CHAPTER 236: 168. ONE PERSON’S BAD LUCK IS A WINDFALL FOR OTHERS_2

Lei Jun speculated, "Why do I feel like he’s going to make some major move soon..."

Owing to the earlier uprising started by the White Lotus Sect in Huai Mountain being connected to Prince Wu, his actions had been increasingly rash and vehement in recent years. There was a sense of a cornered beast fighting desperately.

"Success or not, Eldest Brother has made quite a name for himself this time," Chu Kun said with mild sympathy as he looked at his senior brother, "with Prince Wu personally helping him gain momentum."

Upon hearing this, Wang Guiyuan responded with a wry smile and shook his head repeatedly.

Casting his gaze between Lei Jun and Chu Kun, he sighed, "It’s not just Prince Wu, but also you two monsters."

Lei Jun needed no further mention. After Chu Kun achieved the Third Heavenly Layer of the Altar Stage this year, he also gradually began to attract attention both inside and outside the Celestial Master Mansion. Born into the Suzhou Chu Clan, he had come to study the Dao at Dragon Tiger Mountain’s Celestial Master Mansion. With even a hint of progress, he naturally drew attention, and that attention didn’t just come from the Chu Clan alone.

Yuan Mobai rarely accepted disciples. However, the high success rate of those he did take in made it difficult for others to ignore them. As a result, Wang Guiyuan, who was usually low-profile, also caught the attention of the outside world. In a way, he was even highlighted indirectly by Lei Jun and Chu Kun.

Some believed that for Master Yuan Mobai to have two successful disciples out of three was quite an achievement, and it was normal for the other to be relatively mediocre. However, others felt that Master Yuan Mobai wouldn’t make such a misjudgment easily and that his seemingly low-profile eldest disciple might also possess exceptional qualities. Where there were discussions, there was buzz. Added to this was the special regard from Prince Wu, which had recently brought Taoist Wang a surge in popularity, much to his own chagrin.

"I am undeserving of such praise, Eldest Brother," Lei Jun said, his expression unchanged.

Chu Kun, meanwhile, looked down at his feet, feigning indifference.

Wang Guiyuan looked at the two before him, as unflappable as dead pigs in boiling water, and shook his head helplessly.

After stroking Gungun in his arms a couple more times, Lei Jun set the creature down and then asked, "Eldest Brother, is Master available right now?"

Wang Guiyuan replied, "He’s returned to the mansion; you can go straight there."

Lei Jun nodded. "Senior Brother Li Xuan has returned to the mountain and requests an audience with Master."

Wang Guiyuan sighed. "Turbulent times. A storm is brewing."

After bidding farewell to his two martial brothers, Lei Jun went to see Master Yuan Mobai.

"It’s rare for Chongxuan to return, so of course, he should be seen," Yuan Mobai said calmly. "Tomorrow morning, I will wait for him in the High Merit Pavilion."

Lei Jun replied, "Yes, Master."

Yuan Mobai continued, "As for Xiaotang, I have already made arrangements for her immediate safety. However, whether she can overcome the Heavenly Moat Tribulation will depend entirely on her."

With that, he stood up, walked to the window, and gazed out at the frost-laden tree branches of the winter season, remaining silent for a long time.

Lei Jun stood quietly behind Yuan Mobai, not disturbing him.

"Third Martial Uncle and Third Senior Brother... they’ve finally crossed that line." After a long silence, Yuan Mobai slowly said, "What is destined to come, will come."

Lei Jun silently nodded.

Although Li Song and Li Ziyang hadn’t said a word publicly about Tang Xiaotang, Lei Jun and his master both knew that their previous actions had been aimed directly at her. They had even leaked information to Tang Xiaotang’s adversary, Elder Tian Linlong from Yintuo Mountain of the Southern Wilderness. Their intention was both to gain an extra helper and to find someone to take the blame for them afterward. In the end, they didn’t even find which way the entrance to Tang Xiaotang’s seclusion cave mansion faced.

But as Yuan Mobai had said, the Li Clan had finally, proactively, crossed that line.

Over a hundred years ago, the Celestial Master Mansion had endured two internal conflicts. In the century that followed, despite constant ups and downs and recurring disputes, everyone had managed to maintain a precarious balance, where conflict didn’t lead to a complete schism.

But just like the earlier internal strife at Mount Shu, once contradictions, conflicts, suspicions, and disputes accumulated to a certain point, a final reckoning was inevitable. The direct catalyst might be something very simple, even trivial. But once ignited, the ensuing chaos would not be something one or two people could predict or control.

If Tang Xiaotang were to perish under the Heavenly Moat Tribulation, then so be it. But if she were to successfully advance to the Eightfold Heaven Realm and return to the mountain, not only Lei Jun but even Yuan Mobai would not deliberately conceal or cover up for the Li Clan.

It was true that Yuan Mobai did not wish to see internal strife plague the Celestial Master’s Mansion again. But since the Li Clan had already taken that step, the prelude to a great war was inevitably set in motion.

Given Tang Xiaotang’s temperament, forbearance and waiting were not in her vocabulary. Knowing that Li Song and Li Ziyang had prepared a "grand gift" for her during her seclusion, she wouldn’t be Tang Xiaotang if she didn’t return the favor.

"Master..." Lei Jun looked at Yuan Mobai’s back.

Yuan Mobai turned around, his expression already serene, and he even managed a smile. "Actually, it’s not so unexpected."

Seeing this, Lei Jun refrained from saying more and changed the subject. "I just wonder who will be faster, Little Senior Sister or Second Master."

Yuan Mobai nodded lightly. "Indeed."

The youth in purple paced a few steps and sat back down in his chair. "Since this reckoning is unavoidable, we can only face it with composure. As internal troubles surface, we must be even more vigilant against external threats, lest we become besieged from both within and without."

Lei Jun appeared contemplative upon hearing this.

Yuan Mobai continued, "The Blood River Sect is becoming active again; we must be on guard. It’s not just Bashu from before; traces of descendants from the Blood River Lineage have also appeared recently in the Huai Mountain area."

Lei Jun affirmed, "Yes, Disciple will remember Master’s teachings."

Yuan Mobai added, "And then there’s the Yellow Sky Sect..."

Lei Jun remarked, "In recent years, I’ve heard very little news about the Yellow Sky Sect."

About six years ago, in that major battle, the Yellow Sky Sect suffered a crushing defeat. Their Supreme Elder Yu Qingling perished, Sect Leader Taoist Taiping was gravely injured, and they sustained numerous casualties among their ranks. In the years since, news of the Yellow Sky Sect has been scarce.