The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 283: The Blaze of the Signal Fire Finally Ignites at the Peak of Life and Death

The tension within the Pill Heart Hall was at its peak, ready to ignite at the slightest provocation. Disciples from the Peak of Life and Death stood face to face with those from various sects of the Upper Cultivation Realm, neither side willing to back down.

The bowstring is already taut; pulling it further will either snap the string or launch the arrow.

At this moment, a figure stepped forward from the crowd, who was none other than the Master of Treading Snow Palace, Bright Moon Building.

The Bright Moon Building's voice was soothing and pleasant, piercing through the tense silence. "May I ask for your patience, gentlemen. A scroll is lifeless, but people are not. Put yourselves in our shoes. There's currently no concrete evidence to prove that the Peak of Life and Death created these pawns. To brandish the label of a rogue sect is indeed excessive. How about this – we temporarily withdraw the forbidden scroll from the Peak of Life and Death and carefully reconsider before making any decisions."

Master Xuanjing shook his head. "Director Ming and Sect Leader Xue share an intimate bond; your judgment might be biased. The Peak of Life and Death has already violated the taboos of the cultivation world. Why should there be further deliberation?"

"Abbot, you're mistaken. Many sects have transgressed this rule before," replied Bright Moon Building softly yet resolutely. She spoke warmly, "If we're talking about records, I haven't forgotten your Venerable Huaiwei."

"You — !" Xuanjing's face darkened, but he quickly brushed his sleeves and regained his solemn demeanor. Joining his hands together, he said, "The art of saving lives cannot be compared to the precious game of chess."

"Does the art of saving lives count as one of the three forbidden techniques?"

It was Xue Zhengyong who spoke. By now, those close to him had noticed something amiss with the usually majestic man. His breath was hurried, and his lips had turned pale.

Xuan Jing replied, "…Of course it counts."

Xue Zhengyong closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then stared at Abbot Xuan Jing again, his voice raspy. "So, how can you exclude the Revival Spell from the rules just because it can save lives?"

Xuan Jing hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to defend himself. He said stiffly, "It's not the same thing."

A disciple from the Apex of Life and Death stepped forward angrily and asked, "How is it not the same? There are also many in the Upper Realm who practice forbidden arts, but they just haven't succeeded. If your rule punishes our sect, shouldn't you also imprison all of you?"

Elder Greed growled sinisterly, "Wuhui Temple has Hua Binan, Solitary Moon Night has Huabinan. Why single out the Apex of Life and Death? Sect Leader Jiang, if you want to shut us down, why don't you set an example by disbanding Solitary Moon Night first?"

None of the sects had expected such a counterattack. They all felt guilty, and those who had been the loudest moments ago now fell silent, not wanting to invite trouble to their own doorstep.

Xue Zhengyong coughed softly, lowering his eyelashes to conceal the blood he had spit into his palm. Lifting his gaze, he forced a smile. "Since all sects have done similar things, and since there's no evidence that the Apex of Life and Death stole the Chess Pieces to overthrow both realms, I apologize for my rudeness—please leave immediately."

"Um…"

They had come with a fierce aura, fully intending to dismantle this unconventional sect, only to end up in an awkward situation. Everyone's expressions turned grim.

Jiang Xi had never intended to force the Apex of Life and Death to disband. But he had been backed into a corner earlier and had no choice. Seeing everyone fall silent, he closed his eyes and said straightforwardly, "Let's go first."

Hearing this, the weight on Xue Zhengyong's heart finally lifted, and he let out an imperceptible sigh of relief, his tense back relaxing. But a sharp pain stabbed at his side, and as he glanced down, he noticed spots of blood seeping through the dark blue robes at his waist.

The injuries from yesterday were indeed severe. He would have to ask Elder Greedy Wolf to take a look later...

Before he could finish his thought, disciples from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion burst into the hall with swords drawn. Their faces were cold and fierce, and they announced loudly as soon as they entered, "Xue Zhengyong, you truly have no shame. How can you deny that the Peak of Life and Death has secretly been refining the Precious Chess Game?!"

Everyone was caught off guard by the arrival of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion and turned around in surprise. They saw dozens of meek civilians in plain clothes following behind, including a few familiar faces that seemed to be village heads from some small villages in Shu.

"What's going on..."

A senior disciple from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion said sternly, "Didn't you want evidence? Is this not enough?"

Another disciple addressed the crowd, "The Peak of Life and Death is a corrupt place, and its leader is a wolf in sheep's clothing. For years, he's cast a wide net across Shu, forcing ordinary citizens to sacrifice boys and girls for the refinement of the Precious Chess Game – these are all living witnesses. What else do you have to refute?!"

Xue Zhengyong suddenly stood up, his eyes ablaze with fury, but blood rose to his throat. "Nonsense!"

"One person's word won't decide if it's nonsense or not. Ask them yourself."

The dozens of villagers huddled together like a frightened flock of ducks, quivering and lowering their eyes, none daring to speak first.

Xue Meng's sharp eyes caught a familiar face among them, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Village Chief Liu?"

The village chief with the surname Liu trembled violently, stealing a furtive glance at him before slipping away like a slippery fish.

"What are you doing here?" Xue Meng was still processing the situation, his response almost naively innocent, despite its pitiable nature in that moment.

"I...," Village Chief Liu swallowed hard, his bony fingers clutching at the corner of his robe. He kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his legs wobbling.

A member of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion spoke assertively, "Tell the truth. If you lie, the Heavenly Sound Pavilion has always been impartial and will not tolerate deception."

Village Chief Liu shuddered and abruptly knelt down, banging his head on the floor. "I... I, I'll speak! The Peak of Life and Death has been using the pretense of eliminating demons and protecting justice for years, claiming they don't take a penny. In reality, they've been forcing us to give our village boys and girls to them..."

Xue Zhengyong flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the table as he stood up. "Nonsense!"

But the Heavenly Sound Pavilion's voice was even louder, "Continue. What do they want with the boys and girls?"

"I... I don't know," beads of greasy sweat trickled down the village chief's forehead as he swallowed, his shoulders quivering. "They said they were taking them into the mountains for cultivation, but we've never seen them again. Little Tiger, Little Stone... those children never returned."

A member of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion turned to inquire the cultivators of Life and Death Peak.

"Among you, is there the child that this village chief mentioned?"

"..."

Of course, there wasn't.

Xue Meng's blood boiled with rage. Little Tiger, Little Stone... When he rushed to save that small village on the brink of destruction, they had already been devoured by demons.

"Liar!!!" Fueled by anger, a bitter taste rose in Xue Meng's throat; he was so enraged he felt like vomiting. "How can you repay kindness with enmity and still live with a clear conscience?!!"

Village Chief Liu looked defeated, tears continuously rolling down his cheeks. But, despite whatever coercion the Heavenly Sound Pavilion had used against him, he persisted, "Life and Death Peak isn't an honorable sect... They are two-faced... Dealing in sinister deeds... They've committed... Countless atrocities in Shu...!"

His face awash with tears, he no longer dared to meet anyone's gaze but instead wailed into the ground,

"Life and Death Peak oppresses the Lower Realms!!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

If this were any other day, cultivators would not have taken the words of these dozens of commoners at face value. But most of the people present had come with the intention of confronting Death Peak, and they had already formed their own opinions. Thus, when faced with such supporting evidence, they immediately accepted it all and flew into a rage.

"I told you they'd never do anything for free!"

"Xue Zhengyong, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Both Xue Zhengyong and Xue Meng, as well as the disciples and elders of Death Peak, were stunned.

Before this, when many sects had banded together to attack them, they still felt indignant and could wave their arms, protesting their innocence.

But now, as they looked around, they saw the village heads of Shu and scores of common folk... those who had once offered eggs and flour, weeping in gratitude for the immortal's life-saving grace, promising to repay their debt in any way possible.

These dozens of wolves from Central Mountain had personally stabbed their knives into the hearts of these people.

It hurt deeply, and it was bitterly cold.

They felt as if they had fallen into an icy abyss, their bodies chilled to the bone.

One by one, the witnesses stepped forward. The first still showed guilt in their eyes, the second's legs trembled, the third could meet everyone's gaze directly, the fourth began to speak with righteous indignation, and the fifth learned to exaggerate the facts... They were like geese flying in formation, with the lead goose guiding the flock.

As they spoke with fervor, their words took on a life of their own, and they began to believe in their truth.

Xue Meng felt a chill run through his veins, a bitter cold settling in his teeth.

He had once believed that people had backbone, unyielding even under pressure. Yet, he never imagined that a lapdog could stoop so low as to drink filth for survival.

"Yes, it's that pawn they mentioned…" The matchmaker from Jia Village chimed in, adding her testimony. "They forced us to offer our children as payment for exorcisms. The Peak of Life and Death doesn't accept money; they only take young children. It's a known rule in the Lower Cultivation Realm."

Jiang Xi furrowed his brow, asking, "Then why did you still approach them?"

The matchmaker dabbed at her tears with a peach-colored handkerchief. "We had no choice, we're poor. We couldn't afford to hire cultivators from the Upper Realm. So, we could only choose village children to send… They said it was for cultivation at the Peak of Life and Death, but everyone knew deep down, wuwu… Once these unfortunate children were sent there, they wouldn't return alive."

With that, she pounded her chest, covering her face and wailing loudly.

A scholar also came forward to attest. "It's true. The Peak of Life and Death takes people, not money. We dare not speak out due to our daily struggles. Thankfully, the heavens have eyes, and those who do wrong will eventually meet their downfall. The Peak of Life and Death has finally shown its true colors. Honorable cultivators, please uphold justice for the common folk of the Lower Cultivation Realm!"

At once, someone from the Jiangdong Sect stepped forward. "Rest assured, the Upper Cultivation Realm is upright and honest. All the sects present today are reputable, established for over a hundred years. We will handle this matter fairly."

The villagers, overwhelmed with gratitude, wept and recounted the atrocities committed by the Peak of Life and Death.

They knew that since they had committed perjury, there was no turning back. If the Peak of Life and Death didn't fall today, they would inevitably settle the score with them in the future.

In the grand hall, no living beings could be seen; only wandering vengeful spirits circled about, baring their fangs and tearing at the dilapidated wooden columns of the hall, the simple roof tiles, and the eaves... Gnawing at the neglected "Pillar of Sincerity" plaque that had never been repaired due to lack of funds.

It was a scene drenched in blood.

Xue Meng was trembling. He closed his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks. He croaked, "How... could you say such things?"

Was it because the Heavenly Sound Pavilion had tempted them with glory and wealth?

Still, they resort to threatening one's very existence.

How could they say it? How could they do it...

The matchmaker's crimson lips kept moving, spewing venomous fragments of words that slithered into Xue Meng's ears like snakes — "secretly refining pawns on the Peak of Life and Death," "indifferently taking lives," "abducting young boys and girls."

Each word twisted into a grotesque nightmare.

"They oppress those in the Lower cultivation realm."

"A hypocrite in fine clothes, pretending to be virtuous!"

"That Chu Wanning and Mo Ran are the most detestable. For the sake of creating pawns, they've harmed countless innocent civilians..."

Bones with hatred, hands trembling.

Reason crumbled.

"How can you—say such things?! How could you do it?!!"

Anger swarmed like ants, breaching the final levee of his heart. With a crack, Xue Meng realigned his dislocated elbow, then in a swift motion, drew his blade and unleashed a fierce cry, akin to a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl. Before anyone could react, the curved blade was already stained with blood.

The matchmaker, who was orchestrating the scandalous tale of "Disciples of the Peak of Life and Death assaulting a young girl," was taken aback. She looked down at her chest and then, with a gasp, spat out a mouthful of blood. Before she could utter a single word, she fell to the ground with a thud.

Silence, profound and utter.

Strangely, the members of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion stood among that group of villagers without lifting a finger to intervene - were they taken aback? Or did they simply fail to react in time? The answer remained a mystery, and no one bothered to ponder over it deeply.

All eyes were fixed on Xue Meng as the blood droplets tumbled down the tip of Longcheng's blade, one by one, two by two. They accumulated into a pool of crimson depth, like an eerie red pond.

Plunging into the abyss, the fledgling phoenix cannot escape.

"Ahh!" A sudden scream echoed, like the doomsday bell had finally tolled. "S-Someone's being killed...!"

"Xue Meng is slaughtering witnesses! Xue Meng has gone mad!!"

The chaos within the hall intensified. It was unclear who initiated the violence, but the pent-up fury erupted like a volcanic burst. Bowstrings snapped, and the members of Death's Peak and the Upper cultivation realm engaged in an all-out battle—

Personal vendettas, fear, and the desire to eliminate rivals.

This clash was fueled by too many selfish motives, causing the situation to spiral out of control.

In the midst of flashing blades and sword lights, Xue Zhengyong, enduring the excruciating pain from his wounds, roared, "Stop fighting! Everyone, stop!"

But the people of Death's Peak listened to him while those from the Upper cultivation realm did not. Thus, the battle continued. Xue Meng's heart was shattered, torn apart into a disarray that spread to his eyes, turning them moist with redness. As he swung his curved blade at the evil spirits, he choked back sobs, unable to stop his tears from falling.

Perhaps it was only in this moment that Feng Er, the young phoenix, truly understood Mo Ran's feelings from his childhood.

Back at the Drunken Jade Tower, when a chopping cleaver ended the lives of everyone in the building— that sense of despair, disgust, excitement, and self-loathing. Nothing mattered anymore; the flames of anger consumed his heart, quenchable only by blood.

Suddenly, a sword intercepted his assault, shimmering with a gentle blue glow that seemed eerily familiar. Yet, at this moment, Xue Meng couldn't recall where he had seen it. He only bellowed at the grotesquely ugly servant from Treading Snow Palace, "Scram! Get out of my way!"

"Stop fighting. If you continue, there will be real trouble. Calm down."

A recognizable voice echoed in his ears.

Who was it?

Xue Meng couldn't quite place the voice, nor did he wish to dwell on it further.

Bitterness and hatred gnawed at his soul, pushing the limits of his endurance. Beyond that threshold, even a god could become a demon, a saint transform into an Asura.

One thought of Buddha, one thought of devil.

His eyes blazed with a crimson fury, filled with nothing but endless hatred - a resentment that had been smoldering since his days in the Heavenly Sound Pavilion. It burst forth, engulfing him in its overwhelming intensity.

"Be gone!"

Dragon City clashed with the azure sword, yet the homely, unfamiliar man was unexpectedly not the least bit inferior, engaging him in a fierce battle, his verdant eyes fixated intently on Xue Meng's face.

"Your lack of composure will only bring more ruin to the Peak of Life and Death."

"What right do you have to interfere? !"

The blade slashed fiercely, while the sword moved with calm precision, clashing in every blow.

Green eyes met black, a familiar gaze that stirred memories...

...Who was it?

"Ziming, stop fighting."

A low voice echoed gently beside his ear, devoid of excessive emotion yet carrying a hint of concern and pity.

A fleeting moment of clarity pierced through Xue Meng's frenzied mind. His relentless assault paused, though his chest continued to heave violently.

Blood stained his face, and his hair was disheveled. He glared viciously at the ugly stranger, "You..."

Before he could finish, a chill wind swept over his back.

Xue Meng abruptly turned his head, but it was too late to raise his Dragon City Halberd. His arm was slashed open, revealing the white bone beneath!

"Meng-er!!"

Upon seeing his beloved son injured, Xue Zhengyong rushed down the long staircase to come to his rescue.

Those dozen elite disciples from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion were all Mu Yanli's devoted followers. Upon eye contact, they lunged at Xue Meng one after another.

Each of these individuals had combat prowess comparable to the elders on the Peak of Life and Death. Together, they unleashed deadly moves targeting the already wounded Xue Meng, posing a grave threat to the Phoenix Child's life.

"Meng-er... Meng-er!"

But Xue Zhengyong was too far away to reach him in time. Instead, more people surrounded him, trapping him within their midst. Filled with urgency to protect his son, Xue Zhengyong launched a fierce counterattack, but ended up injuring himself as well, his clothes soaked in blood.

Xue Meng gritted his teeth, swung his blade, and managed to push back two opponents. However, his own arm was now gushing blood, his entire forearm trembling uncontrollably.

Suddenly, a flash of red light appeared.

"Watch out!"

In the blink of an eye, it was the green-eyed man who had been dueling with him just now that intercepted the fatal strike on his behalf.

A Heavenly Sound Pavilion disciple narrowed his eyes. "Has Treading Snow Palace produced a traitor? Someone willing to stand alongside Peak Life and Death?"

The green-eyed man didn't respond. His sword was as cold as frost as he turned to Xue Meng, whose face was pale and eyes fierce. "Go to your uncle. Quickly."

"I…" Xue Meng clutched at the knife wound on his arm, but in reality, it was impossible to stanch the flow of blood. The white bone beneath his flesh was exposed to the air, and his entire arm was drenched in warm blood.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Instead, his gaze darted toward Xue Zhengyong.

At this one glance, all the remaining color drained from Xue Meng's face.

He almost screamed, disregarding the danger as he staggered toward Xue Zhengyong, yelling, "Father!!!"

Xue Zhengyong's expression sharpened, and he immediately reacted. He swiftly raised his hand, using his steel bracer to block the attack from behind, then flipped the attacker over, slamming them hard into the ground. Xue Meng let out a relieved sigh before frantically squeezing next to his father.

He grabbed hold of Xue Zhengyong's arm, a mix of sorrow and joy in his voice. "That's great, Father, you're okay... You're okay..."

But the blow had torn open Xue Zhengyong's old wounds, and blood was gushing from his waist. However, his body was already covered in crimson, so Xue Meng didn't notice. Clutching his father's hand, he said, "Father, I want revenge. Today, I'll make these people pay with their lives. I—"

"Cough... Cough..."

The sudden halt in his speech caught everyone's attention.

Xue Meng watched in shock as Xue Zhengyong abruptly knelt on the ground, blood gurgling up from his throat.

"Dad...?" Feng Huangzi was utterly stunned. He had never seen his father so gravely injured in his entire life. His mind spun with confusion. "Dad, what's wrong? You..."

Xue Zhengyong's blood-stained lips moved slightly. He grasped Xue Meng's arm tightly and croaked, "Cease."

"...What...?"

Fixing his gaze on Xue Meng's face, Xue Zhengyong's peripheral vision also monitored the slightest movements around them.

Was this intense battle what he had wanted?

Amidst the cries and shouts, red blood flowed and white brain matter splattered. Before the mastermind behind it all could be identified, the various sects had already begun to turn on each other...

Xue Zhengyong said, "Order everyone from the Peak of Life and Death to stop."

"But what about them?"

"What good will come of this endless fighting?" Xue Zhengyong's face was ashen. "Who will have their desires fulfilled? Is the anguish brought upon by the scattering of our sect worse than its utter destruction?"

Xue Meng fell silent, his eyes bloodshot, even his fingertips trembling.

"Go..." Xue Zhengyong gently nudged him. Tears immediately rolled down Xue Meng's cheeks. He stumbled to his feet, standing before his father, and shouted with a fierce tone,

"Ceasefire! Stop fighting, all of you!"