If I win, he must not oppose my authority as the Sect Leader ever again."
Chen Yan nodded, "It seems that in that duel, you were the victor."
"Exactly." Chu Keqing nodded, speaking indifferently, "Fortunately, I’ve been diligent in my cultivation. Although my cultivation level is on par with Third Senior Brother, I put more effort into Talisman Art, achieving slightly higher mastery than him. Thus, in the duel, I had the upper hand."
Chen Yan listened and scrutinized the woman for a moment, an idea forming in his mind!
Things were definitely not as simple as Chu Keqing made them out to be...
To establish the Cloud Sect so solidly in Jinling Prefecture, as a young and beautiful woman, yet named "Elder Zi" in Jinling and gaining such a reputation, how difficult must it have been?
This Chu Keqing was certainly not a delicate little rabbit!
As for that duel back then...
Since Third Senior Brother had always opposed Chu Keqing, he surely believed his own cultivation was superior to his junior sister.
And Chu Keqing must have been hiding her cultivation, pretending to be weak all along!
Third Senior Brother, confident in his superior strength, must have proposed the duel!
In other words, that duel back then was actually Third Senior Brother being outwitted by Chu Keqing.
You couldn’t blame Chu Keqing; from her standpoint, her actions were justified. However, this woman certainly had a deep and scheming mind.
Chen Yan understood this clearly but naturally did not say it out loud. He slowly asked, "After he lost the duel to you, did he really never trouble you again?"
Chu Keqing shook her head, "After losing to me, Third Senior Brother, in a fit of rage, stormed out of the sect, vowing never to return to the Cloud Sect as long as I, Chu Keqing, was there.
After leaving, he went south to Port City, and just as he said, he hasn’t stepped foot in the Cloud Sect since.
He was skilled in cultivation and had mastered excellent Talisman Art. He also had substantial abilities in Geomancy and Feng Shui. With these talents, he made a significant name for himself in Port City over the years.
But in recent years, the fortunes of Port City have been declining. The environment has changed; with shallow waters and fewer resources, it can’t support many fish. Third Senior Brother contacted me several times, appearing to seek reconciliation but actually wanting to use me.
Having established a reputation in Port City and having met many Southern School Masters, while our economy here has been booming in recent years, attracting more prosperity.
He wanted to use me to open channels, leveraging his reputation from Port City to come back and make money, hoping I would introduce him to influential people here so he could return to the Cloud Sect. With his title of ’Master of Port City,’ he could make a fortune upon returning!"
Chen Yan sneered, glancing at Chu Keqing, "No need to ask, you must have refused him, right?"
Chu Keqing slowly stood up, looking at Chen Yan, and said seriously, "In the presence of a senior, I wouldn’t dare to lie! I did refuse him.
But... it wasn’t out of selfish motives!"
Her expression stern, she continued, "I can swear to the heavens, if Third Senior Brother merely wanted to return to the Cloud Sect, setting aside past grievances, I, Chu Keqing, am not a petty person. Considering our shared apprenticeship and the respect for our former master, I would have gladly welcomed him back.
But my Third Senior Brother, in Port City, took some improper paths!
The friends he made down there, who claimed to be part of the Southern School of Yin-Yang Art, were actually colluding with evil forces from the Southern Seas.
In recent years in Port City, I have heard a bit about their doings, and some of their methods are cruel and vile, not befitting decent practitioners!
Acting in this way, how could I allow him to come back and harm others? I feared he would disgrace our Cloud Sect! So, I repeatedly refused him."
"So, you’re going to Port City because your Third Senior Brother has caused some trouble over there that has implicated you?" Chen Yan asked.
Chu Keqing heard this, stood silent for a moment, then lightly sighed.
"Third Senior Brother...he’s dead."
Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, watching Chu Keqing closely. Her eyes showed no grief, only a mix of complex emotions.
Perhaps thinking about this old rival who once clashed fiercely with her was now gone—an end to personal accounts and grudges. Despite past conflicts, there was no deep hatred, and the camaraderie of their shared apprenticeship resurfaced at this moment...
"Just last night in Port City, at Third Senior Brother’s place, his chief disciple called me to report his death, saying that Third Senior Brother had unexpectedly passed away!
That disciple, strictly speaking, is also my junior nephew. This nephew told me that Third Senior Brother had left a will, instructing that something be returned to me after his death, and that item is now in my junior nephew’s possession.
He called to inform me of this, asking if I would come to attend Third Senior Brother’s funeral, to pay my final respects and receive that item."
Chen Yan frowned, "So you’re going to Port City to handle your Third Senior Brother’s affairs? If that’s the case, and you’re inviting me to go with you..."
"Initially, I thought it was just to pay respects. Despite our fallout, considering our past, it wouldn’t be too much to make the trip. However...after the call last night, things changed this morning!"