Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 130: Black River’s Grim Tidings

“Will there be trouble?”

Wei Minniang pressed herself against Qi Xiu’s chest, eyes brimming as she stared toward Shandu Mountain. Ever since the two Golden Cores had flown off in that direction, rolling thunderclaps had echoed across the distance—loud enough to rattle the windows of Immortal Grove Hollow. Only a battle between Golden Core cultivators could carry that kind of raw power.

The entire sect had been jolted awake. Disciples stood on rooftops, peering into the night.

“Probably not,” Qi Xiu said, tightening his arms around her chilled body. Guilt gnawed at him. “I already sent Shen Chang to scout. We wait for his report.”

Inside, he knew better. The Chu family had played their cards brilliantly. No wonder they’d insisted he settle in Immortal Grove Hollow, right on the Wei family’s doorstep. This frame-job was seamless—goat hanging from a cliff, no tracks left behind. Wei Tong and Wei Xuan were probably racking their brains right now, wondering why disaster had fallen from a clear sky. If the Wei family were wiped out for no reason at all… how could he ever face Minniang again?

Zhang Shishi, who hadn’t shown his face in months, came hurrying from his residence at the sound of commotion.

“Sect Leader, it looks like the Wei family is in danger. Should we—”

“Wait for news,” Qi Xiu cut in, forcing calm into his voice. “We don’t know anything yet.”

Shen Chang returned soon after, breathless. He hadn’t dared get close; the fighting was too fierce. The Wei family’s vassal sects nearby claimed ignorance when questioned. Nothing useful.

Of course they knew nothing. Only Qi Xiu and Chu Duo understood the truth. Sending Shen Chang had been theater—something to do while they waited for the axe to fall.

“If the Wei family falls,” Zhang Shishi began, glancing at Wei Minniang, “then Immortal Grove…”

He didn’t finish. Qi Xiu understood. If the Wei clan were exterminated, staying in Immortal Grove Hollow would become untenable. But compared to total destruction of the sect, losing the mountain was nothing. They still had Black River Market. Everything else could be sacrificed.

Qi Xiu sighed. “We’re powerless here. Don’t dwell on it.”

He didn’t want Minniang worrying. The distant booms continued all night, fraying nerves. Just as he was about to urge her to take the children inside to rest, Yu Deno came hurrying up, face ashen, clutching a folded letter.

“What is it?”

Qi Xiu’s stomach dropped at the old man’s expression.

Yu Deno’s hand shook as he passed the letter over. Tears welled up. His voice cracked.

“Sect Leader… brace yourself.”

Qi Xiu’s heart lurched. He snatched the paper, unfolded it.

The words blurred.

Then blood sprayed from his mouth. His body folded backward. Darkness swallowed him.

Disciples rushed forward in panic. Zhang Shishi picked up the fallen letter, scanned it, and let out a strangled cry.

“Zhan Yuan—!”

“Dead?!”

Shen Chang tore the paper from his hands, read it, passed it to Pan Rong. Both men stood speechless, throats tight.

Wei Minniang cradled Qi Xiu’s unconscious body, sobbing openly. The courtyard filled with mournful wind.

“Get Senior Bai!” Zhang Shishi barked at Yu Jing.

A pang of fox-dead-rabbit-sorrow twisted in his chest. He’d spent years resenting Zhan Yuan. After He Yu left, that resentment had quietly faded. They’d stopped clashing. And now Zhan Yuan had gone ahead of him…

Memories of shared hardship—ten-plus years of storms weathered side by side—rose unbidden. Tears slipped down Zhang Shishi’s cheeks without a sound.

Bai Xiaosheng arrived quickly. He read the letter in silence, grief etching deeper lines into his face. Yet he had endured too much suffering to break. His voice stayed steady.

“I have to go to Black River at once. I’ll take Sect Leader Qi with me.”

He tapped Qi Xiu’s forehead lightly. Qi Xiu’s eyes fluttered open.

“Zhan Yuan…”

The moment consciousness returned, grief crashed over him. He wailed like a child. Wei Minniang rubbed his back, tears streaming in sympathy.

“Enough crying,” Bai Xiaosheng said sharply. “You’re the Sect Leader. Pull yourself together. We leave now.”

He scooped Qi Xiu up, summoned his flying sword. Wei Minniang stepped forward.

“I’m coming too. Muhan is due any day. With Zhan Yuan gone… a woman should be there for her.”

Bai Xiaosheng nodded wordlessly. He gave a curt salute to Zhang Shishi and the others, then shot skyward toward Black River Market.

Twice they were intercepted by Qi Yun-affiliated cultivators demanding identification and cultivation checks. Each delay felt like a knife twist.

When they finally reached Black River Market, the sight stole their breath.

Destruction everywhere. Buildings reduced to rubble. Wails rose from every corner. The Chu Qin Sect’s entire block had been razed flat—nothing left but scorched earth.

Bai Xiaosheng grabbed a passing Grand View Pavilion enforcer.

“What happened here?”

The man spat a stream of curses and gave the short version.

Bai Xiaosheng didn’t waste time listening further. He learned Bai Muhan had been taken to Black River Peak and immediately changed course.

They landed to find Zhan Yuan’s body laid out in the main hall.

Bai Muhan sat beside it, belly swollen, face bloodless from exhaustion. She stared blankly at her husband’s face, as if the world had ended and she was still waiting for someone to tell her it was a mistake.

Bai Xiaosheng’s iron composure cracked. He knelt and pulled his daughter into his arms, murmuring broken comforts.

Qi Xiu staggered forward. Trembling fingers brushed Zhan Yuan’s cold cheek. Tears fell freely.

This disciple had been the most like him—pragmatic, stubborn, willing to grind himself down for the sect. More than a decade of shared struggle, and now he was gone.

Of the original ten who came south with him, Gu Ji and Huang He had died in battle. He Yu had defected. Now Zhan Yuan too.

The circle of people he could truly trust was shrinking. Loneliness pressed heavier than ever.

He thought of how, just days ago, Zhan Yuan had been grinning ear to ear when Qi Xiu handed over the funds to bid on the new shop. The memory cut deeper than any blade.

They sat together in silence, weeping.

Qin Weiyu cried dumbly beside them. Mo Jianxin moved quietly, preparing funeral arrangements with steady hands.

Eventually Bai Muhan came back to herself. She coughed up a mouthful of black blood, then told the story in a flat, exhausted voice.

She handed Qi Xiu a small orb.

The Black River Pearl—taken from Wang Qing years ago, originally meant for Zhan Yuan to use while working in the market. Now it was just another keepsake.

“That old dog Chu Youguang,” Bai Xiaosheng growled.

Between his daughter’s account and the Pavilion enforcer’s story, the pieces fit.

Chu Youguang had been running a thriving black market in Black River for years, raking in wealth. He’d even spent fortunes on longevity pills that made Golden Core cultivators salivate. During the once-a-decade tournament, with cultivators flooding the market, he’d gone all-in—multiple black auctions, openly flaunting his gains.

Another group of White Mountain desperadoes saw an opportunity. They banded together to rob Chu Youguang’s stronghold—formerly Chu Youmin’s territory.

Chu Youguang, paranoid and hoarding every life-saving treasure he owned, managed to flee all the way back to Black River Market.

His pursuers arrived at the worst possible moment—right after the tournament ended, when most of the strongest cultivators had left.

They decided to go all out: storm the market, kill anyone who resisted, loot everything in sight.

Chu Youguang retreated to his auction house. The Chu Qin Sect’s properties sat closest. Zhan Yuan had fought desperately, forcing the Black River Pearl into Bai Muhan’s mouth and shoving her into the filthy river mud to hide. He bought her and their unborn child a few more breaths.

He never got to see the baby.

“One of the robbers was Golden Core,” Bai Muhan said quietly. Her tears had long since dried. “His innate talent summoned a sky full of blood shadows. Touch them and you dissolve. Many of the Wei family’s and Qin family’s mortals were melted into red water. No bodies left.”

She paused, hand resting on her belly.

“If not for that fool husband of mine, I wouldn’t have wanted to live on alone.”

Her brows suddenly furrowed. Cold sweat broke out across her forehead.

Wei Minniang recognized the signs at once.

“She’s going into labor.”

She called for attendants. They hurried Bai Muhan away to prepare.

In the hall, only three useless men remained: Qi Xiu, Bai Xiaosheng, and Qin Weiyu.

Qi Xiu let out a long, hollow sigh.

“A lifetime of painstaking effort… for what? In the end, death leaves everything empty.”