Chengde Hall (Part 2)

Chengde Hall had no windows, yet it was as bright as day.

On both sides, bronze lamp stands held eighty-one whale oil candles each. Every candle was like white jade congealed into fat, as thick as an arm.

When burned, not only was there no smell of ink or oil, but they also emitted a peculiar fragrance that calmed the mind and spirit.

This was refined from the oil in the heads of Heavenly Fragrance Whales, with only a thousand candles producible from each whale.

Every year, the Admiral of the East Sea Fleet would present about ten thousand candles to Emperor Tianyou. Despite casualties among the officers and soldiers, he was still frequently attacked by the censors, who considered it "using rare objects to curry favor with the superior, disregarding the soldiers."

However, Sima Da, the island master of Long Whale Island, who led his disciples in hunting whales on the ocean year-round, was able to contribute thirty thousand whale oil candles to Blackwood Cliff annually.

Based on this merit alone, Long Whale Island secured its position as the foremost subordinate sect.

Leveraging the might of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, Sima Da, who started with a dozen fishermen, had, in just over twenty years, become one of the most powerful individuals in that maritime region.

"Your subordinate, Iron Lion of the Wind Thunder Hall, pays respects to the Virtuous and Martial, Benevolent and Wise Holy Cult Master."

Iron Lion entered Chengde Hall carrying a scrawny man. After paying homage to the Cult Master, he retreated behind Tong Baixiong.

Yang Lianting's face immediately showed shock upon clearly seeing the man's appearance. However, he quickly calmed down, adopting an indifferent demeanor.

"Manager Yang should be perfectly clear about this person's identity, shouldn't he?"

Tong Baixiong had been staring at Yang Lianting. Seeing his guilt, he became more certain and asked with a smile.

Zhang Yu looked at the scrawny man kneeling on the ground, trembling like a sieve. He was around thirty years old. Could this be the trump card and irrefutable evidence Tong Baixiong spoke of, capable of bringing down the powerful Yang Lianting, who held sway over the Divine Cult?

Yang Lianting's tone softened. "Elder Tong, what do you mean? This is someone you brought; how would I know him?"

Tong Baixiong chuckled. "But he says he knows Manager Yang, and knows him very well."

Yang Lianting glared at the scrawny man. "What utter nonsense! Who are you to claim you know this manager?"

The man dared not look up at Yang Lianting, trembling as he knelt on the ground.

Tong Baixiong chuckled lightly. "Allow me to speak for him. He is your confidant, Manager Yang, Hou Jian, nicknamed 'Flying on the Tree.' He often traveled on Blackwood Cliff, handling the delivery of secret letters."

"You don't remember him? The Purple Cloud Guards in Chengde Hall, the brothers guarding the Triple Iron Gate – surely some of them would recognize him?"

Yang Lianting took a deep breath, his expression grave. It was clear Tong Baixiong had come prepared.

Ten days ago, this Hou Jian had suddenly disappeared. He had vaguely foreseen trouble then and immediately controlled Hou Jian's family. Now, it seemed he had been fortunate to take that step.

Yang Lianting looked at the man kneeling on the ground and sneered, "This manager, under the Cult Master's orders, oversees all cult affairs and handles countless matters daily. My attendants number in the dozens, if not a hundred. Should I know every Hou Jian and Ma Jian?"

Tong Baixiong no longer paid attention to the guilty Yang Lianting. He turned to the man kneeling on the ground and said, "Hou Jian, I ask you, will you answer truthfully!"

Hou Jian nodded.

"On September 20th, why did you go from Blackwood Cliff to Songshan? Did someone ask you to deliver a letter to Zuo Lengchan, the Sect Master of the Mount Song Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Lianting's face instantly turned pale. Tong Baixiong actually knew about this as well.

Hou Jian looked up at Yang Lianting, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something.

Yang Lianting suddenly stood up, his eyes incredibly cold, staring at the man on the hall like a venomous snake. "Hou Jian, think carefully before you answer. According to the Cult Master's Precepts, those who falsely accuse their superiors will have their entire families, old and young, wiped out."

Yang Lianting spoke the last eight words, each syllable distinct, like ice picks piercing Hou Jian's heart.

"Manager... Elder Tong..."

Hou Jian's face showed a pleading expression. He looked around, but the hall was filled with wolves and tigers. He didn't know whom to beg.

Tong Baixiong then smiled at Yang Lianting. "Manager Yang need not worry. To fully adhere to the Cult Master's Precepts, I have already rescued Hou Jian's family from the dungeon in Niujia Village and settled them in a safe and proper place."

Hearing this, Hou Jian looked at Tong Baixiong with a complex expression.

Yang Lianting sat back down. He glanced at the person behind the beaded curtain, then at the Saint Aunt sitting opposite him. Finally, almost in a tone of pleading, he said to Tong Baixiong:

"Elder Tong, although this scoundrel served this manager, his words cannot be trusted."

"Oh, right. Fifteen years ago, Hou Jian entered the lower academy of Mount Tai. Perhaps... perhaps he is a spy sent by the Five Great Sword Sects to sow discord within our Divine Cult. Everyone must not fall for this trick!"

Zhang Yu thought to himself, Yang Lianting has lost his composure. It seems Tong Baixiong, despite his temper, is surprisingly meticulous and has truly grasped his opponent's fatal weakness. But Yang Lianting died with Dongfang Bubai during Ren Woxing's final decisive battle on Blackwood Cliff. Something must have happened to turn Tong Baixiong's painstaking plan this time into a bubble.

Hou Jian struggled to stand up and spoke.

"The one who instructed me to deliver the letter to the Mount Song Sect was... Elder Tong Baixiong."

With these words, Chengde Hall fell into dead silence.

The smile on Tong Baixiong's face had not yet faded when his lips froze. His mind was momentarily stunned. At what point had something gone wrong?

Ruthless individuals like Zhuan Zhu and Yao Li could abandon their families to complete their missions. Was Hou Jian such a ruthless person? Was this a trap set by Yang Lianting from the very beginning?

Zhang Yu lowered his head and secretly thought, Tong Baixiong, oh Tong Baixiong, you are truly unbelievable. He had expected Dongfang Bubai to show favoritism and Yang Lianting to quibble, but he had never expected Tong Baixiong's so-called 'trump card' to bite his own hand.

But Yang Lianting's acting is too good, isn't it? Is he still performing? Zhang Yu looked upward.

Yang Lianting first showed shock, then stood up with elation, waving his hand to give an order: "Good, good! So the thief is crying thief! Where are the guards? Immediately apprehend the traitorous rebel Tong Baixiong!"

Eight purple-robed attendants lunged at Tong Baixiong, their attacks aimed directly at vital points, clearly intending to kill.

"Who dares step forward!"

Tong Baixiong took two steps forward and struck out with both palms. His powerful internal energy instantly sent the four people on his left flying. The Iron Lion also let out a fierce roar, and the four purple-clad guards attacking from the right coughed up blood from their noses and mouths, retreating seven or eight steps and crashing into the dragon-patterned pillars.

Zhang Yu was close to the Iron Lion. The roar wasn't directed at him, but it still made his head buzz. This was the first time he had witnessed a Xiantian realm expert in action up close. Their internal energy was as profound as an abyss, truly extraordinary.

"You dare to resort to violence in Chengde Hall?"

Yang Lianting stood on the hall, and over thirty purple-clad guards had already separated him from Tong Baixiong and the others. Axe-wielding warriors from within the hall surrounded them from behind, and it seemed Tong Baixiong would soon be unable to escape.

He laughed heartily, "The Cult Master is incredibly generous to his subordinates. As long as you sincerely repent, reflect deeply, and explain your rebellious actions to your brothers in the cult, signing a written confession, he will spare your life."

"Rebel against the Cult Master? Confess and repent? I'll sign your old leg!"

"Yang Lianting, who do you think you are?"

"When I was friends with Brother Dongfang, you weren't even out of your mother's womb."

Tong Baixiong saw the golden melon warriors still surging forward. Even a Grandmaster would find it difficult to break through such a siege. He looked towards the pearl curtain and shouted loudly:

"Brother Dongfang, do you really believe that I, Tong, would betray you? If you also think so, with just a word from you, I will take my own life right here without them needing to lift a finger!"

Zhang Yu was also shocked. They were actually fighting in Chengde Hall, right in front of Dongfang Bubai.

"Everyone, stop!" The voice from behind the pearl curtain finally came.

In Chengde Hall, the chaotic sounds of weapons and footsteps instantly ceased. Everyone knelt uniformly on the ground, awaiting Dongfang Bubai's judgment.

Yang Lianting's gaze was fervent as he looked at the figure behind the pearl curtain.

After a long pause.

"Who is guilty and who is not, only heaven knows. This Cult Master is tired, so... Saint Aunt will handle this matter with full authority."

Yang Lianting's expression changed drastically. He glanced at Saint Aunt, then back at the pearl curtain, seeming like he wanted to say something.

Ren Yingying also rose to respectfully see Dongfang Bubai off. The bright eyes hidden beneath her veil took in the change in Yang Lianting's expression, as if she understood something.

Yang Lianting returned to his seat and slowly sat down. "Since the Cult Master has given her orders, then please let Saint Aunt decide this matter. However, with witnesses present, the traitor who rebelled against the cult must not be let off."

Ren Yingying smiled. "A traitor who rebelled against the cult! Manager Yang, we cannot jump to conclusions before the matter is clarified."

"As you said, Hou Jian entered the lower courtyard of Mount Tai and has connections with the Five Great Sword Sects. His testimony, whether against Manager Yang or Elder Tong, must be carefully considered!"

"I believe Hou Jian should be interrogated thoroughly."

Yang Lianting sneered. "The man is dead, what is there to interrogate?"

It was only then that everyone realized that amidst the earlier chaos, someone had struck. Hou Jian was bleeding from all seven orifices and had been dead for a long time.

Ren Yingying was slightly surprised and chuckled lightly. "Now that there are no witnesses, and neither Manager Yang's collusion with the enemy nor Elder Tong's betrayal of the cult can be proven, I suggest each party submit a statement, and ask Uncle Dongfang for his final ruling!"

Tong Baixiong remained silent. He was unwilling, but the current situation was unfavorable to him, so he could only agree.

"This matter is not over!"

Yang Lianting stood up, cast a cold glance at Ren Yingying and Tong Baixiong, and, surrounded by the Purple Cloud Guards, swept out of Chengde Hall.