318: Chapter 318 Returning to Qingqiu, the Old Dragon's Secret

[The bustle of the wedding gradually quieted down.]

[Wan Jiuer sat by the window, holding a yellowed bamboo scroll in her hands.]

[Her gaze, however, fell upon the abyss outside the window, shrouded in purple mist.]

[Chu Sheng, holding a cup of tea, sat opposite her without rushing her.]

[He knew she was thinking about something.]

[After a good while, Wan Jiuer finally put down the bamboo scroll, turned her head to look at him, her light gray pupils filled with a trace of solemnity.]

["I must return to Qingqiu."]

[Chu Sheng's hand paused: "Now?"]

["Within these few days."]

[Wan Jiuer's voice was very calm, "I must go and investigate clearly who was behind the manipulation during the Fox Clan's internal strife."]

["I will not let a single bad person go, nor will I wrongly accuse a good one."]

[She paused, her gaze becoming distant.]

["I fled too hastily back then, seeing only my clansmen fall and Qingqiu burning in a sea of flames."]

["But I did not see the true mastermind with my own eyes."]

[Chu Sheng put down his teacup and looked at her: "You suspect that Old Dragon?"]

[Wan Jiuer did not deny it: "I am eighty percent sure it is him."]

[She began to explain.]

["The Old Dragon has been the Demon Venerable for so many years, and his favorite thing to do is watch the clans below fight."]

["The more chaotic the clans are, the more stable his position becomes."]

["Whichever clan wants to grow stronger, he secretly trips them up. Whichever clan declines, he gives them a push."]

["For thousands of years, the twelve clans of the Western Region have changed countless times, but the Old Dragon has always sat in that position, unmoved."]

[Chu Sheng nodded, signaling for her to continue.]

[Wan Jiuer's voice lowered a few degrees: "Have you heard of the Python Clan?"]

["No."]

["The Python Clan is the predecessor of the Snake Clan. Nearly ten thousand years ago, one of the Four Kings was not the Snake King, but the Python King. The Python Clan was very powerful at that time, second only to the Phoenix Clan."]

["Later, when the Heavenly Demon Ancestor invaded the Western Region, the Python Clan bore the brunt and was mostly wiped out. At that time, the Phoenix Clan and Roc Clan were also heavily damaged, but the Python Clan suffered the worst losses."]

["After the war, the Python Clan never recovered. The Old Dragon seized the opportunity to support one of his favorite concubines to take power, taking over the remnants of the Python Clan and renaming it the Snake Clan."]

["That favorite concubine is the current Snake King."]

[Hearing this, Chu Sheng understood roughly.]

["So that Old Dragon has been secretly manipulating the power structure of the Western Region?"]

[Wan Jiuer nodded: "He likes to watch the clans below bite each other. Whoever gets strong, he bites them. Whoever is weak, he gives a helping hand. In this way, he is always the one standing on high."]

["The Fox Clan was ranked high among the twelve clans at that time, with great momentum. The Old Dragon did not want to see a powerful Fox Clan rise."]

["He needed a reason, an excuse, to weaken the Fox Clan."]

["And then, he found that reason."]

[Chu Sheng's brows twitched: "What reason?"]

[Wan Jiuer was silent for a moment, then spoke: "The Old Dragon's son came to propose marriage at that time."]

["He wanted to force me to marry him."]

["At that time, I was Cultivating Life and Death Qi and didn't want to bother with him at all. Besides, his son was always chasing skirts, his Cultivation was shallow, and I didn't think much of him."]

["I refused."]

[Her voice was very soft, but Chu Sheng could hear the coldness in her tone.]

["Then, not long after, the Fox Clan had internal strife."]

["Clansmen betrayed us, external enemies invaded, Qingqiu was destroyed, and I fled into the Boundless Sea."]

["All of this is too coincidental."]

[Chu Sheng was silent for a long time.]

[He did not answer immediately, but instead went over these matters in his mind.]

[The Old Dragon secretly weakening powerful clans to consolidate his authority is indeed a reasonable motive.]

[Wan Jiuer refusing his son's marriage proposal is indeed the fuse.]

[Coincidentally, the Fox Clan was quickly destroyed—this indeed looks like revenge.]

[Although everything seems to point to the Old Dragon, it is ultimately just speculation.]

["So you want to return to Qingqiu to verify?" Chu Sheng asked.]

[Wan Jiuer nodded: "Although Qingqiu was destroyed, there should still be some clues left in the ruins. As long as I find evidence, I can confirm whether or not it was the Old Dragon who did it."]

[Chu Sheng looked at her, not persuading her further.]

[He knew she had already decided.]

["I will go with you," he said.]

[Wan Jiuer looked up at him, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.]

["Your injuries haven't fully healed."]

["Almost there."]

[Chu Sheng moved his shoulders, "And didn't you say my Life Qi is useful to you? On the way, I can help you regulate your Life and Death Qi."]

[Wan Jiuer stared at him for a good while, then suddenly smiled.]

[The smile was very light, like moonlight falling on the surface of the water, vanishing in a flash.]

["Okay," she said, "Then let's go together."]

[Before departing, Wan Jiuer briefly delegated clan affairs, letting Elder Bai and Elder Hu temporarily handle matters in the clan.]

[Although the two old Elders were a bit worried, they didn't say much, just urged her to be careful on the road.]

[Matron Tu wanted to follow, but was refused by Wan Jiuer.]

["You stay and guard Guanyue Abyss. This place needs you more than I do."]

[Matron Tu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally nodded.]

[Chu Sheng changed into a light Dao robe and took a sword.]

[Although the four swords and the sea-suppressing cauldron were still in Wan Jiuer's hands, this sword was one she returned to him for self-defense, probably High Grade Heaven Rank.]

["Don't lose it," Wan Jiuer glanced at him, "This is lent to you."]

[Chu Sheng smiled: "Don't worry, it won't be lost."]

[The two did not set off with great fanfare, but took advantage of the night to quietly leave Guanyue Abyss.]

[Wan Jiuer led him, avoiding the Bear Clan's territory, and walked along a secluded mountain path toward Qingqiu.]

[On the way, Chu Sheng asked: "Is Qingqiu far from here?"]

[Wan Jiuer said: "At our current speed, about five days' journey. If we encounter accidents, it might take longer."]

[Chu Sheng nodded, not asking more.]

[He walked while quietly observing Wan Jiuer's condition.]

[Her aura was still relatively stable, but Chu Sheng could feel that the balance of Life and Death Qi within her was still very fragile.]

[He quickened his pace by two steps, walking side by side with her.]

["Has your Death Qi fluctuated recently?" Chu Sheng asked.]

[Wan Jiuer was silent for a moment, then said: "A little. Especially when my emotions fluctuate."]

[Chu Sheng nodded: "I will help you regulate it a few times on the way, don't force yourself."]

[Wan Jiuer glanced at him without speaking, but her pace seemed a bit lighter.]

[Moonlight shone on the two, stretching their shadows long.]

[The distant mountains undulated in the night, like a sleeping giant beast.]

[The direction of Qingqiu, at the end of their sight, was faintly visible.]

[Chu Sheng did not know what was waiting for them there.]

[But he knew, this trip would not be peaceful.]

[The Guanyue Abyss behind them gradually faded away, and the road ahead grew deeper.]