The next morning, Jiang Liu awoke from his meditation and saw that Murong Yin and Feng Yue were still fast asleep. After all, the three of them had played cards all night, so they probably wouldn't wake up so early. Jiang Liu ignored them and got up alone.
After washing up, Jiang Liu began his early morning cultivation practice.
The Fire-Winged Monkey had already led the Frostwing Dragon and the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger into the mountains to find food. Jiang Liu would only summon them when he needed them, so they usually went to find food on their own.
He only comes back here to rest at night and to guard the house.
Jiang Liu settled down here and enjoyed this rare period of peace and tranquility.
Until one day, Murong Aotian sent a message saying that Haotian Sect had sent a message to Jiang Liu, asking Jiang Liu to go there.
Jiang Liu was completely bewildered. He hadn't really provoked the Haotian Sect, so what did they want with him? Why were they asking him to come over?
The person in charge of the Haotian Sect in Yuncheng is a Grandmaster Elder named Bo Ye, who was also one of the hosts of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Tournament.
However, Jiang Liu had anticipated this situation, as he knew beforehand that the three sects would definitely interfere in the affairs of the Great Qian Dynasty. Jiang Liu had previously estimated that the Flowing Cloud Sect and the Star Moon Sect would ignore it, but it was the Clear Sky Sect that jumped out.
Jiang Liu went directly to the Haotian Sect's outpost in Yuncheng and handed over his Flowing Cloud Sect True Inheritor Disciple token to the guards at the gate.
The Haotian Sect's guards accepted the token with both hands. After reading its contents, they quickly returned it to Jiang Liu, bowed, and said, "True Disciple Jiang, Elder Bo is waiting for you inside. Let me take you in!"
Jiang Liu nodded reservedly. He was now representing the True Inheritor Disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect, and everything had to be done with proper etiquette.
The guards led Jiang Liu directly into the Haotian Sect's residence and headed towards the council hall.
Jiang Liu noticed the ambiguous glances directed at him from the disciples of the Haotian Sect. Jiang Liu ignored them and followed the guards to the council hall.
Soon, the guards led Jiang Liu to the council hall. As soon as they entered to report, a loud laugh rang out, "Jiang Zhen has arrived! I am so sorry for not greeting you sooner."
Bo Ye appeared at the entrance of the hall and bowed to Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu returned the greeting with a cupped hand and said, "I dare not delay since Elder Bo invited me, so I came immediately."
"Jiang Zhenchuan laughed. We're old acquaintances, so there's no need to be so polite. Please!" Bo Ye said, gesturing for them to proceed.
Jiang Liu nodded and followed Bo Ye into the hall.
There was no one else in the hall. After the two of them took their seats as host and guest, a steward's disciple served them tea.
"Master Jiang, do you know why I've summoned you here?" Bo Ye asked Jiang Liu directly, getting straight to the point.
"Elder Bo, to be honest, I'm completely baffled. Please enlighten me," Jiang Liu said with a bewildered expression.
"Sigh! How should I put it? It's related to the tacit understanding between our three sects," Bo Ye said after a moment's thought.
"Please explain further, Elder Bo," Jiang Liu continued.
"Jiang Zhenchuan, you see so many states in Daqian. Apart from Qian Province, have our three sects sent people to other states to manage the local areas?" Bo Ye asked, guiding the conversation.
Jiang Liu shook his head and said, "I didn't see that. Could there be some secret involved?"
Bo Ye nodded and said, "It's not a secret. It's just a tacit understanding between our three sects over the decades. We let our subordinates fight and grab as long as they hand over our share."
"Because if the three of us personally take action to seize it, there will be no need for the lower-level gangs to participate. That's why this tacit understanding has been formed over the past few decades."
Jiang Liu nodded and said, "I see, I understand now. However, I didn't make a move! I only made a move before because the Sun Moon Sect provoked me, and I haven't paid any attention to it since."
Bo Ye looked at Jiang Liu with suspicion and said, "So this matter of Deity Summoning Society has nothing to do with you?"
Jiang Liu looked at Bo Ye with a puzzled expression and said, "Elder Bo, what do you mean? Wasn't the Deity Summoning Society destroyed by the Exotic Weapon Valley?"
"Besides, let alone the Deity Summoning Society, even the remnants of the Sun Moon Sect in Cloud City were dealt with by the Exotic Weapon Valley! This has nothing to do with me!" Jiang Liu said innocently.
Bo Ye looked at Jiang Liu with suspicion, as if to say, "Are you telling me a story? Do I look like an idiot?"
Jiang Liu didn't care what they thought; all he needed to do was give a plausible reason. Whether they believed it or not was none of his Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu was certain that only the Haotian Sect would meddle in other people's business, and that the Flowing Cloud Sect and Star Moon Sect would definitely not cause him trouble, which is why he dared to be so presumptuous.
"Alright! Just remember not to interfere in their fight, that's all." Bo Ye looked at Jiang Liu's shameless face and was speechless. He could only say helplessly.
However, this doesn't allow them to catch him in the act. Besides, there's no explicit prohibition against it; it's just that those from the three sects who could do it disdained to do it, and those who couldn't, needless to say, were allowed to Jiang Liu this loophole.
Jiang Liu nodded to indicate that he understood. Then, seeing that Bo Ye was alright and seemed not to want him to stay for dinner, he took his leave, saying, "If Elder Bo has nothing else to do, I'll take my leave now."
Bo Ye nodded and said, "Then you can go ahead and do what you need to do! You can come over and sit down when you have time, we can still get to know each other better."
Jiang Liu stood up, cupped his hands in farewell to Bo Ye, and said, "Elder Bo, let's get together again when we have time."
Bo Ye also stood up and saw Jiang Liu out of the hall. Watching Jiang Liu's departing figure, he shook his head. He was completely helpless with Jiang Liu; this was just a slight warning.
After all, these were minor matters, and Jiang Liu was not only True Inheritor Disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect, but also a Grandmaster. He didn't even dare to raise his voice.
Jiang Liu is only so young, yet he's already Grandmaster. Who knows if he might advance further to become Peak Grandmaster? If he accidentally offends him, he'll definitely be in deep trouble.
If several people hadn't relayed messages to him, asking him to come forward, he would have pretended not to know anything.
Jiang Liu the Haotian Sect's territory, looked back, and saw the Haotian Sect's guards looking at him with envy. He then smiled at them.
Afterwards, Jiang Liu used his movement technique to head towards the Flowing Cloud Sect's headquarters. He planned to go to the Flowing Cloud Sect to ask Elder Liuxing what exactly happened.
Why would the Haotian Sect suddenly come out to pick a fight with him? Who exactly is targeting him? Or, as Bo Ye said, is it just a tacit understanding from before?