togophonebook Chapter 10 Clash at Juxianlou
Chapter 10 Clash at Juxianlou
Huang Wenyuan personally poured the wine, filling three cups to the brim.
Huang Dehou raised his wine cup. "Sect Leader Shen, our two families have lived in Qinghe County for many years. Although we haven't had much contact, we are still neighbors. Today, I've invited Sect Leader Shen for a chat, not for any other reason than to reminisce. Come, let's drink to that."
Shen Qing picked up his wine cup, clinked it with the two men's, and drank it all in one gulp.
After a few rounds of drinks, all the polite words had been exchanged.
Huang Dehou put down his wine glass, and the smile on his face faded slightly.
"Sect Leader Shen, Wen Yuan visited last time and mentioned the joint development of Qingyun Mountain. Half a month has passed; I wonder what Sect Leader Shen's decision has been?"
Now for the main event.
Shen Qing put down his wine glass, his expression calm.
"Master Huang, I have considered this very carefully."
He paused.
"Qingyun Mountain will not be developed."
The atmosphere in the private room suddenly froze.
Huang Wenyuan frowned slightly, and the smile on Huang Dehou's face completely disappeared.
"Sect Leader Shen," Huang Dehou's voice carried a hint of pressure, "the county magistrate has quite a few complaints about the current state of Qingyun Mountain. Sect Leader Shen, your simple statement of 'no development' might be difficult to explain, wouldn't it?"
"I will explain to the county magistrate myself."
Shen Qing said unhurriedly, "Although Qingyun Sect is small, it has a history of two hundred years. The sect leaders of each generation have worked diligently and have never done anything to disgrace the sect. Qingyun Mountain is the foundation left by our founder. As the acting sect leader, I dare not act arbitrarily."
"As for the magistrate's 'dissatisfaction'—" Shen Qing smiled slightly and continued, "If the magistrate is truly dissatisfied, he could simply issue an official document to requisition Qingyun Mountain. Why only 'mention it in casual conversation'? Patriarch Huang, why do you think that is?"
Huang Dehou's eyes narrowed slightly; he hadn't expected Shen Qing to point this out so directly.
County Magistrate Zhao Yuanlang was indeed dissatisfied, but he did not take direct action.
Why? Naturally, it's because of Mo Wentian. In the county magistrate's view, the secret of Qingyun Mountain wasn't worth the risk of offending Mo Wentian to steal.
Zhao Yuanlang was waiting, waiting for the Huang family to be the first to speak out, waiting for Mo Wentian's news to become clear.
Shen Qing picked up his wine glass and poured himself a cup.
"Patriarch Huang, I know what you're thinking. Qingyun Mountain has produced several Foundation Establishment cultivators in a row, and Patriarch Huang thinks there's a secret hidden in the mountain and wants a piece of the pie. There's nothing shameful about that; if I were in that situation, I would think the same way."
Shen Qing put down his wine cup and looked at Huang Dehou:
"But I, Shen, would like to ask Patriarch Huang a question: Is this secret worth risking the entire Huang family for?"
Huang Dehou's expression changed slightly: "What do you mean by that, Sect Leader Shen?"
"My uncle-master, Mo Wentian, has been away from Qingyun Sect for over twenty years and has not returned to this day."
Some say he's dead, some say he's trapped in some secret realm, and others say he's trying to break through to the Golden Core stage.
"I don't know whether my martial uncle is alive or dead. But I do know one thing."
Shen Qing stared into Huang Dehou's eyes: "What if he's still alive? What if he suddenly comes back? A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who's only one step away from the Golden Core stage, seeing the Huang family's villa built on Qingyun Mountain, seeing the Huang family's disciples cultivating on Qingyun Sect's territory—Patriarch Huang, what do you think he'll do?"
Huang Dehou's fingers tightened slightly; what Shen Qing said was one of his biggest concerns.
"Is Sect Leader Shen threatening me?" His voice turned cold.
"It's not a threat, it's a reminder."
Shen Qing shook his head. "What right do I, a dying man, have to threaten Patriarch Huang? I just think that Patriarch Huang is a smart man, and a smart man shouldn't gamble on a game he can't win."
"A dying man?" Huang Wenyuan interjected. "Brother Shen, what makes you say that?"
Shen Qing gave a wry smile, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Second Master should know that I, Shen, have been stuck at the ninth level of Qi Refining for over ten years. Three years ago, I failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, which damaged my meridians and caused my cultivation to regress instead of advance. Although I managed to break through to the ninth level a few days ago, my foundation has been damaged, and my lifespan is running out. At most, I can live for another five or six years, or at least two or three years, before I have to go to meet the ancestors of all generations."
Every word Shen Qing said was true: his failure to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage was true, his meridians were damaged was true, and his lifespan was nearing its end was true.
But now that the system exists, he has hope of establishing his foundation.
However, Huang Dehou was unaware of Shen Qing's true intentions. To him, Shen Qing's words sounded like the heartfelt words of a dying man.
There was a moment of silence in the private room.
Huang Dehou picked up his wine glass and slowly took a sip.
He had already believed it, because Shen Qing's condition did not resemble that of a normal Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator.
Graying temples, fine lines around the eyes, and weak breathing are all signs of declining lifespan.
A person who is about to die really has nothing to worry about.
Huang Dehou put down his wine cup, his tone softening slightly. "Since Sect Leader Shen is being so frank, I won't beat around the bush either. I am indeed interested in the secrets of Qingyun Mountain. But Sect Leader Shen is right, I don't want to gamble."
"but--"
He then changed the subject.
"Sect Leader Shen said he is a dying man. Has Sect Leader Shen considered what will happen to the Qingyun Sect after his death?"
Shen Qing fell silent upon hearing this; this time, he wasn't pretending to be aloof.
He had indeed thought about this question: what would happen to the Qingyun Sect if he died?
The three senior disciples are mediocre and can only last a few years at most.
The thirty newly recruited disciples are no match for Zhao Shitou and his two companions; they have no chance of guarding the mountain gate.
Zhong Xiu does have potential, but she needs time, and Shen Qing doesn't think she can support the sect on her own.
"I have thought about it."
Shen Qing's voice was filled with desolation, "That's why I, Shen, went down the mountain to take on disciples."
He raised his head, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and stubbornness.
"Patriarch Huang, I am of mediocre talent and have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime. However, the Qingyun Sect has a history of two hundred years and cannot be allowed to end in my hands. Those mortal disciples may have poor aptitude, but at least they are a source of sustenance."
"Shen taught them to read, taught them cultivation, and let them take root on Qingyun Mountain, not for any other reason than that after Shen died, there would still be a few people left in the Qingyun Sect, and that the name 'Qingyun' could be passed down."
"In this way, even if I go to the netherworld, I will have the face to meet the ancestors of all generations."
These words were so sincere that even Shen Qing herself almost believed them.
Huang Dehou and Huang Wenyuan exchanged a glance.
This explanation is reasonable.
A dying sect leader, unwilling to let his sect die out, frantically recruits disciples to continue the lineage.
If the disciples you take in are too mediocre, then let them farm, learn to read and write, and settle down. This is indeed the most foolish but also the safest way to continue the sect.
As for why they didn't take on qualified disciples?
Of course, it's because they can't get any. Who with the qualifications would want to become the disciple of a dying Qi Refining cultivator?
In Huang Dehou's view, everything Shen Qing had done before made sense.
"I admire Sect Leader Shen's painstaking efforts for the Qingyun Sect."
Huang Dehou sighed. "However, has Sect Leader Shen considered another possibility?"
"What's possible?"
"That means the Qingyun Sect and my Huang family have joined forces."
Huang Dehou put down his wine cup and said seriously, "Isn't Sect Master Shen worried that Qingyun Sect will be left unguarded after his death? The Huang family can take care of it. Of course, in return, the Huang family hopes to share some of Qingyun Mountain's resources."
Shen Qing sneered inwardly.
"Protecting him in his place"? That sounds nice. Isn't it just a pretext to swallow up the Qingyun Sect after his death?
But Shen Qing showed no sign of it on his face, and slowly said, "I understand what Patriarch Huang means, but I would also like to ask Patriarch Huang a question."
"Please speak."
"My master was summoned by the Heavenly Divine Sect and died in the struggle for supremacy in Chuzhou. According to the rules of the Heavenly Divine Sect, cultivators who die while being summoned are considered heroes, and their sects are protected by the Heavenly Divine Sect for three years."
Shen Qing stared at Huang Dehou. "The news of my master's death in battle has only reached Qinghe less than a month ago. Patriarch Huang, tell me, if someone were to make a move against the Qingyun Sect at this time, how would the Heavenly God Sect deal with it?"
Huang Dehou's face stiffened slightly. The summons from the Heavenly God Sect was always a death warrant for cannon fodder.
However, the Heavenly God Sect also has a rule: the family members of a cultivator who dies while answering a call will be protected for three years.
Although this was only to appease people and prevent future casualties from feeling too disheartened.
During the three-year protection period, no one may embezzle the property of the Heroes' Sect.
Those who violate this rule will be considered to have provoked the Heavenly God Sect.
For hundreds of years, few people have taken this rule seriously. Huang Dehou didn't take it seriously either, nor did the county magistrate Zhao Yuanlang!
But now that Shen Qing is bringing this up, Huang Dehou dares not take it lightly.
Seeing Huang Dehou remain silent, Shen Qing stood up, straightened his clothes, and said, "Patriarch Huang, I am not here to negotiate today."
Shen Qing's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear: "I've come to tell Patriarch Huang something. My master just died, his body is barely cold. Anyone who dares to mess with the Qingyun Sect at this time, I will fight them to the death."
"I'm a dying man, my life is worthless. Losing one life is enough, losing two is a bonus."
The private room was silent. Huang Dehou's face darkened even more. Huang Wenyuan and his brother exchanged a glance. Neither of them expected that Shen Qing would so directly break off relations.