CHAPTER 431: CHAPTER 266: MEETING AND REUNION_2

"Kill Qin Hao..." Yun Xinyue’s delicate brows furrowed. Killing Qin Hao was no small matter. Previously, she hadn’t truly intended to kill Qin Tian. Her main objective was to find Qin Tian to learn her Master’s whereabouts. Even if she could change her identity and flee after committing murder, that was a last resort born of utter desperation. The status and position she had worked so hard to obtain—how could she give them up so easily?

"Of course, I won’t force you. You can refuse, but sooner or later, I will annihilate the Qin Family. No, I should say I will annihilate the entire Purple Cloud Divine Sect." Wen Zhixing’s expression remained calm and indifferent as he uttered these earth-shattering words.

Having said this, he slightly raised his head to look ahead. The bright sunlight poured down, casting a handsome glow on his refined face. An air of unlimited confidence graced his features, making it seem as if he spoke not of annihilating the Purple Cloud Divine Sect, but merely of killing a small chicken.

The conflict with the Qin Family was irreconcilable. Now that it had begun, it was a fight to the death. Annihilating the Qin Family would mean enmity with the Purple Cloud Divine Sect. They would have to be eliminated together. Better to eradicate the problem at its roots.

"To annihilate the Purple Cloud Divine Sect..." Upon hearing this, Yun Xinyue felt a tremor in her heart. These words were virtually as fanciful as a flight of fancy. Wen Zhixing, a mere cultivator in the Genius Spirit Realm, dared to proclaim he would annihilate the Purple Cloud Divine Sect? Isn’t this the rambling of a lunatic? But... inexplicably, Yun Xinyue found herself believing him. Yes, she truly believed. She remembered that just a few months ago, Wen Zhixing was a mere mortal without cultivation. To be precise, he had been a mere ’furnace,’ thoroughly drained through essence absorption. Back then, he was at the mercy of the people from Wonderous Palace. But now? Wen Zhixing had already annihilated Wonderous Palace and was on the verge of wreaking havoc in Zhongzhou. His methods were inexhaustible and ever-changing. And all this had happened in just a few months. Coming from such a person, even words she knew were nearly impossible to achieve, she still found herself involuntarily believing.

"Alright, I’ll help you." Thinking this, Yun Xinyue lightly bit her thin lip and nodded in agreement. These words also signified that she had officially boarded Wen Zhixing’s pirate ship. After speaking, her heart completely relaxed. Despite the risky move, Yun Xinyue felt that everything was under control.

"Good. Once the deed is done, I’ll take you to see your Master," Wen Zhixing nodded slightly. He showed no sign of elation at Yun Xinyue’s decision. Yun Xinyue had made a smart choice, he thought. Of course, had Yun Xinyue refused, he was already prepared to resort to underhanded means against her. He couldn’t allow an unstable factor like Yun Xinyue, who could discern his identity, to remain.

The two continued forward, not heading to Wen Zhixing’s residence but instead making their way to Si Nanyan’s dwelling. His visit was simply to check on Zhang Tiancheng; he wondered how he was doing. Zhang Tiancheng was indeed a person with a tough fate. At Wonderous Palace, he had exhausted all his means just to barely survive. But because of Mu Yunqing, he was caught in the middle, playing the part of a double agent, which naturally made his life even harder. It had already been quite miserable. Yet, upon joining the Righteous Sun Sect, things had become even worse. His entire body had been refined into a puppet, with only his divine soul preserved. He became a living dead, neither truly alive nor truly dead. Later, he was somewhat fortunate; Wen Zhixing infused Longevity Essence Blood into his body and reforged him. Only then did Zhang Tiancheng begin to resemble a human again. But no matter how human he looked, he was ultimately a puppet. Nothing could return to the way it was before.

However, before the two could approach, strange noises seemed to emanate from Purple Bamboo Peak ahead. It sounded like a familiar voice arguing with someone.

"That voice is... Let’s go and take a look," Wen Zhixing felt a stir in his heart and then quickened his pace.

「Meanwhile, inside Purple Bamboo Peak.」

Liu Qingdai, Bai Luqiu, and Wen Miner had already arrived. This time, Xiang Yanwen had been the first to receive the news and had directly invited the three into the Cultivation Hall. Xiang Yanwen had become clever; he immediately started making small talk with the three of them, presenting himself as a kindly senior, concerned about the younger generation.

Liu Qingdai and her two companions were still respectful towards Xiang Yanwen, their behavior unchanged despite the changes in their own status. They had also received news about Si Nanyan and the others, but to them, it didn’t matter whether those people were in trouble or not. They hadn’t even considered withdrawing from Purple Bamboo Peak as a result.

Xiang Yanwen inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. However, he was ultimately taken aback when Bai Luqiu inquired about Zhang Tiancheng’s whereabouts. This made Xiang Yanwen’s heart skip a beat. This is bad news, he thought grimly. In the end, he could only tell them the truth.

"Elder Xiang, so my Junior Brother Zhang has just disappeared like this?" Liu Qingdai abruptly stood up, a hint of displeasure appearing on her striking, pretty face. She couldn’t hold back any longer. Zhang Tiancheng was, after all, her junior brother and Wen Zhixing’s good friend. So now, where was he? It seemed that apart from those selected, everyone else had met with some misfortune. What exactly was Xiang Yanwen up to? If they had not been chosen, what would have become of them now?

Although Bai Luqiu and Wen Miner did not speak, their gazes were fixed on Xiang Yanwen, waiting for him to explain.

"Qingdai, this was all unexpected." A touch of bitterness flashed across Xiang Yanwen’s face as he explained, "I really hadn’t anticipated something like this happening."

"Hadn’t anticipated?" Bai Luqiu’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly as she stood up and said, "Elder Xiang, I don’t believe that with your perceptiveness, you couldn’t discern my Junior Brother Zhang’s identity. Did you truly not know what the other party intended?"

Faced with Bai Luqiu’s pressing questions, Xiang Yanwen suddenly found himself speechless. In the past, he could have used his status to suppress them. But now, he no longer had the confidence to do so.

Seeing his reaction, the three of them immediately understood: Xiang Yanwen knew everything but had failed to protect anyone. Or rather, he had done nothing at all.

"My father trusted you so much, believed you would protect us completely. How laughable!" Liu Qingdai openly berated him, her gaze filled with disdain. "It’s fortunate my father didn’t join the Purple Cloud Divine Sect; otherwise, who knows what might have become of him. Pah! Trusted the wrong person. Turned out to be a spineless coward. No wonder Purple Bamboo Peak has always been part of the Lower Three Veins. With a leader like Xiang Yanwen, it would be odd if Purple Bamboo Peak ever soared."

"Alas, my Purple Bamboo Peak really is weak and powerless. I... I did my best..." Xiang Yanwen’s face paled as he was told off. He put on a pitiful expression, as if he had endured extreme hardships, and said helplessly. At this moment, he was afraid he had truly angered the three before him. All he needed to do now was endure. As long as Liu Qingdai and the others became Godsons, Purple Bamboo Peak would essentially have made it. The sect’s resources would inevitably be directed towards Purple Bamboo Peak in the future. Shedding the title of one of the Lower Three Veins was a certainty. He too would be able to hold his head high. If Liu Qingdai and the others were to then join the Hundred Tribulations Holy Land, once they returned after completing their studies, Purple Bamboo Peak might even leap to become one of the Upper Three Veins. By then, he would no longer have to act subserviently to anyone.

"Elder Xiang, there’s no need for explanations. You just need to tell us who ultimately took Junior Brother Zhang away." Bai Luqiu no longer wanted to say much to Xiang Yanwen. She didn’t even plan to pursue the matter further. He hadn’t wronged them. In fact, he could be considered to have done them a favor. Now, all they needed was to find and successfully rescue Zhang Tiancheng.

"Rest assured, I have already ordered people to investigate this matter. There should be results soon," Xiang Yanwen replied with an apologetic smile, though he was still being evasive.

Upon hearing this, Bai Luqiu shook her head slightly in disappointment. If he didn’t even know this, had Xiang Yanwen truly taken good care of Zhang Tiancheng? Or was he still concealing who had acted against Zhang Tiancheng?

Liu Qingdai, who had the fieriest personality, could no longer hold back. She pointed at Xiang Yanwen, about to unleash a torrent of curses...

However, before she could speak, they heard footsteps coming from outside the hall.

TAP! TAP! TAP!

Bai Luqiu pulled Liu Qingdai, signaling her to calm down.

Liu Qingdai snorted softly but managed to restrain herself.

The next moment, all four turned their gaze towards the entrance, only to see "Qin Tian" and Yun Xinyue entering together.

"Yun Xinyue?" Seeing that it was Yun Xinyue who had brought someone over, Bai Luqiu and the others slightly furrowed their brows. They were uncertain of Yun Xinyue’s intentions.

When Xiang Yanwen saw that it was "Qin Tian," he quickly put on a smile and stepped forward to greet him, "Nephew, what brings you here today?"

As soon as "Qin Tian" saw Xiang Yanwen approaching, he frowned and rebuked sharply, "Step aside."

Hearing this, the smile on Xiang Yanwen’s face instantly froze.