Eternal Saber-Chapter 254 - 39: Clouds Stir in All Directions
The matters of Cloud County have been settled. Chen Tang didn’t linger. He took advantage of the night, mounted the Thunder Leopard, and bid farewell to Yan Qi, Jing Wuming, and the numerous monks of the Evergreen Temple.
"Brother Chen, where are you headed next?"
Jing Wuming asked, "We brothers can go with you and lend a hand."
"Thank you, Lord Jing."
Chen Tang shook his head and said, "Cloud County is in chaos. It’s better for you to stay here and help stabilize the situation. I work alone, free to come and go, without much constraint, which makes things more convenient."
Jing Wuming understood Chen Tang’s meaning.
After all, he and Yan Qi were people of the Court.
The affairs of Cloud County would soon spread everywhere.
By then, the Capital City and even Qingzhou City would certainly take action.
Following Chen Tang, they might find themselves in a difficult position.
"Brother Chen, be careful."
Yan Qi said, "If there’s nothing else, leave Qingzhou as soon as possible."
Having said that, Yan Qi nodded toward the south.
Some things she couldn’t say directly, but she trusted Chen Tang would understand her meaning.
Chen Tang smiled faintly, clasped his hands and said, "You may see me off here. If fate allows, we shall meet again in the Jianghu!"
"The road in Jianghu is long. Take care, Brother Chen!"
Yan Qi and Jing Wuming clasped their hands simultaneously.
The Vermilion Bird Guard and the Qilin Guard behind them waved goodbye to Chen Tang.
"Giddyup!"
Chen Tang let out a light shout, lightly nudged the horse’s belly with his legs, and the Thunder Leopard like an arrow shot forth, disappearing into the vast night before long.
Before leaving Qingzhou, there was still a matter to investigate.
According to the news from Yan Qi and others, the True Dragon had been held up by Master Le Kong. However, the Qingzhou floods still frequently erupted, causing continuous disasters with significant casualties.
He estimated that by the time the news from Cloud County reached the Capital City and the people from the Profound Celestial Sect arrived, some time would have passed.
Of course, Qingzhou City would receive the news earlier and act faster.
Chen Tang planned to use this time to head toward Qingzhou Marsh to get to the bottom of it.
...
Three days later, in the Capital City.
Profound Celestial Temple.
Lu Li walked in from outside, looked at the high and mighty Profound Celestial Sect Leader sitting on the main seat, and said solemnly, "The Emperor requests an audience. He must have realized his mistake and is here to apologize."
"Do not see him!"
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader coldly refused outright.
Lu Li slightly frowned and said, "After all, he is Yuan Qian’s child. There’s no need to completely annihilate him. If he’s willing to abdicate, spare his life."
"Hmph!"
A sneer flashed in the eyes of the Profound Celestial Sect Leader, who said, "To dare provoke the Profound Celestial Sect, he must pay the appropriate price! Only his death will appease the wrath of the heavens!"
"What wrath of the heavens is there?"
Lu Li said, "He must already know about the True Dragon, and if this matter gets out, it will greatly damage the reputation of the Profound Celestial Sect! If this continues, it will only lead to mutual destruction."
"No, no, no..."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader shook his head slightly, saying, "You’re wrong, he can’t hold on."
"If it were his father, let alone people in Qingzhou dying, even if half of Kyushu died, he wouldn’t bat an eye. But this Yuan Qingshan is too kind. As long as the Qingzhou floods persist, the more deaths occur, the more suffering he bears."
"Earlier, he executed corrupt officials embezzling grain funds with thunderous means, just a last struggle."
"This move has completely offended the officialdom of Qian Country. From top to bottom, there are few willing to follow him wholeheartedly. Next, he has only one conclusion..."
Lu Li fell silent.
Yuan Qingshan knowing the Qingzhou floods were the handiwork of the Profound Celestial Sect was of no use.
Just as the Profound Celestial Sect Leader said, he could not outlast the Profound Celestial Sect.
To stop the Qingzhou flood, his death was the only way for the Profound Celestial Sect to relent.
"By the way, there’s some situation over at Qingzhou. Take a look."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader lightly flicked his finger, sending a letter flying to Lu Li, stopping before her.
Lu Li received it, quickly glanced through it.
Chen Tang had already left the capital?
This person truly knows no bounds, after leaving the capital, yet not hastening to flee Qian Country, instead lingering in Qingzhou!
"Hehehehe..."
The laugh of the Profound Celestial Sect Leader broke Lu Li’s train of thought.
Only to see the Profound Celestial Sect Leader slowly stand up, saying, "The time has come, it’s time for a resolution."
"Are you leaving the capital?"
Lu Li frowned, "Just a Chen Tang, a mere junior, isn’t worth your personal intervention, is it?"
Over the years, although the Profound Celestial Sect had grown stronger, it had already strayed from its original purpose.
Lu Li had made a few suggestions, but they were all of no avail.
Later on, most of the time she secluded herself for cultivation, keeping her mind untroubled by what she couldn’t see.
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader mostly consulted with the Right Protector on decisions.
Having just emerged from seclusion, she was a bit unsure of the Profound Celestial Sect Leader’s intentions.
"Chen Tang, just an ant, leave him to Sun Tianlu and Zhou Haijian to handle."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader’s gaze seemed to pierce through the palace, looking toward Qingzhou, slowly saying, "This time I’m leaving the capital to eliminate a deep-seated threat to the Profound Celestial Sect!"
Lu Li’s heart stirred, and she suddenly said, "Are you targeting the Zen Sect?"
"Exactly!"
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader nodded.
The current move to support a new Emperor during a solar eclipse was just one of the objectives.
The more vital objective was to join forces with the True Dragon to encircle and annihilate the Zen Sect!
Once the Zen Sect is eliminated, we can eradicate Buddhism within Qian Country, extinguishing all traces!
In Qian Country, he would not allow anyone to worship a second deity!
Any Buddha, Bodhisattva, must make way for the Profound Celestial Immortal Venerable!
"The Zen Sect has been famous for years. How sure are you in eliminating it?" Lu Li asked. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader gave a faint smile, "The Zen Sect has aged. Their era is over."
"By joining forces with the True Dragon, there’s at least a seventy percent chance of killing the Zen Sect! Even if he doesn’t die, he will surely be severely injured and no longer a threat to the Profound Celestial Sect."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader’s tone was confident.
Lu Li added, "Don’t forget, over by Martial General Mountain, there’s still an Evil Emperor."
"She won’t interfere."
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader chuckled, "That lunatic is naturally indifferent. For those unrelated, she absolutely won’t intervene. After we eliminate the Zen Sect, she’s next!"
Lu Li remained silent.
Everything was within the Profound Celestial Sect Leader’s grasp.
Even the reactions of each person, he had predicted.
"Won’t you stay in the Capital City?"
Lu Li asked again.
The Profound Celestial Sect Leader slightly shook his head and said, "The situation in the Capital City is stable. After Yuan Qingshan’s death, Yuan Qinghe will be the new Emperor. Everything afterward is up to you all."
"As for the next battleground, it’s in Qingzhou!"
After speaking, the Profound Celestial Sect Leader’s figure flickered, and he drifted away, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
Lu Li slightly frowned, "Yuan Qinghe?"
Yuan Qinghe had always been kept under house arrest by Yuan Qingshan.
Considering brotherhood, Yuan Qingshan never attempted to kill him.
Yuan Qinghe, huh?
Lu Li pondered.
Yuan Qingshan she couldn’t save, but to support Yuan Qinghe, it still required her assent.
