Another week passed.
During this time, Chen Yan did not act rashly.
Although Chen Yan did not know exactly how Elder Fu Qian viewed Yue Chi suddenly appearing in Taiyun City and bringing Qin Yue back to the sect,
Fu Qian could, with his toes, guess that this matter had to be related to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan’s use of the Spirit Mirror would certainly be recorded in the management office.
A single inquiry would reveal everything.
Yue Chi had not explained to Chen Yan why he wanted him to become the chief of Kongyuan Mountain.
Nor had he said how one could become the chief of Kongyuan Mountain.
Yue Chi, however, behaved remarkably relaxed about it, as if Chen Yan could become chief simply because he wished it.
The answer, of course, was no.
Although Yue Chi was the sect leader’s personal disciple and an Alchemy Hall elder, a figure many core disciples and even most elders looked up to,
in the presence of the sect’s true big names, Yue Chi remained a minor player.
Even above Sect Leader Yun Yichen stood the four Grand Elders.
Grand Elder of Administration of Kongshan.
Grand Elder of Discipline of Kongshan.
Grand Elder of Martial Affairs of Kongshan.
Grand Elder of Supervision of Kongshan.
It was said that the current four Grand Elders of Kongshan all possessed cultivation at the eighth realm or higher, at least Divine Ability Realm.
And the current Grand Elder of Administration had reached the ninth realm, Dao Union.
The Grand Elders usually did not meddle in worldly affairs; their role was supervisory and to step in when necessary to set things right.
Besides the four great Grand Elders, Kongshan Sect also had some ordinary Grand Elders without any real power, numbering around thirty.
All of those Grand Elders cultivated above the seventh realm, that is, Unity Realm or higher.
These reclusive Grand Elders, who normally stayed secluded and avoided worldly matters, were the real foundation that made Kongshan one of the Five Great Sects on Chenping Continent.
Back when Chen Yan was still an outer court marginal disciple, he had not felt much.
At that time he even thought an outer court steward was an extraordinary figure.
Only after he entered Reincarnation and became a Kongyuan Mountain disciple did Chen Yan realize how narrow his earlier view had been.
Lin Qifeng was still reflecting on the back cliff; according to Yue Chi’s senior uncle, Sect Leader Yun had no intention of releasing him.
“Let that rebellious disciple rot on the back cliff; that will be doing a favor for the sect.”
That, said Yue Chi’s senior uncle, was Sect Leader Yun’s exact words.
It seemed his convenient master was truly not in the leader’s good graces.
Chen Yan pushed open the door of the dwelling and gazed at Kongyuan Mountain, at the mist drifting through the courtyard.
Today, it was time.
...
Qingchan Peak, Cangwu Residence.
Fu Qian sat upright before the chessboard, staring at a game that still had no clear winner.
Three hours earlier, True Dharma Elder Bai Qiming had come to the Cangwu Residence to pay a visit to Fu Qian.
Fu Qian was the eldest and most senior among the four great elders currently on Qingchan Peak.
Bai Qiming was the youngest and least experienced.
Now the other three great elders of Qingchan Peak were of Fu Qian’s disciples’ generation.
But Fu Qian did not look aged; his temples were only streaked with gray, and most of his hair remained black.
Before Bai Qiming became True Dharma Elder, he often came to visit Fu Qian, who had served as Martial Elder of Qingchan Peak for over two centuries.
After Bai Qiming took office as True Dharma Elder and became the peak’s second-ranking figure, that habit continued.
Every time Bai Qiming visited Cangwu Residence, he played chess with Fu Qian.
At first, Bai Qiming’s chess was rather raw—sharp but too overt in attack, far from a match for Fu Qian.
But at some point his skill steadily improved and grew ever more refined.
Even his manner of addressing Fu Qian had shifted subtly over time,
from something like great-uncle to senior, and finally to Elder Fu.
Bai Qiming had now reached the Myriad Transformations Realm.
This time Bai Qiming only stayed at Cangwu Residence a little over an hour.
The two played chess while discussing recent events in the Chenping Continent cultivation world.
In the end, Bai Qiming suddenly resigned by placing his piece down.
“It’s getting late, I need to check on my disciple’s cultivation,” he said.
“That Glazed Pure Body princess?” Fu Qian asked.
“Indeed,” Bai Qiming replied with a smile.
Fu Qian nodded and said nothing more, letting Bai Qiming leave Cangwu Residence.
They had discussed all the recent major events within the sect.
Yet they both kept silent about Yue Chi’s visit to Taiyun City a week ago.
There was a tacit understanding.
After Bai Qiming left, Fu Qian sat at the chessboard for another hour.
No matter how he analyzed this game, the loser would inevitably be himself.
“Hah...”
Fu Qian first shook his head helplessly, then a sliver of ruthlessness crept into his gaze.
“Elder Fu.”
A disciple entered Cangwu Residence and bowed to Fu Qian.
“Speak.”
“Outside Cangwu Residence, a Kongyuan Mountain disciple requests an audience. He says his name is Chen Yan.”
“Let him in.”
Elder Fu replied calmly.
Soon, a handsome young man stepped into Cangwu Residence and, standing before the cold pool in the courtyard, saluted Fu Qian:
“Disciple Chen Yan pays respects to Elder Fu.”
“I didn’t expect you’d still dare to come see me.”
Elder Fu looked at Chen Yan with a teasing tone.
“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Chen Yan said.
“Disciple still remembers the task Elder Fu entrusted to me. I came specially to report back.”
“If I had known, I shouldn’t have sent someone to take you to see Lin Qifeng in the first place,” Elder Fu said with a laugh, though there was no humor in his expression.
“Maybe I should have had Zhang Xishun kill you first.”
“You jest, Elder Fu.”
Chen Yan maintained a nonchalant attitude, as if unbothered by boiling water.
“Surely Elder Fu wants to know whose people murdered Steward Song.”
“Why do you think I don’t know?” Fu Qian said.
Of course he knew who killed Song Mingde.
He had bought Song Mingde specifically to gather dirt on the disciples from Bai Qiming’s faction.
Whoever wanted Song Mingde silenced would naturally be connected to Bai Qiming’s people.
At first Fu Qian was furious and wanted to investigate thoroughly.
But he also knew that if he dug too deep, his own faults would surface.
So Fu Qian planned to drop it.
After all, Song Mingde was only an outer court steward; what deep secrets could he have exposed?
But Zhang Xishun’s appearance completely changed his thinking.
Someone from Bai Qiming’s faction had infiltrated the outer court with a Qi Sea Realm cultivator—and had been embedded for twenty years!
What on earth did they intend to do?