Li Muzhan glanced at Bai Mingqiu, who shook her head. "I didn't expect it, you really guessed correctly!"

"What trick are you two playing, spit it out!" Long Jingyue demanded irritably.

Bai Mingqiu explained, "Master, when Junior Brother transmitted the mental cultivation method to me, he mentioned that there might be a mole within our sect, so the method needed modification."

"Nonsense!" Long Jingyue scoffed. "How could the Liu Xin Fa be changed arbitrarily!"

"That's what I said initially!" Bai Mingqiu nodded vigorously. "But he insisted there was definitely an internal spy. I really couldn't accept it."

Long Jingyue glared at Li Muzhan. "Wuji, you truly dare to think such things! ...These youngsters have lived in Tianyuan Pavilion since childhood, how could they betray us? You think too poorly of people!"

Li Muzhan forced a wry smile. "Master, you mean I'm judging honorable people with a villain's heart, don't you?"

"Hmph, you know well enough!" Long Jingyue gave him no quarter.

This matter was too perilous, treating lives as child's play. The mental cultivation method passed down from antiquity held the wisdom and sacrifice of every predecessor; not a single word could be altered lightly, lest one suffer a severe backlash. He went and directly changed the core technique before transmitting it to the disciples. If anything went wrong, the entire Tianyuan Pavilion could be destroyed. This boy was truly audacious! The more she thought of it, the angrier she became, staring sternly at Li Muzhan.

Li Muzhan quickly said, "Master, rest assured, I know my limits!"

Long Jingyue said coldly, "Hmph, you have quite the nerve to tamper with the heart method of the Fumo Palm!"

Li Muzhan replied, "Master, I've already practiced it; there are no issues!" ...As long as one practices the Tianyuan Pavilion cultivation method, there's absolutely no problem. But for those who haven't practiced our sect's method, if they practice the Fumo Palm... hehe, that’s when things get interesting!"

"What’s going on?" Long Jingyue frowned.

Li Muzhan elaborated, "I replaced one section with the Tianyuan Pavilion cultivation method. Anyone practicing Fumo Palm without our sect's core method will inevitably suffer qi deviation and go berserk!"

"You..." Long Jingyue shook her head. This disciple was reckless and capable of anything. She turned and glared at Bai Mingqiu. "Qiu'er, you're indulging his wild talk too!"

Bai Mingqiu sniffed. "Master, I didn't believe there was a mole, so I made a bet with him. I promised Master I'd keep it secret, not wanting you to be sad, but... how many people in the Qinghe Sword Sect have suffered qi deviation?"

Long Jingyue replied, "About a dozen."

Bai Mingqiu looked at Li Muzhan with tightly furrowed brows. Li Muzhan sighed, "If it were just one or two, it wouldn't be conclusive, but this many..."

The Qinghe Sword Sect was an ancient sect spanning a thousand years. Even if disciples practicing their own sect's method suffered qi deviation, it wouldn't happen to so many all at once.

"Could it be coincidence?" Long Jingyue wondered.

Li Muzhan asked, "Master, how many senior brothers or sisters have left the mountain?"

"Three!" Long Jingyue reluctantly admitted. "Wuji, it's too early to claim there's a mole now; you mustn't wrongfully accuse them!"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Master, please summon the three senior brothers."

"Summon them over for what!" Long Jingyue's eyes immediately widened. "Wuji, don't cause trouble!"

Li Muzhan gave a wry smile. "Master, if it's truly a festering sore, it's better to lance it early."

"Wuji, how can you be certain who the mole is?!" Long Jingyue snorted. "Don't tell me you can read minds?!"

Li Muzhan said, "Master, I cannot read minds, but my senior brothers are young; their guile won't be too deep. If we press them a bit, they are bound to reveal something!"

Long Jingyue waved her hand. "Forget it, you stay out of this matter!"

Li Muzhan glanced at her. Bai Mingqiu gently shook her head. He nodded helplessly. "Then I won't interfere anymore. Master, I think it’s better to take the initiative."

"You," Long Jingyue glared at him impatiently. "Just stay put!"

Bai Mingqiu asked, "Junior Brother, now that you have the Fumo Palm, you don't want to go to the Mingjing Sect anymore?"

Li Muzhan laughed, "As long as I master the Fumo Palm... why bother with the Mingjing Sect!"

"That's true," Long Jingyue conceded. "You should focus on your training. The Qinghe Sword Sect will never let this rest; you’ll have your moment of reckoning soon enough!"

"Then I'll be waiting for them!" Li Muzhan chuckled.

The next evening, as Li Muzhan was chatting with Lin Shaobai and Zhu Ling in the small courtyard, Bai Mingqiu floated over.

She wore a white silk robe, her expression stern, casting a cool glance at the other two.

Zhu Ling and Lin Shaobai discreetly excused themselves, leaving Li Muzhan's small courtyard and walking towards the distance.

Lin Shaobai complained, "Senior Sister Ling'er, why so distant?"

"You are truly dense!" Zhu Ling shot him a look, kicking small pebbles as they followed the path toward the forest south of them—there was a martial arts field there.

"Why am I dense?" Lin Shaobai grumbled. "Junior Brother Li won't hide anything from us!"

"You..." Zhu Ling pouted, looking utterly helpless.

Lin Shaobai said dissatisfiedly, "What is it?"

Zhu Ling asked, "Didn't you notice Senior Sister-in-Chief and Junior Brother Li?"

"Notice what?" Lin Shaobai asked blankly.

"Forget it, forget it!" Zhu Ling waved her hand dismissively. "If you don't see it, then fine!"

"Senior Sister, you mean...?" Lin Shaobai suddenly realized, his eyes widening.

Zhu Ling huffed, "It’s a good thing you’re not completely hopeless!"

Lin Shaobai slapped his forehead and chuckled. "I really am dense!"

Zhu Ling commented, "They two will get together sooner or later."

"That's wonderful!" Lin Shaobai said. "Junior Brother Li’s skills are extraordinary. With him assisting, Senior Sister Bai will surely manage the Pavilion Master position well."

Zhu Ling nodded vigorously. "Of course."

"But," Lin Shaobai noted, "Senior Sister Bai looks unhappy; did something happen?"

Zhu Ling shook her head. "Offending the Qinghe Sword Sect—how could Senior Sister be in a good mood?"

"Hmph, the Qinghe Sword Sect is nothing major!" Lin Shaobai scoffed dismissively.

Zhu Ling glared at him. "Don't talk big. The Qinghe Sword Sect is not easy to provoke. We need to be careful this time; no one should leave the mountain!"

"Yes, I see everyone is being sensible and staying hidden on the mountain," Lin Shaobai observed.

Li Muzhan and Bai Mingqiu sat down. Li Muzhan asked with a smile, "Senior Sister, what's wrong?"

"You won!" Bai Mingqiu sat heavily onto the stone stool with resentment.

Li Muzhan smiled. "Did Master find the mole?"

"Yes." Bai Mingqiu slowly nodded, sighing. "Master is very heartbroken."

"Who is it?" Li Muzhan inquired.

Bai Mingqiu revealed, "Junior Brother Cheng."

Li Muzhan frowned, thinking. "Senior Brother Cheng Yi?"

"Didn't expect that, did you?" Bai Mingqiu shook her head. "Master didn't expect it was him either. She always treated Senior Brother Cheng very well, but to think..." Li Muzhan frowned. "Is he from the Qinghe Sword Sect? Or was he coerced?"

"He is from the Qinghe Sword Sect," Bai Mingqiu sighed. "Senior Brother Cheng was found by Master on the roadside... He was only eight then, nearly starved to death. Master brought him to the mountain, nurtured him with great care, and cherished him dearly, yet unexpectedly..." Li Muzhan sighed deeply. "The Qinghe Sword Sect has formidable methods!"

Clearly, the Qinghe Sword Sect had thoroughly researched Long Jingyue's movements and temperament, thus laying this flawless, deeply calculated trap. If not for the situation Li Muzhan engineered, Cheng Yi might never have been exposed.

Bai Mingqiu said hatefully, "A fine Qinghe Sword Sect!"

Li Muzhan asked, "How did Master deal with Senior Brother Cheng?"

"What else could be done?" Bai Mingqiu shook her head helplessly. "Senior Brother Cheng is penalized with confinement for meditation in the Tianyuan Depths."

Li Muzhan nodded. "That is appropriate then."