227: conspiracy

"I know, I know!"

Xu Yinghua suddenly raised her hand and said, "Because the Purple and Azure Twin Swords are in our hands, they cannot find them, so they won't do anything to Master!"

Tang Ku smiled at Yao Muyun, "Look, you are not as smart as your Junior Sister!"

Yao Muyun said helplessly, "I was never as smart as my Junior Sister to begin with. Now that I have been entrusted with this critical task, I... I truly don't know what to do... Furthermore, we just descended the mountain and encountered the Blood Demon. With our meager Cultivation, we are simply no match for him. We originally wanted to rid the people of evil, and relying on the power of the Purple and Azure Twin Swords, perhaps we could have slain demons and eliminated devils. Who would have thought we would end up in such a sorry state? If we hadn't met you all, my Junior Sister and I would likely be cold corpses by now!"

"So, in other words, is Shu Mountain currently in a state of having no leader?"

Xingyunzi couldn't help but frown, "For a Cultivator School, this is the greatest taboo. If those Grand Elders all have their own hidden agendas, the destruction of the Shu Mountain Sword School could happen overnight!"

"But there is another issue in all of this!"

Wei Zheng twisted his beard and said in a deep voice, "According to what you have said, this Baimei was originally the Shu Mountain Sect Head. He was powerful and could suppress these Grand Elders. Once he went missing, it led to this situation... However, those who can serve as a Sect Head are not simple characters. Could it be that he did not foresee such a day coming?"

This statement left both Yao Muyun and Xu Yinghua stunned. They had practiced on the mountain since childhood, so in terms of scheming, they were basically blank slates—they belonged to that particularly innocent type of character. Of course, they were not stupid; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to Cultivate from a Mortal to their current Realm. But when it came to conspiracies and schemes, they were absolute novices.

Wei Zheng's words hit the nail on the head, silencing everyone.

Nezha was currently recalling the recent battle; while gnawing on a chicken leg, he was also using his right hand to write and draw, looking every bit like a young straight-A student.

Xingyunzi and Wei Zheng were both contemplating the question the old man had just raised, while Yao Muyun and Xu Yinghua were worried about the situation of their Master.

Tang Ku was even more unique; his thinking was more unconventional than anyone else's. He was currently thinking: "Since the Purple and Azure Twin Swords are in the hands of these two, then the question arises: do they belong to the Three Heroes and Two Clouds prophesied by Baimei?"

In the Shu Mountain novel series, Baimei once prophesied that the rise of Shu Mountain required five up-and-coming talents, collectively known as the Three Heroes and Two Clouds.

The original Three Heroes and Two Clouds were named: Li Yingqiong, Yu Yingnan, Yan Renying, Qi Lingyun, and Zhou Qingyun, and these two people before them were not among them.

"The Purple and Azure Twin Swords are the supreme treasures of Shu Mountain. Only those whose hearts and minds are in complete harmony can use them freely, and ultimately merge the Purple and Azure to unleash their greatest power!" Tang Ku glanced at the two of them and then laughed, "You two haven't even mastered the basics yet, have you!"

"You even know this?"

Yao Muyun said, "Before our Master bestowed these two swords upon us, we had only heard of them; we never imagined that these supreme treasures would end up in the hands of my Junior Sister and me!"

"These two swords... have they always been kept by your Master?"

Wei Zheng suddenly asked.

"No, the Purple and Azure Twin Swords are one of the tokens of the Sect Head and have always been in the hands of the Sect Head... Hmm, wait... Could it be that Immortal Master Baimei foresaw from the very beginning that he would meet with misfortune, and therefore... therefore passed the swords to our Master?"

Xu Yinghua exclaimed in surprise.

"That is a very strong possibility!"

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice, "Your Master was entrusted with this critical task; perhaps Immortal Master Baimei had long thought of having him inherit the position of Sect Head. However, some other Elders were dissatisfied, which is why the current chaotic situation has arisen. Their ambitions have been suppressed for a long time, their strengths are similar, and they look down on each other. Since someone else can contend for the Sect Head position, and my strength is equal to his, or even a notch stronger, why can't I be the Sect Head? These Grand Elders who have the qualifications and strength likely have exactly this kind of thinking!"

Yao Muyun shook his head helplessly and said, "Old sir, your grasp of human nature is truly meticulous. Now that I think about it, it is indeed so. The strength of those Elders and my Master is not much different; many even firmly surpass him. Thinking back, those Elders were usually very fond of Yinghua and me, but I never expected them to turn into such detestable figures. They hid their true selves too deeply!"

"It's not that they hid deeply, but that you are too naive!"

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice, "Furthermore, their having ambition does not conflict with them being fond of you, because you pose no threat to them. Taking care of younger Disciples gives them a good reputation and also helps their plans... You are getting hung up on such trivial matters, which is of no help... Hmm, I have thought it over, and there is one more question I must ask you. You must answer truthfully!"

Wei Zheng had held the position of Prime Minister for many years, and his dignity remained undiminished. Being an official of the Three Offices, his Aura was countless times stronger than that of a Cultivator like Yao Muyun.

Yao Muyun was taken aback and almost subconsciously said, "Please speak, I am all ears!"

Xu Yinghua, who was on the side, couldn't help but drop her jaw in shock, thinking to herself, "This group of people is not simple at all. Although this old man is just an ordinary person, he actually possesses such imposing power!"

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice, "Among those contending for the Sect Head position, was there anyone who went with your Master to help Baimei deal with the Blood Demon?"

"Yes, my Junior Martial Uncle Fairy Yunyi also went along... Hmm, I heard that she was the one who took the lead in contending for the Sect Head position... Ah..."

Yao Muyun suddenly froze on the spot, looking at the sneering Wei Zheng opposite him, and said, "Old sir, could it be... could it be..."

"You are very smart; I suspect that is exactly it!"

Wei Zheng said, "Baimei likely intended to pass the Sect Head position to your Master. As mentioned before, it was a task entrusted in a critical moment. But that Fairy Yunyi you mentioned must have also been there, and because she was dissatisfied and held a grudge, she returned to instigate the entire Shu Mountain to turn against your Master, which led to today's situation!"

"But... but..."

Xu Yinghua said anxiously, "Fairy Yunyi and my Master have an extremely good relationship; it's impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"Human hearts are difficult to fathom; even blood brothers can turn against each other, and fathers and sons can kill one another!"

Wei Zheng stood up and said, "If one were to analyze this, Fairy Yunyi actually has the greatest suspicion, but..."

"But we cannot rule out the possibility that someone deliberately led the clues to her. In this Cultivation world, all kinds of methods emerge one after another; if someone deliberately instigated this by controlling people's minds, it is not impossible..."

Tang Ku smiled, brushed off his sleeves, and said, "Everything has not yet reached the point where the final conclusion can be drawn... Hmm, I think it is time to go take a look at the sacred Realm of Shu Mountain. In my childhood, I once fantasized about the heroic bearing of Sword Immortals; today, I shall finally get to broaden my horizons!"