Chapter 447: Strange Movements
Translator: SoupHunter Editor: Milkbiscuit
Sitting up above on his throne, Miao Yi swept his gaze across all forty faces down below. He suddenly asked, "Does anyone still remember the order this mountain chieftain laid out for Elder Auntie and Little Auntie before I left for the Sea of Constellations?"
Many heads were lowered at the sound of his question. Seeing as there was no response, Miao Yi asked again, "Who still remembers?"
Still, no one answered. Miao Yi laughed coldly and asked, "Does no one remember?"
Judging from the sound of his tone, it was clear what he was trying to say—'It seems my words went in one ear and out the other.'
Suddenly, with a solemn expression, Tian Qingfeng cupped his fists and said, "Mountain Chieftain once decreed: In the days of your absence from Mount Calming Sea, under Yan Xiu's assistance, Elder Auntie and Little Auntie will temporarily have the authority and responsibilities of a Mountain Chieftain. Everyone must carry out their orders without fail. Those who choose to defy their superiors and incite rebellion; kill them! Those who deign to plot conspiracies; kill them! For those who would defy orders and act in contempt; kill them!"
"Oh! Tian Qingfeng, I didn't think you'd still remember." Miao Yi chuckled, then asked, "Let me ask you then. While I was not around in Mount Calming Sea, was there any insubordination? Any conspiracists? And any who defied orders?"
"..." Tian Qingfeng kept quiet at first, but ultimately, he solemnly spat out a single word: "Yes!"
"What about the rest of you?" Miao Yi turned to the others and asked, "Did you notice any of the above I just mentioned?"
"Yes."
"Yes!"
Discordant voices echoed among the crowd. Evidently, they weren't very confident in themselves.
Miao Yi rose up and slowly walked down the steps. As he made his way through the crowd, he eventually came to a stop beside Su Yuhuan. Reaching his hand out to grab her dainty chin, he lifted her head up and asked indifferently, "If I remember correctly, you had nowhere to go at the time, and I took you in?"
Su Yuhuan had an utterly terrified look on her face, her body trembling as she replied, "Mountain Chieftain, I've done nothing to offend you nor Elder Auntie and Little Auntie. I didn't harm anyone either."
"I know. You don't have the strength to harm anyone yet." Miao Yi's hand slid down and pointed to her ample bosom in front of everyone as he added, "Which is why you chose to harm yourself. The body is yours. If you don't wish to treat it with care, no one can stop you."
Miao Yi let go of Su Yuhuan and turned back, walking up to Tian Qingfeng's side. He cast a sideways glance at Tian Qingfeng, then turned to the crowd and said, "The School of Blue Jade is no more. Without any backing, it's normal that you would all seek some form of assurance elsewhere. There's nothing wrong with that. On account of the School of Blue Jade's assistance all those years ago, I don't wish to make things difficult for you. I've just received some news last night, which I'm sure you're all already aware of. Soon, I will be reassigned from Mount Calming Sea to take up a new post at a different location."
Tian Qingfeng suddenly had a flash of inspiration and quickly cupped his fists to show his stance. "This subordinate is willing to follow you, my lord!"
Everyone else's eyes shone as they also cupped their fists and said, "This subordinate is willing to follow my lord as well."
Miao Yi raised his hand to interject and said, "You've all misunderstood my intentions. There's no way I will bring along a group of traitors with me to my new post. What I was trying to say was, on account of my history with the School of Blue Jade, I don't wish to give you all too much trouble before I leave. However, we can't simply act as though certain things didn't happen. Do you not think proper compensation is due?"
Tian Qingfeng gritted his teeth and asked, "Please instruct us, my lord!"
"Insubordination, plotting conspiracies, and defying orders!" Miao Yi swept his gaze across the crowd and added, "Who among the three major sects have committed any of these three crimes? I want you to list down every single thing that they did. Write down all that you know, including everything about that Deacon Shen from Suppressing Second Hall. He is the main focus here!" He then tapped on Tian Qingfeng's shoulder and continued, "All I'm asking for is your written testimony. This isn't too much to ask, right? If you can't even do this much, how do you expect this mountain chieftain to possibly rest easy?!"
As he said this, he readied the Mystic Yin Mirror with a flip of his hand and shot out a stream of cold Yin energy towards the ceiling. Suddenly, everyone felt as though they had fallen into an icy chamber, and they trembled from the chill.
The crowd looked up at the ceiling of the main hall and was horrified to see that it was completely covered in frost. And only by using their transcendence energy were they able to guard against the sharp chill that surrounded the hall.
They turned their gazes back to Miao Yi, who had already walked back to his throne and sat down. As their glances fell upon the mirror his hands were fiddling around with, they couldn't hide the fear on their faces. Could that be one of those top-tier transcendent artifacts? If something like that were to be directed at them, it was obvious what the outcome would be. This was evidently a threat!
"I don't wish to make things hard on you, so you shouldn't trouble me too much either! Is there anything left for you all to consider?" Miao Yi suddenly threatened, "Don't tell me you wish to stand with those dead fools from the three major sects?"
'Dead fools?' The shock was apparent on everyone's faces as they thought, 'What is this maniac trying to do?'
"Tian Qingfeng, is there any need for you to hesitate?" Miao Yi stared coldly at Tian Qingfeng.
Tian Qingfeng clenched his teeth and took out a jade archive, then wrote down his testimony on the spot.
As Miao Yi shifted his gaze back to the crowd, everyone else also took out jade archives and began intently writing down their testimonies, occasionally exchanging glances with one another...
Four hours later, Miao Yi managed to gather several dozen jade archives. He began looking through each and every one of them, unsure whether some of these people were genuinely unaware of certain misdeeds, or were simply trying to play dumb to save themselves some trouble. However, Miao Yi wasn't too concerned either way.
That said, when he read one particular jade archive, he couldn't help furrowing his brows. He shouted, "Su Yuhuan!"
"Here!" Startled, Su Yuhuan hurriedly stepped forward.
"How did you end up waiting on that Deacon Shen in bed? I seem to have heard that he raped you!" Miao Yi tossed the jade archive back to her and said, "Save yourself some dignity. Rewrite the whole thing! I want you to clearly state how many times he raped you!"
Su Yuhuan timidly retreated.
After examining the contents of all the jade archives, Miao Yi tucked them away, then took out another ten jade archives and began to write on them. After which, he tossed them down to Tian Qingfeng, saying, "Let each of them take two fellow disciples and head immediately to their respective Caves to take their posts. Failure will not be tolerated. If any mishap were to happen within the Caves in this period of time, they'll have to answer to me."
Perplexed by Miao Yi's intentions, Tian Qingfeng quickly examined the jade archives and discovered that they were all official decrees of appointment. Every single person that had been supplanted by the three major sects was being reinstated to their former Cave Master positions.
After he read through the official decree, Tian Qingfeng raised his head in shock to look at Miao Yi and watched as the latter prepared another set of jade archives, before calling out, "Xue'Er!"
As Xue'Er walked back into the hall, Miao Yi handed her the jade archives and said, "Send this out to every Cave!"
Xue'Er acknowledged the order and departed. As she made her way to the back of the hall, she examined the jade archives' contents. It turned out to be an order for all Sword Deviate Sect disciples in the various Caves to assemble in Mount Calming Sea.
In the deep, quiet night, thirty riders galloped like the wind out the gates of Mount Calming Sea.
With such a huge commotion, there was no way everyone else wouldn't be startled.
Atop the terrace of the guest quarters, Qing Ju looked in the direction of the main hall with creased brows. She muttered to herself, "Miao Yi, you have a bright future just ahead of you. It's not like you lost anything. Just bear with it for a while, and it'll all be over soon enough. Don't exacerbate the situation so much that you ruin the path ahead of you!"
Inside a different guest lodging, Fan Zizhang was sitting alone in his pavilion and enjoying a drink when he suddenly noticed the commotion. He smiled, saying, "Mountain Chieftain Miao, I've heard quite a few stories about you as of late. I hope you've still got some backbone in you. I even secretly shared with you some of the intel I managed to pick up. If you just create a tiny scuffle, I will be sorely disappointed."
He was hoping that Miao Yi would stir up a major commotion and drag Shen Fenghua into the mess.
While it was dark outside, the halls of Zhou Huan's cultivation quarters were still brightly lit with candlelight. At the moment, Liu Qian, Mao Yifan, as well as all the other three major sects members in Mount Calming Sea including the ten Cave Masters were gathered here. The air was evidently a little tense.
Ever since Miao Yi assembled the School of Blue Jade disciples, their nerves had been on edge.
Even their mounts were just standing by beside them. They had all already prepared themselves to fight to the last man if things came down to it. If Miao Yi were to use force against them, they would either fight back or escape to South Edict Manor. There would be people to speak up for them in the two Manors anyway, and Miao Yi wouldn't be able to do as he pleased there.
The commotion brought about by the departure of several dozen riders startled everyone. They all hastily rose to their feet, and like a restless chicken, Zhou Huan and the others rushed to the courtyard and barked, "What's happening?!"
Soon, one of their disciples rushed in and reported, "Senior Uncle, thirty School of Blue Jade disciples have just left Mount Calming Sea in the dead of night."
"They left?" Zhou Huan was shocked, and he exchanged glances with Liu Qian and the others. They were worried that Miao Yi had gathered the School of Blue Jade disciples to attack them, but now thirty of them had left. What was happening here?
Regardless, they were somewhat relieved to find out that the troops had left. However, Liu Qian was still a little anxious, and said, "What is that despicable bastard Miao Yi planning?"
She was filled to the brim with regret at the moment. She regretted openly saying to Qian'Er and Xue'Er that it didn't matter who they slept with. Now, these words were like a thorn that fiercely pricked at her heart. Ever since she found out that Miao Yi was coming back, she hadn't had a good night's sleep. Even she felt that her words made her a very prominent target in the entire Mount Calming Sea. If Miao Yi were to seek payback, who else would he look for if not her?
At this moment, someone rushed into the courtyard and reported, "Senior Uncle Zhou, Yan Xiu just came and informed me that the Mountain Chieftain has asked for you to go meet him!"
Zhou Huan was taken aback. He asked, "What does the Mountain Chieftain want to see me for?"
The other party shook his head and answered, "Yan Xiu didn't say."
Zhou Huan waved his hand and ordered, "Let him in. I'll ask him myself."
The other party was slightly dazed, then replied weakly, "He left right after telling me this."
Zhou Huan's expression twisted in dismay. Should he go or not? He was scared that something terrible would happen if he went. But if he didn't, he would be openly defying the Mountain Chieftain's orders. And once he did that, he wouldn't be able to explain himself no matter who he pleaded to. By then, Miao Yi would have a perfectly legitimate reason to punish him. Little Auntie Qing Ju was here and could act as a witness.
This is what it means to be tyrannized by a superior! Zhou Huan gnashed his teeth in hatred and said, "What happened to Senior Uncle Gu? How could he let this despicable bastard walk out of the Sea of Constellations alive?!"
The Senior Uncle Gu he was talking about was naturally Gu Sanzheng. At this point, they had also received news about Gu Sanzheng and the others' safe return from the Sea of Constellations. What's more, the three of them had all placed higher than Miao Yi.
Liu Qian remarked, "It is precisely during times like this that we must work as one to overcome our ordeals. Let's go together. That way, we'll be able to help each other out at least. We'll ask Little Auntie Qing Ju and Deacon Fan to come along as well. I'd like to see if he dares to do anything to Brother Zhou then. I doubt that he would try to commit murder so openly."
The reason why she suggested to stick together now was for the sake of her own future as well. If she were to cast the others aside now, she would surely have a hard time defending herself later on.
Zhou Huan's eyes flashed with inspiration, and he repeatedly nodded. "Sister's words are correct. That despicable bastard can't hole himself up in here forever. As long as we can hold out until he leaves, all our problems will be resolved." With a wave of his arm, he added, "Let's go! We'll go look for Deacon Fan and Little Auntie Qing Ju."
The crowd immediately left altogether and headed to Qing Ju's guest quarters. They stood outside her courtyard, requesting an audience. However, Qing Ju's servant said to them, "Auntie Qing Ju is feeling unwell, and is already resting. It would be unwise to disturb her!"
'What's going on? Like anyone would actually believe she's feeling unwell! How can a cultivator get sick so easily?! Could this possibly be South Edict Manor's stance on the matter?'
Zhou Huan and the others felt even more anxious as they thought about this. Without a moment's hesitation, they rushed straight to Fan Zizhang's guest quarters to look for him.
Sure enough, their prayers didn't go unanswered as Fan Zizhang announced heartily, "I sincerely doubt that Miao Yi would dare ignore the rules and wreak havoc. Let's go! I'll accompany the three of you and see what he plans to do!"