Chapter 251: Just Couldn’t Stand It

“Is Second Young Master Fang leaving the mountain?”

The very next day after Old Master Fan arrived at Lingwu Sect, this shocking news suddenly spread.

Right now, thanks to Old Master Fan’s overruling of objections to expose the Ghost Official, all clans and sects were required to fully cooperate. Yet Second Young Master Fang decided he was leaving, just like that. This naturally caused much confusion. Since second young master Fang arrived at Lingwu Sect, almost a month had passed. Initially, Qi Refiners from all sides didn’t welcome him much. But after several confrontations, they kept getting defeated and could never find a way against him. Not only did they fail to get rid of him, they had no choice but to serve him respectfully and well. Just when attitudes shifted, he was leaving?

However, a few elders from Seven Clans knew why Fang Cun was leaving.

“In the end, Old Master Fan outsmarted him after all…”

Privately, many sighed: “This second young master Fang has many virtues, but is simply too young. Everyone understands Shoushan Sect wants to return to the Six Sects. Everyone understands second young master Fang seeks fame. But picking Seven Clans as a stepping stone? Seriously miscalculated. The foundation of Qingjiang, its decisive pillars—who dares move them?”

“This departure will probably teach him wisdom. He shouldn’t cause trouble anymore!”

“…”

“Take care, second young master Fang…”

After all, second young master Fang was no ordinary person. Upon his departure from Lingwu Sect, many naturally came to see him off. People such as the Lingwu Sect Leader and Elders, Qi Refiners from Leshui Sect, a few female disciples from Yun Huan Sect, and even an Elder from Nine Immortals Sect made time to bid farewell. Considering the identity, cultivation level, and status of this group, it was an exceedingly grand sight…

But it still felt somewhat shabby to others.

Currently, Lingwu Sect buzzed with intense activity.

In the northwest direction, an immortal cloud hovered, carrying top-tier Qi Refiners of Seven Clans and a symbolic County Mansion Divine General accompanying them. Clustered within, looking utterly lost and devastated, with shackles already on his wrists, was Young Master Bai Huaiyu from the Bai family. He was being escorted, hesitant and frightened, slowly towards a Dharma Ship before the Lingwu Sect’s mountain gate.

Everyone knew in their hearts: he was being returned to Seven Clans.

Young Master Bai Huaiyu, broken and terrified in the grand hall, had confessed words he shouldn’t have, making him a traitor to Seven Clans. But Old Master Fan sending him back now was doing them a huge favor. Presumably, Seven Clans would repay the kindness generously.

Meanwhile, another scene unfolded: huge platforms had been erected, each taller and more profound than the last. Countless servant Qi Refiners rushed about busily around them.

These platforms were specially prepared to transmit the various clans and sects’ scriptures, classics, dossiers, and records. Following Old Master Fan’s promise, a major decision was made: at this very moment, all scriptures, classics, and dossiers from across Qingjiang, especially concerning technique scriptures, matters related to the Demon Sect’s ancient records, and the like, would be gathered here.

For investigating the Ghost Official matter, Old Master Fan had chosen to trust Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao.

He intended to comb through all demon-related technique scriptures and classics in Qingjiang, even the entire Yuan Shen Kingdom, to finally trace the origin of the Ghost Official’s Ghost Seal. Then, by tracking the movements and lineage of these techniques, he would pinpoint the Ghost Official’s background, allowing for a precise, targeted search, narrowing the scope.

Fang Cun didn’t know if Lu Xiao already harbored suspicions in his heart.

But he knew that the tedious method they were adopting now was actually the most effective.

If concrete evidence was indeed found, pointing directly to the Ghost Official being within Shoushan Sect… could Young Sect Master Xu still hide?

Over in the southwest, the group from the Moon Tribe of the Witch Clan was also packing, preparing to depart. Qi Refiners from various sects could easily guess: they were heading to Great Qingjiang City. They needed to make preliminary preparations to heal Qingjiang’s Spirit Wells.

Old Master Fan, upon arrival, had decisively set all major affairs in stone, brooking no doubt.

And at this moment, absolutely no one would choose to oppose Old Master Fan, to provoke this old scholar’s displeasure!

“Upon learning of your departure, young master Fang, my master tasked me to see you off…”

An elderly man, stepping on an ephemeral cloud, approached Fang Cun’s cloud with a respectful bow. His robes identified him as a Steward from the Nanli family of Seven Clans. Though he spoke of seeing someone off, his tray held only a single cup of wine. His demeanor was respectful, yet somehow, that very respect conveyed an unmistakable inner chill.

“My master said: second young master Fang is a unique genius of this generation, a dragon among men. Not only my Nanli house, but all Seven Clans hold you in the highest admiration. All fellow Qi Refiners of Qingjiang are branches of the same path; we ought to support each other, have much to learn from each other. It’s a pity that before, misled by slanderous petty men, second young master Fang seemed to have some misunderstandings about Seven Clans. Now, having been enlightened by Old Master Fan, we hope second young master Fang will set aside his biases!”

“As fellow guests at Lingwu Sect now, there’s nothing substantial to offer. We can only bid you farewell with this cup of wine!”

“In the future, when second young master Fang has time to visit the Seven Clans domain… then more generous gifts will be presented…”

The words were extremely smooth, without a single flaw. Yet, hearing them, the expressions of the surrounding Qi Refiners all darkened.

Seemed like the Seven Clans’ resentment ran deep indeed…

The mighty Seven Clans still had many important figures present, yet they sent only a steward to bid farewell — this in itself conveyed contempt. Moreover, this steward brought nothing but a single cup of wine. Recalling the overwhelming extravagance Seven Clans displayed when Fang Cun first arrived at Lingwu Sect, it wasn’t hard to see the weight of their bitterness now…

This was actually understandable.

This trip to Lingwu Sect had been enormously costly for Seven Clans too.

Originally, their deal with Crow Mountain was a minor matter, unnoticed and unknown. But that little Sect Master Xu from Shoushan Sect insisted on prying and probing relentlessly, vexing Seven Clans immensely. Then, because they were played at by this second young master Fang, both sides ended up staging the drama of the Ghost Official terrorizing Qingjiang Prison, suffering great losses. Precisely because of this, they spurred the real Ghost Official into action…

How many from Seven Clans had died throughout this ordeal? How much loss had they suffered?

Could they possibly feel no resentment?

Crucially, because Bai Huaiyu was scared out of his wits, he publicly confessed the illicit southern trade before all assembled. This was an almost fatal blow to Seven Clans, a knife stabbed straight into the heart. Though Seven Clans’ unique standing meant Old Master Fan ultimately couldn’t directly punish them, the fact that Old Master Fan held this leverage meant they were compelled to forfeit massive quantities of Dragon Stone. Putting it plainly, the scale of their loss this time was staggering — losses so profound they could weep thinking about their grandmother’s house.

Who were these losses blamed on?

That little Sect Master Xu was merely reckless. The real reason things escalated this far? Undoubtedly this second young master Fang.

So, sending a mere cup of wine? At a time like this, sending a funeral bell (zhōng – homophone with ‘clock’) wouldn’t cool their rage…

“Very well. Please convey my thanks to the honored elders of Seven Clans…”

Amidst the crowd’s complex moods, Fang Cun softly agreed and raised the cup.

He drained it in one gulp, placed it back on the tray, and walked onward with a smile.

Everyone looked surprised, a bit stunned. Seven Clans sending this cup of wine had carried definite undertones of anger and defiance…

Had second young master Fang drinking it signaled submission?

“Seven Clans are too arrogant. They deserve… they deserve being killed off by the Ghost Official…”

As they walked further, Meng Zhixue next to Fang Cun gritted her teeth and whispered fiercely.

“Oh?”

Fang Cun felt a flicker of surprise. He hadn’t expected someone like Meng Zhixue to say such things, showing how deep her anger ran. He chuckled, lowering his voice to respond: “Killing them now? What good would it do? It’s the critical moment when the Spirit Wells run dry. Kill them all, and the common people would be frightened and resentful. Stir that all up, and the Spirit Wells likely would collapse completely…”

“But…” Meng Zhixue clenched her jaw slightly, “…Isn’t it them muddying Qingjiang’s waters?”

“Perhaps!”

Fang Cun nodded. “But among the people, their reputation isn’t bad. Killing them would only unleash chaos!”

Listening to his logic – sounding more and more like Lu Xiao – Meng Zhixue felt an involuntary chill.

She couldn’t help but look directly at him: “Second young master Fang… do you really mean…”

“Sometimes, I do truly want to. Because that approach… it’s the path of ease,” Fang Cun murmured quietly, sighing.

He looked eastward. Just after Bai Huaiyu was escorted onto the Dharma Ship, the unassuming Young Sect Master Xu — who had been quietly following him, unnoticed by most — vanished. Young Master Xu had trailed Young Master Bai.

Glancing toward the towering platforms where dossiers were being ferried, Lin Jiyi — disguised as a Shoushan Sect disciple — gave Fang Cun a distant nod before disappearing into the pine woods.

The Holy Maiden from the Moon Tribe of the Witch Clan, her belongings packed, ready to set out for Great Qingjiang City to save the Spirit Wells, shot Fang Cun a look.

Most noticeably, a small figure, dusty from long travel, appeared at Lingwu Sect’s mountain gate entrance: Xiao Qingliu.

He seemed exhausted from journeying thousands of miles, finally arriving, giving a distant wave to Fang Cun.

…

Fang Cun nodded at Meng Zhixue. “Sometimes it feels so unfair. The same event, you see it, I see it. Some can stomach it, let it pass, like kitchen oil spilled on the floor — they can truly walk past without picking it up. Others? They just can’t ignore it, can’t endure it. They always have to bend down and right it… only to be called fools for the trouble?”

Hearing this, Meng Zhixue felt startled internally, a little hesitant: “Second young master Fang.. you…”

I don’t want to pick the bottle up. After all, it doesn’t cost me any real oil…” Fang Cun smiled as he answered.

“But I don’t know why… I just can’t help it. I damn well couldn’t stand the bottle tilted!”