From the fake emperor to the concubine

Mo Ku raised his hand.

Although he was greedy, he wasn't stupid. A place that could hide an array to such an extent couldn't possibly be as easily manipulated as Huang Yifei claimed.

Just then, a gong rang out from the city wall.

Guo Tianyou strode onto the foremost arrow tower platform, his sword clattering against his armor with a dull thud. His eyes, sharp as an eagle's, fixed on the three figures in the air. He grinned, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Hey you guys up there, give us your names!"

His voice was full of energy, and it carried on the cold wind, clearly audible both inside and outside the city.

The round-faced disciple's expression darkened, and he immediately cursed, "Insolence! An inner sect elder of the Qingyun Sect is here. How dare you, a mere mortal guarding the city, shout like this!"

Guo Tianyou tilted his head and picked at his ear: "Oh, so you're from the Qingyun Sect."

He turned to his personal guard and asked, "When did our Hongyun City come under the jurisdiction of the Qingyun Sect?"

The guard cooperated perfectly, replying with a stern face, "Never heard of it."

On the other side, a centurion standing nearby couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Commander, perhaps they're here to apply for a gatekeeper position. It's only proper to let them give their name first."

A burst of suppressed laughter erupted from the city wall.

The two disciples in the air immediately looked grim.

The tall, thin disciple stepped forward, gripped his sword hilt, and shouted, "How dare you! A mere secular city dares to disrespect the Qingyun Sect? Open the city gates immediately and kneel to welcome Elder Mo, or else—"

"Otherwise what?" Guo Tianyou interrupted him, placing his hand on the edge of the stack and asking slowly, "Want to come down and bite me?"

"you--"

The tall, thin disciple was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed, and his spiritual energy surged, causing the flying sword beneath his feet to tremble with a hum.

Mo Ku raised his sleeve to stop him, his voice icy: "Step back."

The tall, thin disciple gritted his teeth and forced himself to retreat half a step, suppressing his anger.

Mo Ku stepped forward slowly, his voice not loud, yet it seemed to ring in everyone's ears: "I am Mo Ku, an inner sect elder of the Qingyun Sect. I have come to Hongyun City only to investigate the massacre of the Huang family in Baishi City. I want your city lord to come out and answer my questions."

The city wall was quiet for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Guo Tianyou not only remained calm but also crossed his arms.

"Inquiry?"

"good."

"How do you want to investigate?"

Mo Ku looked at him, his tone carrying a condescending indifference: "The Huang family of Baishi City has been affiliated with the Qingyun Sect for generations. Although they established themselves in the secular world, they were still under the protection of our sect. Now that the entire Huang family has been slaughtered and all their property has been lost, your Hongyun City is the prime suspect. I will go into the city to take a look and then call out those involved for questioning. If the matter is true, everything that should be returned will also be returned."

"Return it?" Guo Tianyou seemed to have heard something very interesting, and turned to look around. "Brothers, did you hear that? They want us to return it."

A dark-skinned centurion immediately chimed in, "Commander, we have too much stuff in our barn. We don't know what he wants. Should we ask him to make a list?"

Another burst of laughter erupted from the city wall.

The two Qingyun Sect disciples felt their faces burning, and their hands gripping their swords tightened.

The round-faced disciple couldn't help but shout angrily, "You uncouth warriors, do you even know who you're talking to!"

The smile on Guo Tianyou's face vanished instantly.

"Of course I know." He leaned against the city wall, his body slightly forward, his voice deepening. "I also know that the Huang family of White Stone City colluded with evil cultivators, using beasts to attack the city, killing fifteen of my brothers from Hongyun City and injuring over a hundred. When we went to White Stone City to collect our debts, your Qingyun Sect didn't come. Now that the Huang family is wiped out, you finally know to show off?"

Mo Ku's eyes turned slightly cold: "You say the Huang family colluded with evil cultivators, what evidence do you have?"

"Proof?" Guo Tianyou raised an eyebrow. "I saw it with my own eyes, do you expect me to burn a rubbing for you?"

"Insolence!" the round-faced disciple roared. "You dare to make false accusations without any evidence—"

Guo Tianyou simply raised his hand and waved it.

"Crossbow, raise!"

A series of clicking and clacking sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The dozens of heavy crossbowmen who had been crouching on the city wall simultaneously raised their crossbows, the dark arrowheads gleaming coldly in the morning light, steadily aimed at the three people in mid-air. At the same time, the shadows of ballistae peeked out from the windows of the arrow towers on both sides, their iron chains taut and their crossbow arms fully drawn.

The round-faced disciple's expression changed instantly, and he subconsciously took a half step back.

These ordinary crossbows might not actually be able to harm a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but having dozens of them aimed at the face at the same time is still unsettling.

Mo Ku's gaze swept over the crossbows, and his irritation intensified.

He could tell this wasn't just for show. The soldiers operating the crossbows were breathing steadily, their shoulders and elbows were steady, and their eyes weren't wandering—they clearly had real experience killing people and shooting live targets. Moreover, the city's formation was still unclear, and he only had two junior disciples from the outer sect with him. Huang Yifei hadn't come along either. If things really escalated, he might not come out on top.

But if he just retreats like this, where will he put his old face?

He said with a stern face, "I'm not here to argue with a gatekeeper like you. Let Zheng Yi come out."

When Guo Tianyou heard Zheng Yi's name, a slow smile spread across his face.

“My husband is very busy; he can’t just see anyone he wants.”

"you--"

“Besides,” Guo Tianyou added unhurriedly, “who do you think you are?”

This time, no one on the city wall laughed; everyone had a tense expression, as if they were holding back a lot of energy.

Mo Ku's forehead twitched, and his fingers pinched white marks in his sleeve.

He has lived for so many years, and everyone inside and outside the sect has shown him great respect. He has never been confronted to this extent by a mere mortal soldier.
"Very well, very well indeed." Mo Ku laughed angrily. "It seems that Hongyun City is determined to be an enemy of Qingyun Sect?"

Guo Tianyou didn't even lift his eyelids: "Don't try to pin this on me. If you want to be reasonable, do it outside the city. If you want to put on airs, go somewhere else. The gates of Hongyun City aren't open for you."

"What if I insist on going in?"

"Then give it a try."

As soon as Guo Tianyou finished speaking, all the spears on the city wall pressed forward half an inch at the same time, and the shields also snapped into a straight line.

The wind blew across the city wall, and the air suddenly tightened.

The tall, thin disciple could no longer contain himself and whispered, "Elder, why don't I go and try out the city gate first—"

"Shut up." Mo Ku's voice was like ice. "Can't you see there's a formation here?"

The tall, thin disciple was taken aback.

"An array?" The round-faced disciple was also surprised. "Who set up an array for them in such a small place?"

Mo Ku didn't answer, only staring at the dark city wall in front of him.

He couldn't see through the formation.

That's the most troublesome part.

If it were just ordinary people defending the city, he would have plenty of ways to handle them. But once an array is involved, the nature of the situation changes. Especially since these soldiers on the city wall don't look like they're afraid of death. If he's really pushed to the limit, he could unleash a barrage of attacks using both the array and the crossbows. Even if it doesn't seriously injure him, it would be enough to cause serious harm to his two disciples.

He never intended to make a big fuss about coming down the mountain this time.

In Mo Ku's mind, this trip was just a casual picking of ripe fruit. If there were any treasures, he would take them all; if it was just that Huang Yifei had made up too much, he would at most get angry, scare him a little, and then plunder some spirit stones and medicinal herbs from the city to save face.

But now, the fruit is not only unripe, but thorns have also grown on the tree.

The round-faced disciple whispered, "Elder, should we send a message to the sect first and then send some more people?"

Mo Ku's eyes darkened, and he glanced at him sideways.

The disciple immediately shrank back, not daring to say another word.

Transferring people? If people are transferred, the matter can no longer be kept secret.

That sword, which is suspected to be a great treasure, those tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, and even other things that may be hidden in the city—which of these could possibly be his to keep all to himself?

Mo Ku's mind raced, but his face remained impassive.

Just then, a series of unhurried footsteps came from behind the city gate tower.

The footsteps were very light, but for some reason, as soon as they appeared, the tense atmosphere on the city wall suddenly calmed down. Several centurions who had been clenching their teeth even showed a hint of relief in their eyes.

Mo Ku looked up.

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows of the arrow tower.

Wearing a gray cotton robe and an old fox fur coat, with a slender figure and a calm face, he looked like an ordinary schoolteacher. But the moment he appeared, the faint sense of oppression in Mo Ku's chest instantly intensified.

Zheng Yi walked to the front of the battlement, casually glanced down, and his gaze met Mo Ku in mid-air.

Neither of them spoke first.

The wind passed between the two, stirring up dust from below the city, which swirled across the ground where the thin frost had not yet melted.

The round-faced disciple frowned and whispered, "Elder, is this Zheng Yi? I can't tell anything about him..."

Mo Ku did not respond.

He couldn't see through it.

That's the part that's most wrong.

Either the other party is truly just a mortal, or their cultivation level far surpasses his, concealing their aura flawlessly. But how could someone capable of annihilating a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single finger be content to remain in this desolate border town?

Mo Ku felt a vague unease, but unwilling to lose in terms of momentum, he could only ask in a deep voice, "You are Zheng Yi?"

Zheng Yi looked at him and said calmly, "It's me."

"Did you destroy the Huang family of Baishi City?"

"Yes."

His answer was so straightforward that it left Mo Ku speechless with the few probing questions he had prepared.

"Good that you admit it." Mo Ku narrowed his eyes. "Since that's the case, I've come here today for three things. First, you must give the Qingyun Sect an explanation for the massacre of the Huang family. Second, the Huang family's assets, including those belonging to my sect's disciples and relatives, should be sealed and inventoried; you cannot embezzle them. Third—"

"Are you done talking?" Zheng Yi interrupted him.

Mo Ku's face darkened: "What do you mean?"

"That means I won't agree to any of your three requests."

The city walls fell silent for a moment.

Guo Tianyou turned his head to one side, his shoulders twitching, clearly struggling to suppress his laughter.

Mo Ku's anger finally surfaced completely: "Young man, do you really think that hiding behind the city wall means I can't do anything to you?"

Zheng Yi, leaning against the edge of the battlements, said in an even flatter tone than Zheng Yi: "If you're so capable, come in now."

The round-faced disciple muttered under his breath, "Arrogant!"

Zheng Yi didn't even look at him, but said to Mo Ku, "The Huang family deserved to die for using beasts to attack the city. Baishi City was conquered by my Hongyun City, so the Huang family's property naturally belongs to my Hongyun City. If you are not satisfied, then bring your people and take it down. Shouting outside the gate is useless."

Mo Ku gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "I am an inner elder of the Qingyun Sect."

"so what?"

"you--"

“You’re an inner sect elder, not some emperor.” Zheng Yi raised his eyes. “This is Hongyun City, not Qingyun Sect. If you want to use Qingyun Sect to intimidate me, bring enough of your people first.”

These words were like a needle, precisely piercing the spot Mo Ku least wanted to be mentioned.

He brought far too few people.

Mo Ku's old face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

The tall, thin disciple stood to the side and whispered, "Elder, should we step back a bit and check the other parts of the city wall to see if they are safe?"

Moku did not respond immediately.

He was actually watching too.

If the north gate doesn't work, we can try the west gate; if a direct assault doesn't work, we can try exploring around the city first. But after seeing this, his heart sank even further.

The city wall wasn't just heavily fortified at the north gate; patrols were present along almost the entire perimeter. Especially on several corner towers, the outlines of heavier machinery could be vaguely seen, resembling newly installed ballistae or catapults. There were no cover options for approaching in the open ground outside the city; anyone attempting to probe would only be met with death.

Mo Ku may not care about the lives of mortals, but he cannot care about his own reputation and that of his two disciples.

If he were forced back by a barrage of crossbow bolts before even reaching the city gates, and the news reached the sect, he, as an inner sect elder, would be utterly disgraced.

Zheng Yi seemed to have guessed what he was thinking and suddenly said, "Go around the city if you want. The sun is shining brightly today, so my men can practice their eyesight."

Guo Tianyou immediately shouted, "Did you hear that! The brothers on duty today are in luck, there are live targets flying from the sky!"

A suppressed laugh suddenly rang out from the city wall.

The round-faced disciple's ears turned red with anger. He gritted his teeth and said, "Elder, let me make the first move and kill a few of their guards. Let's see if they dare to do it again—"

"Try cutting one yourself."

Zheng Yi's voice was not loud, but it was like a blade gently grazing the surface of ice.

The round-faced disciple paused, suddenly feeling a chill run down his spine.

Zheng Yi slowly raised his right hand and placed it on the edge of the barricade.

"If you dare to harm even one of my Hongyun City's people today, I will take it as a formal declaration of war from your Qingyun Sect. In that case, it won't just be the three of you coming."

Mo Ku's pupils contracted.

These words may seem arrogant, but he dared not take them as a joke.

Because Huang Yifei's account of Huang Zhenyuan's death in Baishi City was vague, the two outer disciples had personally overheard the rumors circulating among the old soldiers on the street—a single finger strike killing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. If such a method truly existed, the person before them was definitely not some lowly peasant who could be easily crushed.

Mo Ku said coldly, "Are you threatening me?"

“This isn’t a threat, it’s a warning,” Zheng Yi said. “If you want an explanation, come back when you have the qualifications. Now, step back three miles. Otherwise, I’ll consider you enemies who have come to spy on the city.”

"you dare!"

"You can try and see if I dare."

The air froze.

No one spoke again.

The crossbows on the city wall were not lowered.

The flying sword beneath Mo Ku's feet slowly emitted a crimson glow.

The round-faced disciple and the tall, thin disciple exchanged a glance, their breathing unconsciously becoming softer.

After a few breaths, Mo Ku suddenly flicked his sleeve.

"retreat!"

The two disciples were taken aback at first, but then quickly agreed and rode their flying swords to follow him backward.

No one cheered from the city wall; only the soft rustling of armor plates could be heard, like a pack of beasts that had been eyeing their prey but had temporarily released it.

After the three retreated three miles outside the city, Mo Ku landed on a low slope. (End of Chapter)