novelraw Chapter 931: Building Her Future Court
Chapter 931: Building Her Future Court
Han Yu believed Mistress Love Wine completely.
She was dangerous and intelligent, but her temperament truly lacked the disposition needed to govern an enormous sect. She was more suited for manipulation and influence than leadership itself.
Mistress Love Wine continued calmly now.
"Besides, supporting someone strong brings benefits too. Stability. Influence. Protection. Resources."
She glanced toward Lady Rot Rose.
"And Rot Rose fulfills agreements properly."
Lady Rot Rose merely smiled faintly without commenting.
Next Daoist Snake Face spoke.
His voice remained calm and measured as always.
"The position of Patriarch requires more than power."
Han Yu looked toward him.
Daoist Snake Face continued.
"It requires constant visibility. Political engagement. Public influence. Endless interaction with people."
Then he lightly tapped the table.
"I dislike people."
Han Yu almost laughed internally.
That explanation somehow perfectly suited the man.
Daoist Snake Face continued speaking calmly.
"My interests lie elsewhere. Research. Travel. Poison cultivation. Exploration."
The serpent-eyed man leaned back slightly.
"I gain far more freedom supporting Lady Rot Rose than competing directly for the throne myself."
That answer also made sense.
Han Yu had already gathered that Daoist Snake Face either spent long periods outside the sect pursuing unknown objectives or spent his time in his valley secluded. He rarely interacted within the sect itself.
A Patriarch could not disappear for months at a time casually.
The role demanded constant presence.
Constant oversight.
Daoist Snake Face would suffocate under such responsibility.
Then Master Swamp Leech quietly spoke next.
"...people would never accept me."
The pavilion grew slightly quieter.
Han Yu looked toward him carefully.
Master Swamp Leech lowered his head slightly while speaking.
"My cultivation path damaged my appearance too severely long ago."
His voice remained calm, though Han Yu still sensed traces of bitterness hidden beneath it.
"The elders might tolerate me. Fear me. Use me."
He lightly touched the edge of the parasite cylinder beside him.
"But they would never willingly follow me as Patriarch."
Han Yu could not deny that reality.
Politics within the Blood Sect still relied heavily on image despite all its cruelty.
Master Swamp Leech’s appearance terrified even experienced cultivators.
His very presence unsettled people instinctively.
And unlike Daoist Snake Face, whose appearance still carried a strange elegance...
Master Swamp Leech genuinely looked like a plague given human form.
Mistress Love Wine sighed dramatically.
"You would scare half the disciples into heart attacks during speeches."
Master Swamp Leech looked hurt again immediately.
Han Yu quickly interrupted before another emotional breakdown occurred.
"You possess talents suited for entirely different roles."
Master Swamp Leech visibly brightened slightly from the reassurance.
"Yes," he said quietly. "Lady Rot Rose understands that."
Lady Rot Rose calmly nodded.
"Swamp Leech’s abilities are invaluable."
Han Yu silently agreed.
The parasites alone were horrifying strategic assets.
Then finally...
Han Yu looked toward Daoist Blood Pool.
Among everyone present, he remained the most confusing.
The others all had understandable reasons.
Mistress Love Wine lacked interest in rulership.
Daoist Snake Face preferred isolation.
Master Swamp Leech lacked political viability.
But Daoist Blood Pool?
The man was powerful.
Respected.
Feared.
Popular among many disciples focused on combat and body cultivation.
Many within the sect genuinely considered him one of the strongest contenders for future Patriarch.
Han Yu looked directly at him.
"You are different."
Daoist Blood Pool grinned.
"How so?"
"You have the strength, influence, and reputation to contend for the position yourself."
The large man stared at Han Yu for several long moments.
Then suddenly...
He burst into laughter.
Not mocking laughter this time.
Genuine laughter.
Finally he slammed a massive hand onto the table.
"Because I would be a terrible Patriarch."
Han Yu blinked slightly.
Daoist Blood Pool grinned broadly.
"You know what I enjoy?"
"Fighting?" Han Yu guessed.
"Exactly."
The large body cultivator leaned back heavily.
"I enjoy training. Fighting. Crushing enemies. Breaking mountains. Hunting beasts. Drinking wine."
Then his grin widened further.
"I do not enjoy politics."
Han Yu stared at him carefully.
Daoist Blood Pool snorted.
"The current Patriarch spends more time dealing with elders than fighting. I would rather rip out my own beard."
That explanation...
Actually sounded believable.
Daoist Blood Pool continued more seriously now.
"Strength alone does not make someone suited to rule."
For the first time tonight, the crude body cultivator sounded unexpectedly thoughtful.
"I know my own nature. I solve problems with fists first. Sometimes second too."
Mistress Love Wine laughed.
"You forgot third."
Daoist Blood Pool ignored her.
"Lady Rot Rose possesses what I lack. Patience. Calculation. Vision."
Then his grin returned again.
"And if she becomes Matriarch, I still get to fight people for her as her General."
Han Yu finally understood.
These people were not blindly following Lady Rot Rose.
Each one had weighed benefits against ambition.
And all of them had reached the same conclusion.
Supporting Lady Rot Rose benefited them more than competing against her.
Which said something terrifying about just how capable she truly was.
Han Yu slowly turned toward Lady Rot Rose herself.
The woman remained reclining elegantly against her seat while crimson smoke drifted around her lazily.
She looked relaxed.
Confident.
Entirely in control.
And for the first time tonight...
Han Yu finally realized something clearly.
Lady Rot Rose was not merely gathering allies.
She was already building a future court around herself.
The pavilion grew strangely quiet after everyone finished explaining their stance.
Han Yu sat there calmly with a cup of wine in his hand while the gazes around the table slowly settled upon him one after another.
No one spoke.
No one directly questioned him.
Yet the question hanging in the air was obvious to everyone present.
’What about you?’
Han Yu understood immediately what this silence meant.
Lady Rot Rose had revealed her ambitions openly.
The others had revealed their positions openly.
Now it was his turn.
Was he going to support Lady Rot Rose?
Was he going to reject her?
Or perhaps...
Was Ju Fan truly aiming for the position of Patriarch himself?
That was what everyone here wanted to know.
And honestly speaking, their suspicion made perfect sense.
Everything Ju Fan had done over the past years pointed toward the image of a future Patriarch.
Influence.
Wealth.
Political networks.
Sect contributions.
Faction building.
Strategic control over industries.
Even the Jiangshi market alone was enough to elevate him into one of the most influential disciples within the entire sect.
Then there were the mines.
The puppet workshops.
The alliances with elders.
The endless stream of resources flowing into his hands.