Wayfarer

Chapter 341: Xiao Hongye VS Nalan Qiankun

That Xiao Nanfeng would suddenly go against Lu Yan surprised everyone present.

Lu Yan's face turned cold. "The calamity two centuries past occurred because someone possessed an important disciple of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and caused an internal feud that almost destroyed the sect. Xiao Nanfeng, you've managed to reach such a level of cultivation in just four years without a wealth of resources—it's simply too fast. I need to understand who you are."

Yu'er stepped forward. "Sect Master, Xiao Nanfeng hasn't yet become an Immortal, but I already have. I ascended from Immanence to Immortal within just the past few years. Why don't you investigate me, too?"

"You're different. Physical cultivation can be sped up with resources, but not spiritual cultivation," Lu Yan pointed out.

"Why not? With sufficient fortune, you would be able to speed up the understanding of scripture. You're attacking Xiao Nanfeng simply because of Nalan Qiankun's allegation, without any semblance of proof!" Yu'er cried out.

"Insolence!" Lu Yan thundered.

"Do not be insolent, Yu'er!" Han Bingdie hurriedly dragged her daughter back.

Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward to shield Yu'er, shaking his head. "Sect Master, Yu'er's not wrong. The Taiqing disciples won't countenance such partiality."

"Won't countenance? And what do you plan to do about it?" Lu Yan asked.

"Sect Master, if you insist on siding with Nalan Qiankun without intending to discern right from wrong, without understanding the situation according to both parties, then I can only seek redress following the laws of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. I would call for all four division leaders to return and hold a referendum regarding your eligibility as sect master to discuss the future of the sect."

The crowd gaped at Xiao Nanfeng. Did he intend to depose even the sect master?

Nalan Changkong smirked internally. Feigning anger, he cried out, "Senior Uncle Lu, Xiao Nanfeng intends to remove you from office. He's out of control!"

Cui Haitang sneered. "Senior Brother, it's clear who among us has betrayed the sect. My husband intends to increase the fortune allotted to the Taiqing Immortal Sect from the Tianshu Empire, while Xiao Nanfeng can't even perform the basic task of proving his own innocence."

Zhao Yuanjiao fretted anxiously. He wanted to drag Xiao Nanfeng up to Lu Yan and have him apologize, but he was on the same side as Xiao Nanfeng. It would weaken their position if he were to oppose him so visibly.

Han Bingdie felt that Xiao Nanfeng was asking for trouble as well. Only Yu'er's eyes were shining brightly. She felt that Nanfeng had done nothing wrong.

"Xiao Nanfeng, do you really not intend to cooperate with my investigation?" Lu Yan demanded.

Killing intent emanated from Lu Yan and encapsulated all of Xiao Nanfeng's body.

Xiao Nanfeng instantly felt tremendous pressure descend on him. He frowned as he prepared to retaliate.

Just then, red light burst from Xiao Nanfeng's robes.

The red light repelled Lu Yan's killing intent. A strange voice could be heard from Xiao Nanfeng.

"Senior Brother, is there anything wrong with my son's words? If you don't intend to treat such matters fairly, why shouldn't the four division leaders be convened to discuss your qualifications as sect master? These were part of the laws that we established together. Have they been abolished in my absence?"

Everyone except Yu'er gasped incredulously upon hearing the voice.

Xiao Nanfeng himself jolted. He gaped in disbelief, then carefully retrieved a shard of red crystal from within his robes. Ku Jiang had Han Bingdie hand it to Xiao Nanfeng several days ago before his demise. Within the red crystal was a fragment of will.

The red crystal slowly floated into the air, then released a burst of red light. The figure of a man could vaguely be seen from within, lithe and handsome, eyes sharp and cold as they stared at Cui Haitang.

"Xiao Hongye? You're still alive?!" Cui Haitang exclaimed.

Zhao Yuanjiao, Yu'er, and Nalan Changkong all gasped. Was this Xiao Nanfeng's father, Xiao Hongye?

Xiao Nanfeng trembled in shock. "F-Father, is that you?"

Only then did Xiao Hongye turn to Xiao Nanfeng, his sharp gaze softening.

"Nanfeng, it's all my fault. I apologize for having left so suddenly, without leaving you in good care. You've suffered over the last decade." Xiao Hongye made to rub Xiao Nanfeng's head, but he was present only as an ethereal figure, without real substance.

"Father, the fact that you're alive is far more important. Where's Mother?"

"Your mother's wounds have stabilized, and she'll be able to revive in no time. However, we can't make it back for the time being," Xiao Hongye replied, sighing.

Xiao Nanfeng could deduce that his parents' circumstances weren't ideal, but hearing of his mother's likely survival nevertheless allowed him to relax.

"Where are you, Father? I'll come seek you out immediately!"

Xiao Hongye shook his head. "You won't be able to make it here, and you shouldn't try. Don't worry. Keep yourself safe. I'll bring your mother back once she's alright."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded, his eyes red. "Take care, Father! I'll be waiting for you at home. No one will be able to bully me anymore."

"Good, good. Senior Brother Ku Jiang told me everything. You've had even more adventures than even I did, I see." Xiao Hongye smiled.

The conversation between father and son proceeded to the exclusion of all other matters; neither seemed to care that there were outsiders listening in.

"Father, how did your will end up in this red crystal that Master gave me?"

"A while ago, I met Senior Brother Ku Jiang in the red moon illusory realm. He told me a lot about you. I only learned about what you've suffered since. I wrapped up a fragment of my will in spiritual power and passed it to Ku Jiang, asking him to convey it to you so that I might contact you once. Unexpectedly, Ku Jiang fell prey to Nalan Qiankun. He gave his all to manifest this fragment of my will in reality for Han Bingdie to bring to you."

"Xiao Hongye, you're still alive? You must have seen how Ku Jiang perished to Nalan Qiankun! Senior Brother Lu needs your testimony," Han Bingdie said.

"Xiao Hongye's going to say whatever he needs to to protect his son! How can we trust his words?" Cui Haitang demanded instantly.

Xiao Hongye suddenly turned to Cui Haitang, killing intent blooming in his eyes.

"W-What do you want? You're only a fragment of will. Do you think you can strike me?" Cui Haitang blanched. She seemed rather fearful and on edge.

"Cui Haitang, we'll have a good chat about what happened that year. Don't worry. I'll treat you exactly how you treated my wife—and your family, too," Xiao Hongye promised coldly.

"You!" Cui Haitang exclaimed.

"Xiao Hongye, are you intent on protecting your son? Do you know that he may not be who he claims to be? Someone might have possessed him!" Lu Yan stated.

Xiao Hongye frowned at Lu Yan. After a momentary silence, he shook his head. "Something's wrong with you. The sect master wouldn't speak in such a fashion. You aren't him—no, you're Nalan Qiankun!"

"What?!" everyone exclaimed.

Xiao Nanfeng, Han Bingdie, Yu'er, and Zhao Yuanjiao stared at 'Lu Yan' like they were facing an incredible foe. Even Cui Haitang and Nalan Changkong were gobsmacked.

"Xiao Hongye, what nonsense are you talking about?" Lu Yan demanded.

"Nalan Qiankun, you've got guts. You lured the sect master into the capital of the Tianshu Empire, didn't you? What did you do to him?" Xiao Hongye accused.

Everyone gaped at Lu Yan, unable to believe that he was a fake.

"Xiao Hongye, are you going to stoop to such base, ridiculous accusations to protect your son?"

"You knew you couldn't reveal this matter to anyone, didn't you? You even hid it from your wife and son. Hah! But I'm intimately familiar with your techniques—it must have been that paper figure cursed effigy. Do you need me to reveal how to break that disguise too?" Xiao Hongye continued.

Everyone stared at Lu Yan, and Lu Yan stared at Xiao Hongye. A series of complicated emotions flitted across his face before he smiled. "Xiao Hongye, you do know me well."

Lu Yan's appearance shifted into that of Nalan Qiankun.

Everyone was stupefied. Who could have expected that Nalan Qiankun's disguise would have been so perfect?

Xiao Nanfeng shuddered. He was thankful he had adamantly refused to let Nalan Qiankun near his truesoul. Otherwise, he really might have died.

Nalan Qiankun didn't make a move. He continued to stare grimly at Xiao Hongye. "Xiao Hongye, you shouldn't have shown up."

He seemed to be a little fearful of Xiao Hongye, and was waiting for him to reveal his trump card.

"Should I have allowed you to continue harming my son, then?" Xiao Hongye replied coolly.

"Understand this: your son is all but uninjured, while two of my sons have died at his hand. Haitang acted improperly back then, but this evens the scales, doesn't it?"

"Evens the scales? Have you read my son's declaration? Your sons tried to kill mine; he was only acting in self-defense," Xiao Hongye retorted.

"Your son's right in front of me. I can end him at any time," Nalan Qiankun threatened.

Xiao Hongye's voice turned cold. "And if you dare strike, I'll never relent. Once I return, I'll do everything in my power to destroy you."

The two cultivators faced off against each other as though they were shooting daggers out of their eyes.

"Father, don't listen to him. If he really were able to kill me, he wouldn't have disguised himself as the sect master. I'm sure I'll be able to defend myself, at the very least. Let him try to attack me if he dares!" Xiao Nanfeng shouted back.

Xiao Hongye looked toward his son again, his eyes warming up once more. He had, of course, guessed that his son had a trump card up his sleeve, but what father would gamble on his son's safety? What if his son had underestimated Nalan Qiankun's strength?

"Nalan Qiankun, what have you done to the sect master? Aren't you afraid that the four divisions of the Taiqing Immortal Sect will cooperate to take you down?" Zhao Yuanjiao exclaimed.

Nalan Qiankun smirked, ignoring Zhao Yuanjiao. He didn't seem too concerned about a possible attack from the four Taiqing divisions—or perhaps, he had a means of continuing to trick the other two division leaders.

To Nalan Qiankun, the only threat seemed to be Xiao Hongye's figure before him.

"Xiao Hongye, your skill as a cultivator is immense. The fact that you're still alive means that you must have found more opportunities. The opportunities of the Spirit Emperor's hidden realm meant little to you, didn't they? And although Haitang was wrong to do what she did, the situation was salvaged. Your son might have suffered a little in the meantime, but he's made a man of himself. Why don't we discuss how we'll settle the grievances between our clans?"

Although he framed it as a discussion, everyone could tell that he was threatening Xiao Hongye. If Xiao Hongye refused to entertain him, he would strike at Xiao Nanfeng immediately.

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