IS Chapter 52
by VolareThe mountain peak, the moon bright, the wind clear.
Wei Sheng Xian sat quietly beneath the tree.
A white chess piece rested lightly between his fingers above the board, yet he didn’t place it, instead gazing at the distant mountain stars and moon, flickering like a spring lantern, seemingly lost in thought.
A faint smile played in his eyes.
Li Yuan sat opposite him, placing a black piece.
“What is Wei Sheng brother thinking about?”
Wei Sheng Xian placed a piece, resuming their game.
“Nothing much. Just that on such a fine night, I recalled the scene with that Ye fellow when we came here and decided on the Micro-Snow main peak.” He said.
“What was the scene like?” Li Yuan asked, “Was it like today?”
“At that time, Green Mountains was covered in snow, white above and below. Back then, he and I stood here, the mountains spread out before us. I asked, ‘The mountains stretch on, which one do you like best? Pick one to be our main peak.'”
After a day, he didn’t eat much fish or meat, but he did hear a lot of stories.
Li Yuan: “What did he say?”
“He said, ‘Then this one.’ — And then he went to practice his sword.”
Hearing such words, it was exactly what Li Yuan expected.
Li Yuan: “That’s just like him.”
“So lacking in sentimentality, only he could be like that.” Wei Sheng Xian smiled at Li Yuan, “And what are you thinking about, Li Yuan brother?”
Li Yuan looked at Wei Sheng Xian’s sword.
“I was thinking, Wei Sheng brother’s sword is very interesting.” Li Yuan said, “I used to think you just picked it up and whittled it, but I didn’t expect there to be more to it.”
Wei Sheng Xian gently stroked the flower branch on his sword: “It was indeed something I picked up and whittled. But it’s a funny story, I happened to pick up a branch of Jianmu.”
Li Yuan nodded: “The ancient Jianmu has long since withered, yet it can sprout new branches in Wei Sheng brother’s hands, it is quite the coincidence.”
Wei Sheng Xian blinked: “Li Yuan brother, when did you start talking like that Ye fellow?”
“One who stays near ink gets stained black, I can’t help it.”
Wei Sheng Xian sighed and shook his head.
“Ancient Jianmu branches, come to think of it, are excellent materials for refining swords. Pity, that branch only produced two swords, and neither fell into the hands of a sword cultivator.”
Li Yuan quietly watched the sword.
“–Li Yuan brother, what are you thinking about now?”
“I’m thinking, ten thousand blood crystals, that is indeed not a small amount.”
Wei Sheng Xian was deeply moved.
“Finally hearing someone speak fairly, this Daoist is truly filled with mixed emotions.” Wei Sheng Xian didn’t even want to play chess anymore, almost wanting to shake Li Yuan’s hand.
“Ten thousand blood demons laid dead in the Misty Haze Small Realm, he just wiggles his fingers, even if he dug up a few hundred of them, it would show that he was thinking of the sect, seventeen paltry pieces, truly cuts my heart like a knife.”
Li Yuan seemed to ponder for a moment.
“At least,” Li Yuan said, “he didn’t just kill and leave, not taking a single one.”
Thinking about such a scene, Wei Sheng Xian’s expression gradually darkened.
“What does Wei Sheng brother want to do about this?” Li Yuan casually placed a chess piece, and said, “Now that you’re directly declaring a split, are you ready for open and covert struggles with them from now on?”
“The ghost realm hasn’t even arrived yet, and they’re already so eager to explore it, it’s clear that ten thousand blood crystals didn’t fill their aura meridian gap.” Wei Sheng Xian placed a piece, “Whether or not we tear off this pretense of harmony makes no difference.”
“Those four talismans weren’t planted by the Upper Purity Mountain. Sending an honest person who knows nothing to come here, Li Yuan brother, what do you think they’re thinking?”
“I think they’ve already plotted to kill Ye Zhuo, and Ye Zhuo also killed two of their Tribulation Crossing cultivators, the feud has already been formed, they both know it clearly. The tokens and invitation are sent, but it’s just for appearances. As for whether Micro-Snow Palace goes or not, it doesn’t matter.”
“If someone from Micro-Snow Palace goes, the ghost realm will be dark and windy, a perfect time to settle grudges. If Micro-Snow Palace doesn’t go, then there won’t be any dissidents in the ghost realm trip, and there won’t be any troubles, that’s also good.”
“As for the person sent to deliver the invitation, if Micro-Snow Palace kills them, then they’ll have another excuse to make things difficult. If they’re not killed and released, they can bring back some news and information. — So the person sent is also someone who is dispensable to them.”
Having said that, he placed a piece casually: “I see that the Upper Purity Mountain always acts this way, leaving themselves enough room to advance or retreat, making two plans.”
Determined to swallow others bit by bit, while on the surface, acting like moral gentlemen, is their style.
“So those four yin-yang talismans weren’t from the Upper Purity Mountain.” Li Yuan said, “Someone else must know about this, planning to get Micro-Snow Palace involved as well, they want Micro-Snow Palace to come to the ghost realm.”
Micro-Snow Palace has its own aura meridian and cultivation resources, and doesn’t necessarily care about other realm’s secrets as much as other sects, even if Upper Purity Mountain invites them, they might not want to wade into these troubled waters.
But if the ghost realm’s disaster affects their territory, then they would probably take it seriously.
The affairs of the human world are really intricate and complex.
“To know about the ghost realm in advance, and also have a good understanding of Micro-Snow Palace. In addition, they’re not completely of one mind with the Upper Purity Mountain. Who the other party is, I don’t know, whether they’re friend or foe is hard to say, but I think Wei Sheng brother has a good idea.”
Wei Sheng Xian had to strike the table in praise: “Li Yuan brother, seeing one spot reveals the whole leopard, you truly see everything clearly.”
“With Tai Hao and Tai Zi dead, they’ve been quiet for so long, already making some considerations in their hearts. Since I’ve also reached the Tribulation Crossing Realm, those old things will have to weigh their options again.”
Saying that, he smiled: “Today, revealing their true colors, what do you think they’ll think when that Nascent Soul cultivator relays this information?”
Li Yuan: “I imagine they’ll think back and forth, finding themselves in a difficult position.”
The Nascent Soul Daoist came here today, scared out of their wits, and will definitely report it back.
Micro-Snow Palace had never said anything about the ten thousand blood crystals before.
The Dao Sect’s first disciple poisoning Ye Zhuo was also not publicized in the end.
Later, the two Supreme Elders intercepted and killed Ye Zhuo, but died themselves, and the matter was dropped.
After these three incidents, Micro-Snow Palace seems to know what’s good for them, wanting to fight in the dark, not openly.
After all, the Upper Purity Mountain is powerful, and openly breaking off relations is to go against the entire orthodox immortal path.
So whether they go to the ghost realm or not, the Upper Purity Mountain doesn’t care.
But now, the Micro-Snow Palace Master has revealed his sharpness, and the attitude of the entire palace is clear — every single incident has not been forgotten, and they are clearly determined to break off relations.
If these people are in the ghost realm, they will definitely come out and stir up trouble.
If they stay in the human world, they will inevitably cause wind and waves, creating incidents.
“Doesn’t the Upper Purity Mountain love to come up with win-win solutions? This time, let them experience what it means to be in a dilemma. Also, the person who planted the talismans didn’t show their face, but wants to lure me to the ghost realm to fight with the Upper Purity Mountain, how can this Daoist not tell this matter to the Nascent Soul Daoist in detail, to have those two sides fight each other?”
“Fight each other,” Li Yuan quietly noted the phrase, realizing there was such a usage.
“Then if the Upper Purity Mountain shows its true colors and attacks with its entire sect, what should we do?”
Wei Sheng Xian: “If they’re so willing to go all out, I would actually admire them — but if that’s really the case, I’m afraid some people will be very happy.”
They looked at each other, each placing a chess piece.
As for who would be happy, naturally you know and I know, a gentleman doesn’t discuss others behind their backs.
A cold voice suddenly came from behind.
— “So are you going to the ghost realm or not?”
Wei Sheng Xian turned around in shock, and saw a red-clothed figure standing under the tree, expressionless, not knowing how long they had been listening quietly.
“–Second Palace Master, how did you learn that from Li Yuan brother?” Wei Sheng Xian widened his eyes, and looked at Li Yuan, “Li Yuan brother, you didn’t even give me a hint, that’s really unfair.”
Li Yuan: “In this kind of thing, Wei Sheng brother and I are the same.”
Ye Zhuo had no interest in listening to them talk.
After the meeting, Dragon Li Yuan disappeared without a trace, probably going to gossip with Wei Sheng Xian.
After listening for a few sentences, they were indeed talking about others. Blood demons, just kill them if you want, ten thousand blood crystals aren’t anything good anyway, one or two, worth caring about so much.
“Then Ah Zhou, do you want to go?” Wei Sheng Xian said gently, “We always accepted the token, whether we go or not is up to us. Actually, whether there is a token or not doesn’t matter, it’s just a passage, we can open one if we want to go.”
Cultivators, their faces really change quickly.
Li Yuan thought.
But the answer to this question was so obvious, there’s a fight to be had, and with ghosts that he’s never met, how could a sword cultivator not go.
“Go.” Ye Zhuo said, “What about you?”
Wei Sheng Xian thought for a moment, and placed another piece.
He sighed softly: “How the human and ghost realms will end up is still unknown, what the Upper Purity Mountain wants to do is still undecided, and someone wants me to go — It seems, this Daoist has no choice but to go and see this excitement.”
Li Yuan cruelly placed a chess piece, eating a piece of Wei Sheng Xian’s white chess.
What, no one even asked him, this dignified Deputy Palace Master, for his opinion?
“Oh, why is that?” Wei Sheng Xian looked closely, and exclaimed, “What a great move, it’s already here, there’s no need to play anymore.”
Ye Zhuo glanced at the chessboard, which was almost filled with black and white pieces, he hadn’t read many books, but he played chess very quickly.
Wei Sheng Xian: “Speaking of which, today’s chess pieces are made of snow mountain jade, and the sound of placing the pieces is like falling rain, it’s truly pleasant to the ear.”
“Is that so.” Ye Zhuo walked to the chessboard.
His eyes were quietly watching, as if scrutinizing.
— And then he reached out, nonchalantly flipping the chessboard.
The black and white pieces crashed to the ground, splashing on the stone platform, suddenly the sound was sharp and beautiful like rain hitting a jade plate.
Then a clear, cold voice said faintly: “This is more pleasing to the ear.”
Li Yuan sighed.
Ye Zhuo really has taste. He would have him flip a few more another day to listen.
He stood up and asked: “Want to go back?”
Ye Zhuo: “Mm.”
Staring at the black and white chess pieces scattered on the ground, Ye Zhuo suddenly said to Wei Sheng Xian: “Sorry for the trouble.”
Wei Sheng Xian raised an eyebrow: “What, the ghost realm trip, you want to thank this Daoist in advance for escorting you?”
“No,” Ye Zhuo said, “the chessboard is flipped, I’ll have to trouble you to clean it up.”
“…”