Chapter 20: Gu Mang Goes Berserk

THE WOMAN STANDING before him was a very low-ranked cultivator of the Bureau, roughly forty years old and usually the quiet sort.

Somewhat surprised, Mo Xi asked, "What is it?"

"I… I got a message from the academy a moment ago, saying that Changfeng-jun's daughter hit my daughter and injured her. I'm worried and want to go check on her, but I still have a number of files left to sort…" As she spoke, she couldn't hide the embarrassment and anxiety on her face. "II've asked many of my colleagues already, but they're all busy. Even Yuegongzi has plans to go drink at the eastern market with his friends… So I wanted to…see if I could trouble you…"

Mo Xi frowned slightly. He wouldn't mind helping her—but this Changfeng-jun, who had laid low for many years, seemed to be popping up a little too often these days. "Is she badly hurt?"

"They said it was a sprained arm," the cultivator said. "Even though it's not serious, she's been crying nonstop. The elders don't know what to do."

"Then you may go. Be careful on the road."

The cultivator hadn't placed particularly high hopes on this icy commander. She certainly hadn't expected that after asking so many people, the one to help her would be him. She couldn't help but widen her eyes, and a joyous flush appeared on her face.

"Many thanks to Xihe-jun. The baskets for the files are a-all over there…" As she grew excited, she began stammering. "I-I've already sorted most of them. I'm terribly sorry about inconveniencing you with something so trivial…"

"It's no bother. Your daughter comes first." The cultivator thanked him a few more times before rushing off, leaving Mo Xi by himself in the Bureau of Military Affairs to organize those old scrolls.

Mo Xi was high-ranking and powerful, so he never bothered with trivial tasks like these. Only after he began did he find that it wasn't so easy. There were many files, all of which needed to be organized by year and level. The important ones had to be sealed with a talisman, while the useless ones were to be destroyed. Finding himself a novice at this task, he worked very slowly. By the time the files were mostly sorted, it was already quite late.

One last box remained. The dusty chest held the records of a past bureau cultivator. When Mo Xi glanced at it, he saw a familiar name on the side. He stood still for a moment, his eyes downcast, but he couldn't resist taking out Gu Mang's file. He brushed away the accumulated dust and spread out the pages with care.

A great deal of information was contained within: Gu Mang's family background, slave registry, holy weapon, and favored methods of attack.

Mo Xi read it over, flipping page after page as he stood there unmoving, until he had finished the whole stack from beginning to end. A sheet of silk-paper fell out from the rest of the files.

The yellowed silk was emblazoned with the dignified words, Cultivation Academy Ethics Examination, Thirty-Third Year.

Mo Xi was stunned. Was this Gu Mang's final exam from the cultivation academy?

Sure enough, he looked farther down and saw that familiar handwriting, wretchedly messy. The contents rendered Mo Xi speechless.

CULTIVATION ACADEMY ETHICS EXAMINATION, THIRTY-THIRD YEAR

ANSWERING CULTIVATOR: Gu Mang

Q : "One ought to reflect upon oneself every day." The disciple is asked to reflect upon their deficiencies and answer honestly.

A : Personally, I have a money deficiency.

Q : When cultivators of Chonghua exorcise demons, what three things must they avoid? How should they be avoided?

A : One, beware a client who lacks money. Two, beware a client who runs away. Three, beware a client who's running away with the money. How to avoid: It's best to demand a deposit before getting rid of the demons. Never work on credit.

Q : Please list the three kindest and most benevolent elders Chonghua has known since its founding.

A : No idea. But the three most shameless are—

An enraged examiner had burned three holes into whatever followed, so Mo Xi would never learn exactly what names Gu Mang had written.

Mo Xi examined that answer sheet, seeing youth in every brushstroke. He was both amused and depressed, and he stared at it in a daze for a long while, until a clamor rose outside.

"No!"

"Help! Something's happened at Luomei Pavilion!"

Luomei Pavilion? Mo Xi was alarmed. Gu Mang?!

The commotion was sudden, and by the time he rushed outside, only two dozen soldiers on night patrol had yet arrived. They had arranged themselves into a demon-hunting formation and were now staring at Luomei Pavilion's main gate, which was on the verge of crumbling. The soldiers were covered in cuts and bruises, and the limestone beneath their feet had been crushed to rubble. The surrounding streets fared no better; a number of shops had collapsed, their tiles and bricks scattered and their splintered wood smoking.

The cultivator at the formation's head shouted when he spied Mo Xi. "General Mo!"

"What happened?"

"It's Gu Mang! A burst of extraordinarily potent malevolent qi exploded from his body. He's gone berserk!"

"Where is he?"

"We only injured him. He's gone and hidden within Luomei Pavilion. He doesn't dare rush out to fight again, but neither do we. We're waiting for reinforcements!"

Mo Xi looked toward the creaking gate. Just as he'd been told, a figure was standing in the shadows, eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

Gu Mang was clearly watching every movement on the street outside.

Mo Xi stared at those lupine eyes. "Isn't his spiritual core shattered?" he asked. "How could he suddenly lash out like this?"

"We don't know!" The head cultivator looked like he was about to cry. "His martial abilities make no damn sense. Ah, we'd be so much better off if we'd chopped off his head at the start instead of letting him bide his time in Luomei Pavilion!"

"He has to be faking it!" another cultivator said angrily. "How could his core be broken, his mind damaged? Did that man we saw seem weak and helpless to you?"

"Exactly! If he really doesn't have spiritual energy, then who gave me this cut on my face?"

"Why did His Imperial Majesty let this dog live?!"

They were still voicing their impassioned objections when they heard the thunder of approaching hoofbeats. Mo Xi turned to see a procession of twelve elite mounted cultivators galloping through the light snow, escorting a carriage engraved in gold.

"Wangshu-jun has arrived!"

The curtain in the gilded carriage was pushed aside as servants prepared a stepping stool, gauze umbrella, and incense burner. Only after a lengthy stretch did a thin, sickly face drift out from within.

"Ooh, how lively." Murong Lian noticed Mo Xi at once. "Xihe-jun's here too."

Mo Xi didn't plan to waste more breath than necessary on him. "Something's happened to Gu Mang."

Murong Lian scoffed. "I am, of course, aware. That's exactly why I've come."

As he spoke, he took a few deliberate steps forward and came to a stop near the red lacquer door of the pavilion. He soundlessly recited an incantation, and blue light blazed from his left hand. "Go. Seize the beast."

Under his command, the blue light transformed into chains and shot toward the door. The door, fully five inches thick, was pierced straight through and fell with a thunderous boom. Gu Mang was caught unawares in his hiding spot behind the door and was instantly immobilized by the chains of blue light.

"Return," Murong Lian shouted.

The chains tightened mercilessly. Gu Mang crumpled to his knees amid the sound of clanking metal and was swiftly dragged before Murong Lian.

"No more than a mad dog getting up to no good." A satin slipper embroidered with lunar patterns stretched out and stepped on Gu Mang's face. "What need is there for General Mo now?" Murong Lian asked lightly.

Gu Mang's eyes were frantic as he struggled against his bonds; his entire body overflowed with spiritual energy, and his teeth gnashed. "Let go —of me…"

"Let go of you?" Murong Lian curled his lip. "Since when do you give me orders?" As he spoke, he tightened his fist. The chains retracted into his hand with a clank, dragging Gu Mang up from the ground as well. Murong Lian grabbed his hair, forcing Gu Mang to look at him.

Two unnaturally pale faces met, their noses almost brushing.

"I am the master, and you are the slave," Murong Lian said. "General Gu, why has a month of starvation still not taught you your lesson?"

"Let go…" Gu Mang choked.

A nearly crazed look flashed across Murong Lian's elegant face. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Gu Mang narrow his eyes. Murong Lian's heart pounded; reacting with a cultivator's instinctive wariness, he immediately released Gu Mang and retreated.

At almost the same time, the brilliant sword array exploded once more from Gu Mang's body. The array this time was far more stunning than before. Every sword of light was taller than a man. The one closest to Murong Lian swiftly broke free from the array and flew directly toward Murong Lian's heart.

"My lord, be careful!"

"Wangshu-jun, watch out!"

The attendants shouted in shock. But though Murong Lian's martial arts were poor, he was vigilant. He flung up a hand, and a wall of ice appeared in front of him. The sword hit the wall, shattering the ice into powdery crystals as Murong Lian ducked to the side. It was enough to dampen the force of the blow—the sword of light tore a hole in his robe rather than his flesh.

Murong Lian landed on the ground, staring at Gu Mang.

Gu Mang was panting as he yanked Murong Lian's chains off his neck and tossed them rattling to the ground. Then he raised his head, swallowing as his hands curled into fists. A torrential, unceasing flow of spiritual energy burst from beneath his feet, so powerful that the weaker cultivators in the formation at once collapsed to their knees, coughing blood.

The head cultivator paled. "He's about to go berserk again! Hurry— stop him! Back in formation! Prepare to fight!"

But the spiritual energy surrounding Gu Mang was already too great. Not only were the cultivators physically unable to approach, their spells couldn't breach the defense put up by those swords of light.

Just as Gu Mang was about to lose control again, a glowing blue talisman appeared in Murong Lian's hand. He tossed it out with a cry: "Water Demon, rise!"

A chill wind blew, and the shapes of over a dozen blue demons crawled up from the ground, screaming as they rushed Gu Mang's sword array. One water demon was sliced to shreds by the swords of light only to be replaced by another, surging forth one after the next without end. In this way, though they struggled mightily, they steadily pressed near to Gu Mang.

"Take him down!" Murong Lian shouted sharply.

The water demons rose with a shriek, sweeping up wind and snow as they sped toward Gu Mang. Yet with a single gesture, Gu Mang sent a sword glare exploding from his fingertips that demolished a dozen of the apparitions at once.

He lifted his head, those blue eyes staring menacingly at Murong Lian. Then he pelted toward him through the falling snow.

Shocked, Murong Lian instinctively took half a step backward. "What are you doing?!" he demanded.

Gu Mang didn't answer—but the electric-blue phantom image of a lone wolf suddenly soared up from his back.

At the sight of that wolf, Mo Xi roared, "Murong Lian, get back!"

Murong Lian wished to do just that, but a malevolent qi he had never felt before was pinning him in place, rendering him immobile. Gu Mang came ever closer, step by step through the snow. As Murong Lian stared at him, he found himself thinking that Gu Mang was like a wolf king about to deal a killing blow. His hair stood on end before that aura of brutal cold.

"Gu Mang! How dare you! What do you think you're doing?! How dare you!"

Of course Gu Mang dared. He lifted a hand, and several blazing fireballs ignited in his palm to hurtle straight at Murong Lian.

A series of explosions rocked the street as each fireball smashed deep holes into the earth. Broken bricks went flying, leaving the cultivators no choice but to ride the winds and dart into the air to escape his attack.

Murong Lian's expression became even more sinister. His face, ordinarily so pallid and sickly from his dependence on ephemera, flushed with a faint but furious red. He stood in midair, jaw clenched. "You unrepentant bastard…"

Gu Mang reacted to exactly none of Murong Lian's words. With a wave of his hand, flames appeared at all five of his fingertips. "I hit you the first time because you stepped on my head."

Murong Lian stared.

"I'm hitting you now…because I'm hungry."

"Because you're what? " Murong Lian asked incredulously.

"You didn't let me eat," Gu Mang said slowly, each word sonorous. "I. Am. Hungry!"

Flames blazed to life as Gu Mang waved a hand to cast a spell. Murong Lian's pupils shrank.

In that critical moment, faster than anyone could speak, a sandy barrier burst up from the soil of the road. The ensuing wind bowled Murong Lian over as the barrier blocked the onslaught of Gu Mang's fire.

Murong Lian crawled pathetically upright and coughed, ferociously wiping at the dust on his face. He turned to see Mo Xi standing nearby, controlling the protective barrier.

Murong Lian stared at him and brushed the dirt from his clothes. "You knocked me over on purpose?" he snarled.

"Get behind me. You're no match for him."

Murong Lian's thin lips parted. He was about to reply when he heard an ominous crack—that thick protective wall was crumbling. Amid the falling dirt and sand, a dagger wreathed in black mist broke through the final translucent edge of the barrier and shot directly toward Murong Lian.

That dagger.

Mo Xi's blood ran cold.

That was…that was the same demonic weapon Gu Mang had summoned on that Dongting warship—the Liao Kingdom dagger he'd shoved between Mo Xi's ribs.

But demonic weapons and holy weapons had a crucial similarity: they both required an incantation to be summoned. Gu Mang had lost his memories, so he should also have lost the ability to summon this vicious blade; and besides, his spiritual core had been destroyed. So how—?!

Mo Xi had no time to finish the thought. The dagger struck through his barrier like lightning.

But Mo Xi knew Gu Mang's maneuvers. He turned to shout at Murong Lian, "Duck left!"

Startled, Murong Lian hesitated. That dagger was aimed at his left, so all sense told him to dodge right. Why was Mo Xi telling him to go left?

The momentary hesitation cost him his chance. That dagger was indeed shooting toward his left, but at the last second, it streaked right like a cunning snake. In the instant before the dagger pierced Murong Lian's flesh, Mo Xi darted forward and shoved him out of the way.

The dagger sank into his abdomen. Blood spurted into the air.

The crowd paled.

"Xihe-jun!"

"Xihe-jun, are you all right?!"

Mo Xi couldn't hear any of their words. He panted, his hand landing on the dagger's hilt. He yanked it out in one powerful tug, and scarlet splattered onto the ground.

Mo Xi stared into the distance, eyes dark. Amid the flying sand and falling stones, Gu Mang still emanated powerful spiritual energy. Between Gu Mang's bloodthirsty expression and the blade dripping in his hand, a wind from many years ago seemed to blow once more into Mo Xi's ears.

Back then, Gu Mang had told him—

As a general, as a soldier, and as a person, you can't be too attached to past affections.

We were brothers once—this is the last thing I can teach you.

Mo Xi suddenly couldn't hold back his desire to laugh. In the end, his hatred had only deepened. Ha ha ha! He'd already risked death at Gu Mang's hand—what was this petty wound compared to that?! Mo Xi gritted his teeth and straightened to his full height. Seething crimson poured from his palms as he stalked toward Gu Mang.

Gu Mang surely sensed the malice rising off him. As Mo Xi drew near, the spiritual energy swirling around Gu Mang exploded once more. But Mo Xi merely brushed away Gu Mang's array of light with a wave of his palm, shattering it with a crash.

The cultivators fighting at his side were astonished.

"Ah! Th-that's beyond terrifying…"

"The Mo Clan bloodline is genuinely insane…"

One of them even started mumbling, "If Xihe-jun's such a good fighter, how did Gu Mang ever manage to stab him through the heart?"

Murong Lian couldn't help but narrow his eyes when he heard that last. He watched the two men face each other with matched hostility, his gaze calculating.

Gu Mang made to attack again, but before he could form another sigil, he heard Mo Xi snap, "Shuairan! Come!"

A crimson snake whip shrieked through the air to answer his call.

Mo Xi's brow creased, his expression predatory. "Gu Mang!" he shouted. "Did you really think I would never raise a hand to you?!"

As Mo Xi's voice rang out, Shuairan shot toward Gu Mang like lightning in a gale. The snake whip tore through the snow, sending sparks in all directions as it struck down without mercy. Gu Mang couldn't dodge in time. The lash bit into his shoulder and drew blood at first touch.

Gu Mang's violence-addled mind seemed to clear at the sight of his injury. He shook his head and involuntarily took a step back.

"Stop right there! Where could you possibly run?" a hoarse voice rasped, and Shuairan thoroughly bound Gu Mang. Mo Xi took his palm off his own wound and wrapped his bloodied fingers around Gu Mang's neck. "Your mind isn't broken at all!" Mo Xi said furiously. "You can still summon that demonic weapon! You remember its incantation, and you fight like you used to—you clearly remember everything!"

Choking, Gu Mang couldn't answer. His pale face gradually flushed red, his fingers scrabbling for purchase on Mo Xi's hand.

Mo Xi ground his teeth. "Speak! Why did you come back to Chonghua?!"

Gu Mang lifted his arms, hands trembling as he covered the fingers Mo Xi had wrapped around his neck. Blue eyes met black. Those black eyes held endless flames, but the blue were wet. Gu Mang couldn't breathe. It was as if he would be strangled to death just like this. "I…"

Mo Xi was infuriated. "Speak!"

The cultivators surrounding them were too terrified to cut in, fear written clear across their faces.

At that moment, the pounding of hoofbeats sounded in the street. "Xihe-jun! Have mercy!" someone cried. "Whoa!"

A palace official had rushed onto the scene. She reined in her spirit horse and leapt off its back to kneel in the snow, her breath fogging white in the freezing air.

"Xihe-jun, please have mercy!" She performed obeisance to both Mo Xi and Murong Lian. "Wangshu-jun, Xihe-jun, His Imperial Majesty has learned of this matter and sent this subordinate to arrest the criminal Gu Mang!"

At that moment, Mo Xi was blind and deaf to any and everything around him. It was thus Murong Lian who turned to ask, "What do you mean? Where would you take him?"

"Wangshu-jun, His Imperial Majesty has ordered me to take Gu Mang to the palace. Upon hearing of this incident, His Imperial Majesty summoned the best doctors in the nation. Right now, they're waiting in the palace to once again examine Gu Mang."

She glanced at Mo Xi's hand, wrapped around Gu Mang's neck, and hastily added, "This matter is of grave importance. You must not execute him without the emperor's leave!"