Inside the temple walls, the world felt different.
The chaos of the gates faded behind them as Lin Mu walked past the inner threshold, accompanied by a few silent monks. Despite what had just occurred, the atmosphere within remained serene—lotus ponds glistened under the afternoon sun, wind chimes echoed gently in the distance, and the scent of sandalwood lingered faintly in the air.
But Lin Mu's heart was anything but still.
He glanced back once more at the closed gates, where crowds still whispered in hushed awe.
"That was… a bit excessive," he muttered under his breath.
"Excessive?" Ashy raised a brow feather. "They took his tongue and crushed the pride of an entire clan. I'd say it was educational."
Meng Bai, still slightly pale, clutched his formation scroll. "I didn't know the temple had such strict enforcement."
"It's not just enforcement," Lin Mu said quietly. "It's a message."
