Cloud Prince Manor, main hall.
This was already the third time Chen Yan had sat here.
Dishes were placed on the table before him one after another, and the order they were served matched exactly what had happened in the previous two reincarnations.
The massacre at Cloud Prince Manor was, for the Qingque Kingdom, an absolutely sensational event.
Elder Lan Wei, being a fifth-realm cultivator, could have personally destroyed Cloud Prince Manor as easily as slaughtering chickens and dogs.
But he could not do that.
The Qingque Kingdom was subordinate to the Kongshan Sect, which allowed the sect to establish Stationed Envoy Residences in the kingdom’s cities and counties, and in nearly all matters Kongshan Sect cultivators had priority.
In return, the Kongshan Sect had to provide the Qingque Kingdom with certain support and guarantees.
If Cloud Prince Manor had been slaughtered by cultivators, and four of the dead were even Kongshan Sect disciples, the Kongshan Sect would have to investigate thoroughly and get to the bottom of it, or they would never let it go.
But if it was poisoning, Elder Fu Qian’s faction would have far more room to maneuver.
Chen Yan guessed that in the previous reincarnation, after Lan Wei killed himself, he would have destroyed the evidence, then pretended that he had been the one who had poisoned Cloud Prince Manor, and then fled in fear of punishment.
And he would have tossed the dirty blame onto his unlucky master.
If there’s a scapegoat, blame Lin Qifeng.
Chen Yan muttered this to himself inwardly.
Of course, all of this was only Chen Yan’s speculation, and what had happened in past cycles no longer mattered.
Steward Yang quickly walked to the Cloud Prince and leaned close, lowering his voice to whisper something.
The Cloud Prince’s expression grew tense and urgent, and he stood up.
Everyone’s attention fell on the Cloud Prince, and his gaze fixed on the entrance to the hall.
A tall white-haired elder in a bagua Taoist robe walked slowly into the hall.
“Young one Qin Ming greets Elder Yue!”
Standing by the table, the Cloud Prince bowed and saluted the elder who had entered the hall.
At once, Lu Li’s expression changed slightly, and he likewise stood up.
As he bowed toward the elder, his gaze swept with deep meaning across to Chen Yan seated opposite the table.
Direct disciple of the Sect Leader, Alchemy Hall of Kongyuan Mountain, Elder Yue Chi!
Everyone in the main hall rose and saluted toward Yue Chi.
Although most of those present did not know who exactly the white-haired elder in the bagua robe was, since the Cloud Prince and Immortal Instructor Lu showed him such respect, they dutifully followed suit.
“Senior Brother Chen.”
Zheng Fei, standing beside him, lowered his voice and cautiously addressed Chen Yan:
“Which elder is that?”
“He is my martial uncle.”
Chen Yan answered softly as well.
The white-haired elder was Senior Brother Chen’s martial uncle; Senior Brother Chen’s master was Lin Personal Disciple — which meant…
He was also a direct disciple of the Sect Leader?
Kongshan Sect was such a colossal entity with strict hierarchy.
A direct disciple of the Sect Leader was in absolute terms a figure standing at the very peak of the sect.
Ordinary outer sect disciples like him and Li Xiuxiu might never see someone of that level twice in their lives.
Yue Chi said nothing.
Everyone remained in their bowed salute, not daring to breathe.
“Hm.”
Yue Chi slowly nodded.
Only then did everyone loosen slightly.
His innate true energy shimmered in Yue Chi’s pupils as his gaze swept over the dishes on the table, then fell on the wine jug.
He had found the problem.
“Pour that wine away.”
Yue Chi said slowly.
“What?”
The Cloud Prince hesitated for a moment.
“Pour it away.”
Elder Yue Chi repeated just those two words.
The Cloud Prince dared not ask more and quickly gave Steward Yang a look.
Steward Yang had served in the manor for over twenty years and had sharp instincts. He moved deftly to pick up the wine jug from the table and carry it out.
“To be cautious, remove all wine and beverages in the manor.”
Yue Chi said.
“I comply with the order.”
The Cloud Prince said respectfully.
This ruler over a large part of the western region of the Qingque Kingdom bowed so low before the elder in the bagua robe that it was almost unimaginable.
No wonder — Yue Chi was the Sect Leader’s second disciple, a long-famous figure in the world with profound cultivation.
At the late emperor’s seventieth birthday banquet, Yue Chi had represented Kongshan Sect and attended the celebration.
Back then Qin Ming was still a prince and had admired Elder Yue’s bearing; thirty years had passed since.
“Today’s banquet ends here.”
Yue Chi said:
“The Kongshan Sect disciples, and that little girl over there, will now return to my sect with me.”
His words were not a suggestion or an order, but a notification.
As soon as he finished speaking, Yue Chi turned and left the main hall of the manor.
It was as if saying, follow or bear the consequences.
“Cloud Prince.”
Lu Li cupped his hands toward the Cloud Prince:
“I will take my leave for today.”
“It’s fine, Immortal Instructor Lu.”
The Cloud Prince smiled and turned to look at Qin Yue.
Qin Yue was looking at him as well.
“Go.”
The Cloud Prince said softly.
Qin Yue said nothing, only nodded, and then followed the group of Kongshan Sect cultivators as they left the main hall of the manor.
From now on, the immortal and the mortal were parted.
…
Outside the manor, on the streets of Taiyun City.
The sky was growing dark.
Yue Chi walked at the very front, his hands clasped behind his back.
Lu Li and the others followed about ten paces behind.
“Chen Yan.”
Yue Chi suddenly spoke.
“Young one present.”
Chen Yan quickly replied.
“Come here.”
Chen Yan stepped forward briskly and walked to Elder Yue Chi’s side.
“You owe me a favor.”
Yue Chi said.
Chen Yan gave a wry smile:
“I understand, elder.”
“Do you know how to repay this favor?”
Yue Chi asked.
“I am dull-witted; I beg my martial uncle to instruct me.”
Chen Yan answered.
“I want you to contend for the Chief Disciple position of Kongyuan Mountain.”
Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain?
To be worthy of the title Chief Disciple were top prodigies like Chu Xiyao and Li Haowen.
Not to mention Kongyuan Mountain was the main branch of Kongshan Sect.
But Yue Chi’s tone was remarkably calm, as if he were speaking of the most ordinary thing.
Chen Yan was stunned and didn’t know how to respond.
“This is not only my intention, but your master’s as well.”
Yue Chi continued.
“I have just entered the Martial Spring Realm; I’m afraid…”
Chen Yan wanted to refuse and make excuses.
“Heh.”
Yue Chi only snorted.
The meaning behind it was clear.
He knew everything.
“…I understand.”
In the end, Chen Yan could only answer like that.
He did not know what schemes those two old men, Yue Chi and Lin Qifeng, were plotting.
However, if he truly tried to compete for the Kongyuan Mountain Chief Disciple position with his current mid Martial Spring Realm cultivation, it could not be said that he had no chance.
“Come out then, how long are you going to keep skulking?”
Yue Chi suddenly stopped and called out.
From the corner of the street, a figure slowly emerged.
“Lan Wei greets Elder Yue.”
He walked slowly to Yue Chi’s side.
The mastermind behind all this smiled.
His smile was so calm, so harmless —
as if he had done nothing at all.