Chapter 120: The Storm Has Arrived
Chapter 120: Chapter 120: The Storm Has Arrived
The Qiu Family had long held a grudge against the Xu Family over the affair with the Chen Family. They later occupied the Chen Family’s former lands, increasing the daily friction with the Xu Family. Then, by plotting to sabotage the Xu Family’s Foundation Establishment plans, they tore away all pretense of peace, their conflict turning to open hostility.
It was only after the Xu Family’s Xu Xujun successfully achieved Foundation Establishment that the Qiu Family grew more restrained.
The Xu Family, however, did not choose immediate revenge. Instead, they patiently endured, accelerating their development to strengthen their foundation.
The prosperity of the Cyan Spirit District, in particular, made the Qiu Family both envious and alarmed. The Qiu Family’s leadership knew full well that if they allowed the Xu Family to continue developing in peace, their progress would be incredibly rapid.
Everyone involved, from the two families to the neighboring influences, knew in their hearts that a war between the Xu and Qiu was inevitable.
Once the Xu Family’s strength surpassed the Qiu Family’s, the roles of attacker and defender would undoubtedly be reversed.
When that time came, it would be the Qiu Family who would suffer a grievous loss of vitality, or even face annihilation.
For the time being, however, the Qiu Family still held the upper hand.
And so, the Qiu Family began to make moves in the shadows, attempting to drag the Xu Family into the mire of war and deny them any chance to develop in peace.
The recent attack during the land reclamation was the opening act of the Qiu Family’s new offensive.
Lin Changheng had realized this, and naturally, the Xu Family’s leadership wasn’t foolish either. Internal divisions had formed, leading to frequent debates as they sought a better solution.
The faction represented by Xu Qianzhan was the pro-war party.
Their viewpoint was clear and direct: ’Our clan took abuse before we advanced, and we’re still taking abuse after becoming a Foundation Establishment Clan. What was the point of advancing, then?’
They demanded blood for blood, a tooth for a tooth.
Xu Fugui, naturally following his father-in-law’s lead, was also a staunch member of the pro-war party.
There was also a more moderate party, which argued they should swallow their pride for the time being and focus on development. Once they were stronger, their enemies would naturally not dare to provoke or harm them again.
And if their enemy still acted provocatively then, they would have a much stronger foundation from which to deliver a devastating counterattack.
Lin Changheng had been selected to join the clan’s leadership and had the right to participate in discussions and decisions, but he never involved himself in these matters.
He was, after all, just an Honored Guest Elder. Even a chief guest elder was still a guest, just a more high-level one.
The single word ’guest’ made it all perfectly clear—
He was a guest, not a master of the house.
If Lin Changheng were to truly step in and exercise the power of the leadership, he would be expected to risk life and limb for the Xu Family should any trouble arise.
By keeping this power at arm’s length, he would feel no psychological burden or moral objection to fleeing if the clan ever faced collapse.
This was also the fundamental reason he had refused the marriage proposals for the daughters of three high-ranking members.
Avoid deep entanglements to ensure a timely escape.
Xu Fugui was different. His wives, children, identity, and status were all inextricably bound to the Xu Family. Even his Cultivation had been advanced by one of the family’s Realm-Breaking Pills. Their glory was his glory, their ruin his ruin, so it was only natural for him to exercise his leadership authority.
...
’The Qiu Family!’
Lin Changheng had committed their name to memory. He wouldn’t immediately run to the Qiu Family’s doorstep, screaming for blood to avenge Old Bai. Instead, he would wait for the right time, for the perfect opportunity, and then he would crush them underfoot.
This was simply Lin Changheng’s nature.
He pursued a path of stability and cautious survival.
It is as the saying goes: For a gentleman, ten years is not too late for revenge.
’Old Bai is gone, sleeping an eternal sleep beneath the ground. For his revenge, a hundred years is not too late!’
This philosophy was a consistent part of him. Lin Changheng generally avoided making enemies, but if he did acquire them, he was fully capable of waiting until they were withered with age before striking them in their weakness, or even dancing a jig on their graves.
After a discussion with Xu Fugui and consulting with the deceased’s family, they decided to bury him on the slopes of Cyan Mountain, beside the graves of other talented friends from their past.
It was a high peak, with a panoramic view of the mountains.
They dug into the mountainside and created a cenotaph, for there was no body.
He had been killed by his enemies, who then lured Demon Beasts to the scene to devour his corpse, thereby staging the scene to look like a beast attack.
Finally, they planted a young pine tree over the tomb, to bear witness in his stead to the vast changes of the Immortal Dao and the shifting tides of the world.
After Bai Fengxian’s family departed, Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui remained. They took out a flask of Spirit Wine and sat drinking before the grave mound.
Just as the three of them once sat at the same table, laughing and drinking under the moon.
Only now, one of them had become a mound of dirt and earth.
He could no longer hold a cup; he could only be filled by the gentle breeze and poured out into the dust.
The dregs of wine in their cups reflected a familiar face from a time gone by. The moonlight was the same as ever, but there was no one left to share their boisterous laughter and playful arguments.
...
Lin Changheng sat with Xu Fugui on the peak for the entire night, only descending the mountain the next day.
With his duty done, Lin Changheng had no plans to return to the family compound just yet.
He returned to his small courtyard home in the Guanxia Daoist School. It was clean and tidy, yet Lin Changheng felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
But then a sudden CREAK came from behind him as the unlatched door was pushed open.
"Ah—!"
The gasp that followed was one of surprise and joy, but mostly joy.
Lin Changheng, however, already recognized the newcomer’s voice. ’Who else would it be?’
He turned instantly. He had just caught a glimpse of Tantai Feiyue’s smile as she bit her lip when, before he could see her clearly, a familiar, fragrant breeze washed over him, and a lithe yet full-figured body threw itself into his embrace.
"Brother Lin..."
Her warm, orchid-scented breath tickled his ear, her voice a whisper full of longing, like words spoken in a dream.
They had been apart for a long time, two years without seeing each other, and passion flared instantly.
The door was slammed shut, and the Restriction array was activated.
They paid no mind to the sun still high in the sky, ready to indulge in reminiscing and the music of reunion.
In the past, while perhaps not perfectly matched, the Commandery Princess and Lin Changheng had been equals in their contests, with victories and defeats on both sides.
But now, after two years apart, the Commandery Princess felt immense pressure on this Battle Array...
’Whose subordinate general is this? So ferocious!’
No one answered her.
Time flowed on. The Battle Array thundered and the seven armies were flooded, yet the enemy general remained ruthless and iron-willed, refusing to grant any quarter.
At last, after an unknown length of time, the sounds finally ceased.
The troops retreated, leaving only a ravaged battlefield in their wake.
But neither Tantai Feiyue nor even Lin Changheng himself knew that this increase in his vigor was due to the latent influence of the True Intent of his Rongsheng Divine Abilities.
Yet even in such a state, Lin Changheng did not forget to use his Locking Yang Secret Technique at the final moment.
As for Princess Tantai, she was already fast asleep from exhaustion. There were dried tear stains on her face, but a faint smile graced her lips. She was clearly sleeping soundly.
...
「The next day.」
Lin Changheng followed an exceptionally radiant Tantai Feiyue to see his Black Armored Earth Turtle.
After two years, it was clear the young turtle had been living comfortably. It was now awake—a rare sight—and rolling about in a mud pit.
It was surprisingly agile.
It had been on its back with its four legs in the air, but with a thrust and a retraction of its head, it flipped itself right side up.
He picked up the turtle, now the size of a small millstone, and cast two Cleaning Skills to wash away the mud. After a moment of observation, Lin Changheng praised, "You’ve raised it very well."
"When you ask me to do something, I make sure to do it right."
A proud look appeared on Tantai Feiyue’s face; she was clearly pleased with her turtle-rearing skills.
As the two spoke, the turtle in Lin Changheng’s hands seemed to start in surprise. It sensed a familiar, intimate aura from him. Though the man was a stranger, it felt an irresistible urge to be close to him.
In reality, this was the effect of the Beast Taming Token with which it was bound by contract.