Chapter 936: An Unexpected Turn

Beneath the boundless sky, several large flying mounts bore cloud-riding travelers in pursuit of the setting sun.

Bathed in sunset light until his entire figure seemed gilded, Yuwen Yan suddenly sighed.

An Elder riding the same flying mount glanced at him and asked, "Sect Leader, why the sigh?"

Yuwen Yan shook his head slightly. "It's nothing."

The Elder asked again, "Are we simply letting the matter of Kunlin Shu end like this? We're not negotiating anymore?"

He had wanted to ask earlier, but Yuwen Yan had been deep in thought, so he had not disturbed him. Now that the Sect Leader seemed to have come back to himself, the Elder naturally wanted an answer.

Yuwen Yan answered a different question and sighed again with his hands clasped behind his back. "That letter was probably sent by Niu Youdao."

The Elder looked puzzled. "If you know he sent it, why did he keep putting on that act? And why didn't Sect Leader expose him? Could it be that you reached some agreement with him?"

"No." Yuwen Yan shook his head. "Expose him how? Do you have evidence? On what grounds would you say the letter came from him? He certainly won't admit it. Without evidence, Zijin Cave would inevitably suspect us of trying to sow discord between them. Thinking back now, no wonder the person who delivered the letter refused to reveal his identity. So young, yet already so calculating. And even if we exposed him, what would that change about the result of this trip?"

The Elder said, "At the very least, it would make life difficult for that Niu Youdao. Better than letting him play ghosts and tricks and toy with Tianhuo Sect as though we have no one capable among us."

Yuwen Yan said, "Don't speak from wounded pride. Niu Youdao's accomplishments today are no accident. Only after seeing him today do I understand that a man of ambition need not be old. We do not measure up to him."

The Elder was somewhat displeased. "Sect Leader, that's rather unfair. Of course, I admit he has some ability. Otherwise he wouldn't have reached where he is today. But surely we aren't as inadequate as you make us sound. Is our dignified Tianhuo Sect, full of talented people, somehow inferior to one Niu Youdao?"

Yuwen Yan smiled slightly. Freeing one hand from behind his back, he waved it, plainly unwilling to continue that topic. Instead, he issued an order. "Kunlin Shu is still a man who values loyalty and affection. Pass down my word. Keep Pang Zhuo under watch, but do not mistreat him."

The Elder froze, then said heavily, "Sect Leader, I can't agree with that! I know you already favored Kunlin Shu before this. At Niu Youdao's Maolu Annex, you even said aloud that you had intended to cultivate him. But look at the situation now. He's an ungrateful traitor who has already betrayed Tianhuo Sect, yet Sect Leader still says he values loyalty and affection. Is that what a loyal and affectionate wretch does? What will the disciples in the sect think if they hear this? Sect Leader, please be careful with your words!"

Yuwen Yan fell silent.

The Elder was right. After Kunlin Shu had caused an affair like this, Yuwen Yan truly could no longer speak on his behalf. Kunlin Shu was now a traitor. Yuwen Yan could not defend someone who had betrayed the sect, or it would inevitably cause an uproar throughout Tianhuo Sect.

Earlier, Yuwen Yan would not have spoken well of Kunlin Shu either. But after seeing through Niu Youdao's scheme, he had begun to reflect.

Why had Niu Youdao gone to such lengths to obtain Kunlin Shu? Because Niu Youdao thought highly of him. Because Niu Youdao believed he was useful. Who would want a useless piece of trash?

And why did he value Kunlin Shu? Did that even need saying? Kunlin Shu was the only person since Tianhuo Sect's third generation to master the Heavenly Fire Limitless Art!

Even if his mind and temperament made him unsuitable to inherit Tianhuo Sect's great enterprise, no one could deny that he was a talent in at least one respect, a talent Tianhuo Sect had produced only once in several hundred years. Tianhuo Sect had invested considerable resources to cultivate him. Was it truly right to drive away a talent like that because of internal factional strife?

That was also why Yuwen Yan had just praised Niu Youdao's long vision.

An outsider wanted the man, yet Tianhuo Sect itself meant to abandon him. How could Yuwen Yan not reflect on that?

He was not one of the Elders below. He was Sect Leader of Tianhuo Sect, responsible for carrying forward what came before and opening the way for what came after. The level from which a Sect Leader considered matters was different from that of an Elder, so naturally the conclusions could differ as well.

That was also why he had privately sought Kunlin Shu out earlier and wanted to support him.

Kunlin Shu's later conduct truly had angered him and changed his original intention. He had thought Kunlin Shu was mud that would never stick to a wall. Yet now Niu Youdao had made him awaken again. Of course, earlier he had also been subject to collective pressure from the sect's Elders. He had wavered between two sides, worried about too much, and somehow forgotten what a Sect Leader ought to insist upon.

How could Tianhuo Sect invest so many resources into cultivating a talent only to let someone else take him away?

But given Kunlin Shu's current circumstances, he truly could not return to Tianhuo Sect anymore. Once he returned, everyone would target him. How could any sect indulge a traitor? He would inevitably face severe punishment. With the entire sect furious and the principle of sect loyalty involved, even Yuwen Yan as Sect Leader could not protect him.

Instead, Niu Youdao's behavior had reminded him of something. Yuwen Yan had to answer to everyone above and below Tianhuo Sect, but did Niu Youdao not likewise have to answer to Zijin Cave? Niu Youdao knew how to take a winding route. Why had Yuwen Yan himself forgotten how to adapt?

That was why he had decisively abandoned the idea of taking Kunlin Shu back. He could not even be bothered to continue negotiating with Zijin Cave. It was enough to make a perfunctory showing, presenting Tianhuo Sect as unwilling to submit.

Kunlin Shu had already mastered Tianhuo Sect's supreme secret art. It made little difference where he cultivated.

The key lay in the future: could Kunlin Shu still be made useful to Tianhuo Sect one day? The journey to Sacred Realm was a threshold he first had to cross.

When Yuwen Yan had said Kunlin Shu valued loyalty and affection, he had not actually been speaking in Kunlin Shu's defense. It was part of his thinking about what came next. The Elder simply had not understood.

Nor could Yuwen Yan explain it clearly. No one would agree with him doing this. Even as Sect Leader, it was difficult for him to openly indulge a traitor.

That was what had led to his next order: keep Pang Zhuo under watch, but do not mistreat him. The purpose was to preserve the bond between Kunlin Shu and Tianhuo Sect!

The Elder beside him had flared up the instant he heard even a hint of praise for Kunlin Shu. That reaction only made Yuwen Yan hide his thoughts more deeply. He already knew what he needed to do next. This time, he would exercise his own judgment and would not discuss it with the sect again.

...

Outside the imperial palace of Jin, a carriage came to a stop. Shao Pingbo stepped down, presented a Blackwater Terrace token, passed through the heavily guarded palace gates, and hurried into the palace.

The token had been given to him by Tao Lue, Chief Steward of the Inner Palace and head of Blackwater Terrace. Naturally, this had also been done with the emperor's approval and permission. The affairs Shao Pingbo was currently handling required secrecy, while also requiring timely communication with the palace, so he had been granted a certain degree of access.

With this token in hand, he could enter the palace without prior announcement under the identity of a confidential Blackwater Terrace operative and see Chief Steward Tao Lue whenever necessary.

Shao Pingbo walked quickly, his expression grave. He did not know what had happened.

The emperor had entrusted him with a major affair, one he had previously been urged again and again to advance faster. Shao Pingbo had now pushed it to the critical stage. He had already seized the most important link in the chain and reported upward so the emperor could prepare. He was about to launch the fatal blow against the State of Wei. The emperor had approved it and had been delighted, repeatedly praising the plan.

Yet just now, Tao Lue had suddenly sent someone with an order: Shao Pingbo was to immediately suspend the secret plan in his hands, without mistake.

No explanation had been given. The plan was simply to stop at once. Even the messenger did not know why, only that the Chief Steward was transmitting an imperial order.

They had urged him to hurry and hurry, only to order him to stop abruptly at the critical moment. Shao Pingbo found it difficult to accept. The success or failure of this affair directly concerned his future in Jin. What had he spent all these years exhausting his heart and mind over this scheme for?

What had happened? He had to find out. He entered the palace at once.

With the token in hand, he encountered no obstruction along the way. Shao Pingbo made his way deep into the Inner Palace and met Chief Steward Tao Lue.

Tao Lue seemed to have expected him. Raising a hand to signal that he should remain calm, he said, "Several ministers have just requested an audience. His Majesty is meeting them now. Lord Shao may wait a while."

Shao Pingbo opened his mouth, then stopped himself. He very much wanted to ask Tao Lue what had happened. He believed Tao Lue should know.

A line of palace maids carrying various items passed nearby. Tao Lue swept his gaze left and right, then gave Shao Pingbo the slightest shake of his head.

Shao Pingbo inclined himself slightly, understanding the meaning. The palace was hardly a clean and quiet place. The various powers at court had many eyes and ears here. This was no place to discuss confidential affairs. If a secret leaked, the consequences would be serious.

Anxious as he was, he could only wait patiently. Tao Lue's attitude also allowed him to make one judgment: the plan probably had not been canceled outright. Some unexpected development had occurred instead.

He waited for about an hour.

Only when Shao Pingbo saw three ministers emerge from the Imperial Study in the distance did Tao Lue gesture and lead him over.

Although Tao Lue brought Shao Pingbo directly into the Imperial Study, he still announced, "Your Majesty, Lord Shao has arrived!"

Taishu Xiong, seated behind the desk, tossed aside the document in his hand. He glanced at Shao Pingbo as the latter saluted, then rose and came around the desk. "I knew you'd come running here. I was waiting for you."

Shao Pingbo cupped his hands. "This minister does not understand. Matters have already reached this point. Why has Your Majesty ordered the plan suspended?"

Taishu Xiong pondered before saying, "I know very well what the Mist Bureau means to Xuan Wei. It is her eyes and ears. Yet Xuan Wei surrendered control over the Mist Bureau so easily. Something about that feels wrong to me. Are you certain there is no problem?"

It couldn't be only because of that, could it? Shao Pingbo felt something was off. Taishu Xiong was not an indecisive man. Shao Pingbo immediately guaranteed, "This minister is willing to stake my head on it. There will be no problem. For all these years, this minister has kept Xuan Wei under close observation and watched her every move. From the various signs, this minister has formed a judgment: Xuan Wei seems to have been affected by matters of the heart and appears to have begun thinking of withdrawing. More importantly, Xuan Wei has operated in Wei for many years. Her roots run deep and her influence is enormous. Whatever she lets go of, she can take back at any time. But that is not important. Your Majesty, this is precisely the opening we need to seize in order to deliver the fatal blow! Your Majesty, Xuan Chengtian's side has already been incited to the necessary point. We can act at any time. Why sit by and let such an excellent opportunity pass? Hasn't Your Majesty been waiting for this day all along?"

Taishu Xiong paced with his hands clasped behind his back. "It isn't that I intend to sit and watch. After receiving your report, I immediately contacted Qiyun Sect. Once war begins, Qiyun Sect will inevitably need to organize large numbers of cultivators to cooperate, so they need time to prepare as well. But Qiyun Sect has doubts about making a move right now. They don't approve of acting at this time. I had no choice but to suspend the plan."

Qiyun Sect had intervened? Shao Pingbo was shocked. "This... Your Majesty, why? Qiyun Sect shouldn't..."

Taishu Xiong stopped in front of him and said slowly, "Have you forgotten what happened last time with the Tiandu Secret Realm? Because of the Tiandu Secret Realm affair, Misty Pavilion issued an order to all beneath Heaven commanding an end to hostilities. The wars among the various states were frozen outright."

Shao Pingbo froze. Something flashed through his mind, and he blurted, "Could it be Sacred Realm?"

Taishu Xiong nodded with a smile. Talking to an intelligent man saved effort. "Exactly. Sacred Realm! This time Sacred Realm has ordered the major sects to send people in for tempering. If we begin a war now and Misty Pavilion freezes hostilities again, the joke will become far too costly. Once this war against Wei begins, we must strike like thunder. It can only be decided quickly. We absolutely cannot let it drag on. If the war is frozen, Wei and Qi will have ample time to settle their internal disorder. Xuan Wei will also have time to regain control of the situation. All the preparations you've made with such painstaking effort will be wasted, while Jin will have expended national strength for nothing. Facing Wei and Qi together, we would ultimately have to withdraw our army anyway. The sect's concerns are reasonable. That's why your plan was halted so urgently!"

[End of Chapter 936]