Chapter 88: Regrets
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The wind carried whispers of regret and fear among the cultivators, but they had no idea that the senior they spoke of had long since departed.
High above, Yu Zhao glided gracefully through the sky, her figure cutting through the clouds with an ethereal grace. Her eyes, sharp and discerning, were set beneath dark, elegant brows. Her simple robes flowed with the wind, and her long, ebony hair billowed around her, accentuating her porcelain-like skin. This was Yu Zhao, fresh from six months of secluded cultivation, now radiating a newfound strength. She had successfully formed her Golden Core, a significant milestone reached a full decade earlier than in her previous life.
“The Purple Gold Vase that Master refined is truly extraordinary,” Yu Zhao mused, her thoughts drifting to the powerful heritage she had received from Bright Moon. “Its illusions adapt to the user’s cultivation level, and at my current stage, they can even rival the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator.”
The thought brought a faint smile to her lips. The prospect of using the vase in battle intrigued her; she could already envision the chaos it would unleash among her enemies. But that was a matter for the future. For now, her primary goal was to reach Nanning City and explore the ruins of the Water Cloud Palace. There, she hoped to find clues about Shui Qing Yue.
With determination fueling her, Yu Zhao quickened her pace, transforming into a streak of light that disappeared into the distant horizon.
At the Green Wood Sect, the air was thick with tension as Wang Qian exited the alchemy room, almost bumping into Mu Ye. His face darkened as he let out a heavy sigh, visibly annoyed.
Mu Ye, uninterested in his mood, brushed past him without a word. Offended, Wang Qian’s anger flared. “Mu Ye, don’t think you’re all that just because the Sect Master favors you! You’re not the top disciple yet!”
Without missing a beat, Mu Ye shot back, “Wang Qian, you really need to find a cure for your condition. Stop throwing these tantrums at me!” Her tone was icy, and her eyes rolled in exasperation. She didn’t usually indulge in harsh words, but Wang Qian’s constant needling and narrow-mindedness were unbearable.
Wang Qian was notorious for twisting situations to fit his narrative, often bringing up the topic of the top disciple position to provoke her. “Do you think the Sect Master’s favoritism will make you the Young Sect Master? You’re not worthy!” he spat, frustration clear in his voice.
Mu Ye sighed inwardly. This was why she avoided engaging with him. He always started conflicts and then pinned the blame on her, all while obsessively harping on the same issue. “Wang Qian, let me make this clear. The position of Young Sect Master will go to whoever excels in the disciple assessment. If you outperform me, I’ll accept it gracefully. Otherwise, do us both a favor and keep quiet. Got it?”
Both Mu Ye and Wang Qian were disciples of the Alchemy Hall, both at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and had joined the sect around the same time. This had led to constant comparisons between them. Mu Ye embraced the competition, believing that it spurred her to improve. Unfortunately, Wang Qian saw her as a rival to be undermined, which made every interaction with him a source of frustration.
With only one year left until the Green Wood Sect’s Alchemy Hall disciple assessment, where the top performer would be named the next Young Sect Master, the tension was palpable. It would be the perfect opportunity to settle the matter once and for all.
“Mu Ye, I’ll win. You better be ready to bow down to me!” Wang Qian declared before storming off. Mu Ye watched him go, wrinkling her nose in disgust. She couldn’t help but wonder why she couldn’t have more trustworthy fellow disciples like Senior Sister Jin Yue or Yu Zhao from the Five Elements Sect.
She sighed deeply, regretting her decision to join the Green Wood Sect for what felt like the 132nd time.
Meanwhile, Wang Qian’s thoughts were elsewhere. He had been secluded, refining pills for three months. Surely, there must be new information from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion by now.
He used a communication talisman to send a message to Guo Ming En and Tian Han, arranging a meeting. Half an hour later, the three of them gathered in Wang Qian’s cave.
With a cold expression, Wang Qian asked, “What’s the situation with the Hundred Treasures Pavilion? Is Yu Zhao dead or alive?”
Tian Han gave an awkward smile, “Junior Brother Wang, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion hasn’t responded yet. It seems the person assigned to the task hasn’t found any trace of Yu Zhao, so…”
His voice trailed off as Wang Qian’s glare intensified. Frustration boiling over, Wang Qian clenched his fists. “Six months! It’s been six months! And they still can’t find her? What kind of operation are they running? The Hundred Treasures Pavilion prides itself on fulfilling any request, yet this is the result?”
He had hoped to vent his frustration from his earlier encounter with Mu Ye by hearing of Yu Zhao’s demise. But after refining two batches of pills, there was still no news. The bounty seemed pointless.
“Calm down, Junior Brother Wang. Getting angry won’t help,” Guo Ming En interjected, attempting to calm the situation. “Yu Zhao can’t evade capture forever.”
Wang Qian looked at him, urging him to continue. Guo Ming En poured a cup of hot tea and pushed it towards Wang Qian before elaborating. “Last time Tian Han and I visited the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, we learned that the task was taken up by the Four Gentlemen: Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. They have a flawless record in assassinations and are all at the mid-Golden Core stage.”
Wang Qian raised an eyebrow, “Are the Four Gentlemen really that formidable?”
“Absolutely,” Guo Ming En confirmed. “Though they keep a low profile within sects, they’re renowned among rogue cultivators. Once they target someone, it’s as good as a death sentence.”
Wang Qian pondered this information, considering the implications. Guo Ming En leaned in, speaking in a low voice, “Actually, the longer this takes, the better it is for us.”
This novel is translated and hosted only on bcatranslation.
“How so?” Wang Qian asked, intrigued.
“Think about it, Junior Brother Wang. If Yu Zhao had been killed right after our conflict, it would be too obvious. The Five Elements Sect would definitely suspect us. But now, six months later, if she meets her end, who knows which of her enemies did it? We can’t be held accountable.”
Wang Qian and Tian Han exchanged glances, a sense of relief washing over them. Indeed, the longer Yu Zhao lived, the less likely they were to be implicated in her demise. If Master Qing Yan demanded an investigation, the Green Wood Sect might not be able to protect them. But with time on their side, their situation was becoming safer.
“Senior Brother Guo, you truly have a sharp mind!” Wang Qian exclaimed, patting Guo Ming En on the shoulder with a satisfied smile.
Guo Ming En and Tian Han relaxed, relieved at having dodged a potential disaster. The old saying, “Being close to the ruler is like being close to a tiger,” rang true. Dealing with Wang Qian tested their patience and resilience. If they hadn’t been ostracized by Mu Ye’s faction, they would never have considered aligning with Wang Qian.
Ah, the regrets of the past!