Chengde Hall had no windows, yet it was as bright as day.
On both sides, the bronze lampstands each held eighty-one whale-oil candles. Every one was as white and smooth as jade, and as thick as an arm.
When burning, they gave off no oily smell at all. Instead, they released a strange fragrance that calmed the mind.
They were refined from the head fat of the Heavenly Fragrance Whale, and each whale produced only a thousand candles.
The admiral of the Eastern Sea Navy offered around ten thousand candles to Emperor Tianyou every year. Even with casualties among his officers and soldiers, he was still frequently attacked by the censorate, which accused him of "using rare treasures to curry favor with the emperor while neglecting his men."
Meanwhile, Sima Da, lord of Long Whale Island, led his disciples to hunt whales in the open sea year-round and was able to contribute thirty thousand whale-oil candles to Blackwood Cliff every year.
With this achievement alone, Long Whale Island had firmly secured the top position among the Sun Moon Divine Cult's subordinate sects.
Relying on the might of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, Sima Da had risen from starting out with a dozen fishermen to becoming one of the most powerful men in those waters in just over twenty years.
"Your subordinate, Iron Lion of Wind Thunder Hall, pays his respects to the Virtuous and Martial, Benevolent, Righteous, Heroic, and Wise Holy Cult Master."
Iron Lion dragged a thin, short man into Chengde Hall. After paying his respects to the Cult Master, he retreated behind Tong Baixiong.
When Yang Lianting got a clear look at the man's face, shock immediately appeared on his own. But he quickly composed himself and put on an indifferent expression.
"Manager Yang must know this man's identity perfectly well, don't you?"
Tong Baixiong had been watching Yang Lianting the whole time. Seeing his guilty look, he became even more certain and asked with a smile.
Zhang Yu looked toward the thin man. He was around thirty and knelt on the ground, trembling like a sieve. Was he the hard evidence Tong Baixiong had mentioned—the trump card that could truly bring down Yang Lianting, who held power over the entire cult?
Yang Lianting's tone softened. "Elder Tong, how can you say that? This is someone you brought here. How would I know him?"
Tong Baixiong smiled. "But he says he knows Manager Yang—and knows him very well."
Yang Lianting glared at the thin man. "What utter nonsense! Who are you to claim that you know this Manager?"
The man did not dare raise his head to look at Yang Lianting. He simply knelt there, trembling.
Tong Baixiong chuckled. "Allow this old man to speak for him. He is your trusted aide, Manager Yang—Hou Jian, nicknamed 'Flying on the Tree.' He often travels around Blackwood Cliff and is responsible for delivering secret letters."
"You may not remember him, but surely among the Purple Cloud Guards in Chengde Hall and the brothers from each hall stationed at the three iron gates, there must be some who know him, right?"
Yang Lianting took a deep breath, his expression solemn. Clearly, Tong Baixiong had come prepared.
Ten days earlier, Hou Jian had suddenly disappeared. Yang Lianting had faintly sensed that trouble was coming and immediately taken control of Hou Jian's family. Now, it seemed fortunate that he had made that move.
Yang Lianting looked at the man kneeling on the ground and sneered. "This Manager acts under the Cult Master's orders, oversees all cult affairs, and deals with countless matters every day. I have dozens of attendants, if not a hundred. Must I know every Hou Jian and Ma Jian by name?"
Tong Baixiong no longer paid any attention to the guilty Yang Lianting. He looked at the man who was still kneeling and said, "Hou Jian, I'm asking you a question. You'd better answer truthfully!"
Hou Jian nodded.
"On the twentieth day of the ninth month, why did you leave Blackwood Cliff for Mount Song? Did someone order you to deliver a letter to Zuo Lengchan, leader of the Mount Song Sect?"
At those words, Yang Lianting's face instantly turned deathly pale. Tong Baixiong even knew about that?
Hou Jian raised his head and looked at Yang Lianting. His lips moved as though he wanted to say something.
Yang Lianting suddenly rose to his feet. His eyes were icy and vicious as he stared at the man in the hall like a venomous snake. "Hou Jian, think carefully before answering. The Cult Master's Precepts state that anyone who frames a superior will have every member of his family, young and old, executed without exception."
Yang Lianting spoke the final eight words slowly, one at a time. They were like icicles stabbing straight into Hou Jian's heart.
"Manager... Elder Tong..."
A pleading look appeared on Hou Jian's face. He glanced around helplessly. Everyone in the hall was a tiger or wolf, and he did not know whom to beg.
Tong Baixiong smiled at Yang Lianting. "Manager Yang may rest assured. To fully abide by the Cult Master's Precepts, I have already rescued Hou Jian's family from the dungeon at Niujia Village and found a safe place to settle them."
At that, Hou Jian looked at Tong Baixiong, his expression complicated.
Yang Lianting sat back down. He glanced at the figure behind the beaded curtain, then at the Saint Aunt seated opposite him. Finally, he spoke to Tong Baixiong in an almost pleading tone.
"Elder Tong, although this man once served at my side, his words cannot be trusted."
"Come to think of it, Hou Jian entered the Mount Tai branch fifteen years ago. Perhaps... perhaps he was a spy sent by the Five Great Sword Sects to sow discord within our cult. Everyone, do not fall into his trap!"
Zhang Yu thought, Yang Lianting has already lost his bearings. It seems that although Tong Baixiong is hot-tempered, he is careful beneath that rough exterior and has truly seized his opponent's weak point.
But Yang Lianting died alongside Dongfang Bubai when Ren Woxing stormed Blackwood Cliff for the final battle.
Some change must have occurred for Tong Baixiong's painstaking plan to turn into a complete failure this time.
Hou Jian struggled to his feet and began to speak.
"The one who ordered me to deliver the letter to the Mount Song Sect was... Elder Tong Baixiong."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Chengde Hall fell utterly silent.
The smile had not yet faded from Tong Baixiong's face when the corners of his mouth froze. His mind went blank for a moment. Which part of the plan had gone wrong?
Could Hou Jian be one of those ruthless men like Zhuan Zhu or Yu Rang, willing to abandon wife and child to complete his mission? Was this a trap Yang Lianting had laid from the very beginning?
Zhang Yu lowered his head and thought, Tong Baixiong, Tong Baixiong, this is truly absurd.
He had expected Dongfang Bubai to show favoritism and Yang Lianting to argue. The one thing he had not expected was for Tong Baixiong's so-called "trump card" to bite his own hand.
But Yang Lianting's acting is too good. Is he still putting on a show? Zhang Yu looked toward the front.
Yang Lianting was first shocked, then rose in wild delight. He waved his hand and ordered, "Good, good! So it was a thief crying 'Thief!' Where are the guards? Seize the traitor against the cult, Tong Baixiong, at once!"
Eight purple-robed attendants pounced on Tong Baixiong, striking directly at his vital points. Clearly, they intended to kill him.
"Let's see who dares come forward!"
Tong Baixiong took two steps forward and thrust out both palms. His surging Internal Energy instantly sent the four men on the left flying. Iron Lion let out an equally thunderous roar, and blood streamed from the mouths and noses of the four purple-robed attendants attacking from the right. They staggered back seven or eight steps before crashing into a dragon-carved pillar.
Zhang Yu was close to Iron Lion. The roar had not been directed at him, but it still left his head ringing. This was the first time he had seen a Grandmaster act from such close range. His Internal Energy was as deep as an abyss—truly extraordinary.
"You dare use force in Chengde Hall?"
Yang Lianting stood at the front of the hall. More than thirty purple-robed attendants had already formed a barrier between him and Tong Baixiong's group, while axe-and-halberd warriors closed in from behind. It seemed that Tong Baixiong would soon have no way to escape.
Yang Lianting laughed loudly. "The Cult Master has always been extraordinarily lenient toward his subordinates. If you mend your ways, deeply reflect on your actions, explain your rebellious conduct to your fellow cult members, and sign a letter confessing your crimes and expressing remorse, His Old Excellency will spare your life."
"Rebel against the Cult Master? Confess and repent? I'll have you sign your own damned leg!"
"Yang Lianting, what are you supposed to be?"
"When this old man became friends with Brother Dongfang, you hadn't even crawled out of your mother's womb."
Seeing the golden-mace warriors continuing to pour in, Tong Baixiong knew that even as a Grandmaster, breaking through such a heavy encirclement would not be easy. He looked toward the figure behind the beaded curtain and shouted, "Brother Dongfang, do you truly believe that this old Tong would betray you? If you do, just say the word. I won't need them to act—I'll take my own life right here!"
Zhang Yu was shocked as well. They had actually started fighting in Chengde Hall, right in front of Dongfang Bubai.
"Everyone, stop!"
The voice behind the beaded curtain finally rang out.
The clashing weapons and hurried footsteps in Chengde Hall stopped at once. Everyone dropped to their knees in unison, waiting for Dongfang Bubai's judgment.
Yang Lianting gazed fervently at the figure behind the beaded curtain.
After a long while, the voice said, "Who is guilty and who is innocent? Heaven knows. This Cult Master is tired. Saint Aunt, you will handle this matter in its entirety on my behalf."
Yang Lianting's expression changed dramatically. He glanced at the Saint Aunt, then at the beaded curtain, as though he wanted to say something.
Ren Yingying rose as well to see Dongfang Bubai off. Her bright eyes, hidden beneath her veiled hat, took in every change in Yang Lianting's expression. It seemed she understood something.
Yang Lianting returned to his seat and slowly sat down. "Since the Cult Master has given the order, then Saint Aunt may decide this matter. However, the witnesses and evidence are all present. We absolutely cannot let a traitor against the cult go unpunished."
Ren Yingying smiled. "A traitor against the cult? Manager Yang, before the matter is investigated, you should not jump to conclusions."
"As you said, Hou Jian entered the Mount Tai branch and had ties to the Five Great Sword Sects. His testimony—whether against Manager Yang or Elder Tong—must be carefully examined and distinguished."
"I believe Hou Jian should be questioned in detail."
Yang Lianting sneered. "He's dead. What is there to question?"
Only then did everyone realize that amid the earlier chaos, someone had struck Hou Jian. Blood flowed from all seven orifices, and he had already been dead for some time.
Ren Yingying was slightly surprised, then chuckled. "Now that there is no living witness, we can prove neither that Manager Yang colluded with the enemy nor that Elder Tong betrayed the cult. I think each side should submit a statement and ask Uncle Dongfang to pass judgment."
Tong Baixiong remained silent. He was unwilling to accept this, but the situation was unfavorable to him. He could only agree.
"This matter isn't over!"
Yang Lianting rose and gave Ren Yingying and Tong Baixiong a cold look. Surrounded by the Purple Cloud Guards, he swept out of Chengde Hall.
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