198: Chapter 197: Raising an Army to Demand Justice 198: Chapter 197: Raising an Army to Demand Justice While the Wen Family was still entangled in never-ending disputes, Hou Niao had already completed his mission.
He met with a few people at the inn, specifically that branch of the Wen Family that had been the first to withdraw—a branch fulfilling his commitment.
This was a distant branch, hailing from a rural town and belonging to a line expelled due to a mistaken decision decades ago.
Unexpectedly, this branch, knowing shame and then seeking to better themselves, had managed to cultivate two cultivators.
No one knew how far they could go, but delivering Yu Zhengxing’s gift to them was like returning lost property to its rightful owner.
There were no thanks nor fervent hopes.
He was merely a tool for delivering gifts, tasked with handing over the right item to the right person.
He turned and floated away, leaving behind a legend that if a family had cultivators reaching the Tongxuan rank and opened the Treasure Gourd, there would undoubtedly be a pleasant surprise.
For now, however, that Treasure Gourd was sealed shut, serving as a form of motivation.
Having finally completed the task given by Yu Zhengxing, he felt that delivering gifts was somehow more tiring than taking lives.
Human hearts are inscrutable and unpredictable, especially for a family less than a century old.
They lacked the centuries-old traditions of the Dugu Family and instead built their entire clan system on the ascension of one person to the path of cultivation, with an all-too-evident fragile foundation.
To be precise, the Wen Clan merely possessed the rudiments of a Cultivation Family.
If a few more figures like Wen Jinglai, those Upper Cultivators, were to appear, and if the clan persevered for a few more centuries, perhaps the Wen Clan could truly become a regional Cultivation Family.
But now, such dreams had shattered.
Riding slowly on horseback, he was in good spirits having completed his mission.
In the last few dozen miles from home, he wanted to take a good look at the long-lost scenery of mountains and waters.
He didn’t know when he would be back next time, but it certainly wouldn’t be in two or three years—it would only be longer.
Along the way, paddy fields, farmers, oxcarts, small boats, and scattered houses with wisps of cooking smoke formed a unique scene specific to Anhe, filling him, who was accustomed to the lonely plumes of smoke in the Yinling Wilderness, with profound emotion.
Everything began to feel unreal, as if he were just a hurried traveler, moving from one scene to the next, yet never truly belonging to any of them.
Is this what cultivation is?
…All around the world, beautiful homelands, winding through the sea, picturesque lands.
The Da Shan Dynasty’s newly acquired nation heads to destroy Anhe’s old homes.
With its beautiful waters and extraordinary mountains, every place is fit for play.
As he was indulging in his reflections, the sound of hoofbeats arose from behind.
Someone on horseback was catching up.
Was this never going to end?
Hou Niao reined in his horse to the side of the road and saw two familiar silhouettes flash before him.
Lan Re and Lan Ting, the two ladies, approached on horseback, their expressions as solemn as still waters, devoid of the joy of a long-anticipated reunion.
Their abrupt halt, signaled by the harsh reining of their horses, expressed their inner rage.
Lan Re was more composed, barely keeping her emotions in check, but Lan Ting was direct, completely unrestrained,
“Elder Brother Hou, is this how you help our Wen Clan?
While we might have managed to hold on before, now we’re completely falling apart!
More than half of the family’s cultivators have perished, and the conflicts between us are irreconcilable, treating each other as mortal enemies; the Wen Family’s business in Three Rivers is sure to be destroyed, and we have already received threats at our doorstep!
A Cultivation Family full of hope, just like that, ruthlessly ruined by your hands.”
Hou Niao looked at the two ladies with a smile, attempting to appease, “Let’s find a place, and we can talk properly.”
Lan Ting refused, “We can do it right here!
If we can’t come to an understanding through words, we shall see the truth through action!
We know Elder Brother Hou’s swordsmanship is unmatched, but my Wen lineage is not a family of cowards either.”
Hou Niao, feeling somewhat embarrassed, touched his nose and looked at Lan Re, noticing she was intentionally avoiding eye contact with him, and he began to grasp something.
“Alright, we are friends and have shared life and death together.
So shall I give a brief explanation?”
Hou Niao tried to put it simply, “Regarding the Wen Family, do you two junior sisters think there will soon be a day of regained glory?
Have there been any cultivators in the Upper Realm achieving Tongxuan lately?”
The two women said nothing, but their attitudes said it all.
“What is the Wen Family’s reputation like?
How are they perceived in their business dealings in Three Rivers Prefecture?
Have their children achieved success?
Do they have any true allies to rely on?
You two have been back home for many days, preferring to travel far than face these filthy issues within the prefecture, which in itself says everything.”
Lan Re and Lan Ting were Wen Jinglai’s foster daughters, with outstanding talents and making rapid progress in cultivation.
However, they had no right to inherit the family fortune, a stark fact; they couldn’t even lend much help.
When facing these uncles from bygone days, it was hard for them to even speak up advices.
“These past years, the Wen Family has offended too many people and forces in Three Rivers Prefecture.
With Elder Wen around, they were suppressed, but now that Elder Wen has ascended, do you really think those past conflicts will just vanish like smoke?
It’s time to settle scores, sooner or later, simply a matter of time; and yet there they are, in the Wen residence, fighting viciously over trivial family wealth, clueless of the looming storm, the great disaster about to befall them!
When that time comes, I’m afraid it won’t be solvable by mere death or injury—none of the Wen Family cultivators would survive!
This is the cruel truth behind the power struggles in the Cultivation World.”
Lan Re objected, “Is it as dangerous as you make it sound?
You’re just making excuses for your own actions!”
Hou Niao smiled indifferently, “You seem to have forgotten—how did Elder Wen die?
The Anhe Daoist Sect is in disarray, it’s at the cruelest moment of internal power struggles.
A single word from someone, and there will be countless forces in Three Rivers Prefecture to serve as blades for outside aggressors.
Do they really expect to leave a bloodline for you to grow feathers and seek vengeance?
Without self-harm, there is no solution!
Fortunately, the Wen Family has a talent for self-destruction, which should appease certain individuals.
Abandon the Wen residence, liquidate the assets, let the family split and crumble.
Even if you can’t return to the former glory, you can still live as a wealthy man.
This is also a way to preserve the family bloodline, right?
Since blood must be shed, why not in a conflict where you control the outcome?”
The two women were rendered speechless, some things, when you’re in the middle of them, are hard to see through, even harder to make the tough decisions, but if it were a disciple of the Demon Sect handling it…
Lan Re’s demeanor was no longer as fierce as before, yet her face still displayed discontent, having just lost six or seven family members whom she had watched grow up since childhood.
“Why choose Uncle Wen’s lineage?”
Hou Niao smiled slightly, “Because they are not greedy!
They know when to advance or retreat!
They understand forbearance!
Of course I would choose them.
Should I instead choose those who lose all reason over a bit of resources and instantly turn into mad dogs?
Such people, better dead than alive, are beneficial to everyone!”
He looked at the two women, “I understand the difficulty you both face, but that’s no excuse to run away!
If you drag this out, it will lead to the extinction of the Wen Family, and even if you intervene, you will be buried alongside them!
I have made the toughest choice for you, but there’s still more to finish quickly, dispersing the Wen Family’s ill-gotten wealth!
Furthermore, I must remind you that being part of the Anhe Daoist Sect, you too are targets for others’ coveting, so quickly resolve the family affairs, without further dawdling.
Then, return to Liuyang.
Without the Fairy’s protection, it will be hard for you to stay safe on your own.
That’s all I have to say, take care of yourselves.”