Threat

He hauled the man up and tossed him into the hands of a trusted confidant at his side. Pausing briefly, he instructed: "Send him to Kong Guxi." The confidant withdrew with the captive. Only then did a young man enter from outside the hall, looking as if he had been waiting for quite some time. When he stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting, Li Jiangxia's demeanor softened considerably. "Xuantong, you arrived just in time." An Xuantong was the most outstanding member of the An clan's generation. A year older than Li Jiangxia, he had already attained Qi Refinement cultivation. Previously, he had entered secluded cultivation in the Dense Forest, mastering the third-rank technique Qingya Baiyan Jue. This technique hailed from the heritage of the Jiang family; only after Yuzhen returned to his proper place and spiritual qi was restored did the means to practice it become available again. He appeared to have just rushed back, travel-worn. Cupping his hands, he drew a jade pendant from his sleeve and replied: "Young Master, your subordinate has just come from the Dense Forest. Lord Cui sent word: this jade has been nurtured by his own mind and spirit. If anything goes awry in the Wilderness, crush this talisman, and my lord will come to provide support." "Good." Li Jiangxia stowed the object in his sleeve and strode out, listening as An Xuantong said in a low voice: "I heard that Xuanyue has lost its sway. The minor clans along the borders of the Wilderness are heavily wavering, making eyes at Duxian Dao. Neither side is at peace." Li Jiangxia paid it little heed and replied: "There is no need to bother with them for now. In the end, they are Xuanyue's forces. Even if they truly defect to Duxian Dao, it will be Xuanyue's face they disgrace. That elder brother of mine bears grudges like no other, and the clan is keeping tally of everything. Once matters settle down... they will have hell to pay." Instead, he asked: "Lord An has... gone missing... and so many incidents have cropped up lately. Has your family been at peace these days?" An Xuantong said respectfully: "The An clan has been loyal and upright for generations, serving as ministers across five generations. The entire family is deeply concerned over the clan's affairs. Several of my younger brothers have emerged from seclusion, while the elders have repeatedly petitioned to come east to risk their lives against Duxian Dao, though unfortunately the elder lord held them back..." Unlike the taciturn An Siwei of the older generation, An Xuantong appeared far more assertive and opinionated. Li Jiangxia knew his words were no mere pleasantries. The An and Chen families were the most deeply intertwined with the Li clan, bound fast to the Li family's chariot. Whenever trouble befell the Li family, these two surnames grew anxious above all others. Thus he merely replied: "Elder Zheyan is well on in years and need not take further risks. Leaving these matters to the young will suffice... Has Pei Xie emerged from seclusion? I shall go see him; you take care of the affairs below." An Xuantong nodded at once and answered: "Lord Pei is overseeing affairs in the Wilderness." Pei Xie was an independent cultivator of the Wilderness and a bosom friend of Li Jiangxia, having known him for five or six years. This rogue cultivator possessed remarkable talent and was somewhat older. Relying on the resources Li Jiangxia provided when befriending him, his cultivation had already reached late Qi Refinement. As his most considerate subordinate, An Xuantong had long arranged everything. After reporting the location and seeing Li Jiangxia off, he turned back and summoned a subordinate waiting nearby. An Xuantong inquired about what had transpired earlier. Listening as his subordinate explained everything in detail, he fell silent for a moment before sighing: "Good advice cannot save a ghost determined to die. That man surnamed Fu simply has a death wish. To think I kept suppressing him time and again before—he actually thought I was afraid of him stealing the spotlight. The moment I entered seclusion, he rushed forward to court his own doom." He let out a sneer and asked: "So be it. Did the young master send him to the lake... or to Xuanyue?" "Reporting to my lord, he was sent to Xuanyue." Hearing this, An Xuantong mused to himself: 'He fears the eldest young master might make an issue out of Xuanyue... It seems the third young master still pities the common folk of the Wilderness... Even if a retreat is necessary later, he will likely stand against Duxian Dao for a time to bring more people back to the East Shore...' 'Yet sending him off like this... Xuanyue will be placed in a tight spot... Fu En was, after all, a loyal subject. It will inevitably chill the hearts of some.' Having anticipated the course of events, he immediately began making preparations. Flipping through bamboo scrolls, he ordered several cultivators to fetch them and deliver them to his quarters. After hesitating a moment, he turned back, summoned someone to deliver a message to the lake, and said in a low voice: "The fall of the Xuanyue mountain gate and Fu En's sudden death mid-breakthrough were already extraordinarily delicate matters. At this critical juncture, instead of keeping a low profile, this Fu fellow came out courting death. He is certainly doomed now, and it is uncertain whether the Fu family can even keep a breath of life. If anyone hopes to plead for mercy on their behalf, our family must absolutely refuse." ... The Wilderness. Kong Guxi had just returned from the lake, feeling a chill seep up from the soles of his feet. Behind him, Kong Qiuyan hurriedly went down to instruct the sect members. The sect master strode briskly toward the front of the hall, where, as expected, a crowd of people was waiting. These people wore varying expressions. Some were former disciple clans who had fled from Shanji, hoping for a place of refuge; some were local cultivators from the edges of the Wilderness whose mountains had been seized by Duxian Dao, coming to plead for aid; and still others were members of the Kong main branch... Xuanyue's new mountain gate was not even as spacious as the Guest-Welcoming Peak of their former mountain gate. With so many people crowded together shoulder to shoulder, the sight of their sect master provoked a sky-shaking clamor of grievances. Before Kong Guxi could say much, a gray cloud descended from the horizon, and the mountain fell dead silent in an instant. A proclamation rang out from above: "The Guo family of Chijiao Island comes to visit the Kong clan. Please reveal yourselves for an audience!" Chijiao Island possessed an infamous reputation. In an instant, the old family cultivators and moochers alike scattered like the wind. Kong Guxi understood his clan's predicament well enough—seventy percent of the sect harbored divided loyalties—yet he had never imagined information leaked so thoroughly that: 'Before I even stepped out the door... they have already come knocking.' A middle-aged man in magnificent scarlet robes descended from the gray cloud. In the Foundation Establishment realm, his cultivation had reached its very peak. A token hung at his waist, and a retinue of Chijiao cultivators cleared the path beside him. Though his features were somber and dark, such pomp gave him an imposing majesty. "May I ask, my lord..." Kong Guxi stepped forward to greet him, only to hear the man announce with a cold face: "Chijiao Island, Guo Hongjian." Though Kong Guxi did not know him personally, he knew the man was of the main lineage. He hurried to welcome him to the seat of honor. Guo Hongjian paid him no heed and ignored the tea served to him, merely demanding: "Regarding the matter of harvesting qi, has Fellow Daoist inquired with your master clan?!" Kong Guxi's expression abruptly shifted. Earlier, when Chijiao came asking, they addressed them not as Xuanyue but as the Kong clan. Now, he did not call him Sect Master and referred to the Li family as "your master clan"... The implication was that Xuanyue was already extinct, and his Kong clan had become vassals taking orders from an outsider... While the truth was hardly different, the Li clan had not acknowledged it, nor was Xuanyue resigned to it. Interacting families all granted them face—how could any compare to the brazenness of Chijiao Island? Kong Guxi swallowed his rage, not daring to speak out, and merely replied respectfully: "Fellow Daoist Guo, I have received a reply. The Wilderness is a chaotic zone of warfare... Duxian Dao watches our Xuanyue like a tiger, poised to march west at any moment. Your noble clan wishes to harvest qi to construct palaces, but we fear the flames of war might spill over, making it inconvenient for your sect's undertakings." Guo Hongjian disliked what he heard, understanding that these evasive words were nothing more than a refusal. He snapped: "Your Xuanyue, your Xuanyue! Your Xuanyue still has to ask the Li clan for instructions—what Xuanyue is left to speak of! A handful of remnants—it's a wonder you haven't been crushed to death yet, and you dare put on a show before me!" Kong Guxi gritted his teeth, but Guo Hongjian took another step forward, barking: "You named Kong! Back then, wasn't it your clan that incited the matter of the Mingfang Sky Stone?! Sowing discord time and again! When my younger sister was ordered to enter the inland waters years ago, weren't you the ones who blocked her at the Salt Lake... forcing her to take a detour and miss her chance?! Over all these years, when have your Xuanyue's overt and covert schemes ever been few?! Now you still dare to stall before me! If we settle old scores, not even all your lives combined would be enough to pay for it!" Behind him, Kong Qiuyan turned deathly pale. Yet Kong Guxi said in a low voice: "The matter of harvesting qi was decided by the lake; it is not something a humble cultivator like me can decide. My lord need not vent your anger on me." "Go call someone from the Li family here!" Guo Hongjian was no stranger to the Li clan. He was an old acquaintance who had clashed with Li Qinghong during the struggle between north and south, and had later escorted the Mingfang Sky Stone in the East Sea, nearly capturing Li Xijun. His clan had sent him here, and Guo Hongjian naturally knew why. 'It is nothing more than probing Li Xi... Master Zhaojing. My only fear is that this won't stir up enough trouble!' Right then, he barked: "I see you can only play the obsequious coward. Call someone from the Li family here!" Kong Guxi silently stepped back and muttered under his breath: "Go to the Dense Forest and invite someone." Only then did Guo Hongjian take a seat. After a short while, a figure strode in from outside the hall. Slender brows arched over sharp eyes; while only moderately handsome, he possessed an elegant air and was draped in purple robes. Guo Hongjian shot him a glance and asked: "Who comes?" Cui Jueyin had just hurried over from the Dense Forest. His Cui family was also an East Sea power, so how could he not know what kind of people Chijiao Island produced? His Cui family's relations with Chijiao were hardly any better. With an unruffled expression, he said: "Cui Jueyin of Wangyue, governing the Dense Forest and overseeing the East Shore and Wilderness." Guo Hongjian sipped his tea and said: "Not surnamed Li... Surnamed Cui makes no difference. My Chijiao wishes to harvest qi in the Wilderness; your noble clan need only yield a piece of land." The young man opposite him remained exceedingly calm, answering: "It is not that our Lake Wangyue refuses to lend it. Your noble clan employs Combined Fire, and harvesting qi risks harming living beings. The inland is not like the outer seas; such acts that violate the harmony of heaven cannot be undertaken lightly. Both Hengzhu and the Sword Sect uphold the righteous path and cannot tolerate such conduct." Before Guo Hongjian could erupt, Cui Jueyin continued: "This is my family's consideration, fearing Fellow Daoist might perish here and bring dishonor upon Chijiao's reputation. If Fellow Daoist does not fear this, I can raise the matter once more on your behalf to ask the lake." Guo Hongjian's expression turned grim. Seeing Cui Jueyin's placid demeanor, he merely slanted his eyes and said: "If Wangyue cannot make this happen and I receive no word in three days, it isn't as though I must rely on Wangyue. Once Duxian crosses the boundary, qi can still be harvested in the Wilderness all the same." Hearing Guo Hongjian's threat, Cui Jueyin cupped his hands impassively and responded: "Fellow Daoist Guo speaks truly. Once Duxian crosses the border, you may harvest qi at your leisure. When Duxian invades and your Chijiao steps in as an accomplice to slaughter everyone clean, let us see how the Sword Sect and Ziyan react." "Having journeyed inland, Fellow Daoist had best take care not to cross the line and die in the Wilderness, lest Chijiao be left without a single word to protest." Guo Hongjian laughed out of sheer fury and replied: "Good, good, good... I would like to see just who your family will use to defend the Wilderness." Although Cui Jueyin's cultivation was inferior to his, he did not yield an inch in momentum. He sneered: "Suit yourself, Fellow Daoist. Just take care not to laugh too soon, only to be slapped dead in the Wilderness by a Master." Cui Jueyin flicked his sleeve and departed. Guo Hongjian felt somewhat uncertain now; after all, this was a matter of his own life. He mused inwardly: 'I still need to visit Master Ye Gui's mountain gate and listen to the divine ability's guidance... This Cui fellow seems to have backing as well; he must be investigated.' Guo Hongjian likewise rode the wind away. The two parted on bad terms, while Kong Guxi, waiting at the side, breathed a sigh of relief. He did not fear them tearing off all pretenses and quarreling; what he feared even more was the Li family conceding and negotiating. Now, having shut the doors and waited until the grand formation was active, Kong Guxi finally spoke: "Cui Jueyin remained unyielding; the lake still holds hidden trump cards." Kong Qiuyan nodded, answering with some trepidation: "Let us hope so." Kong Guxi sighed: "Now our mountain gate is gone as well. Our Xuanyue ultimately owes a debt to the Fu family. In the future, we must look after them well." Kong Qiuyan merely nodded. Kong Guxi looked closely at the woman's haggard appearance; life over these past two years had clearly broken her spirit. The composure unique to scions of prestigious clans had slipped away from her, replaced by a fearful hesitation that weighed every move. Kong Guxi felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he watched, saying: "Yan'er, I too was short-sighted... Back when the struggle between north and south was approaching, the sect discussed a marriage alliance with the Li clan. I still put on airs as an immortal sect and felt it improper for you to marry down..." "Back then, after Li Xicheng died, Aunt Tingyun even arranged for you to meet Li Xijun once, and you too felt he was an exceptional figure. Yet it was completely blocked by old conservatives and conceited fools like us... Otherwise... otherwise..." Kong Qiuyan did not answer him right away. Only after a pause did she say: "Otherwise what? Otherwise the sect would be far better off right now? Or that I would be widowed right now? Though my lord's heart is entirely for the sect, such words must not be spoken. Qiuyan still has sect affairs to attend to, so I shall take my leave." She exited through the side door. Kong Guxi had not expected such a response and was left stunned where he stood, only to hear a frantic racket rattling against the hall doors, clattering with extreme urgency. His heart was still hollow, yet his body reacted first, moving to open the door. He saw an old man knocking frantically at the entrance. Kong Guxi opened it in a daze, only to see a person pinned down in the courtyard below, clad in splendid robes, his face obscured. The old man, Kong Guli, flushed red and whispered: "Sect Master, Fu Xie tried to incite the third young master and plotted to harm the direct lineage. He was bound and delivered right before the hall... The third young master's intent... is for Sect Master to handle it yourself." Kong Guxi felt darkness swarm his vision, nearly fainting on the spot. Steadying his mind, he asked: "Is he of Elder Fu En's direct line? Fu Xie... Indeed, I heard this name long ago." Seeing the person beside him nod, Kong Guxi felt his mouth go completely dry. The man of the Fu family knelt in front of the hall, seemingly still groaning, muttering incomprehensibly under his breath. At a loss, Kong Guxi grabbed his elder brother beside him and asked: "Wasn't it said... that he was rather clever, possessed extraordinary courage, and often spoke astonishing words? How did he end up sinking to sowing discord?!" None around answered him, let alone Kong Guli who barely understood the situation himself. The man on the ground could not speak either, only groaning. Kong Guxi managed with great difficulty to call someone up from down the mountain. Listening as the person reported for a while, fire raged in his heart. Grabbing Fu Xie by the collar, he said: "Is this the time for you to act clever? A boy raised within the sect, sheltered across generations—how could you go to the lake and tamper with an immortal clan's affairs... playing petty cleverness..." The wound on Fu Xie's chest had not yet healed, and his pale lips trembled slightly. Terrified that he might speak, Kong Guxi immediately hurled him heavily to the ground, cutting off his words. With a clang, he drew his sword and slashed down relentlessly. He struck with such desperate haste that only a squelching sound was heard before the man before him was split cleanly in two. Red, green, white, and yellow fluids spilled out, splattering at Kong Guxi's feet. The sect master stepped back, dropping his sword with a resounding clang. Dizzied and sickened, he did not dare look at the remains on the ground, and could only choke out: "Hurry, send someone to thank the third young master!"