Interrogation

The Eagle Claw Master's face was pale. He spat out mouthful after mouthful of bloody foam, his internal energy scattered and his internal injuries worsening. With a bitter smile, he said,

"Young man, you are formidable. I remember you. You must have laid this trap to take revenge this time, right? Do it!"

With that, he closed his eyes and raised his head, waiting for death to descend.

Though regret showed on his face, there was not a trace of fear. He truly deserved to be called a hard man who faced death as if returning home.

But not everyone could meet death as calmly as this Eagle Claw Master.

Several people immediately began pleading miserably for mercy, saying they would do anything to survive.

Within this tiny temple lay all the myriad faces of life. Beauty or ugliness, all were laid bare before Lü Yue and the others, leaving them deeply moved.

If one day they found themselves in the same situation, what choice would they make?

In their hearts, everyone believed they would be bold and unyielding men like the Eagle Claw Master. But when life and death truly hung in the balance, how many could remain unchanged in the face of death as he had?

After defeating the Eagle Claw Master, Lü Yue slowly exhaled a breath of foul air. His brows shone with vigor, an imposing spirit gathering around him, while his eyes brimmed with pride. "Whether you live or die is not for me to decide. Wait."

Afterward, Lü Yue ordered the Meng Mansion experts to bind all these Sun Family martial artists with thick ropes, line them up in the center of the rear hall of the ruined temple, and make them kneel on the ground to wait silently.

The Meng Family experts then spread out around the ruined temple to stand guard, strictly preventing passersby from discovering anything amiss.

Waiting was torment, especially this sort of waiting where death might or might not come. The Sun Family martial artists' patience gradually wore away, replaced by profound terror.

Some things seemed to matter little when one's blood was up, but once calm returned, the more one thought about them, the more frightening they became. Death was one such thing. Even the Eagle Claw Master, the leader of these captives, was no exception.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of hoofbeats reached their ears again. Several people entered from outside the ruined temple. Lü Yue led the Meng Family experts forward to greet them and bowed to Meng Zhao.

That night, Meng Zhao wore a set of black casual clothes, with a high collar and narrow sleeves. Faint golden patterns were embroidered along the hem, and a jade pendant hung at his waist on a red silk cord.

His long, jet-black hair, smooth as satin, had been neatly combed back beneath a jade crown, revealing a full, bright forehead. Every glance he cast carried an arresting brilliance.

Moreover, perhaps because he had just forcefully shot back at Meng Xi of the main branch, Meng Zhao strode forward in great steps, firm and forceful. He carried more sharpness and hardness about him, appearing calmer and more poised than he had over the previous two days, when he had been cautious at every turn.

It made sense. As a counterfeit, an impostor, Meng Zhao had lived in the great Meng Family as though treading on thin ice, trembling with every step. If he made one wrong move and his true identity was exposed, there would be no life left for him.

Thus, he had always left room in both speech and action, seeming mild and weak.

But everything required a period of adjustment. Once he had passed through that stage, Meng Zhao began to reveal something of his true nature.

By now, Meng Zhao had already learned from the expert who brought the news that Lü Yue's operation had been a complete triumph. Every Meng Family martial artist caught in this trap had been captured, not one left behind. Naturally, he was greatly pleased.

Seeing Lü Yue bow to him, Meng Zhao hurried forward and helped him up, smiling broadly. "Good. I already know what happened. A'Le, you did well. You did not disappoint me.

"When Uncle Zhong returns, I will tell him of your performance and let him be happy too."

The most common means of winning people over were threats and inducements, but above both lay emotional persuasion.

Emotion was the most wondrous and unreasonable thing in the world. Though intangible, it could still make countless people willing to give their lives without regret.

Meng Zhao thought highly of Lü Yue and valued him greatly. He hoped the bond between them would be that of master and servant—even family—built upon emotion, rather than a relationship of interests, which was full of uncertainty.

Only then could he confidently give Lü Yue free rein in the future.

Seeing the undisguised appreciation and praise on Meng Zhao's face, Lü Yue's heart grew hot, and tears filled his eyes. "Young Master's great kindness and virtue can never be repaid, even if this servant becomes an ox or horse. Such a small matter is not worth Young Master's praise.

"Also, that expert who injured Young Master that day has been defeated and captured by this servant as well. He has suffered internal injuries. Please come with this servant, Young Master."

With that, he took the lead and brought Meng Zhao to the center of the ruined temple's rear hall.

At that moment, a pearl the size of a fist had been placed atop the dust- and cobweb-covered altar, giving off a bright white glow that illuminated the vast rear hall.

The headless statue was covered in black and green bristles.

After the fierce battle, the surroundings appeared even more ruined and chaotic.

The moment Meng Zhao stepped into the dilapidated rear hall, he saw the Sun Family martial artists kneeling in neat rows with their heads facing the door. The corners of his lips lifted, and he felt a measure of satisfaction.

One of life's pleasures was making one's enemies and rivals kneel before one in submission.

The desire for conquest born from defeating a powerful enemy was an instinctive trait in men.

Though these insignificant fish did not qualify as Meng Zhao's enemies or rivals, at most they were a trivial obstacle.

Even so, there was no denying that their attack had left Meng Zhao with an extremely bad impression.

Indeed, had the Heart-Illuminating Mirror not improved his martial arts foundation, raising the Arhat Young Monk Skill and the thirteen forms of Luohan Fist to the minor achievement realm and giving him some ability to protect himself, he might already have become a prisoner at the mercy of others.

Now that those who had once sought to harm him were kneeling before him, the satisfaction in his heart was beyond words.

The dozen or so people kneeling there had initially been lifeless and silent, their heads lowered in unease as they wondered how they would be dealt with.

When Meng Zhao entered, they all raised their heads. Amid their bedraggled appearance was a measure of expectation, hoping that after venting his anger, this Young Master of the Meng Family would spare them.

Yes, all of these dozen or so people had personally taken part in the attack on Meng Zhao that day. They were no strangers to this Young Master of the Meng Family. Though fear filled most of their hearts, they still held onto a sliver of hope.

"Take off their masks. I want to see whether they have three heads and six arms, to dare lay hands on me."

Meng Zhao's first words made the hearts of those kneeling on the ground sink, despair filling their eyes.

They had not known Meng Zhao's character before, but these words showed that he had taken their involvement in the attack to heart. Nor did he seem to be a particularly magnanimous man.

The Meng Family experts around them stepped forward and removed the group's masks, revealing their true faces.

None of them could be called grotesquely ugly, but few stood out either. Most had weathered features, looking as though they had endured many years of wind, frost, heat, and cold.

Among them, a hawk-nosed man particularly drew Meng Zhao's attention. It was not because he was handsome, but because his expression was calm.

Compared with the restless panic of the others, he stood out all the more.

"You are the one who used the Great Strength Eagle Claw Hand and tried to capture me that day?"

Though the man had worn a bird-beak mask that day, they had fought at close range. Meng Zhao was deeply familiar with the man's gaze and recognized him at once.