Tumor Sword Immortal

Chapter 283 An annual occurrence
“One person does the deed, one person takes the blame. Just say that we killed Chai Yun, and let the imperial court do whatever they want to arrest him.”

Ji Shaofu spoke with boundless ambition: "If Maizhou can't accommodate us, we'll go to Yuezhou; if Dongzhou can't accommodate us, we'll go to the Northern Barbarians, we'll go to Daling!"

Pei Xia suddenly felt that the steamed bun in her mouth tasted like wax.

Sister, is it possible that I'm also wanted by the authorities in Daling?

As Ji Shaofu spoke, her tone gradually softened.

Pei Xia thought she had finally calmed down, but then she suddenly felt a cool touch on her hand.

Ji Shaofu's hand climbed onto the back of his hand, her fair fingertips slipping between Pei Xia's fingers, holding it tightly.

Uncle Ji's cheeks were flushed red as if they were about to bleed: "You have done so much for me, I will never let you down."

Was Pei Xia moved?
I dare not move at all!
He could only turn his head to the side and steal a glance at a window on the upper floor of the main hall.

Huang Bing was peeking through the window.

The sect leader's expression was extremely complicated when he saw Ji Shaofu take Pei Xia's hand.

She felt a mix of relief that her junior sister had found someone she liked who was good to her, but seeing that it was Ji Shaofu who took the initiative to grab Pei Xia's hand, she also felt a bit resentful and annoyed.

You little rascal, you even served it!

"Humph!"

Huang Bing closed the window and walked back into the quiet room: "Has a letter arrived?"

Li Qi, who was already waiting nearby, immediately said, "The Clippers sent the message last night."

"The Chai family found out on the day Chai Yun died. The old minister cried to everyone he met, saying that he had a bitter life. The next day when he went to court, he looked miserable, which prompted the emperor to ask him about it."

"Minister Chai only said that his son was killed in a martial arts competition at Changjing Gate. His Majesty also expressed great regret and even had a special talk with his ministers about sending a son to cultivate himself."

Huang Bing listened very attentively.

Don't be fooled by his seemingly confident demeanor when he plots against Chai Yun; in this world, many schemes can ultimately be ruined by someone's whim.

If Xiao Chenguo really goes toe-to-toe with Changjingmen, Huang Bingke will be no match for him alone.

"And then?" he asked.

Li Qi carefully replied, "It just happened yesterday. They said that everyone at the Martial Arts Platform was fined a year's salary for extravagance, while Minister Chai's eldest son, who is in court, was promoted two ranks."

Hearing this, Huang Bing finally breathed a sigh of relief: "That's right, that's right, we timed this matter quite well."

Targeting the Changjingmen, or rather, the four gangs of Cao, Gai, Wa, and Nong, is clearly a long-term task for the Wugongtai. The emperor may not need to be constantly involved in this matter, but he is certainly aware of it.

Minister Chai was an old and shrewd man. When his son was suddenly beaten to death at Changjing Gate, he quickly realized that this was a warning from Changjing Gate, and that Chai Yun was suffering for someone else.

He looked down on this second son, but he couldn't let him die in vain. He had suffered for someone else, so there had to be a return for every loss.

When his crying became common knowledge, the emperor naturally understood that it was due to a lapse in the work of the Wugongtai that someone had lost a son.

Therefore, Wugongtai's salary was eventually reduced, while the Chai family received compensation.

For the emperor, this was just one of the many tasks he was busy with every day.

As for whether Changjingmen's actions constitute provocation, whether they should be suppressed, and how to handle them... that's the job of the Martial Arts Platform.

So in essence, the imperial court is a chessboard for leveraging power, and what Changjingmen really disgusted this time was the martial arts arena.

And it was very successful.

"That's good. It seems I can successfully 'come out of seclusion' as well."

Huang Bing stood up and straightened his clothes.

That evening, in the main hall of the sect, Huang Bing presided over a small meeting with the elders from all the peaks.

As soon as everyone entered, their eyes fell on Huang Bing.

The sect leader's injuries have fully healed, and his cultivation might even advance further, which would naturally be a good thing for the sect. Immediately afterwards, they all looked at Pei Xia, who was standing to the side.

Li Qi carried the teapot and poured water for the sect leader and the elders. Huang Bing picked up his tea and said to Pei Xia next to him naturally, "Pei Xia, why are you standing? Find a seat. You are an inner sect elder now."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions became somewhat subtle.

Huh? It's good enough that he's not in shackles, he can even sit?
Pei Xia was also a little surprised. Judging from Huang Bing's behavior, could it be that news had already come from the imperial court?
Since it was the sect leader's order, he pulled out a chair and sat down next to Ji Shaofu.

Everyone assumed that the sect leader's summons of the elders upon emerging from seclusion must be to discuss Pei Xia's killing of Chai Yun.

To everyone's surprise, Huang Bing simply said, "It's just a matter of losing a fight. It happens every year. There's no need to take it to heart."

What the heck? Sect Leader, have you gone mad from being in seclusion?

Does "every year" mean that our sect has to lose several sons of high-ranking officials every year?

Huang Bing appeared calm and composed, not like he was acting.

He briefly mentioned Chai Yun's death, and then quickly began discussing the four-faction martial arts competition that would take place in a few days, speaking in a tone that said, "This is the most important thing today."

Yang Xuzhong glanced at Pei Xia, then at his senior brother. It seemed that Li Qi's sudden outburst that day was indeed not accidental.

He cautiously asked, "What about the spots for this martial arts competition..."

Huang Bing tapped the table: "Let's stick to what we agreed on. Who are the top three in this sect competition?"

Yang Xuzhong replied, "Niu Wansan of Hanguang Peak, Chu Guihai of Xuanri Peak, and... Elder Pei."

When he mentioned Pei Xia, he paused noticeably, and the other elders also subconsciously looked at Pei Xia sitting to the side.

After killing Chai Yun, how could he still attend the Four Factions Martial Arts Competition as usual?
Huang Bing nodded: "Well, then let's add two more inner sect elders. I think... you and Shao Fu should go, Lao Yang?"

When he mentioned himself, Yang Xuzhong immediately snapped out of his reverie: "Me? I'll pass on that."

It's normal for Ji Shaofu to go. She's young and talented, and even if she doesn't win in the end, it's still an excellent opportunity for her to gain experience.

But Yang Xuzhong is already quite old, and his cultivation isn't particularly profound. If he goes up there and encounters a younger generation from some family, he'll get a beating...

Yang Xuzhong stammered, "Isn't that embarrassing enough?"

“Hey,” Huang Bing said magnanimously, “When has our Changjing Sect ever not lost face in this four-faction martial arts competition? We’re not going to make a difference this time.”

Pei Xia, who was standing nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief.

He wasn't afraid of anything else, except that Huang Bing was foolish enough to snatch away his spot in the martial arts competition.

As long as we can still go to the Illusionary City, everything else is a minor matter.

In the remaining time, Huang Bing chatted with the elders about the rankings and rewards for the sect competition, as well as some schedules for the four sects' martial arts contest. This time, Changjing Sect was the host, so they couldn't be careless.

"Oh, by the way, the lists of people from the other three factions who came this time have also been sent to me."

Huang Bing turned to Li Qi and said, "Show it to Elder Yang and the others as well, so they can know their enemy and themselves."

There were five slots available, but since they were sent separately, there were three slots.

Since Niu Wansan and Chu Guihai weren't there, Pei Xia, Ji Shaofu, and Yang Xuzhong could take turns watching.

Three people at the Opening Mansion Realm and two at the Profound Realm have arrived at Nine-Section Valley.

The eleventh cave of Ziya is quite shameless. Four of them established their own residences, three of whom were so-called "cave masters," and they seemed to have a lot of influence.

Pei Xia had expected this and wasn't surprised. However, when the list from Xuanyi Mountain was delivered to him, he glanced at it and suddenly froze.

Like Jiujie Valley, Xuanyi Mountain also has three experts at the Opening Mansion Realm. Two of them seem to be well-known masters among the various sects of the Eastern Frontier, but Pei Xia has never heard of them.

Only the last one had a particularly jarring name—Xia Xuan.

Pei Xia frowned. Wasn't this Fu Hongshuang's disciple, the next sword master of Xuange Sword Mansion? How did he infiltrate Xuanyi Mountain?
(End of this chapter)