The Azure Pond Sect.
The main hall atop Azure Pond Peak was adorned with ornate turquoise tiles, and was shrouded in drifting white mist. A young man leaned beside the immortal seat, clad in a cyan robe trimmed with golden threads that shimmered brightly. The sword at his waist radiated waves of mana.
Though his appearance was unremarkable, his expression was full of youthful vitality. A woman in a fluttering multicolored dress sat at the table beside him, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.
“Sect Master...”
This was none other than Chi Xuxiao, the young sect master of the Azure Pond Sect. He glanced down at the documents on the desk, and when the woman spoke, he replied gently, “The recommendation I sent to uncle... has he responded?”
At the mention of Chi Fubo, a flash of resentment crossed the woman’s eyes, and she murmured, “He refused.”
For Chi Xuxiao to be the sect master yet not even have the authority to appoint personnel, and to have even his recommendation rejected by Chi Fubo was undeniably a slight.
Yet he simply smiled and said, “Alright... Seems I was too hasty. Bring back the jade slip and let me see exactly what uncle said. I’ll review it carefully before asking his advice again.”
The woman sighed and replied, “Yes, yes...”
Chi Xuxiao gave her a long look, his eyes full of mirth, and asked, “What’s troubling you this time?”
“It’s not like you were asking for important positions! Just a few minor posts... and yet Chi Fubo still said no! What right does he have?! Who’s the real sect master here...” she grumbled under her breath.
Chi Xuxiao shook his head in reply. “I’m still too young, and there’s much I haven’t thought through. How could I blame my elders? I understand Ning Hejing suffered overseas, but you shouldn’t let personal feelings speak for you.”
The woman fell silent at once, though inwardly she muttered, Does he really not understand... or is he just pretending...
Just as they finished speaking, someone came to report that Chi Fubo had arrived. Chi Xuxiao immediately rose to greet him, walking all the way to the front hall and respectfully calling out, “Uncle, you’re here!”
Chi Fubo entered with unhurried steps. Over the years, he had wielded considerable power. The immaturity of youth had faded from him, and his demeanor had become much more composed.
Chi Xuxiao accompanied him to a side seat and personally arranged it, saying respectfully, “It’s been some time, uncle!”
This whole gesture gave Chi Fubo ample respect, making it hard for him to remain stern. He smiled and said, “There’s progress on the scheme from a few days ago. My man stationed at Fuchen Peak reported... Li Quantao has grown increasingly uneasy, and he’s been going out more frequently... It’s likely that news from the Li Family has reached him.”
Chi Xuxiao nodded and said, “Uncle, your insight is sharp... There hasn’t been a single word from the Si Family. Either the Li Family couldn’t get in touch with them or they did in secret, but it led nowhere...”
“Si Yuanli would never abandon the Li Family.” Chi Fubo was firm in his belief and said calmly, “Don’t be fooled by his cunning and restraint. He’s merely riding the momentum of current affairs. The way he’s acted in past incidents shows that he still holds a fair bit of sentimental weakness... He is, after all, a sword cultivator. He's not someone who can go to any lengths without scruples.
“If that were the case, people like Li Xuanfeng would have been able to sway him back then. One either acts or doesn’t; there’s no room for being talked into such major decisions. And he certainly wouldn’t have kept worrying about the Li Family’s wellbeing.”
Chi Xuxiao’s expression brightened a little as he said, “Could it be... that the Daoist Master of the Si Family really is in seclusion, and he’s doing this on his own?”
“Seclusion or not probably makes no difference... More likely, he simply fears our family’s Daoist Master,” said Chi Fubo as he exhaled deeply. He gave Chi Xuxiao a thoughtful look, and waved his hand to take his leave.
Chi Xuxiao escorted him to the outer hall. Though Chi Fubo smiled in farewell, his expression grew darker. He walked with his hands behind his back, plagued by a splitting headache, He just had to be this clever... and this respectful... I’m starting to feel reluctant myself...
Chi Xuxiao’s actions had caught the entire sect off guard. The young sect master had not only supported Chi Fubo publicly and tried to mediate the conflict between Chi and Ning Family, but he had also proven himself an understanding, magnanimous ruler. Over the years, his reputation within the sect had grown ever more favorable.
Chi Fubo could see all of this clearly, and the awkwardness rested on him. The recent appearance of Chi Buzi in the Eastern Sea left him both pleased and anxious. To put it nicely, Chi Buzi was a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from their own family. Less flatteringly, he was a senior of the first bloodline...
His heart was weighed down with gloom, yet he wore a smile all the way back to his own hall—only to be met by a black-clothed youth approaching.
“Yuanqin.”
The plan to install Chi Xuxiao as sect master had already begun to stray from its original purpose and head toward something rotten. But Chi Fubo was a man of discernment. He didn’t show a hint of displeasure toward Li Yuanqin, the one who had proposed the scheme, and greeted him kindly, “Did any of them give you trouble?”
Chi Fubo could see clearly, though not every member of the Chi Family was as perceptive. With Chi Xuxiao’s popularity growing, Li Yuanqin had suffered quite a bit of pressure from them, both openly and behind closed doors.
Yet he only said calmly, “Brother Fubo, I’ve verified it.”
Chi Fubo nodded in understanding. The two of them headed inside and sat down by the desk. Li Yuanqin spoke quietly, “Ning Hejing is indeed in collusion with a Buddhist cultivator, a Master Monk from the Way of Emptiness. He’s plotting against both Li Xizhi and Si Yuanli... The luminous qi in the Abyss has been growing thicker these past days. Li Xizhi likely won’t be able to stay hidden much longer. As soon as he surfaces, Ning Hejing’s people will be waiting.
“There’s too little intel. I can’t say for sure, but he likely has a way to pin it on us. With Lord Zhihu still in the Eastern Sea, I suspect he’ll be the one to bear the brunt.”
Chi Fubo stayed quiet for a moment and then said in a low voice, “You mean to say...”
“He’s pulling strings on both sides to push us into open conflict with the Si Family, so he can reap the spoils from the sidelines. It’s nothing more than lives to him, is it? Even if we can’t see how he’ll do it, Li Xizhi, Si Yuanli or Lord Zhihu, must die for his plan to work,” said Li Yuanqin.
Chi Fubo fell silent again, his heart growing colder as he said, "Ning Hejing alone cannot stir up such waves! I fear some Purple Mansion Realm cultivators cannot bear to see the two Daoist Masters of Chi and Si Families minding their own business in peace. They must be quietly fueling the conflict and trying to drive a wedge between them."
Li Yuanqin fixed his gaze on him and said quietly, “That’s exactly what I think too. But with Purple Mansion Realm cultivators shielding everything, even if Si Boxiu isn’t in seclusion... it’s highly likely he still won’t see it coming!”
Chi Fubo narrowed his eyes and asked, “How do you plan to respond?”
“Li Xizhi will be difficult to kill, and Si Yuanli is likely to notice something. They’ll most likely target Lord Zhihu first...” replied Li Yuanqin.
Chi Fubo’s expression didn’t shift in the slightest as he said, “Oh? Then should I summon him back now?”
Li Yuanqin shook his head and said calmly, “In my view, letting Lord Zhihu die might not be a bad thing. We can just lie in wait until he falls, then we'll immediately capture Li Xizhi and confine him in the sect!”
His tone was ice-cold as he continued, “As long as we plant the blame cleanly, even the Daoist Master won’t be able to argue. Then we can use this to pressure Si Yuanli into relinquishing those few long-withheld positions and force him out of the sect!”
Chi Fubo actually let out a faint smile when he heard him speak so casually of killing his own elder. “And what if he refuses?”
Li Yuanqin respectfully replied, “Then the Li Family will have no choice but to turn to us to preserve Li Xizhi’s life. Then, wouldn’t the remaining members of the Ning Family fall into our hands with ease?”
“Good. Very good.” Chi Fubo’s smile deepened, and he stared directly at Li Yuanqin as he asked, “If even a secluded cultivator like Si Boxiu can be kept in the dark... then surely a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator is involved...”
“How do you know this?” asked Li Yuanqin.