Chapter 30: Lingzhen's Past

Zhao Chun only had superficial wounds; after a period of recuperation, she would be fine.

Tu Cunchan, however, was severely injured. His limbs were damaged beyond repair, his cultivation had drastically diminished, and since his lifespan was already nearing its end, he now appeared gaunt and withered, looking as though he had little time left.

Aware of his own condition, he murmured to Zhao Chun, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, I have an unseemly request..."

Zhao Chun helped him sit up. "Please, Head of the Tu Family, speak."

"Though family scandals should not be aired in public, I have nothing left to lose now..." His face was drenched in sweat, and only his lips moved. "When my late father passed the Tu family to me, my cultivation was insufficient—only at the second level of Qi Refinement. I could not suppress the internal unrest, allowing those with wicked intentions to fracture the family and greatly weaken the Tu family's influence..."

"I wonder if you remember? On the day you arrived, the youth beside Wen?"

Zhao Chun nodded. Since he appeared more composed than Tu Congwen, she had a stronger impression of him. "His name is Tu Mian?"

"That is him. I presume you also feel he is superior to Congwen." Tu Cunchan clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulging. "His grandfather is my biological brother, who took half the family estate when he split away. Now he intends to return with his grandson to usurp the main house. There is no logic in such a thing!"

A conflict between brothers?

Zhao Chun knit her brows; this was something she had no desire to intervene in.

Yet she heard Tu Cunchan continue, "If he truly had the heart to revitalize the family, I would not be unwilling to relinquish the position of Family Head. However, his heart lies with the external enemy; he has set his sights on the Main Sect..."

Zhao Chun was instantly alarmed. She asked, "He intends to betray his master?"

For a vassal family to betray its sect was one of the most despised acts in the Hengyun World, on par with a disciple betraying their sect!

"I only suspected it; I had not yet believed it. It was only this Black Cicada today that reminded me of a certain matter."

Zhao Chun asked, "That demon's origins are unknown. Has Head Tu heard of it before?"

Tu Cunchan said solemnly, "As far as I know, there is an object similar to it—the Golden Cicada Molting Gu, a secret insect-gu technique of the Renyang Sect."

"The Golden Cicada Molting Gu?"

"It is said that this Gu is planted into a host by a Black Cicada, greatly increasing the host's strength. If the host dies, the Gu drains its flesh and blood to transform into a Golden Cicada to avenge the host."

However, no Golden Cicada appeared this time; when the Gu flew out, it was still pitch black. Seeing that Zhao Chun's brow had not relaxed, Tu Cunchan said helplessly, "It is a secret technique of another sect; I truly do not know the specifics. But the name of the Renyang Sect is something you must be aware of, regardless."

Zhao Chun listened intently.

"When Patriarch Weiye founded the sect, ten thousand sects came to congratulate us; it was magnificent. The various Xuan Daoists sat side-by-side, and even Great Cultivators of the Condensation Realm moved through the banquet. Our Tu family was also illustrious in those days; we once possessed two Condensation Realm experts simultaneously—that was the state of things back then!"

"Who does not know that the Songshan Lingzhen Sect, with its twelve Xuan Daoists, was the leader of the southern region's sects! Yet even such a great sect, after its Great Cultivators were successively led away to the Upper Realms, was taken advantage of by the Renyang Sect during its vulnerability, forcing a humiliating relocation to the Hidden Valley..."

Even the Lingzhen of the Hidden Valley was a formidable entity to Zhao Chun. One could only imagine what the Lingzhen Sect, the leader of all sects, must have looked like.

Even being that powerful, it could still fall into sudden decline...

"Thinking carefully, their instigation of the clansmen to migrate to the Hidden Valley during the clan meeting was merely a way to scout for news regarding the Main Sect."

Knowing that this matter involved great stakes, Zhao Chun promised, "Once I return to the sect, I will certainly inform the Sect Leader and the Elders!"

"The Renyang Sect will not only target my Tu family. If the Main Sect can become vigilant because of this, it will be considered a great service by the Tu family..." As he spoke, he grew much weaker, and his face lost all color. Zhao Chun hurriedly fed him a medicinal pill to help him recover some vitality.

Fortunately, members of the Tu family arrived. Seeing Tu Cunchan's wretched state, they were greatly alarmed. Realizing it was not the time for questioning, they first carried the two back to the residence.

After Tu Cunchan recounted what had happened, his eldest son, Tu Xin, was filled with lingering fear. Looking at his father's empty left arm, he said bitterly, "You..."

"At least I survived. Losing an arm is of no consequence." He was open-minded; having lived such a long life, he had long since set life and death aside. It was only his children and grandchildren before him that he found difficult to let go of.

Tu Cunchan looked around, taking in everyone's various reactions. Seeing that his lost arm and diminished cultivation had left them all filled with panic, as if mourning a parent, he felt a pang of sorrow.

Ever since his father had placed the family in his hands, he had never dared to slacken in mentoring the youth or caring for the citizens. Unfortunately, heaven did not grant his wishes; his descendants were all individuals incapable of bearing great responsibilities.

Only his great-grandson, Tu Congwen, stood out among the crowd, remaining relatively calm.

Regrettably, he was too young, and his cultivation was insufficient to protect the family. Tu Cunchan shook his head and sighed. "Congwen, come here. Come to your great-grandfather's side."

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, please come as well."

Tu Xin's body jolted as he guessed his father's intention. He cried out in haste, "Family Head!" but was stopped by Tu Congwen, who advised, "Whatever the Family Head does, he has his reasons."

Using his remaining right hand, Tu Cunchan gripped his teacup, his face full of sorrow. "In the heyday of our Songshan Tu Clan, there were Great Cultivators of the Condensation Realm guarding us. But since the Main Sect's relocation, we have gradually declined. The previous Family Head was at the late stage of Qi Refinement, but I have stopped at the fourth level..."

"Now my lifespan is nearing its end and my cultivation is greatly diminished, while Congwen has not yet matured. I deeply fear that the incident of the 'Left Tu' will recur. I wish to invite Fellow Daoist Zhao of the Main Sect to serve as a Guest Elder for our family, so that Congwen may smoothly take over the position of Family Head!"

"Family Head!"

"Head of the Tu Family!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Regardless of what the Tu clansmen thought, even Zhao Chun herself was unwilling to casually take on the responsibility of a clan.

"I know the Tu family is in decline and I do not wish for it to become a burden to you. Once Congwen takes over as Family Head, in addition to the fifty percent of annual income offered to the Main Sect, the Tu family will grant you an additional thirty percent. I promise on behalf of the Tu family that we will never disturb your travels; we only hope that when the family faces peril, you might lend us your assistance."

Such heartfelt words only caused Zhao Chun's eyelids to flicker. What truly moved her was that thirty percent tribute.

Wealth moves the heart, and she was no exception.

"In that case, I shall accept Head Tu's request."

Tu Cunchan was no fool; he had simply recognized Zhao Chun's talent and wished to make an early investment for his family. Both parties got what they needed; the only ones left feeling frustrated were the clueless younger generations of the Tu family.

"A clan meeting will be held tomorrow. Go and prepare!"

Tu Cunchan had always been a man of his word. He waved his hand, dismissing the clansmen who harbored various schemes, and then said to Zhao Chun, "Fellow Daoist, you had better sharpen your sword."

This was a reminder that there would be a hard battle to fight tomorrow.

Zhao Chun brushed her hand over the dagger at her waist, feeling not a shred of fear in her heart.