Old Ties, New Maneuvers: A Web Woven Amid Gathering Storms

---- Chongming Sect, Yangming Mountain

"Master, what did the letter from Fearless Tower say?" Duan Anle asked with concern, while the composed Sect Leader Kang Da casually handed the letter to him and said softly:

"Just as the elders of the Fei Household said, news came from the Duke's mansion. This fight with Sha Shan has angered these people from the capital. Even though it was the Duke's mansion's troops who entered our territory without permission first, they act as if they have suffered some great injustice."

After listening to Kang Dabao's speech and carefully reading each word of the letter, Duan Anle asked, "Hmm, so it is indeed as the Fei Household said, that the Earl of Fengen may be looking for trouble with our Chongming Sect?!"

"That's not necessarily true. Kuai En can't be as easily manipulated as he was in Tanggu County. A fool can't become Golden Core. He knows that the officials of the government are using him as a pawn. Let's wait and see how he reacts."

Don't worry too much. Even if the garrison he's exploiting and raising in Mountain South is elite, it's impossible for them to arrive at the gates of my Chongming Sect overnight.

Kang Dabao spoke in a low voice, his tone revealing a hint of worry beyond his words.

After all, this matter is not simple at all. In fact, if he had a choice, the Sect Leader Kang Da would not want to have a conflict with the Sha Shan group in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

But after all, Fei Ye Shui had personally instructed Fei Wanqing to find the Mani Treasure Leaf, so making this choice after weighing the options was not difficult.

Hearing this, Kang Changxi frowned and said fiercely, "These people are far too domineering!"

"You've already reached the Golden Core stage, how can you still talk like a child?!" Kang Dabao's tone was slightly reproachful, but he couldn't help but sigh afterwards:

"When you went back to your maternal home with your mother in your younger years, you always had to endure some humiliation, let alone these big shots who think they have a better background, who are inherently domineering."

Sometimes, you can't let these kinds of people get away with it. Otherwise, even if you obediently accept a slap, they'll complain that you were too slow to change your tune.

They don't care whether you earned your title through fighting or buying it; as long as you don't have True Person backing you up, they'll be terrified even when facing you, and they still won't be able to keep quiet.

This time, however Sect Leader Kang Da didn't seem to be trying to avoid offending the elders, since, ultimately, he wasn't entirely without reason.

The obedient demeanor he usually puts on is just a way to avoid being remembered or talked about, but when it really comes down to turning on someone, Kang Dabao never hesitates.

In his view, if they were to cower and swallow their anger again, like the small families around them who let the people from the capital take whatever they wanted, it would be disastrous.

Then the Chongming Sect might be shattered again.

"Heh, we'll have to settle accounts with them sooner or later." Kang Changxi's expression softened slightly, he only gave a soft rebuke, and then fell silent again.

He was a pampered son of the main branch of the family since childhood, and was not very good at these seemingly simple household chores.

Fortunately, his father was willing to cultivate him, which is why Kang Changxi has been following Duan Anle around these days, listening attentively to gain some insights and broaden his knowledge.

If we follow Sect Leader Kang Da thinks, if Kang Changxi truly makes progress, then when Duan Anle and the others go into Core Formation to form their cores, he might be able to be chosen to act as the sect leader.

The Chongming Sect is expanding rapidly, and sometimes it needs a Golden Core cultivator in that position to keep things in order.

Otherwise, apart from Duan Anle, who was highly respected among the disciples, even Kang Rongquan and Jin Shilun could only control half of the disciples in the sect.

As for Shan Yong and Zhu Yunsheng, even though they had all become Pill Master and lived to the age of sixty, apart from each managing their own affairs, they still found it difficult to gain the trust of their disciples.

"Alright, it's just a matter of sending letters. I'll also send a letter to the Shannan Circuit General Administration Office and see which one is more useful!"

After Kang Dabao finished speaking, a glimmer of spiritual light immediately appeared at his fingertips, and a piece of spiritual silk slowly unfolded on the table in front of him. He didn't seem to be doing it seriously; he just wrote a few strokes hastily and then casually put it away.

Upon seeing his master's actions, Duan Anle noticed that the bone flute at his waist had risen and was playing softly on its own. After only a dozen breaths, Second Tier Golden-Feathered Owl that had been waiting outside the council hall landed in the hall with its head bowed and respectfully took the spirit silk from the hands of the Sect Leader Kang Da.

The latter was not stingy; he immediately bestowed a spirit fruit upon the child and then said with a smile, "I advise you, Xiao'er, to hurry on your journey. Earl of Fengen is a disciple of the Prince of the South and is extremely generous. The sooner you arrive, the sooner you will enjoy this generous reward."

Although the Golden-Feathered Owl was not yet Spirit Awakening, it could still understand human speech. It then bowed and kowtowed in a rather comical manner before happily running off to the Shannan Circuit General Administration Office.

"Anle, you've really done a good job managing this Beast Garden," Sect Leader Kang Da said, a flash of joy crossing his eyes before he added:

"When I discussed the Dao with Yang Wuwei last time, he always mentioned what he saw at the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect in the Mountain North Circuit. I wonder when our Chongming Sect's Beast Garden will finally be able to gain the complete respect of even Golden Core cultivators."

Duan Anle showed no fear, but replied solemnly, "Master, if you can ensure that the Chongming Sect's Beast Garden is better today than yesterday, then that day will surely come."

"That's right, those words are very pleasing to the ear. With you in charge, I feel at ease." Seeing Kang Dabao's face brighten even more, Kang Changxi glanced at Duan Anle with a hint of envy for his senior brother.

After all, when it comes down to it, none of the brothers seem to know as well as Duan Anle how to talk and get along with their father as well.

"However, speaking of Yang Wuwei, it seems he has also been assigned some tasks. After hearing the news from the Fei Household, the officials of the Duke's Mansion intend for him to go to the Ancient Mysterious Circuit to serve as an assistant to Xu Lingzhi."

Kang Dabao spoke with great emotion, recalling how the Ye Prefecture Yang Household had first suffered from a conflict between legitimate and illegitimate sons, which devastated Ye Prefecture for a century; then, two Golden Core cultivators, Yang Baoshan and Yang Yongcheng, fell one after another, and the family was on the verge of collapse, but Yang Wuwei stepped forward again.

I heard that he was highly regarded from the moment he became a disciple of Zuo Zongzheng.

Because of this relationship, although he suffered difficulties and harsh treatment in the government office, his situation was still much better than that of local cultivators like Qin Sufu who had no background.

Yang Wuwei has now been given a valuable mission, and news has also come from outside that his cousin Yang Wudi is also preparing to Core Formation.

If it succeeds, then the Ye Prefecture Yang Household will truly show signs of turning from decline to prosperity, which would be a rare occurrence.

During the two hundred years that Sect Leader Kang Da has cultivated, he has taken many lives, but few of them can be called "friends." Yang Wuwei is one of them.

Furthermore, this relative by marriage might also be moving in to be neighbors with the Chongming Sect, so this relationship should not be neglected, both out of courtesy and reason.

"Brother Chang back yet?!"

Upon hearing the question, Kang Changxi quickly replied, "It seems there has been some trouble at Red Cloud Mountain, and they haven't returned yet."

"What went wrong?!" Kang Dabao frowned and asked in a cold voice.

"That's not it. It's just that Venerable Wen's injuries are quite severe, and the alchemists of Hongyun Mountain are at a loss. Brother Chang asked Junior Sister Qi and Junior Nephews Chen Zihang and Gun Fangmu to see if any of the three of them had the time to go to Hongyun Mountain to visit him."

Sect Leader Kang Da frowned even more deeply upon hearing this, because he didn't value the Golden Core cultivators that Chongming Sect had produced in recent years.

In fact, for sects like Hongyun Mountain, let alone those who cultivate to the Golden Core stage, even the emergence of a fake Core Master would be a cause for great joy.

If the matter of the Chongming Sect truly leads to the death of Wen Zun or the loss of his cultivation, that would be a thorny issue.

Those once-dormant states within its jurisdiction will likely feel a sense of loss and unease, a situation that is certainly unfavorable for the Chongming Sect.

Thinking of this, Kang Dabao then spoke up:

"If the three of Qi Ke and the others, do your utmost and bring me a letter, and if they are still helpless, then send someone from Red Cloud Mountain to Phoenix Cry Prefecture and to the Fei Household residence to invite Attendant Luan to help."

Furthermore, in this battle to capture Yongli, all the families contributed greatly. The Merit Points Hall is instructed to send someone to verify their achievements, draft the necessary regulations, and bestow precious gifts upon them. Elder Zhou Kun, the Keeper of the Archives, should then review and correct any errors before sending them out."

"Yes,"

---- Shannan Circuit General Administration Office

The newly built Shannan Circuit General Administration Office was constructed on the site of the Star-Picking Pavilion.

Although the area around the Star-Picking Pavilion is small, this single Fourth Tier Spirit Vein is enough for Kuai En and his core subordinates to cultivate.

This treatment would be the envy of even close relatives of the imperial clan, and it was also one of the ways Emperor of Wei had put so much thought into this son-in-law of the imperial clan who possessed the Primordial Chaos Mysterious Pivot Physique.

The relatively prosperous Shannan Circuit was entrusted to Kuai En's care, while the historically impoverished Huangpi Circuit was given the title of Governor-General by Kang Dabao.

The implication is self-evident; even a simple, uneducated woman would likely understand which of the two held greater importance in Emperor of Wei's heart.

Ultimately, the Lord of Great Wei still reaped the benefits of cultivating Shen Lingfeng back then, believing that Kuai En, who possessed a spiritual body, had a much higher chance of becoming a Nascent Soul than the Sect Leader Kang Da, who had only formed a Middle-Grade Golden Core.

The governor's mansion, with its blue bricks and gray tiles, was covered with a faint spiritual light. Inside, pavilions and towers were scattered about, and armored soldiers stood solemnly under the corridors, their long swords at their waists adorned with the emblems of fierce beasts, exuding the majestic aura of the nobility of the capital.

Earl of Fengen, Kuai En, sat in the main seat of the main hall, his face resolute, his short beard neatly trimmed, but there seemed to be a lingering melancholy between his brows, a melancholy that was hard to shake off.

"My lord, the messenger from the Chongming Sect has arrived. It's a Second Tier Golden-Feathered Owl, and it also carries Kang Dabao's spirit scroll." The guard captain bowed and reported, holding the neatly folded spirit scroll in his hands, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Before Kuai En could reply, an official from the other side stepped forward with an urgent letter from the Duke's office:

"My lord, the Duke's mansion has just issued another order. The wording is even more scathing, Chongming Sect Emperor Chongming disregarded the law and arbitrarily clashed with the Duke's guards. You are ordered to immediately rectify the Mountain South Garrison, go to Cloud Horn Prefecture to hold them accountable, and if necessary, take swift and decisive action as a warning to others."

Kuai En raised his hand and took the letter from the Duke's mansion. The moment he unfolded it, an overwhelming pressure seemed to emanate from between the pages.

The letter was strongly worded, rebuking Chongming Sect for his "usurpation" and implying that Kuai En had failed in his duty to govern Mountain South, allowing a local sect to act so presumptuously. He ran his fingertips along the edge of the letter, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but he did not immediately lash out.

Upon picking up Chongming Sect's memorial scroll, he unfolded it and found only a few words written in hasty and casual handwriting, without a trace of flattery.

The statement reads, "The Duke's army entered the territory without prior notice. Chongming Sect's actions against Sha Shan were purely for self-preservation. If the Marquis of Earl of Fengen needs to verify this, he may inquire with the gatekeepers of the twelve prefectures under his jurisdiction." The statement even includes the following: "I have heard Earl of Fengen the Golden-Feathered Owl is generous. Jin Yuxiao has worked tirelessly; I hope he will bestow a small reward upon him."

After reading them, Kuai En suddenly chuckled and tossed the two letters onto the table, "My uncle is as witty as ever."

The commander of the personal guards asked in bewilderment, "My lord, the Duke's order has been issued. Are we just going to let Chongming Sect go unpunished like this?"

"Let it go?" Kuai En raised an eyebrow, tapping his fingertips on the table. "The nobles of the Duke's mansion have a good plan. They want me to be the one to stick my neck out?! They probably all think I'm some foolish young man who just left the clan and can't even tell the difference between spirit wheat and weeds."

In recent years, Chongming Sect has produced Golden Core cultivators, and my uncle himself is even more unfathomable. Cloud Horn Prefecture is a fiefdom bestowed by the current emperor, so even if he had taught the Sha Shan group a lesson there before, there would be no reason to find fault with him.

My uncle's military prowess is not necessarily inferior to that of the Imperial Guard's commanders. If a real battle were to break out, which of you could compare to Huang Mi Boren of the Cloud Marsh Shaman Venerable Hall, or Pu Honggu of the Two Instruments Sect?

The little wealth I've painstakingly accumulated over the years is meant to secure a foothold for the Ninth Prince in Shannan Circuit, so I can plan for future great undertakings, not to curry favor with those corrupt officials and parasites."

Upon hearing this, the courtiers below did not offer any further advice. Kuai En carefully examined both letters, hesitated for a while, and then seemed to have made up his mind.

With a mere wave of his hand, he summoned the Golden-Feathered Owl that had delivered the message to his side, and took out an item from his spirit ring:

"This is a bottle of Spirit Beast Pill that Qiu Shanyue, the leader of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, gave me when he visited last time. It's fate that I've met you today, Xiao'er. Take this back and show it to my uncle before you eat it, so he knows that I, as his nephew, am not stingy."

Seeing the Golden-Feathered Owl first brought its nose close to sniff it, then let out a short, joyful cry, just like a human, and gently rubbed its wing against Kuai En's robe.

Then, she carefully took the jade bottle in her mouth, bowed three times to him, and looked so adorable that it made all the close officials in the hall smile.

Looking at its intelligent appearance, and recalling the playful words on Kang Dabao scroll, Kuai En laughed and said, "Go, go."

The Golden-Feathered Owl cried out joyfully, then flapped its wings and took flight, soaring over the upturned eaves of the governor's mansion and flying swiftly towards Yangming Mountain.

They were moving even faster than when they arrived, probably because they were in a hurry to bring the Spirit Beast Pill back to Duan Anle.

After Golden-Feathered Owl left, the smile on Kuai En's face faded, and he turned to look at his subordinates in the hall:

"As for the Duke's mansion, according to my previous reply, they have sent people to verify the matter of Cloud Horn Prefecture. It is indeed the Duke's mansion's guards who failed to report the matter according to regulations. Chongming Sect should be credited for protecting the territory, not for overstepping his bounds."

Furthermore, since Wen Zun Wenzun of Red Cloud Mountain is responsible for protecting the people and maintaining Shannan Circuit in Cloud Horn Prefecture, and should provide relief to those in need, we should send some spirit medicine to Red Cloud Mountain. This matter can also be reported to the government office to show our compassion for cultivators and our commitment to maintaining local stability.

The subordinate official bowed and replied, "Your Excellency is wise, but... I'm afraid those officials in the Duke's mansion may not be willing to let this go so easily."

"So you're just going to let this go?" Kuai En sneered, a wisp of spiritual light condensing at his fingertips, tracing a shallow mark on the table. "Do you think that besides Kuang Liuting and the Silver Saber Prince Consort, there's anyone else in that Duke's mansion worth my attention?!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the officials in the hall. "Pass down the order: the Mountain South Garrison shall remain in good order as before, but shall only guard the border and shall not send a single soldier to Cloud Horn Prefecture without authorization."

I am aware that there are some disagreements between our two families, and that my uncle is indeed being overly old-fashioned in some matters. But times have changed. If we rashly resort to force again, we might play right into the hands of those people in the Duke's mansion, which would not be good."

Kuai En was highly respected, and after hearing this, none of his close advisors expressed any objection; they all nodded in agreement.

Kuai En walked outside the hall with his hands behind his back. The misty Spiritual Qi rising from the Fourth Tier Spirit Vein, along with the mountain breeze, swept past the corner of his robe. The swords of the armored soldiers under the corridor gleamed coldly in the twilight.

He gazed at the horizon where the Golden-Feathered Owl had disappeared, his eyes deep and thoughtful. He thought to himself, "Given the Chongming Sect's outdated policies, there may be a future conflict between me and this uncle. But now is far from the time. We must wait until a change occurs before we can make any decisions."

Before the words were finished, the faint sound of a mythical bird flapping its wings could be heard from the distant horizon, as if the Office of the Duke of Qin, which had not yet received any news, was sending another urgent message.

This was not unexpected for Kuai En, causing a subtle, enigmatic smile to appear on his lips.

His fingertips slowly rested on the jade pendant at his waist. The warm jade, imbued with the Spiritual Qi of the Spirit Vein for many years, gleamed with a restrained, soft light in the twilight.

His fingertips gently rubbed along the natural curve of the jade, the force neither too fast nor too slow, carrying the composure of someone long accustomed to a high position; even the movement of turning the jade pendant exuded a sense of order and discipline.

The jade pendant's intricately carved vine pattern brushed against my fingertips, its warm and soothing touch comforting me. The sharpness and awkwardness of the past had long since faded, leaving only the dignity that had settled deep within my bones.

Each touch of his fingertips on the jade pendant seemed to distance him further from the old farmer who had once been buried in the spirit field, bowing and scraping before Kang Rongquan.

The mountain breeze, carrying the crisp, clear scent of the Spirit Vein, caused the banners of the governor's mansion to flutter wildly.

In the twilight of this Shannan Circuit, an invisible net is being quietly woven, and none of those within it know where their next step will lead.

(If anyone is interested in yesterday's organizational chart, you can join the group to take a look. I tried posting it in the bonus chapter and the comments section, but it was blurry, so I probably can't upload a high-resolution version.)