Chapter 5133 — A Clash Between Factions
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
Hong Qingyuan said nothing, and at once all eyes fell upon the five grand elders ranked at the very top. Counting Hong Qingyuan and Xue Liping, the sect master and his deputy, these seven alone were the true voice of power within the Snow Sword Sect. The other high-ranking figures of the sect were either their own people or, more simply, their disciples—men who possessed no independent say of their own.
"Cough, cough, cough—" One of the old men suddenly broke into a violent fit of coughing. It was the grand elder, Chi Qianqiu.
"I say, Elder Chi, if you're unwell, you'd best go back and rest," Xue Liping said, curling his lip at Chi Qianqiu with a trace of impatience. "Staying here in your condition—first, you won't rest well and it'll only worsen your illness; second, you'll disrupt everyone's discussion. You're the most senior elder present in our Snow Sword Sect, so surely you ought to have at least that much sense of the bigger picture?"
The other high-ranking sect members wore varying expressions at these words. The rivalry between Xue Liping and Chi Qianqiu was long-standing: one was the deputy sect master, wielding authority and weight; the other was the grand elder, steeped in the deepest seniority. In terms of power, Xue Liping held a slight edge by virtue of his post; yet in terms of standing, Chi Qianqiu stood a notch higher.
After all, he was the most senior grand elder present, and one promoted by the previous sect master's own hand. Chi Qianqiu's standing was second only to Sect Master Hong Qingyuan himself—even Xue Liping could not match it. And precisely because of this, friction between the two never ceased. One mountain cannot hold two tigers; Hong Qingyuan's position was deeply rooted beyond challenge, yet this contest for the number-two seat had never once been decided.
"Cough, cough—Deputy Sect Master Xue, you are mistaken," Chi Qianqiu said with a smile between coughs. "Since I sit in the grand elder's seat, it is only fitting that I exhaust myself for the Snow Sword Sect. Compared with the sect's great affairs, what is this old ailment of mine?"
"Hmph. Then what insight does Elder Chi have to offer?" Xue Liping cursed the old fool inwardly. Word had it that Chi Qianqiu's chronic ailment was a wound left from his youth, when he had risked life and limb for the previous sect master. Even the finest pills could at best suppress the injury, never cure it. If one day the old thing's ailment flared up and carried him off—now that would truly be cause for burning incense in thanks.
"Hardly any great insight—merely a few honest words." Chi Qianqiu smiled and turned to the assembly. "Everyone, our Snow Sword Sect and the Cangwu Sect of North Island have enjoyed friendly relations for many a year. We are all quite familiar with how the Cangwu Sect conducts itself. Do you truly believe the Cangwu Sect of North Island is arrogant and overbearing?"
The crowd exchanged glances, and most shook their heads. The Cangwu Sect of North Island was famously mild in its dealings—there was scarcely any precedent of them provoking trouble of their own accord. Even when other ancient sects goaded them, they would usually smooth matters over, making much of little. To call such conduct arrogant and overbearing would be an outrage against all reason.
"And because a thing was so before, must it be so ever after? Elder Chi, surely you are not that naive. Could all those past doings not have been a disguise? This time it was not only my son—even Bing Wushuang was beaten into a cripple. And all of it happened on the Cangwu Sect of North Island's own ground. Has Elder Chi grown so old that he did not hear clearly?" Xue Liping sneered without cease.