper than I expected."
Shen Yunfei wore a solemn expression. "What I want to know is, how on earth did Zeng Mu bungle the job? With Daoist Ou's spiritual pigeon combined with his Eagle Eye Technique, he was merely watching from afar. Just how colossal a blunder did he have to make for Qin Xuan to spot him?"
"Indeed. That's why I suspect Zeng Mu might still be alive," Zhou Cang said, still skeptical.
"He's dead. And right before being killed, he even helped someone write a letter. Truly stupid to the bone—he could sit at the same table as Qian Fan. Though I suppose I'm not much sharper myself, since I can't figure out what purpose this letter serves."
Shen Yunfei rolled his leopard-like eyes and gave a self-deprecating laugh.
Zhou Cang clapped him on the shoulder. "You're overthinking it. Perhaps it was just meant to muddy the waters."
"Let's hope so."
Shen Yunfei added, "One thing is certain, though: Qin Xuan concealed his strength and possesses extraordinary forbearance. It seems he harbors grand ambitions. A person like that, meticulous and calculating, is exceptionally difficult to deal with."
Zhou Cang nodded in agreement. "You two are cut from the same cloth. Both of you favor underhanded tricks."
Shen Yunfei broke into a smile, taking it entirely as a compliment.
Conferring as they walked, the two made their way to the back mountain.
With well-practiced ease, they erected a cenotaph for Zeng Mu.
"Junior Brother Zeng, though you amounted to little in life—vicious, covetous, gluttonous, and lazy—we didn't treat you poorly while you were alive, and we haven't forgotten you now that you're dead. With this, our slates are wiped clean; neither of us owes the other a thing."
After Shen Yunfei finished speaking, Zhou Cang poured the wine beside him, and both bowed toward the cenotaph to complete the rite.
In their words, this was how one kept bad luck at bay.
Zhou Cang handed over a wooden plaque. Shen Yunfei pondered for a moment, carved the characters, and handed it back.
Inscribed upon it were the words: *Tomb of the Fledgling Eagle Immortal*.
Zhou Cang offered his appraisal: "Why call him a fledgling eagle? When it comes to the Eagle Eye Technique, none among the core disciples surpassed him."
"An experienced eagle wouldn't blunder like this. It's an utter disgrace—he can only count as a fledgling eagle. Those eyes of his were fixed solely on benefits and coin. The Eagle Eye Technique ought to be cultivated within the heart, but he cultivated it all crooked."
"Makes sense!"
With a casual flick of Zhou Cang's wrist, the wooden plaque plunged firmly into the earth.
A shaft of sunlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating the epitaph:
*In this life he forged eagle eyes, only to covet the world's wealth.*
Chapter 22