A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 72: Chapter 69: Night Meeting with Zhou Chao

In the deep of night, an escape light suppressed by an invisibility talisman flickered across the night sky, landing within the courtyard of Lotus Peak.

Jiang Baitao, who had been waiting and was about to doze off, stood up abruptly, fully awake. He saw a big man with a black face carefully push open the courtyard door and softly say, ”Sect Leader Lu?”

Lu Qian approached to greet him. Without any hesitation, Lu Qian extended his hand and said, ”The item?”

Zhou Chao was momentarily stunned, suddenly realizing, and quickly pulled out a jade scroll from his storage pouch: ”Sect Leader Lu, I nearly forgot. This is the Six Harmonies Array Secret Manual that my family unexpectedly obtained. Though our acquisition is incomplete, just a fragmented volume, after the fourth generation patriarch studied it, its mighty power was still considerable. The Six Harmonies Grand Array he set up helped our family withstand many powerful enemies’ attacks. Alas, it’s a pity that since his time, there hasn’t been anyone in the family like a proficient Array Cultivator...”

His sigh was immediately interrupted by Lu Qian. Lu Qian took the jade scroll, scanned it with his divine sense, put it away, and extended his hand again, ”Not this item. Where’s the dinner you brought?”

Baitao jumped next to him, ”Yeah, Uncle Blackface, where’s the dinner?”

Zhou Chao scratched his head, pulled out a large leather bag from his storage pouch, and handed it to Lu Qian. Lu Qian opened it, and the fragrance of food wafted into the air. He smiled and handed it to Baitao: ”Go eat somewhere else, don’t disturb your sister.”

Baitao held the bag, blinking: ”Sect Leader Senior Brother, aren’t you eating?”

Lu Qian patted her head: ”I have matters to discuss, you go quickly.”

Baitao nodded, hugged the bag, and quickly ran out.

But after a few steps, she stopped. Where should she eat? Grandpa Zhou was sleeping, her sister was in seclusion, and her senior brother had matters to discuss. Suddenly, Taotao was the only one left in the small courtyard.

She turned around with the bag in her arms, just as Lu Qian and Zhou Chao already walked into the small living room, closing the door.

Alright then, I’ll just wait here until Sect Leader Senior Brother comes out, and we can eat together.

Baitao sat by the pool’s railing, but her stomach growled loudly, and the fragrance from the bag was irresistible. Unable to resist, she opened the bag and peeked inside, letting out a small cheer.

Just one, I’ll just eat one chicken leg first, and save the rest for when Senior Brother comes out.

As she counted on her fingers, full of indecision and regret, gobbling up two chicken legs and two chicken wings when the discussions in the living room reached their critical point.

”Strike first to gain the upper hand, Brother Zhou.” Lu Qian’s voice was very calm, his face intermittently lit up under the nearly exhausted rootless fire, sending chills through Zhou Chao.

Zhou Chao couldn’t help but stand up: ”Sect Leader Lu, must it really come to this? Indeed, several elders made some mistakes, but it hasn’t reached the point of drawing swords and going to war, has it?”

Lu Qian sighed, ”Many things can be seen from a single leaf in autumn. For their own interests, they openly defy and resist the Patriarch. If not for his concerns about those two Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars at the time, who knows what might have happened now. It’s likely that the four elders have long banded together, previously treating you merely as a tool, and now, you’re no longer in line with their interests, so they disregard your orders. Since they’re already out of control, what are you waiting for, are you going to wait until they indeed put a knife to your throat to fight back?”

”This...” Zhou Chao paced nervously, ”No, it can’t be. After all, we’re blood-related; we’re connected at the roots. Right now, they’re merely forming a group to encroach on the main family’s interests. At most, they only intend to stage a family split, they wouldn’t genuinely plot against me.”

Lu Qian sneered, ”Human desire is limitless. Since they covet Lotus Peak, how do you know they don’t have designs on the main peak? Have you considered who leaked the news of your solitary visit to Meihua Square in the first place?”

Zhou Chao felt a chill race up his heart as he heard Lu Qian continue, ”Your greatest reliance, those two Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars aren’t as reliable as you think.”

”Currently, your father remains the Patriarch, and you wield the Patriarch’s power entrusted by him, so the Feather Scholars follow your command, and the elders dare not act recklessly. But your time is limited, you’ve mentioned, your father can no longer utter a single word; once he passes, what will happen when your uncles of the collateral lines declare a re-election for the Patriarch?”

Zhou Chao took a deep, cold breath.

”It’s clearly written in the Honored Guest Elder contract that regarding internal family matters like the Patriarch’s selection, the Honored Guest Elders are not to intervene in any form. So, at that time, you’ll have no support at all.” finishing speaking, Lu Qian reiterated, ”Your time is limited. Seize the chance to act while the two Feather Scholars are still under your command.”

Zhou Chao’s face darkened further, and it took him a while to murmur, ”But what you’re saying is mere speculation. They haven’t actually taken any substantial action, just quarrelling with me over their interests. How can I take them down just because of this, how would I convince everyone? Several collateral lines might even become disaffected and rebel, and with external enemies pressing, fratricide will only invite the wolves in, it mustn’t happen.”

This means that there’s no crime without evidence, right? Zhou Chao is too kind-hearted, which would suffice as a stewarding Patriarch in peaceful territories, but here in the strife-ridden Zhongming County, surrounded by wolves constantly vying for position....

Lu Qian sighed helplessly, ”As long as you control them first, as much evidence as you need, you can have that much. Do you understand? Since you’ve sought my advice, I’ll be frank with you, strike first. It’s the best way to preserve the family’s vitality to the greatest extent and prevent catastrophic internal strife.”

Zhou Chao was silent for a moment but still shook his head, ”Sect Leader Lu, you’re right. But our ancestors left behind a decree, arrogance leads to failure, harmony brings prosperity. Our family’s decline is all due to my father’s conflict with my uncle; it’s a constant alarm. How can I rashly move and initiate inner strife? I’ve taken your teachings to heart. I’ll conduct a swift, secret investigation. If they indeed have excessive actions beyond the Lotus Peak matter, I’ll capture them in one move and announce the evidence to the family to gain support.”

Lu Qian was somewhat helpless but, thinking about the spirit vein within the courtyard, said, ”If you truly want to investigate, be quick and be discreet. If you need to employ people, be exceedingly cautious, even with former confidants. The elders have banded together, making their voice resonate powerfully, it’s inevitable some weak-willed individuals may become their internal allies. If your actions are discovered by them, who strikes first might become uncertain.”

Zhou Chao nodded, bowing, ”I appreciate Sect Leader Lu’s guidance. My family is already deeply indebted; it seems we’ll need Yunshan Sect’s support in many areas moving forward. Any help would be profoundly repaid.”

Lu Qian returned the bow, exchanged a few more words, then removed the Silence Talisman to prepare to leave. As soon as the talisman was removed, a surprised and delighted voice came from the courtyard, ”Sister, you’re out!”