Chapter 877: Some Nobody
Tu Yong’s expression changed dramatically, and he felt a chill in his hands and feet.
Ye Donghe said flatly, “You’re nothing but Ye Tianqu’s subordinate. Even if I have you killed, it won’t make any waves. You’d best think it over carefully.”
After a moment’s silence, Tu Yong nodded. He’d just recalled that, after reaching Tianya City, Su Yi said that should they run into trouble, they could come find him at Auspicious Cloud Tower.
This was the perfect opportunity to ask for help!
“A wise man.” Ye Donghe laughed. “Rest assured, once I’ve retrieved the Ancestral Jade Seal, I’ll let you and your master go.”
Tu Yong said nothing.
“Thirteen,” Ye Donghe said suddenly.
A ghostly figure silently appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, his back hunched with age. He lowered his head and said, “What are your orders, master?”
The old man was pallid, with withered features and a sinister aura.
“Accompany Tu Yong to Auspicious Cloud Tower. Remember not to come into conflict with the proprietor; every cultivator in Tianya City knows that he’s not simple,” ordered Ye Donghe.
“Got it.”
The old man he called “Thirteen” solemnly assented.
……
Meanwhile, in another part of the Ghost Serpent’s territory.
A group of older members of the main lineage had assembled within a grand hall.
Ye Zishan and the young woman in the ink-black skirt were there as well. However, Ye Zishan’s expression was as unsightly as could be. “Ancestor Donghe has gone too far!”
The atmosphere was tense and stifled.
The other older members of the clan all looked uncertain.
Just now, Third High Elder Ye Donghe had struck like lightning. First, he imprisoned Ye Tianqu in the dungeons. Then, he captured Ye Boheng and Tu Yong before anyone could intervene.
“We’re really finished this time. The last Ancestral Jade Seal will soon fall into the third high elder’s hands,” someone said with a dejected sigh.
“Zishan, the trend is not in our favor. It seems to me… that there’s no need to keep up the struggle. If we do, who knows how many waves will result?” a decrepit elder said gravely.
Many of the others instantly looked at Ye Zishan.
When Ye Yu left the Ghost Serpents, she left Ye Zishan?in charge of all of the main lineage’s affairs. Thus, those gathered here naturally took him as their leader.
“We cannot give up!” said Ye Zishan. “The third high elder is obviously conspiring with Pi Mo’s disciple, Jiang Yingliu. They’re surely after more than just the seat of clan?leader!”
The group instantly fell silent.
The young woman in the ink-black skirt couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle, given the circumstances, what should we do?”
Ye Zishan took a deep breath. “There are still ten days left before the fifteenth. There’ll surely be an opportunity to turn this around!”
Although he said this, everyone remained silent. None of them felt reassured.
Two of the Ghost Serpents’ branch lineages had already chosen to support the third high elder’s proposal.
Furthermore, three of the Ancestral Jade Seals had already fallen into the third high elder’s hands.
And tonight, the third high elder had acted directly against the representative of the third branch, Ye Tianqu.
.
Add that to Jiang Yingliu’s support, and it seemed that as soon as the upcoming clan-wide conference began, no one would be able to stop the third high elder from instating a new clan leader!
“Earlier, Elder Tianqu said that he’d entrusted the Ancestral Jade Seal to a friend’s care, and that he absolutely wouldn’t let it fall into the third high elder’s hands,” the young woman whispered. “In other words, the third high?elder has yet to accomplish his goal. If he had, why would he have imprisoned Elder Tianqu?”
The others nodded.
Suddenly, a servant rushed inside, faced Ye Zishan, and delivered a solemn report. “Your Excellency, just now, the third high elder’s servant, Thirteen, led Tu Yong out of the clan’s territory.”
Ye Zishan’s eyelids twitched. “Do you know where they went?”
The servant shook his head. “I don’t know.”
But everyone had already realized that this didn’t bode well. Tu Yong was Ye Tianqu’s subordinate, yet the third high elder’s servant had led him away.
It seemed highly likely that they were after the outsider Ye Tianqu had entrusted the Ancestral Jade Seal to.
“Hah? It’s quite lively in here!” Laughter resounded from beyond the hall. Immediately afterward, Ye Donghe strode leisurely inside.
Everyone stiffened, then rose in greeting.
No matter what, Ye Donghe was the third high?elder of the Ghost Serpents. His status was right there in front of him; they had no choice but to treat him with respect.
“No need for such courtesy.” Ye Donghe swept his gaze across the group. “I know you cannot accept a new clan leader, but we cannot let the Ghost Serpents remain in this chaotic state any longer.”
Here, he paused to let out a long sigh. “A nation cannot go a single day without a ruler, and a family can not go a single day without its head. Who knows how many denizens of the Ghost Lands would love nothing more than for our inner turmoil to continue?”
Ye Donghe took a deep breath, his gaze suddenly determined. “Thus, no matter how you feel about it, we must instate a new clan head on the fifteenth. Only then will this be settled. That will be sufficient to quell our inner turmoil.”
Ye Zishan wanted to say, “Yeah, the clan has been in turmoil lately, but you started it, didn’t you?”
But in the end, he held back.
“Great Uncle, surely you’re not just here to tell us that?” Ye Zishan said gravely.
Ye Donghe nodded. “I indeed have something else to tell you. Earlier, I sent Thirteen and Tuyong into the city to look for a young man named Su Yi at Auspicious Cloud Tower.”
Su Yi?”
Everyone was instantly confused; that name was far too unfamiliar.
They then watched as Ye Donghe casually picked a seat and sat down. Only then did he smile and say, “Tianqu’s Ancestral Jade Seal is currently in Su Yi’s hands. I trust that soon, Thirteen will bring it back to the clan.”
The crowd’s hearts shook, and their eyes dimmed.
It was just as they’d thought. Thirteen and Tu Yong had left to bring back the last Ancestral Jade Seal!!
Auspicious Cloud Tower? Ye Zishan was stunned. It seemed he’d recalled something.
At the same time, he heard the young woman in the ink-black skirt transmit her voice directly into his ears. “Uncle, do you think the ‘Su Yi’ the third high elder speaks of is the same young man we met earlier today?”
Unless I’m mistaken, it’s most likely him! Ye Zishan’s spirits soared, and his eyes shone.
Tonight, aside from him, the young woman in the ink-black skirt, and the proprietor, that young man in blue was the only person in Auspicious Cloud Tower!
“No wonder he said he’d intervene in the Ghost Serpents’ affairs. So, he’s the ‘reinforcements’ Ye Tianqu called! And he even has the Ancestral Jade Seal!”
The young woman perked up too; it seemed she’d realized the same thing.
But Ye Zishan still couldn’t help but be confused. With Ye Tianqu’s abilities, how did he find a young man so shrouded in mystery?
But then, that doesn’t matter. This is good news!
Ye Zishan most certainly hadn’t forgotten that this mysterious man had made even the proprietor of Auspicious Cloud Tower change his tune!
Given the circumstances, did it matter that Thirteen was an Imperial expert? Would he really be able to retrieve the Ancestral Jade Seal?
Ye Zishan and the young woman transmitted their entire conversation, so the others were completely in the dark.
Then, still seated there, Ye Donghe flashed them a relaxed grin. “Everyone, if you’re free tonight, why not wait here with me until Thirteen returns?”
Everyone’s expressions shifted, full of uncertainty.
Except for Ye Zishan and the young woman, who looked at each other, their expressions a bit strange.
“Let’s wait and see, then.” Ye Zishan raised his teacup and took a sip.
His calm bearing surprised Ye Donghe, but a moment later, the third high elder sighed. “Zishan, your composure is quite impressive. I hope you can stay this calm when Thirteen returns.”
Ye Zishan smiled but said no more.
……
Late at night.
Auspicious Cloud Tower was already closed for the night, and its?doors were tightly shut.
When Tu Yong arrived, he took a deep breath, walked up, and knocked. “Tu Yong of the Ghost Serpents is here. Please forgive me for disturbing your rest.”
Thirteen stood in the distant darkness, his hands hidden in his sleeves as he calmly took all of this in.
“I knew you’d run into trouble when you returned to the clan. I just didn’t expect that it would happen so quickly,” said a calm voice from within Auspicious Cloud Tower. “Come in.”
Immediately afterward, the tightly shut door silently opened, and lamplight dispersed the darkness blanketing the stone stairs.
Tu Yong recognized the young man drinking in the lobby at a glance. He also saw the old man seated across from him.
He hesitated, then whispered, “Fellow Daoist Su, to tell the truth, my master has indeed run into great difficulties. If possible, I’d like you to make an appearance.”
“Oh?” said Su Yi. “Did someone perhaps accompany you here?”
Tu Yong’s expression was complicated, and he lowered his head. “That’s right.
Su Yi couldn’t help but laugh. He said to the old butcher, “It seems the Ghost Serpents know how strong you are. They don’t even dare pass through your doors.”
As he spoke, he rose and left the inn. As soon as he passed through the doorway, he swept his gaze across the distant streets and allies. There, he saw Thirteen standing amidst the darkness.
Su Yi said thoughtfully, “Is he the third high elder’s subordinate?”
Tu Yong nodded, then hurriedly explained that Ye Tianqu had been imprisoned, while Ye Boheng had had his soul searched.
“Fellow Daoist, please return our clan’s Ancestral Jade Seal.”
Off in the distance, the pallid, sinister Thirteen emerged from the shadows, his eyes glinting with sharp, cold light as he locked onto Su Yi.
As he spoke, he approached step by step. “I dare say with certainty that if I attack, you won’t get the chance to flee back into Auspicious Cloud Tower.”
With every step Thirteen took, his aura expanded.
Finally, everywhere he passed, Yin energies soared, blotting out the sky. The terrifying aura of an Emperor covered the entire street.
Tu Yong stiffened, but he didn’t panic. He’d seen Su Yi capture the Empress of the Blood Pheasants with his own two eyes. He had confidence in Su Yi’s strength!
That was why he dared to agree to the third high elder’s demands and come find Su Yi.
As Thirteen steadily approached, and before Su Yi reacted, a firm, indifferent voice rang out.
“Since when did random nobodies dare act up in my territory?”
Thirteen suddenly stopped in his tracks, and his expression changed dramatically.
Because a thin figure arrived alongside that voice, appearing just three feet in front of him, seemingly out of nowhere.
His eyes were cold and indifferent, as if he were a heavenly sovereign gazing down upon an ant.
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