Chapter 25: A Sword That Refuses to Bend
The Iron Mountain Sect had three hundred and seventy-two rules governing the conduct of its disciples.
Shen Tieshan had broken seventeen of them.
According to Guo Ming, that number was about to increase.
"Master, please reconsider."
Shen Tieshan continued eating his breakfast.
"Reconsider what?"
"The message you sent!"
"What about it?"
"You directly refused an order from the Council of Elders!"
"Correct."
Guo Ming looked like he was developing a headache.
"Master, you can't just say 'correct'!"
Shen Tieshan swallowed a mouthful of noodles.
"Would 'very correct' be better?"
Wei Lan lowered his head to hide a smile.
Guo Ming stared at his master.
Then slowly sat down.
He was beginning to understand why the Iron Mountain Sect's administrative elders disliked dealing with Shen Tieshan.
The grand elder was not particularly difficult to understand.
That was the problem.
He understood the rules perfectly.
He simply didn't always agree with them.
"Master," Guo Ming said, trying a different approach, "what if the sect sends someone to enforce the order?"
Shen Tieshan picked up another piece of beef.
"Then we'll have a conversation."
"And if they insist?"
"Then it'll be a longer conversation."
Guo Ming closed his eyes.
He missed the days when his greatest concern had been cultivation.
At the City Administration Hall, Inspector Zhou had discovered something unpleasant.
Not another forged document.
Not another missing shipment.
Something worse.
A perfectly legitimate document.
He held it in both hands, reading the official seal at the bottom.
The Iron Mountain Sect's Council of Elders had formally requested that the Great Yan Empire release all recovered sect property and cease involving Shen Tieshan in the investigation.
The request was polite.
Reasonable.
And extremely inconvenient.
City Lord Zhao sat across from him.
"Well?"
Inspector Zhou lowered the document.
"They're within their rights to request the return of their property."
"And?"
"They cannot order us to stop investigating crimes committed inside the empire."
City Lord Zhao nodded.
"Good."
"But they can withdraw their cooperation."
"Also true."
Inspector Zhou sighed.
"Which means we lose access to their purchasing records, transport agreements, and testimony from their representatives."
City Lord Zhao leaned back.
"That would be troublesome."
"Very."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then the city lord asked, "Do you think Shen Tieshan will cooperate with his sect?"
Inspector Zhou considered the question.
He remembered the grand elder standing in front of a dangerous defensive formation, refusing to break it because nearby civilians might be injured.
He remembered Shen personally helping secure stolen goods.
And he remembered the man's complete lack of patience for dishonest explanations.
"No," Inspector Zhou answered.
City Lord Zhao nodded.
"Neither do I."
Meanwhile, Ye Wuchen was examining a map.
Again.
Lin Qingyue had begun to suspect that his true cultivation technique involved purchasing old books and staring at them until something interesting happened.
"How many maps do you need?"
Ye Wuchen looked up.
"One more."
She blinked.
"One more?"
"An older one."
"How old?"
"Preferably older than the city."
Lin Qingyue stared.
"Lanyue City is thousands of years old."
"Yes."
"And you expect to find a map older than that?"
"Possibly."
She folded her arms.
"Where?"
"The bookstore."
"Of course."
Ye Wuchen returned to the map.
Lin Qingyue watched him for a moment.
Then asked, "Why are you so interested in that observatory?"
He paused.
Because he'd seen it before.
Long before the city existed.
Long before the current empire had been founded.
Long before anyone alive in the Lower Realm could remember.
But explaining that would create unnecessary questions.
So he gave a simpler answer.
"Curiosity."
Lin Qingyue narrowed her eyes.
"You're hiding something."
"Usually."
She sighed.
"At least you're honest about it."
The bookstore owner was delighted to see them.
"Back again!"
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Do you have older maps?"
The old man scratched his beard.
"Older than what?"
"Lanyue City."
The shopkeeper froze.
Then slowly looked toward Lin Qingyue.
"Is he serious?"
She nodded.
"Unfortunately."
The old man considered the request.
"Maps that old are rare."
"I know."
"And expensive."
"That's fine."
The shopkeeper's eyes brightened.
"Well, now..."
Lin Qingyue sighed.
She knew that expression.
It was the expression merchants wore when they realized their customer had no interest in bargaining.
The old man disappeared into the back room.
Several minutes later, he returned carrying a narrow wooden box.
Inside lay a rolled piece of darkened parchment.
"This was copied from an older regional survey," he explained. "The original was supposedly made before the Great Yan Empire existed."
Ye Wuchen examined it.
The parchment was fragile.
Several sections were missing.
But the western mountain range was still visible.
He unrolled it carefully.
Then stopped.
There.
Near the western ridge.
A small symbol marked a structure beside an ancient riverbed.
A circle surrounded by twelve short lines.
The old observatory.
Lin Qingyue leaned closer.
"What's that?"
Ye Wuchen pointed.
"An old building."
The shopkeeper nodded.
"According to the notes, it was a star-measuring station."
Lin Qingyue blinked.
"Another observatory?"
"Apparently."
The old man looked pleased.
"Most people think the symbol represents a watchtower. But the accompanying text mentions celestial measurements."
Ye Wuchen examined the parchment.
"How much?"
The shopkeeper smiled.
"Fifty spirit stones."
Lin Qingyue immediately spoke.
"Thirty."
The old man blinked.
"Young lady—"
"Thirty-five."
"That's barely—"
"Forty."
The shopkeeper sighed.
"Forty-five."
Lin Qingyue smiled.
"Done."
Ye Wuchen placed the stones on the counter.
The old man looked disappointed.
Lin Qingyue looked triumphant.
Ye Wuchen looked mildly amused.
"You're improving."
She grinned.
"Someone has to protect your money."
The western mountains were quiet that afternoon.
Ye Wuchen and Lin Qingyue followed the old map beyond the abandoned transport road.
The terrain became increasingly difficult.
Broken stone paths disappeared beneath thick vegetation.
Ancient retaining walls stood half-buried in the soil.
Occasionally, they passed remnants of buildings that had long since collapsed.
Lin Qingyue examined one ruined foundation.
"How old do you think this is?"
Ye Wuchen glanced at it.
"Older than the empire."
She looked surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"How can you tell?"
"The construction."
She examined the stones.
They were fitted together without mortar.
The joints were unusually precise.
"Interesting."
Ye Wuchen continued walking.
Lin Qingyue hurried after him.
"Wait for me!"
They reached the old observatory shortly before sunset.
Or rather, what remained of it.
A circular stone platform stood on a narrow ridge overlooking the dried valley.
Twelve broken pillars surrounded its edge.
Most had fallen.
The central structure had collapsed.
Weeds grew between the stones.
Lin Qingyue stopped.
"Wow."
Ye Wuchen looked around.
The observatory was smaller than he remembered.
Or perhaps the surrounding mountains had changed enough to make it seem that way.
He walked toward the center.
The stone beneath his feet was weathered.
But familiar.
He remembered standing here once.
A very long time ago.
Back then, the river below had been full.
The sky had been clearer.
And the observatory had been maintained by a small group of mortal scholars who spent their nights recording the movements of stars.
He'd visited only briefly.
One of the scholars had asked him a question.
A simple question.
Do the stars ever change?
He hadn't answered.
At the time, the question hadn't seemed important.
Now, after billions of years, he found himself wondering what the scholar would have thought of the sky above the current world.
Lin Qingyue approached.
"Fellow Daoist Ye?"
He turned.
"Hm?"
"Look at this."
She pointed toward one of the fallen pillars.
A series of shallow markings ran along its surface.
Not cultivation runes.
Measurements.
She crouched beside them.
"These are celestial coordinates."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Yes."
"But they're strange."
"How?"
She frowned.
"They don't match the current star charts."
Ye Wuchen looked toward the sky.
"No."
Lin Qingyue examined the markings again.
"Could the scholars have made mistakes?"
"Possibly."
She looked at him.
"You don't sound convinced."
Ye Wuchen said nothing.
Because the scholars hadn't made mistakes.
Not in the measurements he'd seen them record.
But the sky had changed.
And that was a question for another day.
A faint sound came from below the ridge.
Footsteps.
Lin Qingyue immediately stood.
"Someone's coming."
Ye Wuchen looked toward the narrow path.
Three men emerged from the trees.
They wore traveling robes and carried surveying equipment.
Another carried a compass.
The third had a leather case filled with rolled documents.
They stopped when they noticed the visitors.
The oldest man stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
Lin Qingyue answered politely.
"Travelers."
The man frowned.
"This area is restricted."
She blinked.
"Restricted by whom?"
"The Western Land Survey Office."
Ye Wuchen looked at the man's equipment.
Then at the badge on his robe.
A small bronze emblem.
The man noticed his gaze.
"We're conducting an official survey."
Lin Qingyue frowned.
"Of an abandoned observatory?"
"Of the surrounding terrain."
"Why?"
The man hesitated.
"That's confidential."
Ye Wuchen looked toward the ridge.
Then asked, "How long have you been surveying this area?"
The man narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
"Curiosity."
The surveyor studied him.
Then answered reluctantly.
"Several months."
Ye Wuchen nodded.
"Understood."
He turned toward Lin Qingyue.
"We're leaving."
She blinked.
"Already?"
"Yes."
The surveyor looked relieved.
But as Ye Wuchen passed him, he noticed something.
A small mark on the man's leather case.
A black bird.
Its wings spread.
A crane.
Ye Wuchen's expression didn't change.
He continued walking.
At the Iron Mountain Sect's temporary residence, Shen Tieshan was receiving a visitor.
The visitor had arrived aboard a small flying vessel.
He wore dark blue robes embroidered with the sect's mountain emblem.
His hair was silver.
His expression was stern.
And his cultivation had reached the early Nascent Soul Realm.
Guo Ming stood beside the doorway, looking deeply uncomfortable.
Wei Lan remained silent.
Shen Tieshan sat across from the visitor.
"Senior Brother Han."
The man nodded.
"Junior Brother Shen."
His name was Han Beiyue.
An enforcement elder of the Iron Mountain Sect.
And one of the few people Shen Tieshan genuinely respected.
They'd trained together in their youth.
Fought side by side.
Survived dangerous expeditions.
And argued about cultivation philosophy for more than a century.
Unfortunately, today they were arguing about something considerably less pleasant.
"You received the council's order," Han Beiyue said.
"Yes."
"And you refused."
"Yes."
Han Beiyue sighed.
"Junior Brother."
Shen Tieshan poured tea.
"Senior Brother."
"This isn't a joke."
"I know."
"Then why are you treating it like one?"
Shen Tieshan placed the teapot down.
"Because if I don't laugh, I'll probably become angry."
Han Beiyue studied him.
Then slowly nodded.
"Fair enough."
The two men sat in silence for a while.
Finally, Han Beiyue spoke.
"The council wants you back."
"I know."
"They're concerned that your involvement in the investigation will damage the sect's relationship with the Great Yan Empire."
Shen Tieshan frowned.
"How?"
"By creating unnecessary political complications."
"The empire is investigating stolen sect property."
"Yes."
"And we've recovered part of it."
"Yes."
"Then where's the complication?"
Han Beiyue sighed.
"Junior Brother, you know politics isn't that simple."
Shen Tieshan leaned back.
"Then explain it."
Han Beiyue hesitated.
"The sect has trade agreements with several powerful merchant organizations."
"And?"
"Some of those organizations may be connected to the investigation."
Shen Tieshan's expression changed.
"Connected how?"
"We don't know."
"Then why withdraw?"
"Because the council doesn't want to risk damaging those relationships before the facts are clear."
Silence.
Shen Tieshan slowly set down his cup.
"So let me understand."
He looked directly at Han Beiyue.
"Someone stole our property."
"Yes."
"We found evidence of a criminal network."
"Yes."
"And now the sect wants me to stop investigating because some of our business partners might be involved?"
Han Beiyue said nothing.
Shen Tieshan laughed.
It wasn't a pleasant laugh.
"Wonderful."
Han Beiyue leaned forward.
"Junior Brother, listen to me."
Shen Tieshan remained silent.
"The council isn't ordering you to abandon justice."
"Then what are they ordering?"
"To return and allow the sect's diplomatic representatives to handle the matter."
Shen Tieshan frowned.
"While the investigation continues?"
"Yes."
"Without my involvement?"
"Yes."
"And if the representatives decide the matter isn't worth pursuing?"
Han Beiyue hesitated.
"Then the council will make that decision."
Shen Tieshan looked at him.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then the grand elder asked quietly, "Senior Brother, do you agree with this?"
Han Beiyue's expression tightened.
"That isn't relevant."
"It is to me."
The enforcement elder looked away.
Shen Tieshan waited.
Finally, Han Beiyue answered.
"No."
Silence.
"I don't agree."
Shen Tieshan nodded.
"Then why are you here?"
Han Beiyue looked at him.
"Because I accepted responsibility for enforcing the sect's laws."
"And if those laws are used to protect wrongdoing?"
"Then they must be challenged through the proper channels."
Shen Tieshan considered that.
"How long will that take?"
"I don't know."
"Months?"
"Possibly."
"Years?"
"Perhaps."
"And what happens to the people suffering now?"
Han Beiyue had no answer.
Shen Tieshan stood.
He walked toward the window.
Outside, Lanyue City stretched beneath the afternoon sun.
Merchants moved through the streets.
Children played near the courtyards.
Ordinary people lived ordinary lives.
Most of them had no idea that powerful cultivators were debating whether justice was worth the inconvenience.
Shen Tieshan spoke without turning.
"Senior Brother."
Han Beiyue looked up.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember why we joined the Iron Mountain Sect?"
The enforcement elder frowned.
"Of course."
"Then tell me."
Han Beiyue hesitated.
Shen Tieshan turned.
"We were poor."
Silence.
"We had nothing. No cultivation resources. No powerful families. No influential masters."
He smiled faintly.
"The sect took us in."
Han Beiyue lowered his gaze.
Shen Tieshan continued.
"They taught us that strength should protect the weak."
"Yes."
"That a cultivator's word should carry weight."
"Yes."
"And that the sword should never be drawn merely to serve greed."
Han Beiyue closed his eyes.
Shen Tieshan's voice remained calm.
"I haven't forgotten those teachings."
He looked directly at his senior brother.
"Have you?"
Han Beiyue slowly stood.
His expression was complicated.
"Junior Brother."
Shen Tieshan waited.
"The council's order remains valid."
"I know."
"And I'm required to enforce it."
"I know."
Han Beiyue took a breath.
"Then I must ask you one final time."
The room grew quiet.
"Will you return to the sect?"
Shen Tieshan looked at him.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Silence.
Han Beiyue closed his eyes.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then he opened them.
"Very well."
A faint pressure spread through the room.
Nascent Soul.
Guo Ming instinctively stepped backward.
Wei Lan's expression tightened.
Shen Tieshan remained still.
Han Beiyue looked at him.
"By authority of the Council of Elders, I hereby suspend your position as Grand Elder of the Iron Mountain Sect."
Silence.
Guo Ming froze.
"Senior Han!"
Han Beiyue raised a hand.
"The suspension will remain until you return to the sect and answer before the council."
Shen Tieshan nodded.
"Understood."
Han Beiyue continued.
"Your access to sect resources is suspended."
"Understood."
"Your authority over sect disciples and property is revoked."
"Understood."
Guo Ming looked horrified.
"Master!"
Shen Tieshan glanced at him.
"Quiet."
Han Beiyue's expression tightened.
"Junior Brother..."
Shen Tieshan smiled faintly.
"Senior Brother, you've done your duty."
Silence.
"Now allow me to do mine."
The enforcement elder looked at him for a long time.
Then slowly nodded.
"Very well."
He turned toward the door.
But before leaving, he stopped.
"Junior Brother."
Shen Tieshan looked up.
"Hm?"
Han Beiyue's voice was quiet. New chapters come out on g.com first.
"I hope you're right."
Shen Tieshan smiled.
"So do I."
Then Han Beiyue departed.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Guo Ming stared at his master.
Then finally asked, "What happens now?"
Shen Tieshan sat down.
"Now?"
"Yes!"
The grand elder looked toward his tea.
"Now we finish the investigation."
Guo Ming stared.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Wei Lan quietly nodded.
"Understood."
Guo Ming turned toward him.
"You're agreeing with this?"
Wei Lan considered the question.
Then answered.
"Master hasn't asked us to disobey the sect."
Guo Ming blinked.
"What?"
Wei Lan continued.
"He hasn't ordered us to follow him. He hasn't asked us to abandon our duties."
Shen Tieshan smiled faintly.
"Correct."
Wei Lan looked toward him.
"So the decision is ours."
Silence.
Guo Ming looked between them.
Then slowly sat down.
He had never considered that possibility.
For years, he'd believed loyalty meant obeying his master.
Now, for the first time, he had to decide what loyalty actually meant.
In the Upper Realm, the Nine Heavens Sword Palace was approaching its own crisis.
Three days remained before the Sword Judgment.
Ji Wuhen stood in the training grounds.
Before him waited a young disciple.
The boy looked nervous.
"Senior Ji."
Ji Wuhen nodded.
"Begin."
The disciple drew his sword.
Then executed the corrected technique.
His movements were awkward.
Several transitions were poorly timed.
But the underlying principle was correct.
Ji Wuhen watched carefully.
"Again."
The disciple repeated the movement.
"Slower."
He obeyed.
"Now remove the third transformation."
The disciple blinked.
"But Senior, that's part of the technique."
"Is it necessary?"
The boy hesitated.
Then tried again.
Without the third transformation, the movement became smoother.
His eyes widened.
Ji Wuhen nodded.
"Good."
The disciple smiled.
Then a cold voice interrupted.
"Enough."
Both turned.
An elder stood at the edge of the training grounds.
He wore the insignia of Han Qingsong's faction.
The elder's expression was stern.
"Who authorized you to practice the corrected scripture?"
The disciple froze.
Ji Wuhen frowned.
"I did."
The elder looked toward him.
"Senior Ji, the scripture remains under review."
"And?"
"Disciples are forbidden from practicing it until the Sword Judgment concludes."
Ji Wuhen's expression cooled.
"Under whose authority?"
"The disciplinary hall."
"Show me the order."
The elder hesitated.
Then produced a jade slip.
Ji Wuhen examined it.
His expression darkened.
The order was genuine.
Signed.
Sealed.
And issued that morning.
He returned the slip.
"Very well."
The elder looked satisfied.
"Then the disciple will be punished for violating—"
"No."
Silence.
The elder frowned.
"Senior Ji?"
Ji Wuhen stepped forward.
"The disciple practiced under my instruction."
"That doesn't exempt him from punishment."
"Then punish me."
The elder froze.
Ji Wuhen's voice remained calm.
"If the disciplinary hall believes teaching a sword technique is a crime, let them bring the accusation before me."
Silence.
The elder looked uncomfortable.
"Senior Ji, this is unnecessary."
"Then stop making it necessary."
Elsewhere in the palace, Han Qingsong received the report.
He listened quietly.
Then nodded.
"Good."
The reporting elder looked surprised.
"Good?"
"Yes."
"Senior Ji publicly challenged the disciplinary hall."
"Exactly."
Han Qingsong smiled faintly.
"Every time he refuses an order, he strengthens our argument."
The elder hesitated.
"But what if the disciples support him?"
Han Qingsong looked toward the distant Sword Judgment Platform.
"Then we'll remind them that a sect cannot survive without discipline."
He paused.
"And that even the greatest sword cultivator is not above its laws."
Back in Lanyue City, Shen Tieshan walked through the evening market.
He wore the same dark gray robes.
Carried the same sword.
And looked exactly as he had that morning.
Only one thing had changed.
He was no longer a grand elder.
At least, not officially.
He stopped at Auntie Lan's noodle shop.
The old woman looked up.
"You're late."
Shen Tieshan smiled.
"Busy day."
"The usual?"
"Yes."
She prepared the noodles.
Then glanced at him.
"You look troubled."
Shen Tieshan raised an eyebrow.
"Do I?"
"A little."
He laughed.
"Lost my position today."
Auntie Lan paused.
"Your job?"
"Something like that."
She studied him.
Then placed a bowl of noodles in front of him.
"Well."
Shen Tieshan looked up.
"What?"
"At least you can still afford noodles."
He stared.
Then burst out laughing.
"That's true."
Auntie Lan folded her arms.
"Eat before they get cold."
Shen Tieshan picked up his chopsticks.
For some reason, the noodles tasted better than usual.
At Moonfall Pavilion, Ye Wuchen was examining the old observatory map.
Lin Qingyue sat across from him.
She looked troubled.
"Fellow Daoist Ye."
"Hm?"
"I heard something."
"What?"
"Senior Shen was suspended."
Ye Wuchen paused.
Then looked up.
"From his sect?"
She nodded.
"Apparently he refused to abandon the investigation."
Ye Wuchen considered that.
"Interesting."
Lin Qingyue frowned.
"That's all?"
"What would you prefer I say?"
"Isn't it unfair?"
"Possibly."
"He's trying to help people."
"Yes."
"And now he's being punished."
Ye Wuchen closed the map.
"That happens."
Lin Qingyue stared.
"You're awfully calm about it."
Ye Wuchen looked toward the window.
"Shen Tieshan made a choice."
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"And he understood the consequences."
"Probably."
"Then perhaps you should respect his decision."
Lin Qingyue went quiet.
After a while, she nodded.
"I suppose."
Ye Wuchen returned to the map.
But his thoughts lingered briefly on Shen Tieshan.
A peak Golden Core cultivator.
Seventy years without a breakthrough.
A respected grand elder.
Someone who could have enjoyed comfort and authority for centuries.
Yet he'd willingly surrendered his position rather than abandon an investigation.
Ye Wuchen's expression remained unchanged.
But somewhere in his mind, his assessment of Shen Tieshan shifted.
Only slightly.
Not yet respect.
But something approaching it.
That night, Shen Tieshan returned to his residence.
He sat beneath the moon.
The sect's official suspension order lay on the table beside him.
He examined it once more.
Then placed it aside.
For a long time, he remained silent.
Eventually, he picked up his wooden practice sword.
He stood.
And began practicing.
One movement.
Then another.
No spiritual energy.
No elaborate technique.
Just simple sword forms.
The same forms he'd practiced as a young disciple.
Back when he'd possessed nothing.
Back when he'd believed that becoming strong would solve every problem.
He moved slowly.
Carefully.
For the first time in decades, he wasn't thinking about breaking through.
He was simply practicing the sword.
And somewhere deep within his Golden Core, something stirred.
Not a breakthrough.
Not yet.
But a quiet change.
A small crack in a barrier that had stood for seventy years.
Shen Tieshan stopped.
He looked toward the moon.
Then smiled.
"Well."
He lowered the sword.
"Seems I've still got a long way to go."
And for once, that thought didn't trouble him.
End of Chapter 25
Fun Facts About the World
Sect Enforcement Elders: Large cultivation sects maintain specialized disciplinary branches. Enforcement elders are expected to carry out official rulings even when they personally disagree with them.
Nascent Soul Authority: In many Lower Realm sects, reaching Nascent Soul grants a cultivator substantial political influence. However, cultivation strength and administrative authority aren't always the same thing.
Ancient Star Observatories: Before sophisticated formation instruments became widespread, mortal astronomers and cultivators often worked together to chart celestial movements. Some observatories remained in use for thousands of years.
Sect Suspensions: A suspended elder usually retains personal possessions and cultivation but loses access to sect resources, official authority, and certain protected facilities.
Shen Tieshan's Sword: Despite owning several valuable spiritual weapons, Shen Tieshan still practices with an ordinary wooden sword. He believes a cultivator who cannot control a simple weapon has no business relying on an expensive one.
A Small Historical Curiosity: The Great Yan Empire's earliest maps were compiled from older regional surveys. Some roads and settlements shown on those maps had already disappeared by the time the empire was founded.