Chapter 210: Acceptance

Wu Jinliang, who was listening in, grinned. He admired their leader's ability to paint such grand pictures, seeing how excited it made people.

He wondered if Shi Chun was supporting Bian Weiying because of their intimate connection. But this kind of support felt ungrateful and thankless. They killed her family members to put her in power; would she truly be appreciative?

Feng Chi, however, stopped abruptly at the doorway. She wasn't a three-year-old child who only thought of benefits; adults were accustomed to looking for problems. After a moment of hesitation, she turned back and asked, "You killed Bian Weiying's grandfather and elder brothers. Are you sure you can persuade Bian Weiying in such a short time? I feel this is a bit unrealistic.

"Furthermore, the most crucial aspect of Wukang Mountain is the method for refining the immobilizing talismans. This method is passed down through generations of the Bian family, held by the father and son. Without the refining method, controlling Wukang Mountain provides no real benefit. This is precisely why we've spent such a long time working on Bian Weikang. If we could seize it by force, we wouldn't have waited until now."

Shi Chun retorted without hesitation, "Times have changed. Haven't we already been exposed?"

Feng Chi was puzzled. "Being exposed is one thing; doing something useless is another."

Shi Chun immediately showed his resolute will. "That's not useless work; that's a counterattack, an attitude! Yes, we've been exposed, and yes, we need to run, but before we do, we must retaliate. We have to do this, regardless of whether we can involve Bian Weiying. Opportunities are created, not escaped from! A Sunda Gate will soon be built below Wukang Mountain, and the area will become a bustling hub. If we take control of Wukang Mountain, even without mastering the secret refining method for the immobilizing talismans, we will still control the benefits of a prosperous area. If we can get Bian Weiying involved, the demonic sect will indirectly control a prosperous region."

Hearing this, a glimmer of light suddenly appeared in Feng Chi's hesitant eyes.

Shi Chun continued, "Fleeing like a turtle pulling its head in the moment we're exposed, abandoning everything, running like a stray dog – honestly, I'm not used to it, and I don't agree with it! And I'm not just talking without consequence. Bian Weiying and I developed some rapport during the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly. You can leave the attempt to get her involved to me."

Feng Chi lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said, "Alright, I'll report your suggestions to our superiors. You two wait here for now." With that, she quickly opened the door and left.

If anyone else had spoken this way, Feng Chi would not have cooperated at all. Her willingness to cooperate was based on a certain level of trust.

Once alone, Wu Jinliang leaned closer to Shi Chun and whispered, "Do we really have to eat that fish here?" He thought Feng Chi was right. If they couldn't master the secret refining method for the immobilizing talismans, then letting Bian Weiying inherit Wukang Mountain, along with talk of a Sunda Gate and a prosperous area at the base of the mountain, was irrelevant to them. He didn't believe Shi Chun would consider the demonic sect's interests in such a way; he suspected it was all about that fish.

Shi Chun replied softly, "I'll try my best. If there's truly no opportunity, then so be it." There was no other way; his cultivation method was different from others. His cultivation couldn't grow normally. This fish was very "fat" and had a high chance of directly boosting his cultivation by a whole realm. He was intensely craving it; as long as there was a possibility of consuming it, he wouldn't give up easily. Of course, there were other unmentionable considerations as well.

Before long, Feng Chi appeared in another courtyard. She emerged from a main hall and walked over to a man standing under the eaves of the doorway. He was a gaunt man in green robes, clean-shaven and beardless, with an empty, profound gaze. His hands were thin and bony like chicken claws. He stared blankly at the floating clouds in the clear blue sky.

Feng Chi bowed slightly and called out, "Grandpa Qing." After that, she chattered away, conveying Shi Chun's suggestions.

The man in green, as if slowly coming back to his senses, said simply and directly, "No, we'll withdraw as planned."

Seeing him refuse without even considering it, Feng Chi's eyes flickered, and she added, "Grandpa Qing, Shi Chun said that running like this is like a turtle pulling its head in, like fleeing like a stray dog. He's not used to it and doesn't agree with it. Judging by his disdain, if we just run without doing anything, he might not come with us." The last sentence was key. Shi Chun didn't understand the situation here, but she knew how to gauge the pulse of the organization. In short, she felt Shi Chun's suggestion should be considered, so she was subtly and overtly advocating for him.

As expected, the man in green suddenly turned to look at her, his gaze sharp. "No, the superiors said he must be taken away."

Feng Chi asked, "Are we to forcibly abduct him? Is it appropriate for him to know how much we value him?"

The man in green replied, "The superiors won't agree to his plan."

Feng Chi countered, "Not necessarily. He has already demonstrated his achievements in battle during the Heavenly Rain Meteorite Assembly. Given his capabilities, the superiors might consider his opinion."

The man in green hesitated. "The situation is complex. A simple message won't suffice for this matter. I need to go in person to get an answer by tomorrow."

Feng Chi replied, "You decide, whatever you think is best, we'll follow your lead."

The man in green thought for a moment. "The withdrawal plan is paused. Wait for my news tomorrow." With that, he stepped down and left first.

"Yes," Feng Chi bowed and acknowledged the order. Only after the green-robed figure disappeared did she raise a hand to her chest and let out a soft sigh of relief. It was the first time she had ever helped an outsider in such a way, attempting to sway the superiors' will. It was a slight risk. For some reason, although she also felt Shi Chun's plan wasn't entirely reliable, she simply believed he should be allowed to try. At the very least, she thought the spirit Shi Chun projected was right: they shouldn't flee like turtles; there should be a proper counterattack and action.

Upon returning and meeting Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang again, she informed them that the withdrawal plan had been paused. The two then returned to their private room at the inn, ate and drank, and after they were full, they went out, wandered around Linkang City, and only then headed up the mountain. As they ascended the mountain, they encountered Xiang Lan'er descending. Xiang Lan'er looked surprised and puzzled. Hadn't these two withdrawn? Why were they back?

Using the opportunity of greeting her, Shi Chun briefly informed her that the withdrawal plan had been paused. Xiang Lan'er was skeptical but still went down the mountain. For something like this, she would definitely need to confirm with Feng Chi before feeling at ease...

Not long after the twilight faded, the night sky suddenly lit up again. "Dong-dong" bell chimes resonated across the mountaintop. Inside the house, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang flashed out upon hearing the sound. They saw personnel from the Disciplinary Hall moving quickly, rushing out collectively to work. Figures also flickered in the distance. The two looked up at the sky, at the spectacular auroral light high above their heads, which resembled ethereal colored silks or a swirling, colorful phoenix in the void, truly beautiful. It wasn't the first time they had seen such a breathtakingly beautiful sight on Wukang Mountain.

Wu Jinliang asked, "We're Wukang Mountain disciples now. Should we go help?"

Shi Chun replied casually, "Whatever."

Wu Jinliang noticed his distraction and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Help if you want to," Shi Chun said as he walked away, making a stopping gesture to Wu Jinliang who was following him. Wu Jinliang scoffed and muttered to himself, "He's off for his 'private time' again." He knew the other person too well. What else in this place would be inconvenient for him to follow? It was clearly something to do with male-female relations. "Sigh," he sighed, looked up at the sky, and also missed his good life in the imperial capital.

The mountaintop was bustling with Wukang Mountain disciples, soaking Yulan bamboo and then laying it out in every available space – on rooftops, wall-tops, not a single exposed patch of ground was missed. Shi Chun moved among them; everyone was too busy to greet him. His popularity on Wukang Mountain had recently somewhat declined, thanks to the gossip of his old comrades from Dongjiuyuan. He didn't care about any of this. His current destination was indeed to find that "private time" person. This time he had a legitimate reason; she had sent him a message via a communication talisman earlier, asking him to come over that evening.

When he arrived at Bian Weiying's courtyard, he found it also bustling with activity, and Bian Weiying was among them. Seeing him arrive, Bian Weiying was first startled, then remembered her own invitation. She suppressed a smile, realizing she had invited him at an inconvenient time, but without ceremony, she simply called out, "Aren't you going to help?"

Shi Chun was obedient; if it was help, he would help. He followed suit, doing what others did. By the time all the soaked Yulan bamboo had been laid out, Shi Chun and Bian Weiying were standing on the rooftop, gazing at the dazzling colors in the sky, with the freshly laid, damp plants beneath their feet. Shi Chun had activated his special right eye ability. He saw a faint blue mist sprinkling down from high in the sky. From his reaction, Bian Weiying subconsciously recalled the last time they were in similar circumstances. A subtle worry surfaced in her heart; she knew he wasn't just looking at the dazzling aurora, but was making some kind of observation.

She suddenly asked, "When are you leaving?" She knew less about Wukang Mountain's affairs than Xiang Lan'er. She only learned about her brother Bian Weikang's imprisonment after returning to the mountain. She also knew that her father, for her brother's future, would never tolerate Shi Chun remaining on Wukang Mountain and would surely expel him, probably having already made discreet arrangements. What she didn't know was that matters had reached a life-or-death point. Her father wasn't just going to simply drive away her lover; he intended to kill him! And her lover was no pushover; knowing that Bian Jixiong and others had made a killing move against him, he wouldn't give up easily and intended to strike back.

Shi Chun didn't know how to reply. He withdrew his gaze from the sky and said lightly, "Soon."

Bian Weiying's expression dimmed, but then she straightened up proudly, lifting her head to face the enchanting night sky, revealing the resolute smile characteristic of the City Lord. "Acceptance. Just like this, without the backdrop of this long night, it might not be so beautiful." She spoke of the long night at hand, but both speaker and listener knew she was referring to another long night they had shared.

She didn't ask if they would meet again, nor did she say "I'm coming with you" or "Take me with you." She felt she had been proactive in all the ways she could. She believed the remaining matters, or at least some of them, should be initiated by the man. If the man didn't want to take her with him, if she wasn't in his heart, what would be the point of her insisting on following him? If this man were to ask her if she wanted to come with him, she would readily agree, abandoning Wukang Mountain and her home. From then on, wherever this man was, that would be her home. Women are naturally inclined to establish new households. Even if the choice was wrong, she would be willing to pay the price for it. From the moment she was rescued from the ice cave, she knew that any cost would be worth it. Alas, even though the curve of her smile was stubbornly hooked at that moment, it couldn't hook out the words she yearned to hear.

Shi Chun, whose thoughts had returned to rationality, asked, "Do you want to master the secret method for refining the immobilizing talismans?"

Bian Weiying didn't deny it, nodding slightly. "Very much. There has to be something meaningful to me, otherwise, what's the point of living?"

Shi Chun: "Perhaps I can help you try."