Chapter 74: Chang Wudao
An hour before the secret realm closed, Song Changsheng, who had finished meditating, unhurriedly arrived to rendezvous with Song Luping and the others.
The moment they saw him, the people from the Qiu clan and Earthfire Sect immediately shot up, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
Joy also appeared on the faces of Song Luping and the others, who quickly gathered around him.
“Where have you been? Why didn't you respond when we tried to contact you?” Song Luping pulled him aside and asked with concern.
“Right, I saw that the Earthfire Sect and Qiu clan were missing people. Is it related to you?” Song Luyue glanced not far away and whispered.
Song Changsheng nodded almost imperceptibly, whispering, “The specific situation isn't convenient to discuss now. I'll tell you after we get out.”
The others understood and tacitly refrained from mentioning the matter again. Only Song Lutong was completely bewildered. He threw an arm around Song Changsheng's shoulder, grinning widely and excitedly saying, “Changsheng, do you know who got the Stalactite Spiritual Liquid this time?”
This fellow couldn't keep a secret. Seeing his excitement, Song Changsheng already had an idea of the outcome, but he still played along and asked, “Who?”
“Far away in the sky, yet close at hand,” Song Lutong puffed out his chest, his face full of confidence, practically writing the answer on his face.
Song Changsheng wanting to tease him, feigned surprise and said, “So it was Aunt Luyue!”
Song Lutong's face instantly turned green. He hooked his muscular arm around Song Changsheng's neck and grumbled discontentedly, “Brat, what kind of eyesight do you have? It's me! Can't you see such a big uncle standing right in front of you?”
“Oh, it was Clan Uncle! Congratulations, congratulations!” Song Changsheng feigned sudden realization and quickly cupped his hands in congratulations.
“Damn it, you're too perfunctory,” Song Lutong glared, dissatisfied.
Song Changsheng smiled faintly. He was genuinely happy. Although he didn't get this opportunity himself, it was good as long as it didn't fall into others' hands.
Song Changsheng found a spot and sat down cross-legged, quietly waiting with the others for the exit to open.
“How could he be alive? How is this possible?” Among the Earthfire Sect's remaining three members, the oldest middle-aged cultivator looked at Song Changsheng, his heart filled with doubt and alarm.
The Qiu clan disciples' gazes also frequently darted towards the Earthfire Sect's side. They all knew that Qiu Wengui had gone with the Earthfire Sect's Young Sect Master.
The disciples from the other families were also discussing in low voices, occasionally pointing at the Earthfire Sect and the Qiu clan.
“Uncle Zhong, Eldest Senior Brother and Young Sect Master still haven't arrived. Could it be that…” an Earthfire Sect disciple looked at the middle-aged cultivator at the very front, asking with a pale face.
Uncle Zhong's eyes widened, and he angrily rebuked in a low voice, “What nonsense are you spouting? With the strength of Junior Nephew Zhang and Young Sect Master, who could possibly harm them?”
The two Earthfire Sect disciples shrunk their necks, immediately daring not to speak further.
As time passed, the three Earthfire Sect members grew increasingly restless. They continuously tried to contact Chang Tianhua and Zhang Zhiyuan with their communication jade slips, occasionally looking out of the cave, hoping to see the two arrive belatedly.
But they were destined to be disappointed.
Minutes ticked by until the last half-hour. The other three figures did not appear and remained unreachable.
All signs indicated that the three of them had very likely met with misfortune.
The people of the Earthfire Sect finally couldn't hold back. Uncle Zhong stood up, his eyes fixed on Song Changsheng, and roared angrily, “Song clan brat, what did you do to my Young Sect Master?!”
The people of the Qiu clan also stood up, coldly stating, “And Qiu Wengui, one of our Qiu clan's Twin Geniuses. We hope your Song clan can provide an explanation.”
The actions of the two families immediately drew everyone's attention. All discussion and speculation ceased, and people quickly distanced themselves, adopting an attitude of watching from the sidelines.
Facing the questioning from the two families, Song Changsheng didn't even lift an eyelid, showing no intention of acknowledging them.
Instead, Song Lutong "whooshed" to his feet, pointed at Uncle Zhong's nose, and cursed, “You dogs of the Earthfire Sect, watch your mouths! Your little brat is missing, so why are you trying to pin the blame on my nephew?!
Those two of yours aren't delicate maidens. Are you suspecting they went on a date with my nephew or something?!”
Uncle Zhong was instantly enraged, seeing red. No one had ever dared to insult him like that.
“Song Lutong, your words are a bit too harsh. People are missing; we are merely asking for an explanation,” a square-faced middle-aged man from the Qiu clan said in a deep voice.
“Explanation? Are you all blind, deaf, or dead? People are missing, and you come to us for an explanation? Have you no shame?!” Song Lutong went all out, facing multiple opponents without changing his expression.
Uncle Zhong's face was as dark as ink. Ignoring the furious Song Lutong, he looked at Song Changsheng behind him and angrily said, “Song clan brat, I'm asking you again, where is my Young Master?”
Song Luping stepped forward, coldly stating, “You keep saying that your Young Sect Master's disappearance is related to my nephew. May I ask what evidence you have?”
“Exactly! Don't spout nonsense without evidence. How old is my nephew? Can he handle three of them by himself? What utter bullshit you're spouting!” Song Lutong cursed, crossing his arms, not giving them any face.
“I think what the fellow Daoists of the Song clan say makes a lot of sense. As for the few from the Qiu clan and the Earthfire Sect, suspicion requires evidence.”
From the Wang clan's camp, a young woman in a dark-colored long dress stood up and said calmly.
“Wang Qianqian, don't stir up trouble!” The Qiu clan disciples immediately glared at her.
Wang Qianqian glanced at them, then said indifferently, “I merely spoke justly. Why are you so agitated?”
“Precisely. Your two families' medicinal gardens are so far from the Song clan's, not even in the same direction. They couldn't have even run into each other,” Li Hengzong said, gently shaking his folding fan, stepping out from the Li clan's camp.
The Earthfire Sect disciple's face flushed crimson. One of them blurted out, “Young Sect Master and Eldest Senior Brother went after Song Changsheng. Now he's back safe and sound, but Young Sect Master is gone. If it wasn't his doing, then whose was it?!”
Upon hearing this, a single stone stirred a thousand waves. Everyone's gaze turned to the Earthfire Sect disciple who had spoken. For a moment, the entire cave fell silent.
That Earthfire Sect disciple immediately realized he had spoken out of turn, and his heart was instantly filled with panic.
Uncle Zhong looked at him with a twisted expression, wishing he could slap this loose-mouthed fool to death. How could such a matter be brought out into the open?
“Fellow Daoist Zhong, I believe it's your turn to give my Song clan an explanation! For all these years, we've always stopped at merely pointing during exchanges in the secret realm, yet you sent people to ambush and kill my nephew! Do you truly think my Song clan has no one?!”
Song Luping roared, his face grim with coldness, shaking the entire cave.
Song Lutong and Song Luyue immediately stepped forward, each conjuring their magical tools, clearly ready to fight if words failed. Although Song Chang'an remained still, the sword in his embrace was drawn an inch, its light radiating.
“Fellow Daoist Zhong, you've broken the rules.” Wang Qianqian and Li Hengzong also led their people to surround them. The atmosphere instantly became charged with hostility.
“Fellow Daoists, please calm down. There must be a misunderstanding here. Why don't we consult our elders after we go out?” The Yu clan members immediately stepped forward to mediate, trying to smooth things over, while simultaneously giving Uncle Zhong a meaningful glance.
“Hmph!” Uncle Zhong snorted coldly and immediately fell silent. The current situation was unfavorable for them. If a fight truly broke out, they would be at a significant disadvantage having already lost three main combatants.
“The exit has opened,” someone suddenly shouted.
“Everyone, the exit will only be open for half a quarter. Don't miss the time. Any grudges can be settled outside.”
The atmosphere immediately eased somewhat, and they began to leave in the order they had arrived.
As soon as Song Changsheng emerged, he immediately relayed everything that had happened in the secret realm to Song Xianyun, without any concealment. After all, the three people he had killed this time were indeed not minor figures.
“What?!” Song Xianyun was startled, and even the joy of Song Lutong obtaining the Stalactite Spiritual Liquid was dampened.
“Let's go quickly. Chang Wudao is probably almost here,” Song Xianyun said in a low voice, his heart heavy. Chang Wudao had only that one sole heir; now that he was dead, how could he let it go?
Waving his hand, he conjured his flying boat, beckoned the others aboard, and intended to depart.
However, a figure unseasonably blocked the front of the flying boat.
Song Xianyun's heart was anxious, but outwardly, his expression was as calm as an ancient well. “Fellow Daoist Li, what is the meaning of this?”
Li Tiancheng had already heard Uncle Zhong and the others recount the whole story and knew that the Sect Master was on his way. Naturally, he couldn't let Song Xianyun and the others leave. So, he said with a smile:
“I heard that the juniors had some misunderstandings inside. Our six families are all one. It's best to resolve any misunderstandings quickly to avoid harming our harmony. Don't you agree, Fellow Daoist Song?”
Song Xianyun's face darkened, and he said coldly, “Move aside!”
“Please stay and resolve the misunderstanding, Fellow Daoist,” Li Tiancheng still smiled, but his hand hidden beneath his sleeve was already secretly accumulating spiritual power.
“Scram!”
Song Xianyun struck first, directly engaging Li Tiancheng in a battle in mid-air. For a time, sand and stones flew, and spiritual energy surged ceaselessly.
Although Li Tiancheng's strength was not bad, Song Xianyun held an advantage in cultivation and quickly began to overpower him.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Yu clan and Qiu clan tried to step forward to help, but they were subtly blocked by the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Wang and Li clans.
Soon, Li Tiancheng spat blood and was defeated, forced to flee. Song Xianyun had no intention of pursuing him, and quickly steered the flying boat away.
Less than half an hour after they departed, Chang Wudao descended upon the Wutong Mountain Range with astonishing momentum, instantly sending flocks of birds scattering in fright.
Uncle Zhong tremblingly recounted the entire sequence of events. He looked up and met Chang Wudao's extremely cold eyes.
“Sect… Sect Master, please forgive me,” Uncle Zhong said, trembling, his heart palpitating.
Chang Wudao placed his hand on his crown, and with a gentle tremor, Uncle Zhong's heart meridian was instantly severed, and he immediately lost his life.
The remaining two were scared out of their wits and immediately knelt, begging for mercy through tears…
(Chapter End)