Chapter 452: Chapter 170 Thunder in Winter
As dusk approached, the sky grew dark, and a sudden rainstorm befell Shu County, starting with a light drizzle, which rapidly turned into a torrential downpour. Lightning flashed and thunder roared, filling the air with an ominous and deadly presence.
A streak of golden light cut through the dark clouds, descending as if indifferent to the thunder, and landed within a residence to the east of Jun City, revealing a figure under the eaves of the main house.
"Big Senior Brother."
Someone inside the house sensed the arrival and promptly came out to meet the visitor, addressing him as "Senior Brother." He was dressed in red attire, with a stern face and a long sword at his waist—it was none other than Ling Wujue.
"Fifth Junior Brother."
Yun Jiuye nodded at the junior brother who had come to greet him and entered the house. There he saw Elder Tianpeng and Elder Kaiyang tidying up chess pieces, seemingly just having finished a game.
"Ah, you’re back."
As Elder Kaiyang tidied up the chess set with a casual gaze toward Yun Jiuye, he asked, "What have you found after two days out? Did you find your Sixth Junior Brother?"
"With Sixth Junior Brother’s unpredictable whereabouts and though I have some knowledge of the Echange Skill, it is still not as proficient as his. So this trip was in vain," replied Yun Jiuye calmly. "Of course, it’s also possible that Sixth Junior Brother hasn’t arrived in Shu County yet."
"Didn’t find him?" Elder Kaiyang sighed with relief, "That’s good news. What I fear most is hearing you bring the news of Jiang Li’s death, and even more so if he were to die by your hand."
His words, though seemingly jocular, carried an undertone of warning. Yun Jiuye responded, still wearing the same expression, "Elder uncle is joking; how could I harm my own junior brother?"
"Master, that’s not a joke one should make lightly," said Ling Wujue as well.
"You think I’m joking?" Elder Kaiyang laughed, "I may not know about others, but do I not know you well? Should you see an opportunity, you would likely feel the killing intent right away, and then I’d have the unfortunate role of mourning the younger generation."
He reached up to touch the black hair standing on his head, wearing an expression as if he could already envision that scenario. "That’s why I came here with Yaoguang."
"I’m here because I’m afraid you’ll die at Jiang Li’s hands," said Elder Kaiyang, pointing to himself as he looked at Ling Wujue.
"He’s here because he’s afraid Jiang Li will die at your hands," he then pointed to Elder Tianpeng while looking at Yun Jiuye.
Finally, Elder Kaiyang said, "We came together because we’re afraid you’ll die at the hands of Tianxuan."
"Half a month ago, Tianxuan left Divine Capital with an unknown destination," Elder Tianpeng said. "The Sect speculates that she secretly came to Liangzhou Province to target the Devil God Sect or the Taiping Sect."
"So you mustn’t do anything irrational," Elder Kaiyang continued, "keep in mind our main purpose here is to stop the Taiping Sect, and we might not be able to look after you."
"Even if we could, we’re not certain to protect you," Elder Tianpeng said indifferently, "Tied together, both of us might not be able to defeat Tianxuan."
Both elders were exceptionally strong combatants, but faced with Tianxuan, who possessed Third Grade Combat Power, they were likely not to be her match.
In a head-on fight, both would undoubtedly lose.
Even more so, Elder Tianpeng would likely not fully protect them because, if truth be told, he tended to side more with Tianxuan.
Of course, this was only hypothetical; unless Yun Jiuye and Ling Wujue truly attempted to kill Jiang Li, Tianxuan would not strike at the two younger generations.
And if things genuinely escalated to that point, Elder Tianpeng would probably stand by Tianxuan’s side, and Elder Kaiyang wouldn’t protect someone who had turned on their own Sect member.
This conversation was more of a warning.
Looking at his silly disciple, he probably understood.
As for Yun Jiuye...
Compared to Ling Wujue, Yun Jiuye didn’t need to worry as much.
He was a smart man, and didn’t require too much lecturing. Besides, if a smart person truly decides to act, no amount of lecturing will be effective.
As they spoke, the two elders finished organizing the chess pieces, ready to start another round.
"Boom—"
A clap of thunder roared, and a fierce streak of Thunder Light blinded the world outside the house for a moment.
"Winter thunder shakes, all things fail to thrive, insects do not hide, soldiers arise," Elder Tianpeng, hearing the thunder, couldn’t help but say, "The situation in Shu County is not optimistic."
"Why speak so mystically? It’s simply because our opponents have already extended their reach into Shu County," scoffed Elder Kaiyang.
This heavy rain was a sign that the opponents had begun to influence the weather in Shu County, and they might attack Shu County at any moment.
"Wuzhiqi might have someone backing him up," Elder Tianpeng said.
Unlike the Lu King who died in Yong Province, the King of Shu was the uncle of the Emperor and had already been promoted to fourth-rank many years ago. He was granted the title of King of Shu because his martial prowess was sufficient to suppress Shu County, ensuring the safety of the Golden Dam and preventing any water disasters.
With the Golden Dam suppressing the water veins and dividing the currents, and the King of Shu sitting in power, Wuzhiqi, though strong, should not have been able to extend his reach into Shu County so quickly, let alone to summon heavy rain. Moreover, Wuzhiqi had just fought a fierce battle with the Dragon Slayer of Yuxu Temple not long ago and might not be able to take action right now.
Behind this, there must be someone else assisting.
Is it the Taiping Sect?
Or the Devil God Sect?
Or perhaps someone else?
Elder Kaiyang furrowed his brows in deep thought, his scalp itching as he pondered but could not come up with a reason.
"Maybe... it is the Dragon Palace."
From amidst the torrential rain, a light and drifting voice came through, not muffled by the downpour, faint shadows passing through the rain curtain and slowly approaching the main house.
It was a young man in a wheelchair, dressed in white Cloud Clothes, with a face like carved jade and hair like ink, save for two strands of white flowing down from his temples. He appeared both young and ancient, exuding a contradictory charm, a transcendent temperament.
The wheelchair ascended the steps in front of the main house as if riding on the wind, entering the house, and although the young man had passed through the rain screen, not a drop of water stained him; he remained free from the mundane world.
Approaching in his wheelchair, he gently stroked a red puppy lying on his lap, saying, "The Black Water Mysterious Snake of the Devil God Sect was slain by Lawless Freedom many days ago, and its subordinate snake demons also suffered heavy losses. Moreover, the Black Water Mysterious Snake was an inside agent planted by the Taiping Sect within the Devil God Sect, specifically in charge of handling certain affairs the Taiping Sect preferred not to be directly involved in."
"If the Taiping Sect wished to assist Wuzhiqi, they would only do so through the Black Water Mysterious Snake, to avoid giving others a pretext upon being exposed. Now that the Black Water Mysterious Snake is dead, even if the Taiping Sect wanted to help, they no longer have a means to do so. Therefore, I guess it is the Dragon Palace."
Not the Huai Water Dragon Palace, but the overseas Dragon Palace.
Wuzhiqi’s ability to establish such a vast enterprise was not only due to his own strength, but the help of the Dragon Palace was indispensable.
At the very least, without the support of the Dragon Palace, Wuzhiqi would probably not have dared to openly attempt to carve out his own territory in defiance of the Great Venerable’s orders.
Now that Wuzhiqi has suddenly ventured north, his reasons are unclear and puzzling, but if the Dragon Palace had intentions, then it all made sense.
A series of statements, rational and well-founded, gave a sense of enlightenment.
At least, it did for Elder Kaiyang.
"That’s right," Elder Kaiyang clapped his hands, "That’s what I was thinking too."
But others were more focused on the arrival of this person.
For this individual was the key point of the previous discussion among the people—Jiang Li.
He had actually arrived at this place at such a time.
And...
’He even managed to hear our earlier conversation without being noticed by two fourth-rank and one fifth-rank individuals.’ Yun Jiuye narrowed his eyes slightly.
It was not until Jiang Li spoke and approached that he noticed Jiang Li’s presence, which surprised Yun Jiuye greatly.
Although this was partly because the two fourth-rank elders had not paid much attention to the surroundings at a certain distance, it was enough to show Jiang Li’s capabilities.
This Sixth Brother had made significant strides again.
Now, even Yun Jiuye felt Jiang Li had become somewhat unfathomable.
"Jiang Li pays his respects to Yaoguang Elder, Elder Kaiyang, Big Senior Brother, and Fifth Junior Brother."
Jiang Li, seated in his wheelchair, greeted everyone with decorum, revealing his infirmity but without any sign of frailty; on the contrary, it was as if he was enthroned, his invisible authority palpable.
"Sixth Junior Brother."
Yun Jiuye nodded back, his smile spreading as he said, "Your brother here went out of his way to look for you earlier, to no avail; I didn’t expect that as soon as I returned, you would arrive so soon after."
"Big Senior Brother has gone to great lengths. Due to my leg inconvenience, I often travel by water. You may have been looking on land, which is why you did not encounter me," Jiang Li responded, his demeanor as if bathed in the warmth of spring.
Both were impeccably polite, displaying a sense of fraternal respect and courtesy.