Chapter 159: Blocking Is Worse Than Diverting

The outsiders had left, and the five remaining sect members looked at each other, all part of the same group, with no strangers among them.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang also hopped to the hilltop to watch them leave. Chu Jingfang immediately approached the two, asking in surprise, "Didn't we say this would attract people from other sects? How come, in the end, it's just us remaining? No one responded to us." Shi Chun watched the figures disappear into the distance and said, "What's the rush? The various sects have only just learned about it. They haven't had time to react yet. They need to go back and meet with their fellow disciples and hold private discussions." Hearing this, people from the other sects thought he had a point. "Alright, the rest of us will wait here. We'll take turns on watch," Shi Chun clapped his hands and said. The watch duties were easily divided, and those not on duty began digging caves for shelter...

Mulan Qingqing had just walked a few steps back and forth in the central cavern when she saw Wan Daoxuan and others flash in one after another, all quickly approaching her, each looking as if they wanted to speak but hesitated.

Mulan Qingqing spoke first, "Aside from the Azure Ripple Sect, the other sects didn't have much of a reaction, right?"

Li Shanshan sighed, "Not just the Azure Ripple Sect; after you left, several other sects also stayed behind."

Wan Daoxuan's expression was grim: "What I fear is that it's not just about those few sects. They only made decisions on the spot. After others return, there's no guarantee they won't have ideas."

The others were speechless. This man was usually very rational; had he lost his composure when it came to his woman?

Mulan tried to retort, "What do you mean?"

Wan Daoxuan was instantly silenced, like a cicada in winter, and dared not speak out. Yet, inwardly, he cursed, "That bitch is utterly ruthless when making an example of others, but when it comes to her own woman, she openly plays favorites—it's utterly excessive." Wan Daoxuan pursed his lips and remained silent, his silence implying agreement.

Wan Daoxuan pondered, "This matter is hard to suppress. How can we suppress it? There are nearly ten thousand people involved. Forcibly silencing them, or ordering them not to spread it, will only make people more resentful and work against you."

Lan Yi Le also said, "We're not afraid, we don't care. We're just following orders. When the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up. Your Su Yuan Sect probably needs to figure out how to explain this."

Mulan Qingqing slightly shook her head. "He's unwilling to come back. He complained to me a lot about his reasons for not returning. The gist of it is that he believes he can dedicate his life to winning the championship for Xuanzhou, but why should he fight for you big sects? He said no matter how hard he tries, the benefits will be monopolized by you big sects. He asked us, 'If we fight hard to help you, what benefits can you big sects give us?' If that question isn't answered, he won't come back."

Lan Yi Le smiled wryly, "Mulan, forgive my bluntness, but if it were just anyone else, it really wouldn't have much impact. The biggest problem is that he is your fiancé. Everyone here is engaged in life-and-death battles; they're putting their heads on the line. If Shi Chun acts like this, honestly, the impact will be huge."

"Hmm?" Unexpectedly, Guan Yingjie interjected quietly, "I have a solution." From outside the cavern, one could faintly hear quiet discussions drifting from within.

Li Shanshan and Mulan instantly felt a chill, not daring to take up Wan Daoxuan's topic. There was nothing they could do; they had all witnessed Mulan Qingqing's display of power. Even the three of them combined probably wouldn't be a match for her.

Wan Daoxuan simply reminded her directly, "Wang Sheng, there's only one best way: the one who tied the bell must untie it. Everyone believes that their efforts are not properly rewarded, and that you big sects are monopolizing the benefits. Many even think some big sects are too self-preserving, showing no regard for the lives of lower-level sect members when assigning tasks, and some even sacrifice lives based on personal whims." Anyone with discerning eyes could see that the news of Senior Sister being taken has greatly provoked him. Perhaps the best solution can be spoken by him.

By the time they arrived at Li Shanshan's troop's encampment, they discovered they were a step late. Mulan Qingqing had already left. The people there didn't know where she went, and Mulan Qingqing had no need to explain herself to them.

To be frank, they didn't care about what others were saying; they only cared about Shi Chun's attitude. As long as they could get Shi Chun under control, they could naturally control the people from other sects. She was willing to speak frankly and not pursue accountability, and by using her fiancé as a catalyst, everyone spoke more honestly. The group listened in and found that the discussion wasn't just about Shi Chun. Mulan Qingqing was mainly using Lan Yi's complaints to ask about the attitudes of the various sects. Alright, the group didn't press the issue. They left the cavern and quickly ascended into the sky on the same Wind Scale. As for Guan Yingjie, who already knew the outcome, he genuinely had no interest in going through the motions. Worried he wouldn't be able to keep up the pretense, he shook his head and said, "It's not good if there's no one watching here. I won't go. You two go."

Mulan Qingqing was indeed with Lan Yi, discussing the next steps with Tang Zhen. After reading the message that had come from the front, Mulan Qingqing bid farewell to Tang Zhen.

Lan Yi turned back and called out, "Brother Guan, aren't you coming?" Mulan Qingqing countered, "Do you have any good solutions?" The others were all a bit more cautious and didn't answer. Thinking of how Lan Yi had publicly defied Mulan Qingqing, yet Mulan Qingqing had to suppress her anger, while they, simply for a single private disagreement, had touched her inverse scale (a metaphor for provoking fury). The difference in treatment was vast. They felt sour inside, truly wondering what kind of incredible luck Shi Chun, that scoundrel, had to obtain a marriage with *that* woman. If not for this matter with Shi Chun, she wouldn't have known that everyone's resentment was so widespread, with complaints echoing everywhere.

Mulan: "Lan Yi, this matter needs to be resolved!"

By the time the communication ended, it was already dark. The group finally had a chance to talk to Mulan Qingqing alone.

After Li Shanshan and the others deliberated, they immediately sent messages to Mulan Qingqing about the spreading news, intending to put pressure on her concerning Shi Chun's situation. The few people in the cavern looked at each other silently. Talking about it again was not what they considered the best method. Where had that woman's usual decisive ruthlessness gone?

Lan Yi Le turned and quickly walked to Guan Yingjie's side, saying in a deep voice, "Brother Guan, can't you see? The biggest problem right now is the need to quickly stabilize morale. How can we convince the public if a certain person's head doesn't roll? Do we have to wait until everything is completely chaotic before we think about how to end this? If we really mess up the Xuanzhou championship, how will we explain it to the Domain Lord?"

Mulan Qingqing remained silent, glaring at Wan Daoxuan with narrowed, cold eyes. Her gaze grew increasingly icy and unfriendly, as if she wouldn't be satisfied until he blurted out a solution.

After the few people exchanged glances, Wan Daoxuan said in a deep voice, "Forgive my bluntness, Wang Sheng, but you're spoiling him too much. Continuing like this won't do you any good in the future. That kind of man shouldn't be pampered!"

The topic shift was effective. Mulan Qingqing finally withdrew her sword-like glare, yet her answer was somewhat off-topic: "After Chao Zhilin disappeared, someone saw him meet with Hu Yan Dao and their group. Now both sides are missing. Regardless of what happened to them, what do we do about these two teams, over two thousand people? Do we have to assign two new sects to lead them?" With that, she flashed out of the cavern and ascended into the sky on her Wind Scale. It was clear that what they feared had already happened: the news had spread.

At the same time, he cursed himself for speaking out of turn. Everyone knew some things were better left unsaid, so why did he have to be the one to bring it up? The few of them reached a hilltop where they could see the last rays of the setting sun.

Li Shanshan frowned, "I'm currently communicating with my troops, asking for their opinions on Shi Chun's matter."

After carefully reading the message, Li Shanshan was very surprised, "Lan Yi went to my troop's encampment?" Mulan Qingqing asked, "Can we find a way to seal off the news?"

Mulan Qingqing observed their reactions and asked, "Does Shi Chun's behavior have a significant impact on others?"

With the others present, Mulan directly asked Mulan Qingqing, "Wang Sheng, has Shi Chun agreed to return?"

Continuing the awkwardness was not ideal, so Li Shanshan changed the subject, "Wang Sheng, what's the meaning of you running around talking to all these people?" The group once again rode their Wind Scales to the location. Upon arrival, they finally saw Mulan Qingqing, who was amidst the sect members, conversing with everyone. The few of them exchanged silent glances. If there were good solutions, looking at her current state, it seemed she couldn't bring herself to act, otherwise she wouldn't have returned empty-handed.

Tang and Li, and the others, were silent. Mulan Qingqing countered, "Are you suggesting I should just kill him?"

As soon as she began her activities there, Lan Yi Le quickly received messages from his troops. "Therefore," she said, "I'm considering: if we achieve a good ranking by those means, can we truly claim it openly and honorably? This whole matter started because of Shi Chun, and it involves me. So, I must seriously confront this problem: should we suppress it or guide it? After much thought, perhaps guiding is better than suppressing!" Her words made someone angrily turn away and stand silently facing the wall.

Mulan Qingqing nodded slightly, "Indeed. Wait a moment, I'll go back again. I'll find him privately to talk again." Li Shanshan: "I'm afraid it can't be sealed off. You've forgotten that when Guan Wen and their group had trouble, we couldn't contact them for a long time. You later made us learn from that lesson and establish horizontal connections between teams. Now, I'm afraid someone has already spread the news. Those lower-level sects naturally harbor rebellious thoughts; they're probably eager for as many people as possible to know about this." Mulan Qingqing nodded slightly, "Indeed. Wait a moment, I'll go back again. I'll find him privately to talk again."

The few of them waited and waited in the cavern, but Mulan Qingqing did not return. Instead, Li Shanshan and the others received communications via their paired talismans from their respective troops, all asking about Mulan Qingqing and Shi Chun.

"Sigh." The few of them sighed somewhat. As soon as she exerted her authority, the atmosphere became awkward. Mulan and Wan Daoxuan looked over as prompted, seeing the silent Guan Yingjie in the corner. Their eyes lit up, and they secretly admired Li Shanshan. Li Shanshan suddenly looked to the side and asked, "Brother Guan, do you have any good ideas?" The others were silent. They had no choice but to directly contact Mulan Qingqing, and upon asking, they learned she had gone to Chao Zhilin's troops.