Guan Gongxiao cupped his hands. Still perplexed, he raised his head, his forehead no longer pressed against the ground, and spoke in a low voice:
"Junior is dull-witted... and remains confused. According to the reports from the surrendering disciples of Xuanyue, the one in that secret chamber was Fu En... Master Zhaojing personally examined him. Later, when I took his belongings, those around me also said it was Fu En."
Before Ye Gui could answer, Guan Gongxiao kowtowed respectfully and added:
"Junior understands the Master's intention—that everything can be weighed and compromised. But Kong Haiying is a seed of the Violet Palace, endowed with extraordinary talent. How can we compromise on such a matter? If this is glossed over lightly and Kong Haiying achieves a breakthrough, the threat he poses will hardly be any less than that of Li Ximing."
A rare look of approval finally surfaced on Ye Gui's face. He nodded, pressing his index finger and thumb together to turn over the brownish-yellow jade plaque in his hand, revealing the golden engraving on its face.
[Kong]
The Real Person murmured:
"How could I not know? I met Kong Haiying with my own eyes. I traded blows with him, drank wine with him, and even joined forces with him to deal with that stupid pig Guo E. I know his aura well; I could never mistake it."
With a complex gaze, he said:
"The one in that secret chamber was Kong Haiying. His aura was distinct and unmistakable. Whatever else may be wrong, this point cannot be in error."
Realization dawned upon Guan Gongxiao. He said respectfully:
"Junior understands! This is the Li family's sincerity! They spread the word far and wide that it was Fu En to preserve their own reputation, while in reality handing Kong Haiying over to us on a silver platter as a tactful bid for peace... No wonder... No wonder..."
Once he understood this, everything else fell into place. He continued:
"Therefore... why Funan is heavily guarded right now while the Xuanyue wilderness lies undefended stems from the very same logic! If not for the Master's guidance, junior would have nearly ruined a grand undertaking!"
Yet Ye Gui's gaze did not linger on him. Instead, it seemed to look right through everything before him, fixed intently upon the character [Kong] in his grasp. A sense of emptiness welled up within him.
*He can be counted as dead and gone...*
Guan Gongxiao was still pondering. He said respectfully:
"Master, rest assured. The Kong lineage... I will slaughter them to the last man..."
Halfway through his sentence, Ye Gui gave him an exhausted glare. The Real Person had sharp corners to his eyes, which made him appear all the more ruthless in his fatigue. The look immediately struck Guan Gongxiao dumb, and Ye Gui's cold voice rang out:
"Leave some face for Ziyan! Kill, kill, kill... You've come all the way from overseas to Jiangbei, yet all you ever think about is killing! Look at Chengyun Gate over there, and learn from Zhong Qian... Chengyun Gate has already become the foremost leader of the righteous path in Jiangbei, yet you're still running around here obsessing over slaughter!"
Terrified, Guan Gongxiao bowed in panic:
"Junior knows his fault!"
Ye Gui slapped the jade plaque onto the desk with a sharp clatter and snapped:
"Once you enter the inland, you must play by inland rules! You have to put up pretense and pull the wool over people's eyes! Back then, if I hadn't made the trip in person, Gongsun Baifan would have fled to Chengshui Marsh long ago. Why would he ever pledge allegiance to you, Guan Gongxiao?!"
Guan Gongxiao lowered his head and said:
"The five hundred thousand commoners in the wilderness harbor deep hatred for our Duxian Dao. If we do not make blood food of them, we are leaving behind countless enemies for nothing!"
A glimmer of anger flared in Ye Gui's eyes as he scolded:
"Still clinging to that overseas mindset! Li Chengkun demonstrated it for you long ago, yet you still haven't learned! Why is the Miyun territory still in utter chaos to this day? Once you take the wilderness, do not touch those five hundred thousand people. Grant widespread amnesties, upend the existing hierarchies—demote the main branches of minor clans and elevate their concubine branches, support the external relatives of smaller lineages while punishing their internal kin! The foundation of Xuanyue among the common populace will unravel immediately! They will soon be incorporated into Ziyan anyway, with no chance to set things right. By then, they will amount to nothing more than one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and after three generations, all enmity will vanish!"
Guan Gongxiao could only murmur his assent. Real Person Ye Gui slowed his tone:
"After this, I will not show my face often, and the same goes for Baiye. Dismember the prominent clans, divide the spirit fields, prohibit land annexation, cease practicing blood-qi arts, and style ourselves as the righteous path."
Guan Gongxiao whispered:
"Our lineage contains many blood-qi methods and techniques. We will have to rely on supplies from our overseas outposts."
Ye Gui shook his head:
"Learn from the north! Squeeze and exploit those below until they are forced to secretly refine blood qi, then step forward to purge the demons and defend the Dao—and just like that, you will have your blood qi! There are things to learn from the east, south, west, and north... You still have a long way to grow.
"Learn from the Li clan's consolidation of power and management of people's livelihoods, but do not copy their rigid self-restraint. Learn from Jinyu's regulatory system prohibiting annexation, but do not copy their complacency and lack of enterprise. You can learn from Chengyun's manipulation of public sentiment to reinvent themselves as righteous, and from Xuanmiao's enticing disciples into bitter cultivation so that the entire hierarchy gathers qi for their Real Person... Even Situ Mo's opportunistic schemes are well worth your study...
"As for that blood qi, our own disciples should use it sparingly from now on. Ingest some when injured, and that is enough. Do not walk around reeking of turbid qi, looking like demonic fiends for all to see!"
The Real Person stood up and stepped down. Glancing at Guan Gongxiao's expression, his words finally took on an earnest, elder's warmth:
"Your maternal aunt died early without bearing me any children, and I cannot be bothered to remarry. In the future, Duxian Dao will belong to you and your Guan family. Were it not for your mother's dying wish, I would have grown impatient and replaced the young master long ago. How else would I have the patience to teach you to this extent? Conduct yourself well!"
Moved to tears of gratitude, Guan Gongxiao respectfully knocked his head three times against the floor and answered:
"Nephew has taken every word of Uncle's guidance to heart. Master is the sovereign of Duxian Dao, whether for a hundred years or a thousand years. Gongxiao will serve you faithfully through thick and thin, without a single disloyal thought."
"Haha!"
Ye Gui let out a couple of chuckles and chided:
"Scram... You sure pick up flattery quickly."
After Guan Gongxiao withdrew, Ye Gui felt a stir of melancholy. He stood up and murmured to himself:
"Having a junior like Gongxiao may not be an unfortunate thing. Geniuses like Li Zhouwei are walking a razor's edge—if they cannot soar into the clouds, they plunge into the abyss; it is too precarious. Weaklings like Kong Guxi are disasters waiting to happen; they lean too far into foolishness. Prodigies like Zhong Qian and Li Xijun are rare blessings bestowed by the heavens, far too few in number. One who is simply willing to learn and listen is enough."
...
The wilderness.
As dusk deepened, Kong Guxi stepped out of the hall, only to see a crowd of people rushing up the mountain peak. The old man leading them was none other than his elder brother, Kong Guli, his face filled with shock and terror as he shouted:
"Ninth Brother! Duxian Dao has attacked!"
In the urgent crisis, Kong Guli even forgot the formal honorifics and blurted out "Ninth Brother." Kong Guxi had no time to mind the lapse. His hands and feet went numb as he asked:
"How many of them came?!"
Standing nearby was Kong Xiaxiang. The youthful arrogance once etched into his brow had long faded, and he said urgently:
"It is said that Guan Gongxiao, the young master of Duxian, is personally leading the advance! There are more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators! The skies are filled with magical radiances! Our scouts caught only a distant glimpse before hastily pulling back.
"Just now, I went down to issue orders, having the direct branches and cultivators of each commandery do their best to escort the commoners in retreating. Most of them are loyal..."
"Guan Gongxiao has come!"
Kong Guxi took a sharp breath in fright and gritted his teeth:
"Arrangements to evacuate to the other side were made years ago, but they arrived so swiftly, and we may not be able to hold them off. I fear few will survive..."
Even as he spoke, Kong Guxi turned back toward the hall and called out:
"Qiuyan! Pack up everything and bring it along!"
As his voice fell, Kong Qiuyan acknowledged the order and withdrew. But at that moment, a tremendous boom echoed across midair. A billowing grey cloud of blazing flames surged forth, casting a white and red glow across the sky as cloud rings darted through the air.
*Boom!*
A torrential torrent of Combined Fire poured downward, striking the mountain array and causing it to shake violently. The main hall trembled on its foundations, forcing Kong Guxi to ride the wind and burst outside the barrier.
Standing upon the cloud rings in the sky, holding a command token of Combined Fire, with grey flames roaring behind him—who else could it be but Guo Hongjian?
"Remnants of the Kong clan! Come out and face your death!"
As the Sect Master of Xuanyue, Kong Guxi was not lacking in magical artifacts. With a gentle wave of his sleeve, he summoned a scallion-white mountain peak and a deep black banner. Gripping the banner in hand, he sent the miniature mountain soaring upward to meet the flames, calling out:
"Fellow Daoist Guo, what warrants such immense fury?!"
He had long despised Guo Hongjian to the bone, but he could not afford to offend Chijiao Island. Even with a chest full of rage, he dared not utter a single harsh word.
Just as he activated his artifacts, he felt scorching Combined Fire crashing over him like a deluge, burning the artifacts until they creaked. Hearing a chanting of incantations from the other side, he caught a glimpse of a streak of red light darting toward him.
Combined Fire damaged one's true nature and shortened life; it belonged to one of the most sinister and venomous lineages. How could he dare let it strike him? Terrified, he hastily drove the black banner.
Yet Kong Guxi had little talent to begin with and had spent the first half of his life as a profligate playboy, with scarcely any experience in life-and-death combat. Although Guo Hongjian was not particularly clever, he had fought his way through countless mortal struggles. Feinting once, Guo Hongjian whipped out a flaming rope from the other side, aiming to snag Kong Guxi's artifact.
*Clang!*
Fortunately, Kong Guli arrived in the nick of time. The old man possessed far more combat experience; brandishing a spear, he hooked the fire rope, sparking a burst of flames in midair. Guo Hongjian was just about to shout harsh words to bolster his momentum when a thunderous roar erupted from beneath his feet:
"Dog thief!!"
From below sprang a man clad in golden armor and a mask, holding a spear in one hand and an axe in the other. His face beneath the mask was hidden from view, but the exposed eyes were bloodshot and filled with crimson veins as he roared:
"Do not harm my Xuanyue Sect Master!"
Like a streak of golden light plunging into the flames, he brought his axe smashing down onto the cloud rings, sending Guo Hongjian staggering. Only then did Kong Guxi manage to break free. Looking up, he saw a bright light blossoming across the sky as radiant white steps cascaded down. Cui Jueyin emerged, saying softly:
"Sect Master, leave this to me! Take the others and withdraw first."
Kong Guxi hurriedly pulled back. Even after three or four attempts, he failed to extinguish the flames clinging to his artifacts, and his garments were on the verge of catching fire. Kong Guli strode forward, and together they snuffed out the Combined Fire as several Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Kong family gathered around.
Kong Guxi looked toward the dark clouds on the horizon. Fu Yuezi was fighting with ferocious valor, his immortal foundation 'Tianjin Armor' invoked to cloak him in dazzling golden light, working in tandem with Cui Jueyin's spells to pin the enemy down firmly. Yet more figures were flying in from the distance. Terror seized Kong Guxi, and he asked:
"Duxian Dao comes with menacing force—how fares Lake Wangyue?"
"It is said that Duxian Dao's forces are attacking Funan, and Situ Mo has taken the opportunity to push south! Funan is in grave danger!" Kong Xiaxiang replied.
Kong Guxi was appalled and asked:
"The Situ family was once our ally, yet things have come to such a pass... What do you all think we should do?"
Kong Guxi had told Kong Qiuyan to pack up the spiritual treasures long before; his intention was glaringly obvious. No matter how dull the people below were, they could read between the lines, and they answered respectfully:
"Right now Duxian's might is overwhelming. We should withdraw."
Kong Guxi lamented:
"B-but... the commoners of Xuanyue are still in the wilderness."
The others immediately grabbed him to help him up. Kong Guxi sounded full of sorrow, but his legs were remarkably compliant; with just a couple of tugs, he broke into a stride, and the group took to the clouds like a gust of wind, flying so fast they nearly left behind Kong Qiuyan, who was still gathering the valuables.
Looking embarrassed, Kong Qiuyan caught up with a group of disciples in tow. Kong Guxi immediately ordered:
"Quickly take inventory of the spiritual treasures and artifacts!"
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators hurriedly began taking count. Having lost the Xuanyue mountain gate once before, losing their new stronghold did not seem quite as agonizing this time around. Only a few disciples whose families were still stranded in the wilderness, likely destined for separation, began weeping softly.
Kong Guxi dispatched several people, instructing in a low voice:
"I have already crushed the jade talisman, so every region knows to flee. If you are worried, you may go and assist them."
Most of the Xuanyue disciples remaining at this point were relatives or kin of the Kong family, and their households had long been evacuated to the lake. Only a scattered few were stationed locally for defense, not far from here, so they dispersed to provide aid.
Kong Guli felt somewhat uneasy and asked:
"Sect Master, if we abandon our territory and flee, will Wangyue impose any punishment?"
"It should... not be a major issue..."
Kong Guxi paused, lowering his head, and said:
"Duxian came with overwhelming momentum. As long as we preserved our lives, the Real Person will surely be gratified. As for punishment... it should not be too severe..."
He sighed:
"Setting Guan Gongxiao aside for a moment, there is also Guo Hongjian at the peak of Foundation Establishment. His Combined Fire is ferocious; we are no match for him. If we had delayed any longer and been caught by either of them, it would have been hard to say whether our lives could be saved. And once the other arrived, escaping would have been utterly impossible."
The group stood in silence. After a while, the eastern sky was already blanketed by dark clouds, and the premier mountain of Wangyue on the eastern shore, Milin, gradually came into view. Only now did panic truly grip Kong Guxi. Looking back several times, he whispered:
"Let us first see the Third Young Master. As for Li Chenghuai... we will pay him a visit later..."
He sped all the way to the border of the eastern shore, only to find cultivators bustling back and forth everywhere, far from peaceful. Kong Guxi landed on the grounds and sent someone down to inquire. After a short while, a man stepped briskly down from the hall—tall and broad-shouldered, with golden eyes and long hair, walking with steady strides.
"Third Young Master!"
Li Jiangxia had been run ragged these past few days. The people in the wilderness were restless, and many matters required his presence as the direct Third Young Master to settle. Now that Duxian had launched an attack, the trouble had only multiplied.
Though a look of worry hung on Li Jiangxia's face, he remained courteous upon seeing Kong Guxi. He nodded and asked urgently:
"How is the situation in the east? I saw Master Cui flying over—was the enemy intercepted? Is the Sect Master injured in any way?"
Kong Guxi replied:
"I am ashamed to say it, but Duxian Dao's forces arrived too swiftly. Guo Hongjian possesses formidable strength, though he was held off by Fellow Daoist Cui. Suspecting Chijiao Island harbors sinister designs, I dared not linger and took the initiative to withdraw. I did not suffer any injuries."
Earlier, Li Jiangxia had bound Fu Xie and delivered him over, and Kong Guxi had endured the heartache of personally executing him. Yet both tacitly avoided the subject, appearing entirely free of grudges. Li Jiangxia merely raised his head slightly and asked:
"The commoners of Xuanyue remain in the wilderness. Has the Sect Master arranged for disciples to escort them to the eastern shore?"
Kong Guxi found it difficult to speak, hesitating before saying:
"There were arrangements originally, but Guo Hongjian came so suddenly that we fled in disarray and lost our footing. However, I have already sent word for the disciples to pack up."
Hearing this, Li Jiangxia lowered his gaze, nodded, and asked again:
"What of the direct branches of the minor clans and the orthodox lineages of the small temples under Xuanyue's governance? Were they brought out?"
Unease creeping into his posture, Kong Guxi answered:
"None... They merely received the message. When the time comes, we will take count to see how many were saved."
Li Jiangxia lifted his chin thoughtfully and replied:
"Since the Sect Master has already escorted your disciples here, have them withdraw into the eastern shore and proceed to the border between the eastern shore and the wilderness. Depending on the situation, provide support for Master Cui's retreat."
Kong Guxi nodded repeatedly. Standing behind Li Jiangxia, An Xuantong sighed inwardly, quietly lowering his head:
*What a pity that the foundation of Xuanyue has ultimately come to nothing... As of today, the man before our eyes is no longer a true Xuanyue Sect Master, but merely a remnant of the Kong clan!*
Chapter 765