The old Taoist said no more.
In his eyes, since Wang Anfeng had asked this question, it ant that Li Qidao had not told him the matter, which ant he was not yet fit to truly enter the ga. Knowing too much would be harmful rather than beneficial.
At the very least, it would be more dangerous than the current situation.
Moreover, many of the events from back then were not clear even to him now, so how could he tell Wang Anfeng?
Wang Tiance was by no ans reckless, yet he had truly committed a reckless act.
General Tiance always claid to be the most life-cherishing person in the world, yet he went willingly to his death. It was obviously not the best choice at the ti, and the old Taoist didn't believe Wang Tiance couldn't see that.
But in the end, he still did it.
Thirteen years ago, when he went to Great Liang Village to see that scholar for the last ti, the scholar just smiled, smugly, and the old Taoist wasn't able to ask anything.
The old Taoist reminisced about the past and sighed softly.
It was a detour.
Wang Anfeng murmured softly, chew on that sentence.
The keeper of ruins clearly didn't want to say more. He sighed, perked up, and smiled,
"Speaking of which, you coming to my Jade Ruin Temple isn't a bad thing. Your mother left sothing here years ago, and today, it just so happens to be returned to its rightful owner."
Wang Anfeng's expression changed, and he whispered,
"My... mother?"
The old Taoist nodded, "Yes, your mother... Before she and your father retired, they once visited this mountain and left sothing."
"Anfeng, sit here for a while, and I'll have Yan Bo fetch it for you."
Mother...
A sense of nervousness rose in Wang Anfeng's heart for so reason, making him feel sowhat restless.
And in his heart, more expectations ford.
What could be the thing left by mother...
What could it be?
The keeper of ruins stood up and had only walked a few steps towards the door,
When Qing Yun had already pushed the door open and barged in, his face full of panic, almost bumping into the old Taoist. He steadied the old Taoist with his hand and cried out,
"Sothing's wrong, Observatory Master!"
The old Taoist was unaffected by the collision, calmly placing a hand on Qing Yun's back and saying,
"What's the matter, being in such a fluster?"
"Catch your breath first and speak slowly, rushing a few monts will make no difference."
Qing Yun had no patience to speak slowly. He just grabbed the keeper of ruins by the sleeve and blurted out,
"We can't delay!"
"Observatory Master, Elder Uncle encountered an ambush on his way back to the mountain and got injured. Master is currently treating him. Elder Uncle only said a few words and then coughed up blood and fainted."
"They've encircled the base of Candle Dragon Rest Mountain. I took a look around, and people from Baiyang Sword Sect, Red Cliff Sect, and Cangyu Subbranch are all there! The paths down the mountain are all blocked, and if we wait any longer, they'll likely force their way up."
Panic was evident on Qing Yun's face.
The keeper of ruins reassured him in a low voice and calmly gave instructions for managing the observatory affairs.
Hong Luoyu raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the Taoist carefully but couldn't detect any signs that the keeper harbored martial arts skills. He seed like a Taoist who focused only on studying Taoist Scriptures without practicing martial arts.
Behind him, Yuchi Jie rubbed his temples, feeling sowhat irritable.
He tried to focus on the matter at hand but felt clueless about what to do.
His family held no small influence, but it wasn't in Guangwu County. Their Library Tower contained detailed records of sects from all the counties within Great Qin, but in the past years, he had cared only for his lavish lifestyle and drunken revelry, never paying attention to these trivial books.
Thinking it over, Yuchi Jie looked at the calm girl behind Lv Baiping.
Lv Baiping was on full alert, lifting her longsword slightly as if to block Yuchi Jie's throat.
Yuchi Jie awkwardly laughed and held up his hand to block the sword scabbard, stepping back half a step to show he ant no harm, his eyes fixed on Lin Qiaofu, ingratiatingly smiling,
"Qiaofu, do you know about these sects?"
Lin Qiaofu pondered for a mont and softly said,
"I know about Baiyang Sword Sect and Red Cliff Sect, but I'm not too familiar with Cangyu Subbranch."
Overjoyed, Yuchi Jie unconsciously strode forward, saying,
"Just as expected of Qiaofu."
Lv Baiping's sword sprung an inch of its blade instantly, the coldness startling Yuchi Jie enough to raise goosebumps on his neck, making him step back and laugh awkwardly,
"I won't co over; I won't co over."
"Qiaofu, you tell , and I'll just listen right here."
Lin Qiaofu blushed slightly, hiding behind Lv Baiping, thought for a mont, and softly said,
"Both Baiyang Sword Sect and Red Cliff Sect are renowned large sects within three hundred miles of Candle Dragon Rest, Baiyang Sword Sect being a pure sword sect. Their martial arts, originated from the Shaoyang lineage of Inner Strength, are known for their subtlety and finesse, without lacking forcefulness and decisiveness."
"The current sect leader is a Fifth Rank master."
"Elder Liu Qizheng reached the Sixth Rank Realm twenty years ago, cultivating the core Internal Strength Martial Body of the Shaoyang Sword Sect. He should be capable of invoking Heaven and Earth Phenona. If not for being weakened by old age, he might have a chance to step into the Fifth Rank Realm."
"As for Red Cliff Sect, it's more a confederation of many sects mixed together than a single sect. It has many experts, but internal strife is severe. Otherwise, it might have beco a well-known major alliance in the world."
"Regarding Cangyu Subbranch, I really don't know much, except that it seems to have been founded by a Confucian Master, practicing the sage teachings of Confucianism, and the sect hasn't been established for many years."
Yuchi Jie's expression gradually relaxed, and he even let out a laugh, saying,
"It seems, the sages of Confucianism are probably all weepers."
Lin Qiaofu looked puzzled.
Yuchi Jie spread his hands and laughed sowhat shalessly,
"The great sages of Confucian Sect never taught their disciples the principle of becoming bandits,"
"The people from the Cangyu annex who carry the title of the Sage's disciples and use the na of Academy's annex are actually colluding with others to rob and plunder."
"If I were a Sage, I would weep."
Where in the world does one compare themselves to a great sage of Confucian Sect?
Watching Yuchi Jie, who was shaless and boastful, Lin Qiaofu opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.
After giving orders for the Temple, Qing Yun turned and strode out. The old Taoist with speckled white hair happened to hear Yuchi Jie's comnts on the Cangyu annex; turning around, he sighed and said:
"The young man here is speaking incorrectly."
Yuchi Jie didn't dare to be negligent and respectfully perford a salute, saying:
"I don't deserve such a title from the elder."
"I am the third grandson of the Yuchi Family from Boling, with the humble na Jie. My grandfather and elders at ho all call by the nickna 'Badger'."
The observatory master smiled and said, "I see."
"Then I, an old Taoist, shall also presu and address you as 'Badger Boy'."
Yuchi Jie respectfully accepted.
The situation was sudden, leaving no ti or mind to search for Wang Anfeng's mother's relics. The observatory master walked back to his seat to sit down and pondered for a mont before saying:
"What you said earlier, that Cangyu annex does not follow the Sage's teachings, was indeed very wrong."
"Do you know that the head of the Cangyu annex is Yuan Cangyu, a madman who cries through his songs, was also of noble birth? As a young man, he studied and passed the imperial examinations, becoming an official in the capital."
"However, he loathed the conduct of the capital officials. He only spent a brief three years in those envious and exalted positions before he resigned and returned ho, later disputing with his family's elder. He cursed that living too long without dying is to be a thief, drew his sword, and charged out from the central gate. Afterwards, he road Jianghu and eventually settled in Guangwu County."
Yuchi Jie laughed and exclaid, "Truly a madman indeed."
"I wouldn't dare to say the words 'old and not dead' to my elder's face."
The observatory master sighed:
"Indeed, a madman."
"When he first arrived, he hadn't established a sect yet. He had a great relationship with the disciples of the old Taoist, spent his days playing the zither in the mountains and rivers, chess dueling, would let out long howls, and often returned drunk."
"Although he ca from a hundred-year-old noble clan, he lacked the air of nobility, instead, he exhibited more of the deanor of a literary man. Today's actions suggest that he was forced to do so against his will."
"Even though he is being coerced, to do such things, he would never truly lay a killing hand on the disciples of Jade Ruin Temple. In monts of urgency, there would indeed be a way out."
Lv Baiping, listening by the side, could not help but interject:
"After doing such things, what's the point of talking about this now?"
The observatory master shook his head and said:
"A young girl still doesn't understand the helplessness of the world's affairs. There are too many tis when we truly have no choice, helpless, and our own thoughts are only secondary."
"After all, he is now the head of the Cangyu annex, not the solitary man of the past. His actions and conduct are now restricted by many factors, and he can no longer act on a whim."
"It's also not fair to bla him."
The observatory master sighed.
Lv Baiping muttered under her breath and fell silent. Although she did not fully understand what the old observatory master said, she could sense the heavy emotions in the old man's voice.
Wang Anfeng placed the teacup on the table and stood up.
The broad sword that had been carried on his back was now unknowingly held in his hand.
With his thumb pressing on the hilt, he exerted a slight force, exposing an inch of the sharp sword edge. Wang Anfeng's eyebrows were lowered, his robes fluttered, and he spoke softly:
"Yan Bo, please sit here for a while longer."
"I will return shortly."
A light yet sharp aura began to rise around him.
Like an unsheathed famous sword.
When a sword has left its scabbard, it should naturally be stained with blood.
Yuchi Jie took a deep breath and stepped forward, saying:
"Wait a mont!"
Wang Anfeng paused and looked towards Yuchi Jie, saying:
"Yuchi? What else is there..."
Yuchi Jie lifted his eyes to et Wang Anfeng's and said:
"Brother Wang, even though your martial arts are strong, how many can you kill? You are after all alone, while the other side comprises three sects with over six hundred martial artists, among them there will undoubtedly be Middle Third Rank experts."
"Moreover, they will certainly not be unprepared."
Wang Anfeng looked at Yuchi Jie, discerning the implications in his words, and said:
"You an..."
Yuchi Jie took a deep breath and said:
"I have a plan that can break them in one fell swoop."
"Besides..."
He raised his head, looking at the young man in the light-coloured robe in front of him, grinned, his eyes clearing from the gloom of recent days, becoming more lucid.
Wang Anfeng had not delved deep into the changes in Yuchi, but he could see that the noble clan's disciple seed to have co to a realization.
Yuchi Jie spread his hands with his usual smile and said:
"After all, our line has never had a tradition of revealing our trump cards and being the first to charge into the fray."
"No matter what, Brother Wang, please trust this ti."
PS: Second update of the day, 3200 words for your enjoynt…
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