Chapter 90: Bewildered

Jiang Xiaomu said lightly:

"You don't need to play these word games with me."

"I know full well about the heinous acts you've committed."

"Oh? Then go ahead, tell me what heinous acts I've committed."

The Sect Leader's tone was provocative, his eyes showing contempt.

Jiang Xiaomu let out a cold laugh and said:

"Your Blood Moon Sect uses human sacrifices to refine evil elixirs."

"You harm innocent civilians—how is that not heinous?"

"You... you're spouting nonsense!"

The Sect Leader's face changed, panic flashing in his eyes.

"I'm spouting nonsense? You think you can hide what you've done from heaven and earth?"

Jiang Xiaomu pressed closer step by step.

"I advise you to come clean; maybe you'll suffer less physical punishment."

The Sect Leader fell silent; he hadn't expected Jiang Xiaomu to know so much.

"Hmph, even if what you say is true, so what?"

"My Blood Moon Sect acts as it pleases—why should I explain to you?"

The Sect Leader forced himself to stay calm, but his tone clearly weakened.

"Looks like you're refusing a toast and choosing to drink the penalty."

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Xiaomu's eyes; he suddenly reached out and grabbed the Sect Leader's collar.

"You... what do you intend to do?"

The Sect Leader looked at Jiang Xiaomu in terror.

Jiang Xiaomu said nothing more, then with a sudden heave lifted the Sect Leader up.

"Ah!"

The Sect Leader let out a miserable scream, feeling his neck about to be snapped.

"I'll ask you once more: why did you establish the Blood Moon Sect?"

Jiang Xiaomu's voice was ice-cold.

"Cough cough cough..."

The Sect Leader, choked by Jiang Xiaomu, could barely breathe, his face flushed red like a ripe persimmon.

He struggled to utter a few words:

"I... I say..."

Jiang Xiaomu loosened his grip slightly, but still held him firmly.

"I... I, the Blood Moon Sect, indeed use human sacrifices to refine... refine evil elixirs..."

The Sect Leader spoke haltingly, his voice trembling, obviously still terrified.

"Continue."

Jiang Xiaomu's voice was cold as ice, devoid of emotion.

The Sect Leader drew a deep breath, as if using all his strength.

"I... I used evil arts to control people's hearts... took advantage of the chaos to rebel... to overthrow the Imperial Court..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Official Zhao's face turned livid, his fists clenched, clearly enraged by the Sect Leader's confession.

"You... you have gall!"

Official Zhao shouted angrily.

"I... I was also forced into this..."

The Sect Leader, face a mess of tears and snot, poured out his 'bitter circumstances'.

"Years of war have left the people displaced and unable to survive... I... I merely wanted to give the people a way to live..."

Official Zhao listened to the Sect Leader's confession, his feelings a tangled mix.

After the interrogation, he ordered the Sect Leader thrown into death row, to be executed on a chosen day.

"Sigh..." Official Zhao let out a long sigh.

"In these troubled times, it truly drives many to desperation."

"If there were a way to survive, who would willingly risk their lives?"

He walked up to Jiang Xiaomu, patted his shoulder, and said admiringly:

"Mr. Jiang, this time we owe it all to you!"

"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have known about the Blood Moon Sect's plot!"

Jiang Xiaomu gave a faint smile and said:

"Official Zhao overpraises me; I merely did my duty."

County Magistrate Li Wenqing also stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said:

"Mr. Jiang truly is a youthful hero, admirable!"

Jiang Xiaomu humbly returned the gesture.

Because Jiang Xiaomu and Li Wenqing had rendered great service in this incident, the Prefect specially awarded them a hundred taels of silver.

However, they politely declined and suggested using the money for disaster relief to benefit the city's populace.

Official Zhao greatly praised their righteous act and immediately agreed to their suggestion.

Leaving the yamen, Li Wenqing smiled and said to Jiang Xiaomu:

Translation: Leaving the yamen, Li Wenqing smiled and said to Jiang Xiaomu:

"Mr. Jiang, you truly hide your talents well!"

Translation: "Mr. Jiang, you truly hide your talents well!"

"I never expected you to know so much about the inner workings of the Blood Moon Sect."

Translation: "I never expected you to know so much about the Blood Moon Sect's inner affairs."

Jiang Xiaomu smiled, but did not explain.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu smiled but did not explain.

He couldn't very well say that he had transmigrated here and also possessed a system that could foresee the future, could he?

Translation: He couldn't very well say he had transmigrated here and also possessed a system that could foresee the future, could he?

"Mr. Jiang, what are your plans from now on?"

Translation: "Mr. Jiang, what are your plans from now on?"

Li Wenqing asked.

Translation: Li Wenqing asked.

Jiang Xiaomu pondered for a moment, then said:

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu pondered for a moment, then said:

"I'm a bit tired; I'd like to rest a while."

Translation: "I'm a bit tired; I want to rest a while."

Thinking of his younger sister Jiang Xiaoyu at home, Jiang Xiaomu's face filled with tenderness.

Translation: Thinking of his sister Jiang Xiaoyu at home, Jiang Xiaomu's face filled with tenderness.

He pushed open the courtyard gate; a petite figure was practicing swordplay—none other than Jiang Xiaoyu.

Translation: He pushed open the courtyard gate; a petite figure was practicing sword dance—none other than Jiang Xiaoyu.

The wooden sword in her hand whistled with vigor as she swung it; days of hard practice had greatly improved her skill.

Translation: The wooden sword in her hand whirled with vigor; days of hard training had greatly improved her skill.

"Xiaoyu, you're practicing quite well."

Translation: "Xiao Yu, you're practicing quite well."

Jiang Xiaomu said with a smile, simultaneously raising the oil-paper parcel he was holding.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu said with a smile, at the same time raising the oil-paper parcel he held.

"Guess what big brother brought you?"

Translation: "Guess what big brother brought you?"

Jiang Xiaoyu sheathed her sword and stood; seeing Jiang Xiaomu, her formerly tense little face instantly broke into a bright smile.

Translation: Jiang Xiaoyu sheathed her sword and stood; seeing Jiang Xiaomu, her formerly tense little face instantly broke into a bright smile.

"Osmanthus cake!"

Translation: "Osmanthus cake!"

She exclaimed with joy, hastily opened it, picked up a piece, and shoved it into her mouth.

Translation: She cheered, hastily opened it, picked up a piece, and shoved it into her mouth.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."

Translation: "Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."

Jiang Xiaomu looked at her indulgently, took a parcel from his bosom, and handed it to Jiang Xiaoyu.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu looked at her indulgently, took a parcel from his bosom, and handed it to Jiang Xiaoyu.

"And this too."

Translation: "And this too."

Jiang Xiaoyu curiously took the parcel, opened it, and her eyes widened at the sight of an exquisite treasure sword inside.

Translation: Jiang Xiaoyu curiously took the parcel, opened it, and her eyes widened—inside lay a delicately crafted treasure sword.

"This is… the Golden Serpent Sword?"

Translation: "Is this… the Gold Snake Sword?"

Jiang Xiaoyu carefully drew the treasure sword; a cold light flashed, its slender, sharp blade exuding a piercing chill.

Translation: Jiang Xiaoyu carefully drew the sword; a cold light flashed—its slender, sharp blade exuded a piercing chill.

"Do you like it?"

Translation: "Do you like it?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu asked.

"I like it! I like it so much!"

Translation: "I like it! I like it so much!"

Jiang Xiaoyu couldn't put it down, stroking the blade excitedly, her little face flushed red.

Translation: Jiang Xiaoyu lovingly stroked the blade, her excitement flushing her cheeks red.

"Brother, this sword… where did you get it from?"

Translation: "Brother, this sword… where did you get it from?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Jiang Xiaomu gave a mysterious smile.

Translation: "You don't need to worry about that." Jiang Xiaomu gave a mysterious smile.

"Give it a try, see if it feels right in your hand."

Translation: "Give it a try, see if it feels right in your hand."

Jiang Xiaoyu couldn't wait to swing it a few times, feeling the sword light and agile, almost as if it were becoming part of her.

Translation: Jiang Xiaoyu eagerly swung it a few times, feeling the sword light and agile, almost as if it would merge with her.

"What a fine sword! Truly a fine sword!"

Translation: "What a sword! Truly a fine sword!"

She praised it without end.

Translation: She praised it without end.

"Since you like it, then practice diligently."

Translation: "Since you like it, then practice diligently."

Jiang Xiaomu said:

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu said:

"I'll teach you another sword technique; paired with this Golden Serpent Sword, its power will be greater."

Translation: "I'll teach you another sword set; combined with this Gold Snake Sword, its power will be greater."

In the following time, Jiang Xiaomu began guiding Jiang Xiaoyu in practicing the new sword technique.

Translation: Thereafter, Jiang Xiaomu began guiding Jiang Xiaoyu in practicing the new sword technique.

Watching his sister train so diligently, Jiang Xiaomu felt greatly relieved.

Translation: Watching his sister train so hard, Jiang Xiaomu felt greatly relieved.

After finishing the sword lesson, Jiang Xiaomu returned to his room to rest.

Translation: After finishing the sword lesson, Jiang Xiaomu returned to his room to rest.

The days of travel had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

Translation: Days of travel had left him physically and mentally exhausted.

Lying in bed with his eyes closed, his mind conjured the Blood Moon Sect leader's confession and Magistrate Zhao's meaningful sigh.

Translation: Lying in bed, he closed his eyes, but the Blood Moon Sect leader's confession and Chancellor Zhao's meaningful sigh surfaced in his mind.

"I only wanted to give the common people a way to survive..."

Translation: "I only wanted to give the common folk a way to survive…"

The leader's words, like a spell, echoed in his mind.

Translation: The sect leader's words, like a spell, echoed in his mind.

Although he had personally brought the sect leader to justice, he could not turn a blind eye to this chaotic world.

Translation: Although he had personally brought the sect leader to justice, he could not turn a blind eye to this chaotic age.

The downfall of the Blood Moon Sect merely treats the symptoms, not the root cause.

Translation: The Blood Moon Sect's downfall merely treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

As long as this turmoil persists, more people will be driven to desperation and take the path of evil.

Translation: As long as this troubled world persists, more people will be driven to desperation and take the evil path.

Jiang Xiaomu pondered the leader's words and drifted off to sleep in a daze.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu pondered the sect leader's words and drifted off to sleep in a daze.

Not knowing how long he had slept, in a haze he dreamed of innocent commoners dying horribly, the evildoers he himself had slain turning into vengeful spirits returning to—

revenge.

Not knowing how long he had slept, in a haze he dreamed that innocent commoners died horribly, the evildoers he himself had slain turned into vengeful spirits returning.

Not knowing how long he had slept, in a haze he dreamed that innocent commoners died horribly, the evildoers he himself had slain turned into vengeful spirits returning.

Thus:

Not knowing how long he had slept, in a haze he dreamed that innocent commoners died horribly, the evildoers he himself had slain turned into vengeful spirits returning.

Translation: Not knowing how long he had slept, in a daze he dreamed of innocent commoners meeting a grisly end, the evildoers he himself had slain turning into vengeful spirits returning

revenge.

Translation: revenge.

But we need to keep the line as single output line. So we will output:

【109】 Not knowing how long he had slept, in a daze he dreamed of innocent commoners meeting a grisly end, the evildoers he himself had slain turning into vengeful spirits returning

【110】 revenge.

But we need to keep the original Chinese meaning; maybe better to translate as "Not knowing how long he had slept, in a haze he dreamed of innocent commoners dying horribly, the evildoers he himself had slain turning into vengeful spirits returning to—". Then line 110: "revenge." We'll keep punctuation.

Not knowing how long he had slept, in a haze he dreamed that innocent commoners died horribly, the evildoers he himself had slain turned into vengeful spirits returning.

revenge.

Now continue.

Jiang Xiaomu awoke from the nightmare, drenched in cold sweat.

Translation: Jiang Xiaomu startled awake from the nightmare, drenched in cold sweat.

He got up, walked to the window, opened it, and cold wind poured in, letting the sky's edge show a fish‑belly white.