Chapter 34: The Character of a Righteous Sect

The news spread quickly.

Not only the demonic factions, but the righteous factions as well soon received the news.

At that moment, within the Zhengyuan Sect, the entire sect was in a state of panic.

If it were only the Blood Demon Sect or only the Jiang Family, they would not have been afraid. The problem was that the Jiang Family and the Blood Demon Sect were acting together.

That was absolutely not something they could withstand.

It was not as though they had never thought about seeking aid from the other righteous sects.

But first, no one knew what changes had occurred within the Xuantian Sect. 

Recently, it had closed its mountain gate and forbidden people from other sects from entering.

Second, no one knew what madness had gotten into Ji Wuyue, the Haoran Sect’s Saintess, but she would not allow Ji Wushuang to act at such a time.

Ji Wushuang had never wanted a full-scale war between the righteous and demonic paths of Dongzhou to erupt in the first place. 

Now that Ji Wuyue had been found again after being lost, how could he possibly refuse her?

And so it was settled. Neither the Xuantian Sect nor the Haoran Sect would make a move.

That meant the other righteous sects no longer had any reason to intervene either.

Seeking benefit and avoiding harm was everyone’s instinct.

They did not want to wade into this muddy water either.

This left the upper echelon of the Zhengyuan Sect in utter distress. And so, all the elders, Protectors, and others within the Zhengyuan Sect had gathered together.

They were discussing how to deal with the crisis before them.

“Does anyone have any good ideas?”

Tie Xue, the Zhengyuan Sect’s Sect Master, frowned and looked worriedly at the crowd below.

The others exchanged glances, but no one spoke.

Tie Xue’s frown deepened. “Speak freely.”

Only after hearing that did someone step forward.

It was a man with shifty eyes and a rat-like face. 

He hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “Sect Master, I have something to say, though I do not know whether I should.”

“Speak.”

“How about... we just surrender?”

The moment those words were spoken, before the Sect Master could even react, the others responded first.

Immediately, another middle-aged man retorted, “How can we, a righteous sect, flee without even fighting? Would that not make us the laughingstock of the world? That absolutely cannot be done. At the very least, we should put on a show first before surrendering!”

An elderly man with short hair was furious. “Listen to yourselves! Listen to the nonsense you two are saying! You open your mouths and all you talk about is surrender. If we surrender to the demonic factions, would that not mean we are afraid of them?

“How would we still stand among the righteous path after that? How would we face our families? We should first spread word everywhere of the suffering our Zhengyuan Sect has endured and win everyone’s sympathy.”

“That way, when we surrender, the impact will not be too great!”

The Third Elder of the Zhengyuan Sect could not stand it anymore either and stepped out. “? I thought you people were going to say something worthwhile, but in the end it still surrendered. Surrender? How could you even say such a thing? What we should do is not surrender.”

“We should directly join them instead! That way, our safety would be guaranteed!”

Seeing the few of them arguing so fiercely that their faces had turned red, the Second Elder roared, “All of you, shut up! You truly disappoint me! To think you could even say things like surrender and submit.

“And you call yourselves elders of the Zhengyuan Sect! What are you all thinking? Right now, they believe that we killed their people!

“One was the Jiang Family Young Master, and the other was the Blood Demon Sect’s Demonic Heir. Are they ordinary people? Do you think surrendering or submitting would help?

“The correct course of action should be for us to strike first and wipe out a few righteous sects to make clear the Zhengyuan Sect’s stance!”

“Exactly. The Second Elder is right, but I still think it is not enough. Not only should we wipe out a few righteous sects, we should also capture a few righteous geniuses and hand them over to them.”

“We can say these are the ones who killed the Jiang Family Young Master and the Blood Demon Sect’s Demonic Lord, and then surrender and submit. That way, the Zhengyuan Sect will be safe!”

The white-haired Great Elder also voiced his opinion.

A number of people’s eyes immediately lit up, joy appearing on their faces.

At once, they praised him.

“As expected of the Great Elder. You truly think things through thoroughly. Admirable, admirable!”

The Great Elder wore a smug look and accepted their praise with complete peace of mind.

Tie Xue, seated in the seat of honor, already looked as black as the bottom of a pot.

His hands were gripping the armrests of his chair so tightly that he looked as though he had been angered to no small degree.

“Outrageous!”

He let out a furious roar. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked utterly enraged.

Everyone was startled, and the surrounding noise gradually died away. 

They only felt that the Sect Master before them seemed strangely unfamiliar.

“And now you say such things!” Faced with the Sect Master’s rebuke, they all lowered their heads.

A faint trace of shame rose in their hearts.

“And why are you only saying them now?! Such a good plan—why did you not say it earlier? Why wait until now to say it?!”

Tie Xue’s face was flushed red with anger.

If they had said it sooner, would that not have solved everything? 

They had to wait until now to say it. It was already too late! Too late!

That faint trace of shame that had just arisen in everyone’s hearts vanished without a trace at once.

This was the Sect Master they were familiar with!

“Sect Master, you never asked us...”

“Exactly. You never asked.”

“If you do not ask us, how are we supposed to say anything?”

...

“Do I really have to ask you first?” Tie Xue nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He took several deep breaths before barely managing to calm himself down.

Before he could speak, he heard the Great Elder below ask, “Sect Master, may we end this meeting now?”

“That’s right, Sect Master. We’ve already discussed everything, haven’t we? Can we end it now?”

“There is nothing left to discuss anyway. We have already said all the methods. Now we just need to carry them out.”

...

Everyone chimed in.

A trace of suspicion flashed through Tie Xue’s eyes. 

Since when have they become so proactive?

This did not fit their usual style.

Sensing that something was off, he asked, “Great Elder, do you have some urgent matter to attend to?”

The Great Elder immediately said, “Sect Master, I will not hide it from you. I recently found a new Dao companion, and I am in a hurry to explore the mysteries of life with her!”

With that frail body of yours, you found a Dao companion? 

Who would even take a fancy to you? 

You probably snatched her by force!

Tie Xue was filled with contempt.

“And what about you, Second Elder?”

“Sect Master, my Dao companion in far-off Nanjiang is about to give birth, so I was preparing to go back, pack my things, and hurry over to accompany her!”

Since when did you have a Dao companion? And in Nanjiang, no less? 

Why not just say your Dao companion is in Shengzhou? You are obviously trying to run away!

Tie Xue sneered inwardly again.

“And you, Third Elder?”

“Sect Master, my old injury has flared up recently. It just so happens that I heard news that a heaven-and-earth spiritual medicine capable of curing my old injury has appeared in Beimo, so I plan to go try my luck.”

Your old injury flared up? As far as I know, your only old injury is in that one place... And you are still going to Beimo? How come I have heard nothing about any spiritual medicine appearing there?

Your information network is even broader than mine. Another one trying to flee.

Tie Xue could not even be bothered to complain anymore.

“And the Fourth Elder?”

“I am feeling unwell and urgently need to go back and rest.”

“And the Fifth Elder?”

“I... Well, someone invited me over as a guest, so...”

After going around the room, there were all kinds of excuses.

In the end, this sect was still going to fall apart.

Fall apart, then. Let me bear this pain alone.

Tie Xue let out a sigh and said, “Understood. All of you may go. Just remember to come back early.”

Everyone looked delighted and was just about to take their leave.

Suddenly, the Great Elder seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, “Sect Master, I received some news today saying that a disciple saw you enter the sect treasury.”

“You stayed inside for more than half a day before coming out. Might I ask what the Sect Master was doing there?”

The eyes of all the elders turned deep and bright.