Peking Opera Cat: I Became A Zi's Brother

Deep in the Panzong Hall, there is always an lingering chill.

Black stone pillars with coiled dragons pierce the dome from the bottom of the hall. The law runes engraved on the pillars glow bluish-gray under the cold candlelight. The rune patterns are like fine spider webs, shrouding the entire hall in a repressive "order".

On the stone platform in the center of the hall, a huge star map of the twelve sects is suspended. The star map is composed of countless tiny light points, and each light point corresponds to the fortune of a sect.

At this moment, Wuqing was sitting upright on the highest black iron chair. He had a tall and straight figure, and the hem of his black robe hung down on both sides of the chair, like the solidified night.

The silver mask covered most of his face, revealing only his cold jaw and a pair of bottomless eyes. There was no emotion in those eyes, as if nothing in the world could leave a trace in them.

He held a palm-sized legal token in his fingertips. The token was completely black, with the word "judgment" engraved on it in an intaglio style.

The word "judgment" was surrounded by complex runes, and a very faint dark purple aura occasionally seeped out from the gaps between the runes - that was the trace of the fusion of the power of chaos and the power of the laws of the Judgment Sect.

His ruthless gaze fell on the star map, slowly sweeping across the points of light that had regained their brightness—the vermilion of the Singing Sect, the scarlet of the Fighting Sect, the aquamarine of the Body Sect, the earthy yellow of the Walking Sect, the silver-white of the Mind Sect, the copper-green of the Hand Sect, the dark gold of the Eye Sect…

The seven spots of light were like seven eye-catching stars, emitting a soft but firm light on the star map. This was proof that the rhythmic force had resumed its flow after the sect was liberated.

The remaining three light spots, the inky black of Pan Zong, the gray-purple of Du Zong, and the dark silver of Zuo Zong, were wrapped in a thick layer of light purple chaotic energy. The light spots were dim, like candles in the wind.

"Seven."

After a long time, Wuqing finally spoke. His voice was very soft, but it had a cold and hard texture like the friction of metal. It echoed in the empty hall, and no emotion could be heard.

His fingertips gently slid across the light spot of the Chang Sect on the star map. It used to be the most vibrant place among the twelve sects, but now it has become the "helper" of the Xingluo Class.

"Xingluo Squad... a bunch of young pussies, but they're more capable than expected."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a rustling sound of chains dragging on the ground from the queue below.

Zhulong took a step forward. He was wearing the black uniform of a judge, with several cold metal chains wrapped around his waist. The spikes at the end of the chains flashed with a terrifying edge.

His face showed a bit of impatience, and even more of a desire to fight, and his voice was loud:

"Master, since these little cats have been able to defeat seven sects in a row, they will surely target our Pan Sect next! In my opinion, we should immediately dispatch three hundred enforcers to set up an ambush at the Falling Rock Pass outside the barrier. As soon as they enter the pass, we can use the 'Soul Locking Formation' to trap them. This will let them know that the Pan Sect is not comparable to those weak sects!"

Wuqing shook his head slowly, and the law token on his fingertips circled in his palm. His movements were calm and unhurried, as if the arrival of the Xingluo class was just a trivial matter to him.

"No hurries."

He raised his eyes, and his gaze under the mask first swept over Zhulong. There was no warmth in those eyes, which made Zhulong subconsciously calm down a little.

Then, his gaze turned to Tang Ming who was standing silently on the other side of the queue.

Tang Ming was still wearing the familiar Du Zong uniform, except for a few imperceptible wear and tear on the hem. His originally tall and straight figure now looked a little hunched, and a gloomy aura lingered around him, as if he was firmly bound by invisible shackles.

He lowered his eyelids, his long lashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes, obscuring his expression. A merciless gaze fell on him, not lingering for long, yet carrying a subtle, almost mocking sharpness—a gaze that silently declared that when the little kits from Xingluo Class entered the Banzong and saw the current state of their former "teacher," they would undoubtedly be filled with shock, and that expression would surely be quite amusing.

Retracting his gaze, Wuqing finally stood up from the black iron chair.

The black hem of his robe swept across the ground, creating a slight sound of wind. The candlelight in the hall shook violently a few times, stretching his shadow very long, like a dormant giant beast.

"Pass the order."

His voice was still cold, but it had a certain unquestionable majesty.

"First, order the barrier defense department to immediately reinforce the barrier's three layers of defense. Double the rune density on the outer layer, the middle layer, the ground net lock array, and the inner layer, the maze array. Especially at the two must-pass locations, Rockfall Pass and Misty Valley, deploy defenses to the highest standards, leaving no loopholes."

"Secondly, mobilize all scouts. Divide into ten groups and focus on the ten mountain passes leading to Panzong. Start your search thirty miles outside the barrier. If you find any trace of the Xingluo Squad, report back immediately using a communication talisman. Remember, do not alert them, and do not act without authorization. I want to know their every move."

"Third, Tang Ming."

Wuqing paused, looked at Tang Ming who was still silent, and said in a calm tone.

"Go and count the Chaos Artifacts stored in the hall, especially the seal on the 'Law Book'. Make sure it's intact. Also, increase the power of the 'Spirit Suppression Pillar' to maximum. If the Xingluo Squad dares to enter the hall, use the 'Spirit Suppression Pillar' to suppress their rhyme energy. I want to see how they can break the rules of the Judgment Sect without rhyme energy."

Tang Ming lowered his eyes, bowed slowly, and spoke in a low and hoarse voice:

"Yes, Sect Master."

There was no emotion in his voice, only a numb obedience, as if he was already accustomed to such orders.

Zhu Long, listening to this, was so anxious that he clenched the chain around his waist with both hands, making a light "crackling" sound. He took a step forward, his tone full of confidence:

"Don't worry, Sect Master! With this triple defense, plus the 'Spirit Suppression Pillar' and the Chaos Artifact, even if the Xingluo Squadron has the help of the Ancient Sect Song, they will definitely be unable to escape! This time, we will make sure they never return, and show the other sects what happens when they become enemies of the Pan Sect!"

Wuqing ignored Zhulong's bold words. He walked back to the star map and tapped the stone platform at the edge of the map with his fingertips, making a soft "thump thump" sound that was particularly clear in the silent hall.

His gaze once again fell on the light spots that had regained their brightness. His eyes were still cold, but with a hint of calculation.

The hall was eerily quiet, with only the crackling of the flickering candlelight and the sound of ruthless fingertips tapping on the stone platform. The air seemed to have frozen at this moment.

He seemed to be waiting, waiting for the group of kittens who had broken the "order" of the twelve sects to step into the net he had already laid;

He was waiting to see them panic in the face of Pan Zong's laws and the power of chaos; he was also waiting to see the shocked and desperate expressions on their faces when they saw Tang Ming - that would be the best defense of his "order".

At this time, on the hill outside the Panzong barrier, the six cats of the Xingluo Squad were standing quietly.

Bai Tang clenched the rosary in his hand, his amber eyes full of determination;

Wu Song carried his whistle stick, his eyes fixed sharply on the barrier ahead; Da Fei held the Chang Zong Gu Pu tightly in his arms, his face showing some nervousness, but more of determination;

The jade pendant on Mo Yun's fingertips glowed with a light blue light, and she was carefully sensing the aura of the barrier;

The folding fan in Mo Zi's hand gently closed, his eyes full of vigilance;

Xiaoqing gathered a wisp of water power, ready to deal with any emergency at any time.

They didn't know that in the Panzong Hall, a conspiracy against them had already been quietly unfolding;

What they didn't know was that the teacher who had taught them and accompanied them through countless storms was now in the depths of Panzong, becoming the sharpest "surprise" in Wuqing's hands.

The wind of Panzong still carries a biting chill as it blows across this land intertwined with law and chaos, and a battle that is destined to be tragic has begun silently.

……

The candlelight in the hall suddenly flickered strangely, and a low, hoarse voice sounded without warning from deep within the hall, like a whisper coming from deep underground:

"Ruthless...it's time."

The voice was not loud, but it had a power that penetrated people's hearts and instantly drowned out the crackling sound of the candlelight.

Wuqing's fingers gripping the token suddenly tightened, and his eyes beneath the mask suddenly darkened. The calculating look just now was now replaced by cold silence.

He did not look back, nor did he say a word to Zhulong and Tang Ming. He just turned and walked towards the shadows in the deepest part of the hall.

The dark hem of the dress dragged across the ground, flowing like the night, gradually blending into the darkness where even candlelight could not penetrate.

The law runes on the temple pillars seemed to sense something, and their light flickered. The originally lingering chill became even stronger, and even the air seemed to be freezing.

Zhulong frowned and subconsciously tightened his grip on the chain, but didn't dare ask any more questions - he knew that that was the "depth" that only the Sect Master could access, where the deepest secrets of the Pan Sect were hidden, and it was also a forbidden area that even he could not set foot in.

Tang Ming still had his eyes lowered, but the fingers hanging by his side moved slightly, and a very faint fluctuation passed through his eyes, and he quickly returned to his numb calmness.

In the darkness, the ruthless figure gradually vanished, leaving only that deep voice still faintly echoing in the depths of the hall, intertwining with the faint glow of the runes, revealing an indescribable strangeness and chill...