In that stockade, Qin Mu turned his head and saw Wei Yong, slightly stunned, then a smile bloomed on his face as he waved: "It's Brother Wei and the Duke. Why are you standing outside? Come in quickly."
Wei Yong hurriedly winked and gestured, saying: "Come out quickly, I have something to discuss with you! Come over here, something big has happened at the Imperial Academy!"
He was worried about Qin Mu's safety, so he was determined to pull Qin Mu out of this fire pit, thinking: "Brother Qin probably just came out for a stroll and doesn't know this is where the Heavenly Demon Cult seeks revenge, so he wandered in by mistake. How dangerous is this? These Heavenly Demon Cult villains are fierce and ruthless—they even killed Sun Nantuo, a first-rank official of the Cult Master level, in an instant. Brother Qin's frail body might have its marrow squeezed dry!"
The Duke of Wei saw that the two old gatekeepers, a man and a woman, had cut off his retreat, veins bulging on his forehead and eyes twitching: "That brat Wei Yong is even more trouble-making than me! Now it'll be hard to leave even if we want to!"
Qin Mu raised his hand, and the old woman behind the Duke of Wei hurriedly stepped forward. Qin Mu turned his head and said a few words.
The old woman returned, grinning: "Duke, young master of the Wei family, please come inside and sit."
The Duke of Wei's eye twitched. He looked deeply at Qin Mu, took a long breath, and said to Wei Yong: "Let's go in."
The two walked into the stockade. It seemed to have just been set up—everything was new, and they could still smell the scent of fresh wood.
The Duke of Wei and Wei Yong saw Qin Mu walking toward the interior of the stockade and reluctantly followed. The Duke of Wei whispered: "Yong'er, what's your relationship with young brother Qin Mu?"
"We've been through life and death together!" Wei Yong said solemnly. "He saved me when those from the Dragon Gate Sect attacked the scholars' boat!"
The Duke of Wei was troubled: "Have you ever saved him?"
Wei Yong shook his head.
"He saved you, but you never saved him—so your so-called life-and-death friendship is worthless!"
The Duke of Wei was anxious, thinking: "Now we can only take it one step at a time. I've been dragged into this mess by this brat. I don't know if my few meetings with Li Tianxing will be of any use..."
They arrived at the center of the stockade and saw a platform there, only a foot or so above the ground, built of wood.
The platform was small, about thirty feet across.
The Heavenly Demon Cult members in the stockade were sitting on the ground around the platform. The old woman beside the Duke of Wei chuckled: "State Preceptor, young master of the Wei family, just sit down. Don't worry, the ground was just mopped—it's very clean."
Wei Yong looked down and saw some dark red bloodstains on the ground, feeling uneasy: "I wonder if they cleaned up thoroughly—what if there's a head left somewhere..."
The Heavenly Demon Cult had wiped out Nantuo's palace along with Sun Nantuo, a first-rank official, in the blink of an eye. Their strength was truly formidable. Although the Duke of Wei was a seasoned veteran, he didn't dare act rashly here, thinking: "Although the Heavenly Demon Cult made such a big show this time, the strong ones in the capital definitely won't be alarmed. They moved too quickly—they'd probably kill us father and son just as fast..."
Below the platform, hundreds of people sat silently, waiting quietly for the Holy Teacher's address.
Wei Yong looked around and suddenly caught sight of Qin Mu, hurriedly waving: "Brother Qin, Brother Qin! Come over here!"
The Duke of Wei wanted nothing more than to stuff this chubby kid into the ground and shove a few stinky socks in his mouth to stop him from rambling.
Fortunately, the surrounding Heavenly Demon Cult members seemed to completely ignore Wei Yong's shouting, each still sitting upright and proper.
Qin Mu smiled at Wei Yong, lifted the hem of his robe, and walked toward the platform.
Wei Yong was startled and quickly whispered: "Don't go up on the platform, don't go up—that's where their Holy Teacher gives addresses..."
The Duke of Wei growled fiercely: "Shut your mouth, brat!"
Wei Yong quickly shut his mouth. The Duke of Wei said angrily: "I'm known for keeping my mouth shut—how did I end up with a descendant with a mouth like a broken gong? Can't you see what's happening?"
Wei Yong was stunned, and saw Qin Mu walk onto the platform, turn around, and the Heavenly Demon Cult members below rose and bowed: "Holy Teacher and Cult Master!"
Qin Mu nodded: "No need for formalities, sit."
Everyone sat down.
Wei Yong's mouth hung open, his expression one of shock, unable to come to his senses for a long while.
The Duke of Wei sighed and muttered: "I always knew something was off with that Ban Gongcuo—Wu Zun Lou Luo Jing seemed a bit off, and sure enough there was a problem. Now it seems it was most likely the Holy Teacher of the Heavenly Demon Cult personally taking action. The Heavenly Demon Cult actually chose a teenager as their Cult Master—they have quite some nerve..."
On the platform, Qin Mu also sat down and asked: "Who knows soul-searching techniques?"
A woman stood up and bowed: "Reporting to Holy Teacher, I have some proficiency."
Qin Mu nodded, suddenly performing the Soul-Calling Art. Behind him, a gloomy portal appeared, and black fog poured out, dimming even the light from the fire oil in the iron pots.
At that moment, everyone saw the souls of Sun Nantuo and the monks standing in the gloomy black fog.
Qin Mu said: "Hall Master, I want to know who else was Sun Nantuo's accomplice. Who exactly did he collaborate with to harm our Cult's two Heavenly Kings?"
"Respectfully obeying the decree."
The female Hall Master stepped forward, took out a shining mirror, performed a secret technique, and shone it on Sun Nantuo.
The mirror light shone on Sun Nantuo's soul, penetrating it and falling into the air behind him. Various scenes appeared in the mirror light—scenes from Sun Nantuo's life, flashing by rapidly like a passing parade. Rewinding from the moment of his death, it soon reached the memory of the siege against Heavenly King Lu.
"Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Yun Boshan, Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince Ting Yanju, Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince Cui Mingzhi, Junior Guardian to the Crown Prince He Qianqiu, and..."
The Right Protector Envoy Xue Bi'e recorded the figures appearing in Sun Nantuo's memories. Her gaze fell on the last person, and her pupils contracted slightly: "And the Crown Prince of the State of Yankang, Ling Yuxia."
Qin Mu nodded: "Record it. Find the right moment to send them on their way."
The Right Protector Envoy noted down the name of the Yankang Crown Prince.
The Duke of Wei was shocked, his mouth opening and closing, but no words came out.
The Heavenly Demon Cult was truly arrogant—even the Crown Prince was to be sent on his way. That was the Crown Prince of the State of Yankang!
However, he had nothing to say. What did the Crown Prince of Yankang have to do with him? He was the Duke of Wei from the State of Yang—he'd be happy to see Yankang descend into chaos.
Qin Mu continued watching the scenes in the mirror light. When it reached the siege against Heavenly King Lu, the images stopped.
The scenes in the mirror light showed that when Heavenly King Lu was besieged, several experts did indeed act together, and Sun Nantuo was among them.
However, besides Sun Nantuo, several others were blurry and indistinct—they clearly also had secret techniques protecting them, making their faces impossible to see clearly.
Qin Mu frowned: "Is this all the mirror light technique can show?"
The female Hall Master bowed: "Reporting to Holy Teacher, this mirror light technique has reached its limit. The opponents' cultivation is too high, or they have secret technique protection—I cannot see clearly."
Qin Mu nodded: "So be it. At least we know Sun Nantuo was one of them. Continue investigating the others."
"Yes."
Qin Mu waved his hand, dispersing the mirror light, and stood up: "That's all for today. Everyone continue gathering intelligence. Report immediately if there are any leads."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison.
Qin Mu walked down from the platform, and Wei Yong hurriedly approached, whispering: "Brother Qin, you... are you really the Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult?"
Qin Mu smiled: "What does Brother Wei think?"
Wei Yong scratched his head: "I... I don't know. But if you really are the Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, then... then I..."
Qin Mu patted his shoulder: "Brother Wei, no matter what my identity is, you and I are friends. That will never change."
Hearing this, Wei Yong's expression was complicated, but he finally nodded: "Good. I believe you."
The Duke of Wei listened nearby, sighing to himself: "This Qin Mu is truly remarkable. The Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, yet so young, and with extraordinary methods and cunning. It seems my Duke of Wei's estate will need to interact more with the Heavenly Demon Cult in the future..."