It had been a full year since Chen Yan last met with Elder Fu Qian.
Elder Fu Qian’s words had unquestionably aroused Chen Yan’s vigilance.
Give myself a chance to become the player in this chess game?
Chen Yan had no interest in Fu Qian’s proposal. He had never wanted to control anything. He only wanted one more attempt to see if he could prevent the calamity that would strike the outer court a year and a half from now.
Now, Cheng Ziying had already become a core disciple of Mingxiao Peak. By all normal reasoning, she was very unlikely to be affected by the disaster caused by the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul…
But Chen Yan could not be certain.
Because across many cycles of reincarnation, Chen Yan had long been contemplating and reflecting on the word “fate.”
Fate in this world seemed to split into two kinds.
One kind could be influenced or affected by external forces; for example, the deaths of Qi Yadong or Zhang Xishun were ripples caused by Chen Yan’s cycles.
Or rather, destiny.
Destiny could not be affected by external forces, it was bound to happen, written in the stars.
Perhaps Cheng Ziying’s death at nineteen was fate.
Thinking this, Chen Yan felt no ripples in his heart, because he had long since calmly accepted whatever ending might come a year and a half hence.
As mentioned before, for the useless Chen Yan in the outer court, Cheng Ziying had been his life-saving straw.
Aside from Cheng Ziying, he had nothing.
But the Chen Yan of today was no longer that worthless man.
He was the Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain.
He was the founder of the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art.
He was Kongshan Sect’s Heavenly Summit Mountain Dao Inquiry participant.
For a time, he was unrivaled in splendor.
He possessed everything the old man who once died alone under a tree in the Fallen Sword Mountain Range couldn’t even dream of.
In front of this new Chen Yan, what could a junior sister he met when he first entered the sect possibly mean?
Chen Yan had never felt so unfeeling before, but now he realized the true reason he had once been so sentimental was not because he loved Cheng Ziying so deeply.
It was because he had nothing.
At Cangwu Residence, in front of the cold pool, facing the lofty Martial Elder seated inside Cangwu Residence, Chen Yan no longer behaved with his former timid deference.
He now had enough confidence to refuse any of Fu Qian’s proposals.
“No, thank you, Elder Fu, for your kindness,” Chen Yan said. “I really am not interested in the chessboard.”
“What if I told you the way to make you the player is to replace me?” Fu Qian’s eyelids drooped slightly, making it impossible to read his thoughts. He said calmly.
Replace Fu Qian?
What did that mean?
“Please, Elder Fu, don’t joke with your disciple. Even ten, or a hundred, Chen Yans could not replace you, Elder Fu.” Chen Yan replied.
“Very well.” Fu Qian raised his eyes.
When a person’s cultivation reaches above the Qi Sea Realm, their appearance usually shows little change; they can even look younger by taking elixirs. Yet for some reason Chen Yan felt that Elder Fu Qian had grown many, many years older compared to a year ago.
“If you change your mind, come find me at Cangwu Residence,” Fu Qian said.
Those words were essentially a dismissal.
“I understand.” Chen Yan replied, bowed toward Fu Qian, then turned and walked out of Cangwu Residence.
…
When did Fu Qian begin to take on this look?
Chen Yan knew exactly.
It was after he had handed Song Mingde’s roster to Fu Qian.
Chen Yan had read the names on that roster to Lin Qifeng and Yue Chi as well, but his master and his martial uncle had not shown much of a reaction.
Fu Qian was different.
Now over six hundred years old, his experience and insight far exceeded the still-under-sixty Lin Qifeng.
Fu Qian could read things from Song Mingde’s list that Lin Qifeng and Yue Chi could not.
Huo Mu.
Supreme Imperial Law Elder of Kongshan Sect.
Just those eight characters as a title caused an inexplicable oppressive feeling to rise in Chen Yan’s chest.
Chen Yan did not know exactly what Fu Qian had deciphered from that roster.
But he was certain that most of the pressure Fu Qian carried after reading the list likely came from Huo Mu, the Supreme Imperial Law Elder.
Ask me to replace him and become the player?
Chen Yan understood Fu Qian’s hunger for power over what he held.
Otherwise he would not have fought so fiercely with Bai Qiming.
But if Fu Qian was not merely teasing or testing him and truly meant what he said, then it likely indicated something else.
Fu Qian had already fallen into despair.
He believed he had no chance to win this game.
He would concede the move, then try to find someone to take his place as the next player in the game.
It bordered on obsession.
Viewed this way, Elder Fu Qian was even somewhat pitiable.
A short distance from Cangwu Residence, Chen Yan walked along the streets of Qingchan Peak when a delicate, timid voice came from the side:
“Senior Brother Chen?”
Chen Yan looked toward the voice. Qin Yue, wearing a cyan long dress, stood there. Her gaze at him was a little shy and a little hopeful.
“You just saw Elder Fu?” she asked.
“Mm.” Chen Yan smiled and nodded toward Qin Yue.
Only a year had passed, yet the former young lady of the manor had grown noticeably.
“How has this past year on the mountain been?” Chen Yan asked.
“Everything is fine, it’s just…” Qin Yue’s gaze drifted slightly. “A little tiring.”
Chen Yan didn’t need to ask to guess the cause.
Bai Qiming must be quite strict with his personal disciple.
As said before, the conflict between the Qingchan True Dharma lineage and the Qingchan Martial Discipline lineage was the largest open internal struggle at Kongshan Sect.
The Martial Discipline lineage had the daughter of the Qingchan Sword Master Elder, the unparalleled genius Chu Xiyao, a contemporary prodigy who kept the sect’s position in contention.
The True Dharma lineage had always lacked a peerless talent to match Chu Xiyao.
That burden had fallen onto Qin Yue.
“Is that so? You should relax sometimes, don’t push yourself too hard.” Chen Yan said.
“Mm…” Qin Yue looked as if she wanted to say more but hesitated, then finally spoke, “Senior Brother Chen, there’s actually something I wanted to ask you.”
“Ask openly.” Chen Yan smiled.
“I still have some confusion about certain sections of the Purple Mansion Kongshan Art. I hope Senior Brother can help explain them.” Qin Yue said.
Chen Yan was a little surprised to hear this: “You’re practicing Purple Mansion Kongshan Art?”