Restrained Revenge

"So, Master, the approach you took back then was a relatively peaceful one?"

"That's right." Xiao Anhe nodded. "Although the sect's higher-ups all suspected that the rival sect was strong on the outside but hollow within, it was still only a guess. Without absolute certainty, no one dared make a move. One mistake could have meant the destruction of our entire sect."

Yi Xuan nodded in agreement. "The Law Enforcement Elder's idea was indeed far too radical. It would never have won the support of the sect's higher-ups. His approach was a gamble."

"You're right. Back then, the sect's higher-ups looked at him as though he were a gambler. But who could have imagined that more than ten years later, our disciples who had infiltrated the rival sect would discover from its records that our suspicions about its internal affairs had been entirely correct?"

Yi Xuan also felt it was a pity. If they had followed the Law Enforcement Elder's plan, the Azure Cloud Sect might have become one of the greatest sects in the Southern Frontier by now.

"Is that why the Law Enforcement Elder holds a grudge against you?"

Xiao Anhe nodded. "Yes! He wasn't unhappy that I was chosen as sect master. He was unhappy that I failed to bring the sect to greater heights!"

Hearing this, the anger Yi Xuan had felt toward the Law Enforcement Elder gradually faded. He had not expected the elder's reason for targeting his master to be the sect's development rather than his own personal interests.

Yi Xuan even felt some admiration for the black-faced elder.

"But what's the point of him targeting me like this?" Yi Xuan still didn't quite understand.

"Heh! There's no real point. He probably just wanted to disgust me this way. You could also say he wanted to put me in my place after advancing to the Nascent Soul realm. I'm used to it. This isn't the first time!"

"What do you mean?"

Xiao Anhe glanced at Yi Xuan. "Your senior brother, Shi Zhenghao!"

"Senior brother? What does he have to do with the Law Enforcement Elder?"

"Do you think your senior brother was really so foolish when he was expelled from the sect back then? He was framed!"

"Was it the Law Enforcement Elder's doing?"

Seeing his master nod, Yi Xuan didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected the Law Enforcement Elder's resentment toward his master, the sect master, to run so deep.

Before his senior brother's trouble, Yi Xuan had already been declared a rootless person and moved down the mountain. At the time, his senior brother could be said to have been groomed as the sect master's successor.

"Framing the sect master's successor? Or rather, the next sect master? Wasn't that going too far, Master?" Yi Xuan felt that his senior brother had been wronged.

But Xiao Anhe said helplessly, "It certainly was, but was there any evidence? Nearly all the higher-ups knew it was his doing, but that's where his cleverness lay. Everyone knew he did it, but there was simply no evidence. Even the elder who'd been made to wear a green hat could only swallow his grievance in silence!"

With that, Xiao Anhe sighed. "Judging by that scheme alone, I'm no match for him!"

"But were you just going to stand by and watch senior brother be falsely accused? Master, do you know what kind of life he's been living out there?"

Xiao Anhe looked up at Yi Xuan, his eyes smiling. "You just gave him five hundred Spirit Stones. What kind of life do you think he's been living?"

"Uh..."

Yi Xuan had never imagined that his master, the sect master, would know so much about what had passed between him and his senior brother.

Feeling a little guilty, he looked up and asked, "Master, you knew about all that?"

"Hmph! From the time you secretly sheltered him to the two of you sneaking around together all these years, who did you think you were fooling?"

"Besides, did you really think your senior brother was invincible? If the sect had truly wanted to capture him, would it have let him wander around outside for over ten years?"

Only then did Yi Xuan realize how much the sect had let his senior brother off the hook.

"Then senior brother...?"

"Him? He knows perfectly well. You're the only one naive enough, you silly boy!"

Yi Xuan was utterly speechless. So you've all been acting, and you've kept it up for all these years, leaving only me in the dark! Sure enough, you're all actors with a century of experience. Your acting is really good!

"Then the Law Enforcement Elder doesn't know?"

Xiao Anhe shook his head. "Anyone else might not know, but how could he not? His goal was to drive your senior brother away. He doesn't care about anything else."

"But why did he do it?"

"He doesn't approve of the way I've led the sect's development, so he doesn't want the next sect master to come from our branch again. But he doesn't want to see fellow disciples fighting among themselves, either, so he could only use this method to disqualify our branch from the succession. Once I advance to the Nascent Soul realm, he can push for his disciple to become sect master!"

"So that's how it is!" Yi Xuan finally understood everything. At the same time, he asked curiously, "Master, what do you intend to do? Just let them have their way?"

Xiao Anhe looked at Yi Xuan. "You've been in the sect for almost twenty years now. How has the sect changed from what it was twenty years ago?"

Yi Xuan thought carefully. There really didn't seem to have been any obvious changes, so he shook his head.

Xiao Anhe smiled helplessly. "You understand now, don't you? The facts have shown that your master is someone who can preserve what he has, but not a leader who can bring about a revival. If the sect is to develop in a major way, it needs a sect master with the Law Enforcement Elder's character. Ah! Though I'm unwilling to accept it, I have to admit that he's better than me!"

After that sigh, Xiao Anhe put his feelings aside and smiled at Yi Xuan. "All right. I called you here and told you quite a few old stories. I imagine you're tired of listening by now."

Yi Xuan shook his head.

Xiao Anhe continued, "I called you here to tell you that you don't need to worry too much about your situation. As long as your master is here, I absolutely won't let the sect expel you!"

With that, Xiao Anhe stood, and his imposing presence spread out. Although it wasn't directed at Yi Xuan, it still pressed down on him until he could hardly breathe.

His master, the sect master, stared straight at the palace where the Law Enforcement Elder was. He looked like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath as he murmured to himself, "For a hundred years as sect master, I have worked diligently and never dared slack off in the slightest. Though I dare not claim any credit, I can say in good conscience that I have done no wrong."

After saying this, the sect master suddenly raised his voice, and it carried throughout the mountain gates. "I am Xiao Anhe, the sect master. From this day forth, I enter closed-door seclusion. I swear I will not emerge until I break through to the Nascent Soul realm! While I am in seclusion, the Law Enforcement Elder will manage the sect in my stead!"

"Agreed!" As soon as the sect master's voice fell, a voice came from the Law Enforcement Elder's palace.

The other disciples of the sect responded in unison, "We respectfully obey the sect master's decree!"

When the transmission ended, Xiao Anhe smiled and turned back to Yi Xuan. "Haha! Your master has led the sect for a hundred years, but I've never felt as free as I do today!"

Yi Xuan could understand his master. He had borne the heavy burden of the sect for a hundred years and had finally laid it down. Yi Xuan was happy for him, too.

"All right! I don't expect the Law Enforcement Elder will make things difficult for you anymore! I'm about to enter seclusion, so you should go down the mountain too!"

Yi Xuan nodded, bowed to his master, and went down the mountain.