Chapter Thirty-Eight: Malice and Demonic Delusion

“No!” He Lang cried out in utter despair, watching with his own eyes as his brother’s head was severed by Chen Mu. The head rolled to He Lang’s feet, its face twisted in terror and hopelessness.

He Lang’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he tried to rise and fight Chen Mu, but was kicked down and had his face ground beneath Chen Mu’s boot.

“You and your brother have repeatedly tried to kill me—did you ever consider it might lead to this?” Chen Mu spoke quietly. That night, that blade, had left an indelible mark on his life; he had tasted human malice. To avoid falling victim to such evil, he knew he had to become stronger, his power had to surpass the evil of others.

True justice exists only where strength prevails. People’s perceptions are easily swayed, as with those disciples below; though Chen Mu was the victim, they watched him coldly, as though he were the real villain.

Chen Mu was still weak, his words carried little weight, and he was no match for the Law Enforcement Squad or the elders of the Hall of Punishment—especially Xiao Heartless. With them manipulating the facts, Chen Mu would forever bear the stain of having defiled Youlan.

Only by becoming stronger could he earn the right to speak, to prove his innocence.

But Chen Mu no longer cared. Killing the brothers of the He family had begun to tear apart the trauma from his near-death that night. He had gained a deeper understanding of death; it stirred the will to survive. Now, his only wish was to live.

It was the sole thought left to him after learning his days were numbered due to the Heat-Cold Syndrome, and death had only reinforced that desire.

Chen Mu closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts. When he opened them again, he looked at He Lang, still pinned beneath his foot, and raised his sword to behead him.

At that moment, a handsome young man leaped onto the platform, stopping Chen Mu’s sword: “Enough! Chen Mu! I may turn a blind eye to your misdeeds in the outer sect, but here in the inner sect, you are not allowed to act so wantonly!”

This man was stronger than He Lang, clearly surpassing the late stage of the Foundation Realm and reaching its perfection. He was the eldest disciple of Starview Valley, Lone Wind.

“Senior Brother Lone Wind has emerged from seclusion? How mighty!”
“It’s Senior Brother Lone Wind! Quickly, punish this shameless villain!”

Lone Wind’s arrival sparked wild cheers among the disciples. His cultivation had reached its peak in the Foundation Realm, but after his recent seclusion, he had evidently broken through.

Chen Mu laughed angrily: “I’m a villain? Ask those outer sect disciples—when have I ever acted wickedly? I was hindered in my cultivation, so how could I commit misdeeds? The He brothers repeatedly tried to kill me, and now I’m the villain? No one punishes the He brothers, but you claim justice by trying to kill me? I’ll be reckless for once—what can you do about it?”

Lone Wind frowned. Though he felt something was amiss, so many people accused Chen Mu that he believed their version: “That disciple named Youlan has already accused you. What do you have to say? Admit what you’ve done! Instead, you refuse and blame others, even killing the Law Enforcement captain’s brother. Don’t make mistake upon mistake!”

“It’s your attitude—thinking you stand on the moral high ground, lecturing about ‘mistake upon mistake.’ I’ve done nothing wrong! It wasn’t me! So I have nothing to say! If you want to kill me, don’t pretend to have righteous reasons—your excuses are empty!” Chen Mu’s eyes reddened as he heard the crowd’s angry shouts and death threats. He felt the world’s malice; he was nearly possessed, believing everyone wanted to kill him. He wanted to survive, so he chose to fight.

Members of the Hall of Punishment sneered. Their goal had been achieved: Chen Mu was alienated in everyone’s eyes, even Lone Wind, the senior brother of the main hall, had come forward. Surely, Chen Mu’s fate would be grim.

Chen Mu’s sword of black gold was poised, while Lone Wind drew a silver spear from his storage pouch. As their weapons clashed, Lone Wind’s eyes narrowed—he sensed terrifying energy surging from the sword, and quickly conjured spear shadows to skillfully block Chen Mu’s attack.

Chen Mu’s Sunset Sword Style and Lone Wind’s Starlight Spear Technique were evenly matched; Chen Mu gained no advantage, nor did Lone Wind.

Chen Mu realized he could not break through Lone Wind’s defense in the short term, so he resolved to use “Sunless Day.”

Just then, someone watched Chen Mu anxiously—Lu Shi. He knew Chen Mu was innocent but was powerless to help. He had spoken of Chen Mu’s character to other disciples, but was met only with scorn and beatings by the Law Enforcement Squad, who forbade anyone from defending Chen Mu.

Seeing the rift between Chen Mu and the sect disciples widen, Lu Shi was frantic.

Especially now, facing Lone Wind, the senior brother of the main hall—and seeing Chen Mu’s sword light suddenly dim—Lu Shi had a bad feeling. If Chen Mu killed Lone Wind, he would become the enemy of all Starview Valley disciples.

Lu Shi hurried to find the elders and the Valley Master, Gu Xingyuan, hoping they would stop the deadly duel, which had already exceeded their expectations; none had thought Lone Wind would intervene.

Time seemed frozen. Chen Mu’s dim sword light crept closer to Lone Wind, who sensed mortal danger—it was an all-out attack, and he could not withstand it. Just as the sword was about to strike, Gu Xingyuan arrived just in time.

Pinching the sword tip between two fingers, Gu Xingyuan’s hand smoked from the searing energy.

“What’s going on? Why is Chen Mu fighting Lone Wind?”

The disciples below dared not hesitate and answered truthfully: “Chen Mu’s crimes are unforgivable; Senior Brother Lone Wind could not bear to see fellow disciples slain, so he stepped forward.”

Gu Xingyuan shouted angrily: “Unforgivable? This event is riddled with doubts—where are the unforgivable crimes? Who called Lone Wind?”

“It was the Law Enforcement Squad.”

“Again the Law Enforcement Squad! Is my command mere decoration? Do you even respect the sect?”

“Xiao Heartless! Did you instigate this?”

Xiao Heartless arrived just then, surprised his men had encouraged Lone Wind: “No, I truly didn’t know.”

“Pass my decree! I declare: all Law Enforcement Squad members shall be reshuffled. Any who participated in inciting Lone Wind to intervene in Chen Mu’s matter will be expelled from the mountain—no mercy!” Gu Xingyuan thundered. “Chen Mu’s case is full of doubts; from now on, it is closed. No one is to bring it up again—violators will be punished by sect rules.”

Lone Wind, drenched in cold sweat, stared at the sword between Gu Xingyuan’s fingers. Without that pinch, he would have died a senseless death.

Chen Mu, possessed, hadn’t even noticed Gu Xingyuan’s arrival. He was desperately pressing down with his sword, but no matter how he tried, it would not move.

Chen Mu muttered, “Kill... I must become stronger... kill... I don’t want to die... kill... kill all enemies...”

These were not words a fourteen-year-old should utter; he was lost in a nightmare.

Gu Xingyuan frowned, then sighed. He remained with Chen Mu, holding on until the dim, dangerous light faded completely, then let go.

Chen Mu staggered and fell, still mumbling. Soon exhaustion overwhelmed him—Sunless Day’s side effects struck, and he fell into a deep sleep.

Gu Xingyuan looked at Chen Mu for a moment, then instructed Lu Shi to settle him safely, and returned with the elders to the main hall.

Lone Wind breathed a sigh of relief, though unwilling—he had been awed by a mere newcomer to the inner sect.

In the corner of the platform, He Lang glared venomously at Chen Mu being carried off by Lu Shi. He swore he would avenge his brother as long as he lived.

Chen Mu’s story instantly spread throughout Starview Valley: he had fought the He brothers alone and slain one; he had battled Senior Brother Lone Wind to a standstill.

The mystery surrounding the Youlan incident lingered. Some disciples had begun to notice something was off, that the Law Enforcement Squad’s shadow was always present.

So whether it was the He brothers’ conspiracy or Chen Mu’s true crime, none could say—Youlan had left Starview Valley, and there was no longer a witness.

Chen Mu remained trapped in a nightmare, reliving that night’s death again and again. In his dream, the black pearl in his sea of consciousness responded faintly, though only for a brief moment. If Chen Mu willed it, the black pearl would release white life energy—but in that instant, it stirred a thread of black mist.