Chapter 153: Chapter 149: Let’s Spar, the Relentless Kind
As it happened, the meeting place the Shengxuan Sect had arranged for Du Youqian and the Taihe Sect’s Guardian Envoy was the very same pavilion where Fang Hua had once slain Zhang Hai.
Of course, whether this was a coincidence or a deliberate arrangement was difficult to say.
A cool breeze drifted by. Across the sapphire-like surface of the lake, koi fish would occasionally leap from the water.
Beautiful servant disciples bustled about, while Spirit Fruits and Immortal Brews were piled high like small mountains.
The atmosphere inside the pavilion was also quite pleasant, with no hint of tension in the air.
The Taihe Sect’s Guardian Envoy for the Wu Kingdom was named Du Ruyuan. Du Youqian recalled that he had a great-grandson with the same name, but this man was clearly not one of the descendants he had left behind long ago.
The man had a fair, clean-shaven face and a dignified bearing. He wasn’t exceptionally handsome, but he possessed a certain dashing charisma.
His Cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.
This was normal. For both the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect, a nation’s Guardian Envoy was typically at least a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, and sometimes even a Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivator was required for the post.
Only an anomaly like Du Youqian, with his profound background and power comparable to a True Successor Candidate, could Garrison a nation with a mere Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivation.
The four attendants Du Ruyuan brought with him were at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivation at the very least. On paper, their strength clearly far surpassed Du Youqian’s side.
Du Ruyuan evidently believed this from the bottom of his heart. So, when meeting Du Youqian, even though his decent upbringing kept him from being overtly bossy, his smile was tinged with pride, conveying a clear sense of ’I have the upper hand.’
The two exchanged a few pleasantries and chatted about trivial matters before they began sharing Cultivation Insights.
Ge Cheng and Bei Shaoyin, who were there to keep them company, immediately perked up and listened with rapt attention.
Having lived for over a century, they were worldly enough to know the caliber of Cultivators from the Holy Blood Sect and the Taihe Sect.
Although these two Guardian Envoys’ Cultivation levels were lower than their own, their understanding of Cultivation, not to mention their experience in Magical Combat, far surpassed theirs.
Suddenly, Du Ruyuan’s tone shifted. With a half-smile, he asked, "I’ve heard that there have been some recent disturbances in the Mortal World of the Wu Kingdom. Some petty villains used a Magical Artifact to slaughter the Wu Imperial Family and then used an Enchantment Art to force the Emperor of Wu to abdicate. What are your thoughts on this matter, Brother Yu?"
Du Youqian’s smile didn’t waver. "Me? I’m naturally... watching from the sidelines. I watch the winds and clouds gather and wait for them to disperse. What does the Mortal World have to do with me?"
Du Ruyuan laughed heartily. "Brother Yu, you truly are amusing. Since this matter has nothing to do with you, I’ll just order my men to deal with those rebellious madmen and restore order to the Wu Kingdom."
Du Youqian let out a scornful laugh. "They say the Cultivators of the Taihe Sect are all True Cultivators of the Dao. Why, then, are you so fixated on the affairs of the Mortal World?"
Du Ruyuan’s expression remained calm. "Fixated? Not at all. It’s just that the Taihe Sect is the leader of the world’s Righteous Dao, and we have a duty to set the standard for all."
Du Youqian, who had been lounging lazily like a cat sunning itself, suddenly had a sharp, intimidating glint in his eyes. "So the Taihe Sect’s rules are the only rules that matter? Are the rules of my Holy Blood Sect not rules at all?"
Du Ruyuan was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head. "That’s not what I meant."
Du Youqian had brought his Sect into it, so of course Du Ruyuan didn’t dare to speak carelessly.
Du Youqian sneered. "If that’s not what you meant, then why are you meddling in mortal affairs? The Taihe and Holy Blood Sects have their own system. From among the territories of the Nine Countries, they each choose a Sect to handle mortal matters. Within the Wu Kingdom, the Shengxuan Sect is responsible for this. Or is your Taihe Sect planning to break the rules and get involved personally?"
Du Ruyuan’s body suddenly straightened, and his icy gaze swept over Du Youqian, as if considering where to make the first cut.
Seeing the atmosphere in the pavilion suddenly grow tense, both Ge Cheng and Bei Shaoyin wanted to try and defuse the situation.
But the confrontational auras between Du Youqian and Du Ruyuan were almost tangible.
Their respective attendants also faced off from a distance.
It was like a prelude to Magical Combat between Cultivators; though no one had moved, they had already locked onto each other with their Divine Sense, waiting for the moment to strike like lightning.
If they were to rashly intervene, they would likely become an outlet for the tension, turning into a common target for both men.
Ge Cheng and Bei Shaoyin were crying out in their hearts. ’The atmosphere seemed so pleasant, how did it suddenly take such a nosedive!’
However, after a moment of confrontation, Du Ruyuan sat back down and said coolly, "The Taihe Sect will naturally not break the rules. But as the Guardian Envoy of the Wu Kingdom, I am responsible for monitoring the Sects within it. Elder Bei!"
Bei Shaoyin flinched. "Present!"
Du Ruyuan didn’t even look at him as he gave the order: "This Guardian Envoy has been alarmed to hear of the Wu Imperial Family’s overthrow and is concerned that turmoil in the Wu Kingdom will lead to the suffering of mortal lives. I hereby order the Shengxuan Sect to investigate the cause of the incident with the Wu Imperial Family, to right the wrongs, get to the root of the matter, and maintain stability in the Mortal World."
Bei Shaoyin tasted a hint of bitterness at the corner of his mouth, but he still replied, "Yes!"
As he issued the order, Du Ruyuan looked at Du Youqian, as if to ask: ’Now what do you have to say?’
The corners of Du Youqian’s mouth twitched in what looked like the beginning of a smile that was quickly suppressed. "Elder Bei!"
’Here it comes,’ Bei Shaoyin thought.
"Present!"
Du Youqian said, "The Shengxuan Sect is a Profound Sects Orthodox Sect, under the jurisdiction of the Taihe Sect. However, when it comes to the management of the Mortal World, it is responsible to both the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect, is it not?"
Bei Shaoyin kept his head down, looking like a wilted eggplant, and mumbled, "Yes."
Du Youqian wore a serious expression, but a faint smile played on his lips without quite breaking through. "Very good. This Guardian Envoy has also heard of the incident in the Wu Kingdom and is deeply concerned. And since I’ve heard that the Taihe Sect’s Guardian Envoy has ordered the Shengxuan Sect to investigate, I too hope the Shengxuan Sect can get to the bottom of this quickly. However, the Mortal World has its own natural laws. Dynastic changes are not uncommon in history. If the Wu Kingdom can become prosperous and its people can live in peace and contentment, then there’s no need to ’right wrongs’ or ’get to the root of the matter’."
’I just want to hurry back and enter seclusion. Whoever wants this reception duty can have it.’
Du Youqian pressed, "Are my words in line with the rules?"
Bei Shaoyin sighed. "Reporting to the Yu Guardian Envoy, your words do not overstep any rules."
Du Youqian nodded in satisfaction. "Good. For a moment there, I thought I had misspoken. Since my order is within the rules, why have you not acknowledged it?"
A sense of sorrow washed over Bei Shaoyin. ’You people from the Major Sects are truly bullies. You come to our territory and force us to choose sides.’
’But we are just a small Fourth-class Sect. What right do we have to choose sides?’
’Although we belong to the Profound Sects Orthodox Camp, if we seriously offend the Holy Blood Sect and they come to punish us, how could the Taihe Sect possibly tear all pretenses apart with the Holy Blood Sect just to protect us?’
’In the end, wouldn’t the higher-ups of the Taihe Sect and Holy Blood Sect just make up amicably, while using a small Sect like ours as the sacrificial lamb to be punished?’
’Everyone has seen this kind of thing happen countless times over the past few thousand years.’
Bei Shaoyin could only mumble in response, "Yes, the Shengxuan Sect will investigate the matter of the Wu Kingdom thoroughly. However, the two Guardian Envoys from the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect have differing opinions. I do not know whose opinion to prioritize. I ask that the two of you please discuss this amongst yourselves and inform our Sect of your decision."
Taken out of context, his words sounded like he was fanning the flames, trying to force the Guardian Envoys from the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect into a fight to the death.
But only those who had been here and heard everything from the beginning could understand his helplessness.
He couldn’t afford to offend either side. If he offended the Taihe Sect, the upcoming matter of the Sect’s promotion would face complications.
If he offended the Holy Blood Sect... perhaps this sinister and ruthless Holy Blood Sect Guardian Envoy would kill Elder Han under the guise of a "sparring match," completely extinguishing the Shengxuan Sect’s hopes of promotion.
However, no matter how he thought about it, no matter how the Shengxuan Sect handled this, they would end up offending one of the parties.
Intervene in the affairs of the Wu Kingdom, and they offend the Holy Blood Sect’s Guardian Envoy. Don’t intervene, and they offend the Taihe Sect’s Guardian Envoy.
Therefore, Bei Shaoyin’s only recourse was to throw his hands up, resign himself to fate, and let the two envoys do as they pleased.
Du Ruyuan stood up, his voice calm and proud. "Very well. I’ve long heard that although your Cultivation is not high, Brother Yu, you are an expert in Sword Fighting. Even a mere servant girl under your command has the grace of a Sword Immortal. I suddenly have an itch to test my skills and would like to ask for a lesson from you, Brother Yu. However, you only have a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivation. I would be suspected of bullying the weak, which gives me pause."
Du Youqian also stood with a smile. "Brother Du, there’s no need for that. I may be less than thirty years old, but you can’t generalize about people. My Sect has always recruited only geniuses, not mediocrities. Even our Foundation Establishment Early Stage disciples are far stronger than the Foundation Establishment Late Stage disciples of many other Sects. So, Brother Du, you needn’t worry. I won’t think of you as bullying the weak. On the contrary, I feel like I’m the one picking on someone weaker."
Du Ruyuan’s expression turned cold. "I hope your Sword is sharper than your tongue, Brother Yu. Though this is a spar, swords have no eyes. I’m afraid there might be casualties. I trust you won’t mind?"
Du Youqian flipped his palm, and the Jinhuan sword appeared in his hand. "No matter. I walk the Great Dao. The only thing I fear is straying from it; I have never feared blades. If the heart is close to the Dao, what harm can a sword do to me?"
His tone was calm to the point of being cold, a detachment that disregarded life and death, and it moved all who watched.
As soon as the conflict began, Meng Xiao had taken out a Memory Stone to record the evidence, proving that this was a spar agreed upon by both parties. If any accidental deaths or injuries occurred, neither side would pursue the matter.
This was standard procedure when disciples of the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect met. Although Meng Xiao had never fought a Taihe Sect disciple himself, he had lived for a century and knew this much of the protocol.
Du Ruyuan took out a Peach Wood Sword and declared in a clear voice, "Brother Yu, you are straightforward indeed! In that case, let’s cast aside our reservations and have a proper sparring match."
As he spoke, he motioned for his attendants to move back.
Fang Hua and Meng Xiao also retreated silently. Even though they were worried, they didn’t dare say anything at this moment, lest they cause their Sect to lose face.
The people from the Shengxuan Sect had already retreated a great distance, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
Between Du Ruyuan and Du Youqian, a fierce wind seemed to swirl, making their robes flap violently.
Their gazes were like those of eagles and falcons, fixed on each other, not missing a single minute detail.
Suddenly, Du Youqian’s face flushed red and then turned pale as his aura surged violently.
Du Ruyuan couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath, cursing inwardly: ’We haven’t even started fighting yet, and you’re already activating a Secret Technique like the Reverse Blood Qi Transformation Technique, which involves Burning Essence Blood and shortening your lifespan? Are you out of your mind?!’
