Everyone went to great lengths to infiltrate the Wen household as servants, enduring being ordered about like underlings, all to conceal their identities. Yet in the end, Old Fifteen still exposed himself, otherwise why would they need to stand here in such anxiety and fear?
When the three of them had not yet been captured, this matter did not bother them, but after falling into enemy hands, it weighed heavily on their minds.
Yu Qing remained silent. Looking back now, realising that he might have cost the lives of his two senior brothers, he finally understood how naive his thoughts and actions had been back then. He could not even comprehend why he had done such a foolish thing.
Yet the scene in the study, when Wen Xin had been willing to elope with him while he lacked the confidence to take her away, still pierced his heart like a needle whenever he recalled it.
Faced with this question, how could he possibly answer? To say it was for a woman? He had no face to say it, and his two senior brothers would likely find it unacceptable. From then on, his words as sect leader would probably carry no weight.
Not only was Xiang Lanxuan curious about this matter, but Meng Po and Tianyu also watched Yu Qing closely, wanting to know what had happened, how such an obvious mistake, one even a blind person could avoid, had been made.
All these emotions finally condensed into a sigh from Yu Qing. “At that time, I happened to encounter a colleague from the Censorate in the capital, namely Yin Jizhen, the second-place imperial examination graduate who had been appointed to the Censorate alongside me. My identity was exposed on the spot, and there was no way to conceal it.”
So that was how it was. Xiang Lanxuan nodded slightly.
Nanzhu and Mu Aotie exchanged a glance. They finally knew the truth, yet both still found it somewhat strange. If that was the case, why had he refused to answer their question directly all this time, acting as if he had something to hide?
The two of them felt this behaviour was very unlike Old Fifteen.
After Xiang Lanxuan and the other two had returned to their respective groups to prepare once more, and while no one was nearby, Yu Qing whispered to his two senior brothers. “Although it is highly likely that the immortal sect will open here, Yunxi’s behaviour still makes me doubtful. What if it does not open?”
He raised his head to look at the star-studded night sky. “On the first day of the lunar month, there is no moon. If an unexpected situation occurs and the grotto-heaven does not open, they will not be lenient. They will certainly subject us to interrogation. You must remember the theory that it can only open under moonlight. Perhaps that can buy us another year. With ample time, there will be a chance to escape.”
Nanzhu and Mu Aotie now finally understood why their junior brother had deliberately concealed the detail that moonlight was required to see the entrance.
Things had already reached this point. Whether there was moonlight or not was beyond their control. If they did not mention the moonlight, the grotto-heaven would open as it should. If they mentioned the moonlight and it still did not open, they would have fewer ways out.
Thus, the two of them understood. Old Fifteen was leaving a bit of buffer room. When the time came, all parties would still need to keep them alive to wait and verify.
However, on the other hand, even if they kept their lives, they would likely still face punishment. Without a clear explanation, given the high-handedness of these people, it would be strange if they did not teach them a lesson.
The three sworn brothers gazed at the night sky, occasionally looking around, their hearts silently praying that the spirit of Yunxi in heaven would not let them down.
Yu Qing’s eyes fixed on the woman in red among the crowd below. He had always wanted to find an opportunity to speak with Liu Piaopiao alone, to understand the situation and circumstances.
Without grasping at least some basic information, he knew nothing and dared not make any rash decisions.
The problem was that these three factions were all watching each other closely, as if afraid someone else would get more than their share. Whenever one faction tried to approach the three of them, the other two would immediately gather to watch. They were truly guarded like thieves, making private communication impossible.
“Third Cave Master, the son of the Chilan Pavilion Master requests an audience with you.”
Below the main peak, a member of the Thousand Streams Mountain hurried to Tianyu’s side and reported.
Tianyu frowned, but finally gave a slight hum of acknowledgement.
The subordinate departed, and shortly returned with three people.
The man leading the group had red lips and white teeth, snow-white robes, and a handsome appearance, the typical look of a fair-faced young gentleman, though his brows and eyes carried a hint of roguish charm. He held a folding fan in his hand. This person was the only son of the Chilan Pavilion Master, named Long Xingyun, also Qin Jue’s sworn brother. Qin Jue was the eldest, he was the third, and he had also been the so-called third manager of the former Jianyuan Studio.
The blood jade token in Qin Jue’s possession had come from him. Precisely because of this connection, Qin Jue had dared to act under the banner of the Chilan Pavilion in the outside world, knowing someone could cover for him.
The other two were Qin Jue and Cui You.
Upon seeing Tianyu, Long Xingyun immediately clasped his hands and bowed. “This nephew pays his respects to Third Uncle.”
Tianyu frowned and asked. “Did I not tell you to leave earlier? Why are you still here?”
Long Xingyun grinned. “Third Uncle, are you still trying to hide it from me? An immortal grotto-heaven, the legendary Little Cloud Paradise, right before our eyes. This is precisely the time to greatly broaden one’s horizons. How could this nephew bear to leave? Third Uncle, just let me go in and see the sights.”
Qin Jue’s eyes blinked as he quietly observed Tianyu’s reaction.
Long Xingyun being able to come here was naturally to rescue him. It was indeed Long Xingyun who had pulled him out of the hands of the Sinan Manor. Yet he was still unwilling to accept the situation. After learning that this place was controlled by major powers, and that he had no possibility of intervening to claim everything for himself, he could only tell Long Xingyun about the Little Cloud Paradise and urge him to find a way together.
Upon hearing it was the legendary Little Cloud Paradise, Long Xingyun had immediately become interested. They had seen eye to eye at once.
In fact, the movements of the three factions were already quite conspicuous to some people. Many already knew that the Little Cloud Paradise was about to appear. However, with these three families joining forces to guard the area, basically no one else dared to intervene.
Tianyu spoke sternly, rebuking him. “Nonsense. Is this a place for you to play? Hurry up and get back!”
Long Xingyun, however, would not yield. “Third Uncle, I just want to go in and have a look, just to broaden my horizons. With just these two people of mine, how could we possibly go in and snatch things from you? Besides, once inside, we will certainly be on your side, certainly follow your commands. Would an extra helper not be a good thing?”
Tianyu replied. “What do you know? This is not a spectacle for you to join in. Get lost!”
“Third Uncle, if you do not agree, I will not leave. At worst, I will go in by myself.”
Having said this, Long Xingyun actually crouched down and sat directly on the ground. On this cold night high up the mountain, he opened his fan and fanned himself casually.
Tianyu’s face grew gloomy. “Daring to act shamelessly before me. Are you taking advantage of my patience, thinking I will not hold you accountable?”
Long Xingyun looked up. “Third Uncle, do not be in such a hurry to send me away. I simply wish to go in and broaden my horizons. You might as well ask whether the Great Sage will allow it. I know the Great Sage must already have arrived in person.”
Tianyu’s expression immediately shifted between gloom and brightness. After a cold snort, he flicked his sleeves and strode away.
Qin Jue looked around, then also squatted down. Beside Long Xingyun, he asked in a low voice. “Third Brother, has the Great Sage also come?”
Long Xingyun whispered. “He has certainly come. How could he not? If he does not come when an immortal grotto-heaven opens, then when will he come? The Earth Master and Earth Mother have certainly come as well, but they will not show themselves while the situation remains unclear. Think about it. If there truly are precious treasures, they will certainly want to participate in seizing them personally. The people below are not powerful enough.” He also glanced around. “They are either hiding somewhere, or have disguised themselves and blended in among the Thousand Streams Mountain people. They are certainly here.”
Qin Jue rubbed his jaw, moving his cheeks from side to side. Recalling the several large teeth that had been knocked out when he was slapped, he felt somewhat unwilling, yet helpless, and could not help but sigh. “If that is the case, there is nothing left for others to do.”
Long Xingyun muttered. “Big Brother, on an occasion like this, having a chance to go in is already good enough. Being able to go in and see the sights, with good fortune perhaps picking up a small bargain, that is all. Do not think about anything else. It is not our turn. We still do not know what the Great Sage intends. We do not know if he will let us go in.”
After they had waited for a while, suddenly all the personnel of the Thousand Streams Mountain became restless. Everyone hoisted a large, bulging pack onto their backs.
Long Xingyun and the other two looked at themselves, realising they had made no preparations. The information they possessed was limited, and they did not know how to prepare.
Shortly after, Tianyu flashed back.
Long Xingyun immediately drew closer and asked. “Third Uncle, why is everyone carrying such large packs? What is inside them?”
He also wanted to learn more about the situation to mentally prepare himself.
Tianyu replied curtly, tossing out a phrase. “Food and drink.”
“Ah, is it necessary to bring so much food and drink?”
“You understand nothing. Why did you come here to meddle blindly? Let me tell you. If this truly is the Little Cloud Paradise, the entrance and exit cannot remain open continuously, otherwise it would have been discovered long ago. The time the entrance and exit remain open may be very brief. Once you go in, you may not be able to come out. Think it through. Are you certain you still want to go in?”
Tianyu was both intimidating him and stating a fact. If the immortal grotto-heaven truly followed that pattern of opening, and if the situation inside warranted staying to investigate, they might have to wait a year for a chance to emerge.
No one knew what the situation inside would be, or whether there would be food and drink. Not everyone’s cultivation level could sustain a year without eating or drinking. They certainly had to make thorough preparations.
Long Xingyun paused for a moment, then considered that it made sense. The entrance and exit indeed could not remain open continuously. He then glanced at Qin Jue beside him. The latter, however, gave a subtle signal, nodding slightly toward Tianyu.
Long Xingyun immediately understood the hint and promptly asked Tianyu. “Third Uncle, are you going in? If you go in, then I will go in too.”
Tianyu gave a cold snort. Without answering directly, he only issued a cold warning. “Listen carefully. Once inside, do not run around recklessly. Follow my instructions. When I tell you to come out, get out immediately. Do you understand?”
Long Xingyun at once clasped his hands and replied. “Naturally, I will follow Third Uncle’s lead.”
Tianyu suddenly turned back. Seeing the signal from his subordinate who was monitoring the other two groups, he immediately waved his hand broadly, leading a group forward and gathering toward the summit.
It was impossible for everyone to stand on the mountaintop. Only those few individuals who had been there before took their positions.
While Yu Qing was observing his surroundings, he suddenly froze. His gaze met that of someone below. It was none other than Qin Jue.
Qin Jue watched him with a faint, ambiguous smile.
Long Xingyun noticed something and asked. “Is that the so-called third-place imperial scholar?”
Qin Jue replied calmly. “Correct. He is the fellow who brought down our Jianyuan Studio.”
Yu Qing’s reaction also caught the attention of the other two. Nanzhu followed his gaze and immediately whispered in surprise and suspicion. “How did he come here? And he belongs to the demon realm side, standing at the front. Could he take this opportunity to retaliate?”
Mu Aotie remained silent.
Yu Qing also said nothing. He looked around. The hour of the Rat was approaching, yet there were still no signs of any immortal grotto-heaven opening.
Judging by the array of large and small packs carried by the three factions, having caused others to expend such great effort preparing, if no grotto-heaven actually opened, the three sworn brothers would likely face a severe beating.