Hunyuan Immortal Sect

Chapter 368 It's Going to Rain
"I've called you here today because I have something to tell you." Jiang Feng lightly brushed his finger across his nose.

Song Xian's expression grew increasingly grave, and he vaguely guessed what was going on: "Master Jiang, has something happened?"

"Just received news that Yunxuan Sect and the Murong family have amassed a large force and are about to launch an attack on the camps and territories occupied by our sect. The sect leader has ordered that the troops supporting Humen City be immediately withdrawn to Xijiang County."

Song Xian could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up, his voice unconsciously rising a few octaves: "If we return to Xijiang County, what about Xicheng?"

"The attack on Luoyun Sect can only be postponed for now; we must return to Xijiang County immediately."

Song Xian fell silent. How could this happen? They had clearly agreed to attack Luoyun Sect after defending Humen City, but this had turned out to be the case.

How should I explain this to the disciples of the sect? And what should the sect do next?

He was furious, feeling that he had been tricked by the Beast Taming Sect, but reason prevailed over impulse. He knew that yelling and shouting at Jiang Feng would not do any good.

The Beast Taming Sect is facing its own difficulties; how could it possibly help him reclaim Bianxi City?

No wonder the Luoyun Sect chose this time to attack the Hunyuan Sect, and no wonder the Fengxing Sect fled at the mere sight of them.

They must have known all along that the Yunxuan Sect and the Murong family were about to launch a large-scale attack on the Beast Taming Sect.

That's why the Luoyun Sect is so fearless.

That's why the Fengxing Sect temporarily avoided direct confrontation and withdrew from Humen City.

"Then what should we do?" After a long silence, Song Xian slowly sat down, as if he had lost all his strength, and asked weakly with a gloomy expression.

"Two choices. First, stay in Humen City. I think the Mingyue Sect would welcome you, because they are facing the threat of the Fengxing Sect, and they are also worried that after their sect withdraws, the Fengxing Sect will make a comeback. Your staying will be an asset to them."

"Secondly, come back to Xijiang County with us, and our sect will protect your safety."

Song Xian's mind was in turmoil. He had originally hoped that the Beast Taming Sect would lead them to reclaim Bianxi City, but unexpected complications had arisen. He was at a loss for what to do and felt that the future was bleak.

"Let me think about this."

"I'll give you one day to give me an answer today. If you want to stay, I can report to Uncle Zhan and discuss with the Bright Moon Sect to try and get you better terms."

Song Xian remained silent, got up and left. As soon as he returned to his room, Hu Xiaobao, Lu Yuan, and Huang He came to greet him. Seeing his gloomy expression, they all looked at each other in bewilderment.

They already knew that Song Xian had been summoned by Wang Feng, and they originally thought that he was going to attack Bianxi City, so they were all waiting outside his door. But seeing his expression, they knew that things were not as they thought.

The expectations on everyone's faces vanished instantly.

"Sect Leader, what happened?" Lu Yuan and the others exchanged glances and asked cautiously.

"Come in, everyone! We'll talk after you come in." Song Xian entered the room with a gloomy face and sat down in the main seat.

The others followed suit and filed in.

"Sect Leader, has Jiang Feng given any explanation regarding the attack on Bianxi City?" Huang He couldn't help but ask.

"Those people from the Beast Taming Sect are going to retreat to Xijiang County."

"What?" Upon hearing this, the group immediately erupted in chaos.

"Didn't the plan to retreat to Xijiang County mean that after holding Humen City, we would attack Luoyun Sect?"

"What do we do now that they've retreated to Xijiang County?"

"The Beast Taming Sect is playing us for a fool. They tricked us into helping Tiger Gate City resist the Windwalking Sect, and now they're going back on their word."

Song Xian waved his hand, stopping the commotion: "Jiang Feng said he received news that Yun Xuanzong and the Murong family have amassed a large force and are about to attack them. It's no use talking about anything else now. The Beast Taming Sect cannot abandon its own sect's safety to attack Bianxi City. The most urgent matter is what to do next."

"Either stay in Humen City or go to Xijiang County. I'd like to hear your suggestions."

The group looked dejected, some even indignant, their faces grim. After a moment of silence, Huang He asked with a resentful expression, "Has the Beast Taming Sect said when they will send troops to attack the Falling Cloud Sect? They can't just keep making a fool of us like monkeys!"

“Under the current circumstances, it’s impossible for them to attack Luoyun Sect. As for when they will send troops, it will have to wait until the situation in Xijiang County eases.” After saying this, Song Xian thought that in order to stabilize people’s hearts and boost morale, so he added: “The Beast Taming Sect also wants to take back Bianxi City, but it is currently restrained by Yunxuan Sect and Murong Family and cannot spare the time. We need to wait for a while longer. One day, the Beast Taming Sect will send troops to attack Luoyun Sect.”

Lu Yuan glanced at everyone and said, "Sect Leader, I suggest we stay in Humen City. Since Yunxuan Sect has already gathered its forces to launch an attack on the Beast Taming Sect, Xijiang County will definitely be in turmoil. If we go to Xijiang County, we might be used as cannon fodder by the Beast Taming Sect and dragged to the front line. Besides, the Beast Taming Sect is facing the combined forces of Yunxuan Sect and the Murong family and is too busy to protect itself. How can it protect us?"

“Senior Brother Lu is right.” Hu Xiaobao nodded in agreement: “War is about to break out in Xijiang County. We have no resources and no spiritual veins in Xijiang County. It would be better for us to stay in Humen City. The Mingyue Sect also needs us to resist the Fengxing Sect. They will surely treat us well.”

The others also expressed their agreement, but Song Xian remained silent, his gaze drifting outside as his mind raced.

"What is the Sect Leader's opinion?" Lu Yuan asked, seeing that he hadn't said a word.

“We can’t stay in Humen City; we still have to go to Xijiang County,” Song Xian said slowly, his eyes hardening as he finished speaking.

Upon hearing this, everyone looked puzzled.

Song Xian then gave his reasons.

"The actions of Yunxuan Sect and the Murong family must have been planned in advance with Fengxing Sect and Luoyun Sect. They are responsible for containing the main force of the Beast Taming Sect, preventing the Beast Taming Sect from making any rash moves. If I am not mistaken, Fengxing Sect will definitely make a comeback, and it may not be just Fengxing Sect alone. Luoyun Sect may also lend them a hand."

"After the Beast Taming Sect's forces withdraw from Humen City, the Bright Moon Sect alone is no match for the Wind Riding Sect. It is we who are truly in danger if we remain in Humen City."

"Although the Beast Taming Sect is in a bad situation, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Although it cannot win, it should be able to protect itself. Otherwise, the Yunxuan Sect and the Murong family would have eliminated them long ago."

"Moreover, I have a feeling that Yunxuan Sect and Murong family will not launch a large-scale attack. They may just be putting on a show to divert the Beast Taming Sect's support for Humen City and cooperate with Fengxing Sect to take Humen City."

Upon hearing this, the group fell into deep thought.

Song Xian ignored them; he had already made up his mind, so he ordered everyone to make preparations.

The others turned and left, but Huang He stood there, seemingly lost in thought, as if something was on his mind.

"Huang He, is there anything else?"

Huang He opened his mouth as if to say something, but after looking up at Song Xian, he shook his head and said, "No... nothing."

“I know you all want to return to Tianshan as soon as possible, and so do I. But this can’t be rushed. Let the brothers be patient for a while longer. I promise that we will return to Bianxi City in the future, and it will be better than before.” Huang He didn’t say much, just nodded, and looked up at Song Xian with a complicated expression.

"What is it? Just say what you want to say?" Seeing his expression, Song Xian knew that he must have something to say.

Huang He withdrew his gaze and shook his head again: "It's nothing, Sect Leader, I'll take my leave now."

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk, Song Xian did not force him to stay and let him go.

After everyone left, he went to see Jiang Feng, bowed, and sat down before getting straight to the point.

"Master Jiang, we have already discussed it and decided to go to Xijiang County."

"Oh?" Jiang Feng was a little surprised by his decision. He had thought they would choose to stay in Humen City, but he didn't expect them to decide to go to Xijiang County together. However, he didn't ask why, but just nodded: "Are you coming with me, or going back alone?"

"We will return with your clan. Besides that, I have another request."

"what's up?"

"We failed to retake Bianxi City this time, and we don't know when we'll have another chance. It could be a few years, a dozen years, or even decades. Our sect may not be able to hold out for such a long time. We hope your sect can provide us with some support."

Jiang Feng glanced at him: "What kind of support are you referring to?"

"Everything else is fine. Our sect still has some savings, so we don't need to worry about spirit stones for the time being. But to maintain a sect, spirit stones alone are not enough. We also need to provide cultivation rooms. Could you talk to your sect about allocating a second-tier spirit vein for our sect to stay in?"

"A second-tier spiritual vein." Jiang Feng shook his head. "This is not up to me. However, if you can stay in Humen City, I can ask Uncle Zhan to negotiate with the Mingyue Sect and have them provide a second-tier spiritual vein for you to guard."

"Our clan has decided to go to Xijiang County. We humbly request that Steward Jiang mention this matter to your clan when it is convenient for him."

"Let's talk about this later!" Jiang Feng didn't agree, giving a perfunctory reply.

Song Xian knew that this was not something that could be settled in a few words. He was only here to give a heads-up and let him know. Jiang Feng's reply was within his expectations. If Jiang Feng had agreed immediately, he would have felt there was a problem.

…………

As night fell, the garrison at Peacock Mountain assembled and withdrew to the Beast Taming Sect's headquarters. After staying there for a day, they boarded a spirit ship and headed towards Xijiang County.

Just before setting off, Hu Xiaobao hurried to his tent, his face solemn.

"Sect Leader, Huang He and more than twenty disciples from the Tianshan Camp have disappeared."

"Gone? What do you mean?" Song Xian was slightly taken aback. The night before, when they withdrew from Peacock Mountain, Huang He was still in the group. How could he have suddenly disappeared?

"I asked others, and this morning, Huang He and more than twenty disciples from the Tianshan Camp left this place, saying they were ordered to go out on business."

Song Xian was startled, suddenly recalling Huang He's unusual behavior the day before. He hadn't paid much attention to it at the time, assuming it was due to Huang He's disappointment.

Besides Zhang Ningyuan, Huang He and other former Tianshan disciples were the ones who most wanted to return to Tianshan. When they were evacuating, they caused trouble and almost caused an internal conflict.

They were most excited and looking forward to the Beast Taming Sect's declaration that they would send troops to reclaim Bianxi City.

Now that the Beast Taming Sect has withdrawn from Xijiang County, it's like the last straw that broke the camel's back; these former Tianshan Sect disciples have completely lost hope.

Without a doubt, Huang He led these twenty-odd Tianshan Sect disciples away from their sect. They didn't have a strong sense of belonging to the Hunyuan Sect and weren't as loyal as the elders of the Qingyun Sect and the direct descendants cultivated by the sect.

To them, the Hunyuan Sect was nothing more than a latecomer who had usurped the throne. It was only after the Hunyuan Sect occupied Tianshan that it grew stronger day by day, and their status rose accordingly. Their salaries and incomes also increased. In addition, with the Beast Taming Sect backing them up, they integrated into the Hunyuan Sect and obeyed its orders.

In truth, whether it was the Hunyuan Sect or the Luoyun Sect, it made no difference to them who occupied Tianshan. Therefore, when they abandoned Bianxi City and withdrew from Tianshan, it almost triggered internal strife.

Seeing that returning to Tianshan with Hunyuan Sect seemed a distant prospect, their decision to leave Hunyuan Sect was inevitable.

Song Xian had long anticipated that this day might come, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.

"Sect Leader, I suspect that Huang He and his group have gone to join the Luoyun Sect. Should I send someone to intercept them?" Seeing his expression, Hu Xiaobao naturally guessed that Huang He had left without saying goodbye and must have betrayed the sect. Seeing that he remained silent, he asked for instructions.

Song Xian looked out of the tent. Layers of dark clouds had already covered the sky. After a long silence, he finally said something softly.

"If it's going to rain, it's going to rain; if a mother wants to remarry, she'll just let it be!"

.........

Dark clouds covered the moon and it rained heavily.

In the brightly lit room of Luoyun Sect in Bianxi City, Duan Quan entered from outside and bowed to Tao Jinyuan: "Sect Leader, according to the latest news, Zhan Qiuyuan, Xu Ziming, and a large number of reinforcements from the Beast Taming Sect have withdrawn from Humen City and headed to Xijiang County."

A smile appeared on Tao Jinyuan's face. These past few days, he had been on tenterhooks, fearing that the Beast Taming Sect would send troops to attack them after conquering Humen City.

Although they received a guarantee from Emperor Yun Xuanzong, it was only a verbal promise and had no binding force. If Emperor Yun Xuanzong changed his mind at the last minute and abandoned them, they would have no recourse.

Upon hearing that the Beast Taming Sect had withdrawn from Xijiang County, he breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a rare smile, his face showing a calm and composed demeanor, as if everything was under his control.

"The Beast Taming Sect is too busy to defend itself, so naturally it won't stay in Tiger Gate City. In the end, Tiger Gate City is just a pawn that they can abandon at any time."

Duan Quan chimed in, "In that case, we won't have to worry about the Beast Taming Sect attacking us."

"Where is the Hunyuan Sect? Is there any news about them? Is Song Xian dead or alive?"

"Song Xian is still alive. I heard that he made a contribution this time. During the attack on Peacock Mountain, he killed a Yunxuan Sect cultivator at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment on his own. As for the Hunyuan Sect, they withdrew from Xijiang County together with the Beast Taming Sect."

Tao Jinyuan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Song Xian is not to be underestimated. Keeping Hunyuanzong around will eventually cause trouble."

"They now have neither territory nor resources, nor spiritual veins, and the Beast Taming Sect has returned to Xijiang County. Without the Beast Taming Sect's support, the Hunyuan Sect is not a threat at all. On the other hand, the Mingyue Sect has already taken over all our territory and industries in Humen City. Should we take this opportunity to take them back? The Fengxing Sect has sent people several times, hoping that we will send troops to join them in attacking Humen City."

Tao Jinyuan slowly shook his head: "The Fengxing Sect is full of wolfish ambitions. Cooperating with them is like asking a tiger for its skin. It's better to be cautious."

"Even so, things have already come to this point. We have completely broken ties with the Beast Taming Sect, and now we have no choice but to support the Yunxuan Sect."

"Then let's wait for Yunxuanzong to make a promise and guarantee. Don't even think about asking Fengxingzong to contribute manpower and resources to fight for them based on just a few words."

(End of this chapter)