"You're clearly a spy sent by Zuo Lengchan!"
Yang Lianting's expression and voice were severe, as if he had seized conclusive evidence.
Zhang Yu had originally only wanted to become invisible and, if given the chance, establish himself as a loyal disciple seeking revenge for his master. He had never expected Yang Lianting to skip over Tong Baixiong and strike at him first. Now, he could only throw himself completely onto Tong Baixiong's ship—a vessel that looked sturdy, but would inevitably run aground sooner or later.
His thoughts raced. Remembering the Cult Master's Precepts he had read the previous night, he immediately knelt and said:
"This subordinate's devotion to the Divine Cult can be seen by the sun and moon and witnessed by heaven and earth!"
"Being able to return safely to Blackwood Cliff this time was entirely thanks to the Holy Cult Master's boundless blessing."
"On the journey, we were hunted by the Five Great Sword Sects, yet we escaped danger every time. That was also the Holy Cult Master's divine miracle manifesting in the world, guiding a lost lamb back into its mother's embrace."
Zhang Yu thought of his parents, who remained in the countryside farming. Their dream of seeing their son succeed would never come true. He was the eldest child in the family, and his younger brother was in the ninth grade. His grades were terrible, and he probably would not even get into high school...
At this thought, grief surged from his heart. Zhang Yu wept openly, clearly moved by genuine emotion.
Qi Zhaogu cast him a sidelong glance and thought, To be able to apply the Cult Master's Precepts so skillfully, he's practically born with the sacred physique of a servant. Brother Zhang has a bright future ahead of him. As long as he gets through this crisis, he'll surely become another rising star in the cult.
"This subordinate warns himself day and night that if he can return to Blackwood Cliff, he must swear lifelong loyalty to the Cult Master. Even if he should unfortunately sacrifice his life, he must never forget the Cult Master's great kindness and affection, even in the Nine Springs!"
"Please judge this matter fairly, Manager Yang. This subordinate shares a murderous hatred with Zuo Lengchan, Yue Buqun, Liu Zhengfeng, and Yu Jizi of the Five Great Sword Sects for killing my master. I wish I could eat their flesh and sleep on their skins. How could I work for my enemies and make my loved ones grieve beneath the earth?"
Yang Lianting sneered. "What a glib tongue you have. I merely said one sentence, and you already had so much to say. Clearly, your motives are unfathomable."
Tong Baixiong nodded slightly. Zhang Yu had performed far beyond his usual ability, surpassing all his expectations. Not only had he completely blocked Yang Lianting's attack, but he had also handed Tong Baixiong an opening.
"Zhang Yu, you said just now that there were troops from the other four sects participating in the battle at Mount Heng?"
"That's right. When we reached Damaoling on Mount Heng, killing cries suddenly erupted from all sides. Zuo Lengchan commanded the Five Great Sword Sects to attack together. They had overwhelming numbers and countless experts."
"Cloud Water Hall fought desperately for half a day, but we were still hopelessly outnumbered. Although we inflicted casualties on the enemy, the flag master, incense masters, and deputy hall master all died beneath the swords of the five sects' experts."
Tong Baixiong furrowed his brows. "That's strange."
Ren Yingying asked, "Elder Tong, what's strange about it?"
"Saint Aunt, you may not know this, but as far as I know, Mount Heng is the weakest link among the Five Great Sword Sects. The Divine Cult sent Cloud Water Hall to launch a surprise attack. Under those circumstances, it should have been enough to wipe out that group of nuns!"
Tong Baixiong stepped forward twice and stared into Yang Lianting's eyes, his gaze sharp as an arrow.
"But why did Zuo Lengchan set up an ambush at Mount Heng in advance, causing Cloud Water Hall to be completely wiped out? I cannot help but ask: when this battle was discussed in Chengde Hall, did the Five Great Sword Sects also send someone to participate?"
Ren Yingying said, "Could the news have leaked during the operation?"
"Saint Aunt, there is something you do not know. The battle had been decided as a surprise attack in the hall. Cloud Water Hall traveled the three hundred li from Pingding Prefecture in only two days and one night."
"Even if the news had leaked during the march, Hengshan Sect and Taishan Sect, which were thousands of li away, could not possibly have arrived ahead of the Divine Cult. Nor could they have determined an ambush site based on Cloud Water Hall's marching plans."
Yang Lianting gave a cold laugh. "Then what brilliant insight does Elder Tong have? Since we are in Chengde Hall, in the presence of the Cult Master, why not speak openly?"
Tong Baixiong looked at Yang Lianting and smiled. "That day, when matters were discussed in Chengde Hall, apart from the Cult Master, only Hall Master Wu, Manager Yang, and I were present."
Yang Lianting asked, "There was a spy among the three of us?"
"There was a spy!"
"Who was the spy?"
Tong Baixiong sneered. "Manager Yang knows perfectly well."
Yang Lianting leaned back against his grand tutor's chair and laughed. "Of course I do! The spy was Wu Lianjiang. There may even be others. I'm conducting a thorough interrogation as we speak."
Tong Baixiong raised his voice. "Manager Yang, was it not utterly shameless to slander Hall Master Wu after he died fighting the enemy, seize his family, and torture the disciples left behind at Cloud Water Hall?"
"When dealing with traitors, this manager has already been very merciful."
"You say Hall Master Wu was a traitor. What evidence do you have?"
Yang Lianting said coldly, "Someone testified that Wu Lianjiang never recited the Cult Master's Precepts at home, forbade his family and disciples from reciting them, and even used the Cult Master's Precepts to prop up a table leg. All of this proves that Wu Lianjiang was insincere in serving his master and harbored resentment. He believed that Eastern Cult Master lacked sufficient qualifications and prestige to bear the Divine Cult's heavy responsibilities."
Tong Baixiong was momentarily speechless. As far as he knew, Wu Lianjiang truly did behave that way.
Zhang Yu cupped his hands. "This subordinate has something to say."
Yang Lianting shouted angrily, "What kind of place is Chengde Hall? What status do you have? Do you think you have the right to speak here?"
Tong Baixiong looked at Zhang Yu. "In Chengde Hall, before Eastern Cult Master, what do you have to say, Zhang Yu?"
Zhang Yu said, "Manager Yang just said that my master did not recite the Cult Master's Precepts and forbade his family and disciples from reciting them. That is incorrect!"
"My master said many times that if he went even one day without reading the Cult Master's Precepts, he would lose his appetite when eating, choke even while drinking water, sleep poorly, and stumble while walking."
"After reading the Cult Master's Precepts, his entire body would feel warm, as though he had taken a miraculous elixir, with every illness vanishing. That was why he required his disciples to recite the Cult Master's Precepts with him, without missing a single word."
Tong Baixiong asked curiously, "You're saying you can recite the Cult Master's Precepts without missing a single word?"
"Indeed."
Ren Yingying followed up, "Do you know how many articles the Cult Master's Precepts contain? How many words?"
"Six hundred and sixty-six articles, and more than fifty-four thousand words."
Ren Yingying asked in astonishment, "You can truly recite them without missing a single word?"
"Saint Aunt, this subordinate can indeed recite them."
Ren Yingying asked, "What is the third article of the Cult Master's Precepts?"
"Virtuous and Martial, Benevolent, Righteous, Heroic, and Wise Cult Master's Precepts, Article Three: Be ruthless to enemies. Uproot the weeds and eliminate the roots. Men, women, young, and old—leave none alive."
"What is the two-hundredth article of the Cult Master's Precepts?"
"Virtuous and Martial, Benevolent, Righteous, Heroic, and Wise Cult Master's Precepts, Article Two Hundred: Collude with the imperial court's dogs and hawks, covet glory and wealth, and leave no one alive in the entire family!"
"What is Article Five Hundred Thirty-Two of the Cult Master's Precepts?"
"Virtuous and Martial, Benevolent, Righteous, Heroic, and Wise Cult Master's Precepts, Article Five Hundred Thirty-Two: Betray your fellow cult members and reveal the cult's secrets; bring disaster upon three generations, and leave none alive!"
Ren Yingying asked, "Manager Yang, you presided over the compilation of the Cult Master's Precepts. Were there any errors in the articles he recited?"
Yang Lianting gave a cold laugh but said nothing.
Tong Baixiong felt that bringing Zhang Yu to Blackwood Cliff had been an incomparably correct decision. He stepped forward twice in the hall and looked at Yang Lianting.
"Now everything is clear!"
"There is a treacherous minister in the Sun Moon Divine Cult!"
"It is not Hall Master Wu Lianjiang of Cloud Water Hall."
"It is the chief manager of our Sun Moon Divine Cult—Yang Lianting!"
A voice came from behind the beaded curtain. "Elder Tong, do you have any evidence?"
Tong Baixiong was confident of victory. "Cult Master, the witness is right outside the hall. I feared that someone might make a desperate move, so I had experts from the hall protect him personally. Please summon them inside together."
The voice behind the beaded curtain sounded again. "Summon everyone outside the hall inside at once."
Before you continue