Ch. 144 - What A Father Does For You

"I want him dead," Xu Zimo said, pointing at Chu Yang.

"That might not be possible," Wu Shaoqing replied, her expression a bit grim. She looked at the Third Grand Elder and said, "Regardless of what happened, Chu Yang is still the Holy Son of our Yin-Yang Sect. I hope the Third Grand Elder can show some leniency. You may name any terms, if it's within our power, we will do everything we can to fulfill them."

"Yes, Third Grand Elder," Xiao Ruoxuan sighed from the side before speaking. "Our Sacred Ground has always had a good relationship with the Yin-Yang Sect. There’s no need to let things escalate like this. Besides, young people are bound to be impulsive. Let him apologize. As long as he isn’t killed, even if he’s left half-dead, it’ll be enough."

Hearing Xiao Ruoxuan’s words, the Third Grand Elder hesitated.

"Let him go," a voice suddenly rang out.

It was Xu Qingshan, who had stood up from below the arena. He spoke calmly.

"Vice-Lord Xu, isn't that a bit much? This was just youthful recklessness," Wu Shaoqing said with a slight change in expression.

"Without rules, there is no order. If rules are established, then they must be followed," Xu Qingshan said plainly.

"If the rules lack authority, then no one will respect them. This competition is hosted by our True Martial Sacred Ground. Are you trying to slap us in the face?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Wu Shaoqing quickly responded. "If Sect Master Xu has any conditions, we’ll meet them. Think of it as me buying back Chu Yang’s life."

"We don’t need anything. Isn’t it laughable?" Xu Qingshan shook his head. "An Imperial Lineage asking a first-rate sect for favors? This is about the dignity of our sect. It has nothing to do with material things."

"And if I insist on taking him with me?" Wu Shaoqing narrowed her eyes, testing the waters.

"I won’t stop you," Xu Qingshan replied, "But you’d better think it through. You’ll bear the consequences."

"Fine. I’ll take him with me," Wu Shaoqing said solemnly. "Whatever the consequences, I will shoulder them. I only ask that Vice-Lord Xu doesn’t drag the innocent into this."

Xu Qingshan didn’t reply. His back remained turned.

Wu Shaoqing’s hands glowed with black and white light, just like when they arrived. The sky split into black and white, and she quickly led the disciples of the Yin-Yang Sect away.

"Third Grand Elder, please help organize the remaining sects," Xu Qingshan said calmly. "After that, summon all elders at the Empyrean Meridian Realm to the discussion hall."

"Yes," the Third Grand Elder nodded and began handling the other sects.

Xiao Ruoxuan looked like she wanted to speak, but after hesitating, she said, "Vice-Lord, we really don’t need to go this far with the Yin-Yang Sect..."

"Whatever it is, say it in the discussion hall," Xu Qingshan waved her off and cut her short.

Then he walked over to Xu Zimo. His face softened into a faint smile.

"Stop pretending, you little brat. You think I didn’t see through you?"

Xu Zimo smiled and quickly stood up.

Xu Qingshan gave him a glare, then sighed and said slowly, "Zimo, I’ve always felt guilty about your mother in this life. Back then, I was obsessed with cultivation and never really cared for her feelings. After Sacred Lord Xiao left and passed leadership to me, I started doing everything for the sake of the True Martial Sacred Ground."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "But this time... this time, what I did, I did for you. I just hope you understand one thing: I’m not only the Sect Master of the True Martial Sacred Ground… I’m also your father."

"Dad, what are you planning?" Xu Zimo asked.

"Destroy the Yin-Yang Sect."

Just five words, but they were filled with overwhelming killing intent.

Xu Zimo watched his father’s retreating figure and remained silent for a long time.

………………

Back at the Yin-Yang Sect, elders were already tending to Chu Yang’s injuries.

Wu Shaoqing gathered all the core elders and recounted everything that had happened.

The Grand Elder sighed and shook his head, saying, "Sect Master, you acted recklessly. There’s no need to antagonize the True Martial Sacred Ground over one disciple."

Many of the elders below began discussing the matter, most of them agreed with the Grand Elder.

“There are things I’ve kept quiet for the sake of Chu Yang’s safety,” Wu Shaoqing said after a pause. “But now, since it’s come to this, I’ll speak plainly. If he were just an ordinary disciple, I wouldn’t have gone this far. But when the Yin-Yang Disk encountered Chu Yang... it spun.”

Just those three words, “it spun”, silenced the entire hall. Every elder looked up at her in shock.

“I ask that none of you speak of this outside these walls,” Wu Shaoqing said. “The Yin-Yang Ancestor left the disk behind along with a prophecy. When it spins on its own, it means the person before it is one who carries a supreme destiny. The ancestor once said, if we can board the ship of this destiny, the Yin-Yang Sect has the potential to ascend to an Imperial Lineage and stand at the peak of this world.”

Wu Shaoqing’s voice grew emotional as she continued, “The Purgatory Sacred Ground used to be a sect just like ours, first-rate, but they seized their opportunity. When Grand Emperor Lian Yu shouldered the Heaven’s Will, they advanced to an Imperial Lineage. And thanks to his foundation, they even raised another emperor, Grand Emperor Sha. One lineage, two emperors. But us? The Yin-Yang Sect has existed for thousands of years and is slowly fading into obscurity. Are you all really content with that?”

“What about the True Martial Sacred Ground?” the Grand Elder asked.

“We fight if we have to,” the fiery-tempered Second Elder snorted. “The Western Region is a chaotic place, do you really think they’ll risk going all out against us?”

“Enough arguing,” Wu Shaoqing said calmly. “If they come to hold us accountable, I’m willing to sacrifice myself for the sake of the sect. All I want is for our sect to shine brightly in this era, to fulfill the lifelong wish I’ve carried.”

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