Fu Daqiang took a deep breath and shifted into a more comfortable position on the ground.
Facing Xu Mu and Jiang Huihui's questioning gazes, he dared not hide a thing.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect consists of three mountains, each almost like its own faction. Every peak has its own council of elders."
He explained slowly, "Those three councils all answer to the Sect Master — but now, the old Sect Master is on his deathbed."
Hearing that, Xu Mu and Jiang Huihui exchanged a glance. They could already guess what was coming.
"You mean the old Sect Master has no successor, and the Grand Elders are about to fight for power?" Xu Mu asked.
"No," Fu Daqiang replied. "The old Sect Master does have descendants — quite a few, actually — but most of them are useless. Only three of his children have real talent."
He paused and continued, "Two sons and one daughter. Each of the three mountains supports one of them."
"I see," Jiang Huihui said thoughtfully. "So it's like using the heir to control the sect — whichever mountain's candidate becomes the next Sect Master will, in effect, rule the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Exactly." Fu Daqiang nodded.
"Then why not just split completely?" Xu Mu asked. "If each mountain already acts like its own branch, why not just leave the Heavenly Sword Sect and found their own sects?"
"You don't understand," Fu Daqiang replied. "The Heavenly Sword Sect has two Earth-Grade martial arts techniques — both in the Sect Master's possession. And it's said there's also a hidden secret realm. Whoever's candidate takes the position of Sect Master inherits all of it — and the Grand Elder behind them benefits."
Hearing that, both Xu Mu and Jiang Huihui nodded.
"I recently got word that the Grand Elder of Qingmu Mountain has been amassing power," Fu Daqiang said suddenly. "He's even trying to enlist experts from the Immortality Research Institute to strike against the Grand Elder of Flame Sun Mountain."
"That's why I said something big is about to happen in the Heavenly Sword Sect."
Xu Mu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Could Dai Xingluo's situation — and Zhao Gang's involvement — also be tied to the Grand Elders' power struggle?
He had to admit, Dai Xingluo herself was a significant force within the sect.
"Where is the Immortality Research Institute located?" Jiang Huihui asked, her tone sharp.
She hated that organization the most — the one infamous for using children in their experiments.
"I don't know," Fu Daqiang said with a shake of his head. "We're just external operatives. Only one or two people ever handle contact."
Jiang Huihui turned to Xu Mu. "Anything else you want to ask?"
"That's all."
Xu Mu had already learned what he wanted about the Heavenly Sword Sect. As for the Immortality Research Institute — a low-level agent like Fu Daqiang wouldn't know anything useful.
"Alright then."
Jiang Huihui pointed at Fu Daqiang. "I'm with the Cleaners. You're under arrest."
"What? You're Cleaners!?"
Fu Daqiang's face went pale. If he'd known earlier, he never would've talked so much.
Jiang Huihui pulled out her phone and sent a message. Then she looked at Xu Mu with a bright smile. "Thanks again. Because of you, I just earned another big merit."
[Favorability +15]
She truly felt that meeting Xu Mu was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
"You're welcome," Xu Mu said with a wave. "If there's nothing else, I'll get going."
Later, back in Jiang City.
Xu Mu went to find Meng Wanyue first. As one of his key allies, he couldn't afford to neglect her.
Since he'd just given Dai Xingluo two Qi Sea Pills, he naturally had to give Meng Wanyue two as well.
"Manager Xu, how did you know I was here?"
Meng Wanyue smiled when she saw Xu Mu hopping down from the highway.
[Favorability +10]
"I got my hands on something good again — came to give it to you personally," Xu Mu said, taking two Qi Sea Pills from his pocket. Seeing her hesitant expression, he added, "Don't argue. Take them."
She hesitated, then accepted the pills. "Thank you, Manager Xu."
"There's no need to thank me," he said, waving dismissively. "If that's all, I'll head back."
"Wait — Manager Xu," Meng Wanyue said, "Sister Ran came to find me again a few days ago. I invited her to join you."
"Oh?" Xu Mu raised an eyebrow. "What did she say?"
Meng Wanyue told him everything that had happened.
Xu Mu nodded slightly when she finished. It wasn't surprising that Xiao Ran had chosen to stay by Ye Chen's side.
As she herself had said — she valued loyalty above all, and wouldn't abandon Ye Chen easily.
Still, based on how Meng Wanyue described her tone, it seemed Xiao Ran's heart wasn't completely unmoved. That, at least, was promising.
At the same time.
Chen Xuan was on the back mountain, carrying his familiar woven bag.
He sat cross-legged on a stone, circulating his internal Qi. Ever since coming down the mountain, he hadn't practiced properly.
Now that he'd promised Xu Mu to eliminate a few strong opponents during the Marriage Tournament, he couldn't afford to slack off.
Suddenly, he heard rustling in the distant forest.
Frowning, he reached into his bag, pulled out a black robe, and slipped it on — concealing his identity.
Carrying the bag, he crept closer and saw a wounded woman in red, clutching a sword as she ran for her life.
A thin-eyed man followed her, a perverse grin on his face. "Stop running, beauty. Be good and spend a few nights with me — I'll show you what paradise feels like."
"I'd rather die than be defiled by your Yin–Yang Sect scum!" the woman shouted fiercely.
"Yin–Yang Sect?"
Chen Xuan muttered to himself. "So Brother Mu was right again. If Yin–Yang Sect members are active here, that neighbor of mine must be one too."
"Fine, die then. I'll have fun with your corpse instead," the man laughed obscenely.
Chen Xuan's expression darkened — and in the next instant, his figure flashed forward.
"Who's there!?" the man shouted — but before he could react, Chen Xuan was already upon him.
Whoosh!
The man clenched his fists, wind bursting through the air — but Chen Xuan used Wood-Chopping Second Form: Tree-Splitter, dodging aside and striking the man's weak point.
Boom!
His fist smashed into the man's ribs, sending him flying like a cannonball. He crashed into a distant boulder and spat blood.
Seeing Chen Xuan's strength, fear flickered in the man's eyes. Clutching his chest, he staggered up and fled.
Chen Xuan didn't chase him. He'd seen enough women in distress and didn't want unnecessary trouble. He turned to leave.
"Wait! Thank you for saving me! What's your name?" the red-robed woman called out. "I'll repay you someday!"
"Xu Mu," Chen Xuan said curtly — and vanished.
He grabbed his bag and hurried away. On the road, he pulled out his phone and called Xu Mu.
If his neighbor really was a Yin–Yang Sect member, he'd move out immediately.
After all, if that woman decided to pay him a visit at night, how would he ever face his senior sister again?
Xu Mu had just been about to return home when he received Chen Xuan's call — and drove straight there.
When he parked outside, he used his spiritual sense to scan Zhou Xia.
And what he sensed made him freeze.
Good lord, he thought. This woman's terrifying.