It was the eleventh day that Liu Sanxian, Cheng Du, Yan Xiao, Song Yanrong, and Feng Xiaobao had been standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the road to the Yellow Springs, so tightly packed that they could barely fit.
Tingtao Courtyard.
The courtyard gates, which had been tightly shut for over a month, were finally pushed open from the inside.
Wen Qingye stretched as he stepped over the threshold. Before his sleeves could even settle, he saw Zheng Hongxiu hurrying over from the direction of the martial arts field.
His footsteps paused, and he felt a sudden urge to turn back and go into seclusion for another month.
Ever since his wife, Madam Zhang, had been targeted and assassinated by the demon sect because he was too busy with academy affairs to personally escort her back to her parents' home, Wen Qingye had grown weary of mundane matters, handing over all academy affairs to his disciples.
He, on the other hand, devoted all his heart to cultivation and alchemy, rarely interfering unless a major crisis arose.
Possessing extraordinary talent to begin with, he had cast aside all distractions to cultivate bitterly for over a decade. He had already condensed three divine seeds, pushing his cultivation to the peak of the Outer Gang Rank, and had even attempted to break through to the Inner Gang Rank three years ago!
Although he had failed, his cultivation was second only to Xu Zhouling within the entire Star-Plucking Sect!
Coupled with his 'Flying Waterfall Sword-Yuan,' which struck fear into the hearts of many Gangjin Rank experts in Nanxiang Prefecture, he had the confidence to stand his ground even against powerful enemies of the Inner Gang Rank!
This month-long seclusion to open his furnace had been equally fruitful, yielding two Tier Four elixirs!
“‘The last time I attempted to condense my fourth divine seed, although it ended in failure, I accumulated enough experience,’ he thought.”
“‘This time... with these two Nine Yang Bone-Tempering Pills in hand, I have a seventy percent chance of breaking through the gates of the Inner Gang Rank.’ ”
A sharp light suddenly flashed across his eyes as he muttered to himself:
“‘When that time comes, I will definitely hunt down that Yinsha Sect Protector, Nie Chen, to avenge my wife's murder!’”
But as he thought of this, the sharp light in his eyes suddenly faded, replaced by an imperceptible trace of bitterness.
“‘Unfortunately... there is no Divine Ability Rank inheritance in our sect!’”
“‘The ancestral Chiming Meditation Diagram is nothing but a fragmented technique from the previous dynasty!’”
“‘Our ancestors poured their hearts and souls into it, wasting countless years, yet they ultimately failed to complete it, let alone cultivate a Divine Ability from it.’”
“‘And the mastermind who ordered Nie Chen to murder my wife—the Yinsha Sect Master, Qiu Hen! I hear he has already reached the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Gang Rank and is attempting to break through the gates of the Xiantian Rank!’”
“‘Without a Divine Ability technique, I will likely never have the chance to reach the Xiantian Rank in this lifetime, let alone draw my sword against him...’”
As his thoughts churned, Wen Qingye's fists clenched unconsciously, his knuckles popping with a crisp crack.
Just then, his fourth disciple, Zheng Hongxiu, walked up with light steps and bowed respectfully with cupped hands:
““This disciple greets Master Wen!””
Wen Qingye snapped back to reality. Before she could speak, he raised a hand to stop her and asked softly:
““Has Wen Zheng... returned to the island recently?””
Zheng Hongxiu's body stiffened slightly. She lowered her eyes involuntarily, her voice growing soft:
““No...””
““Hmph, bastard!””
Wen Qingye snorted coldly:
““Once he obtained that sword-glow, he stopped showing any respect to his father!””
After his wife, Madam Zhang, passed away, Wen Zheng learned the reason behind his mother's death and came to utterly despise Wen Qingye.
In his younger years, he was still willing to manage the logistical and mundane affairs of Tingquan Island.
But ever since he broke through to the Huajin Rank, comprehended sword-glow, and was named among the Seven Elegances, he rarely stayed on Tingquan Island for long.
In recent years, he spent most of his time traveling the land, slaying demons and defending the righteous path!
The last time he returned to the island was already two and a half years ago.
Wen Qingye glanced at Zheng Hongxiu. Seeing her looking down in silence, his lips twitched a few times before he finally changed the subject:
““You came in such a hurry. Did something happen in the academy?””
““...It is not about the academy, but rather Junior Brother Shen,””
Zheng Hongxiu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and quickly replied:
““Junior Brother Shen came by twice earlier, saying he had urgent matters to report to you, Master. Since you were in seclusion, he asked me to pass on the message.””
““Oh, that kid...””
Wen Qingye's expression softened slightly. He was quite fond of this newly recruited young disciple of his.
““Disciples are still the most thoughtful. Coming to find me twice in a month is far more reliable than any son!””
Zheng Hongxiu could not help but purse her lips and smile. She instinctively spoke up to defend him:
““You exaggerate, Master. First Senior Brother is merely slaying demons in Wusheng County, it is not that...””
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her slip of the tongue. Her beautiful face stiffened, and she hastily bit her lower lip, staring at Wen Qingye with disbelief in her eyes.
Wen Qingye was incredibly shrewd. Having easily pried the truth from her, he could not help but smile slightly:
““It seems that although that brat does not contact his old man, he keeps in touch with his junior sister in secret. Good, very good, my heart is deeply comforted!””
Zheng Hongxiu had always been heroic and straightforward, but at this moment, a rare blush crept onto her cheeks. She stamped her foot in annoyance and said:
““Master!!””
Seeing her embarrassed state, Wen Qingye felt extremely delighted, and his laughter grew even louder.
However, this rare moment of warmth did not last long before it was interrupted by hurried footsteps.
An inner court disciple on duty at the Affairs Hall rushed over to report:
““Academy Head! Senior Sister!””
““An esteemed guest from the Prefectural Governor's Mansion has arrived, saying he has matters to discuss. He is already waiting in the Reception Hall!””
...
Reception Hall.
The floor of the hall was paved with blue bricks, and ancient landscape scrolls hung on all four walls. In a copper burner on the table, aloeswood incense was burning, a wisp of white smoke slowly rising and lingering in the air.
Outside the window lattice, the sun was slanting to the west, casting flickering light and shadow that illuminated half of the guest's face while leaving the other half in darkness.
Gongsun Bei sat alone with a solemn expression, sipping half a cup of tea.
Hearing footsteps outside, he set down his teacup and stood up to welcome them. A slight smile forced its way onto his solemn face as he cupped his hands:
““Academy Head Wen!””
““Ah, Gongsun...””
Wen Qingye seemed quite familiar with him. He greeted him with a smile and sat down across the table:
““Didn't old man Jiang summon you to the capital to report the candidates for the next Prefectural Governor? How are you back so early?””
““It is a long story.””
Gongsun Bei shook his head. “I will discuss this matter with you in detail later, Academy Head.”
““Oh?””
Wen Qingye raised his eyebrows slightly, sensing something unusual. He lowered his voice:
““I just came out of seclusion and heard on the way that Qiliang was assassinated by the demon sect a few days ago. Did something go wrong?””
““Not at all.””
Gongsun Bei shook his head again:
““Thanks to your personal disciple, the Lord was not only completely unharmed, but also captured and killed many of those demons.””
Wen Qingye was stunned, becoming even more bewildered:
““Thanks to my disciple?””
He had only been in seclusion for a month. How could so many changes have occurred outside without his knowledge?
Just as he was about to press further, two more sets of footsteps echoed outside the hall.
““Academy Head Lei!””
““Academy Head Yi!””
Seeing the newcomers, Gongsun Bei stood up once more to greet them.
Leading the way was the head of the Star-Plucking Sect's Kaiyang Academy, Lei Xiao!
He was built like an iron tower, with broad shoulders and a thick back. Standing there, he resembled an eighteen-foot spear thrust into the ground, exuding a blood-and-iron sharpness from head to toe.
Following behind him was the head of the Feixuan Academy, Yi Nanping.
This Academy Head Yi possessed skin as fair as jade and eyes like cold stars. She wore not a speck of makeup, and her long hair was held in place by nothing more than a simple jade hairpin, yet she was breathtakingly beautiful.
She wore a black outfit that clung to her figure, her long, firm, and shapely legs faintly visible with every step she took.
If Shen Xiuhan were here, he would have realized that Duan Hongling, the manager of the Precious Fish Hall, imitated this Academy Head's style of dress in every way!
The group exchanged greetings and chatted for a brief moment.
Lei Xiao sat down with a commanding posture. He lifted his hot tea and poured it straight into his mouth, seemingly oblivious to the scalding temperature. He even chewed and swallowed the tea leaves before speaking in a booming voice:
““Gongsun Bei, why have you summoned us here?””
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