Chapter 250: Stance

Feng Jiuxuan departed the moment his business was done, leaving Xu Yuan standing there in the wind, utterly bewildered.

The killing move he was currently so proud of had been copied after a single glance. He found that rather difficult to accept.

By now, he had long since realized that Azure Point from his previous life had revealed only the tip of this world’s iceberg. Even so, the Blood Origin Heartfall Art had been one of only three Blood-tier cultivation arts in the entire game.

So why did it suddenly feel like everyone and their grandmother knew it?

Compared to Xu Yuan’s astonishment, however, the other two men in the hall seemed completely unsurprised.

Xu Changge had studied the sword under Feng Jiuxuan in his younger years. As for Xu Yinhe, after several decades, he naturally possessed a very clear understanding of his brother-in-law’s strength.

Sitting back down, Xu Yinhe looked at Xu Yuan, who was still standing there questioning everything he knew about life. “Changtian, there is really no need to be so surprised.”

Xu Yuan snapped back to his senses and gave an awkward smile. “Father, can Uncle imitate another person’s sword skill after seeing it only once?”

Xu Changge chuckled from the side. “That sword skill of yours was reasonably powerful, but your cultivation is far too low.”

Xu Yuan turned to look at him. “What do you mean?”

Xu Changge was unusually patient this time. “When you circulated your qi, every meridian it flowed through was laid bare before Uncle’s eyes. Besides, that sword strike contained no Dao Essence. It was merely a skill performed according to a fixed pattern. What would be difficult about imitating it?”

Xu Yuan only half understood, but he continued asking. “So it was simple... Does that mean you can do it too?”

Xu Changge pretended not to hear him. He simply returned to his seat and sat down.

Xu Yuan could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing. It seemed the Blood Ink Jade Sword Art really did have something special to it. At the very least, Xu Changge could not imitate it.

And if the man hailed as the Sword Saint could reproduce it, that was hardly anything to be ashamed of.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yuan walked over to the table and sat down. He lifted a wine cup and took a sip to settle his nerves. “Xu Changge, Uncle said he would teach me the Sword Dao. What exactly did he mean by that?”

He was curious, and more than a little eager.

Xu Changge glanced at him and replied coolly, “You will find out when Uncle returns.”

“Tsk. Still holding a grudge,” Xu Yuan muttered under his breath. “No wonder you’re destined to die alone.”

CRACK…! Xu Changge crushed the armrest of his chair.

Xu Yuan immediately fell silent. He glanced toward his father in the main seat, then pointedly flicked his eyes toward Xu Changge.

A smile gleamed in Xu Yinhe’s eyes as he stepped in to uphold justice. “Changge, you really should change that temper of yours.”

Xu Yuan nodded along, his voice grave and righteous. “Xu Changge, you’re far too petty. I have no idea what she ever saw in you. She waited outside the city for you for a month and a half, you know.”

Xu Yinhe glanced at his eldest son in mild surprise. “Changge, what did Changtian mean by that?”

Xu Changge released his grip and was just about to speak when Xu Yuan cut in. “Father, you didn’t know? Xu Changge must have developed feelings for someone while he was out traveling. And it seems she felt the same way.”

For once, uncertainty appeared on Xu Yinhe’s usually composed face. Even his voice carried a trace of hesitation. “Which family’s daughter is she?”

Xu Changge immediately spoke up. “Father, I will handle my own affairs. You—”

“She’s the Young Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Masters Sect.”

Xu Yinhe opened his mouth. The look he gave Xu Changge became distinctly strange.

Xu Changge said nothing.

“Father, the Young Heavenly Master isn’t a man. She’s an older sister.”

Xu Changge drew a deep breath, his fists clenched tight. “Before Uncle returns, I can teach you some basic knowledge of the Sword Dao, Changtian.”

A threat of violence? Threats of violence are the last refuge of the incompetent. Xu Yuan sneered inwardly and immediately changed his tune. “Father, children must be allowed to seek their own happiness. Since Eldest Brother—”

“That’s enough.” Xu Yinhe waved a hand. He pondered for several breaths, seemingly coming to a decision, then looked at his eldest son. “Changge, should you be willing, I can visit the Heavenly Masters Sect and—”

Xu Changge cut him off with a shake of his head. His gaze was resolute. “Father, I understand my own situation.”

At those words, Xu Yinhe’s expression grew complicated as he looked at Xu Changge. A marriage alliance was nothing unusual, but an alliance between the Chancellor's Manor and the Heavenly Masters Sect would have far-reaching consequences.

It would represent a stance, a compromise.

And if they wished to bind the Heavenly Masters Sect to the Chancellor's Manor’s war wagon, the price would be immense. It might even disrupt their other plans, only for everything to end in failure regardless.

Xu Changge understood that perfectly well. That was why he could not allow his personal desires to interfere with the greater situation.

Watching the expressions on his father’s and elder brother’s faces, Xu Yuan suddenly smiled. “The Heavenly Masters Sect is an orthodox Daoist sect. Even if we move to purge the sects in the future, they will most likely refuse to help either side.”

The atmosphere did not ease. Instead, it grew heavier.

Xu Yinhe and Xu Changge both turned to look at him at the same time.

Under their twin gazes, Xu Yuan asked awkwardly, “What?”

After several breaths of silence, Xu Yinhe enunciated each word carefully. “Changtian, how can you be certain the Heavenly Masters Sect will remain neutral? Merely because they pay tribute to the imperial court?”

The moment he heard that, Xu Yuan realized what he had done. From the Chancellor's Manor’s current perspective, the Heavenly Masters Sect certainly seemed like a faction worth winning over. But who could say it was not all an act?

An orthodox Daoist sect? The Myriad Manifestations Sect was supposedly an orthodox Daoist sect too.

Had Xu Yuan not happened to stumble upon the massacre they committed, the Myriad Manifestations Sect would probably still be enjoying a sterling reputation throughout the realm.

With that thought, Xu Yuan said seriously, “Father, while I was traveling, I saw with my own eyes that Windfall Province was prosperous and its people lived well. The local commoners also held the Heavenly Masters Sect in great esteem.”

Xu Yinhe nodded, his gaze calm. “That is one reason, but it is not enough. The Sword Sect is equally beloved within its territory.”

The Celeste Sword Sect. Its formidable strength allowed it to maintain stability throughout its lands with ease. But its stance meant that it would only ever sweep the snow from its own doorstep.

There were good people and bad people everywhere. Sects were no different. But that did not change the fact that, to the Great Flame Empire as a whole, they were still a swarm of bloodsucking parasites.

After several breaths of silence, Xu Yuan raised his eyes to Xu Yinhe. “Father, I stand by my judgment.”

Xu Yinhe exhaled softly. “Since you insist, I will not try to dissuade you. But I hope you understand this: you may possess compassion, but you must never be naive.”

Xu Yuan nodded, his emotions complicated. He had not lied. What he knew about the Heavenly Masters Sect came from Azure Point.

The sect had always maintained a neutral stance. No matter how fiercely everyone else fought, they refused to involve themselves. They merely guarded the common people within their modest territory and did their best to take in refugees fleeing from other lands.

They were a truly orthodox Daoist sect.

They held swords not so they could draw them against the weak, but so they could protect them. Unfortunately, in many timelines, such a righteous sect rarely met a good end.

Their neutrality displeased the other sects, and it displeased the imperial court as well.

After all, who could know whether they remained neutral for the sake of the common people or merely to preserve their strength, waiting until the final moment to swoop in and claim the spoils?

Amid the silence, Xu Changge raised a hand and patted the conflicted Xu Yuan on the shoulder. He said nothing. There was a faint smile in his eyes, along with a deep and helpless resignation.