Chapter 39: The Gathering Storm

Over the past few months, Song Qingming had been unable to find peace in his heart due to the matter of finding Liu Tianlong's storage bag. His trip to Qinghe Market this time was not only to purchase necessary materials and medicinal pills but also to inquire about Liu Tianlong's situation to see if he was truly dead.

He was, after all, still a young man in his early twenties; his mental state had not yet reached the depth and calculation of seasoned cultivators. The inexplicable wealth he had acquired often left him feeling strangely guilty. During the time he spent leaving the Fuyun Mountains, he sometimes even feared he was trapped in a dream, and that upon waking, he would find himself back at the moment he had just left Qinghe County.

Unfortunately, he still could not get the answer he wanted from his Fourth Uncle, and the Liu family's shop had closed unusually, causing him to feel a renewed sense of worry. After having lunch in the afternoon, Song Qingming bid farewell to Song Changqiu and his wife and left Qinghe Market with a heavy heart.

***

In the Lu family estate within Qinghe Market, Lu Yuanfeng paced the courtyard alone, his expression grim as he looked at the communication talisman he had just received.

Lu Yuanfeng was a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed at Qinghe Market on behalf of the Xiaoyao Sect. He had been stationed here for nearly thirty years, and Qinghe Market had always been peaceful without any major incidents. He had not expected to receive an accusatory transmission from an Elder of the Sect's General Affairs Hall today, which left him feeling quite displeased.

With a flash of spiritual light from his right hand, Lu Yuanfeng quickly performed a hand seal. A streak of golden light shot from his hand toward the courtyard and flew outward. Shortly after, a mature-looking cultivator in white arrived quickly in the courtyard.

Seeing the newcomer, Lu Yuanfeng spoke rapidly

"Wencai, I just received news from Uncle Guangling of the sect. The Liu family of Jingyuan Mountain has been privately mining the Five Elements Spirit Fruit trees within sect territory behind our backs. Take a few people to the market first to seal the Liu family's shops, and keep the Liu family cultivators under guard."

After hearing this, Yuan Wencai replied with an embarrassed expression, "Master, the Liu family's shops in the market have been closed for nearly half a month. I fear the people have long since withdrawn. Liu Tianlong has always been quite honest and law-abiding; he's being far too bold this time, daring to set his sights on the Five Elements Spirit Fruit trees. Isn't he just seeking death?"

"Forget it. It seems Liu Tianlong planned this long ago. Arrange for someone to notify the Huang family so they can send someone to accompany us to Jingyuan Mountain tomorrow," Lu Yuanfeng said indifferently, his hands behind his back.

"Master, I wonder how the sect intends to handle the Liu family this time. Do we need to inform Fifth Junior Brother?"

"Liu Tianlong must die. Uncle Guangling specified in his letter that all other members of the Liu family are to be sent to Huoyan Mountain to mine ore for thirty years. Do not tell Huo Lin about this for now; as for those who should be protected, I will naturally protect them. Jingyuan Mountain will temporarily fall under the sect's management. As for the mortals under the Liu family's rule, we will see if nearby families can take them in; the rest will be relocated directly to Qinghe Market." There was a hint of melancholy in Lu Yuanfeng's voice as he waved his hand, signaling Yuan Wencai to withdraw.

Yuan Wencai was the first disciple Lu Yuanfeng had taken after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. He had always been extremely loyal to his master and enjoyed Lu Yuanfeng's deep trust, having accompanied him to guard Qinghe Market for nearly thirty years.

The reason he asked that question was entirely because of his Fifth Junior Brother, Huo Lin. His Dao companion happened to be a female cultivator from the Liu family, and the two were very much in love. With the Liu family in trouble, he feared they might be implicated. Seeing that his master, Lu Yuanfeng, already had a plan, Yuan Wencai finally left with a sense of relief.

***

In Qinghe County, at the Du family's Gem Peak residence.

In the Du family's discussion hall, the clan leader, Du Shaoying, looked at the several elders before him with a face full of anger.

"Shaokang, tell me, what exactly is going on with Yucheng? You all returned, so why did he suddenly join the Xiaoyao Sect?" Du Shaoying asked with displeasure, looking at the trembling Du Shaokang.

Du Shaokang was quite unlucky. He had been the leader of the expedition to the Fuyun Mountains this time, and the cultivator lost by the Du family happened to be quite close to the clan leader, Du Shaoying. Upon returning, he had been interrogated by Du Shaoying until he was speechless.

Du Yucheng was a junior whom the family did not pay much attention to. Du Shaokang had originally thought he had died when he was swept into the pool. It wasn't until after their return that Du Shaokang discovered his soul imprint on the clan register was still lit. Knowing he was alive had initially brought Du Shaokang some joy.

However, upon hearing news today from a Du family cultivator within the Xiaoyao Sect that Du Yucheng had joined the sect and become an inner disciple, Du Shaokang was stunned. He truly did not know if Du Yucheng had gone mad or if the person from the Xiaoyao Sect who recruited him had lost their mind.

A great sect like the Xiaoyao Sect was always very strict in recruiting disciples. Generally, cultivators of commoner origin had to start from the lowly position of outer sect handyman disciples. Such disciples were recruited in the hundreds every year, and the competition was fierce.

Only those with backing within the sect or those recommended by major subordinate cultivation families could directly become inner disciples, but the requirements were much higher: they had to be cultivators with at least three spiritual roots or possess exceptional talent in cultivation techniques. Otherwise, it was better to remain in one's own family to cultivate freely than to enter as an outer sect handyman.

Du Yucheng's spiritual root talent was not high, nor did he possess any particularly impressive cultivation techniques. Du Shaokang pondered for a long time but still could not understand what the Xiaoyao Sect saw in him. Facing Du Shaoying's questioning, he could only shrink his head and remain silent.

Although the Du family had made decent gains from this trip to the Fuyun Mountains, the sudden and inexplicable loss of two cultivators had a significant impact on the clan. The Du family did not have many cultivators to begin with, and losing two young ones at once made it understandable why Clan Leader Du Shaoying was so enraged.

However, while they knew Du Yucheng had joined the Xiaoyao Sect, they did not know the details. Now that Du Yucheng had become an inner disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect and had a chance at Foundation Establishment, his status had undergone a heaven-and-earth transformation, leaving the members of the Du family unsure of how to face him in the future.

***

At the Liu family in Jingyuan Mountain, Liu Tianlong sat upon his sickbed. Several Liu family elders sat before him, their faces filled with panic.

Although Liu Tianlong's injuries had recovered significantly over the past few months, his face still bore a look of decay. The experience in the Fuyun Mountains seemed to have drained his very essence, making him appear instantly like a dying old man.

Liu Tianlong coughed lightly and sat up straight, forcing himself to stay composed as he whispered to a nearby elder, "Tianquan, have the people in the market been arranged to withdraw?"

"Rest assured, Clan Leader. The shops in Qinghe Market have been closed. Meng Cheng and the others withdrew ten days ago, leaving only mortals to guard the shops," Liu Tianquan replied hurriedly to the respected Clan Leader.

Liu Tianlong had served as the head of the Liu family for nearly forty years. When he took over, the Liu family was in decline, and various surrounding powers were eyeing this once-great Foundation Establishment family like tigers watching prey. With his extraordinary courage, Liu Tianlong had quickly stabilized the family's decline and allowed them to gradually recover their vitality. Over the years, he had been deeply loved by his clansmen.

Liu Tianlong nodded and said, "A few days ago, Meng Chen sent news from the Xiaoyao Sect. Someone offered a Water Spirit Fruit tree to the Xiaoyao Sect and became an inner disciple. It should be the one we discovered this time. I fear our trip to the Fuyun Mountains has been exposed."

"Could it be those people who were swept into the pool by the Black-Feathered Python that day? That person is truly lucky to have survived, not only to live but to actually find the location of the Water Spirit Fruit tree. Sigh..." another Liu family elder said with a sigh.

Liu Tianlong thought for a moment and said, "It likely is. I later sent people to investigate those who were swept into the pool. There were three in total. Wu Ziyuan of the Wu family died in the pool, and Song Qingming of the Song family returned a month later. Only Du Yucheng of the Du family has been missing and has not returned. The one who went to the Xiaoyao Sect must be him. My storage bag must have also fallen into his hands, which allowed him to guess the location of the Water Spirit Fruit tree."

"Damn that Du family! To think that after our Liu family worked hard for decades, it ended up benefiting them. If we had known, we would have been better off offering the Water Spirit Fruit tree directly to the Xiaoyao Sect." As this elder spoke, his eyes grew red with rage, his very bones filled with hatred for the Du family.

Liu Tianlong gave a bitter smile. "Our failure today is not entirely our own fault. Man proposes, but Heaven disposes. It is also a matter of our Liu family's waning luck. I have already sent Meng Xin away from Jingyuan Mountain; the family cannot drag her down. From now on, she can only rely on herself."

(End of Chapter)