ILDV Chapter 49.2

“Venerable, stop fooling around. We all know you want to become the First Demon Venerable and dominate the Northern Demon Territory. The key point now is the treasure map! Where is the treasure map? Quickly take it out and let us keep it safe for you, otherwise who knows when you’ll lose this precious shortcut to becoming the First Demon Venerable!”

“I don’t have it! How many times does Laozi have to say—not everyone wants to ascend! I don’t want to ascend, why would I grab that useless broken paper scroll!”

“……”

“……”

The subordinate swallowed a mouthful of blood and said with difficulty, “Venerable, you mean——you didn’t get the treasure map, but were framed by someone, causing us to lose one-tenth of our forces and several million high-grade spirit stones… or more?”

His eyes were full of hope, sincerely hoping Chao Liang could refute his statement.

Venerable Chao’s face gradually turned ashen.

The subordinate’s face gradually turned deathly pale.

“Venerable.” A weak report came from behind a pillar, a black-haired head peeking out, voice like a mosquito’s whine, timely rescuing the master and servant who looked like they were both about to faint. “The Ninth Venerable has come to visit and is waiting outside.”

“Master, do we really not need to care about what happens with the treasure map afterward?” Qin Xun was deeply worried, pacing endlessly in the cabin. “If Chao Liang really took it, with his ability, I’m afraid he can’t hold onto it. In the end, it will still fall into Yan Yan’s hands.”

“Rest assured, what ‘Shen Muxuan’ said is true—the thing is indeed not in Chao Liang’s hands.” 

“Ah?” Qin Xun suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock and doubt. “Yan Yan is suspicious by nature. If Chao Liang returns empty-handed, how would he believe it?”

“Originally he wouldn’t.” Yin Lang withdrew his gaze from the continuous green mountains outside the window and sneered, “But what if the dog he used and his loyal subordinates both died under the Tianji Sword?”

Qin Xun understood.

Yan Yan had occupied the First Demon Venerable’s throne for too long, and having once touched the threshold of the Dao Integration stage, he was now essentially an arrogant and suspicious old bastard. The Second Venerable was someone he had propped up, and when Yan Guihe was severely injured and went missing, he conveniently promoted his useful subordinate to that position. Just as one-third of the demonic path’s forces were about to fall under his jurisdiction, these two simultaneously perished—it would be strange if Yan Yan didn’t go mad.

“But……” Qin Xun was still puzzled. “With Taihua Immortal Sect blocking, Yan Yan temporarily can’t trouble you. But Qi Zheng and Li Xuan were both injured in this battle. If Yan Yan is determined, those two alone probably can’t withstand the Supreme Palace’s demonic cultivator army.”

Yin Lang showed a strange smile. “Disciple, take a longer view.”

His index finger tapped lightly on the window sill. “What was the Beiyu City auction for?”

“Daoist Tianxuan’s treasure map… I understand!” Qin Xun caught on immediately, suddenly enlightened. “Daoist Tianxuan’s inheritance will appear soon. As long as Yan Yan still wants the Primordial Jade fragment, he won’t be foolish enough to waste his vital forces at this time. Instead, he’ll temporarily relax his control over Jiuyou Court and the Second Venerable’s forces, wholeheartedly reorganizing the Supreme Palace’s forces that are absolutely loyal to him.”

“There’s still one more point, but being able to see this far is already quite good.” Yin Lang was rather gratified, patting his disciple’s shoulder and supplementing, “Just watch. Before long, Yan Yan will issue a Demon Lord’s decree to the entire Northern Demon Territory, calling ahead of schedule for this generation’s Ten Demon Venerable ranking battle.”

“Master, may I come in?” The door was knocked, and Xu Rong’s voice came from outside.

The two exchanged glances. Yin Lang’s eyes showed an interest that confused Qin Xun. He raised his hand to cancel the soundproofing technique and said gently, “Come in.”

Xu Rong stepped in with a perfectly standard look of admiration, taking his first step toward approaching his Master. He set foot on the cabin floor, maintaining his smile as he looked up… then his eyes suddenly died.

He stared fixedly at Qin Xun, who habitually sat in the seat across from Master, gritting his teeth. “What. A. Coincidence. Senior Brother is here too?”

Qin Xun thought for two seconds but couldn’t figure out how he’d upset this cheap junior brother again, so he decided to stop thinking about it. Upset is upset—did he think he was still that precious young master everyone revolved around? Young Venerable Qin didn’t have the patience to humor him.

He turned his head back on his own, habitually leaning on the table, and continued asking, “Master, now that the auction trip is over, after returning to the sect, will you continue traveling abroad?”

This was code between master and disciple—’traveling abroad’ meant ‘returning to the Eighteenth Hell.’

Xu Rong strode forward with large steps, keeping a straight face as he straightened Qin Xun from his boneless posture slouched over the table. “Senior Brother, mind your bearing.”

“……”

Qin Xun’s eyes narrowed slightly. His hands were itching—he wanted to beat up this junior brother. He looked down at the immortal sect uniform he was wearing and, holding back, asked, “What’s wrong with my bearing?”

Xu Rong looked at him as if the answer was obvious. “Shizun is seated, Senior Brother should properly be standing in attendance. How can you sit across from Shizun, let alone display such a disrespectful appearance? I heard the Feng clan is also a major cultivation family—is this the extent of their upbringing and propriety?”

“Mm, yes.”

“How unfortunate… Hmm?” Xu Rong was stunned into silence.

Qin Xun looked up at him and repeated, “I said yes, the Feng clan’s upbringing is exactly that lacking in propriety. Does junior brother have any other objections?”

“I……”

“Enough.” A hand reached over to rest on Qin Xun’s shoulder, patting lightly. Shen Muxuan’s light glance carried no particular meaning, yet made Xu Rong’s heart skip a beat.

“This master doesn’t have all those messy complicated rules here. As long as you disciples respect me in your hearts, that’s enough. Be more casual in daily life. Little disciple, don’t bring those aristocratic family habits of yours here. This master came from rural farming origins and can’t stand those pretentious noble rules.”

His words inside and out were all protecting Feng Lan, making Xu Rong’s heart turn sour. The already churning sea of vinegar in his heart set off towering waves. He lowered his head, his voice aggrieved, “It’s my fault. This disciple has always felt that being Shizun’s disciple is a blessing cultivated over eight lifetimes. Seeing Senior Brother’s words and actions, I couldn’t help my momentary indignation. But there’s one more thing that even if Senior Brother dislikes it, I must say.”

Qin Xun looked on coldly. “Speak.”

Xu Rong raised his head to look directly at him, deliberately trying to provoke Feng Lan. “Since Senior Brother was picked up by Shizun and is from a branch family, presumably you weren’t very valued in the Feng clan. To be able to emerge from the interwoven web of competing interests to become Shizun’s disciple, the grand-disciple of the Sword-Wielding Elder, Senior Brother must surely know in your heart how much weight the Sword-Wielding Elder’s recognition carries——“

“Shut up!” Yin Lang shouted sternly to stop him, but it was already too late.

Qin Xun had a lazy, couldn’t-be-bothered expression when listening to the first half, but upon hearing the last sentence, he suddenly straightened up, his expression so cold it was as if he would violently attack someone at any moment.

He smiled slightly and said softly, “Junior brother’s earlier words weren’t wrong. I truly wasn’t valued, born with both parents dead, no one to raise me, just a lucky wild brat who can’t compare to junior brother’s noble birth and dual talents in looks and ability. It’s all thanks to Feng……”

“Enough!”

Yin Lang slammed heavily on the wooden table, making a harsh loud noise, broken wood shards and splinters scattering on the ground. Without raising his head, he said coldly, “Get out.”

Xu Rong had never seen Shen Muxuan this frightening in either lifetime and immediately froze in place.

Yin Lang slowly turned his head, enunciating each word, “I told you to get out. Are you deaf?!”

Footsteps slowly faded away, and the door closed again.

The soundproofing technique was reactivated. Yin Lang closed his eyes, stroking Qin Xun’s stiff spine with extremely gentle force, soothing his emotions.

“I hate him even more than you do. But Ah Xun, remember—hatred is for one day seeking revenge, not for drowning yourself in hatred unable to find release. Hatred is our driving force to forge ahead through thorns, not a tool for self-torture. Like this, you only make those close to you grieve and those who are enemies rejoice.”

His voice was hoarse but carried a strange magic that gradually calmed Qin Xun’s emotions that were on the verge of collapse.

Qin Xun curled up in his embrace, trembling as he reached out to encircle Yin Lang’s waist, murmuring in a low voice, “I will kill him. I will definitely kill him with my own hands……”

****

“Are you brain-damaged or dying of old age to say such things to me? Yes, you’ve dedicated your life working hard for the sect, but what does that have to do with your incompetent great-great-great-great-grandson? Since when did Taihua Immortal Sect follow mortal customs of hereditary privilege and nepotism?”

As soon as Lu Li entered Huayuan Hall, he heard Tu Feng cursing furiously, “Get out, get out, get out! If you want a spot for your great-great-great-great-grandson, let him earn it with his own ability. Don’t give me this crap about swallowing your pride to beg me. I don’t care what previous Sect Masters did—since I took office, Taihua Immortal Sect doesn’t have this rule!”

A figure was thrown out. The old man’s face was flushed red. Without even seeing clearly who was in front of him, he covered his face and fled.

Lu Li finished watching the show and walked in with a chuckle. “Another one trying to use connections?”

Tu Feng sat on the Sect Master’s throne, catching his breath, and said irritably, “A bunch of good-for-nothings beyond help. Sooner or later I’ll throw them all out of this sect one by one. Each eating spirit pills and miraculous medicines, thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old and still haven’t even reached Golden Core—all spoiled rotten by these shameless old bastards!” After cursing, he asked, “What does Elder Lu need?”

Lu Li said seriously, “I’ve been cooped up in the immortal sect for so many years, I’m tired of the scenery. Recently I want to learn from young Shen and go out for a stroll.”

“Fine.” Tu Feng agreed immediately. “But you’ll have to wait a bit. Recently, Daoist Tianxuan’s inheritance has been causing a huge commotion—even Tianji has returned. You at least need to help me deal with this mess before you go.”

Lu Li: …………

I’m trying to leave precisely to avoid the crowds!

Tu Feng, who had been tormented to the point of mental exhaustion, didn’t notice this martial uncle’s peculiarity. During this period, he wished he could split himself into seventeen or eighteen people to handle various related matters. Even Lu Changfeng had been sent out, otherwise with one careless moment, who knows how many loopholes these parasites would exploit.

Right there, he grabbed Lu Li and began pouring out his grievances—from the upcoming internal sect selection for spots, to the Immortal Dao Grand Assembly led by the three great immortal sects with hundreds of large and small sects participating, and then to the Dao Integration inheritance secret realm whose internal dangers worried him for the disciples. By the end, Lu Li felt that the position of a major sect’s master truly wasn’t fit for human beings.

Facing Tu Feng’s hopeful eyes, he felt pity and said to him, “Isn’t young Shen coming back soon? You can grab him to help. I just remembered there’s still something at the Beast Garden, so I’ll go first……”

He turned to leave.

But ran into someone head-on. “Haha, the Sect Master is truly popular today. Why has Elder Li come as well?”

Li Su hurriedly nodded to him and lifted her skirt, rushing into Huayuan Hall. She said urgently, “Sect Master, quickly activate the trapping formation of Sword-Inquiry Valley! Hua Feiying rescued Hua Qilan from Heavenly Punishment Ravine. The two have already broken into Sword-Inquiry Valley. If Hua Qilan gains the recognition of the Yaoguang Sword, there will be big trouble!”