Chapter 1298: Beginning Of Chaos (I)

Although Li Zhouwei showed neither anger nor heat and spoke calmly, what kind of person was Wun Wu? The other party had neither accepted the tea nor exchanged pleasantries, and opened with a remark about things not being peaceful. The dissatisfaction was obvious, and how could he fail to notice it?

Moreover, this person was by no means someone with a good temper. Back when Wun Wu had been stationed at the Eastern Sea, he had seen Situ Mo and secretly believed him to be a contemporary hero and a Purple Mansion Realm seed. Yet Situ Mo had ended up like a chick in the hands of this White Qilin. How could he not feel fear?

This was not a matter of offending a peak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. It was plainly offending a future Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. The trouble had clearly been caused by Purple Gale Peak, yet he, Wun Wu, was the one made to shoulder the blame. Unfortunately, he stood in the middle and did bear some obligation to look after things. His mouth felt full of bitterness as he urgently racked his mind for a solution while stalling for time.

"Purple Gale Peak once enjoyed great splendor. Later, some matters arose and things stopped going smoothly. It no longer holds much standing within the gate and has grown accustomed to hard days. The peak itself has not been peaceful.

Sigh.

Those fellow disciples are not very steady. A lack of tranquility is only to be expected."

But he immediately sought to patch things and added, "However, overseas training is a gate assignment. Your esteemed family’s Li Quexi is my junior sister at Shepherd Peak. She is currently in seclusion to break through and will also come out in a few years to experience the ways of the Eastern Sea, so she does not grow too sheltered. For now, Queyi can complete these two years. After that, there will be no need for her to travel outward."

He tightened his robe. As he sat down, the two spirit talismans came to rest upon his thighs, white above and gold below, emitting a gentle glow. Li Zhouwei glanced at the downcast Li Queyi and understood the situation.

Wun Wu's Shepherd Peak had specifically taken in disciples to maintain good relations with the Li Family and Purple Smoke Gate. Purple Gale Peak is no longer the focus. For Purple Smoke Gate to incline its resources toward a single direct descendant of the Li Family is already a gesture of goodwill. Giving more will not benefit Purple Smoke Gate's future, and Queyi is not one to compete for it.

Moreover, if I were Purple Smoke Gate, I would also be more inclined to leave cultivators highly valued by their families to develop on their own. It might not be intentional. It is simply that with Quexi ahead, Queyi has a gentle temperament and does not fight or contend. They are happy to see it turn out this way.

He lowered his hand and replied, "Queyi is the daughter of my elder brother Li Zhoufang and a direct descendant of the Yuandu lineage. Senior Lingyanzi is a close friend of our family and will naturally look after her more. But it is normal for some matters to be overlooked with age. I only fear that if those fellow disciples cause trouble, it will harm Purple Smoke Gate's stability."

Wun Wu felt awkward and uneasy. He knew the man before him was being this tactful out of regard for Purple Smoke Gate's background. There was no way to deflect responsibility anymore, so he could only say, "That is indeed the case. Several of the peaks within the gate have been negligent. The atmosphere is indeed poor and does need correction."

Li Zhouwei laughed softly and shook his head, saying, "Fellow Daoist Wun likely finds it hard to manage as well. I am not familiar with the affairs within the peak. It does not need to rise to the level of rectification, nor is there any need to make a great fuss. Queyi does not like bustle. Staying overseas is also fine. Let things be as they should be."

As for correcting the atmosphere, Li Zhouwei did not want Li Queyi to become a target of criticism. This junior had never reported matters to the family precisely out of fear of damaging relations within the peak.

He did not wish to put her in an awkward position and said casually, "Moreover, Purple Smoke Gate is a Supreme Yang Dao lineage. How could it have a bad atmosphere? Cultivators of Jiangnan would not dare look lightly upon a blessed land. The Daoist Master of my family has many ties with Purple Smoke Gate. Having Queyi in the Eastern Sea is the best option. The Daoist Master is also nearby, so everything can be looked after."

When he finished, a layer of sweat truly broke out on Wun Wu’s forehead. He realized what Li Zhouwei meant,

Today it is I, Li Zhouwei, who came and can merely show you some displeasure. But Daoist Master Zhaojing is also overseas. If he were to run into this matter, would you, Wun Wu, not have to shed a layer of skin?

Daoist Master Zhaojing, Li Ximing, indeed had a good temperament, but that was toward fellow Purple Mansion Daoist Masters. If it were Li Ximing who came today and personally witnessed his family's direct descendant doing menial qi gathering work, and if Li Queyi were to cry and kneel before the Daoist Master, Wun Wu would have to remove his crown and bind himself, kneeling beneath Tinglan's seat.

But was today really any better? Li Zhouwei's golden eyes were staring right at him, and the chill within them was unmistakable.

At this moment, Wun Wu was not merely caught between a rock and a hard place. A chill rose in his heart, and he immediately said, "This matter is not due to the gate disciples themselves. It was my negligence. I was busy running about and ended up drawing fellow Daoists who seek the Dao to come question it. It truly is..."

Li Zhouwei still showed no sign of anger and replied, "Fellow Daoist Wun, those words are not quite right. I merely came to see a junior, offer a bit of guidance, and incidentally take a look at the market..."

He gestured and led Li Queyi out. The tea on the table remained untouched, with not a single sip taken. Wun Wu hurried after them and asked, "What are the arrangements for Queyi going forward..."

Li Zhouwei smiled and said, "The Daoist Master should want to see her. Let her remain here among the scattered reefs. There is no need to move her."

Wun Wu could only nod and escorted him all the way down from the hall. Li Zhouwei politely declined his offer to accompany him further. Wun Wu had no choice but to head back alone, bitterness and exhaustion filling his heart as he cursed inwardly,

Those fools of Purple Gale Peak... I was only just assigned here, and such a huge mistake was immediately dumped on my head. If not for Senior Lingyanzi's sake, I would have slapped those bastards hard.

There was still unease in his heart, and he pondered secretly,

I still need to send a letter to my master and inform the Daoist Master in advance. Matters like this are unreasonable. If they are pursued later, I will not even have room to explain.

Wun Wu quickly made his way back. Meanwhile, Li Zhouwei led the junior into the market, using dharma light to shroud the surroundings and separate them from the bustling crowd. Only then did Li Zhouwei speak quietly, "Queyi, the way you handled these matters was not right."

Li Queyi had been uneasy the entire way. Upon hearing this, she bowed to admit her fault. Before she could voice her remorse, Li Zhouwei raised his hand to stop her. The man in golden white armor said, "You are a direct daughter of a Purple Mansion Realm immortal family, yet you are far too gentle. Setting aside immortal sects, if you are merely polite and kind anywhere else, soft without authority, people will inevitably harbor doubts about you. When you retreat one step, they think you are easy to bully and will press further, confident that you will not bare your fangs to bite them. At worst, they might be scolded a few times, then kneel and beg. If begging fails, they cry bitterly. As long as they see you can be softhearted, the benefits they seek from you will go far beyond a bit of face."

Li Zhouwei surveyed the many spirit items in the market and spoke casually, "You must carry authority and show displeasure. Once these cultivators have a certain standing and know you care, they will hope to draw some blood from you. Even if they cannot take anything substantial, they will still pull small tricks. Today they say matters are urgent and have you help gather qi. Tomorrow they can go into seclusion and refuse to come out. When you go to seek them, there will be no one to be found."

Li Queyi understood he was speaking of the senior sister on the island. She nodded silently and said softly, "They are all from the same gate. Some even knelt down and begged while crying. There are elders and children at home, all depending on that single breakthrough. I thought I should help within my means, so my conscience could be at ease."