Deep within the ruins of the Water Mansion.
A newly crafted White Jade Coffin housed the corpse of Lord Baihe.
Lord Haihe stood by the White Jade Coffin, placing his hand on the edge of the coffin lid, lost and vacant, his eyes devoid of focus.
"Boom..."
Several escape lights arrived together, landing on the ground.
"Association Leader."
Zhang Yao, Peng Yue Xian, and others stepped forward to pay their respects.
"You're here."
Lord Haihe slowly turned around, nodding in acknowledgnt.
His expression had returned to normal, showing no joy or anger, yet deep in his eyes was a lingering, indiscernible coldness.
"Association Leader, please take heart..."
Peng Yue Xian, Fairy Lichen, and others all spoke, their tones sowhat somber.
"I will."
Lord Haihe nodded slightly, then looked at Peng Yue Xian, inquiring:
"Old Peng, how did the final battle outside turn out?"
"Sigh..."
Peng Yue Xian sighed upon hearing this, then said:
"Thanks to Lord Qingxu, he first defeated the Body Refining Cultivator Man Tian Sheng and then the old Soul Cultivator, turning the tide."
"Although two ultimately escaped, the rest were killed. During the pursuit, we discovered that Lord Lu Huang was likely also hard by them..."
Upon hearing this, Lord Haihe's expression imdiately darkened.
Lord Lu Huang was also one of the Foundation Establishnt mbers of the Haihe Association, relatively young in cultivation, due to his proficiency in Water Daoist Techniques, he was responsible for inspecting the Cangjiang Water Vein and protecting its industries.
When the Du Bu Alliance launched their ambush, he was still inspecting the Cangjiang Water Vein and must have been the first to encounter the enemy.
Alas, vastly outnumbered and outmatched, he couldn't even send a warning before being surrounded and killed by the Du Bu Alliance.
"Sigh..."
Lord Haihe sighed deeply, his gaze somber:
"This ambush was entirely the solitary and insane act of that Du Bu Daoist!"
"For his selfish desires, stirring up strife between two sides, not only causing the loss of several Foundation Establishnt masters of the Du Bu Alliance but also causing great losses to my Haihe Association, reducing the Cangjiang Water Mansion to ruins, and costing the lives of two Foundation Establishnt masters!"
"Even though he is now dead, it cannot completely absolve his sins, and the subsequent accountability must also involve the Du Bu Alliance!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao sighed lightly, instinctively exchanging a glance with Fairy Yuan ng, both tacitly refrained from speaking.
It was evident—
Lord Haihe, after careful consideration, still did not rashly initiate open conflict with the Celestial Treasure Tower, even though he deeply resented the Celestial Treasure Tower Master Yu Wen Tai.
He chose to place the bla on the already dead, unable-to-defend-himself Du Bu Daoist, naturally intending to justifiably crush the Du Bu Alliance and establish legitimacy for his actions.
In this way, when it cos to dividing the benefits of Kang Continent post-war, the Haihe Association would surely justifiably claim the largest share.
"The Association Leader is no longer the man he once was..."
Zhang Yao sighed subtly in his heart.
Lord Haihe could, in a short ti, understand the stakes involved and make the most beneficial choice, a testant to his cold, rational, almost 'rciless' nature.
Lord Baihe had been by his side since childhood, raised and nurtured by Lord Haihe himself, personally taught for decades, almost like his own son.
Now, with Lord Baihe dead, Lord Haihe, filled with hatred and vowing revenge, was no longer the kind elder he once was.
"Qingxu."
Lord Haihe suddenly spoke, looking at Zhang Yao, inquiring:
"An old friend has co outside, would you greet him for ?"
"Old friend?"
Zhang Yao, hearing this, showed a slight change in expression, instinctively sensing a foreign presence approaching slowly.
"...I understand."
He nodded slightly, turned, and maneuvered his escape light, soon arriving at the Water Mansion's periter.
A young scholar, dressed in feathered fan and scarf, hovered in the water, controlling his escape light while surveying the ruins of the Cangjiang Water Mansion with a complex expression.
"Greetings."
Zhang Yao approached with his escape light, bowing in salute before inquiring:
"Could it be that you are the Association Leader's agent within the Du Bu Alliance?"
"...Well, you could say that."
The young scholar waved his feather fan and said, swaying:
"Years ago, I owed him a great favor, so I agreed to help him gather information on the Du Bu Alliance and lend a hidden hand in critical monts."
"Now, I guess I've found an opportunity to fulfill that promise, and the favor is repaid."
Saying this, he raised his hand, throwing a streak of light:
"Catch!"
Zhang Yao, reaching out, guided by his magical power, caught the streak of light into his palm.
Upon closer inspection, it was a hexagonal azure jade, its color magnificent, dazzling, and pristine.
More importantly, rely holding this hexagonal azure jade, Zhang Yao felt the Water Attribute Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Qi around him suddenly beco much more active, contrasting sharply with the Primordial Energy of other attributes.
"Is this the Azure Jade?"
Holding the azure jade, he asked another question.
"Yes."
The young scholar nodded slightly, then slowly said:
"The item has been delivered, so I won't go in."
"Convey my ssage to Lord Haihe, tell him that I let him down back then, but now I have atoned for my sins."
"In the days to co, I should live for myself."
As he finished speaking, the young scholar bowed in salute, then turned and left, maneuvering his escape light with no hint of nostalgia.
Zhang Yao watched the retreating escape light, thoughts churning in his mind.
"I wonder what story once took place between this Foundation Establishnt master and the Lord Haihe of yesteryears..."
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