“Withdraw from the assembly?” Baili Xin, who had seemed furious, instantly choked into silence, clearly somewhat at a loss.
The three senior brothers waited for quite a while before she slowly said, “Withdraw then withdraw.”
The words sounded tough, but her tone was clearly somewhat hesitant.
Although he did not want to participate in any competition, Yu Qing actually also wanted to stay and see. After all, it was a grand event held only once every twenty years. Since they had come, anyone would want to broaden their horizons. Thus he yielded half a step and said, “No need to rush your answer. I will give you one day to consider. If tomorrow you still insist on interfering in our private affairs like this, then we will withdraw and leave. If you still want to stay and broaden your horizons, then do not ask too many questions.”
When saying the last sentence, he very much wanted to say that they guaranteed they would not implicate the other party, yet he also realised their guarantee was useless. As long as something happened here, it would necessarily implicate the other party.
Baili Xin seemed to fall into some kind of dilemma. Under Yu Qing’s gesture of extending his hand to “show her out,” she turned her head in silence and left with a thoughtful expression.
Only the three senior brothers remained in the room. Yu Qing noticed the palm print on Nan Zhu’s face, startled for a moment. “She hit you?”
“Alas!” Nan Zhu sighed, as if to say, apart from her, who else could it be?
Yu Qing gave a hey, teasing, “Old Seventh, weren’t you very fierce toward us? She hit you, why didn’t you hit her back?”
Mu Aotie suddenly said, “He was willing.”
Nan Zhu immediately cried out injustice. “What do you mean? Are you mocking me? I am also someone with a temper. Do you think I don’t want to hit her back? But what would be the consequence of hitting her back? Once I make a move, everyone falls out, she goes all out, and you two will also suffer bad luck. It was for your two sakes that I swallowed my anger.”
“I don’t appreciate it. Don’t do it for my own good.” Mu Aotie threw down these words, turned and left.
Yu Qing also patted Nan Zhu’s shoulder and gave him a push. “Go, let loose and hit her back. If something happens, I won’t blame you.”
Nan Zhu felt humiliated and became angry. He rolled up both sleeves. “You think I don’t dare to hit? This is you two instigating me. Don’t regret it.” After speaking, he strode off in a huff.
Yu Qing gave a scoff. He did not believe at all that this fellow dared to make a move. This fat fellow was skilled at using his mouth, not his hands.
Indeed, afterwards there was no unusual movement downstairs. In a quiet and elegant luxury guest courtyard, Xiang Lanxuan, wearing a floral long skirt with her legs crossed, sat tilted before a desk. With a cup of fragrant tea, she flipped through documents one after another regarding the internal and external defence situation of Kunling Mountain. Some were sent by the military, some provided by Kunling Mountain itself, and some were information held by the Daye Bureau.
These were all routine daily reports. She spent time reviewing them every day, so as to achieve full command of the security situation for this assembly. If she detected any slight abnormality, she would send people to follow up. This was also the purpose for which the Daye Bureau had sent her to oversee matters here.
There were some situations that others did not know, but she was aware of beforehand. The Yin Kingdom would definitely have high level figures coming to support the event. If a major figure of the Yin Kingdom were to have a safety accident on her own territory, the Daye Bureau would also have nowhere to put its face.
The secret letter she was holding now was transmitted by the Daye Bureau. The Daye Bureau clearly informed her that it had been confirmed. Her Majesty the Empress would come to support the event this time.
At the thought of the Empress coming, her scalp tingled somewhat. Her heart had already begun to feel uneasy. She was truly afraid of the other party. In terms of status, the other was the Empress. In terms of cultivation, the other was the direct junior sister of the Earth Master. Her cultivation was unfathomably deep. That slap she had received still made her cheeks burn to this day.
Outside the hall, an attendant quickly entered and presented a secret letter. “A letter from Ke Ran. Tanhualang and the others have returned.”
Xiang Lanxuan gave an oh, put down the secret letter in her hand, took the secret letter to examine, and after reading muttered, “What exactly did they do last night?”
At Spirit Valley, she had kept watch for almost the entire night last night. The night had been peaceful, with no unusual movements appearing. It made her begin to doubt her own judgment.
The attendant said, “Unclear. At the checkpoint of the Ding character district, I arranged for people to observe from the side. Qian Wutong’s carriage was searched, and there was no one hidden in the carriage. Great Walker, this Tanhualang is indeed somewhat uncanny. He can actually throw his weight around within the number one spirit plant great sect in the world. Such tight defence, yet he treats it as if it were nothing. One has to say he has some ability.”
Xiang Lanxuan gave a hehe. “Kunling Mountain is indeed the number one spirit plant great sect in the world. But that Tanhualang is the number one talent in the world. When this kind of person’s brain is not spent on studying books, and is used on other paths, naturally he is not someone to be trifled with either.”
Speaking to this point, she furrowed her brow and muttered, “What exactly does this fellow want to do? He wouldn’t want to come to Kunling Mountain to cause trouble, would he?”
The attendant said, “He wouldn’t be that bold, would he?”
Xiang Lanxuan gave a scoff. “At Haishi he smashed the shop of the Sea Suppression Envoy, and also dealt with the Earth Mother’s relative. Yet he is still living well to this day. For this kind of person, nothing he does would be strange.”
Speaking to this point, as if remembering something, she picked up again the secret letter transmitted by the Daye Bureau. Looking at the notice that Her Majesty the Empress would come, her heart subconsciously tightened. If during this period that Tanhualang really caused an incident, she did not dare imagine the scene of herself facing the Empress.
The crux of the problem was that the reason the Empress was angered last time was precisely this Tanhualang. If it were another such triangular scene, who knew what that Empress would think. She truly could not afford to provoke her.
After thinking repeatedly, her gaze gradually became resolute, and she made a decision. “No matter what that Tanhualang wants to do, he cannot be allowed to continue staying at Kunling Mountain. At least not during the Chaoyang Assembly period. Drive him out first. Afterwards, no matter what he wants to do at Kunling Mountain, it has nothing to do with us.”
The attendant nodded. “Good, I will go inform Kunling Mountain right away.”
Xiang Lanxuan raised her eyes to look at him. “Inform Kunling Mountain of what?”
The attendant was slightly startled. “Aren’t we driving him out? Inform Kunling Mountain that their identities are fake, and then they can be driven out rightfully and properly, no?”
Xiang Lanxuan rolled her eyes. “Then what if he turns around and registers for the assembly using his real identity?”
The attendant said, “This is simple. He was in the wrong first. He broke the rules first. Refusing him participation is also reasonable and proper.”
Xiang Lanxuan directly cursed. “Reasonable and proper my arse. Rules also depend on who they are for. Is Long Xingyun participating under an assumed name proper? I might as well tell you, the Earth Mother has already made arrangements. Her two disciples will also soon participate under assumed names. Is that proper? Things are not as simple as you think. You also know that fellow is the number one talent in the world. That fellow’s fame is too great. One cannot use hard methods meant for ordinary people on him. If word gets out that he was refused participation, it will cause great controversy. Under such great fame, the Chaoyang Assembly’s competition results would be questioned for their fairness. Do you think Kunling Mountain would carry this black pot? Perhaps on the surface they would not dare refuse, but secretly, who knows how the truth would leak out.”
Hearing this, the attendant showed a thoughtful expression. “Indeed. Since it is so, why don’t we simply go find him and talk directly? That might actually be simpler and more direct.”
Xiang Lanxuan sighed. “If only it could be simple and direct. Do you think I’m afraid of him? Alas, what a mess. You men don’t understand women. Only we women truly understand women. Some women cannot be reasoned with. As long as it’s something she is unhappy about, you had best not touch it. Otherwise whatever you do is wrong.”
Hearing this, the attendant was stunned. At the same time he had a sense of sudden realisation. He pondered, seeming to understand something. He secretly broke into a slight sweat, then pretended not to understand. “Then what should we do?”
Xiang Lanxuan said, “In short, regarding that Tanhualang, we must not touch him. Treat it as if we don’t know of his existence. The matter must be resolved quietly in secret.”
The attendant immediately showed a troubled face, somewhat stammering. This cannot be done, that cannot be done. How to resolve it quietly?
Fortunately Xiang Lanxuan directly told him the method. “Didn’t we say last time? Long Xingyun and that fellow are adversaries. You just arrange for someone to conveniently drop a hint in Long Xingyun’s ear. It would be best if Long Xingyun can force him away. Perhaps he can even force out that fellow’s true purpose. If he can’t force him away, arrange for someone to instigate the two into a conflict. Then there will be a reasonable and proper excuse to prohibit both from participating, and drive them both out together. No one can say anything.”
The attendant clasped both hands. “Good, Great Walker’s plan is excellent. This subordinate will go arrange it now.”
Xiang Lanxuan waved her sleeve, signalling him to go.
At noon the next day, Yu Qing and the others, after having a full meal at the Dingyin district canteen, first slipped into Wu Tian’s small building used for both official and private purposes before going up the mountain.
After learning of their purpose, Wu Tian was very surprised. “What? You want to withdraw from the assembly and leave?”
Yu Qing and the others were helpless, some sighing, some nodding.
The three senior brothers had no choice either. After considering for a night, Baili Xin still insisted on her own view and refused to compromise. Yet their matter truly could not let Baili Xin know or be drawn into it. They could only leave. Only after everyone went their separate ways could they each do their own things.
Wu Tian asked in astonishment and doubt, “There are only a few days left until the assembly. A grand event held only once every twenty years. Is it worth it for you to withdraw and leave at this time?”
Nan Zhu sighed. “We came here originally wanting to broaden our horizons. Yet the matter of being expelled from Longguang Sect has always weighed on our minds. We thought and thought again. Perhaps giving up at this time can better show that we have returned from our wrong path, and better let Longguang Sect know our sincerity.”
Since the words were spoken like this, seemingly still wanting to return to the master’s school, this was a major matter. Wu Tian could not persuade them further, and could only sigh. “This matter cannot be concluded by me alone. There must be a process. I must report to the sect for handling. You go back first. When there is a reply I will come up to find you. Rest assured, you won’t have to wait too long. Very quick.”
The three senior brothers cupped their hands in thanks and went up the mountain.
Baili Xin silently followed behind the three, not uttering a sound. It could be seen that there was still hesitation on her face, yet she still insisted on her position.
Indeed, just as Wu Tian said, the matter was handled very quickly. First a flying bird message was sent to the sect reporting the details of the matter. After receiving the sect’s reply, they immediately initiated the withdrawal process together with relevant personnel.
Several Kunling Mountain disciples arrived at the senior brothers’ residence, confirmed and inquired, verified that the few of them still voluntarily withdrew without refund, and had not suffered any coercion, before formally concluding the withdrawal matters.
Thus the three senior brothers and Baili Xin packed their luggage on the spot. Under the escort of Kunling Mountain disciples, they went down the mountain. At the foot of the mountain there were Kunling Mountain carriages to send them off.
As neighbours, Ke Ran and Chan Shaoting and the others were all alarmed. After all, those Kunling Mountain people coming in and out of the neighbour’s place, things happening right under their eyelids, it was hard not to be alarmed. They also found out from Wu Tian what was going on.
Watching them from the stone steps on the mountain, Xiao Changdao gave a hey. “If you had known this day would come, why act as you did before? I’m afraid it won’t be so easy to want to return to the master’s school again.”
Wu Ronggui gave a light laugh. “Those who don’t follow the sect’s rules, their moral character is plain to see. I look down on them. They deserve this retribution.”