Chapter 140 - 88: Not My Wish (Part 2)

Chapter 140: Chapter 88: Not My Wish (Part 2)

Another person said coldly, "Old Ghost Yang inherited the Earth Fire Dharma Aspect, and Yang Huai Venerable has always been confident he’ll reach the Primordial Spirit realm. It’s no wonder the Yang Family is so arrogant."

Chen Zonghe said coolly, "So what if he has the Earth Fire Dharma Aspect? If Old Ghost Yang dares to provoke our Chen Family with it, will the sect simply turn a blind eye? As for Yang Huai Venerable, I’d quite like to test my skills against him."

Chen Zonghe’s stance was unyielding, but someone voiced their concern, "The properties the Yang Family is attacking are all Chen Family assets that aren’t registered with the sect. The sect might not get involved in this matter."

Someone said in a deep voice, "The Earth Fire Dharma Aspect isn’t exclusive to the Yang Family. Fourth Brother, why worry? Besides, so what if the Yang Family has an Earth Fire Dharma Aspect? Does our Chen Family not have an ancestral magic weapon?"

But that person persisted, "That may be true, but these aren’t exactly our most critical assets. There’s really no need to go to war with the Yang Family over them..."

Chen Zonghe raised an eyebrow and said in a heavy tone, "Regardless of their importance, they are still assets our Chen Family has managed for a long time. There’s no reason to just hand them over."

Everyone clearly had their own opinions, and for a moment the hall was in a state of disarray. Chen Zongzheng, sitting in the head seat, had remained silent. His gaze suddenly shifted to the hall entrance, where a guard leaned into view and knocked lightly on the door.

The discussion stopped abruptly as everyone looked over. Chen Zongzheng frowned slightly and gave a nod. The guard then stepped into the hall and whispered in his ear.

Chen Zongzheng’s brow unfurrowed. He muttered to himself, "Xuzhuang..." Then, with a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Escort him to the Po Xin Ship Tower. I will receive him personally."

The guard replied, "Yes, sir," and quickly departed. Chen Zongzheng then swept his gaze over the room and said coolly, "Is it really worth getting so worked up over such trivial profits? What has become of your self-cultivation?" With a flick of his sleeve, he added, "I have an important matter to attend to. For our assets outside the sect, just assign more clansmen and Dao Soldiers to guard them. We’ll discuss the rest another day."

—

Following the guard, Xuzhuang arrived before a turquoise lake with rippling waves. He crossed a covered bridge to the ship tower at the heart of the lake. Not until they reached the top floor did the guard say, "This way, please. The Patriarch is already waiting inside."

Xuzhuang nodded, walked down the corridor by himself, and lifted the beaded curtain. In the room beyond, a middle-aged Daoist with regular, handsome features was already seated and pouring tea. Sensing Xuzhuang’s entrance, he nodded and said, "Junior Brother Xu, please sit."

’Junior Brother?’

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. He cupped his hands and said, "Patriarch Chen." Then, without any ceremony, he sat down next to Chen Zongzheng.

Chen Zongzheng said, "Junior Brother, you’re being too formal. We are both True Disciples of the same generation, so it’s only right that we address each other as brothers."

Xuzhuang was well aware that the Chen Family Patriarch before him was one of the twelfth-generation True Disciples. However, even among the same generation, it was difficult to feel any real brotherly bond with disciples who had achieved their rank hundreds or even thousands of years apart, unless they had become True Disciples around the same time.

Thus, Chen Zongzheng’s words surprised Xuzhuang. After pondering for a few moments, he finally addressed him, "Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Zongzheng nodded, his hands never still as he finished pouring the tea and pushed a cup over. Without any small talk, he asked directly, "To what do I owe the pleasure of Junior Brother’s sudden visit today?"

Xuzhuang was already prepared. Seeing Chen Zongzheng ask so bluntly, he saw no reason to beat around the bush. "I heard the Chen Family has a surplus of Furnace Cinnabar," he said. "I came to see if I might be able to procure a bushel."

Chen Zongzheng seemed a little surprised, lowering the teacup that was halfway to his lips. He thought for a few moments, then said, "A trivial matter. I will have someone prepare it for you, Junior Brother."

With that, he tapped lightly on the table, and a Daoist Child entered the room. Chen Zongzheng gave a few quiet instructions, and the Daoist Child acknowledged the order and hurried away.

This was going much more smoothly than Xuzhuang had anticipated. His mind raced, but he kept his expression neutral as he asked, "There is another reason for my visit today. Senior Brother, you have sent people to my estate with calling cards and invitations on multiple occasions. May I ask the reason for your kind persistence?"

Chen Zongzheng gently stroked his short beard and said slowly, "On behalf of the Chen Family, I wish to support you, Junior Brother, in obtaining one of the upcoming slots for the Innate Tai Su Realm."

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow, surprised. "And what are your conditions, Senior Brother?"

Chen Zongzheng smiled. "I wish to resolve the misunderstanding between the Chen Family and yourself, Junior Brother."

"Oh?" Xuzhuang gave a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "What happened between me and the Chen Family... I’m not sure ’misunderstanding’ is the right word for it."

At this, Xuzhuang’s eyes narrowed. "As a result, I was afflicted by a demonic scourge. As a result, you, Senior Brother, lost your own brother, had a falling out with your sister, turned against your in-laws, and brought great loss upon your family... Can what lies between the Chen Family and me truly be called a mere misunderstanding?"

The color drained from Chen Zongzheng’s face slightly. He set down his teacup and fell silent for a long moment before finally speaking. "That was my failure. I was remiss in my duties as Patriarch."

Xuzhuang frowned. He knew this Senior Brother Chen before him wasn’t being entirely insincere, yet he also knew the man’s heart couldn’t be so cold and detached. He couldn’t help but ask, "Senior Brother, do you truly believe it was all worth it?"

Chen Zongzheng said coolly, "I was merely leading the Chen Family down the right path."

’The right path?’ Xuzhuang looked at the veteran True Disciple before him, a man who had reached his current realm more than eight hundred years ago, and felt a stir within him.

Just then, the beaded curtain parted. The Daoist Child entered carrying a bushel of vibrant red cinnabar that pulsed with a faint inner light, and he respectfully placed it on the low table.

Neither man hurried to examine the item. Chen Zongzheng seemed to regain his composure in an instant and asked again, "So, Junior Brother, what have you decided?"

Xuzhuang asked, "Senior Brother, is that truly your only condition?"

Chen Zongzheng confirmed, "That is all."

Without a doubt, "the right path" now lay before Xuzhuang as well. Yet he only sighed softly and replied, "Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Brother."

Chen Zongzheng’s brow tightened. His voice grew heavy as he asked, "And what exactly do you mean by that, Junior Brother?"

Xuzhuang replied at a measured pace, "Burying the hatchet is a trivial matter. As for the slot, that won’t be necessary."