Chapter 157: 巧了

Climax! In the canyon outside the cave, two factions of disciples seemed to be in conflict, yelling insults at each other. The general atmosphere was one of "who's afraid of whom?"

The two noisy factions were the Azure Wave Sect and the Purple Cloud Sect. Chu Jingting and Lao Changtai were leading the charge, trading insults and tearing into each other. Both sides appeared highly agitated. A large crowd of onlookers didn't merely spectate; many rushed between the two groups, separating them and restraining those who were shouting. Some tried to pacify them with kind words, saying they were all "their own people." Others physically held the clashing parties back.

Wan Daoxuan and others at the cave entrance frowned. Seeing that no actual fighting had broken out and that these weren't their people, they hadn't intended to intervene. However, Mulan Qingqing's name was unexpectedly heard amidst the curses. Guan Yingjie's face was grim. Wan Daoxuan and the other three exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of the situation. Who had the audacity to curse Mulan Qingqing? She was the leader of the Xuanzhou contingent, and if they didn't intervene, wouldn't it cause unrest? The group immediately flew down, landing in the crowd and pushing apart those who were shoving each other.

"Everyone, shut up!" "Ah?" "So the Xuanzhou maiden is still available, is she?" The crucial question was whether such a sensitive matter needed to be explained in front of everyone; if they claimed they had only just found out, it would appear as though they were avoiding the issue. Under the gaze of nearly a thousand eyes, Xuanzhou Qingqing remained silent for a moment before giving a crisp and clear answer: "It is true that I have a marriage engagement with him, arranged by our elders." She continued, "If you wish to know why Mulan stopped contributing after joining us, it is due to circumstances. He originally went with Guan Wen and others to the Moon Sea area to contribute, and many people can testify to this. Later, for some unknown reason, he disappeared along with Guan Wen and the others. So it's not that he was unwilling to contribute, but rather that he genuinely couldn't be reached." Chu Jingting then spoke, "Alright, since the conversation has reached this point, and everything comes down to reason, I, Chu, dare to ask Miss Xuanzhou: did Mulan and his group previously join you under the name of the Suyuan Sect? If Miss Xuanzhou finds it inconvenient to answer, she doesn't have to."

At that moment, You Zhenshan looked shocked, glancing around. "I've seen Mulan! We parted ways by the Moon Sea earlier." Everyone quickly turned their heads to see who was speaking, when someone else from the crowd on the west side chimed in, "I've heard about that too!" Yang Chenyun and You Xiashan, however, were well aware. Mulan had arranged for seven sects to return, and they were just two of them. "I must clarify, it's not that I doubted, but other accompanying sects expressed their skepticism."

A single voice silenced the entire scene, and the wave of discussions instantly ceased. Everyone's gazes then successively fixed on Wan Daoxuan. His words immediately caused a slight stir. You Xiashan looked up at Xuanzhou Qingqing from below, a look of profound distress on his face. If it was about that particular matter, they really couldn't fault Wan Daoxuan for causing trouble, as he hadn't spoken falsely; Guan Yingjie himself had personally confirmed it with Xuanzhou Qingqing. Many people unexpectedly stared at Wan Daoxuan, especially Lao Changtai and his companions, whose gazes turned cold. They realized this fellow was audacious enough to say anything, not fearing Chu Jingting's retribution later. You Xiashan pointed at Wan Daoxuan's nose and loudly accused, "I'm telling you, Miss Xuanzhou made her fiancé hide in a safe place, waiting for the grand assembly to begin, yet she ordered us to rush to the front, fighting desperately for those insect crystals! So many people have died so far, but Miss Xuanzhou's fiancé has been hiding and not contributing!"

Wan Daoxuan chuckled coldly, "What a coincidence..." My concern is, if he's hiding, why is he hiding so far away? This led some to raise two more doubts. Wan Daoxuan then said to Lao Changtai, "Brother Lao, that's enough. It was just a fit of pique; let's let it go. Some things are better left unsaid." "Stop being sentimental, you fool!"

When that remark was shouted, everyone thought they had misheard. The scene instantly erupted in an uproar, and many gazes simultaneously turned towards Xuanzhou Qingqing, who stood with her hands clasped behind her back at a high vantage point. Xuanzhou Qingqing remained silent, and everyone looked at her once more. Hearing him say that, it seemed somewhat serious. Tang Zhen of the Limitless Palace immediately asked, "What exactly is going on?" Suddenly, someone pointed a finger at Yang Chenyun and demanded, "So, is what he said about Mulan all true?"

So it was about that! Lao Changtai and the others exchanged bewildered glances, realizing they had only just learned about such a significant matter today. "I didn't investigate, I'm just stating the facts," Wan Daoxuan replied. He then turned to survey the crowd, cupped his hands, and asked loudly, "Regarding Mulan, the disciple from the Suyuan Sect, being Miss Xuanzhou's fiancé, surely it's not just people from my Azure Wave Sect who know, right? If anyone else knows, speak up if you're a man!" As soon as he finished speaking, someone from the crowd on the east side chimed in, "I've heard about the fiancé matter." "Oh my goodness!" His fellow disciples watched him, secretly lamenting, "Brother Lao is certainly putting in a lot of effort!" Tang Zhen immediately questioned Wan Daoxuan, "Is what he said true?" This attitude in speaking, in the eyes of many, confirmed that she (Xuanzhou Qingqing) had known about it beforehand. One after another, murmurs of confirmation and denial arose, creating chaos and stirring people's hearts. Then someone from the crowd in the south spoke up, "I've heard about it, but I don't know if it's true." The crowd was filled with murmurs of regret. The "famous flower" now had a master, and any lingering fantasies were shattered, as it was clear that a disciple from a prominent sect like Xuanzhou Qingqing would not easily break off an engagement.

"You, and you all, come out!" Li Shanshan of the Xuanhuang Fort pointed at the people from the Azure Wave Sect and Purple Cloud Sect and reprimanded them. He had recognized the attire of the two brawling factions while still observing from the cave above. "Move aside, left and right, clear the way!" "Those on this side, stand here; those on that side, stand there, clear the way!" You Xiashan immediately pointed at Yang Chenyun's nose and cursed, "That damned scoundrel, how dare he publicly slander Miss Xuanzhou! If you ask me, his mouth should be torn apart!"

Still seething with anger, Wan Daoxuan and You Xiashan each led disciples from their respective sects forward, presenting themselves before the crowd. Wan Daoxuan and the others sternly reprimanded the crowd, swiftly suppressing the chaos with the authority and influence of their sects, and separating the noisy factions to either side. Seventeen people from the Hundred Refinement Sect, Vermilion Sparrow Clan, and Ten Thousand Herbs Hall – among eight allied sects – had already, according to prior arrangements, scattered among the nearly thousand individuals to provide support. People from the same sect did not stand together, as it would have been too obvious during the coordinated response.

Everyone turned their heads to look at the other side, and then someone from the crowd in the north said, "I've heard about it too." Of course, many others still wanted to know what kind of unworthy person Mulan was for such a "fresh flower" like Xuanzhou Qingqing to be associated with him. After many people had responded, and before everyone could clearly see who these responders were, Wan Daoxuan cupped his hands towards the high-standing Xuanzhou Qingqing and said, "Miss Xuanzhou, this is nothing shameful. Today, in front of everyone, since you are also here, I would like to ask you directly: is this matter true or false? Please clarify it in person. If it's false, consider it a rumor, and I will publicly slap myself to apologize." Those who had previously seen Mulan and knew he had joined a group stared at her with even more flickering glances.

Xuanzhou Qingqing looked down and spoke, "One thing at a time. Although I have an engagement with him, we are not from the same sect, and I cannot restrain him. Everyone here is contributing to the King's Victory. Those who are willing to work together, I will not forget. As for those who are unwilling, there is no reason to force them. Many, like Mulan, have not joined our sect." "How can she have a fiancé? What kind of sect is Suyuan? Is it worthy of Miss Xuanzhou?" Xuanzhou Qingqing admitted it on the spot. There would certainly be no mistake about it now. The scene instantly erupted like a beehive, with exclamations of shock rising one after another. The scene suddenly fell silent, and pairs of eyes simultaneously turned towards Xuanzhou Qingqing, who stood high above.

Wan Daoxuan immediately interjected, "Since Brother Lao has already brought the matter to light, and Miss Xuanzhou's words are reasonable, it makes it seem as if my Azure Wave Sect is deliberately causing trouble and disrupting morale for King's Victory. If it truly affects King's Victory's quest for supremacy and the Domain Lord assigns blame, my Azure Wave Sect cannot bear such a great responsibility." "Indeed! I saw him walking quite close with Wan Daoxuan before. I never thought he would actually be Miss Xuanzhou's fiancé!" Xuanzhou Qingqing said coldly, "Where is Mulan? Right now, immediately, take me to him!" "Yes, I've also seen him. The tall, imposing person next to him is very conspicuous, and that sword is truly huge!"

With so many people gathered, visibility was poor, with people blocking each other. Most couldn't see who was speaking; only those close to the speaker could. Wan Daoxuan ignored the disapproval and again loudly said, "You hypocrites! You were all discussing it behind our backs before, but now that you have a chance for a face-to-face clarification, you don't want it? Are you even men?" Wan Daoxuan didn't respond to the other party's words. Instead, he looked at Lao Changtai and the others who had followed, cupped his hands towards them, and asked, "Did you few also know about Miss Xuanzhou's engagement with Mulan beforehand?" These words made many uninformed people feel surprised and doubtful. "Is it true or false? Who would be so audacious?" Yang Chenyun and the others exchanged glances again. Indeed, they had known about this commotion beforehand, or rather, they had known just a step ahead of the others. Only Guan Yingjie stood there with a grim face from beginning to end, not uttering a word or showing any expression, as if his senior sister's matter had nothing to do with him. "What's there to regret? Whether he's worthy or not, it's not for you to decide."

Simultaneously, a figure in snow-white clothes flew down from the cliff top, landing on a prominent large rock at the scene. She looked down at the crowd below, still with that icy demeanor. It was Xuanzhou Qingqing. You Xiashan angrily said, "When so many lives are at stake, can we pretend to be ignorant?" Someone else had indeed heard bits and pieces just now. Whispers also began to spread everywhere at this time. Everyone's spirits immediately lifted. "The good show is here! Is this a case of sacrificing personal ties for justice?" Wan Daoxuan stated, "Although everyone's participation is voluntary, everyone knows some things. The reason various factions can gather together is inseparable from Chu Jingting's authority and deterrent power."

Tang Zhen of the Limitless Palace, with a frown and cold eyes, said, "Why are these two factions quarreling?" There was a suspicion that Mulan neither wanted to exert effort nor face danger, so he hid near the large contingent of King's Victory, so that if trouble arose, someone could quickly rush there to help him. Sects that harbored such doubts also followed suit and hid, not returning with you.

Chu Jingting then boldly asked, "Then I, Chu, dare to ask one more thing: can all sects that have joined come and go freely?" Xuanzhou Qingqing responded, "Of course not. If things are good, they stay; if not, they run. What rules are there to speak of then? If morale is shattered, how can the King's Victory compete with other states?"

You Xiashan followed up, shouting, "What kind of nonsense is that broken mouth of his spouting?" And speaking of Mulan, most people who still remembered him did so because of his towering, imposing companion and the large sword. The scene was chaotic. The accusations were getting serious, and many people were watching Xuanzhou Qingqing's reaction.