Chapter Sixty-Seven: Implicated

No matter what others thought, because Sun Yougong understood Qin Baoxian well, he immediately believed his words. In fact, he even began to doubt Ji Youyun’s assertion. But since Ji Youyun had been invited by Sect Leader Ling Xuzi, Sun Yougong kept his suspicions to himself and instead said to Qin Baoxian, “Speak more clearly!”

Qin Baoxian was overwhelmed with gratitude, thinking to himself, “My grandmaster still protects me.” He hurriedly continued, “This is a long story. The time when Brother Jian had his accident, it was actually supposed to be my turn to enter the sect’s secret realm. But just a few days before the Qingyun Festival, Brother Jian suddenly came to me and asked if I would give up my spot for him.”

At this point, Yan Changqing, who stood behind Sun Yougong, already recalled the situation at the time, and his face grew so dark it could not get any darker.

With his life at stake, Qin Baoxian dared not raise his head and went on, “At first, I thought Brother Jian had failed to make progress in his cultivation and wanted another chance in the secret realm to seek opportunity. Since the secret realm only opens every four years, and I had already missed my chance once, I was reluctant. Brother Jian then produced a jade slip, claiming it held a secret method to temper one’s spiritual consciousness. He said he’d stumbled upon it by chance but had gone astray in his practice and couldn’t use it himself. If I agreed to wait four more years, he’d give me the secret method as compensation.”

As he spoke, the newly appointed Peak Master of Suihan Peak, Ying Qi, who had accompanied Ling Xuzi and had been silent thus far, remarked curiously, “So, according to you, Jian Hui traded a secret method for a chance to enter the sect’s secret realm, only to die there himself.”

Qin Baoxian looked up, mouth open as if to explain. Jian Hui had made such a sacrifice not for himself; after their agreement, Jian Hui had made another request—he asked Qin Baoxian to plead with their master for a chance for his junior sister, Fang Hongjian. At the time, Qin Baoxian had been surprised at the lengths Jian Hui would go for that young girl, but since he’d already obtained the secret method, he hadn’t thought much more of it.

Before he could voice these thoughts, Sun Yougong spoke up, “Changqing, I remember you came to report to me then, saying he’d felt an opportunity for a breakthrough and had to enter seclusion immediately, and thus couldn’t go to the secret realm. That does match what he’s just said.”

Yan Changqing quickly bowed. “Yes.”

Mu Fengshan sneered coldly, as if still wishing to vent his displeasure at the people of Wanchao Peak for pushing all the blame onto the dead. But Ji Youyun waved his hand. “What he said is true, but the secret method is indeed a demonic art from the Demonic Sect. If you don’t believe me, have him hand over the jade slip and examine it for yourselves.”

Without bothering further with Qin Baoxian, he turned to Ling Xuzi. “Sect Leader Ling, in my view, that is the situation. Both parties are your sect’s disciples; whether to believe it or how to handle it is for you to discuss. I won’t stay to accompany you further. I came to your sect this time with some business of my own and would like to see Elder Jin. If it’s convenient, could someone inform him?”

Ling Xuzi replied courteously, “Thank you for your trouble!” and immediately arranged for someone to accompany Ji Youyun to Jinxiufeng.

Next, Ling Xuzi had to carefully consider how to deal with Qin Baoxian. If he followed the wishes of the Wood Spirit Root peak masters, it would certainly be a case of life for life. Yet Qin Baoxian steadfastly denied any involvement in Pan Cong’s death, swearing oaths and even weeping bitterly in the end. Ling Xuzi also noted his senior brother Sun Yougong’s attitude. As for Ji Youyun’s words, though he did not dismiss them out of hand, he was far too experienced to accept them unquestioningly. The rift between the Water and Wood branches of the sect had deep roots over many generations, and now, with Pan Cong’s death, the Wood Spirit Root cultivators were incensed. As sect leader, Ling Xuzi had to find a way to calm things down.

Abandoning a disciple like Qin Baoxian, who had little promise, to appease the public was not unreasonable. But he would have to persuade his senior brother. So he ordered Qin Baoxian to hand over the jade slip and had him detained on Chilu Peak under strict guard.

No one objected to the sect leader’s expedient measure.

As soon as Yan Changqing returned to Wanchao Peak, he knelt in apology. Whether it was Qin Baoxian or the late Jian Hui, both had lived under his very eyes; as their master, he could not shirk responsibility for any missteps.

Sun Yougong was weighed down with sorrow. He sighed and told his disciple to rise. “Now isn’t the time for blame. Go investigate where Jian Hui obtained that jade slip.”

Yan Changqing hesitated. “Master, though the ‘Heavenly Veil’ has cut off the Dao and Demon realms for thousands of years, countless demonic cultivators were left behind when it fell. I’ve heard the Demon Prison was packed full back then, and surely many escaped. Jian Hui has been dead for years; whether the jade slip was inherited from his ancestors or acquired later, I’m afraid it will be nearly impossible to trace.”

A wave of irritation rose in Sun Yougong’s heart. He said helplessly, “Do you think I don’t know all that? But in today’s situation, even if our Wanchao Peak wants peace, someone will refuse to let it go. Go investigate anyway—at the very least, we cannot be caught off guard like this again.”

But events unfolded just as Sun Yougong had feared. Before Yan Changqing could find any leads, Ling Xuzi himself came to Wanchao Peak to discuss matters with Sun Yougong.

In just a few days, the matter sparked by Qin Baoxian’s case had spiraled out of control. Somehow, news that Qin Baoxian had cultivated a demonic secret method spread, causing an uproar.

Rumors circulated among the Wood Spirit Root cultivators; many even whispered that Wanchao Peak’s longstanding superiority over Xiangji and Suihan Peaks was entirely due to the demonic arts.

The two peak masters made it clear to Ling Xuzi that, with morale so unsettled, unless the rumors were quelled quickly, neither peak would allow their Foundation Establishment disciples into the sect’s secret realm at the coming Qingyun Festival.

Ling Xuzi had not anticipated this. The situation could no longer be resolved simply by punishing Qin Baoxian—things had gone too far. Even if he regretted bringing Ji Youyun at Mu Fengshan’s request, it was too late.

Sun Yougong was furious and, for once, could no longer suppress his anger. “Using a boycott of the secret realm as a threat? Ridiculous! The Water Spirit Root’s three peaks have no shortage of disciples eager to enter. If they refuse, so much the better.”

Ling Xuzi smiled bitterly, knowing his senior was only speaking out of anger. When Sun Yougong had calmed somewhat, he said, “They’ve made another demand. They want, while Ji Youyun is still here, a thorough investigation of all Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators on Wanchao Peak. Only that way, they say, can everyone’s innocence be proven, and it will show that any collusion with demonic cultivators was the act of an individual…”

Before he could finish, Sun Yougong was so enraged his beard bristled. “Them? Who, besides Mu Fengshan? Ying Qi as well? I hadn’t noticed! They’re dreaming! This is an attempt to sow chaos in the sect! My disciples’ lives and deaths are not for Ji Youyun to decide. If anyone brings this up again, don’t blame me for turning hostile!”