Chapter Thirty-Six: Framing

A swarm of serpents emerged from the depths of the lake, hundreds of snakes writhing and biting, dragging the adventurers into the watery chaos. The shadow of a giant python swept across the shore, its massive tail lashing at the crowd, killing more than a dozen in a single strike. Flesh and blood splattered, a rain of crimson descending from the sky, cries and wails filling the forest; the adventurers called to the heavens and the earth, but received no answer from either.

The Azure-scaled Giant Python and its brood spared no one. Its tail, like a whip of death, struck without mercy. Those who tried to escape screamed in terror, glancing at Chen Mu and shouting, “You are the offspring of monsters! You are a demon! Demon!” No sooner had they spoken than they too were swallowed whole, food for the python’s belly.

The small lake was left in ruins, dozens of lives wiped out without pity. The Iron Shield Adventurer Team stared in stunned disbelief, clearly never expecting such an ending. Yan Jin had collapsed, trembling atop the giant python in fear. The python lifted the members of the Iron Shield Team onto the shore, then plucked a crimson-purple Lotus of Regeneration and handed it to Chen Mu, saying, “Young friend, consider this a token of our meeting. Please accept it. Hurry back—at least we third-tier beast have some intelligence, but if you encounter a mindless beast horde, it would be far more perilous. I hope you’ll soon grow stronger, and I hope you’ll visit often.”

With that, the python sent a late-stage, second-tier Red-scaled Python to escort them safely to the forest’s edge. It then slipped back beneath the lake, vanishing from sight.

Zhao Dongren tentatively asked Chen Mu, “You can communicate with that giant python?”

“Yes. Otherwise, we’d have ended up as its meal,” Chen Mu sighed.

Zhou Miaomiao finally recovered her composure, immediately hugging Chen Mu. “We truly found a treasure. If not for Brother Chen, we’d all be reduced to bones.”

Liu Mutian glanced at Chen Mu from time to time, “Indeed. If the python hadn’t seen us as Chen Mu’s companions, we’d be nothing but chunks of flesh.”

So the Iron Shield Adventurer Team hurried toward the forest’s edge, and in their hearts, Chen Mu became more mysterious, tinged with a hint of awe.

Back in town, news spread that the entire herb-gathering party had been annihilated, except for the Iron Shield Team. The revelation caused a great stir. Hearing their account, everyone scolded Huang Tianwu for his foolishness.

The story, though mostly true, was embellished in some details: Chen Mu and the team were forced into the lake, Chen Mu could communicate with the giant python, and so forth.

Word of Chen Mu’s ability to sense beast attacks spread far and wide, making him highly sought after.

Afterward, Chen Mu sold the crimson-purple Lotus of Regeneration, and the proceeds were divided among the Iron Shield Team.

Two months passed, autumn arrived, and Chen Mu had made a name for himself in the town. Everyone knew of Chen Mu of the Iron Shield Team, the one who could track monster traces.

During these two months of hunting, Chen Mu had gathered ample materials for refining Fiend Pills, producing more than three hundred and forty of them. Enduring the agony of their tempering, he had unlocked twenty-eight Earth Fiend meridians, bringing his total of accessible Sky and Earth meridians to eighty-four.

Now, Chen Mu possessed the strength to contend with late-stage Foundation realm cultivators; if he unleashed his full power, he could surely defeat them.

After two and a half months of training outside, Chen Mu decided it was time to return to the sect and reclaim his honor.

On the road to Starwatch Valley, he was spotted by disciples of the Enforcement Squad lying in wait. Two approached immediately, “Chen Mu, you’re back? Good. Once we capture you, Headman He Lang will surely reward us!”

“Don’t blame us for being ruthless, Chen Mu. You shouldn’t have crossed our Hall of Punishment.”

With that, they moved to apprehend him.

“What are you doing?”

“What are we doing? A few months ago, you forcibly defiled the outer disciple You Lan. Scum like you must face sect discipline!”

“You’re lying! When did I ever defile You Lan?”

“Don’t waste words with him—grab him first!” One disciple formed a seal, sending a white light that struck Chen Mu’s shoulder.

Chen Mu grunted. As he tried to speak, a fist followed.

He had no choice but to fight back. Clenching his fist, he gathered his energy—a wave of heat burst forth with a punch imbued with the power of the sun, the Sunset Strike.

“He’s got some skills—wasn’t he just at the Meridian realm? Wait… not good! Dodge!”

Before the disciple could react, Chen Mu’s strike sent him flying more than ten meters.

“Damn it! Chen Mu, you dare attack your fellow disciples? You’ll pay for this!” The disciple immediately sounded the alarm.

With the alarm ringing, disciples and elders hurried over, the Enforcement Squad soon arriving, led by the inner disciple Captain He Lang.

“What’s the cause for the alarm?” He Lang frowned, glancing at the injured gatekeepers and questioning another.

“It’s Chen Mu—he’s back and attacked his fellow disciples!”

“You are Chen Mu? Good. Seize him!” He Lang commanded.

Chen Mu, furious, knocked down the would-be captors with three punches and two kicks.

“He’s got some moves,” He Lang remarked coolly. “Let me try you.”

Drawing his sword, He Lang unleashed his sword techniques, charging at Chen Mu.

The moves were familiar—exactly the Foundation realm segment of the Sanskrit Star Sword Technique.

Chen Mu’s gaze chilled; he summoned the Blackgold Sword and responded with his own Sunset Sword style.

Blazing golden radiance collided with dazzling starlight. Using the same lineage’s first three moves, Chen Mu matched his opponent evenly, which greatly annoyed He Lang.

“Why is your Sanskrit Star Sword Technique different?”

Chen Mu did not answer; his frustration fueled his attacks as he unleashed his self-developed Sunset Sword moves, and within the time it took to finish a cup of tea, He Lang could no longer withstand the intense heat.

Forced to retreat, He Lang barked, “What are you all waiting for? Get him!”

Outnumbered, Chen Mu was soon bound tightly.

“Why are you arresting me? He struck first!” Chen Mu protested.

He Lang kicked Chen Mu in the stomach, taunting, “Scum like you deserve death. Why? Because you’ve lived in debauchery within the sect! Enough talk—take him away!”

In the main hall of the sect, the Valley Master Gu Xingyuan and the elders sat in judgment as Chen Mu was brought before them.

“Chen Mu, do you recognize your crime?” Elder Xiao, the Punishment Elder, asked darkly.

“I do not, Elder.” Chen Mu knelt, hands chained, barely lifting his head to look at Xiao.

“How dare you! A few months ago, you forcibly defiled outer disciple You Lan. She said so herself.”

Chen Mu was stunned. “I defiled You Lan? It was He Silai who defiled her! I caught him in the act and was hunted by the Enforcement Squad of the Hall of Punishment!”

“Still trying to argue! Since you admit to knowing of the incident, I’ll give you a chance to live—abolish your cultivation. With or without it, you’re the same.”

“Crime? What crime have I committed? You say I defiled You Lan? When I caught He Silai defiling her, I was just an outer sect nobody with only six meridians. Elder, how could I possibly have forced You Lan?”

“How dare you question me?”

“I dare not, Elder. But since you wish to abolish my cultivation, and will soon expel me from Starwatch Valley, this concerns my future path. I must clarify it to prove my innocence. Was it really You Lan who accused me? I did not report the incident to the sect; her attempt to frame me is perhaps her revenge. At that time, I had only six meridians—any outer disciple can attest to this. How could I have forced You Lan? Please enlighten me, Elder! Moreover, He Silai sent three late-stage Foundation disciples to hunt me down when I left the sect. I escaped into the Star Ridge Forest and used a secret technique to hide my presence.”

“He Silai? Bring him here! Is there evidence of this pursuit?” Gu Xingyuan spoke.

“Let me and him swear an oath to Heaven: if either lies, let us be struck dead by divine lightning. If that’s not enough, use the Truth Technique—wouldn’t everything be revealed?”

“Oh, you know of the Truth Technique? That’s an ancient secret art, lost for countless years. How are we to use it?” Gu Xingyuan replied with a curious smile.