Chapter 258 - 145: The Old Affair of Chen and Yang, Misconduct in Office (Part 2)

Chapter 258: Chapter 145: The Old Affair of Chen and Yang, Misconduct in Office (Part 2)

"Oh?" Xuzhuang nodded and said, "Bring it here for me to see."

Yun Fengsheng followed the order, selected a slip from the pile, and handed it to Xuzhuang. Xuzhuang swept his Spiritual Sense over it and let out a small sound of surprise.

The slip detailed a request from the Chen Family for the sect’s Dao Soldiers.

The matter was, in fact, somewhat related to Xuzhuang. Although he had already buried the hatchet with the Chen Family, the situation that had arisen from their past conflict showed no signs of dying down. On the contrary, it was escalating.

It was unclear whether it was due to long-standing grievances or an undercurrent pushing things along, but the Chen Family and the Celestial Fire Yang Clan had now completely broken with each other.

The two families were fighting tooth and nail over their assets outside the sect. When their clansmen encountered each other, they would immediately come to blows. If not for the fear of the situation escalating into a conflict between sects, they would have likely already declared formal war on each other.

The Chen Family’s request to the Daoist Soldier Hall for Dao Soldiers was twofold. First, they felt the Yang Family was fighting them recklessly, without regard for cost, and suspected they were being aided by the Celestial Fire Sect. Second, the asset the Chen Family wanted the sect’s Dao Soldiers to protect was a Spirit Vein that could endlessly produce Jade Sun True Sand. The Chen Family had already reported it to the Upper Dharma Hall, intending to register it with the sect.

Of course, it was impossible to know whether the Chen Family had always intended to register the Spirit Vein with the sect, or if they were only doing so now to protect their asset with the sect’s power.

In any case, although the Upper Dharma Hall had yet to send anyone to survey it, this Jade Sun Spiritual Vein was now considered half an asset of Tai Su. Therefore, the Chen Family hoped the Daoist Soldier Hall would dispatch Dao Soldiers to guard it.

The matter could be major or minor. On a larger scale, it could escalate to the level of an inter-sect issue, which would likely require submitting an agenda to the Upper Affairs Hall. On a smaller scale, it was merely a deployment order from the Jade Cauldron Hall.

However, Yun Hengshi wasn’t just dumping this matter on Xuzhuang. Instead, he was soliciting Xuzhuang’s opinion on whether the Jade Cauldron Hall needed to hold a formal meeting about it.

In a way, it seemed Yun Hengshi was proactively accepting Xuzhuang’s takeover of the Jade Cauldron Hall’s important affairs, which was one of the reasons for Xuzhuang’s surprise.

Closing the slip in his hand, Xuzhuang pondered for a moment before saying, "Leave all these copies here for now. I will look through each one."

Upon hearing this, Yun Fengsheng quickly cupped his hands in agreement, placed the remaining copies on Xuzhuang’s administrative desk, and then bowed before exiting.

Xuzhuang weighed the slip in his hand and said teasingly, "It seems this Junior Martial Uncle Yun isn’t one for feigning compliance."

While Xuzhuang was speaking with Yun Fengsheng, Han Wang had remained silent. Now, he responded with a smile, "It seems I was judging a gentleman by my own petty standards."

Xuzhuang just smiled at that and didn’t continue the discussion about the Jade Cauldron Hall’s internal affairs. Instead, he asked, "Senior Brother, could you tell me about Senior Brother Feng Yuanliu?"

"Oh?" Han Wang mused. "Senior Brother Feng is from the Feng Family. He reached the Nascent Soul realm nearly four hundred years ago. Back before I even formed my core, the sect’s True Disciples were held up by Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Feng..."

Xuzhuang said, "I get the feeling Senior Brother Feng doesn’t seem to like me very much."

During the ceremony in the Upper Affairs Hall, Zhang Tingxian, Han Wang, and Feng Yuanliu had been sitting behind and to the right of Xuzhuang. It hadn’t been difficult for Xuzhuang to figure out who had let out that soft scoff. Furthermore, after the ceremony ended, Feng Yuanliu had left without speaking to Xuzhuang.

Han Wang didn’t try to hide it. He said frankly, "Junior Brother, you must know that you now have a reputation, both in the Divine Continent and within the sect, as a once-in-a-millennium talent. Senior Brother Feng might feel resentful because of that. You don’t need to pay it too much mind."

Xuzhuang merely nodded. Han Wang then asked, "Junior Brother, you’re asking about the Dharma Hall and Senior Brother Feng. Do you need help from the Dharma Hall? You know I once served as the Vice Institute Venerable of the Law Enforcement Hall. Perhaps I can be of assistance."

Speaking of this, Xuzhuang let out a cold snort. "I don’t need the Dharma Hall’s help. I want to hold the Law Enforcement Hall accountable."

"Oh?" Han Wang’s brow furrowed. "What is this about?"

Xuzhuang had no intention of hiding it and recounted what had happened to Qin Dengxiao. Han Wang listened intently, his expression also turning displeased. "How outrageous! Junior Brother, is what you say true?"

"Although I only recently took him as my disciple, I have assessed his character. He would not lie to me," Xuzhuang said. "However, I also know that one side of the story isn’t enough. I need to retrieve the Xiezhi records from the Law Enforcement Hall to review them."

Han Wang replied, "That’s simple enough. I still have some old subordinates in the Law Enforcement Hall who can get the records for you. However..."

Xuzhuang asked, "Senior Brother, please speak your mind."

Han Wang nodded and said, "No matter what, the Law Enforcement Hall is under the jurisdiction of the Dharma Hall. If you and I interfere rashly, it will look bad for the Dharma Hall. If you trust me, Junior Brother, perhaps I can send a letter to Senior Brother Feng and ask him about this matter."

As if afraid Xuzhuang would misunderstand, Han Wang added, "Senior Brother Feng has always been proud and arrogant, and he may feel resentful toward you, Junior Brother. But to say he would deliberately obstruct this matter—that is absolutely impossible. I can vouch for that."

Xuzhuang’s brow twitched. After a moment of thought, he slowly said, "In that case, let’s do as you suggest, Senior Brother."

A smile appeared on Han Wang’s face. "Excellent," he said. He took a letter slip from his sleeve, wrote a few strokes on it with his fingertip, and folded it. Then he took out a golden sword, attached the letter to it, and uttered, "Go." The golden sword immediately shot away.

He was actually using a golden sword message, which showed how seriously Han Wang was taking the matter.

Seeing this, Xuzhuang’s expression softened slightly. He began to chat with Han Wang about other things, but they had only exchanged a few sentences when a faint whistling sound was heard. The golden sword had already gone and returned, all within less than half an hour.

Han Wang caught the golden sword, took the letter from its tassel, and opened it. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he read.

Xuzhuang asked, "Senior Brother?"

Han Wang nodded slightly and handed the letter over. "You’ll understand once you read it, Junior Brother."

Xuzhuang took the letter, glanced at it, and immediately let out a cold laugh.

Feng Yuanliu’s letter stated that he had learned from the Dharma Hall that the root of the matter was an elder from the Purple Light Hall pressuring the Law Enforcement Hall. The elder had said not to damage the friendly relations between Tai Su and Yuxiao. This led to the Law Enforcement Hall sentencing Qin Dengxiao to make a formal apology. Qin Dengxiao refused to the bitter end, which resulted in him being placed under house arrest by the Law Enforcement Hall.

It turned out that after Tai Su’s third great sect competition, the envoys from the Yuxiao Sect who had come to observe the ceremony had not yet departed for their own sect, as they were visiting fellow cultivators.

And when that Yuxiao disciple came to cause trouble, it was precisely because a Yuxiao Sect envoy stepped in on his behalf that the matter was able to be brought before the Law Enforcement Hall.

The Purple Light Hall happened to be the body that managed the sect’s diplomatic affairs. That elder—perhaps due to his duties, or perhaps because he was an old acquaintance of the Yuxiao Sect envoy—had seen the situation and, without bothering to get the full story, pressured the Steward from the Law Enforcement Hall who was handling the case. That’s what led to everything that followed.

Xuzhuang flicked the letter and slapped it down on the desk, saying coldly, "Incompetent in his position and utterly foolish."

Han Wang frowned and mused, "Junior Brother, let’s leave this matter for Senior Brother Feng to handle. He will definitely clear your disciple’s name."

Xuzhuang asked coolly, "What kind of ’cleared name’?"

Han Wang understood Xuzhuang’s meaning. He sighed and said, "The Dharma Hall will certainly not forgive someone who has abused their position. The Law Enforcement Hall will lift your disciple’s house arrest. There will be no further harassment, nor will the case remain on his record."

Xuzhuang sneered, "And what if I say that Yuxiao Sect disciple must apologize to my disciple?"

Han Wang frowned. "It involves the Yuxiao Sect envoys. I’m afraid..."

Xuzhuang raised a hand to stop him. "I know what you mean, Senior Brother. I will handle this matter personally."

Han Wang sighed. "If you damage the friendship between our two sects, I’m afraid you won’t be able to answer to the Hall Master of the Purple Light Hall."

Xuzhuang said nonchalantly, "Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I believe the Yuxiao Sect can be reasonable."

Han Wang was momentarily speechless, then could only force a wry smile. "What do you intend to do, Junior Brother?"

Xuzhuang’s eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Who are the envoys from the Yuxiao Sect who came for the ceremony this time? And where are they staying?"

Han Wang thought for a moment before replying, "For this ceremony, not counting the Foundation Establishment and Refining Technique Disciples, the Yuxiao Sect delegation is led by two Venerables, accompanied by the True Disciple Fang Shize. They are staying on Xuanquan Island, as arranged by the Purple Light Hall."

"Hm?" Xuzhuang’s eyebrows raised slightly at this. His fingertip tapped lightly on the desk. Suddenly, he smiled. "In that case, I’ll just go and reason with the Yuxiao Envoys directly."