It was not until half a month later that the three fellow disciples were finally released.
One by one, they emerged from the temporarily dug caves, and readjusting to the light proved somewhat difficult.
Yu Qing and Nan Zhu still looked as they had when they were under control, wearing only shorts and barefoot.
They had been held in solitary confinement before, unaware of each other’s situation. Just as the three were about to meet and exchange information, before they could even gather, Xu Jue Ning approached and called out to Yu Qing, “The former Si gentleman is looking for you.”
He pointed with his finger, and Yu Qing followed his gesture to see Meng Po standing alone by the lakeside, facing the vast expanse of water.
Yu Qing was somewhat surprised by this, and asked tentatively, “He wants to see me alone?”
Xu Jue Ning replied with a question, “How many people do you want accompanying you?”
Yu Qing hurriedly waved his hands to deny this. That was not what he meant. Previously, none of the three factions had allowed anyone to meet with him alone. Now it seemed their suspicions about him had been lifted, and he felt a quiet joy in his heart. He immediately quickened his pace and approached.
Xu Jue Ning watched him go. Seeing him in shorts and barefoot, he could not help but shake his head, truly impressed by this fellow.
It was only after this incident that he and Tang Bu Lan reflected and realised that this Zhuangyuan scholar, though not particularly capable, seemed to attract trouble wherever he went. Starting from his journey to the capital for the imperial examinations, he had fallen behind and wandered into ancient tomb wastelands. Then, one incident after another led to the present. If not for this recent matter, neither he nor Tang Bu Lan would have known that this fellow had actually secretly sneaked into Guan Feng Yang’s ancient tomb. A proper scholar who had earned honour on the golden list had ended up like this. What was he up to? He was truly an oddity!
“Senior Meng.”
Yu Qing, now at the lakeside, bowed respectfully to Meng Po.
Meng Po glanced at him, then looked at his shorts and bare feet, before speaking indifferently. “Jin Hua Hai is dead. Qin Jue is dead. Yun Xi is also dead. Every involved party you mentioned is dead. You really did find a fine group of witnesses.”
During interrogation, the reason Yu Qing had mentioned Jin Hua Hai was because this side was investigating why Yun Xi wanted to kill him. Yu Qing had therefore extracted a segment from the events inside the ancient tomb. He explained how he had deceived Yun Xi, cooperated with her, obtained information about the location of the Little Cloud Realm from her, and then cooperated with Jin Hua Hai to deal with Yun Xi. His meaning was that Yun Xi had therefore been humiliated and filled with resentment, which was why she targeted him.
Naturally, the interrogators from the three factions then asked why he had not mentioned this before, and why he had not confessed when he was outside the Little Cloud Realm earlier.
Yu Qing said that previously he had not known Yun Xi was still alive. Feeling he lacked witness corroboration, he preferred not to mention matters that were not particularly honourable.
In fact, when they saw the three experts appear to deal with Yun Xi, the three fellow disciples had already known this question could not be avoided, and they had hurriedly coordinated their stories.
Hearing Meng Po’s words, which seemed to carry hidden meaning, Yu Qing actually wanted to ask him, Who do you think you are? On what grounds do you privately set up a tribunal to interrogate us?
However, there was nothing he could do. They did not speak to him about laws, only about fists. They interrogated him based on their superior power. Did he disagree?
Yu Qing had to submit, whether he agreed or not. Therefore, he feigned surprise and said, “Yun Xi is also dead? Then… has she revealed the secrets of the Little Cloud Realm?”
Meng Po glanced at him again. He very much wanted to tell him, If we had not let you believe that Yun Xi was in our hands, if we had not let you believe we could verify your testimony at any time, do you think we would have believed much of what you said?
Of course, these were not the only reasons. This was precisely why he wanted to speak with him alone.
“Young man, regardless of whether what you say is true or false, after being interrogated by three factions, you can still stand here before me intact and speaking with me. What do you think you rely on? Do you truly believe it is because of your testimony, which always feels somehow off?
I showed restraint and did not act against you because of Miss Zhong’s sake. Xiang Lan Xuan did not act against you, likely because of the Princess of Yin Kingdom’s sake. As for why Tian Yu also did not act, I am somewhat unclear myself. I suppose it is still because you have some reputation, and there are some in the demon realm who appreciate refined culture. I say these things. Do you understand my meaning?”
Miss Zhong? Zhong Ruochen? Yu Qing seemed to understand, yet also felt he understood nothing at all. He asked suspiciously, “This junior is foolish. Please, Senior, make your meaning clear.”
“Your father did not know what was good for him. He meddled in matters he should not have meddled in. You are the same now, insisting on touching things you should not touch. Young man, you must understand that once you become involved in certain matters, it is very difficult to find a way back.
For us, once involved in such matters, no testimony or reason is of any use. At most, it can only serve as a reference. Once you have been suspected, there is no such thing as clearing your name. The slightest suspicion means lifelong suspicion. If you cannot provide what we need, usually the outcome is death. There are only two reasons for not killing you. Either you are still useful, or you have background or patrons. Do you understand?”
Yu Qing thought carefully, and finally decided not to beat around the bush. He asked suspiciously, “Forgive this junior for speaking plainly, but this junior still does not understand.”
Meng Po immediately rebuked him. “What number one talent under heaven? I think he is nothing special!”
“…” Yu Qing hesitated, wanting to speak, but ultimately held back.
Meng Po held his silence for a moment, then snorted coldly. “If not for my past friendship with your father, I would not bother reminding you.”
Yu Qing remained suspicious and uncertain, continuing to wait for what followed.
Meng Po cleared his throat with a dry cough and continued. “I also heard about your affairs in the capital back then, and I roughly understand the situation. Some things were unclear at the time, but afterwards I roughly understood what happened. The reason you were forced to break your engagement and flee back then was because someone facilitated your resignation from office, intending to use the opportunity to harm you. You acted out of necessity to preserve your life. It is understandable. I believe Miss Zhong is not an unreasonable person.”
Hearing this, Yu Qing immediately understood. Was this an attempt at matchmaking?
“Then again, if not for that incident, Miss Zhong and her sister might not have had the opportunity to become the Earth Mother’s personal disciples. So this matter of cause and effect truly shows that human calculations cannot match heaven’s calculations. I believe that afterwards, Miss Zhong herself will also come to her senses. Let me tell you. Do not think that because Miss Zhong has only recently entered the cultivation world, the Earth Mother has already declared that she wants the two sisters to reach the Profound Realm within three years!”
“Reach the Profound Realm in three years?” Yu Qing was startled. It was simply unimaginable. He had begun cultivating from a very young age. Although his sect was poor, it had still provided him with considerable cultivation resources. After cultivating for roughly fifteen years, he was only at the Upper Martial realm now. Yet Zhong Ruochen was expected to reach the Profound Realm in three years. That was simply too terrifying.
Meng Po spoke calmly. “What is wrong with reaching the Profound Realm in three years? Do you think the Earth Mother cannot accomplish it?”
Yu Qing replied, “I naturally would not dare to doubt. It is just… this junior has limited knowledge. I feel that to reach the Profound Realm in three years, one would probably need to continuously consume ‘Broad Spirit Pills’.”
Meng Po asked, “What is wrong with Broad Spirit Pills? Even if one consumes Broad Spirit Pills, it is not as if they cannot afford them. Do you have an objection?”
“…” Yu Qing was immediately speechless. Broad Spirit Pills were on the same level as Sinful Spirit Pills. It was said they were refined by condensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into pills. After ingestion, they were slowly refined back into spiritual energy for absorption. In short, they were extremely expensive. The spiritual energy they contained was probably equivalent to many immortal peaches.
However, upon second thought, it made sense. What he considered an astronomical price was nothing in the Earth Mother’s eyes. She simply had the means to pile up Broad Spirit Pills. Did he disagree?
“You are at the Upper Martial realm, correct?”
“Yes.”
Meng Po tapped his finger on Yu Qing’s chest. “Not long before coming to the Little Cloud Realm, Miss Zhong’s cultivation had already advanced to the High Martial realm!”
Yu Qing was speechless again. He thought about the time he had left the Zhong family, added the time spent with the Wen family, and the few months spent outside the Little Cloud Realm. Altogether, it had been roughly less than two years since leaving the capital. A young lady from a prominent family had become a High Martial realm cultivator in just over a year.
Just over a year had matched his fifteen years of cultivation. He himself did not know what to say.
Meng Po continued. “After reaching the Profound Realm in three years, Miss Zhong will probably leave the mountain to gain experience. At that time, she will undoubtedly possess the bearing of a phoenix among people. I ask you, when you meet in the future, and she has become an existence you can only look up to, as a man, how will you bear that?”
Yu Qing was slightly puzzled. She was not his fiancée, and he had never met her. What was there for him to bear?
“Being accepted as a personal disciple by the Earth Mother against convention certainly means her cultivation aptitude is very good. Combined with abundant cultivation resources, perhaps in another ten years, it would not be impossible for Miss Zhong to reach the Upper Profound realm. It is only because of my friendship with your father back then that I am willing to help you. As long as your attitude is sincere and you are willing to lower your head, I dare not guarantee anything else, but I have some standing in the Sinan Prefecture. I can still say a few words to the Earth Mother.
Besides, in some matters, you were at fault to begin with. A real man knows how to correct his mistakes, and there is no greater virtue. You were the one who wronged Miss Zhong. What is wrong with lowering your head and admitting your mistake? When a prodigal son returns, his gold is priceless. Moreover, you are not entirely without merit. At least you have the reputation of being the number one talent under heaven. That is not too demeaning to Miss Zhong. This is also the foundation upon which I can speak on your behalf.
Why are your eyes blinking so much? Are you possessed? I am not joking with you. If not for your father’s sake, I would not bother with whether you live or die. Having said this much, do you still not understand? With Miss Zhong as your patron, all this current mess will naturally pass. In the future, no one will pursue the matter again. If anyone wants to pursue it, they would have to ask whether the Sinan Prefecture agrees. As for cultivation resources, naturally, you would not lack those either.
Let me say something unpleasant. Miss Zhong is talented and beautiful. Now she excels in both literary and martial arts, and possesses an extraordinary status and position. With such a fine woman, countless young men under heaven are eagerly hoping to win her hand and bow in proposal. Young man, you should decide early. If you wait too long, once you miss this opportunity, there will not be another.”
Yu Qing’s eyes blinked repeatedly. He wanted to ask him, Are you teaching me to live off a woman?
This matter, he would definitely not agree to. He could not possibly involve himself with A Shi Heng’s fiancée. Moreover, with the matter of Wen Xin having occurred, he hoped that one day he could let Wen Xin know who he was in an upright and proper manner. He absolutely could not let Wen Xin know that he was someone who lived off a woman.
Meng Po, meanwhile, stood with his hands behind his back, pretending to be relaxed.
Actually, the friendship with A Jie Zhang was nonsense. He did not want to bring that up at all. Rather, the matter of the Little Cloud Realm mainly involved A Shi Heng. Before he led people to deal with it, the Earth Mother had spoken with him once. She said that unless absolutely necessary, it would be better to leave A Shi Heng for Zhong Ruochen to handle herself in the future.
One day, she wanted her disciple to regain her face in a splendid and honourable manner.
However, Meng Po had understood the implied meaning. Regardless, it was known to everyone under heaven that A Shi Heng was the one who had rejected Zhong Ruochen. For ordinary people, that was one thing. But for a disciple of the Earth Mother, it became a permanent stain. In the future, when Zhong Ruochen conducted affairs in the cultivation world, her opponents would surely use harsh words, and they would likely frequently use this matter to humiliate her.
The Earth Mother seemed to be viewing things from a woman’s perspective, and it seemed she could not quite swallow this grievance.
Later, Meng Po understood. Thus, this current situation had come about.