That girl had really hit the nail on the head. The Qian Family truly did suck people's blood and eat their flesh.
I'd thought it was just a figure of speech, but it turned out to be literal.
"Nothing. It just crossed my mind."
Chen Xian hesitated, but in the end, he chose not to tell Shangguan Hongyue. She was already upset, and as an ordinary Inner Sect disciple, there wasn't much she could do anyway.
"Granduncle-Master, wait for me."
Just then, Deacon Huang ran out too. Seeing the two of them about to leave, he hurriedly called out to them.
"What is it?"
Chen Xian smiled faintly, wondering whether he should tell Deacon Huang about Qian Yue.
But then he thought better of it. Deacon Huang was a sect official stationed outside the sect, and he had dealings with the Qian Family. Chen Xian didn't know whether he was involved with them.
What if Deacon Huang had already been bought off by Qian Yue? Wouldn't that be like alerting the enemy?
No! It'd be luring the snake right out of its hole.
"Granduncle-Master, you're heading back to the sect, right?"
Deacon Huang smiled broadly, rubbing his hands together. It looked as though he had something to say, but couldn't bring himself to say it.
"Mm. If you have something to say, just say it." Chen Xian nodded calmly.
Deacon Huang hesitated, then rubbed his hands together and pleaded, "Granduncle-Master, when you get back to the sect, could you put in a word with the Sect Master for me? I don't want to be stationed outside anymore. I want to return to the sect too."
As he spoke, he suddenly grabbed Chen Xian's trouser leg without warning.
Then he burst into tears. "Waaah—Granduncle-Master, you have no idea! Being stationed outside is so hard! I handle more than a hundred big and small matters every day, from morning till night, and night till morning, without a moment's rest!"
"I understand that the sect needs workhorses, but you can't keep flogging the same workhorse!"
"You don't know—I used to weigh a hundred and sixty pounds. Now I'm down to a hundred!"
"If this keeps up, I'll drop dead on the job!"
Deacon Huang wiped away a tear, then swiped his sleeve across his face, revealing his true appearance.
The Deacon Huang who had just looked bright-eyed, gaunt, and efficient was gone.
In his place stood Deacon Huang with thinning hair, sunken eye sockets, protruding cheekbones, hollow cheeks, and a pair of enormous panda eyes.
Chen Xian was startled by the sight. The man looked like a skeleton.
Now he was certain Deacon Huang was utterly loyal to the sect.
Just look at Qian Yue. He cultivated the Blood-Irrigated Body and looked healthier than ever, with the body of a thirty-year-old despite being sixty.
Then look at Deacon Huang. He was probably not far from dying of overwork.
At that thought, an idea suddenly struck him. Perhaps he could tell Deacon Huang about Qian Yue now and have him keep a closer eye on the Qian Family.
The Qian Family was obviously conspiring with the Blood Demon Sect, right under the Sword Sect's nose.
As the Sword Sect's granduncle-master, he couldn't just sit by and do nothing.
"Ahem, Little Huang... I'll speak to the Sect Master on your behalf about returning to the sect."
Chen Xian discreetly dodged Deacon Huang, who was about to wipe his nose on Chen Xian's trouser leg, and spoke in a solemn, affected tone.
"Thank you, Granduncle-Master! Thank you, Granduncle-Master! Huang Huanghuang will never forget your life-saving kindness!"
"Even if I have to go back and become an ordinary disciple, I'll take it. Whoever wants this job as an outside deacon can have it!"
Huang Huanghuang immediately threw himself onto the ground and kowtowed furiously to Chen Xian.
He really did look like he was about to be driven mad by the torment.
"Don't say that, Little Huang. I have a task for you. If you pull it off, you might even be able to climb higher in the sect!"
Chen Xian crouched down and patted Deacon Huang on the head.
"Climb higher?" Deacon Huang looked confused. Wouldn't that mean becoming an elder?
"Just tell me whether you'll do it or not. It's a little dangerous, so I won't force you."
Chen Xian coaxed him along. Even if he went straight to Lei Qingyun with nothing but his word, Lei Qingyun probably wouldn't believe him. And even if he did, without evidence, it would be difficult to investigate the Qian Family rashly.
After spending so long catching up on things, Chen Xian knew that although the Xuanyun Sword Sect had close ties with Ask-Dao City, it actually had little say in mundane affairs.
Its authority was more of an oversight role.
The great Aristocratic Clans in particular followed an entirely different set of rules.
Caught between the temptation of returning to the sect and the desire to climb higher, Huang Huanghuang found himself unable to choose.
"Looks like Elder Huang is quite conflicted. I won't make things difficult for you, then."
"Little Yue, let's go!"
Chen Xian stood up, ready to fly off on his sword with Shangguan Hongyue.
Being addressed as "Elder Huang" by the granduncle-master made Huang Huanghuang feel like he was floating on air.
Seeing his chance to climb higher about to fly away, he gritted his teeth, stood up, and cupped his hands. "Granduncle-Master! Please show this junior the road to greatness!"
Damn it! He was doing it!
As long as it didn't kill him, he'd work himself to death. Once he became an elder, he definitely wouldn't be this exhausted!
The thought of becoming an elder and only needing to teach classes in the sect, then take in a group of beautiful female disciples who would all call out, "Come on~ Master~," made his head swim.
Seeing that he'd taken the bait, Chen Xian quickly jumped down from his sword and leaned close to his ear. "This matter is of the utmost secrecy. Remember, don't tell anyone until I give you the word."
Seeing the granduncle-master's solemn expression, Huang Huanghuang wiped away a bit of drool and nodded gravely. "This disciple will remember! Please tell me, Granduncle-Master. What do you want me to do?"
Seeing how seriously he was taking it, Chen Xian nodded and whispered the whole story into his ear: the Qian Family patriarch was cultivating the Blood-Irrigated Body.
"What! How dare he!"
Huang Huanghuang leaped two meters into the air. This was way too shocking!
This was Ask-Dao City! Right beneath the Sword Sect's feet!
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Chen Xian's expression turned stern as he cast a subtle glance toward the gates of Qian Mansion, where plenty of servants came and went.
"You don't need to act. Just keep an eye on the Qian Family's movements. If anything major happens, report it to me at once."
Chen Xian patted him on the shoulder.
Huang Huanghuang quickly calmed himself and looked toward the plaque above the gates of Qian Mansion, a trace of killing intent showing in his eyes.
The enmity between the Sword Sect and the Blood Demon Sect was irreconcilable. It was a lesson every disciple had to remember.
He nodded. "This junior understands! I'll keep watch day and night on that villain Qian Yue and dig up evidence of his collusion with the Blood Demon Sect!"
He had to admit, the granduncle-master had given him a tremendous opportunity.
If he really managed to root out the Blood Demon Sect's spies and informants in Ask-Dao City, his contribution would be immense. His promotion to elder would be all but certain.
"Good! Elder Huang, this matter is of the utmost importance. I must report it to the Sect Master as soon as possible. Be careful."
Chen Xian dangled another sweet plum before Huang Huanghuang.
Huang Huanghuang waved a hand with a solemn expression. "As long as we can wipe out those bastards from the Blood Demon Sect, what does it matter if I die and my cultivation is destroyed?"
Chen Xian looked deeply at Deacon Huang.
Once again, he gained a deeper appreciation for the Sword Sect's unity.
"Could Granduncle-Master give me some advice?"
Huang Huanghuang suddenly scratched his head. The granduncle-master possessed such great abilities that he could even see Qian Yue's Blood-Irrigated Body. Surely he had plenty of good ideas.
Chen Xian thought for a moment, then leaned close to his ear and whispered mysteriously, "Do this, then that. First this, then that. Start with the Shou'er Tea. Understand?"
Huang Huanghuang felt as if a sudden enlightenment had struck him. He too smiled mysteriously. "I understand! I understand! Granduncle-Master truly is a master!"
The two leaned together and let out a scheming "Heh heh heh."
Shangguan Hongyue: "..."
Why did it feel like she was the only normal person in the whole sect?