Novel Full Chapter 47: Unexpected Clues
This was Chen Yan’s first time meeting this stationed envoy of Kongshan Sect.
In his initial cycle of reincarnation, Chen Yan had wasted over ninety years in the outer court.
Chen Yan, who only achieved the Qi Circulation Realm at forty-one years old, spent the next fifty-plus years of his life constantly striving to break through to the Martial Spring Realm.
Unfortunately, lacking talent, resources, and opportunities, he remained stuck at the mid-stage of Qi Circulation Realm until his death.
To earn more contribution points from the Merit Hall to exchange for the elixirs and various technique manuscripts needed for cultivation, Chen Yan had traveled extensively.
The time Chen Yan spent wandering around was far greater than the time he spent within the sect.
And Taiyun City, being the largest city near Kongshan Sect, naturally became Chen Yan’s most frequent stopping point.
He had dealt frequently with the future stationed envoys of Kongshan Sect in Taiyun City.
The current stationed envoy of Kongshan Sect, the elderly man wearing outer court robes standing before Chen Yan, should be the predecessor of the stationed manager he was familiar with.
“Junior Chen Yan pays respects to Senior.”
Chen Yan bowed with clasped hands.
“Fellow Daoist calling me Senior truly shames this old man,” the white-haired elder in the courtyard replied with a smile.
“Although I’ve lived over a hundred years in vain, I’m just rotten wood guarding mundane affairs for the sect, unworthy of such courtesy from a distinguished disciple of Kongyuan Mountain.”
Hearing this, Chen Yan smiled slightly. This stationed envoy’s interpersonal skills were much more polished than those disciples up in the mountains.
“Senior has guarded Taiyun City for many years, helping countless Kongshan Sect disciples passing through here. Your contributions and hardships are immense, naturally deserving this junior’s respect as Senior.”
Chen Yan spoke thus, giving the stationed envoy plenty of face.
The old man clearly appreciated this greatly, beaming with pleasure, then also clasped his hands toward Chen Yan’s direction.
“Might I ask what brings Fellow Daoist here this time?”
“To draft an urgent report,” Chen Yan said, then paused briefly.
“This matter concerns the Cloud Prince Manor Princess’s entry into the sect. I hope Senior can accommodate by expediting it slightly.”
As the stationed manager of Taiyun City, the old man was thoroughly familiar with all major events happening in the city. He knew perfectly well about matters like Princess Qin Yue of Cloud Prince Manor being noticed by an Offering Elder of Star Heaven Sect, who wanted to take her as a personal disciple.
Even Cloud Prince Qin Ming’s communication with Kongshan Sect had to go through the Stationed Envoy Residence.
He certainly understood the importance of Qin Yue joining the sect. This stationed manager even knew which elder of Qingchan Peak had taken a liking to Qin Yue’s Glazed Pure Body and decided to accept her as a disciple.
That was quite an impressive figure.
“Of course,” the stationed envoy responded, then turned to look at the young page standing at the rear courtyard entrance.
“Child, how many Sound Swift Sparrows do we have left in the residence?”
“Returning to Immortal Master, there are four. Two just returned from delivering messages and need to rest for several hours, so currently there are two sparrows that can fly immediately.”
The young page answered.
Sound Swift Sparrows were extremely special small, low-level magical creatures with gentle temperaments and high intelligence. Their flight speed approached sonic velocity, hence their name.
“How many urgent reports are still awaiting dispatch?” the stationed envoy continued asking.
“Three more, Immortal Master,” the young page replied further.
“Set those aside for now. Send the urgent report that this Immortal Master will give you shortly to Kongshan Sect’s…”
As he spoke, the stationed envoy glanced toward Chen Yan’s direction.
“Qingchan Peak,” Chen Yan said.
“Send the urgent report to Qingchan Peak’s Message Delivery Pavilion,” the stationed envoy said.
“Yes,” the young page responded.
Chen Yan took the paper and brush handed by the young page, drafted an urgent report according to Lu Li’s requirements, then passed it to the waiting young page.
The page took the urgent report from Chen Yan, then jogged away from the rear courtyard.
A clever child.
“Thank you, Senior. This junior will take his leave now.”
Chen Yan again bowed with clasped hands toward the stationed envoy.
“What’s the hurry?” the old man persuaded Chen Yan, beckoning with his hand.
“Have some tea, rest awhile before leaving.”
“I beg your forgiveness, but this junior needs to return to the Prince Manor immediately to report to Senior Lu Li, who’s in charge of this matter. I’ll come another time to apologize to you, Senior.”
Chen Yan said.
“Lu Li?” The old man paused slightly, then continued asking, “That Lu Li who currently serves as an instructor at Qingchan Peak’s Scripture Hall?”
“Exactly,” Chen Yan replied. “Does Senior have past acquaintance with Instructor Lu?”
“Old acquaintances,” the stationed envoy answered. “Twenty years ago, when he was still a disciple of Yuanhua Mountain, I met him a few times here at the Envoy Residence.”
Lu Li was once a disciple of Yuanhua Mountain?
This was something Chen Yan had never heard before.
“But that makes sense. After all, Lu Li is now the favorite of that person’s presence. Bringing Qin Yue back to the sect should naturally be his responsibility.”
“This junior doesn’t understand what Senior means…”
Chen Yan listened in complete confusion.
“You don’t know?” The stationed envoy gave Chen Yan a strange look. “Qin Yue’s master is Qingchan Peak’s True Dharma Elder, Bai Qiming.”
Hearing this, Chen Yan’s breath caught, even his heartbeat slowed for half a beat—
He remembered.
He remembered everything!
Chen Yan recalled memories from his first life. In the calamity that occurred over two years later, the outer court suffered tremendous losses, and accompanying this, the sect’s inner court also underwent major changes.
Qingchan Peak was the most affected.
Not long after the calamity ended, Chu Xiyao resigned from her position as Qingchan Peak’s Chief Disciple. Her successor was none other than True Dharma Elder Bai Qiming’s personal disciple, Qin Yue.
After this, Qingchan Peak’s Sword Master Elder, Chu Xiyao’s father and master Chu Chen, went into seclusion. Martial Elder Fu Qian secluded himself deep in Cangwu Residence, ignoring peak affairs. Several decades later, the Martial Elder position was succeeded by Lu Li…
Chen Yan developed a truly terrifying thought. Although it was just speculation, it was indeed possible.
“Senior, this junior will take his leave now.”
Chen Yan once again bowed with clasped hands toward the stationed envoy.
“Mm, next time you pass through Taiyun City, if you have time, come keep this old man company for some tea.”
The stationed envoy said cheerfully, completely unaware of Chen Yan’s inner turmoil.
“If Fellow Daoist gets promoted in the future, I’ll look to you for some guidance.”
Of course, this latter part was the old man’s joking remark.
“Senior jests. Farewell.”
Chen Yan said. He currently had not the slightest inclination for joking.
Outer court calamity, Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul, Song Mingde’s list, Zhang Xishun, Lu Li, Qin Yue… True Dharma Elder, Bai Qiming.
Chen Yan wanted to connect all these together, but he didn’t dare.
Because if this really was the truth, it would be far too dark, far too terrifying.
Walking briskly on Taiyun City’s streets, Chen Yan thought this.
He looked up at the sun in the sky. The time shouldn’t have passed the Hour of the Goat yet. There was still time.
He needed to hurry to the Immortal Gambling Den first.