Zhao Chun had only suffered superficial wounds, and after recuperating for a period of time, she was fine. It was Tu Cenzhen who was severely injured. His limbs were damaged beyond restoration, and his cultivation base had also been greatly reduced.
With his lifespan already nearing its end, he now looked withered and haggard, appearing as though his days were numbered. He was also aware of his own situation and stammered to Zhao Chun, "Daoist Friend Zhao, this Tu has a presumptuous request…" Zhao Chun helped him sit up.
"Patriarch Tu, please speak."
"Although family shame should not be aired in public, I have nothing left to be concerned about now…"
His face was drenched in sweat, only his lips moved.
"When my late father passed the Tu Family to me, my cultivation base was insufficient, only at the second level of Qi Refinement. I couldn't suppress the undercurrents of dissent, allowing those with wicked minds to split the family, causing the Tu Family's power to be greatly diminished…"
"I wonder if Fellow Daoist still remembers the youth beside Congwen on the day you arrived?"
Zhao Chun nodded. Because he looked more composed than Tu Congwen, she actually had a stronger impression of him.
"Was he called Tu Mian?"
"That's him. I presume Fellow Daoist also feels that he is better than Congwen."
Tu Cenzhen clenched his fists tightly, the veins on his forehead bulging.
"His grandfather is my own blood brother. Back then, he took half the family property and left, and now he wants to bring his grandson back to encroach upon the main family. How can there be such a principle!"
A matter of brothers fighting amongst themselves? Zhao Chun knitted her brows; this was something she did not wish to interfere in. But then she heard Tu Cenzhen continue, "If he truly had the heart to revitalize the family, it's not as if I couldn't yield the position of Patriarch.
However, his heart is with an external enemy, and he has set his sights on the Main Sect…" Zhao Chun was instantly alarmed and asked, "He wants to betray the sect?" For a vassal family to betray its sect was an act utterly despised in the Drifting Clouds World, on par with a disciple betraying their sect!
"I originally only suspected it and had yet to believe it. It's just that this black cicada today reminded me of a certain matter."
Zhao Chun asked, "That demonic creature has an unknown origin. Has Patriarch Tu heard of it before?" Tu Cenzhen said gravely, "As far as I know, there is an item similar to it, the Golden Cicada Shedding Shell Gu from the insect Gu secret techniques of the Yang Water Sect."
"Golden Cicada Shedding Shell Gu?"
"It is said that this Gu uses a black cicada planted into a host body, causing the host's strength to increase greatly. If the host body dies, the Gu will suck dry its flesh and blood and transform into a golden cicada to avenge the host."
It was just that no golden cicada was seen this time; when the Gu-worm flew out, it was still pitch-black. Seeing that Zhao Chun's brows were still furrowed, Tu Cenzhen said helplessly, "It is a secret technique of another sect. As for the specifics, I really do not know.
But the name of the Yang Water Sect is something I must make clear to you, Fellow Daoist, no matter what." Zhao Chun listened with respectful attention.
"Back then, when Ancestor Weiye established the sect, ten thousand sects came to offer their congratulations. What a majestic sight! Profound Division Daoists sat side by side, and Core Formation Great Cultivators also walked among the banquet guests. My Tu Family was also illustrious for a time; the family once had two Core Formation Stage cultivators at the same time. That was the situation back then!"
"Who did not know of the True Spirit Sect of Pine Mountain, with its twelve Profound Division Daoists, leader of the sects in the Southern Region! But even such a great sect, after its Great Cultivators were successively guided to the Upper Realm, was taken advantage of by that Yang Water Sect, and had to ignominiously relocate its sect to the Secluded Valley…"
Even the True Spirit Sect of the Secluded Valley was already a great power in Zhao Chun's eyes. What kind of scene must the True Spirit Sect that Tu Cenzhen spoke of, the leader of all the sects, have been? Even being so powerful, it could still decline so suddenly…
"Thinking about it carefully, their instigation for the clansmen to move to the Secluded Valley during the clan assembly was likely just with the intention of probing for news about the Main Sect."
Zhao Chun knew this matter was of great importance and promised, "When I return to the sect, I will definitely inform the Sect Master and the Elders!"
"The Yang Water Sect won't just target my Tu Family. If the Main Sect can become vigilant because of this, it can be considered a great merit for the Tu Family…"
After saying all this, he became much weaker, and his face was utterly devoid of color. Zhao Chun quickly fed him an elixir pill to help him recover some of his Qi and blood. Fortunately, people from the Tu Family arrived.
Seeing Tu Cenzhen's tragic state, they were also greatly shocked. Knowing it was not the time for questions, they first sent the two back to the residence. After Tu Cenzhen recounted what had happened, his eldest son, Tu Xin, was filled with lingering fear.
Looking at his father's empty left sleeve, he said bitterly, "You…"
"At least I survived. Losing an arm is no big deal."
He was quite open-minded about it. Having lived to such an old age, he had long since put matters of life and death aside. It was only the children and grandchildren before him that he found hard to let go of.
Tu Cenzhen glanced around, taking in everyone's various expressions. Seeing that he had lost an arm and his cultivation base was greatly damaged, they were all filled with alarm, looking as if they had lost their own parents.
Since his father had handed the family over to him, he had never dared to slack off in promoting the younger generation and looking after the city's residents. Unfortunately, heaven does not grant one's wishes; his descendants were all people incapable of shouldering great responsibilities. Only his great-grandson, Tu Congwen, standing among the people, remained relatively calm.
Unfortunately, he was too young, and his cultivation base was insufficient to protect the family. Tu Cenzhen shook his head and sighed, saying, "Congwen, come here. Come to Great-grandfather's side."
"Daoist Friend Zhao, please come over as well."
Tu Xin's body trembled. He guessed his father's thoughts and urgently cried out, "Patriarch!" But he was stopped by Tu Congwen, who persuaded him, "Whatever the Patriarch does, he has his considerations."
Tu Cenzhen used his only remaining right hand to grip the teacup, his face full of sorrow.
"To think that during the peak of my Pine Mountain Tu Clan, we had a Core Formation Great Cultivator presiding over us. But after the Main Sect relocated, we gradually declined. The previous generation's patriarch was still at the late stage of Qi Refinement, but I stopped at the fourth level of Qi Refinement…"
"Now my lifespan is nearly at its end, and my cultivation base is greatly damaged. Congwen has not yet matured, and I deeply fear that the matter of the Left Tu from back then will happen again. I wish to invite Daoist Friend Zhao of the Main Sect to be our family's Guest Elder, so that Congwen can smoothly take over the position of Patriarch!"
"Patriarch!"
"Patriarch Tu!"
The two voices rang out at the same time. Not to mention what the Tu clansmen were thinking, even Zhao Chun herself was unwilling to casually accept the responsibility for a clan.
"I know the Tu Family is in decline, and I don't wish for it to become a burden to you, Fellow Daoist. After Congwen takes over as Patriarch, from now on, besides the fifty percent of its annual income offered to the Main Sect, the Tu Family will gift another thirty percent to you, Fellow Daoist. On behalf of the Tu Family, I promise that we will never disturb your movements. We only hope that when the family is in peril, you will be able to lend a hand."
These heartfelt words only made Zhao Chun's eyelids twitch. What truly moved her heart was that thirty percent offering. Wealth moves a person's heart, and she was no exception.
"In that case, I will accept what Patriarch Tu has entrusted to me."
Tu Cenzhen was no fool. He had taken a fancy to Zhao Chun's talent and was merely thinking of making an early investment for the family. The two of them each got what they wanted; the only ones who were vexed were the clueless younger generation of the Tu Family.
"The clan assembly will be held tomorrow. Go down and prepare!"
Tu Cenzhen was always a man of his word. He waved his hand to dismiss the clansmen, each with their own thoughts, before saying to Zhao Chun, "Fellow Daoist, you had best sharpen your sword." This was a reminder to her that there was a hard battle to be fought tomorrow.
Zhao Chun caressed the dagger at her waist, not a trace of fear in her heart.
(End of Chapter)