Chapter 509 - 446: Dong Wanjun Returns

Chapter 509: Chapter 446: Dong Wanjun Returns

"Master."

The call came from the young and lively Fang E.

Old Dong looked at Fang E, a rare smile gracing his face.

"A Heavenly Repairer? Not bad."

Hearing Old Dong’s praise, Bai Yuan was stunned.

If he remembered correctly, he had almost never heard a word of praise from Old Dong. And it wasn’t just him—everyone in the Divine Mansion Sect knew how notoriously strict Old Dong was.

Besides, this was Fang E’s first time meeting Old Dong.

’Is this really a case of a grandparent doting on their grandchild?’

But that thought was quickly dispelled.

"Too weak. You need more practice."

Murong Fu and Huyan Shan craned their necks, hoping for praise from their Master as well. After all, they had heard no shortage of legends about him in the Divine Mansion Sect. But instead, they had cold water thrown on them.

The two of them instantly wilted like frost-bitten eggplants, each looking more dejected than the last.

Then, Old Dong took a closer look at Huyan Shan. "Barbarian... So you’re the one Elder Huyan chose?"

Although he had never returned, he knew from confidential letters that Bai Yuan had taken on a disciple—one that Big Beard had practically forced on him.

Dong Wanjun and Big Beard were very good friends, so he was quite concerned about this grand-disciple. Now that he was meeting him in person, he naturally had to ask a few more questions.

At the mention of Big Beard, Huyan Shan answered cautiously, "Reporting to you, Master. It was indeed Elder Huyan who gave me my name and had me enter my master’s tutelage."

Dong Wanjun frowned upon hearing this.

’What the hell?’

’Why does this Barbarian brat sound more bookish than the Profound People?’

Old Dong unceremoniously slapped Huyan Shan on the head. "Since you’re someone Elder Huyan values, and you’re my grand-disciple, you need to man up a bit! If you get into a fight, I’ll take responsibility."

"..."

"..."

Bai Yuan and Huyan Shan, the master and disciple pair, looked at each other, speechless.

Old Dong looked at Bai Yuan. "He is the successor chosen by Elder Huyan. If I’m not mistaken, he should be from the same village as Elder Huyan."

Hearing this, Bai Yuan’s interest was piqued.

He had only seen Huyan Shan in the small wooden cabin before, not Big Beard.

When he saw Big Beard again later, he didn’t get a chance to ask. To this day, he was still unsure of Huyan Shan’s origins, and even Huyan Shan himself was too muddled to explain clearly.

Old Dong said, "Don’t overthink it. As far as I know, there’s nothing special about the village Elder Huyan came from. Just teach him as you normally would. But how can a Barbarian man lack spirit?"

Bai Yuan replied, "Your disciple understands."

Seeing the Master reprimand their own master, Murong Fu and Huyan Shan didn’t dare to watch. Only the young Fang E’s eyes lit up with excitement.

It was the first time Fang E had ever seen her master get taken down a peg.

’The Master really is a good person!’

If anyone else knew what this young girl was thinking, who knows what they would make of it...

The name Thousand-Handed Blood Slaughter didn’t exactly seem to fit with the words "good person."

Finally, Old Dong and Murong Tian, the two martial brothers, left for the back mountain, soon leaving only Bai Yuan and his three disciples in front of the Sect Leader Hall.

Bai Yuan looked at Murong Fu and Huyan Shan, his expression grave.

"You heard what your Master said just now. You lack spirit."

"It seems I’ve been too good to you."

"Starting today, go to Dingzhou and kill one hundred monsters for me before you return. If you don’t kill enough... then don’t bother coming back."

"Fang E is the exception."

Hearing Bai Yuan’s words, Murong Fu and Huyan Shan’s faces fell.

One hundred monsters?!

Monsters weren’t cabbages you could just cut down whenever you please!

They could already foresee spending the next year braving the elements, and that was an optimistic estimate.

Just as the young Fang E was gloating, Bai Yuan gave her a sharp rap on the head. "Your punishment is to go find your Second Master. You’re not allowed to leave the manor for three months."

The smile on Fang E’s face froze.

A wail of despair followed.

With her restless personality, how could she stand being cooped up for three months? It would be worse than death.

...

"Is Master still not coming?"

Bai Yuan looked at Dong Wanjun.

Ever since the Northern Garrison Army arrived in Ling Province, he had been writing to his Master, Xu Dingchun, to ask.

If the Northern Garrison Army was out of food, the Zhenxi Army must be in the same situation.

But his Master, Xu Dingchun, had given a firm, two-word reply: Not coming.

Dong Wanjun sighed softly.

"Your Master doesn’t want to see Xuan Yang truly fall into the hands of outsiders."

"Master, are you talking about Ximo?"

Dong Wanjun nodded. "Indeed. Although Xuan Yang has the Four Directions Legion, the fiercest fighting has always involved the Zhenxi Army and the Northern Garrison Army. This is because Ximo and the Northern Plains are very different from the other two fronts."

"The Witch Race of the Southern Border and the Sea Race of the East Sea are only looking for benefits; they have no intention of occupying the Central Plains, because the Southern Border and the East Sea are their foundations."

"But the Barbarians and the people of Ximo are different. If they seize an opportunity, they will truly sever our legacy. Far more people will die."

"That’s why your Master won’t participate in the struggle for Xuan Yang, but he also won’t allow the Northern Plains or Ximo to get involved."

Bai Yuan was no fool; he quickly understood the reasoning.

It was just like when the Central Plains People drove the Barbarians and the people of Ximo out of the Central Plains. The bloodshed from that conflict was too brutal to even look at in the history books. If the roles were reversed, the people of Xuan Yang would only suffer a worse fate.

"The Master is righteous."

However, just because his Master, Xu Dingchun, wouldn’t come to Ling Province didn’t mean Bai Yuan couldn’t go find him.

With the Central Plains in chaos, the Zhengyang Sect and Xuankong Temple no longer had the inclination to interfere in the affairs of the Northern Territory. The Celestial Profound Sect was the only power left in the north.

Bai Yuan only needed to control the few provinces south of Lingzhou to establish a clear connection with the Zhenxi Army.

The resources from Ling Province could then be delivered to the Zhenxi Army.