75 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Benefits that are within reach yet unattainable—although no one openly speaks of it, the cultivators all realize Zhao Liande's true position. Being assigned the dirty and tiring task of guarding the entrance, how highly could Grandmaster Wei truly regard him? Soon, as Zhao Liande set up defenses along several strategic passes, two to three sects, each sending twenty to thirty persons, banded together to defy his orders, no longer meek and submissive as before. Not to mention the Foundation Establishment cultivator who constantly cursed and wore dissatisfaction openly on his brutish face. Though Zhao Liande was angry, there was nothing he could do now. If he pushed too hard and sparked widespread discontent, letting the Shandu sect cultivators escape would mean failing his task from Grandmaster Wei, with unimaginable consequences. Zhao Liande, having mastered the art of understanding people's hearts from years of managing, drew these troublemakers aside for individual negotiations, offering more rewards, and promising benefits, pledging loudly to finally coax them into action. Even so, he kept a special favor for the Chu Qin Sect, positioning Qi Xiu and his team in the comparatively safe rear, assigning them to guard an obscure, nameless valley—a promise kept, albeit grudgingly. Standing on the hillside overlooking this unnamed valley, with only their Chu Qin Sect members present, Zhang Shishi finally felt free to speak his mind without concern for surrounding cultivators. "I can't quite figure it out," he confessed. "Grandmaster Wei wants to seize Shandu's territory, but what's his aim? You know that being a Beastmaster Sect disciple, despite his hundred-year Golden Core mastery, without credit for hunting wild beasts, he’s not qualified to establish his own sect. Why this grand maneuver, what’s he truly after?" Qi Xiu, too, had pondered this but found no answers. "Grandmaster Wei may not have much life left, but amassing evidence against Shandu Sect hasn't been the work of a mere day or two. Swen Guang only realizing it now shows how secretly this was all done. Such patience and cautious planning—it’s unlikely he wouldn’t have things properly arranged. Our vision is too narrow; we shouldn’t worry about others’ matters. Best manage our defenses—though this is the rear, we can't be careless." Realizing his limitations, Zhang Shishi, merely at mid-stage Qi Refinement, wondered why he should concern himself with the affairs of a Golden Core elder. Summoning his spirit boat, he circled the valley to survey the terrain and returned to confer with Qi Xiu on setting up defenses. They were both novices—one with years immersed in commercial tasks, and the other an introverted cultivator who seldom stepped outside. After discussing for half a day, they still couldn’t agree. Qi Xiu wanted to concentrate all forces at the pass for defense; Zhang Shishi argued this made them an easy target for annihilation with a single sweep. Zhang Shishi proposed a dispersal into a long serpent formation—strike the head and the tail would aid, strike the tail and the head would help. Qi Xiu immediately countered, claiming this would only lead to defeat in detail, with reinforcements too slow to arrive. As they quarreled, each sticking to their foolish ideas, Bai Muhua stood aside, nearly dying of laughter at their childish notions. Influenced by her father Bai Xiaosheng, she was well-versed in multidisciplinary studies. Combining their insights wouldn’t match half of hers. Unable to bear it anymore, she stepped forward gracefully and said, "Master Brother and Brother Zhang, both your strategies are erroneous. In skirmishes among low-level cultivator groups, the side that acts first generally has a massive advantage, for neither spells nor innate defenses of low-level cultivators are fast enough to counterattack. Typically, whoever strikes first has won half the battle. So, I think the priority is on scouting and anticipating enemy moves to take the initiative. Moreover…” Her insightful analysis left them both in awe, and Qi Xiu decisively appointed Bai Muhua as the strategist for their unnamed valley defense. Everyone, himself included, was to follow her command. Qi Xiu had the virtue of not clinging to absolute authority, was receptive to advice, and knew when to delegate. With full freedom, Bai Muhua efficiently organized the defenses. Yu Denuo and He Yu, being the quickest with sword escape techniques and of higher cultivation, were assigned rotating patrols in the front to monitor movements from the Shandu direction, serving as overt sentries. Gu Ji, quick and adaptive, was positioned as a covert sentry, hiding in the woods behind them. The remaining seven members were concealed on the rear slope of the small hill alongside the valley, under the protection of a rudimentary Four Symbols Illusionary Formation. The vantage point chosen by Bai Muhua offered a complete view of the unnamed valley while concealing them from the sight of anyone approaching from Shandu, evoking praise from Qi Xiu: “Miss Bai, such skill! Why didn’t you speak earlier? Shishi and I argued long, making fools of ourselves in front of you.” “You didn’t ask!” Bai Muhua thought privately. Having interacted with Head Qi, his disposition seemed soft and ineffective, hardly reflecting the courage he showed in defending her father. The phrase "an iron fist in a velvet glove" might well describe someone like him. Following that, Bai Muhua organized drills for small battle formations: Zhang Shishi with his heavy shield and steadfast mind was at the front, the others in the middle, and Qin Weiyu with Huang He, both with water spirit roots, at the rear to cast protective talismans and provide healing. Qin Weiyu still stood awkwardly with the Chu Qin banner, and while Bai Muhua held back laughter, she advised him to lower the flag so it wouldn’t seem as though they were giving away their position. Yu Denuo and He Yu reported alternately; the area indeed proved isolated, not a glimpse of either cultivators or common folk—a positive sign. Their unnamed valley, located deep in the rear, would be difficult enough to reach even after escaping down from Shandu Mountain, surviving Zhao Liande’s first defensive line. By then, any escaping cultivators would likely be exhausted and unable to stir any significant troubles. Moreover, with fellow sects nearby, support was convenient. Overall, this was far from a hard task compared to others enticed by Zhao Liande’s promises to guard dangerous outposts, destined merely as cannon fodder. Daily watches and regular patrols made Chu Qin Sect adept at cooperative formations. Without seeing a shadow of Shandu Sect members, the Chu Qin members started relaxing, feeling this task was not much more than an excuse for a leisurely outing. Fearing complacency might lead to the unexpected, Qi Xiu gathered everyone to bolster morale and declared, “Once this matter concludes, Zhao Liande assured us that Chu Qin will gain a fertile and prosperous land! Wang Guan’s end looms near, making our temporary settlement at his place not a permanent solution. Keep your spirits high—if we pass this hurdle, good days await Chu Qin!” This tactic worked, and with talk of new lands within grasp, everyone’s spirits lifted. Following Chu Qin traditions, marrying after thirty was permissible. Many, like Pan Rong and Shen Chang, already in their mid-twenties, faced little prospect of cultivation breakthroughs and were inspired by Zhang Shishi’s examples, living richly with wives, eager to plant their roots and expand their family lines. The inhospitable lands along the Black River left no space for settlements, but with fertile lands, their future homes could finally be established. Zhang Shishi sighed, “Senior Wang Guan was the kindest Foundation Establishment elder towards Chu Qin around Black River, the best person. Such a shame, though, life doesn’t favor the good.” Qi Xiu, too, fell silent, reflecting on Wang Guan—over 190 years now, rarely seen, recalling that diligent, comedic elder who worked tirelessly for the younger generation evoked a faint melancholy. “Enough, see you grown men dampen an uplifting talk with sadness. At least, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Senior Wang’s two hundred years outlive us Qi Refinement practitioners twice over—what’s there to lament?” Bai Muhua, not fully comprehending Chu Qin’s sentiment towards Wang Guan, tried to comfort. News of Chu Qin’s expansion was monumental for her. Firstly, her imminent marriage to Zhanyuan meant facing issues of future livelihood, and secondly, her father Bai Xiaosheng, confined to Black River, had relatives living harshly back in Bai Shan from oppression. She hoped to relocate them to Chu Qin's future lands, a welcomed opportunity amidst life's challenges—how could she not be pleased? “It’s just… observing these days, it seems Zhao Liande doesn’t enjoy as much favor with Grandmaster Wei as outside rumors claim. Is his word reliable?” “Now that’s where you’re wrong,” Qi Xiu contended. “Though Senior Zhao is profit-focused, eight years of interaction showed that he fulfills what he promises—a trustworthy fellow, unlikely to go back on his word. His current ostentation wouldn’t exist without Grandmaster Wei's support, however unusual the task of border guard duties might seem. Maybe it’s just Wei’s lack of trust in others leading to this arrangement?” In Qi Xiu’s heart, Zhao Liande was once considered infallible, though fading reputation over years left Qi Xiu less certain. “Let’s hope Senior Zhao indeed stands by his word…” Bai Muhua gazed afar, beginning to dream about life with Zhanyuan post-marriage.