Chapter 3

Or rather, once Song Che had the honor of topping the disciplinary rankings and automatically qualifying for the Five Great Punishments, her master, who normally shut himself off from all worldly affairs once he entered seclusion, could no longer sit still.

At the time, Shi Cimo was handling official business alongside her senior sister, Mu Yangyu.

The faint fragrance of sandalwood drifted around the towering stacks of documents. Mu Yangyu sat upright behind her desk, her deep teal, wide-sleeved dress making her complexion appear somewhat pale, but her back was straight and her posture composed.

A lingering trace of illness still shadowed her brows, but her eyes were bright and focused as she carefully reviewed a document.

Shi Cimo sat in the seat below hers, silently examining an investigation report concerning the theft of spirit birds from the Spirit Beast Garden.

“You’ve worked hard, Junior Sister. During my absence, it’s thanks to you that the Law Enforcement Hall has continued running so smoothly.”

Mu Yangyu raised her head, her gentle gaze settling on Shi Cimo with approval. She smiled warmly. “Once Master emerges from seclusion, I’ll be able to report back to him with peace of mind.”

“Merely my duty,” Shi Cimo replied with lowered eyes. Her expression remained perfectly composed, but inwardly, she was sneering.

Report back with peace of mind? When Leng Qianqiu emerged from seclusion, he’d probably come to claim her life.

“Little Junior Sister really is…” Mu Yangyu’s gaze passed over Song Che’s name in the documents, and she shook her head helplessly. “Once she’s finished serving her punishment, I’ll have to give her a proper talking-to. How can she set an example for her junior brothers and sisters when she behaves so willfully?”

There was far more indulgence than reproach in Mu Yangyu’s tone.

Shi Cimo understood that perfectly well.

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed against the edge of the cold jade pendant hidden in her sleeve, feeling its icy surface.

She raised her eyes. “Senior Sister, which of the Five Great Punishments should Senior Sister Song receive for this offense…”

Before she could finish—

Something unexpected happened!

An indescribably terrifying pressure descended without warning, crashing down like an avalanche and engulfing the entire side hall of the Law Enforcement Hall in an instant.

The air inside seemed to freeze solid, and even the light appeared to dim. The final word Shi Cimo had been about to utter caught in her throat. Icy air forced its way into her lungs, bringing a sharp, stabbing pain as though knives were slicing through her chest.

A violent shudder erupted along her spine and swept through her limbs. The suffocating sensation of being firmly targeted by someone overwhelmingly powerful made her body tremble uncontrollably on instinct.

Shi Cimo’s pupils contracted slightly. Then, realizing what was happening, her gaze sharpened.

…Leng Qianqiu.

Mu Yangyu also raised her head in astonishment. This oppressive aura was all too familiar. “Master?”

“Master has emerged from seclusion early.” Shi Cimo had already forced herself to stand despite the crushing pressure.

“Senior Sister, let’s go see what’s happening.” She casually straightened her appearance. Her voice remained steady, though a careful listener stolen contentwould notice that it was slightly lower than usual.

Mu Yangyu, however, grew even more puzzled. According to his usual schedule, Leng Qianqiu’s seclusion should have lasted until shortly before the Convergence of Ten Thousand Arts. Never before had he ended his seclusion ahead of time.

But this wasn’t the moment to investigate. She quickly straightened her own robes, her eyes regaining their usual composure and authority. Glancing toward Shi Cimo, she said, “Come. Let’s pay our respects to Master first.”

＊

Outside the main hall, the great doors were tightly shut.

The closer they drew to the main hall, the more intense and bone-piercing the invisible cold became. The air seemed to solidify, and every breath felt like inhaling a freezing wind filled with shards of ice that scraped painfully against their lungs.

The disciples standing guard outside the main hall were deathly pale and too terrified to utter a word. When they saw the two women approaching, their eyes lit up as though they had just spotted their saviors.

Mu Yangyu waved her sleeve, dismissing them. The disciples immediately hurried away, afraid of enduring even one more second of True Lord Shuangming’s terrifying pressure.

Mu Yangyu and Shi Cimo exchanged a glance. Both stepped forward and bowed. Mu Yangyu’s gentle voice broke through the icy silence. “Disciples Mu Yangyu and Shi Cimo respectfully welcome Master back from seclusion.”

Shi Cimo bowed alongside her, keeping her eyes lowered.

After a moment, the heavy doors silently slid open, releasing an even more intense wave of cold that surged outward like a tide.

The two entered the hall. The vast interior was empty and deathly quiet, with a deep, lingering chill permeating the air.

A figure sat upon the main seat.

Leng Qianqiu.

Unlike the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall, who dressed in black, he wore spotless snow-white robes. They seemed completely at odds with the hall’s solemn, forbidding atmosphere, yet somehow blended into it perfectly.

There was no overwhelming pressure radiating from him now, but the commanding presence of someone long accustomed to holding power over life and death was enough to make the air throughout the hall seem heavier.

Shi Cimo and Mu Yangyu approached the center of the hall and bowed once more. “Greetings, Master.”

Leng Qianqiu rested his head against one hand as he looked down at his two disciples. His youthful, handsome face bore no trace of age. There was even the faintest hint of a smile on his lips, making his expression impossible to decipher. Yet his eyes were as cold and deep as a frozen pool, and they now settled lightly upon Shi Cimo, utterly devoid of warmth.

“Cimo,” he began. His voice was as clear and melodious as the gentle striking of a jade chime, yet every word carried an icy chill.

“During my seclusion, you’ve handled the affairs of the Law Enforcement Hall with… quite remarkable ‘impartiality.'”

His tone could almost be called mild, but his words were cutting. He had bypassed Mu Yangyu entirely and directed his remarks straight at Shi Cimo.

A flash of surprise crossed Mu Yangyu’s eyes, followed by confusion.

Shi Cimo, however, understood perfectly well that Leng Qianqiu had summoned her to demand an explanation. She tightened her grip on the cold jade pendant inside her sleeve and lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the fleeting coldness in her eyes.

“Senior Sister was unwell. It was only right for this disciple to fulfill her duties. I feared failing the trust Master placed in me, so I dared not neglect my responsibilities.” Her posture was respectful, and her response left no room for criticism.

“Dared not neglect your responsibilities?”

Leng Qianqiu repeated the phrase as a question. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, producing a crisp, rhythmic sound that rang particularly clearly through the silent hall.

He chuckled. “Indeed, you certainly haven’t neglected them… Song Che has practically become a regular fixture on the Law Enforcement Hall’s jade disc. You’ve certainly been taking very ‘good care’ of her.”

There it was. His true intentions were finally laid bare.

Shi Cimo silently savored that thought, sneering inwardly while pretending not to understand his sarcasm.

“Reporting to Master, this month, Senior Sister Song has violated curfew, trespassed into the Library Pavilion, stolen and eaten an immortal crane from the Spirit Beast Garden, secretly raised mortal poultry in the spiritual pool on the back mountain, and attempted to climb over the sect’s boundary wall… She has accumulated a total of thirteen disciplinary violations, placing her at the top of this month’s rankings.”

Shi Cimo delivered the report with meticulous, businesslike precision, her voice as steady as ever.

Leng Qianqiu still wore a smile, but a closer look would reveal that his eyes had grown even colder. If looks could kill, Shi Cimo would already have died hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

“Song Che is certainly mischievous…” Leng Qianqiu’s gaze remained fixed on Shi Cimo’s face, sharp enough to seem capable of cutting her open. “But as I recall, although she’s the sect master’s personal disciple, she has always exercised a certain degree of restraint. In the past, she was caught red-handed no more than three times a month. How is it that the moment Yangyu falls ill and you take over law enforcement, all that ‘restraint’ suddenly disappears? And why do you always seem to arrive at precisely the ‘right moment’ to catch her?”

“Or have you truly begun to think of yourself as the master of Qingji Peak, and the Law Enforcement Hall as your personal bird-catching net?”

The accusation was so sharp that it was practically an open confrontation. Mu Yangyu’s face went pale, as though she had never expected him to speak so harshly.

Shi Cimo, however, knew that her master was genuinely furious this time.

For once, she experienced a rather satisfying sense of revenge.

“Master, please judge fairly.”

She knelt and raised her head to look directly at Leng Qianqiu. Her face now bore just the right amount of wounded dejection, and there was even a faint, restrained glimmer of moisture in her eyes.

“When Senior Sister was overseeing the Law Enforcement Hall, she commanded tremendous respect. Perhaps Senior Sister Song exercised greater restraint because of that. As for this disciple…”

She lowered her head slightly again. “My cultivation is shallow, and my authority cannot compare to even a fraction of Senior Sister Mu’s. Perhaps Senior Sister Song has simply become… somewhat more inclined to do as she pleases.”

After a pause, she raised her head once more. This time, only earnest determination remained in her eyes.

“As for always arriving at the right moment, this disciple works day and night on rotating shifts, conscientiously fulfilling her duties without daring to slack off for even an instant. Furthermore… after Senior Sister Song committed so many violations, I gained experience in dealing with her and increased the frequency of disciple patrols. With sufficient vigilance, even the slightest traces of wrongdoing can be discovered.”

Leng Qianqiu watched her in silence, as though weighing every word for truth or falsehood. Those eyes, as cold and deep as a frozen pool, seemed capable of seeing through every disguise.

Only after a long while did he slowly speak, his voice betraying no emotion. “Is that so? Then it seems I have wrongly accused you?”

“This disciple would never presume to say so.” Shi Cimo lowered her head, maintaining her respectful and obedient posture to the very end. “However…”

After a pause, she spoke quietly.

“If someone walks willingly into a trap, who can they blame for getting caught?”

The moment those words left her mouth, Mu Yangyu suddenly began coughing.

Leng Qianqiu finally turned his attention toward Mu Yangyu. His gaze remained calm and unreadable, though his voice seemed to have grown slightly deeper.

“…Yangyu, if you haven’t recovered from your illness, why are you in such a hurry to resume your duties?”

His tone was flat, making it impossible to tell whether he was expressing concern or reproach.

“My duties are my responsibility, and I dare not neglect them. It’s only a minor ailment. Thank you for your concern, Master. During the few days I was ill, it was thanks to Junior Sister Cimo’s efforts that the Law Enforcement Hall continued operating normally…”

Mu Yangyu stepped half a pace forward as she answered, conveniently positioning herself slightly in front of Shi Cimo.

As though feeling particularly unwell, she took out a handkerchief and covered her mouth, suppressing a series of soft coughs. Then she offered Leng Qianqiu a weak but determined smile before abruptly changing the subject.

“Master, Junior Sister Song has topped the disciplinary rankings for three consecutive months. I have personally reviewed all the case files, witness testimonies, and physical evidence and confirmed that there are no errors—”

“I respectfully request that Master administer punishment according to the regulations.”

She knelt as well, positioning herself in front of Shi Cimo.

Her final words rang out with unmistakable firmness. Yet the hall fell into a silence even deeper and more dangerous than before.

Shi Cimo could clearly feel the temperature around her plummeting. Even the blood flowing through her veins seemed on the verge of freezing. She kept her head lowered, struggling to control her already trembling body. She squeezed her eyes shut, tightly gripping the cold jade pendant in her sleeve, and a scorching, burning sensation spread through her hand.

A long, long time passed.

So long that Shi Cimo and Mu Yangyu were nearly unconscious from the cold before Leng Qianqiu finally spoke again.

“Enough.”

He slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, nothing remained in his gaze but impassive indifference.

“Song Che is unruly. As a disciple of Reverend Lingxiao, she has repeatedly refused to mend her ways despite being reprimanded. She does deserve severe punishment. However, considering the Convergence of Ten Thousand Arts a hundred days from now…”

“She shall be confined to the Frozen Ravine for one month, undergo tempering in the icy spring for ten hours every day, and copy the Heart-Clearing and Mind-Calming Art one hundred times.”

Body tempering in the Frozen Ravine…

Shi Cimo kept her head lowered and squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she answered alongside Mu Yangyu.

“Yes.”

“This matter ends here.”

Leng Qianqiu’s voice was thick with weariness and coldness. He closed his eyes, as though even sparing them another glance would be an unnecessary bother.

“You may leave.”

＊

The heavy doors of the main hall silently closed behind them, sealing away the bone-piercing cold within. Shi Cimo did not slow her steps as she walked alongside Mu Yangyu.

A brisk mountain wind rushed toward them, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees and stirring the hems of their robes.

“Cimo.” Mu Yangyu’s voice came from beside her, still carrying lingering concern and a hint of exhaustion. She stopped and turned to face Shi Cimo.

Her gentle eyes were filled with concern as she carefully studied Shi Cimo’s somewhat pale profile. “Master… was rather harsh with his words today. Please don’t take them to heart.”

Shi Cimo also stopped and turned slightly toward her. The mountain wind brushed against her cheek, disheveling the loose strands of hair at her temples.

She met Mu Yangyu’s gaze, her expression as calm and tranquil as a clear, still pool. “Senior Sister, there’s no need to make so much of it. As Master’s disciple, I need only listen respectfully to his reprimands.”

Her voice was reasonably gentle, revealing neither happiness nor anger.

Mu Yangyu sighed softly, the lingering shadow of illness between her brows deepening.

She raised a hand and gently pressed her temple, her tone warm and understanding. “Master… doesn’t truly blame you for enforcing the rules too strictly. Junior Sister Song really did go too far this time, and according to the regulations, she deserves severe punishment. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

After a pause, she carefully considered her words and lowered her voice.

“It’s just that… the Convergence of Ten Thousand Arts is approaching. Junior Sister Song is someone our sect master has placed great hopes in, and she’s also the main force our Tianyan Sect is relying on to reach the top three this time. The Five Great Punishments are cruel even for someone with a Golden Core cultivator’s physique. They could damage her cultivation foundation and affect her condition a hundred days from now. Perhaps Master was simply worried about the sect’s overall interests, which is why… Although tempering the body in the Frozen Ravine…”

“Senior Sister.”

Shi Cimo had been absentmindedly listening while discreetly kicking a small pebble along the path. But upon hearing this, she suddenly raised her eyes and interrupted Mu Yangyu.

Her face remained expressionless. She looked at Mu Yangyu for a moment before the corners of her lips finally curved into a faint smile. Yet there was no warmth in that smile. It only gave off an icy chill.

“Deep within the Frozen Ravine, the fierce winds cut like blades, the icy spring eats into the bones, and even spiritual energy protecting the body is as flimsy as paper. Ten hours every day…”

She paused, then softened her voice, adding an almost imperceptible note of inquiry that bordered on malice.

“Senior Sister, tell me, how many days do you think someone like Senior Sister Song, who’s been pampered and privileged all her life and has never known hardship, can endure?”

Mu Yangyu froze.

The gentle concern in her eyes instantly stiffened, replaced by a flicker of unexpected shock.

She parted her lips, but as she looked at Shi Cimo’s pale face, an image of her junior sister as a child suddenly flashed through her mind. The words caught in her throat.

Since when had her junior sister become so frail-looking?

Only now did she belatedly realize it.

Shi Cimo, however, no longer looked at her. She simply turned away.

At the very moment she turned, there was an exceedingly faint sound.

A dark-red drop of blood seeped through the gaps between her fingers, which were clenched tightly around the jade pendant. It fell onto her robes, blending into the black fabric and disappearing in an instant.

As though nothing had happened, she walked steadily down the winding bluestone path without once looking back.

Mu Yangyu remained where she was, unaware that anything was wrong with Shi Cimo. She merely stared blankly at the retreating figure in plain robes, which exuded an air of cold, solitary resolve, until it gradually disappeared into the depths of the lush mountain forest ahead.

For a long time, she could not bring herself to look away.