Crack!
A sharp snap rang out as his arm twisted at a grotesque angle.
"Ah—!" he screamed in agony, too shocked to understand what had happened, before several black shadows leapt out from the darkness.
Immediately, two more blood-curdling screams rang from behind him. Terrified, he turned to see his two companions clutching their twisted arms, kneeling on the ground in pain. Before he could react, a sharp pain shot through his ankle. A slender black shadow swept past his feet, carrying a chilling cold that seemed to pierce his bones.
His body went numb, and he knelt uncontrollably before Xie Zhaolin.
"You!"
He lifted his head in rage, trying to muster spiritual power to fight back, only to find it frozen, completely unresponsive.
Xie Zhaolin stood motionless, not even a ripple on her robe. When he met her eyes, a cruel smile playing on her lips, a wave of dread shot from his feet up his spine.
"You bitch!" he roared, trying to suppress his fear. "What are you waiting for? Attack her! Kill her!"
But behind him, there was only silence.
Panicked, he twisted to look at his companions, but the numbness held him fast.
"You useless bastards! Can't even obey me?!" he screamed, voice distorted by terror. "Just wait! When I get back to my master, you're all dead!"
Clang!
Two dull thuds came from the side, and the two disciples fell at his feet like sacks of rags.
His eyes widened in horror.
One was trembling all over, covered in frost, teeth chattering uncontrollably. The other was convulsing, clearly paralyzed by electric shocks.
"Th-this is…"
His voice shook as he realized he'd run into something he couldn't handle. Worse, they didn't even know what had struck them.
"Now," Xie Zhaolin's voice was soft, terrifying in its calm, "do you still want help?"
"You… you dare touch me?!" he stammered, clinging to his last shred of courage. "My master is Elder Liu from the Inner Sect! If you dare take my life, he'll never forgive you!"
Xie Zhaolin's eyes flicked with mockery. She remembered perfectly the jade slip Mo Yan had given her—Elder Liu was a Golden Core Inner Sect elder, a bit influential, but hardly someone worth fearing.
"Oh? Elder Liu?" she laughed lightly, stepping forward. "Then tell me—why are the three of you Inner Sect disciples sneaking into an Outer Sect elder's herb garden to steal spirit herbs?"
His face stiffened, panic flashing in his eyes. Before he could answer, she stomped on his head, grinding it hard into the mud. "If you dare steal, you should've been ready to get caught."
"Ah!" he screamed, half his face pressed into the soil. "Y-you can't—my master…"
"And what can your master do?" she sneered. "You snuck in here, and if you die, no one will ever know it was you."
She pressed harder with her foot, her voice ice-cold. "Since you started it, why should I let you go back and complain?"
He panicked completely, realizing she was serious. He struggled, gasping, "N-no! I swear I won't tell anyone! Please, I beg you…"
Xie Zhaolin didn't move, her gaze shifting to the other two disciples.
They were already pale with terror; one shook his head frantically, the other fainted outright. Just as the first disciple struggled in despair, familiar footsteps approached from outside the courtyard. He turned his eyes painfully, hope lighting up his face.
"Mo—Mo Xun Elder!" he croaked, joy and relief mingling. "Quick, save us! That bitch, she…"
It was Mo Yan, disguised as Elder Mo Xun. In Qingxi Sect, this Outer Sect herb-gathering elder was known for being gentle and kind, never overly strict even when disciples took a few herbs.
The disciple clutched at this last straw, babbling incoherently. "Elder! That bitch attacked us! She said she'd kill us! Please, you have to—"
His voice stopped abruptly. He finally saw the expression on Mo Xun Elder's face—the normally kind smile was gone, replaced by chilling murder intent.
The cold light in those eyes made him feel as if he'd fallen into an ice tomb.
"Master." Mo Yan's voice was low and respectful as he bowed deeply to Xie Zhaolin. "Subordinate is late."
The disciple's pupils shrank, all color draining from his face. He couldn't believe what he saw—Elder Mo Xun bowing to this Peak Qi Refining girl, calling her master?
"No matter." Xie Zhaolin withdrew her foot lightly. "These three are yours to deal with."
Mo Yan slowly straightened, turning toward the three disciples. The respect in his eyes instantly shifted to deadly intent. After finally gaining a sliver of favor in his master's eyes, these fools dared to ruin it?
Hatred surged in his gaze, cold and menacing as if he were staring at corpses.
"Elder Liu's disciples?" Mo Yan's voice was icy. "Bold enough to come wreak havoc in my herb garden?"
The disciple trembled, finally realizing the gravity of the secret they'd stumbled upon.
"I-I know nothing! I swear I won't tell anyone! Please…"
Mo Yan snorted coldly, forming a binding array that trapped all three. "Too late."
He looked to Xie Zhaolin. "Master, how shall we handle them?"
She swept her eyes over the three and said lightly, "Since they've seen what they shouldn't, then…"
"Understood." Mo Yan's eyes glinted with ruthlessness as he prepared to end them.
"Wait," Xie Zhaolin said suddenly. "Take them down first and interrogate. Let's see if someone is behind them."
Mo Yan nodded respectfully. "Yes, Master."
The three disciples went pale as he lifted them like chicks. The lead disciple tried to plead, but a binding array sealed his mouth, leaving him only whimpering in despair.
Xie Zhaolin watched them go, a cold gleam in her eyes. This small incident gave her a clearer understanding of Qingxi Sect. Even in this seemingly calm sect, undercurrents ran deep. No wonder it hovered around second-tier status. But that was fine—the murkier the waters, the easier it was to fish in them.
She paused briefly, then sent a divine sense through their contract: "Don't kill them yet. Find out their connection to Elder Liu first."
Silence returned to the courtyard. Xie Zhaolin turned to her inner room, seated cross-legged, and closed her eyes to regulate her breath.