Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

The middle-aged man was slapped so hard that his face turned to the side, and blood immediately appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Many people were stunned, and some even gasped in surprise.

Lin Ye stared wide-eyed, and whispered to Zhao He, "This guy is easy to get along with, but he'll really retaliate against his own people if something happens."

Shi Bingzhu pointed at the middle-aged man's nose, his chest heaving violently: "The Shi family has stood firm in Feihu Mountain for a century because of its outstanding talents, not because of you bastards bullying the sick and oppressing the villagers in the city! You have no shame, but I, Shi Bingzhu, still have a face!"

Ning Che looked at him, his eyes calm, showing no surprise.

If the entire Shi family were filled with idiots like Shi Mingxuan, the Shi family probably wouldn't have survived to this day.

The fact that Shi Bingzhu has reached this level of cultivation clearly shows that he is one of the more capable members of the Shi family. He is trying to minimize the impact of this incident on the overall image of the Shi family.

This incident will get out.

His slap wasn't just for Ning Che; it was also for all the mountain guardians.

Zhao, the squad leader, had clearly seen this as well, and coldly mocked, "Your Shi family's affairs can be discussed behind closed doors. Shouldn't you first explain why Captain Xing is disobeying orders?"

"Explain?"

A cold voice descended from above the mountain path. The volume was not loud, but it carried a penetrating pressure that instantly drowned out all the noise in front of the mountain gate.

The guards at the mountain gate, including the bowing Zhao, all saluted in unison: "Commander Yu!"

Yu Congrong has arrived.

She walked up to Ning Che, her sharp, hawk-like gaze first sweeping over his withered right arm, then landing on the crescent-shaped blade tightly gripped in his left hand. Her eyes held no emotion, and she asked only two words: "Can you still use a blade?"

Ning Che nodded: "I can use my left hand."

Yu Congrong nodded slightly, then turned to look at the bowing Zhao, his tone still cold and calm, but the command brooked no argument: "What explanation does Mu Qingming want?"

Zhao Bantou lowered his head and remained silent.

Yu Congrong continued, "We really need an explanation. Go and call Mu Qingming to come to the council hall."

Squad Leader Zhao looked up abruptly, his expression changing slightly: "Deputy Commander Yu, this is not in accordance with battalion regulations and procedures..."

Yu Congrong's gaze suddenly sharpened like a knife as he swept over him: "The rat swamp is his territory, the duty roster order was approved by him, the medicine collectors are his soldiers, and the mountain guards died in his defense zone. According to the camp regulations, the commanding officer is held jointly liable. Shouldn't he give an explanation?"

She pointed towards the council hall: "If he doesn't arrive within half an hour, I will go and invite him myself."

Zhao Bantou's face twitched twice, but he still bent down and turned around to personally summon Mu Qingming.

Yu Congrong looked at Ning Che again: "Did you bring all the evidence?"

"Yes."

"Witness testimony?"

"They will come if the commander gives the order."

Yu Congrong paused for a moment: "Where's Chen Mu?"

Ning Che was taken aback when she asked that question.

Zhao He answered for him, his voice saying, "Chen Mu... has been sent back to Huichun Hall, but hasn't been buried yet."

Yu Congrong was silent for a moment, then uttered, "Bring his badge into the hall. The justice served by the mountain guardian should be shown to his spirit in heaven."

Having said that, she turned around and uttered two words: "Enter the palace."

The guards at the mountain gate immediately lined up on both sides to clear the way.

-----------------

Council Hall.

Mu Qingming arrived faster than anyone expected.

He was already seated in the first seat on the left, dressed neatly in a blue robe, with a cup of tea in front of him, untouched. Seeing Ning Che and his entourage enter the hall, he nodded slightly: "Commander Xing, thank you for your hard work."

Polite, thoughtful, and impeccable.

Ning Che bowed in return, without saying anything more.

Yu Congrong strode to the head seat, took off the sword from his waist, and placed it on the table with a muffled "clang".

Shi Bingzhu and Ning Che placed the evidence on the table, and then Zhao He stepped forward and placed Chen Mu's waist tag at the very front of all the evidence.

The metal plate hit the stone surface with a "thud".

Yu Congrong looked at Ning Che and said one word: "Speak."

Ning Che then spoke.

A swamp demon attacks, a four-eyed rat demon, and piles of bones lie deep within the swamp. The truth behind the miasma caused by the Hundred-Cure Herb, the origins of the six-year account book of Caixia Village, and the cause and effect of Shi Mingxuan's scheme to frame someone in Feihu City.

One incident after another, one problem after another.

When Chen Mu's death was mentioned, Zhao He lowered his head.

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a while.

Mu Qingming put down his teacup and spoke: "What Captain Xing said is indeed shocking. But account books can be forged, and witnesses can be bribed."

As for the miasma in the rat swamp that has existed for many years, the herbal remedy is used for detoxification, so it's not surprising that more of it is grown. The Shi family's affairs are simply the work of local gentry; what does it have to do with the mountain guardian?

He looked at Ning Che, his tone very gentle: "It's a good thing for young people to have guts. But it's not good if they're being used as pawns without realizing it."

Zhao, the squad leader, immediately chimed in: "Commander Mu is absolutely right! The matter in Feihu City is nothing more than an old feud between Huichuntang and the Shi family. If the Star Team rashly intervenes, I'm afraid the truth might not be what he's telling us—"

"I'm afraid?"

Yu Congrong's voice rang out from the main seat, silencing Zhao Bantou's words.

"Among those who guard the mountain, cases must be based on solid evidence. What does 'only fear' mean?"

Mu Qingming's smile faded slightly: "Commander Yu, I was just saying that this matter needs to be thoroughly investigated, and we shouldn't just listen to one side of the story."

Yu Congrong tapped the stone table with his fingertip.

"Thump."

The teacup on the table wobbled slightly.

Her words were full of businesslike impoliteness, making no attempt to hide her opinion of Mu Qingming:

"Of course we need to investigate. First, check the accounts of the Rat Swamp under your jurisdiction for the past six years—how did they disappear? Then investigate what your gray-clad men were doing, forcibly collecting the Hundred-Remedy Grass and throwing it into the swamp. Finally, investigate why the personnel transfers in the Rat Swamp were not in accordance with regulations—who approved them?"

I will personally oversee this, investigate everything thoroughly, and present it to the Commander-in-Chief so he can see who is truly at fault.

Mu Qingming still wore his signature smile and was about to speak when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from outside the hall.

A guard rushed into the hall and knelt down with a thud:

"Report! Urgent report from Feihu City!"

"Mr. Song Changgeng of Huichuntang led the people to surround the Shi family mansion! The Shi family is locked up and won't come out. Mr. Song has spread the word outside: if the Shi family doesn't give Caixia Village and the dead mountain guardian an explanation today—he will smash his head against the Shi family's gate and die!"

Why was Song Changgeng in such a hurry to come alone without waiting for us?

Ning Che was startled, vaguely sensing that this matter was related to Zhao Ban Tou stopping him.

Yu Congrong suddenly stood up and grabbed the long sword in front of him.

"Shi Bingzhu".

"exist!"

"Prepare the horses."

Shi Bingzhu bowed, holding his mace, and turned to leave.

Yu Congrong looked at Ning Che: "Xing, come with me."

She stepped down from the main seat and strode towards the outside of the hall. As she passed the stone table, she paused—right in front of Chen Mu's guardian tablet.

She looked at Mu Qingming, as if making a pointed remark: "Today, I hope everyone can get justice."

Upon hearing this, Zhao He was extremely excited, and Ning Che pressed his hand on his trembling shoulder.

"We're ready to go. Let's go and seek justice together."