Chapter 365: Chapter 364: The Struggle for Power
After leaving the Ice Glacier Grassland, Ye Fan held the Sect Leader’s token from Meng Zongshan, ready to deliver his last will. Needless to say, it was a troublesome task.
A few days later, Ye Fan arrived at the Yueshan Sect. The journey had been arduous. He even had to mobilize the Heavenly King Hall just to locate this hidden sect.
The Yueshan Sect was a considerably powerful force among the hidden sects of the Divine Land, and Meng Zongshan’s own strength had not been low. Unfortunately, he had died at the hands of the Dongzheng Emperor.
As Ye Fan stepped into the Yueshan Sect, a disciple immediately shouted, "Who dares to trespass into our Yueshan Sect?"
Ye Fan promptly replied, "I have come on behalf of my old friend, Meng Zongshan, to find Young Sect Master Meng Xuanyi."
"Do you have proof?" another disciple demanded.
Ye Fan presented the Jade Pendant Meng Zongshan had given him. Seeing it, one of them said, "Wait here while we go and report!"
"Alright," Ye Fan nodded.
He waited for about half an hour and was growing impatient when the disciples finally returned. "The Young Sect Master is waiting in the side hall. Come with us."
Ye Fan followed them. About five minutes later, he was led into a very secluded courtyard and ushered into a room. As soon as he was inside, they suddenly slammed the door shut.
Something isn’t right, Ye Fan realized instantly. Something must have happened within the Yueshan Sect.
Just then, the door opened again. A group of people strode in and surrounded Ye Fan. He immediately rose to his feet as a man stepped out from the crowd.
"Hand over the Jade Pendant!" the man demanded.
"And who are you?" Ye Fan asked.
"Meng Buqun, Deputy Sect Master of the Yueshan Sect!"
Ye Fan observed him. He’s also a King-level cultivator, but his combat strength is among the lowest of that rank.
"I am here to see Meng Xuanyi," Ye Fan stated firmly. "I will only give the Jade Pendant to him."
Meng Buqun sneered, "Then you won’t get the chance to meet him."
Ye Fan’s voice was like ice. "Why is that?"
"Because you’re about to be a dead man!" Meng Buqun retorted mockingly.
"With just you lot?" Ye Fan scoffed.
"Get him!" Meng Buqun roared. "This man harmed the Old Sect Master! He is our Yueshan Sect’s mortal enemy!"
A group of disciples surged forward, but at that exact moment, a sharp cry came from outside. "The Young Sect Master arrives!"
Meng Buqun muttered coldly, "Damn it. Why did he have to show up now?" Turning to his men, he hissed, "You all know what to say, don’t you?"
"Yes, Deputy Sect Master!" they replied in unison.
Just then, Meng Xuanyi arrived. He was quite handsome, though his eyes betrayed a certain frailty. Upon arriving, he immediately asked Meng Buqun, "Uncle Master, what’s happening? I was passing by and saw a crowd gathered here, so I came to see."
"Xuanyi," Meng Buqun said with false gravity, "this man harmed the Old Sect Master! We were just about to capture him and get revenge!"
Meng Xuanyi’s gaze fell on Ye Fan before turning back to his uncle. "Uncle Master, you can’t make such wild accusations. My father only went to the Northern Land. How could he possibly have been harmed by this man?"
Meng Buqun pointed. "He has the Old Sect Master’s Jade Pendant!"
At this, Meng Xuanyi looked toward Ye Fan. Sure enough, Ye Fan produced the Jade Pendant.
Ye Fan said, "That’s right, I have it. Meng Zongshan entrusted it to me just before he died. He told me to come to the Yueshan Sect and find Meng Xuanyi, saying this Jade Pendant was very important for you."
"My... my father? What happened to him?" Meng Xuanyi stammered, his face paling. He was completely at a loss, a wave of despair washing over him.
Ye Fan’s voice was grim. "He’s dead. He was killed by the Dongzheng Emperor of the Northern Bear Country."
Everyone gasped. Emperor Dongzheng of the Dongzheng Court was a terrifyingly powerful figure. They never imagined the Old Sect Master was already dead. Who would carry the banner of the Yueshan Sect now?
Meng Xuanyi collapsed to the ground, stunned. The shock quickly gave way to endless grief. He remembered his father’s parting words: a man must have a sense of duty and never fear trouble. Yet here he was, in this very situation. He looked up at Ye Fan. "Is... is this true?"
Ye Fan replied firmly, "Every word."
But Meng Buqun interjected, "Don’t listen to his lies! If something so important happened, the Old Sect Master would have told us personally! Seize him! Kill him and avenge the Old Sect Master! He obviously has sinister intentions and wants to take over our Yueshan Sect!"
"Wait!" Meng Xuanyi cried out.
"Xuanyi, what are you doing?" Meng Buqun snapped. "He’s the man who killed your father!"
But Meng Xuanyi insisted, "I feel there’s more to this. Uncle Master, please let me speak with him alone."
"Xuanyi, what I say is final," Meng Buqun said coldly.
"Uncle Master—"
"Enough!" Meng Buqun shouted. "Once I capture and interrogate him myself, we’ll learn the truth of the matter."
At his booming shout, Meng Xuanyi fell silent, not daring to speak further.
Ye Fan was disappointed. It’s just as Meng Zongshan said. Meng Xuanyi is spineless by nature.
But Ye Fan turned his attention to Meng Buqun. "I’ll give you one chance. Take back what you just said, and I might spare your life."
"Hmph! How dare you act so presumptuously in the Yueshan Sect! Attack!"
The disciples immediately charged at Ye Fan. Caught between Meng Buqun and Meng Xuanyi, they chose to obey the Deputy Sect Master. They all knew that while the Old Sect Master was alive, Meng Buqun wouldn’t have dared to be so audacious. But now that the Old Sect Master was gone, Meng Buqun’s word was law. Meng Xuanyi could only look at Ye Fan with an expression of guilt.
"Break!" Ye Fan roared. An incredibly powerful aura erupted from him, instantly sending the charging disciples flying backward. They hit the ground and began to wail in despair.
"Useless fools!" Meng Buqun snarled and charged forward himself.
Ye Fan moved again. He drew the Yuanhong Sword, and in the instant Meng Buqun lunged, the blade was already resting against the Deputy Sect Master’s neck.
Meng Buqun froze in horror. He never expected Ye Fan’s swordsmanship to be so impossibly fast. He didn’t dare move a muscle, all his earlier bravado gone. Clearly, Ye Fan’s strength was far beyond anything he had imagined. Nearby, Meng Xuanyi let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Ye Fan said coldly, "Get lost. Don’t let me see you again, or this tiny sect of yours won’t be able to withstand me."
With a flick of his wrist, he slapped the flat of the blade against Meng Buqun, sending him flying. The Deputy Sect Master felt utterly humiliated, but he was powerless to do anything.
Meng Xuanyi hurried over to Ye Fan. "I’m sorry!"
"Oh?" Ye Fan turned to look at him.
Meng Xuanyi’s voice was filled with shame. "It’s my fault for being so useless. I have no real authority in the Yueshan Sect. I’m sorry. I knew you weren’t the one who killed my father, but I couldn’t stop them. Even though I’m the Young Sect Master, I don’t have the power to command them." His voice trailed off. "I failed the trust my father placed in me."
Meng Xuanyi was utterly dejected. His authority had been completely stripped away, and his inherently weak-willed nature was causing him to abandon himself to despair.
