At the same time—
Elsewhere—
Guangling Martial Academy.
A meeting was convened, with attendance from the Ten Elders and the Ten Magistrates.
However, this time, only three of the Ten Elders were present: 'Six Harmonies Fist' Wang Kuan, 'Grand Achievement Fist' Gu Shengyan, and 'Sage Fist' Pang Ge.
Before the academy's founding, Wang Kuan was the most famous among them, a renowned master across Jianzhou.
Next was Pang Ge, once on par with Cheng Fengxiao, Luo Liang, Song Yunfeng, and Hu Baichuan—one of the famed "Ten Tigers of Guangling."
Then came Gu Shengyan, who had practiced the Grand Achievement Fist for twenty years with little renown, until she joined the academy and rapidly rose to prominence—first creating a secret martial art based on her fist style, and then becoming the first to break through the limits and ascend to Elder status.
Since then, she stood head and shoulders above the rest. Be it Wang Kuan, Pang Ge, Yuan Shicai, Wen Wu, or the previously arrogant Wu Qi—none could compare to her.
Today.
The meeting.
Four Elders were away on business. Excluding Wu Qi, who was imprisoned in the dark dungeon, five Elders were supposed to be present. Yet only three showed up.
"Where are Elders Yuan, Wu, and Wen?" Gu Shengyan asked, scanning the room.
She had just returned from the Mountain Sea Realm and was unaware—
"Yuan and Wen have been missing for three days," Pang Ge said, shaking his head. "I visited their residences, but their families didn't know where they went."
Something's fishy!
"Absurd!" Gu Shengyan snapped. "Two core inner court elders vanish for three days without a word?"
She was furious—just when the academy needed capable people, these two disappeared?
With those two absent—
"What about Elder Wu?" she pressed again.
Pang Ge and Wang Kuan exchanged a glance. Finally, Wang Kuan spoke, smiling bitterly, "Wu Qi lost his ideals, betrayed his mission, lacked loyalty and honesty to the court, had weak discipline, worshipped an evil god, and attempted to kill a junior during the tournament. After being defeated and exposed, he's now under interrogation in the dungeon. He shows no remorse, continues defying the law, hides personal matters, and resists academy investigations…"
Wang Kuan quickly recounted everything from Wu Qi's exposure to his arrest and current detainment.
Bang!
Gu Shengyan slammed the table, eyes blazing. "Wu Qi's gone mad! Dabbling with evil gods?!"
She was furious.
For eight years, Guangling Academy had been exploring the Mountain Sea Realm, while systematically training martial artists from basic students to graduate researchers, from lecturers to full professors. Most had a chance to enter the Starmoon Gate and explore the realm.
Yet some, unable to resist temptation, fell down dark paths.
Like Fan Defang of Shenqiu Academy, obsessed with women.
Or worse—Wu Qi, seduced by evil forces.
And not just Wu Qi.
Even Du Hanfeng, once heavily invested in and full of promise, also fell into evil worship. When exposed, he fled the academy and remains missing.
First Du Hanfeng.
Now Wu Qi.
"Why is it so hard to just stay the course?!"
Gu Shengyan's face was like ice. "Wu Qi's in the dungeon—but what about Yuan Shicai and Wen Wu?"
She named them directly—clearly furious.
"No idea," Wang Kuan replied, though he suspected something. He kept quiet.
Pang Ge wasn't as reserved. "Elders Yuan and Wen were always close. Wen had a history of abusing his power to seize rare artifacts found by students in the Mountain Sea Realm. Coincidentally, this tournament, a young man named Yan Chuang wielded a third-grade or higher 'Red Tassel Spear' and nearly killed Wu Qi. Could it be Wen tried to repeat old tricks, dragged Yuan along to Ironthread Dojo, and something went wrong? Maybe they were counterattacked or fled after being exposed?"
"Of course," he added, "This is only speculation."
Wang Kuan watched silently, inwardly scoffing.
Guangling Academy had its share of scum.
Yuan Shicai and Wen Wu weren't good men. Neither was Wu Qi.
Pang Ge, once overshadowed by Cheng Fengxiao, now saw himself as superior. Yet with Yan Chuang's sudden rise, those old feelings of inferiority crept back.
And now—
He was lashing out, trying to undermine Ironthread Dojo, Yan Chuang, and Cheng Fengxiao.
"Yan Chuang?" Gu Shengyan had now heard his name twice—once from Wu Qi, and now in relation to a rare weapon.
She made a swift decision. "Send my order—assemble all instructors and professors in the academy for a meeting tonight."
While giving orders, she grumbled, "So many chances in the Mountain Sea Realm, yet people keep chasing shortcuts!"
Clearly, she had found something valuable on her trip and was back to rally support. But the current mess left her both amused and angry.
After issuing instructions—
She turned to Wang Kuan and Pang Ge. "Let's visit Ironthread Dojo and meet this Yan Chuang."
She also ordered, "Two magistrates, come with us."
Gu Shengyan's word was law.
No one dared object.
With orders given, they set out directly for Ironthread Dojo.
—
And not just the Cangwu Division—
Not just Guangling Academy—
Even the Zhenwu Division was after Yan Chuang!
—
"I heard the son of Chief Che is currently training under 'Shadowless Kick' Yan Chuang. How much do you know about this Yan Chuang?" asked Liao Huang, Magistrate of the Zhenwu Division's Guangling branch.
"You're asking the wrong man," sighed Che Zheng. "That boy's been estranged from me for years. We're more enemies than family. I know he's training under Yan Chuang, but we barely speak—I know nothing about Yan."
"Oh?" Liao smirked. "But when the court issued orders against the private dojos, you were the first to warn Ironthread Dojo."
Che Zheng smiled bitterly. "It's true. I pitied my son. Though he resents me, he's still my child. So I tried to curry favor with Yan Chuang."
Liao, seeing Che was slippery, waved him off. "You're dismissed."
As Che left, his brow furrowed.
Liao Huang was not a good man.
Now that Yan Chuang had caught his attention, trouble was sure to follow.
Che Zheng pondered whether to send a warning—but worried he'd be caught in the act.
He had to find a way.
Then suddenly—
Liao emerged with a group, fully equipped with weapons and shackles.
"Let's go!"
"Che Zheng!"
"To Ironthread Dojo!"
"Something's up with Yan Chuang!"
Che's heart sank. "Damn!"
He had no choice but to follow, helplessly joining the storm headed to Ironthread Dojo.
Sigh. Gotta play it by ear now…
—
Recruitment by Cangwu.
Investigation by Xuanwu.
Arrest by Zhenwu.
The three divisions all arrived at Ironthread Dojo—only to find nothing.
"Master and Grandmaster aren't here," said Yu Jinpeng. "They left early, worried someone would come after the Red Tassel Spear, and headed to Taikang County to join the Taikang Academy."
"You don't know?" he grinned, "My master's now a professor at Taikang Academy, with a 200-stone salary—equivalent to a county deputy!"
While he bragged and Wei Quan served tea, the officials seethed.
"Fled in fear!"
Liao Huang condemned.
"Too suspicious!"
Gu Shengyan grew paranoid.
"Trouble!"
Jiang Bianliu frowned. Yan Chuang had escaped ahead of time—and Taikang had its own Cangwu branch. Would they let such a talent go?
Just as Liao and Gu raised their doubts, Jiang stood up and snapped:
"What crime? What suspicion? You—Liao Huang, right? And you, little Gu—Yan Chuang isn't here, but I am! Any accusations, bring them to me! If you try anything, I'll break you myself!"
BOOM!
He struck a stone mill with a palm, shattering it into pieces—
Gasp!
It was the famed Six-Gate Sand Palm!
Even seasoned masters couldn't take that blow head-on.
"J-Jiang…" Liao paled. He thought Jiang was just a harmless old man at the library. But this?
This was a hidden tiger.
Library elders—never to be trifled with!
—
"Just let him go?"
"We should've searched Ironthread Dojo top to bottom!"
"If they weren't guilty, why flee?"
On the way back to Guangling Academy, Pang Ge was still bitter.
He had long disliked Cheng Fengxiao. Seeing Yan Chuang rise reignited those old grudges.
But then—
"Are you stupid?"
Gu Shengyan glared. "Do you even know who that was? That's Jiang Bianliu! He helped found Guangling Academy! Chose the eighteen great styles! Created the secret martial arts! You and I stand here today because of him!"
"That man—how dare you cross him?!"
Even if he looked like a harmless old man, within Guangling, Jiang Bianliu's name carried the weight of legend.