His thoughts raced. ’The threat of the Demon Sect is a sword hanging over our heads. Forming an alliance is inevitable.’

’But once the alliance is established, who will be the Alliance Leader? How will the spoils be divided? Whose commands will the sects follow?’

’The politics involved will be anything but simple.’

’Every one of the Four Sect Leaders will covet the throne of Alliance Leader.’

’If Cold Jade Valley seizes power, life will become very difficult for the Wutai Sect.’

’And as the Wutai Sect’s Chief Disciple, I’ll be dragged into the center of this storm no matter what my stance is.’

"A storm is brewing..."

Chen Qing muttered to himself, an invisible pressure settling over him.

When Leng Qianqiu arrived in person, the Wutai Sect’s gates would become the epicenter of all the turmoil in Yunlin Prefecture.

Just then, a disciple’s voice came from outside the courtyard. "Brother Chen, someone from the Foreign Objects Hall is here to see you. He says he’s Bai Qingquan, a Tributor from the Liu Family."

"A Liu Family Tributor?"

Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened. ’It has to be about the Yue Shan couple,’ he thought.

He instantly guessed the purpose of their visit.

Chen Qing calmly replied, "Understood. Please have him wait. I’ll be there right away."

After tidying himself up, Chen Qing made his way to the Council Hall in the Foreign Objects Hall.

An elderly man in a brocade robe was already waiting inside. It was Bai Qingquan, the Liu Family’s Tributor.

"Honored Guest Bai."

Chen Qing clasped his hands in greeting, his expression impassive.

"Chief Chen."

Bai Qingquan returned the fist-and-palm salute, his gaze sweeping over Chen Qing imperceptibly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bai Qingquan got straight to the point. "Forgive my intrusion on your training, Chief Chen, but it concerns my fellow Liu Family Tributors, the couple Yue Shan and Liu San Niang. They’ve been missing without a word since they accompanied you, Jiang Bohong, and Zhao Tieying to the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, and they have yet to return. The Patriarch is deeply concerned and has sent me to ask you about it. Could you tell me when and where you last saw the two of them inside the swamp? And what were the circumstances?"

Chen Qing paused as if recalling the events, then said, "The Ten Thousand Poison Swamp is treacherous and unpredictable. I understand your concern, Honored Guest Bai. I did travel with Brother Yue and Madam Liu for a time, but we parted ways shortly after entering the outskirts of the Ghost Wail Swamp, as we had different goals."

"I was heading deep into the Ghost Wail Swamp to hunt for a Red-eyed Poison Python, an extremely dangerous endeavor. Brother Yue and his wife, meanwhile, seemed to have other plans with Elder Jiang and Brother Zhao. They were going to another area to search for Treasure Medicine. We agreed to take care and meet at Hundred Boats Beach if we made any finds. But once I was deep in the swamp, I encountered several dangers that held me up. By the time I came out, I didn’t see them at our rendezvous point, so I figured they had already headed back."

"What? They still haven’t returned?"

His answer was perfectly plausible. It was natural to split up due to different goals, and common to get separated in a dangerous land. Not managing to rendezvous afterward was also normal.

This was the story Chen Qing had prepared ahead of time. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Bai Qingquan’s brow tightened. Clearly unsatisfied with the answer, he pressed, "Where, exactly, did you separate? And did Jiang Bohong and Zhao Tieying leave with them at that time?"

"While you were in the Ghost Wail Swamp, Chief Chen, did you hear or see anything out of the ordinary? The sounds of a fierce battle, perhaps?"

Chen Qing’s face fell, and his tone turned icy. "Are you interrogating me, Honored Guest Bai? The exact location? The depths of the Ghost Wail Swamp are choked with Poisonous Miasma and treacherous, rocky terrain. I was focused on finding my target, how could I possibly remember the precise location? As for ’unusual disturbances’... is there ever a day in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp that doesn’t have life-or-death struggles? I was facing constant danger myself, barely able to stay alive. What energy would I have to spare on anyone else?"

His gaze was sharp as a blade. "Or are you saying that the Liu Family suspects me, Chen Qing, of having something to do with the disappearance of your Tributors?"

"I wouldn’t dare! You overstate things, Chief Chen!"

Bai Qingquan’s face changed, and he quickly took half a step back.

He felt an invisible pressure. Questioning the Chief Disciple of a major sect without any proof would bring consequences that neither he nor, likely, the Liu Family was willing to bear.

"I am simply worried about the safety of my colleagues, and my words were too hasty. I had no intention of questioning you, Chief Chen! Please, forgive me!"

Chen Qing snorted. "Your concern for your colleagues is understandable, Honored Guest Bai, but I have told you all I know. The Ten Thousand Poison Swamp is a place of near-certain death. Brother Yue and his wife are fortunate people; perhaps they were merely delayed. If the Liu Family receives any concrete information and requires the assistance of the Wutai Sect, you may submit a formal request to the Internal Affairs Hall. Now, see our guest out!"

Rendered speechless by Chen Qing’s final words, Bai Qingquan could only clasp his fists. With an unpleasant look on his face, he said, "I have been presumptuous. Farewell."

With that, he turned and departed in a hurry.

Watching Bai Qingquan’s figure disappear through the doorway, Chen Qing’s brow knitted even tighter.

’The Liu Family... Bai Qingquan... This isn’t over.’

Alarm bells went off in his head.

He had managed to intimidate the man for now with his status and presence, but Bai Qingquan’s expression made it clear he wasn’t convinced.

’I’ll have to be more careful. I need to keep an eye on the Liu Family’s next move, and I also have to be on guard for any trouble related to the Yue Shan couple.’

...

「Liu Mansion, Bai Qingquan’s Residence.」

Bai Qingquan had just returned to his room. Before he could even have a sip of tea, there was a knock at the door.

Standing outside was Yue Ling’Er, the daughter of the Yue Shan couple.

Her face was haggard and her eyes were red and swollen, filled with a mixture of intense anxiety and hope.

"Uncle Bai! How did it go? What did that Chen Qing say?"

Yue Ling’Er asked urgently, her voice trembling.

Bai Qingquan sighed and shook his head. "I went to see that Chief Chen of the Wutai Sect. He said that shortly after entering the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, he parted ways with your parents because they had different goals."

"He was going deep into the swamp to find some Essence Blood, while your parents, Jiang Bohong, and Zhao Tieying went elsewhere to search for medicine. When he came out later, he didn’t see them at the rendezvous point and just assumed your parents had already returned."