Chapter 58: The Emperor's Fury |
Tu Han sighed and said, "I'll try."
Su Po said with a slight smile, "If your master doesn't wish to leave the mountain, then you should stay with him. There's no need for you to return."
Tu Han froze. "And watch the sect be destroyed? Would a disciple show such black ingratitude?"
Su Po waved his hand and said:
"Who said that? There is a small truth and a great truth. Even if you and Wei Duo remain, what help would you be when the sect is attacked? The Song family will destroy everyone who belongs to the sect. That's why I sent Wei Duo to protect Niu You Dao. I had to resort to this method, for otherwise, he wouldn't be dissuaded. And you yourself can leave the sect and be more useful alive in Werewolf Ridge than dead here. I am urging you to leave the sect. We place our hopes on you and Wei Duo. If the sect is destroyed, you can then find each other and re-establish the sect."
Tu Han's face twisted. He understood Su Po. The Song family had made it clear that they already knew of Song Yang Qing's death. It was as if they were saying, "Since you did not treat Song Yang Qing as a disciple, we will not treat you as a master." Now, the Song family would no longer patronize the Supreme Purity Sect. And then, the Song family wouldn't even need to do anything; they would merely spread rumors that they were no longer associated with the Supreme Purity Sect. And there were many who wished to destroy the Supreme Purity Sect. Many coveted these beautiful lands.
Otherwise, the Song family wouldn't have so openly sent Cheng Gui Shuo.
Only Tu Han couldn't understand why the Song family had thus informed the Supreme Purity Sect, as if giving them time to prepare before the storm?
"Indeed, there's sense in Elder Luo's words. Those who can hide, let them hide." Tu Han replied languidly.
"He spoke what was in his heart. The Supreme Purity Sect needs to disband. Without cultivation resources, how can one cultivate? How can one meditate? How many people would want to remain in a sect where they cannot advance? Those who can, seek a place to hide. Some buy places to reside, and they are not to be blamed. How can they remain in a sect where danger lurks? Where they might simply perish? Everyone knows this.
To be frank. Who can currently provide protection for the sect? Elder Luo? No. Me? No. Elder Tang Su Su? Also no. Head Tang Yi? No. These are all consequences of us not following the ancestral rules and not choosing the unfamiliar boy, Niu You Dao. Who could have trusted him then? But rules are rules, and we broke them. We thought no one would object to Tang Yi as sect head. Yet now, looking back, one can understand that Head Tang Mu and Dong Guo Hao Ran protected the sect well. And they also chose their disciples well. They were the ones who could have uplifted the sect...
The Capital.
In a lavish palace near a flower garden, Wang Heng stood. He lifted a vessel and furiously smashed it to the ground, its shards still spinning on the earth.
He was furious! He had sent a message to Feng Lin Bo, but had yet to receive a reply. However, he had received other news. It was said that Feng Lin Bo wished to form a marital alliance with Shang Chao Zong! He initially dared not believe it. Yet, news later spread that Feng Lin Bo and Shang Chao Zong had set a wedding date. How dared Feng Lin Bo give his daughter to Shang Chao Zong?
And what did this mean? It meant that Feng Lin Bo showed no respect for Wang Heng. It meant that Feng Lin Bo would be unable to seize Shang Chao Zong's man and hand him over to Wang Heng.
His daughter was currently at home. He had not yet told her about Song Yang Qing's death. Everyone kept it a secret. Yet, he didn't understand her. She had been the most vocal in her complaints and grievances against Song Yang Qing. But now, she missed him the most and wanted to return to her fiancé's home. It wasn't that Wang Heng didn't want to tell her about Song Yang Qing's death; he simply didn't know how to!
Calming himself and looking at the shattered vessel beside the flowerbed, Wang Heng furiously shouted:
"— Lu Sheng Zhong!"
Not far off, a young man in luxurious attire descended from a rooftop. He appeared very unrestrained, and in his hands, he held a black folding fan. He quietly approached Wang Heng and said with a slight smile:
"— My Lord, have you calmed down?"
This was Lu Sheng Zhong. He was one of Wang Heng's guardian-mentors.
Wang Heng looked at him. "Take care of this matter. Personally."
Lu Sheng Zhong knew what Wang Heng was referring to, and, with a hint of hesitation, replied:
"— Feng Lin Bo is already involved in this matter. That means the Heavenly Jade Sect is also on his side. I think it would be best if I didn't interfere."
Wang Heng's expression changed, and he said:
"— No matter what methods you use, I want Niu You Dao's head here. I want to see it!"
Lu Sheng Zhong gave a slightly helpless, bitter smile. "I'll do my utmost!" he agreed.
In truth, killing Niu You Dao wouldn't be difficult for him. He merely feared the repercussions from the Heavenly Jade Sect. After all, it would mean he would trespass onto their territory and kill a person under their protection. Such an act would likely not go unpunished. They might even send a high-level cultivator after him to kill him.
The Song Residence. In the park, inside a waterside pavilion.
Song Jiu Ming, with his hands clasped behind his back, gazed at the chessboard before him. He was deep in thought.
And Liu Lu, a cultivator with streaks of white in his hair, approached from behind and quietly murmured:
"— Lu Sheng Zhong has left the capital. Wang Heng must have tasked him with resolving the issue."
Song Jiu Ming did not reply or react; he continued to gaze at the chessboard, lost in thought. Later, he calmly responded:
"— I hear Ziyou is doing quite well at the Liuxiang Sect. Is it true that even the sect head is pleased with him?"
Ziyou was, in fact, Liu Lu's son. Liu Lu replied with a smile:
"— The Liuxiang Sect's favorable treatment of Ziyou is not because of me."
Song Jiu Ming, as if suspecting he had said something amiss, said, "Lu Sheng Zhong's backing is weak. It's possible he won't be able to stand against the Heavenly Jade Sect. Have Ziyou take some disciples and go there. Let him observe the situation."
Liu Lu froze, but immediately replied, "Understood!"
And just as he was about to leave, Song Chuan hurried over. He reported to Song Jiu Ming:
"— Father, a man has arrived from the Minister's Palace and requests your presence."
Song Jiu Ming immediately set down the chess piece on the board and, abandoning all thoughts, hastily left the residence. He immediately got into a carriage. His bodyguards followed him as well.
In the capital, noble estates occupied large plots, and many lived in favorable conditions. But when they arrived at the Minister of Public Works' residence, the difference from an ordinary official's residence was immediately apparent. It was enormous. Furthermore, the minister was constantly occupied with important affairs of the kingdom, which was why his palace was located next to the Imperial Palace. So that he could attend to the Emperor at any moment.
As soon as the carriage halted, Song Jiu Ming immediately alighted and ascended the stairs into the palace. His accompanying bodyguards dared not proceed further. They could only watch him go.
Inside the palace, quite a few people quietly waited in the hall. Someone was presenting a document for signature to a plump old man. Everyone quietly awaited the signature, afraid to make any unnecessary movement.
"— Minister of Public Works!" As Song Jiu Ming entered, he immediately clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.
Tong Mo calmly looked at him and continued to sign documents.
Song Jiu Ming slowly moved aside and stood, his hands clasped across his abdomen. He waited calmly.
Not long after, another person arrived. It was a gaunt old man with streaks of white in his hair and a jade hairpin on his head. He had a penetrating gaze and an aquiline nose. He entered freely and calmly. This was precisely the palace eunuch Ga Miao Shui. He greeted Tong Mo and then stood opposite Song Jiu Ming. He gazed intently at Song Jiu Ming, which made Song Jiu Ming uneasy.
After a while, Tong Mo finished signing the documents and handed them to a junior official standing on the other side. He then waved his hand, signaling the other waiting junior officials to leave. Now, they could talk.
"— Feng Lin Bo and Shang Chao Zong will become in-laws. Do you know of this?" Tong Mo asked, looking at Song Jiu Ming.
Song Jiu Ming respectfully replied, "I already know."
Tong Mo nodded to Ga Miao Shui, who slowly stepped forward to the center and calmly stated:
"— His Majesty is greatly enraged!"
Tong Mo asked Song Jiu Ming again:
"— What do you think?"
Song Jiu Ming said uncertainly:
"— To tell the truth, I believe that only Prince Ning's abandoned treasure could have given Feng Lin Bo the audacity to ally with Shang Chao Zong. Since he chose to take such a risk with him. I have no other thoughts."
Silence descended upon the hall. Everyone fell into their own thoughts, agreeing with Song Jiu Ming.
Song Jiu Ming sighed and said:
"— I always believed that Shang Chao Zong should not have been allowed to leave the capital. It's like releasing a tiger into the mountains. What was bound to happen has obviously happened."
Ga Miao Shui said in a cold tone:
"— Grand Councilor Song, do you think His Highness made the wrong decision?"
"— I wouldn't dare!" Song Jiu Ming immediately bowed.
Ga Miao Shui continued indifferently:
"— What else does the Song family dare not do? Didn't you say that the Supreme Purity Sect was under control? Why did they hand over the mentor to Shang Chao Zong? And what did your grandson do there?"