Zhao Shiyong is indeed a straightforward and honest person.
Chen Shuangbai originally thought that what this guy meant by "dealing with the Lineage well" was to make the Zhao Household humble and subservient, and then come out to stir up trouble after his period of guarding was over. However, he did not expect that what he would get was Bi Sheng rushing over and saying that the entire Zhao Household, young and old, had rented several large ships with lots of bags and small packages and went directly to the Zhao Kingdom with the fleet.
Chen Shuangbai was also stunned for a moment before saying with some emotion, "This man is a gentleman."
Bi Sheng was also surprised, but even more so, he was delighted.
In local cultivation communities, the Zhao Household usually takes the lead, with the other three families following behind, contributing their labor without using their brains.
Now that the Zhao Household family has moved away, the remaining three families are in complete panic.
"Well... the Zhao Household's ship had only been gone a short while when the remaining three families panicked."
"Perhaps the Yuan Household is afraid that what they did before will make you resent them, so they've decided to flee as well. They're packing their bags now, probably heading to the Zhao Kingdom."
"As for the remaining two families, the heads of the Wang Household and Li Household families have already submitted their surrender documents, saying that they will follow your lead from now on, and even intend to offer up most of their family property in case we don't believe them."
Chen Shuangbai already knew that the only person among the four families at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining was from the Zhao Household.
Now that the Zhao Household family has moved away, they no longer have any cultivators at the Late Qi Refining Stage. Even if someone in the Lineage joins a cultivation sect, they cannot compete with Zhao Shiyong in terms of connections. Therefore, they have completely submitted.
As for whether these two families will revert to their old ways, Chen Shuangbai is not too worried.
He is here now, intending to teach Zhuang Wen and Bi Sheng. After that, he will probably be able to take in a few disciples with decent aptitude. As long as they are promoted back to the main sect by the Jade Spring Sect, they will have a powerful backer within the sect, and those two families will naturally be suppressed.
Furthermore, Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy subsequently absorbed disciples from both families, gradually assimilating them into one family, so there was no need for them to turn against each other.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Wen and Bi Sheng couldn't help but show their delight, saying that their martial uncle was unparalleled in wisdom and strategy.
Chen Shuangbai felt embarrassed by these words and dismissed the two men.
What he didn't expect was that he had just heard in the morning that the Zhao Household family had moved back to the Zhao Kingdom, and in the afternoon Zhuang Wen came to report that Zhao Shiyong was now standing on the back mountain of the bamboo forest, hoping to see him.
Upon hearing that this person had come again, Chen Shuangbai mistakenly assumed that it was Zhao Shiyong, who was still unwilling to accept defeat and seemed to be planning to have another fight with him.
But upon closer reflection, it didn't seem right.
"This person was so flamboyant the first time he came, as if afraid others wouldn't know. Now he's secretly come to the back mountain and even had Zhuang Wen report to him first... He's probably here to discuss something."
After thinking it over carefully, Chen Shuangbai felt there might be something else going on, so he asked Zhuang Wen to invite him over.
The back mountain was quite a distance from the Listening to the Waves Pavilion. By the time Zhao Shiyong was led up, Chen Shuangbai had already ordered some spiritual tea to be served.
After Zhao Shiyong sat down, he first started rambling on about random things.
Seeing his roundabout manner, Chen Shuangbai grew somewhat impatient and said:
"Fellow Daoist, what brings you here again to seek me out?"
Zhao Shiyong knew Chen Shuangbai was a clever man, and seeing that he had taken the initiative to reveal the truth, he stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "To be honest, my return home this time is primarily for matters concerning my family, and secondly... it's for the matter down the river!"
Chen Shuangbai raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "The matter at Jiangxia... could it be some ancient remnant?"
Zhao Shiyong shook his head, then nodded, saying, "Yes... and no."
He recounted in detail what lay beneath the river.
It is said that when his Foundation Establishment master traveled here, he saw that this place was a blessed land that gathered wind and energy. After much deduction, he knew that there was a dangerous place under the river at this ferry crossing, where a certain treasure was hidden.
However, this is the territory of the Jade Spring Sect. His Foundation Establishment master is, after all, a late Foundation Establishment. It's fine for him to travel around, but if he were to attempt to search for treasures, the Jade Spring Sect would discover it. At best, they would chase him away; at worst, they would start a fight. He would have no choice but to give up in frustration.
"Now that I've entered the Late Qi Refining Stage and am about to reach Foundation Establishment, my master personally deduced that my fortuitous opportunity to Foundation Establishment lies here. This is the true purpose of my return home."
Chen Shuangbai was quite surprised to hear this, but soon her face filled with suspicion. Looking at Zhao Shiyong, she asked with some doubt:
"Fellow Daoist... we belong to two different factions. Don't you think these words are a bit too forward for someone we've only just met?"
The subtext of those words is—"Aren't you afraid that if you say this out loud, I, Chen Shuangbai, will report it to the sect?"
Zhao Shiyong smiled, looking steadily at Chen Shuangbai, his tone very firm.
You won't."
"Oh... why?"
Chen Shuangbai became interested.
Zhao Shiyong narrowed his eyes, speaking calmly, "That treasure belongs to the water element. It's useful to me, but even more useful to you... Could it be that you... don't want to Foundation Establishment?"
Chen Shuangbai finally became interested, put down his tea, looked at Zhao Shiyong, and scrutinized him for a while, "Fellow Daoist, are you willing to share with me?"
Zhao Shiyong shrugged.
"That treasure was born and nurtured by nature for many years; it's of ample size. I didn't take much, so naturally, you'll get your share."
"But..."
Upon hearing this twist, Chen Shuangbai knew that there was indeed something strange about this item.
Zhao Shiyong added, "But that treasure is in a gap in some alien space beneath the river. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators would need several months to find the correct entrance. Only certain aquatic beasts possess that ability."
"Moreover, this treasure is surely guarded by a beast, which I cannot contend with alone. That is why I sought out you, fellow Daoist, hoping that we can work together to retrieve it."
Hearing this made things much more normal.
However, Chen Shuangbai remained vigilant, a relieved smile appearing on her face as she repeatedly said "good."
Just as Zhao Shiyong said, how could Chen Shuangbai not be interested in something that concerns Foundation Establishment?
The two discussed for a while, roughly recounting the details of the riverbank, Zhao Shiyong mentioned one person.
"I had heard before that there was a cultivator surnamed Yu in the Rosy Clouds Abode Alliance who could raise those Silver Light Fish and earn a lot of Spirit Stone for the Rosy Clouds Abode Alliance."
Chen Shuangbai said, "There is such a person, but he only knows how to feed fish and has no aquatic beasts under his command."
Zhao Shiyong shook his head slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist, you are unaware of this. Although Yu Laoliu is not particularly remarkable, his branch has some history. Originally, it was a branch of a Foundation Establishment Lineage in the Xu Kingdom that practiced water magic. After suffering a great calamity, it split in all directions and now it no longer recognizes its own origin. However, the family still has a few secret techniques passed down and is accustomed to taming water beasts."
"My master's deductions confirm that Yu Laoliu is indeed hiding his true abilities; there's no doubt about it."
Chen Shuangbai was somewhat surprised.
But what surprised me wasn't Yu Laoliu's Lineage background, but rather Zhao Shiyong's Foundation Establishment master...
To be able to deduce so many things from the heart of the Zhao Kingdom using only divination methods... is this Divine Ability cultivated at the Foundation Establishment truly so formidable and mysterious?
Was he... also part of his Foundation Establishment master's deductions and plans?
As Chen Shuangbai pondered this, she inexplicably felt a chill run down her spine.