Chapter 421: Chapter 242: The Eight Sights of Taiheng
The letter was found beneath an old locust tree soaked in blood. It was hidden very discreetly; had it not been for Chu Qing and his group’s thorough search, it might have been hard to discover.
Shan Lan held the letter, looked at Chu Qing, and hesitated.
Finally, he softly said:
"Young Master... your letter."
Chu Qing silently pulled out the Silk Gloves and, under Shan Lan’s startled gaze, took the letter and opened it.
Shan Lan quickly rummaged through his belongings and, after a moment, took out an Elixir, but hesitated to take it... lamenting his own limited experience in the Martial World. He had actually handled such a Demon’s letter with bare hands.
Look at Young Master, still cautious about poison.
But if there is no poison, wouldn’t it waste an Elixir?
In her hesitation, Chu Qing had already finished reading the letter, his brows slightly furrowed.
Wu Qianhuan was standing beside Chu Qing, also having finished reading the letter, and when he looked at Shan Lan and the others, a touch of vigilance appeared in his eyes.
Shan Lan finally swallowed the Elixir.
Better to believe it exists than not.
If there is, you’ll lose your life... if there isn’t, it’s just one less Elixir.
By this time, Chu Qing had already handed the letter over. Shan Lan was about to reach out to receive it, but then quickly retracted, moved closer to Chu Qing, and sneaked a peek.
Then she blinked and read it again.
The letter read:
[The object of our scheme lies in Taiheng. The lord outside, the mistress within, inside and outside cooperation, success is assured!]
Reading it front and back three times, the letter was short, but Shan Lan was afraid of misreading a single word.
Finally, she looked at Chu Qing and decisively said:
"Framing! This Demon wants to frame us!"
Chu Qing glanced at Shan Lan somewhat peculiarly:
"So certain?"
From her demeanor, one would think she had a deep friendship with Chu Qing.
Being able to assert that this letter is framing.
"Of course!"
Shan Lan said in a deep voice:
"Considering the relationship between you, Young Master, and my Taiheng Sect, if you desired something, you could simply ask for it.
"My Taiheng Sect would have no reason to refuse."
"..."
Chu Qing’s eyes widened, even Wu Qianhuan was slightly baffled.
Clearly, Chu Qing and the Taiheng Sect had an entirely honorable relationship, but in Shan Lan’s words, it somehow became so ambiguous?
Chu Qing couldn’t help but ask:
"What sort of relationship do I have with the Taiheng Sect?"
Shan Lan solemnly replied:
"May I ask Young Master, have you ever met my mentor, Ling Beichen?"
"Naturally, I have..."
Not only met, but killed.
"Then dare I ask Young Master, did my mentor impart to you the Sword Intent of the Seven Extremes Seven Transitions Seven Injuries Sword before he died?"
"...He did."
Chu Qing couldn’t deny that, as it indeed was imparted.
Thanks to that, Chu Qing’s Sixteen Paths of Shocking Evil Saber had become even more profound and unpredictable.
"Well, there you have it!"
Shan Lan said with a smile:
"Between you, Young Master, and my Taiheng Sect, there is a bond of kinship.
"Moreover, you personally relieved my mentor of his burdens, an immense favor my entire Taiheng Sect must remember in our hearts.
"By rights, having received the Sword Intent of the Seven Extremes Seven Transitions Seven Injuries Sword, I should call you senior disciple...
"However, as your status is extraordinary, and there wasn’t a formal master-disciple bond with my mentor,
"The elders within our sect discussed this for a long time without deciding on your rank, though one suggestion has gained more recognition.
"It posits that my mentor, before his death, accepted you as a peer disciple, making you a fellow disciple of his generation, akin to our uncles and seniors.
"In due time, you could be an honorary elder in my Taiheng Sect.
"Of course, this is merely a matter for discussion within our sect, a private matter.
"Ultimately, it depends on your intent..."
Chu Qing, whose mind was buzzing from listening, was still pondering what the attitude of the Taiheng Sect would be towards him, only to find out it was this?
He was at once amused and speechless... the Taiheng Sect’s members, their calculations were practically hitting them in the face.
But being one of the Five Great Sects, is handling it this way really unproblematic?
Perhaps noticing the doubt on Chu Qing’s face, Shan Lan said with a smile:
"Young Master, do not find it odd...
"The Martial World is not solely about fighting; there are human relations, too.
"Were Young Master’s martial skills ordinary and reputation also common, my Taiheng Sect’s attitude towards you would naturally differ from now.
"But now, with the battle at Celestial Secret Valley and the skirmish at Ghost God Gorge,
"Even the Blazing Hall has come under your banner... Young Master, your reputation is unparalleled, supreme in martial skills.
"My Taiheng Sect, even if not adept at balancing pros and cons, cannot afford to be your enemy.
"As the saying goes, ’More friends, more paths, in the Martial World.’
"But to have more mortal enemies, especially one like Young Master... well..."
The unspoken words were clear in their intent.
Chu Qing was somewhat surprised at Shan Lan’s boldness... but it was not necessarily true that Taiheng Sect’s members, like their swords, favored straightforwardness.
Her words merely articulated a fundamental issue.
Having killed Ling Beichen, would the Taiheng Sect choose enmity or friendship?
The Taiheng Sect chose the latter, moreover hoping not only for friendship but to become kin.
Matters of becoming kin could wait, Chu Qing thought.
He looked at the letter in his hand, and softly said:
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