Mountain and River Festival

Chapter 248 Why Talk About Profit?

The Shadow Moon Sect is not only a mountain gate, but also a royal court.

Shadowmoon City, located outside the mountains, is also the largest and most prosperous capital city of the Frost Kingdom.

The Heavenly Frost Kingdom is an established nation. Even if its nature is closer to a sect alliance, Si Han is at least called the ruler of the kingdom, not just the sect leader of the Shadow Moon Sect.

He possesses the basic powers of a ruler of a nation, and is at least qualified to organize a sect alliance to jointly wage war against foreign powers. This was the case in the Battle of Frozen Moon and Cold River; Si Han organized a top-three sect alliance, including five or six first-rank sect leaders.

In the end, he achieved nothing, lost the Bone Dragon and returned injured. Lu Xingzhou felt that even if Gu Zhanting did not intervene from behind, the Tian Shuang Kingdom would still suffer a turmoil.

After all, Si Han couldn't match the Great Qian imperial family's power to suppress other sects, nor did he have the public's acceptance of the Gu family's thousand-year rule. There are so many powerful first-rank sects, why should you be the ruler?
Of course, such upheaval wouldn't be so easy without someone supporting them.

Shadow Moon Sect is, after all, the strongest sect in the Frost Kingdom. Si Han is at the peak of the first rank, a figure extremely close to the super rank. The sect also has far more experts of the upper three ranks than others, and its prestige is extremely high. This is why he was able to use the name of "fighting against the demon race" to unite various sects to establish a kingdom.

Even if others could take advantage of Si Han's injury to break through the royal court and kill Si Han, they still wouldn't be able to subdue the entire Shadow Moon Sect. And why would other first-class sects recognize someone like you, who takes advantage of others' misfortune, as their ruler?
It's just so awkward not having the superior strength to crush others on a fair and square basis.

But with the support of a top brand, this becomes much simpler.

Taking advantage of Si Han's current weakness, Gu Zhanting only needs to send a royal-grade expert to support a puppet sect to subdue the leaderless Shadow Moon Sect; or he can choose a puppet within the Shadow Moon Sect to support and replace the sect leader. In this way, he can indirectly control the Frost Kingdom.

"So we've caught up?" The two hovered high above and looked down. The killing intent was coming from inside the Shadow Moon Sect. The Shadow Moon Royal City was still peaceful, with no one attacking it.

“It’s an internal strife,” Lu Xingzhou said. “Gu Zhanting chose a simpler method…”

Ye Tinglan said, "How can you be sure that Gu Zhanting will definitely participate? Can't it be done spontaneously by ambitious individuals within the organization?"

"Because if it was done internally, such internal strife would inevitably require a long period of collusion and internal support. Otherwise, what's the point of suddenly killing Si Han while he's injured? Would others recognize you as the sect leader?" Lu Xingzhou countered, "Do you think Si Han is so incompetent that he's completely unaware that the sect is being widely colluded with by ambitious people, and yet he still brazenly sets out to conquer Dongyue Hanchuan?"

Ye Tinglan shook her head. Si Han was quite capable and ambitious; he had established the Tian Shuang Kingdom. Generally speaking, he wouldn't be so muddleheaded.

Logically, the vast majority of people in the sect should support Si Han.

Furthermore, although Si Han returned empty-handed this time, his sect suffered no losses; the only loss was the bone dragon that Si Han had just acquired. This "mistake" was not enough to warrant being ousted by the crowd.

"So, only someone with super-ranking influence could quickly subdue everyone and successfully install a traitor in power. Who else could it be but Gu Zhanting causing trouble?"

As they spoke, the two were already suspended outside the Shadow Moon Sect's protective mountain formation.

The situation within the Shadow Moon Sect was also clearly visible.

In front of the sect's main hall, three or four corpses lay. Si Han stood outside the hall and said in a hoarse voice, "Trouble has arisen within our own walls, causing the decline of our sect's powerful members. Is this the result you sought?"

Across from him, a middle-aged man in fine clothes stroked his beard and sneered: "They died for you. If you weren't greedy for power and honestly gave up your position, wouldn't everyone be happy?"

"And then what? Hand over the power of the Shadow Moon Sect and even the Heavenly Frost Kingdom to outsiders?" Si Han sneered at the black-robed man behind him: "Old Master Gu, you're half-buried in the ground, and instead of pursuing your immortality, you come to another country to meddle in worldly power. Is this the cultivation of your Gu family?"

The elderly man from the Gu family remained expressionless.

According to Gu Zhanting's plan, this was the final step, and its significance to him was mainly to seize the Bone Dragon. Gu Zhanting sold the Bone Dragon to Si Han precisely to entice his old zombie to still get involved in this mess afterward.

When they arrived, they found that Si Han Bone Dragon was gone. It was said that after he left, the glacier experienced spatial chaos, and Ji Wenchuan seized the Bone Dragon in the chaos.

The old man from the Gu family had no idea what the significance of his presence on the glacier and in this place was.

But since he was already here, Gu Zhanting's plan to support puppets in Tianshuang Kingdom was worthwhile, and he had to accomplish it first.

The middle-aged man in fine clothes, who was confronting Si Han, sneered: "What do you mean by outsider? Si Han, have you lost your mind? You just start calling anyone you see. This is Mr. Gu, a guest elder I have hired."

Si Han: "..."

The old zombie from the Gu family hadn't appeared in the world for decades, so no one really recognized him. The other party insisted he was just a guest retainer they'd hired, and there was nothing he could do about it.

The middle-aged man in fine clothes continued, "It's one thing for you to be a mere figurehead, but this time you've recklessly resorted to force, offending both the demon race and the Tianyao Holy Land. If these two sides were to attack, it would be a catastrophic disaster for my Tianshuang Kingdom and Yingyue Sect. I ask you all, doesn't Si Han bear any responsibility for this?"

Behind him, besides the elder of the Gu family, were several familiar faces that Lu Xingzhou had seen in Dongyue Hanchuan. They were from Tingxue Pavilion, another first-class sect in Tianshuang Kingdom. These were the sect leader and high-ranking members of Tingxue Pavilion.

For Tingxue Pavilion, removing the talented Si Han and replacing him with a puppet incompetent leader will bring them benefits in the future. As for the so-called old zombie from the Gu family, how many more days can he stay here? Sooner or later, he'll have to go back to seclusion.

It's hard to say what the situation will be like in the Frost Kingdom at that time...

Hearing the elegantly dressed middle-aged man's words, the Pavilion Master of Tingxue Pavilion responded, "Indeed, Lord Si, you have made a grave mistake by trying to stop a chariot with your bare hands. If you do not quell the anger of the Demon Emperor and the Holy Lord of Tianyao, it will be extremely detrimental to our Tianshuang Kingdom." Si Han coldly said, "What kind of responsibility do you require? To send me to the demon race as an apology?"

"Of course we will not kneel before the demon race, but the King of Si should apologize to the Tianyao Holy Land! At that time, the Tianyao Holy Land will take care of whatever happens to the demon race."

Si Han smiled: "I have already submitted a letter to the Holy Lord of Tianyao to apologize. Can you all go back now?"

The middle-aged man in fine clothes said, "If you repent and step down, everything will be fine. But if you remain obstinate, don't blame me for not showing any brotherly affection."

Si Han turned to look around and saw that most of the higher-ups in his sect wore expressions of dissatisfaction and anger, and the majority of them were still on his side. However, when they made their move and discovered that the opponent possessed a superior-grade weapon, a few hot-tempered individuals were instantly killed, leaving the rest of the sect members angry but unable to speak out.

In fact, Si Han felt that if everyone worked together to activate the great formation, Old Zombie Gu might not fare well. His lifespan was nearing its end, and if he wanted to reach a higher level, he would definitely not want to get injured here. Therefore, as long as they dared to fight, they could drive the opponent back.

However, this would inevitably cause heavy losses to one's own people, and one would be seen as "greedy for power and disregarding the fate of the sect."

He has other options, so it's not that he can't "step down." As long as he retains the support of the people, he can come back and settle scores after Old Zombie Gu leaves.

The only problem is that even if I wanted to abdicate and leave, I would be intercepted and killed on the way, and it would be difficult for me to leave alive.

"Sect Master!" A loyal elder behind him whispered, "We must not retreat! Let's fight them to the death!"

With one person leading the charge, the other high-ranking officials who dared not speak out were also stirred up with passion: "That's right, let's fight! What's so great about a dying Super Grade? Even Gu Zhanting doesn't dare to personally break through our formation, would he dare to get injured again!"

The old man from the Gu family sneered: "Then let's see if I dare to do it."

As he spoke, he flipped his wrist, and the fierce purple aura of the Imperial Extreme World-Shaking Scripture reappeared.

With a loud "boom," Si Han led the way, and a group of Shadow Moon Sect high-ranking members formed a formation to withstand the attack of the Gu family elder. Many of them had blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, but they did not give up.

“That’s why Gu Zhanting wanted to get rid of Si Han. Building that cohesion isn’t easy.” Lu Xingzhou, who had been watching for a long time, finally spoke up: “So what about you? If you just sit and watch Si Han die, you can support another puppet. That would also be quite effective. Saving Si Han will certainly make him grateful, but the gratitude of such a brilliant leader may not be very useful. When the benefits are exhausted, he may still turn against you.”

Ye Tinglan smiled slightly: "I am not Gu Zhanting."

Lu Xingzhou knew she was inclined to save Si Han, but still advised, "But the disadvantages do outweigh the advantages."

"Some things...why only consider the pros and cons?" Ye Tinglan patted his head: "You are no longer a disciple of the demonic path, so consider this another lesson in morality from your teacher?"

Lu Xingzhou scoffed, "That's Instructor Meng's course, not yours."

Ye Tinglan had already descended, and the mountain-protecting formation seemed to have no effect on her. During her long period of observation, she had already discovered the weak point of the formation and, taking advantage of the absence of anyone in charge, she charged straight down.

Lu Xingzhou sighed, reached out and touched the spot on his head where she had just touched him, and muttered to himself, "Who doesn't know about heroes... but there's a price to pay. Oh well, I used to clean up your sister's messes, now I'm going to clean up yours too."

"Bang!" Ye Tinglan waved her hand, dispersing the purple aura of the Gu family elder. The Gu family elder staggered backward, and the whole hall erupted in a roar.

The members of Tingxue Pavilion, who were already about to join the battle, all paled upon seeing this turn of events: "Heaven... Holy Lord Tianyao..."

Si Han stood behind Ye Tinglan, his expression somewhat complicated: "Greetings, True Person Tinglan."

Ye Tinglan's reaction was: "Keep your voices down."

Lu Xingzhou: “…”

Even if my spiritual cultivation is low, I can still hear it, so why bother?

Ye Tinglan said calmly, "I have received the apology from the Lord Si. As for how to express this apology, the Lord Si, please give me an explanation?"

Si Han glanced at the middle-aged man in fine clothes with a livid face in front of him and smiled, "Then how about we invite the Master into the hall for a detailed discussion?"

Ye Tinglan nodded slightly: "Lead the way."

Si Han waved his hand and said, "What are you all standing there for! Bring me the best wine!"

The group turned and entered the hall, as if the middle-aged man in fine clothes, the old man from the Gu family, and the people from Tingxue Pavilion had never existed.

As long as Ye Tinglan is here, he can suppress an entire country, and no insect can make a sound, not even the supreme-grade elder of the Gu family.

(End of this chapter)