462 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

### Chapter 462: The Appointment of the Inspector "Silence, please, for Chuqin Alliance's special guest, the Inspector, Venerable Fahyin!" As Mo Jianxin announced from the doorway, Fahyin took deliberate and solemn steps into the grand hall atop the Mount of Reflection. The leaders of the Chuqin Alliance, dressed in their formal crimson attire, filled the hall. All eyes were on this imposing and majestic young monk. "What a fine appearance, what noble bearing!" they all secretly praised him. "Greetings to Alliance Leader Qi and fellow Daoists," Fahyin said, bowing towards Qi Xiu at the head of the assembly, who wore a silver-gray mask. Despite his cultivation being roughly at the late Foundation Establishment stage, he maintained a demeanor of humility and composure, even in front of some of the more powerful leaders in the hall. "Please bring the Robe and Staff!" Mo Jianxin instructed promptly. Kan Lin's descendant, Kan Xuan, emerged from behind the hall, carrying a large crimson robe adorned with precious gems that shimmered as she walked, captivating the eyes of everyone present. Following her was Yu Qing'er, another prominent figure, holding a heavy staff. A golden light of purification emitted from it, soothing everyone's hearts. The staff was topped and tailed with four rings that clinked melodiously like a flowing stream. "Hehe," Qi Xiu chuckled as he stepped forward and took the robe from Kan Xuan, handing it to Fahyin. "This is the 'Dazzling Treasure Robe', a third-tier lower-grade artifact. Each gem holds unique properties. I procured it from Qi Yun's Treasure Pavilion to help protect you in the treacherous Bai Mountain." "Thank you, Alliance Leader Qi," Fahyin replied, donning the robe without hesitation. Instantly, his aura increased significantly, his already dignified appearance now even more commanding. The robe could have easily accentuated a person's flashy temperament, but Fahyin's strong and composed physique seemed to harmonize perfectly with it, as if the robe was tailor-made for him. Kan Xuan and Yu Qing'er exchanged glances, each thinking, "He wears it well!" "And the 'Eight Sounds Purification Staff'," Qi Xiu continued, handing it over. This, too, was of exquisite quality, with a jade slip detailing its use, presented to Fahyin as a package. "Additionally, this is my longstanding 'Sword of Compassionate Salvation'. You may travel freely within Chuqin, assessing and ruling on any injustice you encounter. Report to me afterward. Should anyone resist, this sword will be your authority, as if I am personally present." He retrieved the sword from his storage bag, one known for its ghost-slaying prowess and self-upgrading in trials, and handed it to Fahyin. "Oh?" Fahyin showed no particular emotion over the robe and staff, but at the sight of the sword, his expression turned serious, recognizing it as a far more significant treasure. "Amitabha, Alliance Leader Qi's benevolence is admirable. I shall not fail in my duties!" Turning, he pointed the sword toward the vast sky outside the hall, declaring, "As long as there is unpeace in this land, and evil remains unvanquished, Fahyin shall not return to his temple nor seek paradise." The bold vow resounded deeply with those present, sending chills through them as their gazes shifted anxiously to Qi Xiu, pleading and expectant like pitiful dogs. "Did you all hear that?" Qi Xiu sternly warned, "If you dare to misbehave again, don't expect any help from me! The esteemed Inspector hails from Nanlin Temple, so banish any sinister ideas! Chuqin's roots in Qi Yun's orthodoxy are in establishing righteous ventures, not sacrificing them for trivial gains! What's past is past; from today, all shall be treated equitably, is that understood?" Realizing his Nanlin Temple affiliation, they all meekly agreed. The stricter families like the Gan and Qi were fine, but most of the less principled affiliate families, with shadows in their pasts, left with grim faces to rein in their members. ... Days later, in the Sect Master's quarters atop the Mountain of Reflection. "Sigh! Such effort and worry! Have Fahyin's accommodations been arranged?" Qi Xiu asked, lounging and massaging his sore neck after dealing with his sect's affairs, having discarded his mask into a corner. Alone with Qi Xiu, Mo Jianxin felt at ease, sitting down with him. "I offered to build him a small temple on the back hill, but he declined. After looking around, he chose the Tianyin Mines, claiming an affinity there and intending to establish 'Tianyin Temple' by the mine for ascetic practice and to reform evildoers." "Haha, it's fortunate I devised the Inspector role, inspired by Ji Yuliang of the Great Zhou Academy. Otherwise, if that monk rigidly enforced the law here, we'd all be chanting in temples instead." Qi Xiu chuckled at his own cleverness, sharing a laugh with Mo Jianxin. "Sigh," they stopped laughing halfway, noticing the shared signs of aging in each other—a mix of gray hair and wrinkles—both suddenly pensive. "You haven't fully recovered from your injuries, but I'm genuinely old…" Mo Jianxin sighed, stroking his beard. Qi Xiu had no comforting words, leaving them wordless in their mutual understanding. After a long silence, Mo Jianxin took a deep breath, setting aside his dismay over diminishing years and unfulfilled paths, presenting a hide scroll, "This is the list compiled by the Omniscient as you requested." Glancing through it, Qi Xiu pointed to a name, "Meng Jun, Law Enforcer of Qi Meng Sect, about fifty, early Foundation Establishment…" "Him!" Qi Xiu decided immediately. "Prepare a gift for the Omniscient, asking for help in convincing Meng Jun to join Chuqin." "But he belongs to Qi Meng Sect! How is that possible?" Mo Jianxin almost exclaimed in shock, unaware of the impending collapse of Qi Meng Sect. "Hehe," Qi Xiu smirked, concealing the truth for now. "Just do it. They took someone from us years ago; now it's our turn to recruit. Meng Jun might just be the first." "Very well, I'll handle it." As Mo Jianxin left, a disciple delivered a letter marked as ordinary intelligence from the Chuqin shop in Heihe Plaza. He opened it casually, pondering for a moment, before deciding to return to Qi Xiu. "An incident occurred at Heihe Plaza," Mo Jianxin reported, visibly perplexed by the contents. "Oh? What happened?" Qi Xiu inquired, noting his troubled expression. "See for yourself," Mo Jianxin offered the letter. "A Foundation Establishment cultivator from Lianshui Alliance, over a minor dispute, chased down and killed two cultivators from the Lingyao Pavilion, heavily injuring another before being killed himself. It caused a stir. But having interacted with him a few times, he never struck me as impulsive or bloodthirsty." "Oh?" Qi Xiu, who had been reclining, sprang up, scrutinizing the letter, "Was the perpetrator associated with Lianshui Sect?" "Yes, an inner disciple, highly valued," Mo Jianxin confirmed. "Ah, understood. You may go." Qi Xiu dismissed Mo Jianxin and paced thoughtfully around the room, speaking aloud to himself, "The timing and targets chosen perfectly—implicate Lianshui in wrongdoing and sour relations just in this sensitive period… A crafty plan indeed, swift and precise. It feels like Chai Yi's work! But why would the perpetrator sacrifice for Lingmu Alliance? Or perhaps he's a pre-planted mole by their side?" Unsure if it was Chai Yi's doing or how the incident would unfold, Qi Xiu hoped for its success yet grew wary of Chai Yi's machinations… (To be continued)