174: Chapter 174 Qingxin Pavilion - A Mind Unclear

On the third day after returning to Qinglan Sword Sect, a piece of news exploded like a thunderclap.

Su Qinghan, the new Pavilion Master of Qingxin Pavilion, publicly declared irreconcilable differences with Qinglan Sword Sect.

Li Changsheng was watering the Spirit Tea Trees by the spirit field when he heard the news.

Zhao Qian ran over, panting, his face pale and his words incoherent.

"Senior Brother Li, Li!"

"This is bad! Qingxin Pavilion... Qingxin Pavilion has turned against us!"

Li Changsheng's hand paused slightly, and the water from his kettle spilled onto his feet.

He looked up at Zhao Qian.

"What did you say?"

Zhao Qian swallowed, then said.

"News just came that Su Qinghan, the new Pavilion Master of Qingxin Pavilion, ordered all Disciples to return to the pavilion, close the mountain gate, and reorganize their fighting strength."

"She also put out word, saying... saying that they are irreconcilable with Qinglan Sword Sect."

Li Changsheng was silent for a long time.

Then, he put down the kettle, walked to the Spirit Tea Tree, and sat down.

Zhao Qian looked at him and asked cautiously.

"Senior Brother Li, are you alright?"

Li Changsheng shook his head, not speaking.

He thought of Su Qianxue, who had fought alongside him on the Jinyang Sect battlefield, of her 'Thank you' before she left, and of the communication talisman she left behind.

She was also a Qingxin Pavilion Disciple.

How was she doing now?

The news quickly spread throughout the entire Qinglan Sword Sect.

In the main hall, the Elders discussed animatedly.

In the Martial Arts Field, the Disciples whispered to each other.

Even in the market, the Loose Cultivators were talking about it.

"I heard the new Pavilion Master of Qingxin Pavilion is a fierce character, an Early Stage Nascent Soul, over a hundred years old, much more aggressive than the old Pavilion Master."

"Indeed."

"When the old Pavilion Master died in battle, our Qinglan Sword Sect's reinforcements stood by, so she must hold a grudge."

"Then it's reasonable for her to turn against us."

"Reasonable?"

"Then what do we do from now on?"

"Qingxin Pavilion still has four or five thousand Disciples."

Li Changsheng walked down the market street, listening to the discussions, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The reinforcements stood by.

He recalled scenes from the Jinyang Sect battlefield.

Those female cultivators of Qingxin Pavilion fought desperately against the evil cultivators, falling one after another.

The old Pavilion Master sacrificed herself, repelling the enemy with her life.

And where were Qinglan Sword Sect's reinforcements then?

Far away, standing by.

Waiting for more of them to die, so they could profit from it.

He clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

He remembered Elder Zhou's face, and the words he said.

"Let more of them die, and when we arrive, they will be grateful."

Grateful?

They would only hate.

Hate to the bone.

After returning from the market, Li Changsheng went to find Liu Qingchen.

Last time, Liu Qingchen said his master was taking him out to seek a Golden Core Opportunity, but it seemed his master was delayed by something and hadn't left yet.

Liu Qingchen's courtyard was still quiet.

He sat at the stone table in the courtyard, a pot of tea in front of him, untouched.

Seeing Li Changsheng enter, he looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"You've come at a good time, I was just about to send you a message. Come, sit."

"Is there something, Senior Brother?"

Li Changsheng sat opposite him and replied.

"Tomorrow, my master and I will depart. Master said things here are settled."

"Are you really leaving this time?"

"Yes."

Liu Qingchen poured him a cup of tea and pushed it in front of him.

After a moment of silence, Liu Qingchen said with a somewhat complex expression.

"You've heard about the Qingxin Pavilion matter, haven't you?"

"You've heard?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

Liu Qingchen continued.

"I've heard too. The new Pavilion Master, Su Qinghan, is the old Pavilion Master's Personal Disciple, and always held her in great respect."

"With the old Pavilion Master dying in battle, she must hate."

Li Changsheng said, "Then us..."

Liu Qingchen shook his head.

"This matter is not something we can manage."

"The Sect Master has his intentions, and the Elders have their plans."

"We Disciples just obey orders."

Obey orders.

Li Changsheng fell silent.

Liu Qingchen looked at him, then suddenly said.

"Are you thinking about why our reinforcements didn't move the day the old Pavilion Master died in battle?"

Li Changsheng looked up at him.

Liu Qingchen sighed and said.

"I also heard about what happened that day."

"Elder Gao led the team, and he... intentionally slowed down."

Li Changsheng didn't speak.

Liu Qingchen continued.

"He wanted more people from Qingxin Pavilion to die, so they would be obedient later. As a result..."

As a result, it backfired.

Li Changsheng finally spoke.

"Senior Brother Liu, what do you think... what exactly does our Qinglan Sword Sect want to do?"

Liu Qingchen looked at him, his gaze profound.

"What do you want to ask?"

Li Changsheng said.

"The Sect Master said he wanted to unify orders, annex smaller Sects, suppress the conservative faction of Jinyang Sect, and now he's turned against Qingxin Pavilion..."

"What exactly does he want to do?"

Liu Qingchen was silent for a long time.

Then, he stood up, walked to the edge of the courtyard, and gazed at the distant mountains.

"Li Changsheng,"

he slowly began.

"Some things are not for us to ask. You just need to remember what I told you last time."

He turned back and looked at Li Changsheng.

"No matter what happens, guard your heart."

Li Changsheng's heart trembled.

True Lord Three Swords had also said this to him.

He stood up and solemnly cupped his fists.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Liu."

After returning from Liu Qingchen, Li Changsheng stayed awake all night.

He sat in the Tool Storehouse, and under the lamp, the communication talisman left by Su Qianxue lay quietly on the table.

He picked up the Jade Slip and injected spiritual energy into it.

The Jade Slip glowed faintly, and a few characters appeared.

"Qingxin Pavilion, Su Qianxue."

He hesitated for a long time, then finally put it down.

It wasn't appropriate to contact her now.

He could only secretly ask someone to inquire.

The next day, he found Wang Hai.

Wang Hai was an Inner Sect Disciple, knew many people, and was well-informed.

Li Changsheng asked him to help inquire about Su Qianxue, and Wang Hai readily agreed.

"Senior Brother Li, don't worry, I'll go take care of it now."

Three days later, Wang Hai brought news.

"Su Qianxue returned to Qingxin Pavilion. It's said that she was quite injured internally and has been recuperating."

"After the new Pavilion Master took office, she... she was appointed as an Inner Sect Disciple, responsible for internal affairs of the pavilion."

Li Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Hai looked at him, hesitated, then added.

"Senior Brother Li, I also found out something else."

Li Changsheng looked at him.

Wang Hai lowered his voice and said.

"The new Pavilion Master of Qingxin Pavilion, Su Qinghan, has been reorganizing their fighting strength since taking office."

"She ordered all Disciples who were outside to return to the pavilion, closed the mountain gate, and forbade anyone from entering or leaving. And..."

He paused, his voice even lower.

"I heard she sent people to contact the Demonic Sect."

Li Changsheng's pupils constricted slightly.

"Demonic Sect?"

Wang Hai nodded.

"It's just a rumor, not confirmed yet."

"But someone saw people from Qingxin Pavilion appearing at the border, contacting those retreating Demonic Sect remnants."

Li Changsheng fell silent.

Su Qinghan, contacting the Demonic Sect?

Did she hate Qinglan Sword Sect so much that she would ally with the Demonic Sect?

He didn't know what to say. Although Blood Fiend Sect was the main force in attacking Qingxin Pavilion at the time, the Demonic Sect was, after all, an accomplice.

Wang Hai looked at him and said cautiously.

"Senior Brother Li, this matter... we can't control it. Don't get involved."

Li Changsheng nodded, not speaking.

That night, Li Changsheng ascended the Main Peak alone, standing on the summit, gazing in the direction of Qingxin Pavilion.

The night wind howled, making his robes flutter.

In the distance, the direction of Qingxin Pavilion was pitch black.

But faintly, there seemed to be a faint light, flickering in the darkness.

What was that?

He didn't know.

But he knew that a bigger storm was brewing.

He clutched the qingshuang sword in his hand.

The strange runes on the sword were faintly visible in the moonlight.

He stared at those runes, a thought rising in his mind.

Perhaps, he should investigate the origin of this sword.

Perhaps, this sword was related to the Blood Fiend Sect.

Perhaps, there were also problems within Qinglan Sword Sect.

He took a deep breath, then turned and descended the mountain.