Chapter Ninety-Seven: The Mask Slips

“Go down and tell all the disciples to be ready. Today, that evil cultivator will come and never leave.”

“Yes, Ancestor!” The disciples under his command were so excited they could hardly contain themselves, each one eager for a chance to act.

At the gate, the crowd of cultivators and Daoist priests gathered thicker and thicker, many of them figures of considerable standing on the path. Rong Mu felt the pressure mounting by the moment.

The old master of the wondrous formation had not expected his prized disciple to be such a soft-hearted soul, still reasoning with the people outside.

Those men were obviously not going to stop until they got what they wanted. They insisted on receiving that person’s reward. If it were him, he would settle any disagreement with a fight first.

“Hand over the golden blood pearl and this matter is over. There is no need for all this lofty talk.”

“Exactly. What lofty talk?”

The cultivators outside were shouting noisily, while Rong Mu and a group of disciples stood blocking them at the gate.

“Please hear me out. The truth or falsehood of this evil cultivator aside, even if such a thing exists, it is still a treasure of our divine observatory. It cannot be coveted by others.”

“Well then...”

Rong Mu had exposed the last fig leaf in everyone’s hearts, leaving the crowd momentarily speechless.

At that moment, a somewhat ragged cultivator stepped forward. “A treasure of the divine observatory? Master, that is rather easy to say.”

All the cultivators outside craned their necks, trying to see who had spoken.

“The blood-red golden pearl is indeed a treasure. It can cleanse the marrow and refine the body. But if it falls into the hands of one with evil intent, it will become the source of chaos beneath heaven. You all are sincere at heart, only seeking to find the pearl and place it properly, so as to give the people of the world peace of mind!”

“Yes, yes, that’s right. It’s all for the peace of the people!”

“Right, to give the people peace of mind!”

“Exactly!”

Three-Eye, grinning at the excited uproar around him, hurriedly shifted to another spot.

Rong Mu searched for a long while but could not find the fellow who had interrupted so opportunely. Those standing in front even shoved him several steps farther inward.

“Is there any place safer or more secure than the divine observatory?”

The divine observatory was the foremost place of Daoist arts and the study of yin and yang. It enjoyed greater prestige and was far more secure than most places.

Hearing that the Daoists around him had also begun chattering recklessly, Three-Eye immediately tossed out, “What safe and secure? If it were truly safe, how could it have been broken into, with so many treasures stolen? This so-called ‘security’ really does not amount to much.”

Lowering his voice, he finished and quickly changed position again. Then, as if presenting a treasure, he said toward the “air” beside him, “Your Highness, I not only followed your instructions, I even exceeded expectations.”

Jiang Lan had meant to nod, but then remembered Three-Eye could not see it, so he merely uttered a low hum.

“Tell me, how much longer do we have to stay in here? These Daoists are all foolish as geese. One or two sentences from others and they are left speechless, yet they still dream of snatching the golden pearl. Ridiculous!” Three-Eye shook his head, full of disdain.

These venerable masters and sages whom he had once admired and longed for in the past—how were they all so unlike the images he had imagined?

“Behave yourself. The Daoists inside have seen your face. Be careful someone notices something amiss.”

Three-Eye nodded vigorously. “Mm-hmm. I’ll change position again.”

Carefully, he edged toward the center, while the noise around them grew louder and louder.

An elderly Daoist in a yellow robe addressed Rong Mu. “Master Rong, if this were in the past, we would also have trusted your divine observatory’s ability to protect such a sacred object. But now, the fact that your observatory was ransacked by an evil cultivator is common knowledge. May I ask: do you truly still have the ability to protect such a holy treasure?”

“Master Qingmei speaks reasonably. Your divine observatory cannot even hold the line, yet you will not let us step in. What sort of logic is that?”

“This golden pearl is something from beyond the mortal world to begin with. Whenever trouble arises, it inevitably draws struggle from the demonic realm and even the immortal realm. If we common folk possess it, it will most likely bring disaster upon us and imperil the Nine Provinces. In my view, such a sacred object must be discussed by all parties and properly placed.” Master Qingmei spoke with grave sincerity.

Many nearby people echoed his words. Rong Mu was also in a difficult position. Master Qingmei was an elder of great renown and moral standing from Mount Zhongnan. Since Daoists from Mount Zhongnan were involved in this matter, they must have deliberately sent word to him, which was why Master Qingmei had come.

Not only was Master Qingmei highly respected in Mount Zhongnan, he also enjoyed considerable prestige in the wider martial world.

Rong Mu stepped forward and saluted him. “Master Qingmei.”

“Master Rong.” The old Daoist in yellow robes likewise cupped his hands in return.

“Master Qingmei also knows that recent days have seen beasts and demons running rampant. All twelve masters of our observatory have gone out to subdue them, and even the master himself has left only two people behind. That is how the evil cultivator managed to exploit a gap. In ordinary times, how could he have been so brazen? I am sure Master Qingmei understands this as well.”

Master Qingmei nodded. “We all know how formidable the twelve masters of the divine observatory are. But now there is only one master and two attendants here. Even if the old ancestor of the wondrous formation were to return to oversee matters, I fear he would be powerless as well. Besides, the old ancestor is a restless sort by nature. How long could he possibly remain in the divine observatory?”

“That need not trouble Master Qingmei. My master has already used the sect’s secret art to send a message over a thousand li. Presumably the other masters will arrive in a few days.”

“A few days! That is far too long. In one hour, Heaven may bring great upheaval. If it takes several days, I fear even the imperial capital will be overrun by demons and evil spirits.” The middle-aged Daoist beside Master Qingmei spoke up.

“That’s right. So long.” Another Daoist beside him added his support.

Master Qingmei raised a hand and glanced at the two of them, then lowered his voice. “Mind your words.”

“Yes, Master.” The two pouted and answered in unison.

Master Qingmei looked back at Rong Mu. “My disciples were ill-mannered; please forgive them. Still, harsh as the words are, they are not without reason. Once word of the golden pearl spreads, I fear that before those masters can return, the area outside the imperial capital will already be fraught with danger, and the divine observatory itself will be in grave peril.”

Of course Rong Mu had thought of this too. But the pearl—judging by the look on his master’s face—seemed to be something he was determined to obtain. There was no way he would hand it over so easily. More than that, its whereabouts were still a mystery.

That brat Wei Li refused to say anything even if beaten to death, and with his master shielding him from above, even Rong Mu’s own master would not dare make things deliberately difficult for him. Master Hao was no easy man to deal with. He seemed quiet and unassuming, but in truth he cared most about saving face and protecting his own, and when he acted, he was ruthless.

Simply because Wei Li was his disciple, he would protect him to the end.

Moreover, Wei Li was now severely injured and deeply poisoned. Though he was trying his utmost to conceal it, that arrow wound made it obvious that the one who had ambushed the evil cultivator at the time was undoubtedly this fellow.

Who knew where this brat had found such a priceless treasure? To be so fortunate was one thing, but how had the news then fallen into the evil cultivator’s ears? This uproar might be hard to bring to a proper end.

“Master Daoist speaks reasonably. This matter should still be discussed calmly and at length. We ought to take a long view of it.” Seeing the situation increasingly unfavorable to his side, Rong Mu changed his tone, yielding a step to advance another.

Before Master Qingmei could answer, Three-Eye, who had been standing in the middle and listening, grew anxious first. If they were truly invited inside, wouldn’t he be exposed? He had to think of a way quickly.