The Cruel Truth! A Choice!

Mu Changlan’s motives for approaching Xiahou Jinxuan and the others had not been pure, but she could not exactly be called a bad person. After all, she had no idea what Mo Yi intended. To her, it had been no different from her usual intelligence deals.

Moreover, Mo Yi had used the alias "Ku Mu" in the human realm. Mu Changlan did not even know who Mo Yi was.

Therefore, Chu Yang did not consider Mu Changlan a bad person, but she did have responsibilities she needed to bear.

"Miss Mu, I can save them, but before that, aren’t there still some things you haven’t told us?"

Chu Yang scrutinized Mu Changlan, hoping she would confess to her deal with Mo Yi before the truth came out.

Mu Changlan, guilty at heart, was suddenly startled. She blurted out, "How did you know?"

"Xie Cangxing and the others have spent a long time with you, so it was not easy for them to notice. But to an outsider, Miss Mu, all your worries are written on your face."

Mu Changlan clenched her teeth.

"Big Sister Mu, if there’s something, just say it. We’ve traveled together for so long—we’re already friends. Don’t you consider us friends?"

As Xia spoke, she began to feel upset.

"How could that be? I’ve long treated you like my own little sister!"

Xia asked in confusion, "What could possibly trouble you this much?"

Mu Changlan’s expression twisted with struggle before finally turning into a sigh. "I did something wrong. I was afraid you would hate me, so I didn’t dare say it."

Connecting this to Chu Yang’s earlier attitude, Jiang Cheng suddenly realized something. He asked gravely, "Could it be that Miss Mu knows the mastermind Sect Leader Chu mentioned?"

Mu Changlan nodded with difficulty.

Xia covered her mouth in shock and kept backing away in panic, as though she wanted to put as much distance between herself and Mu Changlan as possible.

Mu Changlan gave a bitter smile. "You probably won’t believe me, but I truly didn’t know that person’s real identity. I was only conducting intelligence transactions with him."

Xie Cangxing stroked his chin. "What intelligence?"

"Mostly updates on Xia and Jiang Cheng, as well as Young Master Xiahou. But I swear, I only passed along information. I never did anything to harm any of you!"

Xiahou Jinxuan frowned. "It would be understandable for him to be curious about Miss Xia and Brother Jiang’s circumstances, but why would he want to know about me? That is rather strange."

"Exactly! Exactly! How come I wasn’t included? Who’s he looking down on?!" Xie Cangxing joked, pretending to be indignant.

A mist of tears clouded Xia’s eyes as she choked out, "So when we first met in Bixi Village, it was all deliberately arranged? Even when you helped me deal with those hooligans?"

Mu Changlan no longer wanted to lie. She nodded honestly. "I hired those hooligans. I deliberately had them cause trouble for you, then stepped in to help solve it and gain your trust."

Jiang Cheng shook his head helplessly. "I had long felt that day’s events were strange. I even considered that you might have other motives, but I never expected it to turn out like this."

Chu Yang explained, "Mo Yi wanted to expose your demon heritage at the right moment, leaving you abandoned by everyone and utterly alone, so that from then on, you would be at his mercy."

"His ultimate goal was to make you gather the Half-Demons scattered throughout the human realm and forcibly break the seal at the bottom of Shu Mountain’s Demon Imprisonment Tower."

Cold sweat seeped into Jiang Cheng’s palms. Just imagining that scene filled him with such despair that all hope seemed extinguished.

Mu Changlan apologized guiltily, not even daring to look at Jiang Cheng.

"Miss Mu, what Sect Leader Chu described is merely a possibility. It has not happened. Now that we know everything, we can surely stop things from developing in the worst possible direction."

Xiahou Jinxuan comforted her. "Rather than apologizing for things that have not happened, you should gather your spirits and think of a way to make amends."

Xia took a deep breath. "The bookworm is right, Big Sister Mu. Although I’m very angry, I’ve decided to forgive you. But from now on, you can’t hide anything from us anymore."

Mu Changlan nodded repeatedly.

Jiang Cheng looked at Chu Yang somewhat blankly and asked, "Sect Leader Chu, no matter what, the demon bloodline within me is an indisputable fact. Paper cannot contain fire forever. Sooner or later, the world will learn my identity. When that day comes, how should I face it?"

Chu Yang pondered for a moment before saying, "I suggest you find an opportunity to speak honestly with the Ouyang Family Head in private. The Ouyang Family Head is broad-minded. Even if he cannot accept your identity, he will never make things difficult for you."

"If Zhejian Manor of the Ouyang Family cannot accommodate you in the future, Shu Mountain will leave you a place to stay!"

"And not just you. So long as they are Half-Demons who have never harmed innocent lives, I can provide them a place to settle down and make a living."

Chu Yang’s bold declaration deeply moved everyone in the side hall!

They found it difficult to imagine how much courage and resolve it took for the Sect Leader of Shu Mountain to say such words.

Those few sentences gave Jiang Cheng a measure of confidence and dispelled the hesitation in his heart.

Xie Cangxing scratched his head and laughed. "Though I’m looking forward to Brother Jiang coming to Shu Mountain to keep us company, as your friend, I still hope you get what you wish for and remain at Zhejian Manor."

Jiang Cheng thanked him.

"Brother Jiang, don’t worry. When the time comes, we’ll go with you and explain everything. I’m sure your master will accept you. Sect Leader Chu said that good and evil cannot be judged by whether someone is human or demon."

After considering it again and again, Jiang Cheng declined Xia’s kindness. "It would be better if I explained it to Master myself…"

Seeing him become stubborn again, Xia turned to Xiahou Jinxuan. "Bookworm, hurry up and persuade Brother Jiang!"

Xiahou Jinxuan had been lowering his head in silence since earlier, seemingly contemplating something important. He did not react at all to Xia’s words.

Xia moved closer and patted his back. "What are you thinking about?"

Xiahou Jinxuan jumped in fright and patted his chest twice, still shaken. "I was just wondering why that person named Mo Yi wanted information on me. Just like Brother Xie, I clearly have nothing to do with him."

Xia nodded. "It really is strange."

Mu Changlan asked, "Could it be that he actually knows you, but you have forgotten him?"

"Sect Leader Chu said earlier that Mo Yi cannot descend into the human realm in person, so how could he know me? Unless the puppet he controlled had met me before."

Jiang Cheng continued, "If they had merely met once, there would have been no need for him to seek information about you. The most likely possibility is that you not only knew that puppet, but were very familiar with him."

Both Jiang Cheng and Xiahou Jinxuan were exceptionally intelligent. From these small clues, they had found the heart of the matter and were gradually approaching the truth.

Since the two had already guessed this much, Chu Yang simply revealed the truth directly, carrying the spirit of spoilers through to the end.

"Of the two bodies Mo Yi found during the great earthquake, one was Xia, and the other was Xiahou Tao, the second master of the Xiahou Family!"

Xiahou Jinxuan’s face filled with disbelief as he stood frozen in place.

He simply could not accept such a cruel truth.

"How could this be… Impossible!"

For the first time, the ever-gentle Xiahou Jinxuan revealed a hysterical expression before everyone.

Only then did he understand how despairing Jiang Cheng must have felt upon learning that he was of demon descent.

If anyone else had told him this, Xiahou Jinxuan would surely have called them insane. Yet so far, not a single word from Chu Yang had been false.

Xiahou Jinxuan and Xiahou Tao had been very close. Their personalities suited each other well, and because Xiahou Zhang was busy with official affairs, Xiahou Tao had practically handled Xiahou Jinxuan’s education and learning all by himself.

The more Xiahou Jinxuan thought of his second uncle’s patient teachings over the years, the less willing he was to believe that man had been a false existence. Yet reason told him that what Chu Yang said was the truth.

"It is said that the second master rarely leaves the Xiahou Family due to poor health. He remains at home to manage the Xiahou Family’s businesses, and under his management, their business has flourished."

As Mu Changlan spoke of Xiahou Tao’s intelligence, she likewise found it hard to connect him with Ku Mu—Mo Yi.

Xiahou Jinxuan still looked dazed.

Seeing this, Jiang Cheng could not help reminding him, "Young Master Xiahou, the most important thing right now is Elder Xiahou’s safety. If that person truly is Mo Yi, it is hard to say when he might harm Elder Xiahou."

Hearing that his father’s safety was at stake, Xiahou Jinxuan finally snapped back to his senses. He started walking outside. "No, I must tell Father about this at once!"

Jiang Cheng stepped in front of him and reached out to stop him. "Given Elder Xiahou’s character, he will not easily believe this, even if Sect Leader Chu says it himself. If he returns and confronts Mo Yi, would that not alert the enemy?"

"But…" Xiahou Jinxuan could not refute him. He could only ask anxiously, "Then what should I do? I can’t just watch Father fall into danger and do nothing!"

"So long as he believes everything is still under control, Elder Xiahou will not be in danger. We merely need to act carefully on our side."

Xia looked at Chu Yang with her watery eyes. "Sect Leader, you’re so powerful. Can’t you just destroy that person?"

Chu Yang fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Of course I can destroy Mo Yi. But how Mo Yi—or rather, the Yaksa Kingdom—should be dealt with depends on all of you. Whether to kill or save them rests entirely on your choice."

The side hall fell silent.

Chu Yang had just said that the cause of everything was the depletion of the Demon Realm’s water veins. The Yaksa Kingdom had only two options: repair the water veins, or move their entire people into the human realm and seek a new place to settle down.

Though Mo Yi acted ruthlessly, it was also because of him that Xia had survived. And Xiahou Jinxuan had practically been raised by him; the debt of upbringing still remained.

Now that he had calmed down, Xiahou Jinxuan truly could not bear to fight the other man to the death.

Xie Cangxing and Mu Changlan were outsiders and had no right to choose. In the end, the four could only focus their attention on Jiang Cheng. If Chu Yang had not revealed the truth, Jiang Cheng would have been the most miserable among them all. It was only proper for him to decide.

"Sect Leader Chu said that good and evil cannot be judged by whether someone is human or demon. Regardless of whether Mo Yi deserves to die, the people of the Yaksa Kingdom should all be innocent. I want to save them."

Now that Jiang Cheng knew he was Chi You’s descendant, he no longer resisted demons as much as before. Instead, he considered them as ordinary people.

Xie Cangxing said bluntly, "Since Brother Jiang has no objections, then neither do we."

"Since when did it become your turn to speak for us?" Mu Changlan frowned. "Though I have no objections either."

Xie Cangxing gave Mu Changlan a helpless look. He did not know why he always managed to make her angry.

Chu Yang’s sharp gaze swept across the group. "Repairing the water veins requires the Shennong Cauldron and the Water Spirit Orb. The whereabouts of the Shennong Cauldron are currently unknown, so you should first take the Water Spirit Orb to Mingzhou and have an open, honest talk with Mo Yi."

"It would be best if you can reach an agreement. If not, I will act as well. I hope Mo Yi is smart enough not to let ambition blind him."

Jiang Cheng nodded. "Then I’ll go to Mingzhou first. When I return, I’ll report to Master that I am Chi You’s descendant."

Xia and Xie Cangxing said they would accompany Xiahou Jinxuan and Jiang Cheng back to Mingzhou City.

Only Mu Changlan looked at Chu Yang uneasily.

"The matter of Mu’ai Village will also wait until you return from Mingzhou."

Upon receiving his answer, Mu Changlan let out a long breath. Excitement appeared on her face. At the thought that her brother and everyone in the village could return to normal, she was so happy she wanted to shout.

After arranging everything, Chu Yang led them out of the side hall and returned to the main hall.

Once they returned, countless curious gazes landed on Jiang Cheng. Everyone seemed eager to know about his origins.

Jiang Cheng said nothing. He silently returned to the Ouyang Family’s place and cupped his hands toward Ouyang Ying in salute.

Though Ouyang Ying said nothing, he was equally curious about Jiang Cheng’s background. He stared at Jiang Cheng’s face, wanting to catch even the slightest clue from his expression, but Jiang Cheng’s face was as cold as ice.

Left with no other option, he could only wait and ask later.

After returning to the main hall, Chu Yang was pulled aside by Qing Wei to reminisce with the Qingyun Sect. During their conversation, they suddenly brought up the Qingyun Sect’s Seven Peaks Tournament, held once every few decades.

Dao Xuan Zhenren smiled and suggested, "Brother Qing Wei, our two sects are bound by shared ideals. Since it was not easy for us to have this chance to meet, why not have the Shu Mountain Sect join this tournament as well?"

Qing Wei hesitated. Even with Sword Flight, crossing the Ten Thousand Great Mountains was a risky endeavor.

Chu Yang smiled. "I think that’s a good idea, but could the location be set here instead? You’re all here already, after all."

Dao Xuan Zhenren readily nodded. "That will not be a problem."

Old Valley Master Yun Yilan suddenly popped up and laughed heartily. "Since Shu Mountain is joining the Qingyun Sect’s Seven Peaks Tournament, why not let my Fenxiang Valley join in the fun as well?"

Dao Xuan Zhenren immediately became troubled. He had invited the Shu Mountain Sect in order to exchange pointers in the Sword Control Technique. What was Fenxiang Valley joining for?

Just as he was considering how to tactfully reject Yun Yilan, Chu Yang’s voice suddenly sounded by his ear.

"That works too."

Yun Yilan wanted Fenxiang Valley’s reputation to spread throughout the Central Plains. The prosperity of the Central Plains had given Yun Yilan the idea of establishing a branch sect here.

To put it plainly, he wanted to ride Shu Mountain’s coattails.

A sect capable of dealing with both gods and demons existed only in myths where they came from. How could the ambitious Yun Yilan not be tempted?

As if by coincidence, Master Puhong of Tianyin Temple also proposed joining. His reason was much the same as Yun Yilan’s. Buddhism was not prominent in the Central Plains, and if they came here, Tianyin Temple could become the dominant force.

Urged on by the other two sects, the perfectly ordinary Seven Peaks Tournament became the World’s Number One Martial Arts Tournament.