Torsten Hewson
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v4c67: The Trial
🕑 Added 2023-12-02 04:35:15 +0000 UTCChe Han could only gape as the powerful expert descended from the Elder’s box, dragging the Patriarch, Elder Chongyun, and Elder Lulai with him.
Fat Han had no idea who this expert was, but he was the most monstrous existence he had ever laid eyes upon. The entire stadium was silent. Only the hushed sound of breathing and stillness was left. There was nothing other than the expert's intent. The power that surrounded them all.The expert had commanded silence and it was so, all were held to his will.
His might did not rage and flare like the Patriarch’s. Instead, it was like the sun in the sky, looking down upon them from higher than they could possibly conceive of, yet still all encompassing.
Trial? The Sect is on trial for potential demonic infiltration?
Han could not comprehend it. And yet, the blazing seal on that parchment was impossible to fake.
“Bi De. Ri Zu. Yun Ren. Attend me, and give witness. The trial of the Shrouded Mountain Sect begins now,” the man declared, and Han startled.
The eyes of the Emperor were upon them, and two of his friends had been the Emperor’s spies. Bi De, who… was some sort of servant Spirit Beast, and Ri Zu. He didn’t know who Yun Ren was, but…
Han paused and turned to Biren. Biren stood up beside him.
Han felt Yushang stiffen beside him, and Shao Heng frowned slightly.
“… you too?” Han asked.
Biren… Biren looked slightly remorseful.
“Yeah. Sorry about the whole…” Bire—no, Yun Ren trailed off and sighed.
All three of his closest friends… they had been spies the entire time. Han felt a hammer-blow to his gut. Part of him wanted to rage, to label them both as traitors. He wanted to demand the truth. Was their friendship a mere convenience?
Han instead took a deep breath.
The Emperor rarely ordered such investigations, but if they had legitimately been infiltrated by demons then… wasn’t this a good thing? Would not the agents of the Emperor crush the foul beasts?
Han swallowed again.
“Are we really being…?” he asked.
“Being investigated for demonic activity? Yeah. That said… you want front row seats? And maybe we can swing a little bit of protection, with you guys being our known friends,” Yun Ren asked, offering his hand.
Han glanced towards Yushang and Heng. Yushang pondered for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
“I think we can trust them,” Yushang declared.
Shao Heng glanced back at the arena, where Ri Zu was walking out of the medical access point, trailed by Master Lishu and the rest of the Medical Pavilion disciples.
“I owe Ri Zu my life. If she needs me to stand beside her, then I shall stand beside her,” Shao Heng said, resolute.
Han licked his lips. Then he turned back to Yun Ren and nodded.
The three of them stood. Han felt all the eyes on them, including his own family, staring at him in askance. He locked eyes with the Patriarch of his family, old grandpa Hanbin. The man looked extremely worried.
Han swallowed and looked forward as they entered the arena. The Old Monster was simply standing there with his arms crossed, a small smile on his face. He seemed inordinately pleased about the entire affair.
As one they knelt. Master Lishu and the medics also bowed their heads.
There was a pop and Ri Zu turned into a rat.
Everybody’s heads swiveled towards her. Han stared at the tiny creature, on one knee with her head lowered. Yushang made a quiet ‘eep’ sound, her eyes going starry as she looked at the admittedly cute rat.
Then, as one, everybody turned to look at Yun Ren.
“What animal are you?” Yushang whispered eagerly.
Yun Ren huffed. “I’m just a normal guy!” he shot back, his voice low.
Yushang pouted.
The old man chuckled, and at once all attention was redirected back to him.
“Hmmm. I asked for you three, yet you brought more before me,” the old man said, eyeing all of them with amusement.
“Yes.” Bi De took the lead, his voice the exact same in his chicken form. It was slightly disconcerting to hear that deep, smooth voice coming out of the animal. “They knew nothing of our mission, yet their assistance has been invaluable.”
The old man nodded and stroked his beard.
“Very well! Now then, tell me what you have learned.”
===================================
To hear things from Bi De’s point of view was enlightening as he described their infiltration into the Sect.
Han had honestly expected more collusion or something, but in the end all three of them had simply, as Bi De put it, walked through the front door.
The audacity of the plan shocked Han but it had worked. They had been accepted, and Bi De even got put into the Inner Sect on account of his might. And then… Bi De admitted that he had been at a bit of a loss on how exactly to investigate them.
It was a good question. How did one investigate demonic corruption in the middle of potentially hostile territory? Bi De had started by going to parties, and when those proved to not have all the information he needed he eventually came upon an answer.
Bi De selling all the herbs he grew seemed so obvious now in hindsight… but according to him, it would have been harmless to anyone without demonic taint. Han had himself eaten a lot of them and they had been nothing but beneficial to his cultivation.
They were mentioned as the unwitting help that had been key to his saturation of the entire Sect and all the attending mortals—Han was just in awe of how much Qi the rooster had expended to make things possible.
“And so you were just allowed to saturate the entire sect with the herbs?” the old man, Shen Yu, asked, sounding vaguely disappointed.
There was a cough from behind him, and the man turned to where Elder Chongyun was standing and sweating slightly.
Shen Yu raised an eyebrow. “You may speak.”
“Yes, Expert. The passage of these herbs was encouraged by myself after I noticed their properties, and had even had bundles sent north to aid our fellows in their battle against the isolated demonic enclaves,” the Elder said, bowing his head. “I personally ensured that all of our core disciples took some.”
Shen Yu actually paused for a moment, before nodding.
“Very well. You are not completely incompetent,” Shen Yu said before he waved with clear dismissal and the Elder shut up. The man rubbed his chin. “Tell me, Bi De, what are your thoughts on the Shrouded Mountain Sect?”
“This one disagrees with just about every part of their philosophy… but he can say that they have not been heavily infiltrated by demons,” the Rooster said, his voice calm and matter of fact.
All of a sudden, the Elders, who had been looking extremely worried, relaxed slightly.
The old monster nodded.
“Ri Zu,” he commanded.
The little black rat squeaked and stepped up.
============================
For Lishu of the Medical Pavilion, it was rather surreal to hear a talking rat speak on her time spent infiltrating his domain.
He supposed he should have been mad; but the simple fact was Ri Zu was too helpful to have wished any of the patients harm… unless they had been demonic. In which case they would have had no protection anyway.
It was actually rather funny, in a way. She may not have been human… but she was one of the best doctors Lishu had ever known. A mere rat was more concerned with saving lives than many humans Lishu knew. A rat had wanted to place it all on the line for others.
How ironic.
“Ri Zu believes Master Lishu and his Medical Pavilion beyond reproach. It was Master Lishu who taught Ri Zu the finer points of treating demonic wounds, and he was obviously concerned about the state of the disciples in the north. He was also the one to perform the autopsy on the corpse of Zang Li,” Ri Zu said, her voice steady.
Lishu was actually rather surprised at just how much regard Ri Zu held him in when she kept the company of this legend. But then again, her education in the beginning had been much more like a mortal doctor’s. It was an interesting puzzle… and one he would likely never know the answer to.
Lishu kept his head bowed as he felt the gaze of the monster in front of him land on his back. He could normally feel people; the blood in their veins, the spit in their mount, the sweat on their skin… even the Patriarch was available to Lishu’s senses.
Shen Yu was not. It was like he was looking at a naked sword rather than a man. Lishu could feel no blood or moisture. Shen Yu was more a being carved out of solidified Qi than a human.
“Oh? High praise for the Medical Pavilion, Ri Zu. Indeed, I have witnessed the changes you were allowed to make to his domain. Tell me, boy, why did you implement this one’s ideas?” Shen Yu asked.
“Good ideas are not limited by age. Their benefits were self-evident, and were therefore implemented after a trial period,” Lishu stated, his voice as calm as he could make it.
“Look at me,” the man commanded after a moment, and Lishu raised his head to stare at Shen Yu.
He could feel himself being judged as the mass of Qi touched his own.
“Hmm,” Shen Yu said. “Why are you in this sect, Lishu of the Medical Pavilion?”
Lishu blinked at the question.
“Because despite their faults… they save the most lives,” Lishu answered honestly. It was the naked truth. It was why he had joined. It was why, in the beginning, he had tried so hard to change things.
Until the decades had sapped that drive from him.
Shen Yu looked at him for a moment longer, before nodding. The man tossed a scroll at Lishu, and he nearly fumbled the catch.
“Should you desire to leave this sect, read it,” Shen Yu stated simply.
Lishu’s jaw dropped.
Shen Yu ignored him after that. “So, Ri Zu, your verdict?”
The rat bowed her head.
“Outside the Medical Pavilion, this sect is abhorrent… but they are not demons,” Ri Zu said.
Then, Shen Yu turned to the last one in line.
==================================
Chonyun felt his heartbeat slowing as the last one, Yun Ren, gave his testimony.
This was simultaneously disastrous and better than he could have hoped.
At first he had been horrified that Zang Li getting eaten by demons had somehow doomed them all. Shen Yu called Master Rou his grandson, and the man’s pet chicken was here too.
It probably would have been easy, perhaps even desirable for them to have declared that the Sect had been infiltrated by demons. Chongyun probably would have done that to his own enemies, but instead the ones before them spoke the honest truth.
Though it didn’t change the fact that this one had somehow gotten access to their secret archives so easily.
He would be having words with the Inquisition. How had they not caught any of this?! What was the point of the Patriarch even having them?! They had been moderately useful as an intelligence force, but here they had actively abetted an infiltrator!
And what only added to his ire was the fact that none of them were here. Just where were they?
“So, yeah. No demons to report, save for the guy who already bit the dust,” Yun Ren finished.
There was silence as the Sect held its breath.
“So, all three of you agree that there is no demonic taint? Even after the… incident?”
Shen Yu’s face was neutral.
The two animals and one man looked at each other.
“Though them being demonic in nature would satisfy certain urges… this one prefers the truth to an inconvenient lie. They are guilty of many things, but being demons is not one of them,” Bi De stated.
All of them bowed their heads… and then the air shuddered. Chongyun frowned as the mist started gathering in the arena.
It wasn’t supposed to be here.
“Oh? Guilty of many things?” Shen Yu asked.
“While they are innocent of being demons, we have found numerous instances of… dishonourable conduct. Particularly the conduct of the Inquisition and the Patriarch,” Bi De declared.
The mist started to take shape. To Chongyun’s surprise, it was crackling with lightning, in addition to odd dark tint—
And then colour started to bleed into the mist as it took shape further. It billowed and changed, until it formed into a stunningly beautiful woman with nine waving tails.
Chongyun’s eyes narrowed at the fox. They were the ancestral enemies of the Shrouded Mountain Sect, to be sure, but that was just it; they were his enemy. He had little of the… visceral reaction many of the other members had.
Members like the Patriarch, whose eyes had just about bugged out of his skull on seeing the woman. He instantly started to thrash, a snarl erupting out of his throat.
Chongyun blinked. Just what exactly was causing this reaction?
“Indeed, indeed, indeed,” Shen Yu said as he turned to look directly at them. A smile had formed on his face as he watched the Patriarch thrash and snarl. “The truth is ever so important.”
Chongyun watched curiously as the woman rushed to where a meteor had fallen—and that meteor resolved itself into a man who looked like their own Patriarch. Not exactly like him, but the familial resemblance was clear.
He expected her to attack him. Instead, the beautiful fox woman picked him up and started tending to his wounds.
Chongyun felt a pit of worry start to form in his gut.
===================
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Sorry for the wait! This one fought me a lot. One more chapter this week.
Editors: Massgamer, Aaron “Pastafarian” Sofaer, Oshi
Comments
Catherine
“this one prefers the truth to an inconvenient lie.” Should be ‘a convenient lie’
Alex
Shen Yu was hoping for more excitement. More drama. He'll surely be very pleased with Yun Rens plan. That's pure drama.
Randall Brynsvold
Zang Zeng was ordered to take his team to collect reagents for the Inquisitors, but he changed the mission to investigate the "conspiracy" against his family and sect in the Azure Hills (Epilogue: Butterfly's Wings, 2/8/23) after being guided to do so by the demon lady. The sect's leadership didn't send him out to do this and they don't seem to have known what he was actually doing; Chongyun and Shenhe certainly wouldn't have approved.
It will be interesting to see what will happen. Maybe they will need someone from another sect to check up on them to make sure they are changing. I also wonder if some will leave the sect out of guilt. It will be a hard thing to realise it was your patrician who was the traitor all along.
Joel Magnuson
True. I'm just thinking about if Shrouded Mountain/Zang gets "spared" then the MCs find out this happens, what the fallout will be.
Melanie Me
At the very least they should lose the mountain and need to relocate elsewhere.... that would be a huge stain on the sect to other sects. Have to return all the treasure they stole or reparations.
Melanie Me
Do they even know about it? They have been busy up the mtn.
Joel Magnuson
Rereading past chapters and I forgot that Elder Zang sent an attack squad to Azure Hills. Now I'm wondering how bad Bi De, Ri Zu, Yun Ren, and Gramps are going to make the main compound regret that.
Chad Hagner
This is SO good!!!!! When's the next chapter!?!
Paul Boros
1 more chapter is coming...
Old Dog
I dropped support of an author who has an ad-hoc release schedule and wanted a lot more per month. Not to mention CF is a better writer.
Paul Boros
Interesting. Approval.
Memememe
At the very least there's going to be heavy changes to the sect, possibly even the sect being reformed into something else. There are several elements that are massively corrupt such as the Patriarch and his line as well as the Inquisition, but there are many others that are redeemable: Chongyun, for example, has shown to be reasonable and capable of rational assessment. In addition, just eliminating the sect would create a disastrous vacuum of power, as they are responsible for the protection of a large sphere of influence. However, they are in dire need of correction, and the rot is deep enough that they may very well end up being decimated in the literal sense: unlike Rou's original sect, which had rot that could be corrected by finding their way back to their original philosophy and intent, the sect's very foundation is based on falsehood.
V01D
I based my thought of him Actually Being Related in part on this; but mainly from how Nezhan’s female form looked like his mother & that I could easily envision his beloved having born a child…
Arin Storm
Ah, ok. Thank you for the correction.
Skylar
So enjoying this part!
Melanie Me
This was Monday's chapter. The one that came out Tuesday was last week Friday's chapter. So we are short a chapter for 3 a week. But they are good.
Ender419
Don’t forget elder Zang is eating the silver grade rice that Fa Ram grew which is performing the same demonic purification that Be De’s herbs were doing to the sect just in less potency.
Another point. It mentions Wen defending hidden villages. So this means the SMS wiped out villages. That's men, women and children. Not sure if it was only the inquisition who did this. If it was, then the ones who need punishing are them.
ItWasIDIO!!
To rip off an emo character that needs to lighten up with the shit forgiveness & mercy must start somewhere & must be reciprocated for things to get better
ItWasIDIO!!
Ok casual trying to even out I haven't paid attention Casual another author I follow usually get loopy with releases date schedule didn't realize Casual tries to make up missed ones
Sleepyfoo
This was the “Wednesday” chapter for this week, or second of 3 chapters per week.
Cinnamon Toast
One more would be the third chapter this week so still same amount of chapters just weird release days cause they’re getting harder to write
WonderBread459
It’s still a bit strange seeing as Chongyun commissioned Bi De for a specific amount, you’d think he would ask for enough to send to elder Zang. This is especially weird because Chongyun assumed Bi De was using it as a demonic purity test, he’d have no reason to exclude the father of body taken over by the demon from such scrutiny. Though now that I think about it, it’s possible nobody knows where elder Zang is rn, so they’re probably waiting for him to get back to give him Bi De’s herbs
I don't mean killing everyone. But the sect itself. I don't know how it could continue.
taukid
I hope Yun Ren pulls out his sword to testify
faeriehunter
The mention of Zang lightning Qi was in v4 c38: Days on the Shrouded Mountain: The sensors had detected fox blood flowing within the boy’s veins. A miniscule amount, and not worth purging. Why, if they killed everybody with a bit of fox blood in them they’d have to cull half of the province, and that was just completely infeasible, as their ancestors had learned. That, and to their surprise, the boy also had trace amounts of the Zang Clan’s lightning Qi within his veins as well. “Yes, Master Inquisitor. But he is slightly wary of us…” The Head Inquisitor chuckled. “Upset he isn’t falling for your wiles?” Lady Mist shifted, clearly slightly irritated, and there was a soft snort of amusement from the others. “Ah, it's fine. It just shows his good sense. With this… we may be able to tell him exactly why we want him. The results of the last test came in.” He placed several vials on the desk. Vials that had once been filled with the illusions of the foxes, and demonic Qi of their new enemy. Both had been purified by the flashes of the boy’s light QI. “A certain poetic irony, no? The bloodlines of the fox and their hunters mix to make the perfect weapon against them—against both our enemies.” They both looked at the vials, satisfaction in their eyes. “We’ll give him the truth of the Che family matters, and then we’ll try to induct him further. If not… well. You may have to up your game. The bloodline is valuable.”
Arin Storm
Probably not a demon, as it was stated to be a fox fire technique he used to sell that the foxes had killed his brother. We also haven't heard anything about demons ever having fire abilities. Lu Ban's fire abilities were stated to be a bloodline activation from Zang Li, which this arc retroactively explains as probably being a fox bloodline activation. That means he was probably using fox fire, or a bastardized version of it. But Lu Ban's own cultivation was of oil and blood, which is implied to be the most common demonic cultivation, as there was an empire spanning event calling "the blood arts purge."
ItWasIDIO!!
If that's the case nezan shoulda killed his best friend(/lover?) Once the lies are revealed let's go by who keeps to it
Arin Storm
I only remember them mentioning him being fox descended, and saying 'who isn't around here'. Nothing about being Zang related. It does seem to be implied that his bloodline originates from the matriarch's older sister, as she is the first fox we know of the leave the province, and the only one we know that left while their mist wall was still active. That places her leaving probably not too long after or before the azure tribe that left, explaining how they survived, and why there's a fox bloodline in Hu Li's tribe at all.
I don't think the SMS should remain. How long have they been killing foxes? I think Nezan is the only real fox remaining. The rest are human with a weak bloodline. SMS has committed genocide over the years so if I was Nezan I wouldn't want them to stay.
ItWasIDIO!!
One more chapter does that mean extra?
ItWasIDIO!!
He went on "retreat" to cultivate so I would guess no one thought it necessary with the limited supply
Miikkael Lindqvist
... I wonder, is it illegal to have assassinated a ruling Matriarch of a force on their way to swear allegiance to your Emperor?
Paul S.
Aw come on! Don't leave us hanging here. I know what's coming but I want to read it!
D J Meigs
Yay! I’ve been eager for Yun Ren’s surprise! I do wonder where the inquisitors are. Is there absence part of the plan so they don’t get in the way? I’d have thought they’d at least get a few people to witness the tournament. I’m also noticing that while they sent the cleansing herbs to the north to those investigating the origin of the demonic taint, no one mentioned sending them to Zang Li’s dad…
Demian Buckle
Thank you for the Chapter.
Old Dog
As always, thank you for the chapter.
faeriehunter
I'm pretty sure that Yun Ren doesn't actually have a lightning bloodline. The Inquisition concluded that he was a Zang descendant after finding trace amounts of Zang Qi in his blood, but Yun Ren likely got that Qi from Summer's Sky (whose previous wielder was Zang Wen) rather than a bloodline.
Chai Chang
Chicken attack https://youtu.be/miomuSGoPzI?si=hFP7I1RjZfEaMtp_
Randall Brynsvold
No, I looked back through those chapters, and the name Lu Ban was never used out loud except for in conversation between demons or demonic cultivators. There was a reference (in v3c1.2: Settling Back into it part 2) to Lu Ban in Bi De's thoughts, although it could have been the invisible narrator's shorthand for the demon that Bi De knew as Zang Li. I see that the author has since replaced Lu Ban with Zang Li in Ri Zu's statement.
Szymon Szczełkun
Or they got information about accident with their demon hunting activities in north and put all of their personnel there . Timewise it would match and battling strong demons could result in a chance for redemption among those with knowledge of their sinfull past
Cypha
I hope they don't forget to say that the expedition that is supposed to be currently fighting demons needs some investigating too.
Rene Christensen
Probably a big deal will be whether the foxes are willing to share the mountain. I honestly think they should run the sect off, there are plenty of territories that lie unclaimed and barren.
Rene Christensen
Looking forward to seeing Shen Yu handle this. What's the chance that at some point he just goes to pick up the fox leadership, ignoring their defences?
MatrixM
Oh, good catch!
MatrixM
That or Zang Shenhe, the elder currently fighting demons. She'd have to survive and make it back south and recover in time, though.
MatrixM
I think CF has just been genuinely struggling with the writing in this wrap-up. The end result is really great, such that anyone binge reading this in the future wouldn't say anything, so it looks like its just taking him more time to simply compose the chapter and revise it and such (probably because he has to tie up a bunch of stuff). e.g. this chapter was suppose to be released a day or two ago. Obviously the only reason he'd delay is if it was hard to write.
Cindermoth
Well it is happening on a mountain, right? Lots of cliffs on mountains.
Cindermoth
They're in the north with the elder hunting demons as punishment and to keep them away from the sect in order to try and sweep the incident under the rug. Confirmed in Upending heaven and earth chapter.
AG
No they went with the female elder to kill the demonic sect
Anonymous
I wonder what ever happened to our pal Yingwen and crew from the tournament arc. Did he nope out of the sect after all that?
J Klugh
Well Nezhan got good value for giving Yun Ren that sword. Also arrrgh cliffhanger!
ItWasIDIO!!
& the truth shall set him free so just wait patriarch and you'll be free.... of this mortal coil
V01D
More like of thier bloodlines… (Nezhan & his dear, the previous wielder of Summer Sky)
BargleNawdleZouss
Visit, maybe, but I'm hoping that they form the core of the Reform the SMS team.
CUI13
They could have told Jin, Jin could've told them, right?
Andrew Denton
@Dion Crump "You all saw it! That orphanage attacked ME!"
Avdrdr
For sure the corrupt sect master and his family aren’t going to make it through this unscathed
Avdrdr
I don’t think they will be willing to stay after what’s going to be revealed
Avdrdr
The mist and mountain remember. Now the fallout for the sect after reveal will be interesting.
CringeWorthyStudios
You know, some people enjoy that kinda thing.
CringeWorthyStudios
To be fair, considering he has the bloodline of the foxes *and* the SM’s lightning, do you know that he isn’t a descendant of the Fox Queen and the older brother?
CringeWorthyStudios
Not even just that. Even if he “officially” can’t invite anyone to the cloudy sword sect, do you *really* think the elders would say no to a disciple he did invite? Like, someone who warrants an invitation from him is clearly important enough that they’d accept them with no question asked. Well, no questions other than “how can we help you” and “do you need anything else.”
Alex A
"this one prefers the truth to an inconvenient lie." Nobody likes inconvenient lies, they're inconvenient by definition. Bi Di likely was meant to say "to a convenient lie"
Resolved
I think Lu Ban revealed his own name when he was torturing Tigu, Luoyan and Rizu snuck into the place to save Tigu. I believe Rizu heard Lu Ban say his own name. The shrouded mountain sect should not have any idea who Lu Ban is though.
Mr Fox
I think that has to do with the blood of da ji that was stolen by the younger brother. Da ji was a creature of malice and hate that was put down by her own daughters. So her last blood that was stored probably carries a grudge against the entire bloodline of foxes. That blood was probably integrated by the younger brother Zang and the grudge with it. Which was probably then passed on to his descendants
Nicholas Grey
“All three of his closest friends… they had been spies the entire time. Han felt a hammer-blow to his gut. Part of him wanted to rage, to label them both as traitors.” “Both” should be “all”, he’s talking about three people.
Mr Fox
Shen yu may have already killed them if he found out about their brainwashing techniques. Those seem like the kind of techniques that are super illegal and shen yu would absolutely hate them considering how big he is on self determination
Stan Cornett
Could it be? Is there a demon taint after all? The visceral hate of the foxes a form of demonic taint? Also where is the inquisition..... Oh my my. How I love it.
Nolan Bowling
I like that they're having this trial while Zang Sheng is just lying there unconscious.
Randall Brynsvold
Not just Ri Zu; Yushang will also want an opportunity to stroke the powerful cock as well (after asking permission, of course).
Melanie Me
They think he is a monkey cause he altered his face to look like his brothers. With the sideburns and all looking monkeyish (is that a word)
Randall Brynsvold
They may be looking for a way to cut off Yun Ren's presentation and the broadcast to the audience outside the arena.
Red Viking
Immensely yes.
Mr Fox
It's big finish time so every chapters going to feel like a cliffhanger. Also our dear author is having trouble sticking the landing so he's having to put more effort into fewer words
BlueMage_VT
Even if he can't officially invite people, it could be a sort of letter of recommendation
Melanie Me
Yea. At the end of the chapters there are editors credited but... sometimes mistakes leak thru. Like that one.
BlueMage_VT
I personally don't expect the whole sect to fall apart. "Under new management," yes, but not dissolution. But I have also been wrong before lol. I would expect them to at least get to visit Fa Ram at some point
John D Jones
Yushang will come with just to get chances to pet/cuddle Ri Zu while she's in adorable rat form. And, y'know, in adorable human form as well.
Charlie
I think it more likely they're invited to join the CSS.
Dion Crump
Honestly if I owned a horse I’d be more upset if you spit on my horse than if you spit in my mouth. At least I might have deserved it but the horse did nothing wrong. You cant prove he burned down that school on purpose
John D Jones
One thing to consider is that Shen Yu is no longer part of the Cloudy Sword Sect. He's on very friendly terms with them, but I don't know that he's in a position to actually officially directly recruit people to join them. However, Shen Yu DOES hold some kind of official title/rank within the Crimson Phoenix Empire. Probably something like Chief Trouble Destroyer or something. So he might very well have the authority to directly recruit someone into a position in the Imperial Court. Like a very wise and talented Spiritual Doctor practiced at treatment demonic injuries.
Just A Dude
I mean, horses have spit too.
Just A Dude
Shen Yu:"I *AM* the truth!"
Michael Foat
Shen Yu: No, YOU couldn't handle the truth
Michael Foat
No, that's my brother
Teh One & TrueTabi
The Inquisitors are busy looking for their brown pants while stuck in their secret bunker.
AG
Maybe they just feel short because of how good they are or maybe they are actually shorter
Randall Brynsvold
Yes, an excellent review *and* a focus on treating demonic wounds. He would be welcomed in the Emperor's campaigns against the demons.
Samuel Terrazas
The Shen Yu glares and the patriarch goes *squish*
Melanie Me
Why does it feel like these are half chapters to keep giving cliffhangers?
Melanie Me
Soooo.... that was a good question. Where are all the inquisitors? Maybe Shen Yu is holding them hostage?
Randall Brynsvold
It looks like the ones who need purging from the Sect will make themselves obvious, like the Patriarch reacting *very* badly, being unable to contain himself, and the Inquisition trying to hide (or maybe, in the next installment, trying to keep the Yun Ren show from proceeding).
Andrew Denton
Yeah. He's got to be getting major points for keeping his head, as well as for actively abetting Bi De.
William Armstrong
And so the true test will begin now
Andrew Denton
I absolutely expect them to, and Shao Heng as well. After all this, you think that they will just cut them loose? They were already planning on traveling as Bi De's coterie as it was.
John D Jones
But he's also likely coming out of this with a promotion to new head of the SMS.
LenoraeKB
I could see that, but the guy's general philosophy seems like such a good match for the cloudy sword that I could see Shen yu being like "you're in the wrong sect kid"
Barry Morgan
Ri Zu mentions the autopsy on "Lu Ban," but she shouldn't know that name. She should only know the name of Zang Li, as far as I know.
WyrdWizard
Spit in their mouth not spit in their mount
John D Jones
Agreed, though figure the remaining 1% might be an offer of a medical position high in the Imperial Court. Shen Yu is known for avenging slights, but he repays ALL his debts. Lishu valued Ri Zu and treated her very well. Plus his reasons for joining the SMS resonated with Shen Yu and Shen Yu did not dispute them. So, as far as Shen Yu is concerned, Lishu's obvious wisdom and compassion deserve to be acknowledged and rewarded.
Seaspike
That would be an amazing chapter or 3.
Seaspike
Maybe worse than that. Remember, the brother had a massive attitude change, and his single lethal attack was FIRE and not lightning.
Siphon Rayzar
Yeah, it should have been Zhang Li being mentioned. Only the actual demons knew Lu Ban's true name.
Justin
Dun, dun, dun! Let's have some peps spitting blood with rage! Enjoying the perspective shifts. Thanks for the chapter.
Nicholas Grey
Good point, the SMS don’t even know that name themselves.
Dj Schmitt
I can’t wait for the next chapter!
BelligerentGnu
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm sorry, further coherence is beyond me at the moment.
Ethan Kappelmann
I wonder if Yushang and Han are going to get an invite to Fa Ram once the sect falls apart.
Justin Barnett
How did Ri Zu learn Lu ban’s name? I don’t think anyone had a chance to learn it?
V01D
Yun Ren might not be a spirit beast… but NORMAL? HA! Not only does he have a Sentient Weapon who enjoys New Experiences, especially ones beyond Combat, but he’s also the example of What Could Have Been if the Older Brother and Fox Queen had a child! Also, I hope Nezhan is watching. Because he’s going to realize that Tearing Their Beliefs To Shreds is MUCH more satisfying than simply killing them!
Monkeytoster
YES! Also NOOOOO. Not enough!
Apeljohn
...Wasn't Lu Ban the demon dude's real name? In which case I'm not sure how Ri Zu would have known it.
Lanter
"They're terrible people, but they are people" Sounds fair enough. And now to capitalise on the terrible part by exposing the truth in with a convenient exposition cutscene. Woooo, lets go! Thanks for the chapter
Gardor
"this one prefers the truth to an inconvenient lie" probably "a convenient lie", and maybe an adjective in front of "truth", like difficult or hard
ARSLOTHES
lol, the truth will certainly reveal a lot about the shrouded mountain about how they were descended from a kin killer and oath breaker
LenoraeKB
99% sure that scroll for the medicine elder is an invite to the cloudy sword
Azri
Gahhh another cliffhanger, I can't wait to see their face when the truth is laid bare upon their face
Kedar
I hope the friend group gets in invited to visit the azure hills after this.
WarStrider72
Shen Yu: I WANT THE TRUTH! Patriarch: YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!
Palmer Evans
One more chapter before the Shrouded Mountain Sect is fully humbled 😊
Lynn Freeman
I can't wait for everyone's reaction to the true story
Andrew Denton
Man, Chongyun is NOT coming out of this without emotional whiplash.
Kasinki
I love how they immediately wheeled on Yun Ren thinking hes a monkey or something. Thanks for the chapter, CF! I love the clear and succinct trial. Now for the light- mistshow!
Teatime42
And being shown on the big screen TV at the tournament as well. XD Oh boy, this is gonna be good.
Zachary Bender
Almost there!!
Azri
Lessgoo, the trial is commencing
Sezra_
Thanks a bunch! ʕ•ᴥ•ʔゞ゛
Damocles
Hell yeah
WarStrider72
thanks for the chapter boss!
WarStrider72
1st
