Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

Su Xiao sat at the desk in Moyunxuan, his fingertips idly flipping through a newly copied volume of "Sect Affairs Records". Outside the window came the laughter and chatter of Wang Ergou and several new disciples. Ever since Li Xiaocao punished him to chop wood in the back mountain, this kid had developed a great physique and was now a trainee steward in the Battle Hall, walking with a swagger.

"Senior Sister Su!" A Shadow Guard disciple rushed in, kneeling on one knee to report, "Elder Zhang from Black Stone Village has arrived, saying he wants to compete with the Lin family of Green Wood Town for ownership of the 'Spirit Spring Eye,' and is blocking the mountain gate and refusing to leave."

Su Xiao paused, the ink droplet spreading into a small blot on the paper. When she looked up, her eyebrows already held their usual composed expression: "Prepare tea. Please ask Elder Zhang to wait for me at 'Listening to the Pine Pavilion.' Where is Elder Han?"

Elder Han is taking inventory of the newly arrived "Star Pattern Iron" in the storeroom.

"Tell him not to leave yet, and to meet at Tingsong Pavilion in half an hour." Su Xiao stood up and straightened the cuffs of his plain-colored outfit, his fingertips unconsciously twirling the Shadow Guard token at his waist. "This matter needs to be resolved quickly, so as not to miss the midday Pill Hall meeting."

Listening to the Pine Pavilion overlooks the pine forest behind the mountain, where the wind rustles through the pines. Elder Zhang and several strong men from the clan were already waiting outside the pavilion. Upon seeing Su Xiao emerge, the leading man immediately stepped forward: "Senior Sister Su, our master said that the spirit spring has always been Black Stone Village's territory. What right does the Lin family have to occupy it!"

Su Xiao didn't reply, but smiled and raised her hand: "Elder Zhang, please come in. Have some tea first. This pine needle tea is freshly made by Dantang; it's good for cooling down."

The air inside was thick with the scent of sandalwood. Elder Zhang, his face taut, sat down and tapped his knuckles on the table. "Senior Sister Su," he said, "let's not beat around the bush. The Lin family, newly allied, immediately seized the Spirit Spring, clearly showing they don't respect our Qingyun Sect!"

"Elder Zhang, you've misunderstood." Su Xiao personally poured tea, the tea swirling in the celadon cup. "The sect has long had written documents regarding the ownership of the Spirit Spring." She took out a scroll of contracts stamped with the seal of the Qingyun Sect from her sleeve. "You see, three years ago, the Lin family donated the Qingmu Town Herb Garden, and the sect designated this spring for the shared use of both clans, with each clan taking 30% of the spring water each month. It's all clearly written in the contract."

Elder Zhang took a closer look and his expression changed slightly. The contract was indeed the one he had personally pressed his fingerprint on back then, but later the Lin family acquired a few "Moon Shadow Orchids," and he became envious.

"But...but the Lin family is now relying on the support of Dantang to suppress us in every way!" The burly man couldn't help but interject.

Su Xiao chuckled and took out a small wooden box from under the table, pushing it towards you: "This is 'Nourishing Powder' that Senior Sister Li Xiaocao asked me to bring you. It's made from freshly picked 'Star Pattern Grass,' and it's 20% more potent than last year's. She said that the spirit fields in Black Stone Village have recently been plagued by insects, and this powder can repel insects and protect the seedlings."

Elder Zhang was stunned. He opened the wooden box, and a familiar medicinal fragrance wafted out—this was the prescription that Li Xiaocao had begged him for three times last year.

"Senior Sister Su," Elder Zhang's tone softened, "please don't misunderstand, we're not being unreasonable..."

"Of course I know." Su Xiao put away the contract. "It's a good thing for both clans to share the water from the Spirit Spring. How about this, starting next month, the sect will send disciples from the Array Hall to help Black Stone Village set up a 'Spirit Gathering Array' to increase the spring's flow by 20%, with each clan receiving an additional 10%."

"In addition, according to the sect rules, 30% of the profits from the Lin family's newly acquired 'Moon Shadow Orchid' will go to the public, and 70% will go to the Lin family. However, if Black Stone Village is willing to exchange it for the formula for the pest control in the spirit fields, Senior Sister Li can give you two more orchids."

Elder Zhang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"When have I ever lied to anyone?" Su Xiao stood up with a smile. "Elder Han will be here soon. He is in charge of the sect's land and property, so he can make the decision on this matter. You two can chat at your leisure. I'll go to the kitchen to see if lunch is ready—today we have your favorite 'Pine Nut Pastries,' and I specially asked the cook to add extra honey."

Elder Zhang and the burly man exchanged a glance, their hostility largely dissipating. By the time Han Lin arrived, the two had already brought up the management details of the Spirit Spring, and even pulled Han Lin aside to go to the Spirit Field to see the blueprints for setting up the array.

Su Xiao stood under the veranda outside the pavilion, watching their departing figures, and let out a soft sigh of relief. She took out the secret report from the Shadow Guard in her sleeve and glanced at it. The Heavenly Sword Sect envoy had gone to the Weapon Hall today, wanting to order a batch of "Flowing Cloud Swords," but Zhao Tiechui had politely declined on the grounds of "insufficient materials."

"We still need to be careful," she muttered to herself, turning and walking towards the Dan Hall.

The banner of the War Hall fluttered in the north wind of the "Bloody Wasteland" on the border. Shi Tie, shirtless and with his bronze back covered in old and new scars, was squatting behind a sand dune, squinting at the faint firelight ahead.

"Elder, they're spies from the Five Poisons Sect!" The disciple from the Battle Hall behind him whispered. "There are only three of them, and they brought a 'Bone-Rotting Scorpion' as a scout."

Shi Tie spat and unfastened the "Flowing Cloud Axe" from his waist: "I knew these bastards couldn't hold back. They failed to raid Qingmu Town last time, so they're trying to sneak into Blackwater Swamp this time?" He weighed the axe in his hand; the blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight. "Pass down the order: the War Hall disciples are to split into three teams. One team will launch a feint attack from the front, while the other two will flank from behind—remember, leave them alive!"

"yes!"

Half an hour later, the Five Poisons Sect spies were cornered in a dead end on the sand dunes. Seeing the situation was dire, the tall, thin leader threw out three poisonous bees in an attempt to break through, but they were cleaved in two by Shi Tie's axe. The bees scattered with a buzz, but were dispersed by the "Clear Wind Talisman" that the disciples of the Battle Hall had already laid out.

"Speak! Who sent you?" Shi Tie stomped his foot on the tall, thin man's chest, pressing an axe against his throat.

The tall, thin man was so frightened he wet his pants: "It's...it's the 'Crimson Flame Guards' from Burning Heaven Valley! They said the Azure Cloud Sect is in seclusion and they want to take advantage of the chaos to steal the 'Fire Crystal Stones' from Blackwater Marsh..."

Shi Tie's eyes narrowed: "How many people are in the Crimson Flame Guard?"

"Thirty-three late-stage Qi Refining level leaders, plus one early-stage Foundation Establishment level leader as captain..."

"Hmph, thirty late-stage Qi Refining cultivators dare to cause trouble on our turf?" Shi Tie suddenly laughed, twirling his axe in his palm. "Brothers, retreat! Go back and get reinforcements!"

The tall, thin man, suspecting a trap, was about to struggle when Shi Tie slapped him unconscious. The disciples of the Battle Hall escorted him, following Shi Tie as they sped towards the Blackwater Marsh.

On the way, Shi Tie took out a communication jade talisman and sent a message to Su Xiao: "The Five Poisons Sect's spies have confessed. Thirty people from Burning Heaven Valley came to steal the Fire Crystal Stone. I'll take Zhan Tang to meet them!"

Su Xiao replied quickly: "Be careful of the Crimson Flame Guard's 'Heaven-Burning Palm,' Elder Shi, don't fight head-on."

Shi Tie grinned and replied with a "Don't worry" emoticon—something he learned from his younger disciples, saying it made him seem less old-fashioned.

At the entrance of the fire crystal mine in Blackwater Marsh, thirty Crimson Flame Guards were already in formation. The captain, a burly man with a face full of scars, wielded a large, flame-wreathed sword. Seeing Shi Tie arrive with his men, he sneered, "Elder Shi? I heard the Azure Cloud Sect is in seclusion. You old bones, you dare to show your face?"

"Whether I, Old Shi, am here or not, what right do you, a mere cook, have to spout nonsense?" Shi Tie stepped forward, axe in hand, and the disciples of the Battle Hall immediately formed the "Flowing Cloud Formation" behind him. "Today, either you get out of here, or you leave your lives here!"

The burly man flew into a rage and swung his sword. Shi Tie neither dodged nor evaded, but met the blade head-on with his axe—a loud clang rang out, sparks flew everywhere! The burly man felt his hand go numb, and his sword almost slipped from his grasp. Looking at Shi Tie, he saw that he hadn't even moved an inch.

"What a hard axe!" the burly man exclaimed. "What kind of magic weapon is this?"

"Made of Flowing Cloud Steel, specially designed to chop up trash like you!" Shi Tie seized the opportunity to swing his axe, the wind from the axe carrying earthy yellow spiritual energy, heading straight for the burly man's face. The burly man hastily raised his knife to block, but was forced back three steps by the axe wind, and the sand beneath his feet cracked open like a spider web.

Upon seeing this, the disciples of the War Hall immediately activated their formation. As the "Flowing Cloud Formation" unfolded, the thirty Crimson Flame Guards felt as if they were surrounded by a sandstorm, unable to distinguish east from west. When they finally managed to break through the sandstorm, they found that the disciples of the War Hall had surrounded them from all directions, with axes, spears, and bows and arrows aimed at them.

"Surrender!" Shi Tie's voice boomed like thunder. "I, Old Shi, don't kill surrendered soldiers, but you must keep your fire crystals!"

The burly man's face turned ashen; he knew he was doomed. He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! You win!"

Shi Tie laughed heartily and put away his axe: "Good that you know what's good for you. Go back and tell your valley master that the Qingyun Sect's fire crystals will rot in the ground, but not be given to you arsonists!"

In this battle, Shi Tie didn't injure a single person, but he caused Burning Heaven Valley to lose face and also regained control of the Fire Crystal Mine. When the news reached Qingyun Sect, the disciples all said, "Elder Shi's axe blow was more effective than the sect leader's ten days of lecturing in seclusion!"