Chapter 74: Tearing Down the Bridge After Crossing the River

Seek refuge with Shao Dengyun?

All three Elders froze.

Tang Yi continued, "Shao Dengyun was once one of Prince Ning's old subordinates, a great general under his command. He also had dealings with the Shangqing Sect in the past. Unfortunately, when the imperial court purged Prince Ning's faction, Shao Dengyun was forced to betray the state, open the pass, and lead an enemy army into Great Yan to seize cities and territory. Although Shao Dengyun is now an official of an enemy state, the province he controls was originally territory of the State of Yan. Relatively speaking, his position within the State of Han is also fairly independent. The sect backing him was once a cultivation sect within the State of Yan as well. If we go to him, it should be comparatively easy for us to be accepted. Second, Shao Dengyun has only recently seized a large amount of territory and expanded his forces considerably. He truly needs reliable cultivators to assist him. He should know something of the Shangqing Sect's present circumstances, and our sect had some friendship with him in the past. I believe the chances of him accepting us are quite high."

Tang Susu stared for a moment, then suddenly swept her sleeve toward Tang Yi and erupted.

"Who told you to do this? Was it that Zhao traitor who taught you?"

Luo Yuangong and Su Po had been frowning as they considered the feasibility of Tang Yi's proposal. At Tang Susu's words, they raised their heads and looked at Tang Yi as well, suspicion appearing in both faces. Tang Susu's reminder had made them wonder too. Had the man from Demon Ridge instructed her? The Sect Leader's behavior today was simply too different from normal. Tang Yi shook her head.

"Elder Tang is thinking too much. No one instructed me. I worked this out myself. I've had the thought for a long time. I simply never said it aloud."

Tang Susu swept a hand sharply.

"Impossible! I watched you grow up. You could never do something that abandons your masters and ancestors. But it certainly fits that Zhao villain's style!"

Tang Yi sighed and softened her tone somewhat.

"I know you've always hated him because your husband and son died. You wish you could kill him. But I can swear before the Founding Patriarch that he did not teach me this. This truly is my own judgment."

Tang Susu's face twisted for a moment.

Then she declared with ringing force, "I oppose abandoning our masters and ancestors!"

She whipped her head toward the other two men.

"Senior Brothers, are the two of you planning to abandon your masters and ancestors too?"

The charge was heavy enough that Luo Yuangong and Su Po both opened their mouths without immediately answering. A flash of determination crossed Tang Yi's eyes. She met Tang Susu head-on.

"Elder Tang, please conduct yourself with due restraint. Who exactly is the Sect Leader here—you, or me?"

"You..."

Tang Susu pointed at her. She nearly blurted out: If I hadn't supported you into power, could you ever have become Sect Leader? But before she could say it, Tang Yi took out a token and held it up before her. It was the Sect Leader Token.

"In my capacity as Sect Leader, I now formally issue a decree. Effective immediately, Tang Susu is removed from the position of Disciplinary Elder of the Shangqing Sect and demoted to Protector Disciple. I, the Sect Leader, will personally assume the office of Disciplinary Elder as well!"

"..."

Luo Yuangong and Su Po stared in shock. Neither had expected to witness such a scene. Tang Yi, normally such a gentle and beautiful woman, had developed an astonishing temper today. She was openly opposing Tang Susu with absolute firmness. Ordinarily, Tang Yi had always been quiet and obedient before Tang Susu. Tang Susu was clearly stunned too.

This was her own grandniece?

This was the family member she herself had raised into power? Luo Yuangong tried to mediate.

"Sect Leader, calm your anger. Elder Tang merely has her own thoughts and has voiced one opinion for consideration. There is no need to make such a great disturbance over it. Please withdraw the order."

Tang Yi's bright eyes turned toward him. She held the Sect Leader Token where he could see it.

"Elder Luo, does a Sect Leader who holds the Sect Leader Token still have the authority to issue a Sect Leader's decree within the Shangqing Sect?"

Luo Yuangong answered gently, trying to soothe her. "Naturally the authority is valid. But this is not something to decide recklessly in a moment of anger."

Tang Yi replied, "Since the authority is valid, then according to sect rules, the Sect Leader possesses the power to make decisions independently. If everyone believes the Sect Leader has acted wrongly, then the entire Shangqing Sect may collectively depose the Sect Leader. So long as more than eighty percent support the removal, the Sect Leader can be replaced. I now insist upon this decree: Tang Susu is relieved of the position of Disciplinary Elder. If anyone believes I am wrong, then according to sect rules, gather all Shangqing Sect disciples and depose me. I will not obstruct it. In short, this Sect Leader's decree will not be withdrawn. Either Tang Susu loses the position of Disciplinary Elder, or I am removed as Sect Leader. Let the disciples of the Shangqing Sect decide for themselves!"

Luo Yuangong's and Su Po's expressions twitched. Neither had imagined that this mild, gentle, beautiful woman would suddenly become so ruthless. She was actually staking her Sect Leader position to force Tang Susu out of the Disciplinary Elder seat. She truly was going all in.

The Founding Patriarch had indeed established a sect rule allowing later generations to depose a Sect Leader, but it existed to prevent any single person from endangering the entire Shangqing Sect. Never in the Shangqing Sect's history had a Sect Leader actually been removed. Nor was the rule unreasonable.

If more than eighty percent of the sect opposed the Sect Leader, then that Sect Leader had already lost the hearts of the people and could no longer lead the Shangqing Sect forward. Replacing them was better.

What Luo Yuangong and Su Po did not know was that Tang Yi had long understood Tang Susu to be the greatest obstacle to exercising true Sect Leader authority. She simply had never possessed the courage to act. Tang Susu was her great-aunt. If Tang Yi moved against her, the damage to her own reputation was easy to imagine. Some thoughts could only remain buried silently in the mind. That had lasted until Tang Yi met that man earlier and heard what he said.

The Shangqing Sect had reached its present condition because merely preserving the status quo was useless. Things would only become worse. If she lacked the courage to face reality, then what use was a Sect Leader like her? Only after hearing those words had Tang Yi truly made up her mind. Even then, she had not wanted to tear relations apart with Tang Susu. She had intended to put forward her own proposal and see whether she could persuade her. Instead, Tang Susu rejected it absolutely.

That made Tang Yi realize there were things she could no longer avoid. Some matters had to be faced. And so she decisively resolved to remove Tang Susu, the obstacle before her, and strip away Tang Susu's authority.

"Good! Excellent! Truly excellent!"

Tang Susu threw back her head and laughed bitterly. She had never dreamed that the person who would truly stab her in the back would be the one she trusted most. No one could know the desolation in her heart. She waved one hand.

"Fine! Then I won't be this Disciplinary Elder! If all of you want to leave, then leave. I will remain here. I will not do something that abandons my masters and ancestors!"

Tang Yi stared at her.

"If all of us leave, then when someone comes looking for trouble, what can you change by staying here alone? What meaning is there in sacrificing yourself for nothing? Great-Aunt, I need your help!"

Tang Susu laughed bitterly.

"Why dress it up so grandly? You've torn down the bridge after crossing the river. Do you still need my help?"

Tang Yi's lips tightened briefly before she said calmly, "You will leave whether you want to or not. If you refuse, I will issue a Sect Leader's decree expelling you from the Shangqing Sect. You will never again be permitted to set foot within Shangqing Sect territory!"

Tang Susu shot back furiously, "On what grounds?"

Tang Yi answered, "Is inciting Song Yanqing to set an ambush at Nanshan Temple and murder a fellow disciple enough?"

The corner of Luo Yuangong's mouth twitched. Su Po's eyelids jumped. Both men realized that this Sect Leader had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

"You..."

Tang Susu pointed at Tang Yi, trembling with rage. She had exhausted herself scheming to help Tang Yi secure the Sect Leader position. Yet now all that painstaking work had somehow become the weapon Tang Yi used against her. To Tang Susu, there was simply no justice in it. Her heart turned cold. At last she raised her face and laughed sorrowfully.

"The desire for power blinds the eyes! How ruthless a person becomes once she turns her face! Tang Yi, one day you will regret this!"

"Regret is still better than sitting here waiting to die. My decision is made. If my judgment proves wrong, I alone will bear responsibility and resign the Sect Leader position in atonement!"

Tang Yi looked toward the other two Elders.

"Does anyone else oppose the relocation?"

After a moment of silence, Su Po cupped his hands first.

"Su Po respectfully obeys the Sect Leader's decree!"

Luo Yuangong looked at his junior brother in surprise. He had not expected Su Po to cooperate so readily. He himself remained hesitant. Abandoning the sect's ancestral seat was no small matter. The cultivation world would laugh at them. Tang Yi's bright eyes fixed firmly on him. At last Luo Yuangong sighed. The Shangqing Sect had reached this state, and there truly did not seem to be any better path. He cupped his hands.

"I respectfully obey the Sect Leader's decree!"

Tang Yi quietly released a breath and nodded.

"We don't have much time. We must gather the disciples and relocate as quickly as possible. We will travel covertly. Along the way, contact between our disciples and the outside world must be strictly controlled so no word leaks out. For now, the disciples below are not to be told our true purpose. In addition, I need one person to go ahead to Beizhou and meet Shao Dengyun first, to settle the matter of our seeking refuge with him before any accident can occur. Who is willing to go?"

Only the few people in the hall were present. Luo Yuangong and Su Po both knew that Tang Yi could only be looking to one of them. Tang Susu was obviously not someone she could rely on for this. Once again, Su Po was first to cup his hands.

"I have met Shao Dengyun several times and can be considered familiar with him. I am willing to go ahead and find him, assess the risks for the Sect Leader, and clear the road before us!"

"Good! Without breaking the old, nothing new can stand. Then it is decided!"

Tang Yi gave the final word. When Su Po strode quickly out of Shangqing Palace, he paused in surprise. Tu Han was waiting outside. Tu Han had returned. The two met, and Su Po smiled.

"Well done. There's another matter to handle. Come with me on a long journey..."

"Zhao Xiongge of Demon Ridge? Him?"

Inside the Song Residence in the capital, Song Jiuming paced the courtyard with his brows tightly drawn.

He asked in puzzlement, "Wasn't Zhao Xiongge already expelled from the Shangqing Sect? I heard he nearly died there back then. By rights, he ought to hate the Shangqing Sect. Why would he still step forward on their behalf?"

Steward Liu Lu stood beside him.

"That is unclear. This is the information sent by the Liuxian Sect. They say they cannot afford to provoke Zhao Xiongge and have repeatedly apologized to Master. And given the Liuxian Sect's strength, it is true that they do not have the confidence to offend him."

Song Jiuming waved a hand.

"Ziyu still has to make his way within the Liuxian Sect. Don't make things difficult for them and put Ziyu in an awkward position. You can handle the reassuring words yourself—settle their hearts and earn Ziyu some goodwill. But the Grand Minister of Works has already handed this matter to me. If I cannot accomplish it, I will have difficulty answering for it. There truly aren't many people willing to provoke Zhao Xiongge... These cultivators who don't know the height of Heaven or the depth of Earth repeatedly rely on martial strength to violate prohibitions. They refuse restraint and hold the law in contempt. Truly hateful! Do this: have the Liuxian Sect keep what happened confidential for now. Tell them not to let the news leak. Then contact another sect and have them make a trip to the Shangqing Sect. Let them act once more and test Zhao Xiongge's attitude. If he insists on opposing us, then we'll have to think of some way to find someone capable of getting rid of him!"

"Yes!"

Liu Lu accepted the order.

[End of Chapter 74]