Gathering currents

Just as Xie Caixia finished negotiating the terms of compensation and apology and took her leave, a shout suddenly came from afar.

"Does Purple Cloud Peak think Cloudmist Peak has no one to stand up for it?"

Immediately afterward, Yuan Tianhe and Liu Xu came hurrying over with a group of experts from Cloudmist Peak.

At the sight, Xie Caixia gave a bitter smile and quickly cupped her hands to Qin Lian. "I'll have the Enlightenment Tea delivered immediately. To avoid a clash, we'll take our leave first."

With that, she, Yan Nangui, and the others hurried away in another direction, taking Lin Yuyan with them. They did not dare come face-to-face with the people from Cloudmist Peak at all.

Soon, the dozen or so people from Cloudmist Peak had arrived on the mountain.

Yuan Tianhe, Liu Xu, Xiao Qing, Xu Qingsong, Chu Ying, and even several elders who had once reached the third grade but could only muster fourth-grade combat strength because of their advanced age had all hurried over.

Qin Lian was not surprised by their arrival.

His residence was behind the Library Pavilion, where people came and went every day. Naturally, someone had seen Lin Yuyan come to challenge him, and word had reached Cloudmist Peak.

"Thank you all for coming. The matter has already been resolved."

Qin Lian spoke.

"Junior Brother Qin... Pavilion Master Qin, although you now hold a post at the Library Pavilion, you're still one of us at Cloudmist Peak, and Cloudmist Peak will always stand behind you! If Purple Cloud Peak throws its weight around, we will fight them to the bitter end!"

Liu Xu declared Cloudmist Peak's position on its behalf.

"It's fine. A Jade Nectar Returning-Truth Pill and ten portions of Enlightenment Tea are all things I urgently need."

Qin Lian smiled. "I wouldn't mind a few more challenges like this."

"A Jade Nectar Returning-Truth Pill? Ten portions of Enlightenment Tea?"

Hearing what Purple Cloud Peak had offered in compensation, Liu Xu and Yuan Tianhe could not help freezing for a moment.

Together, the two were probably worth three or four million taels.

Even all the businesses under Cloudmist Peak's name could not bring in that amount in a year.

For a moment, Yuan Tianhe found it difficult to say anything more. He gave a soft snort. "They got off lightly."

"Sorry to have made you all come for nothing."

Qin Lian held out the Enlightenment Tea Yan Nangui had given him as compensation. "This..."

"Take it back!"

Before he could finish, Yuan Tianhe said solemnly, "We belong to the same peak. Helping each other is only right! If I accept this return gift today, will other disciples in trouble have to prepare lavish gifts to thank everyone too? As time goes on, if someone cannot afford a lavish gift, does that mean the rest of us can stand by with folded arms when they're in trouble?"

Hearing this, Qin Lian put away the Enlightenment Tea. "I acted rashly."

"All right. Since you're unharmed, we'll head back."

Yuan Tianhe spoke.

Liu Xu stepped forward. "Pavilion Master Qin, you truly deserve your name as a Heaven Ranking grandmaster. Lin Yuyan has made quite a splash on Purple Cloud Peak in recent years. Especially with that tragic persona of hers lately, someone was clearly helping build her reputation, paving her way onto the Grandmaster Heaven Ranking."

She smiled. "She set her sights on you, hoping to bask in some of your fame. She never expected to kick an iron plate."

Chu Ying, Xu Qingsong, and the others thoroughly agreed with these words.

"Some time ago, there were even rumors in the sect that you only managed to kill Zuo Qiudao and reach the Heaven Ranking because you caught a lucky break, Pavilion Master Qin."

Xu Qingsong smiled as well. "They claimed Zuo Qiudao had failed at Spirit Refining, leaving his mind abnormal and greatly weakening him... Now that you have this victory over Lin Yuyan, I can't speak for the outside world, but within the Pure Yang Sword Sect, no one will dare question whether you deserve your grandmaster status."

"I don't really care about those rumors. I just don't want them disturbing my cultivation."

Qin Lian spoke.

Looking at Qin Lian, Liu Xu could not help saying with feeling, "Pavilion Master Qin... you truly are a man of the deepest feeling and truest nature."

Her words also reminded Yuan Tianhe, Xu Qingsong, and Chu Ying of something.

"Second grade!"

As they looked at Qin Lian, their eyes held a trace of emotion and wistfulness.

But those looks...

Left Qin Lian utterly bewildered.

He had no idea what they meant.

After glancing into Qin Lian's courtyard, Liu Xu suggested, "I see you don't even have a servant disciple to run errands in your courtyard, Pavilion Master Qin. I happen to have a niece who is bright and hardworking. How about letting her attend to your meals, clothes, and daily needs?"

Before Qin Lian could respond to her suggestion, Chu Ying spoke first. "Eldest Senior Sister, since Senior Brother Qin wants peace and quiet, it would be better not to have so many people in his courtyard. Besides, aren't the Library Pavilion's servant disciples available to him?"

"I'm quite comfortable living alone in the courtyard."

Qin Lian added, "Besides, I've already written a letter. Someone from the Qin family will arrive before long."

Liu Xu glanced at Chu Ying. Since Qin Lian had said so too, she did not insist.

After exchanging some pleasantries, everyone finally left.

Once they were gone, Qin Lian looked at the Jade Nectar Returning-Truth Pill in his hand...

"One pill can produce a Fourth-Rank True Astral practitioner? This should repay my karmic debt to the Qin family."

He did indeed write a letter then, having someone deliver it to Taibai and asking the Qin family to choose someone to send to Pure Yang.

That person...

Would be Qin Daozhi, barring any surprises.

After he summoned a servant disciple to send out the letter, Purple Cloud Peak also delivered the other nine portions of Enlightenment Tea.

Looking at these treasures, each selling for three or four hundred thousand taels and probably costing no small amount to produce, Qin Lian felt much of his anger dissipate.

After all, with so many people from Purple Cloud Peak present, he could hardly have beaten Lin Yuyan to death.

"Ten portions of Enlightenment Tea... Let's see whether this treasure is as wondrous as the rumors claim."

The overall atmosphere within Pure Yang remained peaceful.

But within Yi Province, the winds were already rising and the clouds churning.

The Heavenly Martial Bureau.

At its founding, it had served as a link between the Great Shang court and the sects throughout the realm.

After three hundred years of change, it had all but become a violent apparatus the court used specifically against those sects.

Martial artists from the various sects who served in it were seen as the court's hawks and hounds, hounded by all.

At that moment, in the capital of Yi Province, Deputy Director Fang Tianqian, who had come from the Heavenly Martial Bureau's headquarters and oversaw the four southwestern provinces, was reviewing information on Ten Thousand Swords Manor in his room.

"After all this time, Ten Thousand Swords Manor's third manor lord, Ye Yingxiong, still hasn't found that Demon Sword? And what about their young manor lord? He's had the Demon Sword for over three months, yet he still hasn't comprehended its demonic intent and attained the second grade?"

"The young manor lord of Ten Thousand Swords Manor possesses peerless aptitude, but his comprehension seems somewhat lacking..."

Before him, a man in brocade robes with a deep, imposing presence was making his report.

"Useless."

Fang Tianqian said calmly, "Since he lacks the ability, replace him with someone capable of wielding the sword and becoming its new master."

He glanced at the brocade-robed man. "Black Tortoise, since Ye Yingxiong truly had the resolve to kill the first and second manor lords, go give him the sword."

"Give it to him?"

The brocade-robed man frowned slightly. "Director, Ye Yingxiong is extraordinarily gifted, ruthless, and cruel. His nature is quite compatible with the Heavenly Extreme Demon Sword. If he wields it, he will surely climb another step up the hundred-foot pole. Once he breaks into the first grade... he will certainly be able to reunify Ten Thousand Swords Manor, and our grand plan may fail at the final hurdle."

"It doesn't matter. I'll take action."

Fang Tianqian spoke mildly.

Hearing this, the brocade-robed man relaxed. "Then there's no problem."

"The tide of refugees from Jade Spring Commandery isn't spreading fast enough! Overlord Blade is already crippled. Next, before they lose all their value, we must draw Pure Yang in..."

Fang Tianqian paused. "Has Pure Yang's newly ranked grandmaster established his sect yet? When will the two sides clash?"

"He has established it. And just as you predicted, Director, he set his sights on Taibai Mine Mountain and founded a Taibai Sword Sect."

The brocade-robed man spoke.

"He's originally from Taibai, and he risked his life fighting the Blood Demon for his own family, which shows he values loyalty and affection. If he's establishing a sect, Taibai Mine Mountain would naturally be his first choice, bringing him up against Overlord Blade's disciples."

Director Fang was not surprised in the slightest.

People's actions, dispositions, and styles were all within his grasp. How could he fail to achieve his aims?

"That Overlord Blade core disciple must die. Then have Gao Qianchi seek justice. Once Pure Yang's people arrive and the heat is right, have Lu Jingtao wipe out the Taibai Sword Sect and drag Pure Yang fully into the water."

Fang Tianqian spoke calmly, as though describing something that was certain to happen. "If all goes well, we won't even need to play our second card. Overlord Blade and Pure Yang will wage war on their own, bringing disaster to Yi, Jiang, and Qing Provinces, plunging the people into misery and leaving countless dead and wounded. The Heavenly Martial Bureau will then heed the people's will and intervene to suppress them."

"Director, you direct the battle from your command tent, holding Overlord Blade, Pure Yang, and Ten Thousand Swords in the palm of your hand."

The brocade-robed Black Tortoise hastily bowed respectfully.

"I merely hold the advantage and can proceed at leisure."

Fang Tianqian said calmly, "Go. Send word to Vermilion Bird and have her keep watch in person. We can't have Pure Yang's people show mercy and let that Overlord Blade core disciple survive."

"Yes."

Black Tortoise acknowledged the order and soon took his leave.

Only after he left did Fang Tianqian look outside.

Even here in Yi Province's capital, the cries of battle could still be faintly heard from outside.

Overlord Blade's infighting had reached a white heat, with no room left to turn back. All that remained was to see how many survived.

Once the Tyrant Blade Sect collapsed...

It would be time for him to set off for Jiangzhou's capital and carry out the next step.

"Great Shang shares the realm with the sects? Hmph! Have they never heard that all beneath heaven is the king's land, and all within its borders are the king's subjects?"

He slowly raised his teacup and took a sip. "The Twelve Sects have lorded it over everyone for three hundred years. They've long since enjoyed everything there is to enjoy. His Majesty possesses grand talent, sweeping vision, and heaven-bestowed gifts. How could he continue allowing the Twelve Sects to carve out their own territories and crown themselves kings behind closed doors?"