Chapter 845: White Warehouse (1+1/2)

Han Cloud Peak.

In the small courtyard, white snow fluttered, and thick frost crystallized on the steps. A group of cultivators in white robes knelt outside the cave dwelling. The slightly plump man leading them knelt at the very front, his face a mix of surprise and joy, his forehead pressed to the ground.

"Welcome, esteemed one, upon your emergence from seclusion!"

The wind and snow before him swirled slightly. A young man emerged from the courtyard, cloaked in snow. He slowly bent down, helped the middle-aged man in front of him to his feet, patted his shoulder, and smiled.

"On this joyous day, Uncle Tongcai, there's no need for formalities. The North-South conflict has sapped our family's strength. Now, only a few elders like yourself remain, and we will need to rely on you heavily."

Although Fei Tongcai was slightly plump, he still possessed a mature charm. After all, the Fei family members were all well-featured. Fei Qingyi, practicing the frigid Qi, exuded an even more stern aura. Hearing this, Fei Tongcai nodded repeatedly and reminded him,

"First thing... we must go to the main family..."

"I understand." Fei Qingyi nodded, lowering his voice. "This matter cannot be delayed. There are hundreds, even thousands, of eyes on the Lake. If our ancestors hadn't been allies with the Lake, we wouldn't even have this mountain territory... The elder master values old ties. Take some spiritual artifacts from the mountain and come with me. You are the only one left in the family who met Li Qinghong back then. Let's visit the Lake together. Using that topic, you can chat with the elder master for a bit... This esteemed person... is truly our family's protective talisman."

"Understood! Understood!" Fei Tongcai quickly prepared the items and walked forward with the others, listening to Fei Qingyi's cold voice. "In short, Fei Qingyi has climbed high, subservient to the Si family. We can't rely on her for our family's affairs anymore; we must depend on ourselves..."

After flying for a while, just as they exited the main formation, they saw a man in black waiting quietly at the front of the array, standing with clasped hands. Upon seeing Fei Qingyi, he bowed slightly and said calmly,

"Fellow Daoist Fei, let us go to the Isle together!"

"Ah, it's Officer Chen." Fei Qingyi quickly forced a smile and nodded. "Indeed, we were just about to go... just about to go..."

Chen Yang found him quite displeasing. He, An Xuanxin, and other newly emerged elders had always regarded the Fei family as a thorn in their side, at one point unable to tolerate this semi-autonomous family on the North Shore. Yet, they had never managed to find any incriminating evidence. He had been dispatched to Funan to erase traces, handling the matter jointly with Li Jianglong. He understood what had transpired in the north and was even more aware of the True Monarch's affairs. Given his cautious nature, he had wished he could have overturned every blade of grass in Funan at that time. At this critical juncture, Chen Yang held even less goodwill towards Fei Qingyi. His hand, resting on his sword, subtly clenched, yet a smile remained on his face as he escorted them, chatting amiably all the way.

Following behind Chen Yang, he flew all the way into the lake, finding the hall utterly silent. Stepping through the hall door, the man in crimson robes at the head had been waiting for a long time, watching them with a smile.

Fei Qingyi was actually quite afraid of that smile, always feeling a chill down his spine. The Li clan, from their humble origins in the mountain wilderness to ruling Wangyue, had fought their way out of a brutal situation. Every aspect of them filled him with awe, a feeling that even his own establishment as a Foundation-building cultivator couldn't alleviate. He bowed in the hall and respectfully offered his greetings.

Li Jiangqian offered some congratulatory remarks, which Fei Qingyi answered one by one, continuously emphasizing his Fei family's honesty and loyalty, asserting they harbored no ulterior motives.

Li Jiangqian was not satisfied with his answers. He still harbored doubts about Fei Qingyi's breakthrough. After quietly observing him for a moment, he spoke, "The northern region of Funan was once deeply entangled with the Fei clan. The Lake has sheltered the North Shore for ten years, slowly helping it endure. Now that territory is being freed up for several Purple Mansion cultivators to handle affairs. The Fei clan should withdraw their influence. The Lake has instructed this before, but it hasn't been handled satisfactorily."

The Fei clan should not dare to interfere in Jiangbei, but the Fei family was not like the Li family; they lacked the Lake's efficiency and decisive action. Li Jiangqian suspected there were still many lingering connections unintentionally left behind. When Li Jiangqian asked this, Fei Qingyi himself didn't know what aspect of his family's conduct was unsatisfactory and merely replied, "It is this subordinate's incompetence. I will certainly rectify things upon my return..."

Li Jiangqian had no intention of letting him haphazardly clean things up himself. There was a significant difference between the Fei family having a Foundation-building cultivator and not. He had specifically sent Chen Yang to intercept Fei Qingyi at the formation's edge precisely because he feared Fei Qingyi would head north after exiting the array. Now he simply said, "No need. You will temporarily reside on the Lake. All news concerning the north shall be sent here to the Isle for handling. Should there be even the slightest concealment..."

Fei Qingyi quickly nodded, but Li Jiangqian's gaze suddenly fixed on Fei Tongcai, who was breaking out in a cold sweat nearby. Without needing further instruction, Chen Yang immediately stepped forward, drew his sword, and held it to the middle-aged man's neck, shouting, "Speak!"

Fei Tongcai hastily looked at his nephew, which also scared Fei Qingyi out of his wits. If he hadn't achieved the 'Pine Snow' cultivation and thus no longer sweated, he might have been drenched in sweat too. He then knelt down, gave a subtle look, and replied, "This subordinate... this subordinate has just emerged from seclusion... I don't know what news the family has received..."

Li Jiangqian quietly watched the two. Fei Tongcai began to kowtow, timidly saying, "Reporting to esteemed one... some days ago, we received a secret letter. A former clan member... is cultivating in Baiku Commandery. They sent a secret letter recently, hoping to receive resources and assistance..."

He said "former clan member," but Fei Qingyi understood it was a hidden bloodline left by an older generation, and fear swelled in his heart. Chen Yang, holding his sword, caught the subtle hint from above. His face instantly darkened, becoming terrifying, and he said in a low voice, "We told your family to cease these activities early on! Withholding information, secretly contacting them... Truly rebellious!"

"This lowly one didn't know about it earlier!" Fei Tongcai could only shiver on the ground, kneeling. Li Jiangqian still smiled, but dark clouds gathered in his heart. He mused, "Baiku Commandery... If it's truly Baiku Commandery, then Black Rat is there, Wang Quwan and Wang He are also there, and the core clan of the Wang family in Jiangbei is in the Baiku Commandery area..."

But since someone from the Fei family was in Baiku Commandery, this matter became entirely different. Li Jiangqian quickly came down, helped Fei Qingyi up, and said with a hint of reproach, "Protector Chen is too harsh... This matter is not yet clear, and there's no need to rush."

Only then did Fei Qingyi relax a little. Fei Tongcai also stopped stammering. As soon as Chen Yang asked, he quietly explained, "That person is also of my generation. They made a mistake years ago and were expelled from the family, ceasing contact with us. They cultivated in Xian Lake for a time, then went to Baiku Commandery and found work running a tea house. Recently... I heard there was unrest in the commandery. The great array of the spiritual mine self-destructed, infuriating Protector Black Rat. His business was also affected, and he happened to be at a critical point for breaking through to Qi Condensation... so he sought help from the peak. Family Head, rest assured! Family Head, rest assured! Our family will never contact this person again!"

Li Jiangqian clasped his hands behind his back, listening. His fists clenched, veins bulging, and faint flickers of spiritual fire leaked from his palms, flickering erratically. This matter appeared harmless—after all, the person had been expelled by the Fei family. If this person gained favor with the True Monarch, the Fei family would be unlucky. If this person offended the True Monarch, the Fei family would still be unlucky. But upon closer thought, it became clear that this expulsion was pitifully false.

'What if this person was expelled under duress from my family, as part of a "cunning rabbit has three burrows" strategy? Once they gain favor with the True Monarch, it would mean my family drawing hatred!'

He said, quite softly, "Why expel someone so thoroughly? Are you still not telling the truth?"

His voice was somewhat cold. Chen Yang's expression grew even gloomier as he stood silently. Fei Tongcai finally couldn't hold out and confessed, kowtowing, "Reporting to esteemed one... this matter was Fei Tongyu's doing... Back then, when he led our Fei family members to pledge allegiance to the Lake, he secretly planned to send out members from four branches of the clan. He even feared detection, so they rarely dared to make contact over the years... He said... as long as those outside knew they were Fei family members, we didn't need to know their whereabouts. If, one day, the Han Cloud Fei clan ceased to exist, he would have the opportunity to rebuild the clan and continue the lineage! This particular family was only contacted recently..."

What kind of person was Li Jiangqian? Upon hearing this, he immediately understood. Although Fei Tongyu had led his people to defect back then, he clearly harbored lingering doubts about the Li clan in his heart. He feared that his clan would gradually be worn down and extinguished by the Li family, and that the North Shore would eventually be occupied... That was why he had dispersed their bloodline. As for why they rarely dared to make contact over the years, who else could they be guarding against? Naturally, it was the Li clan! The so-called expulsion was precisely this logic! This was originally a contingency plan, but it ended up being drawn by Jiangbei's destiny, with one branch going to Baiku Commandery. It was possible they might actually encounter the True Monarch!

He profoundly glanced at Chen Yang, noticing his grim expression and extreme disdain for Fei Tongcai. Chen Yang was no simple character; he probably also understood this underlying layer. Holding his sword, he said eerily, "Over these years, haven't we of the Lake treated your family well?"

As soon as these words were uttered, the two could only kneel and kowtow, unable to say anything else. This was Fei Tongyu's doing, merely a planned retreat, and no one could have predicted that such a situation would arise in the future, much less that it would cause trouble in this manner.

'The Fei family members are all quite comely. Perhaps one or two daughters might offer their beauty, and be favored by the True Monarch. If Fei Tongcai were truly permitted to sever ties, and later involvement arose, would it still be the Fei family's fault? Naturally, it would be because I, Li Jiangqian, compelled them...'

He returned to his seat at the head, deep in thought, and sat on the main chair. He told Chen Yang to sheathe his sword. For now, wary of the True Monarch's methods, he maintained a pleasant demeanor and said peacefully, "After all, this matter stems from the excessive caution of our predecessors. There's nothing to fuss about now. Qingyi's breakthrough to Foundation-building is a great joyous event. There's no need for clan members to wander outside. Send someone to bring him back so he can break through in the peak!"

The intention behind his words confused the two Fei family members. They didn't know whether it was good or bad, nor why such an order was given. They kowtowed in gratitude. Chen Yang then quietly said, "As for the choice of person..."

This matter was quite important; it was best to have someone knowledgeable about the inside story. If it weren't unreasonable for Li Jiangqian to go personally, he would have even considered going himself, as he possessed a talisman seed. He shook his head, slightly troubled, and dismissed the two to wait before answering, "Perhaps Protector Chen will need to make the trip. Fei Qingyi needn't go. Take Fei Tongcai to gain trust, and then find those favored Fei family direct descendants on the North Shore who are close to our family and have been promoted. Go together to bring him back. It will be opportune to use Fei Qingyi's breakthrough as a reason to receive him; there shouldn't be too many problems."

Chen Yang nodded respectfully. He did not seize this opportunity to speak ill of the Fei family but instead expressed his doubts. "This is indeed bad news. I wonder if there's still time... As for the mine incident, it's highly suspicious."

Li Jiangqian actually understood the anomaly better than he did. This Fei family member simply had to be brought back. He shook his head and replied, "This isn't necessarily bad news. Jiangbei is so vast. Whether it's the Immortal Dao or my family, our shadow here cannot be erased. There must always be characters in the True Monarch's script; there's no way to avoid it. It's merely a matter of whether the role is good or bad. If we can detect it in advance now, it's already a blessing in misfortune. By bringing him back like this, we might not necessarily encounter the True Monarch directly. Things are just beginning to change, and the cultivation of most people won't be too high. At this time, a Foundation-building cultivator appearing wouldn't be an enemy, so nothing too bad should happen... But if we don't bring him back, there's an eighty to ninety percent chance something will go wrong in the end."

Chen Yang nodded deeply, his head bowed, seemingly lost in thought. Li Jiangqian was actually reluctant to send him, but he didn't have many capable Foundation-building cultivators at hand, and each had their own shortcomings. Cui Jueyin was skilled in internal affairs and conducted himself with grace, but asking him to engage in deceitful or underhanded tactics was not feasible. Ding Weizheng was a battle-hardened general, good at combat. Qu Bushi, while shrewd, was old and cowardly, always wanting to shrink away from everything. Li Jianglong and Li Jiangxia had not yet broken through. There was truly not a single Foundation-building cultivator as stable and well-connected, both openly and covertly, as Chen Yang.

'Ostensibly, I'll send him, but it would be best if I accompanied him and observed from the river... If something truly goes wrong, there will still be room for strategy...'

Chen Yang exited the hall, and Qu Bushi also brought the people in. The Fei family members, having just received the good news, were all in high spirits. Fei Tongcai had also composed himself, waiting quietly outside the hall. Chen Yang's demeanor became serious; he apologized and sighed, feigning an overly impulsive appearance just moments ago, which made Fei Tongcai break out in a sweat and slightly eased the tension.

Chen Yang, full of smiles, led the group, pulling Fei Tongcai forward. He offered some congratulations, and a wave of laughter erupted among the Fei family members. They then rode the wind northward.

Once they reached the Jiangbei territory, the sun noticeably intensified, and the chill of early spring was long gone. Chen Yang smiled, "After all, the Immortal Dao is not on good terms with my family. All of you, please wait by the riverbank first. Fellow Daoist Tongcai and I will go to pick up the person." The purpose of this group's presence was to limit the time Fei Tongcai had contact with that Fei family member. Once brought over, that Fei family member would only be exposed to a group of Fei family members who had prospered under the Li family's rule. Chen Yang was disinclined to bring this group of hangers-on, fearing they might cause trouble, so he left them behind.

Upon reaching Baiku Commandery, the southernmost part of the Baiye Creek territory, the surroundings were utterly chaotic. The governance of the Pagoda Soul Hall was worse than no governance at all. Cultivators flew about the entire city as if in an uninhabited land. Corpses littered the main road, yellow smoke billowed, and the stench of decay filled the air. There were no pedestrians, save for one or two individuals kneeling on the ground, groaning, whether from illness or hunger.

Fei Tongcai frowned repeatedly at the sight. Chen Yang swept his spiritual sense around and murmured, "It seems to be because the formation in Baiku Commandery was destroyed... The spiritual ore dust from the mine has spread to the Baiku Commandery area..." Golden Qi and Golden Poison were lethal poisons to mortals. The former was present on magical artifacts; the Li family would always put away their artifacts when encountering mortals. The latter was intensely frigid and often found in spiritual mines. Countless people died when the Rui family mined Azure Essence Copper for the Xiao family back then, all due to this Golden Poison.

'How could Protector Black Rat care about mortals... He must have simply let them die...'

Fei Tongcai followed the information to the tea house. Indeed, the surroundings were utterly desolate, the courtyard was dilapidated, and the adjacent streets were covered with fallen corpses, leaving no place to step. However, since this tea house was a place frequented by cultivators, it appeared clean and tidy. From a distance, they paused, only to see a commotion. A group of people knelt, and a man in splendid clothes stood arrogantly in the courtyard. Among the kneeling cultivators, a slender figure stood. On his refined face was an expression of unwavering defiance. He listened as the man in splendid clothes shouted, "Dog slave! I am the dignified son of the Commandery Governor, and you dare not bow before me!"

The refined young man before him only said coldly, "Why should I kneel to you? I, Lin Feng, kneel only to Heaven above and Earth below. Can a mere fop who relies on his father's prestige and power make me kneel?" He raised his head, and a commanding presence surged from his slender frame. The fop immediately became enraged. The guest elder beside him frowned in anger, stepped forward, and said coldly, "Kneel!" Everyone was startled, seeing that the guest elder's aura indicated Qi Condensation. Immediately, a pair of delicate and charming sisters came to pull him.

"Brother Lin..."

The young man, however, stood firm. Soon, the crowd parted, and an old man came forward, saying in a low voice, "Please don't be offended... please don't be offended. I am here to deliver spiritual resources to Protector Black Rat... please show the Protector some respect..." As soon as he spoke, the guest elder and the fop hesitated, seemingly intending to back down. But the young man stepped forward and shouted, "You, Wang! Do you dare to have a duel with me!"

"Ridiculous!" The fop surnamed Wang's eyes turned cold as he replied, "You, a mere third-level Fetal Breath cultivator, dare to contend with my fifth-level Fetal Breath? Why wouldn't I dare!" "Good! Three months from now, you and I shall fight to the death here, determining both who is superior and who lives or dies!" Lin Feng's declaration instantly made the fop laugh in anger. He glared coldly at the intervening old man, then flicked his sleeve and departed, leaving only a buzz of discussion in the tea house.

Chen Yang watched, frowning slightly. He patted Fei Tongcai beside him, only to see Fei Tongcai shake his head and say, "This Baiku Commandery is quite interesting; the stage is set as if it were real... That protagonist, though, truly has a captivating demeanor... It's genuinely admirable." Chen Yang glanced at him slightly and whispered, "Go closer and see."

Fei Tongcai arrived before the hall, his smile growing wider. He just stared at the young man, shaking his head. "Sir... this Lin Feng is truly a rare talent... His demeanor, I tell you, is like that of an immortal." Chen Yang's expression subtly changed. He gradually approached, nodding. "He is indeed a remarkable individual, rarely seen even on the Lake..."

Fei Tongcai had completely shed his previous caution and gloom. He quickly entered the tea house, took the old man's hand, and chuckled, "Oh! Second Cousin, it's truly been a long time!" The old man also recognized Fei Tongcai, his face full of surprise. He quickly said, "How did you come to this place... Is the family doing..." "Qingyi has broken through to Foundation-building! We're here to bring you back to enjoy a comfortable life!"

The two sighed with emotion. Fei Tongcai's face showed no trace of apprehension, lost in the joy of meeting an old friend. Chen Yang, meanwhile, observed Lin Feng, adopting a simple and benevolent expression. He patted Lin Feng's shoulder and praised him, "Good child! I watched from afar just now, and this is truly what an immortal cultivation genius looks like!"

"A Foundation-building cultivator!" The courtyard erupted in chaos. A group of cultivators fearfully knelt down. The Commandery Governor's son had merely feared Chen Yang's authority before, but facing this current figure, it was a terror from the depths of their hearts. The two charming girls beside them also knelt. Only the young man remained utterly fearless, standing proudly erect, and bowed.

"Greetings, Senior!"

Chen Yang nodded continuously, his expression full of admiration. He sighed, "In my entire life, I most admire those who are valiant and unyielding! What I despise most are these fops and those with ill intentions, treacherous and cunning characters! Good child! For Jiangbei to produce such a fearless individual in times of peril... it is indeed a blessed land!" He pulled Lin Feng to sit at the table and said in a low voice, "But with only three months, how can you defeat him?"

Lin Feng slowly shook his head, his gaze resolute, and replied, "This junior has his own excellent plan!"

"Good!" Chen Yang praised him repeatedly. He felt inside his sleeve and took out a talisman, saying softly, "Our meeting and conversation have been most enjoyable and refreshing. If you encounter danger in the future, you can use this talisman to escape with your life. Consider it saving a confidant of mine!"

"Many thanks, Senior!"

Chen Yang heartily laughed and replied, "I am from Wangyue Lake. A cultivator from the Fei family has achieved Foundation-building, gaining a higher status on the Lake. We are here to pick up this old man; he happens to be on the verge of breaking through to Qi Condensation... so he will cultivate on the Lake." Upon hearing this, the two sisters on the side gasped in surprise. Chen Yang smiled, "Just by looking at the two of you, I can tell you're also Fei family members. You truly possess captivating beauty... Do you have spiritual apertures? You could also join the mountain to cultivate."

The elder sister immediately showed hesitation, while the younger sister looked disappointed, yet they spoke in unison, "Brother Lin saved our lives; we only wish to cultivate by his side..." Lin Feng, however, silently shook his head and replied, "Qingya possesses spiritual apertures, so it is naturally better for her to cultivate under the Wangyue sect... As for Qingfei... she will have to endure some hardship and wander with me..."

The three instantly became affectionate. Chen Yang watched them with a smile, yet drops of cold sweat rolled down his cheeks, trickling down his neck into his collar. His lips trembled slightly, but he couldn't speak, only maintaining a stiff smile on his face.

When Lin Feng turned his gaze, the subtle struggle on Chen Yang's face instantly shattered. A hearty smile surged forth again, and he beckoned Fei Tongcai over, laughing, "It's about time. After all, this is someone else's territory, and our sect isn't entirely harmonious with theirs. It's not advisable to stay here for too long..."

Fei Tongcai led the elder of the two sisters over, nodding repeatedly. His old cousin also followed. Lin Feng sighed softly, hugged the younger sister, and escorted her out of the hall, saying affectionately, "Qingya, rest assured... wait for me for three years! In three years, I will achieve Foundation-building and personally go to Han Cloud Peak to propose marriage to you!" The younger sister pouted enviously, while a blush spread across Fei Qingya's face. His words were simply unbelievable, yet no one present found them strange. Even Fei Tongcai nodded with a smile, his face showing relief.

Chen Yang rose on the wind, leading the group south. Lin Feng silently put away the talisman, then raised his head and said coldly, "The Wang clan... covering the sky with one hand, wielding their power tyrannically... Just you wait!" Yellow sand swirled and flew past him. He stood proudly, his cultivation inexplicably rising. In just a few breaths, another Fetal Breath Wheel condensed within his body.