Chapter 371: The Sword Belly Mountain

In the lonely, vast mountain belly, Wudong stared straight at the pair of eyes before him: "Men die for wealth, birds die for food. Peak Master Xiao, what is it that you are doing this for?"

Xiao Tingshu remained silent.

"Seeing Pei Ye told me that Xi Tianji's final words were that he had never betrayed Kongdong," Wudong said slowly. "It is very easy to deceive a young man you have raised since childhood. You couldn't possibly have told him that his master was helping the Huan Si Lou dig up Kongdong's roots, so Peak Master Xiao deceived him, didn't you?"

"."

"You didn't." Wudong coldly loosened his grip, letting the head in his hand hang limply once more.

"I exhausted every effort to understand you on the way to Kongdong, Peak Master Xiao." Wudong stood up. "You are cold, decisive, and deep-thinking. Kongdong's two generations of sect leaders have retired in succession, yet the sect remains stable and prosperous—all thanks to your management over the past ten years. That is why the four peak masters trust and admire you so much."

"But there is a record at the Immortal Platform. Seventeen years ago, Peak Master Xiao committed a mistake that was not widely known."

"You entered the sect relatively late. Before the age of fifteen, you drifted through the Wu Lin and became close friends with a wandering hero of similar age. Later, you were admitted into Kongdong, and it was not until eight years later that you encountered him by chance in Shaolong City. By then, he had become a fairly famous bandit, having just killed five government bailiffs and seized a sword of the 'Yi-Zhong' grade from the East Sea."

"You actually hid him within the Kongdong ranks for a full four days. After he escaped the city, a prostitute he was close with wanted to report him to the authorities, and you actually turned your sword and killed her." Wudong looked at him. "Of course, we later hunted that man down, but unfortunately, the crime of murder committed by a high-ranking disciple of Kongdong can only be handled by your own sect. I wonder how many months of solitary confinement you were given?"

"Are there any unsheathed swords left?"

Shi Shaosheng suddenly opened his eyes wide: "That's it! The 【Mountain-Year】 is formed by sages refining mountain peaks over decades. How could it be achieved in the Sword Belly Mountain in just ten years? They are using the already-formed Sword Belly Mountain formation as support!"

"."

"No..." Shi Shaosheng suddenly said in a daze.

Xiao Tingshu let out a slight scoff.

Ming Qitian continued peacefully: "We are at the heart of the 【Sword-Summoning Chapter】 formation. When we draw our swords, the sword sense resonates and merges into it, so we cannot break it ourselves. But if there are still unsheathed swords, I can send one more person out."

"You treat your disciples like sons; you would certainly not trick him into death. Since he believes he has not betrayed Kongdong, that confidence must come from you." Wudong looked at him indifferently. "Then... you have not betrayed Kongdong, yet you have done such a thing. From whom does your confidence come?"

"."

Shi Shaosheng had not spoken for a long time, and now he said hoarsely: "You destroyed the formation just so you wouldn't let the Sect Master say his name?"

"What?"

Wudong stroked the sword hilt: "Ji Changyun?"

Shi Shaosheng shook his head: "No. Uncle-Master Ji is a good teacher. A long time ago, Junior Brother Bai viewed him as intimately as a father. But during the time Junior Brother Xiao entered the sect, Uncle-Master Ji was obsessed with the Sword Collection and almost never paid attention to him. And after the incident mentioned by the Crane Inspector just now, it was Uncle-Master Ji who insisted on expelling him from Kongdong. At that time, Uncle-Master Ji and Junior Brother Bai had already nearly broken ties, and they almost fought over it."

". Then who else could it be?" Wudong looked at him. "Now that Peak Master Xiao has locked us and your senior brother in here, and only the Huan Si Lou remains outside, can you really be at ease?"

Ming Qitian looked at Shi Shaosheng: "Are there any other unsheathed swords in your sect here?"

"Since then, the bond between Junior Brother Xiao and Uncle-Master Ji has been completely exhausted."

"This is the respected Peak Master Xiao: cold in appearance, heavy on sentiment. Your sense of right and wrong is thin, and you treat human life lightly. If someone wants to use evil deeds to benefit Kongdong, it would not be difficult to persuade you."

". There are no swords in the mountain belly; they are all in the stream outside the mountain." Shi Shaosheng was slightly dazed. "What use does the Ming Ming Jianzhu have for them?"

Xiao Tingshu raised his eyes, looking at him for the first time, but only for a glance.

A cool female voice suddenly inserted itself into the silence. Wudong initially thought it was a metaphor, but upon turning to look at the woman, he realized she was expressing the literal meaning.

Ming Qitian looked up at the mountain dome: "This formation borrows from the Mountain-Water Sword Array. Ten thousand swords are integrated; being inside it makes one part of it, and it cannot be broken from within. But the Sword Belly Mountain itself still has a flaw."

"My sect... still has one person."

Shi Shaosheng was dazed: "Does the Ming Ming Jianzhu mean... we can break this formation?"

"Only pry open a gap; it can only take one sword and one person." Ming Qitian said. "Our five swords have all been 'recognized' by it. If there are no other swords, I will only use 【Jade Tiger】 to send Crane Inspector Wu out."

Wudong had not thought of this at all, and for a moment he was slightly dazed: "Wait, Ming Ming Jianzhu."

Ming Qitian paused slightly.

Wudong stopped for a moment: "I will give 【Jade Tiger】 to you. You go out yourself; you will be free to come and go."

Yes, the Crane Inspector certainly knew the direction of the case better, and he would certainly be able to see their purpose in locking everyone up. The Huan Si Lou was increasingly coming into the open. As long as he spread the news and coordinated forces, they could completely stop the conspiracy whose contents were unknown.

But sending stronger power out of this formation might be a better choice. If the woman left here, there would be no match for her in the entire Kongdong, let alone the entire Huan Si Lou. No matter what the Huan Si Lou wanted to do outside, they could not succeed under the woman's sword.

But...

Wudong looked at the woman's calm eyes and suddenly understood her meaning.

—What exactly is this sky curtain that separates the inside from the outside for?

The Sword Belly Mountain formation is a place the Huan Si Lou has operated for twenty years. No matter what scheme they ultimately have, it will inevitably be settled here.

Now that Xiao Tingshu has activated 【Mountain-Year】 without any concealment, the atmosphere of an impending storm can already be heard and seen. It is just that, is this storm blowing outside? Or is it blowing inside?

The woman can return her own freedom, but if she wants to come back after going out, that is another matter.

By then, Wudong and the four peak masters might all be dust and smoke facing this mountain belly that does not know what changes will occur.

There is no need to think too much. For the woman, it was impossible for her to leave others in danger while she left alone. It was like this in Bowang, and it is like this in Kongdong.

"Please." The woman said peacefully. "Crane Inspector, remember to inform Seeing Pei Ye. I cannot leave for the time being. Please ask him not to leave within ten miles of me."

". Alright."

The "Sword Strategy" began here. The condensation of the word "Sword Path" itself—when it appeared amidst the ten thousand sword senses, that kind of natural perfection had never been so vividly displayed. What was astonishing was that those sword senses actually surrounded it in an almost seamless circle, wrapping the "Sword Strategy" within.

But when the two circles truly touched, a flaw became so obviously exposed. The ten thousand techniques of the "Sword Strategy" suddenly merged into one sword, calmly penetrating this narrow gap.

The outside Mystic Qi penetrated for an instant. Wudong took 【Jade Tiger】 and swept up in surprise, pointing his sword to break the sky curtain, and thus broke out of the mountain.

The curtain closed again. Now there was no longer a long pole to lift it. Ming Qitian watched this scene and slowly withdrew her finger, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she had suddenly realized something.

——————

Scripture Library.

Seeing Pei Ye had already walked carefully through the corridors of the entire building.

He lowered his head and rubbed the pendant in his hand. Good jade worn for a long time already had an oily luster. The exquisite green bird on the branch was lifelike, as if it were about to melt. One could imagine the way the man had carefully carved it stroke by stroke, and the way the woman had been unable to put it down after receiving it.

But it had been dead for seven years. Now it was just silent, the candle flame in his hand was about to go out, and everything was lifeless.

The sword with which the man had once nearly pierced their veils had finally broken its blade and sunk into the sand, completely drowned in the passage of time.

Seeing Pei Ye sighed softly. There was no one in the empty building to discuss with. Since Zhang Meiqing had not come to the Scripture Library, he must have entrusted it to someone else. But in fact, the youth had already verified that within Kongdong, the man did not have any friends who were of sufficient status and whom he trusted extremely.

The investigation fell into a stalemate for a moment. Seeing Pei Ye turned to return, but outside the window, there was suddenly a "fluttering" sound of wings. The next moment, the window paper was broken, and a fluent green shadow swept in.

Seeing Pei Ye was stunned—【Flowing Wind】.

The letter sent to him by the Crane Inspector when he was at the Jin Jin Yuzhai should have arrived early yesterday morning. Now it had arrived several hours later than the person himself.

This light and agile bird landed skillfully on his finger. Its wings were complete, and there were no wounds on its body, only its spirit was a bit listless. It was probably just as Wudong had guessed, held back by Kongdong's formation boundary.

Seeing Pei Ye came back to his senses and immediately went to untie the letter tube on its leg. He unfolded the paper and opened his eyes. Sure enough, it recorded the time when the old man and Master Sui were at the Jin Jin Yuzhai, telling him that the Heart Amber might be in Kongdong, and so on... exactly the same as what the old man had told him face-to-face before.

Wrapped in the deepest part, however, was an extremely old short note. The old man had never mentioned this thing. Seeing Pei Ye was just feeling that the shape was somewhat familiar when a clear and pleasant chirping suddenly came from his hand.

It was extremely pleasant to the ear, so much so that Seeing Pei Ye was completely stunned. He lowered his head to look at this soul bird, never knowing that it could make such a sound.

But his gaze suddenly fixed where it landed. The soul bird's light and sharp brows and eyes were staring at his hand, its beak tightly closed...

The bird chirping came from his palm, soft as a flowing stream, melodious as a flute. Seeing Pei Ye had never thought that bird chirping could be arranged so beautifully. He moved his eyes in a daze. That exquisite green bird pendant was chirping out flowing musical notes. The soul bird tilted its head and stared at it, as if trying hard to distinguish its species.

—"Later, he made me a small magic tool. It would chirp as soon as I received his letter. This is it. It sounds quite nice when it chirps."

"But later, I couldn't hear it anymore."

Now, seven years later, in the lonely and empty ancient building, this green bird chirped out pleasant and happy musical notes once again, without the slightest hesitation or unfamiliarity, as light and agile as it was back then.

Seeing Pei Ye flipped over this note. The ink marks on it were old, and it said: "Nine leaves of lotus heart, hanging tassels of hidden sword, sixteen flying threads."

"."

Seeing Pei Ye's heart tightened fiercely for an instant, and he froze in place.

After a long time, he exhaled softly and immediately turned to compare it with the catalog.

Seeing Pei Ye certainly recognized this secret code. For the library's book notes, whoever put the book in could get this corresponding one, used for retrieval and proof.

He still remembered the short note "One leaf of lotus heart, nine birds under the pine, twelve feathers,". "Lotus Heart" was the peak name, meaning 【Lotus Heart Pavilion】, and "One Leaf" was the Law Enforcement Hall directly under the 【Lotus Heart Pavilion】.

Then what was "Nine Leaves"?

Seeing Pei Ye searched according to the map, and suddenly his fingers stopped. He was somewhat stunned to find that "Nine Leaves" was the Scripture Library itself.

Its location was actually on the highest floor.

"."

Which room was this in? When he walked through it just now, the map did not indicate the so-called "Nine Leaves" at all.

Did Zhang Meiqing hide the case files there?

In any case, since he had obtained the guidance, Seeing Pei Ye immediately leaped up, released the soul bird, and the youth rolled up to the top of the building like a gust of wind.

There was actually an ancient pavilion.

It was at the end of the deep and secluded corridor. If he hadn't come specifically to look for it, he would never have thought there was such a room.

Seeing Pei Ye stepped onto the corridor, and his footsteps stopped immediately—the ground was not ordinary wood; underneath it was embedded with steel.

He looked around at this seemingly ordinary corridor again. The youth spread his hands, and a beautiful blue flame flew silently forward. Where it shone, dense formation patterns appeared.

But it seemed to be very old.

Seeing Pei Ye was silent for a moment, pressed his sword, and stepped onto this corridor. Nothing happened; everything seemed to have been abandoned. When he reached the end, Seeing Pei Ye pushed the door open gently, and a high and vast book hall opened before him.

Rows of huge solid wood bookshelves, and nine out of ten were empty. Only one bookshelf near the table was full of traces of use, with stacks of books of different sizes squeezed together, and countless draft papers with calculations and sketches.

Seeing Pei Ye went up and flipped through them twice; they were all related to the way of formation tools.

He raised his head and suddenly saw three iron-hook and silver-painted characters on the wall behind the bookshelf, where the shadows were faint.

【Hidden Sword Pavilion】

So in an instant, Seeing Pei Ye finally knew what this place was.

【Kongdong Sword Collection】—the storage place of twenty years ago. The Great Si Shan of past generations buried their heads in old papers, diligently studying those impossible-to-reach natural chasms here.

Now it was already cold and clear here.

Seeing Pei Ye knew where those sword collections had gone. Ji Changyun lived in seclusion in the deep mountains and took them away.

And why was the "Kongdong Sword Collection" always organized by the 【Great Si Shan】 in previous generations, but why was it all handed over to Ji Changyun in this generation?

Seeing Pei Ye suddenly felt a chill. Unless the 【Great Si Shan】 of this generation did not want to study the sword collection, what he favored was also that set of methods of Bai Tianqu.

So... how many times did Zhang Meiqing come to the ancient Scripture Library to search for those obscure books when he was studying the way of formation tools?

For him, was this senior who buried himself in the ancient library trustworthy?!

He walked into this pavilion seven years ago, told everything to this 【Great Si Shan】, and solemnly placed the case files here, entrusting them to this senior to guard personally.

Then he was trapped and killed in the Jin Jin Yuzhai, and then these case files never saw the light of day again.

Seeing Pei Ye lowered his head and looked. The bookshelf in front of him was the wall of "hanging tassels." It looked very, very new, as if it were frequently used.

On the table next to it, the remaining ink in the inkstone was still flowing, very fresh.

(End of chapter)