The two green wind-streaks swept down past the upper terrace of Taichu Tower, descending directly into the broad stone courtyard of the adjacent Taichu Martial Total Dojo. Lin Mo, Chu Lingxiao, and Tie Niu stepped across the connecting sky-bridge to meet them as the spiraling green wind-blades died down and the two Daoist cultivators touched the cobblestones of the dojo courtyard.
A freezing mountain chill rolled outward in all directions.
Potted bamboo along the dojo walls withered, their green leaves turning brittle with white frost. The heavy granite paving stones beneath the newcomers’ hemp shoes cracked under the weight of high-tier spiritual pressure.
Standing on the left was Outer-Sect Elder Wu of the Mount Qingcheng Sword Sect.
He wore a dark pine-green robe embroidered with interlocking cloud swords. His beard was long and white, but his small triangular eyes gleamed with cold greed and merciless cruelty.
[Target: Elder Wu. Goodness Score: -18/100. Half-Step Rank-4 Qi-Gathering Realm.] [Record: Extorted mortal mountain villages, starved flood victims, hoarded disaster grain.]
Beside him stood Deacon Zhao, holding a heavy horsetail whisk made of silver wire. His face was sallow and thin, with the sharp, hawkish nose of a professional extortionist.
[Target: Deacon Zhao. Goodness Score: -14/100. Half-Step Rank-4 Qi-Gathering Realm.] [Record: Embezzled sect alms, ran illegal mountain toll gates, punished virtuous disciples.]
