Stance

Feng Jiuxuan brushed off his sleeves and departed, leaving Xu Yuan standing completely dazed in the wind. The trump card he took such pride in at his current stage had been replicated after a single glance. He found it rather hard to accept. Although he had long known that his past life's *Cangyuan* was merely the tip of the iceberg in this world, the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art was still one of only three crimson-tier cultivation methods. Why did it feel like a dime a dozen now? In contrast to Xu Yuan's bewilderment, the two remaining men in the hall seemed completely accustomed to it. In his early years, Xu Changge had studied swordsmanship under Feng Jiuxuan. And after several decades, Xu Yinhe naturally possessed a very clear understanding of his elder brother-in-law's strength. Taking his seat again, Xu Yinhe looked at Xu Yuan, who stood there questioning his life choices, and said, "Changtian, you need not be overly astonished." Xu Yuan came to his senses and gave an awkward smile. "Father, can Uncle replicate another person's sword technique with just a single glance?" Xu Changge chuckled from the side. "The power of your sword technique is decent enough, but your cultivation is too low." Xu Yuan turned his eyes toward Xu Changge. "What do you mean?" Xu Changge proved quite patient this time. "When you channel qi, the meridians it flows through are practically transparent to Uncle. Moreover, that strike of yours contained no Dao Charm—it was merely a standard, routine move. What difficulty could there be in copying it?" Half-understanding, Xu Yuan followed up with a question: "Simple... Then can you do it too?" "..." Xu Changge acted as though he had heard nothing, walking straight back to his seat and sitting down. Xu Yuan could not keep a straight face and burst out laughing. The Blood-Ink Jade sword art still possessed real merit; at least Xu Changge was incapable of copying it. And having it performed by Feng Jiuxuan, who was hailed as the Sword Saint, was hardly a loss of face. After a moment of thought, Xu Yuan strolled over to a low table and sat down, swapping for a wine cup and taking a sip to calm his nerves. "Xu Changge, Uncle said he would teach me the Sword Dao. What does that mean specifically?" He felt curious, and more than a little expectant. Xu Changge cast a lukewarm glance at Xu Yuan. "When Uncle returns, you will naturally know." "Tsk, holding a grudge, are we?" Xu Yuan muttered under his breath. "No wonder you'll stay single your whole life." *Crack—* The armrest of the chair shattered under Xu Changge's grip. Xu Yuan kept his mouth shut, glancing meaningfully toward their father in the main seat, then shooting Xu Changge a pointed look. With amusement in his eyes, Xu Yinhe stepped in to mediate. "Changge, you truly ought to work on that temper of yours." In a solemn voice, Xu Yuan chimed in, "Xu Changge, being so petty, I really don't know what she sees in you. She waited outside the city for you for an entire month and a half, you know." Hearing this, Xu Yinhe cast a slightly surprised glance at his eldest son. "Changge, what does Changtian mean by this?" "..." Xu Changge released his grip. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Yuan cut in directly: "Father, did you not know? During his travels, Xu Changge developed feelings for someone." Upon hearing those words, a rare flicker of hesitation crossed Xu Yinhe's ever-composed face, and his voice carried a touch of uncertainty. "Which family's girl is it?" Seeing this, Xu Changge immediately said, "Father, I will handle my own affairs. You—" "It's the Young Celestial Master of the Celestial Master Sect." "..." Xu Yinhe opened his mouth, staring at Xu Changge with a rather peculiar expression. "..." Xu Changge remained silent. "Father, that Young Celestial Master isn't a man; she's a woman." Xu Changge took a deep breath, his fists clenching tightly. "Before Uncle returns, your elder brother can first teach you some basic knowledge of the Sword Dao, Changtian." *A threat of physical violence? Threats of force are the clearest sign of incompetence.* Xu Yuan sneered inwardly and promptly changed his tune: "Father, children have their own fortunes. Since Eldest Brother..." "Enough." Xu Yinhe waved his hand. After a few seconds of quiet deliberation, as if having reached a decision, he looked toward his eldest son. "Changge, if you are willing, Father can pay a visit to the Celestial Master Sect—" Xu Changge cut Xu Yinhe off directly, shaking his head with resolute eyes. "Father, I know my own affairs best." "..." Hearing this, Xu Yinhe's gaze toward Xu Changge turned complicated. A political marriage was nothing extraordinary, but a marriage alliance between the Chancellor's Manor and the Celestial Master Sect carried immense implications. It represented an attitude, a compromise. Binding the Celestial Master Sect to the chariot of the Chancellor's Manor would require a tremendous price—it might even disrupt other strategic layouts—only to potentially yield nothing in the end. Xu Changge saw this very clearly, which was why he could not allow personal desires to compromise the greater picture. Watching the expressions of his father and elder brother, Xu Yuan suddenly smiled and said, "The Celestial Master Sect is an orthodox Daoist sect. Even if the sects are purged in the future, they will most likely choose to remain neutral and aid neither side." "..." Silence fell with those words. The atmosphere did not soften; instead, it grew heavier. Xu Yinhe and Xu Changge both turned to look at him at the exact same moment. Meeting their gazes, Xu Yuan asked with slight awkwardness, "What is it?" After a few moments of silence, Xu Yinhe asked, enunciating each word: "Changtian, how can you be certain that the Celestial Master Sect will remain neutral? Merely because of the tributes they pay to the imperial court?" "..." Hearing this, Xu Yuan understood at once. In the eyes of the Chancellor's Manor, the Celestial Master Sect might indeed appear to be a faction worth winning over, but who could guarantee it was not merely an act? An orthodox Daoist sect... The Wanxiang Sect was also nominally an orthodox Daoist sect. Had he not happened to stumble upon the Wanxiang Sect slaughtering an entire city, their virtuous reputation would probably be widespread by now. With this thought, Xu Yuan said solemnly, "Father, during my travels, I saw with my own eyes that the people in Daying Province enjoy prosperity and peace, and the local commoners hold deep love and respect for the Celestial Master Sect." Xu Yinhe nodded, his gaze calm. "That is a reason, but it is not enough. The Sword Sect is also beloved within its own territory." The Tianyuan Sword Sect. Their formidable strength allowed them to maintain local stability effectively, but their stance dictated that they would only ever sweep the snow from their own doorsteps. Good and bad people existed everywhere, and the sects were no different. Yet that did not change the fact that, to the whole of Great Yan, they were a swarm of bloodsucking vermin. After several moments of silence, Xu Yuan looked up at Xu Yinhe and said, "Father, I stand by my view." "..." Xu Yinhe let out a soft breath. "Since you are so insistent, I will not try to dissuade you. But Father hopes you understand: you may have compassion, but you must not be naive." Xu Yuan nodded, his feelings complicated. He had not lied; what he knew regarding the Celestial Master Sect came from *Cangyuan*. The Celestial Master Sect had always maintained a neutral stance. They paid no heed to the mortal struggles elsewhere, caring only to protect the common folk within their own modest domain and doing their utmost to shelter refugees fleeing from other lands. This was a genuine orthodox Daoist sect. One that held a sword not to strike down the weak, but to protect them. It was only a pity that such a sect did not meet a good end in many of the timelines. A neutral stance invited dissatisfaction from other sects, as well as the imperial court. Who could tell whether their neutrality was for the sake of the common people, or merely to preserve their strength so they could reap the spoils at the final hour? Amidst the quiet, Xu Changge reached out and patted the pensive Xu Yuan on the shoulder. He said nothing, but a faint smile and a deep helplessness showed in his eyes.