Chen Xin Wanted to Leave, Ning Fengzhi's Scheme

Chen Xin Wanted to Leave, Ning Fengzhi's Scheme

Before Chen Xin could finish speaking, Ning Fengzhi, seated high above, had already guessed what he wanted to say.

At once, disbelief and nameless fury spread through his entire body.

"Chen Xin, how do you expect me to stay calm now?!"

Ning Fengzhi could no longer care about anything else. He rushed down from the platform to Chen Xin, glaring at him furiously.

"This is the explanation you're giving me?"

"Has the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect treated you poorly in any way? Or have I, Ning Fengzhi, treated you poorly?"

"Don't you know that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is already enemies with Star-Plucking Tower?"

"What does it mean for you to join Star-Plucking Tower now? Betrayal? Defecting to the enemy?"

"How will the entire Soul Master world view the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Aren't you afraid of being branded a traitor?"

"We've offended Spirit Hall and Star-Plucking Tower. If you leave too, how is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect supposed to survive?"

Listening to Ning Fengzhi roar right in his face, Chen Xin's expression gradually darkened as well.

Some words nearly slipped out instinctively, but he ultimately swallowed them back and said patiently.

"Ning Fengzhi, your father showed me kindness. Naturally, I would not be so heartless."

"I must go to Star-Plucking Tower. I have been stuck at Rank Ninety-Six for over a decade."

"Only in Tower Master Qin of Star-Plucking Tower did I sense a trace of an opportunity to break through this bottleneck."

"Moreover, only by comprehending that true Sword Intent will I have a chance to personally overthrow Spirit Hall and avenge my father!"

"But..."

At this point, Chen Xin changed his tone and paused.

"But I have stayed in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for several decades. Naturally, I cannot bear to watch the sect perish like this."

(Dear readers, please don't start criticizing yet. Read this chapter patiently—there's a twist.)

"After I join Star-Plucking Tower, I will immediately explain matters to the Tower Master and mediate the grievances between Star-Plucking Tower and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"That way, both sides can remain at peace. This is the most I can do for the sect."

Ning Fengzhi listened silently from the side, but his fists behind his back slowly clenched tighter and tighter.

Heh!

Mediate? Remain at peace?

In Ning Fengzhi's eyes, that was simply impossible.

From Qin Shiyuan's tone when he spoke to him before, he had already known that the grudge between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Star-Plucking Tower could not be easily resolved.

But at least Chen Xin's attitude allowed Ning Fengzhi to see a sliver of hope.

For the sake of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi could no longer care about his pride.

He gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the fury in his heart as he stared at Chen Xin and asked word by word.

"Uncle Jian, have you truly forgotten the kindness my father showed you?"

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's blatant moral blackmail, Chen Xin's tone turned completely icy.

"Ning Fengzhi, you've gone too far!"

This time, he no longer had any reservations and bluntly said everything he had wanted to say before.

"I've forgotten old ties? Ning Fengzhi, search your conscience. If not for the kindness your father showed me, why would I have guarded the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for you for decades?"

"Do you really think I covet that little stipend of yours? Or do you think I cannot bear to part with this lofty position and power?"

"Let me tell you this: if I had not wasted decades amid these trivial affairs, I likely would not have reached old age with frost in my temples while still possessing only this level of cultivation."

"I spent decades repaying the kindness I owed your father. Now, my twilight years have arrived."

"I want to use the rest of my life to fight for that final sliver of opportunity. Ning Fengzhi! Tell me! How dare you still use your father's kindness to pressure me?"

Each of Chen Xin's words was like a sharp arrow, tearing through the brief silence and piercing viciously into Ning Fengzhi's heart.

At that moment, it was as though he had finally come to his senses. His body began to tremble violently.

A flood of regret welled up in his eyes, and faint tears gradually gathered in his reddened eye sockets.

"Uncle Jian!"

Ning Fengzhi's choked voice grew several shades hoarser.

"Uncle Jian, I was wrong! I was wrong!"

"I was too agitated, which is why I said things I never should have said!"

"Uncle Jian devoted most of his life to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, yet I still said such heartless words."

"I... I'm worse than a beast!"

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi, tears streaming down his face, suddenly hardened his gaze.

He gathered Soul Power around his hand, held upright like a blade, turning it into a sharp edge as he swung it straight at his own left shoulder.

"Today, Fengzhi will use this arm to apologize to Uncle Jian. I only hope Uncle Jian can quell the anger in his heart!"

As his words fell, that hand-blade truly came down without hesitation.

Ning Fengzhi clenched his teeth tightly, as though he had already prepared himself to endure the pain of losing an arm.

"Alas..."

A long sigh laden with countless emotions rang out, and a hand finally blocked Ning Fengzhi's shoulder.

"Stop. You are the leader of a sect. How can you lose an arm because of me?"

Those helpless words entered his ears. On Ning Fengzhi's slightly lowered face, a strange smile flashed across his lips before vanishing.

Then, he abruptly raised his head. His eyes were full of tears and delight as he looked at Chen Xin.

"Uncle Jian! Does this mean... you're willing to forgive me?"

Chen Xin's expression was complicated. After a long silence, he slowly spoke.

"Alas... I was indeed too harsh. Just pretend I never said it."

"However, I will still go to Star-Plucking Tower. As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I will also look after it as best I can."

"Of course. Uncle Jian, just go without worry. I will never try to stop you again."

At this moment, Ning Fengzhi seemed like a completely different person. There was not the slightest hint of reluctance on his face; instead, he even took the initiative to ask.

"When does Uncle Jian plan to leave?"

"Today."

"Ah? Uncle Jian, you're leaving so soon? Fengzhi has one more request and hopes Uncle Jian will grant it."

"Go ahead."

Ning Fengzhi's change in attitude noticeably softened Chen Xin's tone.

"Uncle Jian, you have stayed in our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for so many years. To me, you are as dear as family, as close as an elder."

"Once you leave this time, who knows when we will meet again."

"Uncle Jian, how about I call Gu Rong over tonight, and the two of us see you off before you leave?"

"Sect... Fengzhi, you are thoughtful..."

Hearing this, Chen Xin's sword-straight body trembled lightly, and his eyes stung faintly.

As though moved by Ning Fengzhi's words, a smile appeared on his face once more, and he completely let go of his previous resentment.

"Alright. Then tonight, the three of us will drink ourselves into oblivion atop these peaks!"

Dusk drew near.

As he needed to pack his belongings, Chen Xin temporarily bade Ning Fengzhi farewell and returned to his residence.

At this moment, in the sect leader's hall filled with luxury as far as the eye could see, Ning Fengzhi was the only figure standing silently.

After an unknown amount of time, a soundless murmur suddenly drifted from his lips.

"Chen Xin, since you are heartless, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

There was no longer any tenderness in Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

They were filled only with gloom and madness.

"For the sake of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I absolutely cannot allow myself... to let the tiger return to the mountain!"