Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 131: The Chaotic Situation

The Artifact Talisman Alliance, the Linked Waters League, and a handful of other major sects from the White Mountains had rounded up over a dozen Golden Core cultivators. They'd hammered away at Mount Capital all night, smashing through Wei Xuan's defenses, leaving Wei Tong battered and broken. In the end, they forced the Wei family to cave—letting their people swarm into the mountain gates to hunt down suspects tied to the stolen infants from the White Mountains.

The area around Mount Capital was sealed tighter than a drum, not a soul slipping through. Meanwhile, cultivators from the Southern Chu Sect, the Vast Assembly Pavilion, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and the Spirit Herb Pavilion were shuttling back and forth from Black River to Artifact Talisman City, chasing down the bandits who'd torn through Black River Market like a storm.

From Black River to Mount Capital, the night turned into a whirlwind of paranoia—roads cut off, every shadow a potential threat, folks hunkering down in fear.

Qi Xiu was stuck on Black River Peak, relying on messenger ravens to keep tabs on things. Chu Duo had holed up in the Immortal Forest's secret vault, and no one in the sect had a clue. Zhang Shishi knew about that hideout, and Mo Guining was even more in the loop, but barring some nasty twist of fate, they probably wouldn't connect the dots. Qi Xiu sure as hell wasn't about to bring it up himself.

Chu Duo was on his own now—pure luck would decide his fate.

Mo Jianxin, young and green when it came to handling funerals, botched the whole thing into a mess. Qi Xiu had to step in, sending him to the Zhen Yang Liu family for a decent coffin. With Black River Market in utter chaos, the Lius had lost people too, not to mention the big players like Vast Assembly Pavilion and Myriad Treasures Pavilion—ambitious sects digging deep roots here, only to capsize in the gutter with heavy casualties.

The Nascent Soul elder from Vast Assembly Pavilion was furious enough to show up in person, vowing no rest until those desperados were dragged out kicking and screaming.

Qi Xiu dragged himself together, preparing Yuan Zhan's body and laying it out in the back mountain's spirit hall. Staring at the overgrown graves of Gu Ji and Huang He, he couldn't stop sighing. Back then, it was Yuan Zhan who'd handled their send-offs. Who could've guessed it'd come full circle like this?

"The Vast Assembly Pavilion cultivators are tearing through the place like mad dogs, hunting anyone who moves. Just their luck—the Artifact Talisman Alliance's Golden Cores were all off besieging the Wei family at Mount Capital, letting those bandits slip right through their territory into the White Mountains' depths. Now, Vast Assembly's pinning the blame on them. And their Nascent Soul ancestor? He's raging at the Southern Chu Sect's Chu Youguang for stirring up trouble. Sure, Chu Youguang got himself killed in the mess, and they turned a blind eye to his black market back in the day, but that doesn't stop the finger-pointing. Word's out he's gunning for Ancestor Chu Hongchang next. Even the Great Zhou Academy's been rattled—sending specialists over. One for that Blood Shadow heretic cultivator, the other for the infant thefts in the White Mountains."

Bai Xiaosheng had ditched any pretense of dignity, rounding up the surviving Bai and Qin mortals in Black River Market to sort out funerals for the dead. Some bodies were gone for good, so they buried clothes or keepsakes instead—just something to remember them by. Along the way, he'd picked up scraps of intel, piecing together the current mess, and looped back to hash it out with Qi Xiu.

"That Vast Assembly Pavilion's Nascent Soul ancestor sure throws his weight around, huh? Back then, he used Chu Youmin's rudeness as an excuse to muscle in on Chu Hongchang and claim half of Black River Market like he owned it. Now he's blaming everyone under the sun. Chu Youguang was a real piece of work, no doubt, but if Vast Assembly hadn't slacked on security, this disaster never hits." Qi Xiu frowned, voicing his doubts.

The Great Zhou Academy's involvement was nothing but bad news for him—who knew what secret arts those overseers of the cultivation world might wield, maybe even piercing through his "Out of Reckoning" ability. But that worry? He kept it locked tight, sharing with no one.

"Tch! Qi, my friend, you're out of the loop. Vast Assembly's backed by Gao Guangsheng—Nascent Soul late stage. Why would he give a damn about an early-stage like Chu Hongchang? Those Artifact Talisman Golden Cores? They're ants to him. If the old man's truly pissed, the whole sky might flip."

Liu Yi from the Zhen Yang Liu family had been sent to pay respects, lounging in the hall. Straightforward guy, simple as they come—Qi Xiu had spared his life once, so he warmed up quick. But experience? Lacking. His mouth ran without a filter.

"The Artifact Talisman Alliance steps out to settle scores, only for their backyard to catch fire..."

Bai Xiaosheng cut off mid-sentence, locking eyes with Qi Xiu before clamming up. With Liu Yi there, some things stayed unsaid. The Alliance's predicament meant the Weis at Mount Capital might breathe easier—and for the Chu Qin Sect, that was a silver lining. Both knew it without a word.

A wail echoed from the back mountain. Wei Minniang appeared, tear-streaked but forcing a smile, to share the news. "It's born—Mu Han's given birth to a healthy boy!"

"Oh! Let me see!" Bai Xiaosheng bolted like an arrow, rushing to Yuan Zhan's quarters on Black River Peak for a glimpse of his grandson.

"You're worn out too. Get some rest..."

With Liu Yi around, Qi Xiu couldn't get too close, so he just watched her with aching concern, his voice soft.

"Yeah, I'll catch some sleep. You should turn in early yourself."

Wei Minniang glanced at Liu Yi, but the guy had zero sense for hints—no mention of leaving. No choice but to exchange a few quick words with Qi Xiu before heading back to the Chu Qin Observatory's head chamber for rest.

Qi Xiu endured Liu Yi's chatter for what felt like ages until the man finally bowed out. The moment he was gone, Qi Xiu hurried to the back mountain to check on Yuan Zhan's last legacy.

"He's named Zhan Chou—never forget the grudge of a slain father."

Bai Muhan lay on the bed, gazing at the infant in Qi Xiu's arms, her tone grave.

Qi Xiu sighed inwardly. That nameless Golden Core heretic had vanished into the White Mountains' wilds—scouring every inch to root him out? Easier said than done. If they failed, and the heat died down, Vast Assembly—as a mercantile power—might lose interest. Avenging Yuan Zhan then? Slim chance.

He flicked his "Glimpse Humanity" ability over the baby, spotting a trace of an innate affinity. Kids usually didn't show theirs until three, but Qi Xiu's gift bypassed that.

"Could this be destiny after all?"

Holding little Zhan Chou, the thought flickered through his mind. Maybe the kid would grow up to settle his father's score. Qi Xiu vowed to nurture him right—couldn't let Bai Muhan down.

"The boy stays with me here in Black River Market."

Bai Muhan's words set Bai Xiaosheng off. "What? You're sticking around? Come back to Immortal Forest Hollow with me!"

"Yuan Zhan spent his life building this business. The sect shelled out a fortune in spirit stones to Duoluo Xin for those shops. If I bail, it's all for nothing—betraying his lifelong dream. He wouldn't rest easy in the grave..."

Bai Muhan was iron-willed; Bai Xiaosheng couldn't budge her. He exchanged a glance with Qi Xiu and backed off.

"Let it be for now. We'll talk her down once she's cooled off."

Qi Xiu offered a few comforting words, secretly admiring Bai Muhan. From that scrap in Nameless Valley, she'd proven steady under fire—decisive, loyal, the stuff of leaders. With Zhang Shishi in a slump and Yuan Zhan gone, passing the head seat to her? It might just work.

Back in the Chu Qin Observatory's head chamber, Wei Minniang was out cold. These days had wrung her dry—the Weis' fate hanging by a thread, her closest friend shattered by tragedy. Her face, still marked by dried tears, held a fragile beauty he hadn't seen since their wedding nights, stirring a deep pity. Not wanting to wake her, he slipped out quietly, sending Qin Weiyu off from spirit hall duty to rest. Alone, he kept vigil with Yuan Zhan through the night.

Lingering on Black River Peak dragged on, with no end in sight to the turmoil in Black River Market or Mount Capital. When the burial day came, none from Immortal Forest Hollow could make it. So they kept it simple, laying Yuan Zhan to earth—far quieter than Gu Ji and Huang He's send-off back then.