Racing Through the Starry Night to Clear River Ghost Village

No one answered Liu Meng.

Qin Tieya slowly closed the corpse compartment and looked toward the floating corpse covered by white cloth.

"Go. Bring him back."

Liu Meng and the others immediately stepped forward, and Chen Mu followed to help.

Wu Yue watched coldly from the side and casually cupped his fists. "Martial Master Qin, my condolences."

"The methods used by this fiend were cruel. Once we determine whether this was a demon scourge or human wrongdoing, this official will certainly notify your academy."

Qin Tieya said nothing and turned away.

He knew Wu Yue was shirking responsibility. Clearly, Wu Yue had no intention of truly investigating the matter.

Chen Mu and the others lifted the corpse onto a stretcher, covered it with coarse cloth, passed through the docks, and returned to Azure Dragon Martial Academy.

No one spoke along the way.

Upon returning to the academy, Qin Tieya directly ordered the corpse carried into a side hall at the rear.

During this time, several menial disciples poked their heads around outside the hall, only to shrink back under Qin Tieya's icy glare.

Only after the corpse had been placed in its coffin and white candles lit did Qin Tieya summon all the registered disciples to the front courtyard.

The sky had already darkened.

Frost-edged wind blew through the courtyard, making the torchlight flicker uncertainly.

Nearly a hundred menial disciples waited around the edge of the square, silent as cicadas in winter.

More than twenty registered disciples stood in the front row, while Chen Mu remained mixed in at the very back.

"Listen carefully. The corpse fished out of the river today was my seventh junior brother."

"Seventh Junior Brother was Master's adopted son. He had attended Master's side all these years and had never left him for a single day."

Standing on the steps, Qin Tieya did not bother with any preamble before bluntly announcing the death.

No fool could have made it here, and Chen Mu had long since grasped the crucial point.

Since Liu Qi had been following at Liu Qingcang's side, yet had now returned alone bearing a token, it was obvious that the demon-hunting matter had not gone smoothly.

Even Liu Qingcang himself might have encountered danger.

Liu Qi had returned to deliver word and seek reinforcements!

Yet he had died violently in the river, his death strange and sinister. The martial academy had truly stirred up enormous trouble this time.

"Senior Brother, what should we do?"

Several registered disciples cupped their fists as they asked, their voices clearly timid.

Chen Mu did not speak. He merely watched Qin Tieya.

"I intend to leave the city tonight and search for Master's whereabouts. Those willing to come with me, step forward."

Qin Tieya spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

At the end of the day, these registered disciples had merely paid money to learn martial arts. They could not be called especially loyal.

Now that even an expert like Liu Qingcang had run into danger, who would dare follow after him?

At a true life-or-death juncture, who would willingly gamble with their own life?

The wind passed through the courtyard, making the torches crackle and whip about.

"If the academy master is fine, why would we need to search for him?"

"If the academy master has also fallen victim to demons, wouldn't going there be sending ourselves to our deaths?"

The crowd whispered among themselves, their expressions hesitant.

Chen Mu counted to ten in his heart. Of the more than twenty registered disciples, not a single one stepped forward.

Qin Tieya suddenly sneered. "Since no one is willing to go, then disperse."

There was no disappointment in his eyes, as though he had expected this all along.

At that moment, Chen Mu's gaze struggled several times before he finally stepped forward.

"Senior Brother, this disciple is willing to go."

The instant Chen Mu said those words with cupped fists, the hesitation in his eyes vanished.

He was gambling—gambling that Liu Qingcang could escape safely, gambling for an opportunity to become a formal disciple.

If he shrank back now, he would surely plant a seed of ill will in Qin Tieya's heart.

Even if Liu Qingcang returned safely afterward, Chen Mu could forget about entering the academy as a formal disciple.

From then on, he would likely be like Liu Meng, standing guard at the gates every day. How would he have any time to cultivate, and when could he ever escape his lowly status?

The others did not know Chen Mu's considerations. Seeing him step out, they only assumed this new face did not know how terrifying demons were.

Qin Tieya was somewhat surprised that Chen Mu dared step forward. He asked, "Have you seen what demons are capable of?"

Chen Mu honestly shook his head, then said, "Since this disciple has already paid respects to the patriarch, I should naturally contribute to the martial academy. Why should I fear demons and evil spirits?"

Qin Tieya stared at Chen Mu for two seconds after hearing this, then burst into hearty laughter.

"Good! If Master returns unharmed from this trip, I will recommend you for formal entry!"

Chen Mu's heart gave a fierce leap. He immediately cupped his fists with a solemn expression. "Many thanks for Senior Brother's guidance!"

When the other registered disciples heard that such treatment was possible, some immediately began to regret their hesitation.

Liu Meng gritted his teeth and stepped forward as well. "Senior Brother Qin, this disciple is also willing to go."

"Senior Brother, we are willing to go as well."

Another two or three people stepped out.

Qin Tieya snorted at the sight and waved his hand. "Those willing to go, go collect horses and follow on your own."

"Junior Brother Chen, come with me."

With that, he swept out a hand and strode away with Chen Mu.

After hesitating for a moment, another four or five disciples among those remaining eventually stepped out and hurried after Liu Meng.

Ahead, Qin Tieya led Chen Mu to the rear stable.

"Junior Brother Chen, have you ever ridden a horse?"

He took a large jujube-red horse from a servant and handed its reins to Chen Mu.

Born into a butcher's family, Chen Mu naturally had never had the chance to ride a horse. But his physique was no longer comparable to that of an ordinary person.

He immediately pressed down on the horse's back and vaulted up, clamping his legs around its sides. The beast tried to rear and throw him off, but Chen Mu suddenly slammed down a broad palm.

"Get down!"

He used half his strength in that strike, Blood Essence surging throughout his body.

The horse beneath him let out a mournful cry, its front hooves smashing heavily onto the bluestone slabs. It did not dare move again.

Qin Tieya and the other disciples had already mounted their horses. Seeing this, their eyes brightened slightly, and Qin Tieya shouted aloud:

"Follow me! Bring your weapons and leave the city at once!"

"Yes!"

The disciples shouted their acknowledgment, following Qin Tieya as they spurred their horses into the streets swallowed by the night.

Half an hour later, the northern outskirts of Everlasting Prosperity Town.

At the end of the official road beneath the night sky, torchlight appeared. Qin Tieya led a group of riders charging toward them with torches raised high.

It was Chen Mu's first time galloping on horseback. With the bitter wind unique to the northern lands blowing against him, his chest filled with exhilaration.

"Senior Brother! Where are we going?"

He shouted his question into the wind.

Qin Tieya rode ahead. Hearing him, he answered, "Do not ask. Just follow me! Leave the official road ahead and head west!"

Everyone immediately pulled their reins, following Qin Tieya off the official road and along a muddy mountain path into the forest.

After racing onward for nearly another half hour, they arrived at a high point on a wilderness slope.

Far below, they could see orderly fields, thatched cottages, and grass-roofed houses. It was clearly a remote mountain village.

"It is here. Dismount and make camp first."

Qin Tieya ordered everyone to halt, and Chen Mu immediately dismounted with the others.

"Is that Clear River Village below? Master came here?"

"Senior Brother, what should we do?"

Someone had already recognized the place below. It was Clear River Village northwest of Everlasting Prosperity Town, beside a tributary of the Grass River, with more than one hundred and twenty households recorded by the authorities.

Qin Tieya no longer concealed anything as he looked at the disciples who had followed him here.

Besides Chen Mu and Liu Meng, there were five men and one woman, all at the second or third level of the Body Tempering Realm.

"Since you have followed me here, I will make things clear first."

"Do you know why Azure Dragon Martial Academy has taken the initiative to shoulder the task of slaying demons and exterminating evil?"

This question struck directly at Chen Mu's heart.

He had never understood why the authorities did nothing while Azure Dragon Martial Academy still dared take the risk and assume responsibility on its own.

Most of the other registered disciples were also confused. Hearing Qin Tieya raise the matter himself, they immediately cupped their fists.

"We do not know. We ask Senior Brother for instruction."

Qin Tieya steadied the reins of the horse beside him, gazing at the village below as he said calmly:

"The reason lies in cultivation itself."

"We martial folk are born to defy heaven and carve a path against the Dao, seizing the spiritual workings of heaven and earth to strengthen ourselves."

"The Body Tempering Realm requires only great medicines for nourishment and the tempering of stance arts."

"But beyond that, only the essence and flesh of demons can be refined and absorbed to advance our cultivation."

"I have a secret art that can sense Master's blood essence. I have confirmed that he is in the village below. But the place is steeped in heavy yin energy, and demons, ghosts, and evil spirits may be lurking there. If you are afraid, you may remain here and return on your own."

Chen Mu's mind shook slightly as realization dawned upon him.

No wonder...

The martial folk of this world slew demons and exterminated evil not to protect the common people, but because they regarded demons, ghosts, and evil spirits as cultivation resources to seize and refine.

Was this not walking different roads to the same destination as the workings of the Slaughter Register?

Countless thoughts flashed through Chen Mu's mind, but he ultimately suppressed them all.

Other matters could wait. Since Liu Qingcang was trapped in that Clear River Ghost Village, danger surely lay everywhere within.

No matter what, he first had to overcome the trial before him.

He gazed deeply at the scattered lights below, then immediately stepped forward, cupped his fists, and requested his orders.

"Please give the command, Senior Brother, and permit us to go down the mountain and investigate."