Chapter 2969 — Zhong Yongliang's Fury: And Here Gu Mengyao Sighed Softly, Wondering, Where Was Her Own Mother?

Sun Jingyan had only just been reunited with her kin, and Qing Bo and Grandma Sun had already drawn her inside to talk. Outside the house, Wei Zhao and the others were left to discuss when they should set out...

They had barely begun their discussion when a knock sounded at the villa's door. Wu Chengtian went to answer it and found Han Jingyi standing there!

"Brother Wei Zhao, how are you?" Han Jingyi burst into the villa, and at the sight of Wei Zhao sitting in his wheelchair, anxiety flooded her face.

Wei Zhao found her dust-stained, travel-worn appearance rather strange. He had refrained from disturbing her seclusion, and so had not asked Han Xiaochao to notify her; most likely, however, the commotion outside the villa had startled that bookworm Han Xiaochao, who must have seized the moment when Han Jingyi came out for food to tell her.

For Wei Zhao could see crumbs still clinging to the corner of her mouth, and she looked as though she had just eaten—though he could not fathom why she seemed to have returned from some long and arduous journey.

"Just a wound, that's all. Jingjing, you've come out of seclusion?" Wei Zhao asked. "But how many days has it been since you slept? Why do you look so haggard?"

"A day and a night, it's nothing. Jingjing heard that Brother Wei Zhao was hurt and hurried right over," Han Jingyi said. "Is there anything Jingjing can help with?"

"Nothing for now..." Wei Zhao smiled wryly. He had meant to seize the chance after the trial to test his skill at alchemy, having neglected it lately while absorbed in refining the fire of forging, but now that his cultivation was ruined, alchemy was beyond him too. "By the way, Jingjing, I'm planning to return to the Western Star Mountain Village in a few days. Will you come?"

"Return to the Western Star Mountain Village?" Han Jingyi was taken aback.

Wei Zhao then explained to her his plan to retreat to the Western Star Mountain Village for the time being. As she listened, a flicker of envy and longing, so faint it was nearly imperceptible, passed through her eyes, but she concealed it well and said only, with regret, "I can't. Jingjing's research these past days has reached a critical juncture—I can't leave now, or all my work will be for nothing..."

"Is that so? That's all right. If you go into seclusion here, you shouldn't draw any enemies. Just be careful," Wei Zhao said with a nod. "If it truly comes to the worst, you can take shelter with the hidden Han family, the hidden Pi family, or the hidden Zhuang family."

"No need. Jingjing can go into seclusion right here..." Han Jingyi said. "Well then, Brother Wei Zhao, if there's nothing else, Jingjing will be going..."

"Yes. Go back and rest early, and don't think too much. This matter will pass soon enough," Wei Zhao said, consoling her.

Han Jingyi nodded, said nothing more, and left...

……………………

On the highway from Donghai City to Yanjing City, a car sped through the night like the wind...

The Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect.

"Chunyang, how is Zhang Naipao doing?" Zhong Yongliang, having gone several days without word of Zhang Naipao emerging from his heart demon, sought out Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable with some worry and asked. Though the Mad Dragon Patriarch's thoughts now resided within his body, Zhong Yongliang's own thoughts remained as well—and Zhang Naipao was still his junior brother.

"Master, Zhang Naipao is still in seclusion, still trapped within his heart demon. This time, the blow Wei Zhao dealt him was simply too great!" Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable smiled bitterly. "This too is an ordeal that all who cultivate the Chrysanthemum Treasure Manual must pass. One who suffers a fatal blow at the height of his prowess may awaken and step free of the heart demon, and his martial realm will rise to an even greater height. But if he cannot let it go, it is as though he has entered a blind alley from which he may never emerge for the rest of his life..."

"Is there any way to resolve it?" Zhong Yongliang asked with a frown.

"The best way is for him to step out of the heart demon himself. If he cannot, then killing the one who planted the heart demon in him may free him from it. But there is a drawback to that as well: if Wei Zhao is killed and Zhang Naipao loses his drive to cultivate, then the loss would outweigh the gain..." Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable explained.

"I see..." Zhong Yongliang frowned. "But if he never steps out of the heart demon, wouldn't that be even more wretched? This way, then: we wait a while longer, and if Paozi cannot step free of it himself, then let Chunyin make the trip and do away with Wei Zhao."

"Chunyin?" Pure Yang was momentarily stunned. Chunyin was his junior fellow disciple, but a madman of cultivation who paid little heed to the sect's affairs, doing nothing but seclude himself year in and year out. He had now reached the peak of the late Heaven Rank, and if he were sent to kill Wei Zhao, Wei Zhao would die beyond a doubt! Yet Pure Yang felt some misgiving: "Master, if our Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect interferes directly in the affairs of the secular world, might that not bring trouble down upon us?"

"What trouble could it bring? Have him disguise himself so no one discovers it—isn't that enough?" Zhong Yongliang said dismissively. "Do you not understand assassination?"

Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable's mouth twitched twice. This was the first he had heard that an ancient sect, in going forth to kill, must still disguise itself and strike from the shadows! Though the Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect was a demonic sect, it conducted its affairs squarely, one being one and two being two; it did not stoop to games of concealed identity—for all ancient sects had their own ancient pride!

But the Mad Dragon Patriarch's body also housed Zhong Yongliang's soul and thoughts, and so that crooked, side-door way of thinking had naturally infected Zhong Yongliang's mind, prompting him to put forward this notion that left Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable caught between laughter and tears!

"Disguise... that is easier said than done. Our techniques, our strength, our very build—anyone with the mind to investigate could trace them all back to our Tomorrow Upon Tomorrow Sect..." Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable said with a bitter smile.

"Then he would have no evidence! Besides, with Wei Zhao dead, who would be left to avenge him? Out of sight, out of mind—among these ancient sects, apart from the Five Luminaries Sect, who would dare provoke us of their own accord?" Zhong Yongliang curled his lip disdainfully. "And besides, we kill Wei Zhao over the matter of Zhang Naipao. Even if the Five Luminaries Sect learns of it, it is all for the sake of that plan. With a figure as important as Zhang Naipao in difficulty, the Five Luminaries Sect will not sit idly by either."

"That makes sense!" Only then did Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable recall that Zhang Naipao was likewise a key member of that future plan. In that case, so long as the Five Luminaries Sect stood on their side, there would essentially be no problem. He nodded and said, "Very well, it is settled then. We shall send Pure Yin Heavenly Venerable."

The two were still conversing when suddenly hurried footsteps sounded outside the door. Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable frowned. By rights, while he and Zhong Yongliang were speaking privately, no one was permitted to disturb them! RS