C10 Yinyang Sect

Feng Yimo was jolted awake by Ling Ya's piercing scream. Lost in his cultivation, he had neglected to keep watch, a realization that sent a shiver of fear through him. What if a wild beast or a villain had crept up on him with a blade? He could have met an undeserved end. His eyes snapped open to behold a vision of loveliness: a slender figure with flawless, jade-like legs, a smooth, flat belly, and a delicate neck leading to a face framed by willow-leaf brows and eyes as clear as autumn waters. Her nose was refined, her cheeks flushed with anger, and her small, red lips were like blooming petals. Her skin was as soft as butter, as white as snow, and seemed it could be marred by the lightest touch. She was a breathtaking beauty.

Yet, once clothed, the woman turned on him with her sword, slashing wildly as if possessed. Butterflies, which had appeared out of nowhere, swarmed around her, seemingly in his defense. As they fell one by one to her blade, he couldn't bear the sight. With a wave of his hand and a firm command, "Go!" the butterflies took to the sky, creating a cascade that turned the day to night, then back to a clear blue expanse. Ling Ya stood frozen, unable to comprehend the sudden shift.

Rising from the pond, Feng Yimo faced an irate Ling Ya who, with her face covered, trembled with rage. "Pervert, filthy pervert! Scoundrel, I will kill you!"

Just then, Qiu Ju hurried over, whispering, "Miss, he's wearing pants."

Ling Ya, taken aback, spun around to see that the young man was indeed only bare-chested. Mortification turned to fury as she charged at him, her sword aimed at Feng Yimo. "Explain yourself! Why were you spying on me while I bathed?"

Feng Yimo, unfazed, slipped on his robe and replied, "I've been here all night. You're the ones who interrupted me. There's an order to these things, after all."

Ling Ya was dumbfounded. She had plunged into the water without a second glance, and the mist above the pond had obscured her view. With Silver Robed Guards on patrol, no one could have silently intruded. His words seemed to hold water, but the indignity of being seen was too much to bear. Once Feng Yimo was fully dressed, she called out with authority, "Silver Robed Guards, seize this man!"

The Silver Robed Guards were taken aback. How could someone have intruded while the young lady was bathing? They rushed to the scene and, upon seeing the trio fully clothed, let out a sigh of relief. Without hesitation, they lunged at Feng Yimo and apprehended him. At that moment, Feng Yimo was as powerless as any mortal, unable to resist. Besides, he hadn't detected any murderous intent, so his life wasn't in jeopardy.

"Young Miss, what shall we do with him? You don't seriously intend to kill him, do you?" Qiu Ju, the maidservant, inquired softly as she followed her mistress.

With a smug glance at Feng Yimo behind her, Ling Ya's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I want him as my slave. He can control butterflies, can't he? Let him summon ten thousand for the Hundred Flower Gathering. It will be a spectacle that adds to the event's splendor! I adore all sorts of flowers, so having him attract butterflies to dance around now and then would be delightful, wouldn't it?"

Qiu Ju giggled behind her hand, teasing, "Miss, isn't that like casting a net to catch butterflies?"

"Ya, you impudent girl, I'll teach you a lesson!" Ling Ya retorted, playfully reaching for Qiu Ju's armpit as they tussled, the morning's sourness forgotten. Ling Ya, in the throes of her wild teenage years, had a special bond with Qiu Ju, having grown up together like sisters. Despite her stern demeanor with others, she showed nothing but affection for Qiu Ju. She also had three other maidservants: Chun Lan, Xia He, and Dong Mei, all named after her beloved flora.

Now a prisoner, Feng Yimo had no choice but to walk. Fortunately, the carriage wasn't moving quickly, allowing him to keep pace.

Ling Hai, seated in the carriage's right corner, observed Feng Yimo trailing behind. The young man's composure, free from any trace of subservience or fear, piqued Ling Hai's curiosity. Such fortitude was uncommon in one so young. Who was this boy, wandering alone in the wilderness? How had he come upon the young lady's bathing pool? Did he harbor any hidden intentions? And what exactly did the young lady have in mind for capturing him?

Laughter echoed from within the carriage as the young lady and her maidservant, Qiu Ju, playfully teased each other. Shaking her head with a smile, she decided to let them be. The Marquis doted on his only daughter excessively, but it was hard not to; she was incredibly charming. In a way, the young lady was like gaining a new servant for the household.

...

Three thousand three hundred miles from Ironwind Ridge, the entrance to the Yin-yang Sect stood majestically. A towering ten-foot-tall Taiji symbol, split into black and white halves, served as the grand gate. Beyond it, a series of pavilions perched atop mountain peaks, constructed of redwood and green tiles, exuded an ethereal charm. Amidst the plum trees, cranes, and exotic flora, the air was alive with the sounds and scents of a celestial paradise.

At the highest point, the "Soul Pavilion" housed the life soul tablets of the sect's core disciples and higher-ranking members. Each core disciple, deacon, and elder had a sliver of their soul preserved there. In the event of an untimely death, their tablet would shatter, alerting the sect to their demise. That morning, as the duty disciples were dusting, they were startled to find a soul tablet reduced to dust. It belonged to Chi Yangzi, one of the twelve core disciples out on a training mission. They rushed to the Law Enforcement Hall to report, "Reporting, Core Disciple Chi Yangzi has perished!"

The Law Enforcement Hall's responsibilities extended beyond disciplining errant disciples; it was also tasked with uncovering the causes of death for the fallen and seeking retribution. Even though Chi Yangzi was an average core disciple, his death could not go unexplained, lest the sect's reputation suffer. Situ Beixin, the hall's master, summoned three flying swords, inscribed them with the details, and cast them into the sky. This was a message via flying sword, an urgent call for the disciples in the field to swiftly determine the cause of Chi Yangzi's death.

Chi Zhu Zi, a disciple of the Yin-yang Sect, had little interest in cultivation, preferring the pleasures of the tongue to the rigors of training. His cultivation had barely reached the second level of Qi Refining. While he was indulging in a feast at a tavern, a streak of white light shot across the sky towards him. His heart skipped a beat as he caught it, pressing it to his forehead. The stern voice of Situ Bei, the Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, resonated from within: "Chi Yangzi has met his end in the field. Investigate the cause immediately and report back to me!"

Chi Zhu Zi was taken aback; Chi Yangzi was dead. He had been at the pinnacle of the second Qi Refining level—who could have killed him? Forgoing his meal, he glided down the stairs and, amidst the shocked stares of onlookers, he hurried away.

The disciples of the Yin-yang Sect were categorized into five generations: green, red, blue, black, and white. Green represented those who had been in the sect for less than five years, with the most advanced among them reaching the peak of the first Qi Refining level. Advancing to the second level meant a transition to the red generation. The Foundation Establishment stage marked the beginning of the blue generation, with names typically starting with 'blue.' Those fortunate enough to reach the Core Formation stage, becoming Golden Core Cultivators, donned black robes and reclaimed their secular names, much like the Disciplinary Hall's Master. Beyond that were the Nascent Infant cultivators, who wore Taoist robes adorned with the black and white Tai Chi pattern, signifying their supreme status as Supreme Elders. Only the Sect Master had the privilege to wear the Tai Chi patterned robes.

Supreme Elders were elusive figures, and in a grand sect like the Yin-yang Sect, there were only a handful. The exact number was a mystery.

Chi Zhu Zi had always been close to Chi Yangzi. Learning of his death, he was overwhelmed with sorrow and rage. He made a silent vow to uncover the killer and exact vengeance for his fallen brother.