A Monster in Broad Daylight

However dazzlingly gifted the Twelve Young Masters were, before Yun Huang, they still had to fall back a bowshot!

At those words, the corners of Yun Huang's lips curved almost imperceptibly, then settled again. He walked up to Yun Qing, his gaze falling on his bloodstained black robes.

"You still need to work diligently at your cultivation," he remarked coolly, with the natural condescension of the strong.

Yun Qing smiled bitterly, unable to keep himself from grumbling inwardly. It's not that I haven't worked hard. Meeting a monster in broad daylight is no different from meeting a ghost after dark...

"Hmm?" Those golden eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous gaze sweeping toward him as though Yun Huang had sensed Yun Qing's silent complaints.

He changed tack, striking straight at the heart of the matter, his voice resonating with the profound tones of the Great Dao. "Your Nirvana pursues endings too single-mindedly and has lost the true essence of Chaos. Chaos is the beginning of all things, and also their end. They begin in nothingness and return to nothingness. Between the two, life and death revolve, creation transforms-that is the Great Dao. Your spear possesses only the deathly stillness of 'returning to nothingness.' It lacks the vitality of 'beginning in nothingness' and the evolution of 'life and death revolving.'"

Those words rang through Yun Qing's mind like mighty bells. He had always focused on Nirvana's power to bring things to an end, yet had never deeply considered its relationship with Chaos or the cycle of life and death. The chaos dao embryo... so this is how it should be used?!

He looked into Yun Huang's all-seeing golden eyes, indescribable shock filling his heart. Is this the perspective of a reincarnated Immortal Emperor? He saw through the fog obscuring my dao path with a single glance!

"I will remember your teachings, Young Lord." Yun Qing suppressed his roiling blood and the metallic sweetness rising in his throat, answering respectfully. Far from feeling dejected, his heart surged with excitement at Yun Huang's comments, which pointed directly to the Great Dao. Countless inspirations and insights came flooding in. Born in the same era as a monster who towers over the entire age, who would be foolish enough to oppose him? Receiving even a few words of guidance from him is already an immense opportunity...

Seeing him so obedient and lost in thought, Yun Huang took a few steps closer for once and extended a hand as if to support him. "Go back and regulate your breathing." After a pause, he added, "As for your younger brother's incident at the Ancestral Shrine today, handle it as you see fit."

That meant Yun Huang would pursue the matter no further. Yun Qing would have full responsibility for it, and Yun Huang would not question who was ultimately punished or dealt with.

"Yes. Thank you, Young Lord." Yun Qing raised his head with a smile and accepted, then suddenly grasped the hand Yun Huang had offered in a token gesture, using it to steady himself.

Yun Huang froze, a flicker of helpless irritation crossing his heart. How does he manage to climb straight up the pole the moment someone tries to strike the snake? Give him a step, and he takes it without hesitation!

Holding Yun Huang's hand, Yun Qing felt how steady and strong it was. In that brief instant of contact, a thread of pure, gentle Radiant Yang Spiritual Power flowed into his body, swiftly soothing some of the unsettled injuries in his meridians.

That subtle gesture from Yun Huang stood in stark contrast to his cold, overbearing manner during their spar.

Without another word, Yun Huang turned and walked out of the Martial Arena, his hands clasped behind his back. His robes stirred in the wind, his retreating figure aloof and imposing. "You may take tomorrow off."

Yun Qing stood where he was, watching that figure recede and feeling the injuries within him being quietly soothed. A complicated light shone in his Double Pupils.

This "younger brother Huang" of his was more unfathomable than he had imagined, and also... a little warmer.

Yun Qing suppressed his roiling blood and quickly straightened his appearance, making sure nothing looked amiss before leaving the Martial Arena and heading straight for the Discipline Hall. He still had to fetch Shuo'er and the others.

The Discipline Hall was solemn, a cold blue sheen glimmering over its stone steps. Yun Qing climbed them in his fitted black robes. The bloodstains on his lapels had already been cleaned away, but perhaps because he had only just finished sparring with Yun Huang, a fierce, razor-sharp aura still lingered around him, making the disciples on duty instinctively hold their breath and lower their heads.

"Eldest Young Master!" Seeing him arrive, the elder on duty immediately hurried forward, his respectful expression carrying a barely perceptible trace of tension. The oppressive aura Yun Qing exuded at that moment was actually no weaker than that of several elders whose authority had accumulated over many years.

"Report." Succinct as ever, Yun Qing entered the hall and sat in the principal seat, his Double Pupils sweeping over the elder.

The elder dared not delay and presented a jade slip with both hands. "All the clan children and attendants involved in the incident at the Ancestral Shrine have been temporarily detained pending judgment. These are the preliminary statements and the records from the scene." He respectfully offered the jade slip.

Yun Qing took it and quickly scanned its contents with his divine sense. Yun Hao had provoked them first, loudly declaring at the entrance to the Ancestral Shrine that a mere concubine's son had no right to enter. Unable to endure it any longer, Yun Shuo had argued back, and the two groups had clashed. Amid the shoving, several intertwined strands of spiritual energy had reacted, producing a spiritual tide that slammed into the nearby Soul-Suppressing Stele and shattered it.

The cause of the conflict was trivial, and the course of events appeared to be an accident sparked by prejudice between children of wives and concubines. Yet the object shattered just happened to be the Soul-Suppressing Stele, something so sensitive and bound up with Yun Huang's secrets! Yun Qing did not believe in such coincidences. Coupled with the sinister spiritual energy lingering on the Soul-Suppressing Stele, someone must have been pulling strings in the shadows!

Only a handful of the Yun Clan's senior figures knew that the Soul-Suppressing Stele concerned the secret of Yun Huang's reincarnation, and the twelve elders were among them.

Yun Hao was the Fifth Elder's grandson.

Yun Qing's thoughts raced. Was the Fifth Elder behind this? Yet the Fifth Elder, Yun Jun, had always been known within the clan as an amiable old man. He was moderate by nature and disliked conflict; supposedly, he had attained his position more through luck and seniority than anything else. Moreover, Yun Ruyi, the gifted daughter of the Fifth Elder's branch, possessed the "innate fortune physique" and excelled at seeking good fortune and avoiding calamity.

Would two such people allow their clansmen to make such a dangerous move merely to bring Yun Qing down? That did not fit the Fifth Elder's branch's usual way of surviving, and it ran counter to the very notion of "fortune." It was too obvious-more like a decoy someone had pushed into the open.

Without betraying anything, Yun Qing ordered, "Where are Yun Shuo and the others? Take me to them."

"Yes, Eldest Young Master."

The side hall was rather dim. Yun Shuo sat curled up on a meditation cushion in the corner, his small face still somewhat pale. Beside him were an equally anxious Yun Yao and a dark-faced Yun Li, whose expression held a measure of indignation.

Yun Qing swept his gaze over them. Seeing Yun Shuo unharmed, he felt a little of the tension in his heart ease.

When Yun Shuo saw Yun Qing enter, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he called out with dependence and grievance, "Big Brother!" Yun Yao also cried happily, "Brother Yun Qing!"

Yun Li instinctively straightened his back, looking at Yun Qing with a complicated expression.

Yun Qing looked at Yun Li and Yun Yao and nodded slightly, his tone gentle. "My younger brother and sister, thank you for protecting my little brother today. I hear you often look after him as well. As his elder brother, I offer you my thanks."

Those words instantly stopped the cold remarks on the tip of Yun Li's tongue. A flicker of astonishment and discomfort crossed his face. Yun Yao, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by the unexpected courtesy and hurriedly waved her hands. "You're too kind, Eldest Young Master. We're siblings of the same clan. Supporting each other is only right."

"I know what happened. Go back and get some rest. I will handle this matter." Yun Qing's voice was calm, carrying a resolve that brooked no argument.

His assurance was like a calming pill to Yun Shuo and Yun Yao, and they hurriedly nodded. Yun Li gave Yun Qing a long look but ultimately said nothing more and left with them.

Once the three had gone, the calm on Yun Qing's face instantly froze over. An eerie light flashed in his Double Pupils as he told the elder on duty, "Have Steward Jia, who went to report to the Perching Phoenix Hall today, come see me immediately."