plumnovel Chapter 5 The Storm Is Brewing
Chapter 5 The Storm Is Brewing
After Shen Qingci and his servants left, the Chen residence returned to peace, but the air still seemed to retain the invisible pressure and faint smell of blood from that palm that crushed the marriage certificate.
Chen Zhan dismissed his attendants, leaving only Chen Xuan in the hall, where grandfather and grandson sat facing each other, the candlelight flickering.
"Xuan'er,"
Chen Zhan spoke first, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of the teacup. His gaze fell on the stain in the hall, a mixture of crimson paper scraps and dark wood powder, his eyes a mixture of relief and worry.
"You handled today's matter... quite decisively. The Shen family girl is proud and arrogant, and this setback... it's a pity about this marriage."
Chen Xuan poured hot tea for his grandfather:
"Fate cannot be forced. My grandson doesn't care about it, so Grandpa doesn't need to worry too much."
Chen Zhan shook his head, about to speak again;
"Master, young master."
The old butler, Zhao Fu, tiptoed in, a hint of unease on his face.
"Outside the gate... there were some idlers and unfamiliar faces gathered, peeking around. When I went out just now, I heard some people talking, saying... that Liu Xiangzhu of the Black Wind Sect has been killed in our mansion, which is probably going to cause a lot of trouble."
Chen Zhan frowned. Black Wind Sect! He had almost forgotten about it.
Shen Qing's resignation from the engagement is a temporary relief, but the death of a leader of the Black Wind Sect has created a deep-seated grudge. Given the vengeful nature of "Black-Hearted Old Man," he will never let this go easily.
"Can you hear any specific sounds of wind?" Chen Zhan asked in a deep voice.
Zhao Fu shook his head: "These are all just rumors. But I just sent someone to the East Market to buy some things. A familiar peddler said that he saw scouts from the Black Wind Sect loitering around the city gate and talking in hushed tones with some unfamiliar faces. They looked very suspicious."
Chen Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.
The Black Wind Sect reacted faster than he expected. It seems the local bullies in Qingyang City are indeed well-informed.
"Grandpa, Uncle Zhao,"
Chen Xuan spoke, his tone calm.
"These past few days, security has been heightened in the manor, especially at night. Unless absolutely necessary, everyone in the manor should minimize going out. If the Black Wind Sect comes, it will be a swift and decisive attack; we must prepare accordingly."
Chen Zhan nodded:
"Uncle Fu, do as Xuan'er says. Also, secretly contact a few reliable old buddies and find out about the Black Wind Sect's movements."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Fu accepted the order and left.
The hall returned to silence, but a sense of impending doom permeated the air.
Chen Zhan looked at the tea stains on the ground, which were gradually cooling, and his worry deepened:
"Xuan'er, do you know why the Black Wind Sect has been targeting my Chen family? The 'Azure Nether Blade Manual' that Master Liu asked for when he came last time was not fabricated out of thin air."
Chen Xuan's eyes narrowed:
"What is this sword manual that has brought such calamity upon us?"
"The Azure Destiny Blade Manual... it's more than just a martial arts manual. Rumor has it that it's connected to a secret treasure of the previous dynasty, and even a secret concerning the fate of the world. Obtaining it might be the key to controlling even greater power."
"Grandpa, do you mean that my Chen family is truly connected to that sword manual?"
Chen Zhan sighed deeply, as if he had aged considerably in an instant. He walked to the window, his voice low and weary:
"It's not that the sword manual itself is in the Chen family. Rather... before your father left home, he vaguely mentioned that he might have accidentally learned a clue related to the whereabouts of the 'Azure Nether Sword Manual.'"
"He didn't say exactly what happened, only that it was a misfortune rather than a blessing, and told me to keep my mouth shut and to keep an eye on an old jade pendant that was passed down in the family... Later, he and your mother disappeared together and were never heard from again."
He turned around, his eyes filled with pain and regret:
"Over the years, for some reason, the news has leaked out. The Black Wind Sect seems to have repeatedly made things difficult for my Chen family over trivial business matters, but in reality, they have probably been secretly investigating this matter all along."
"When Master Liu launched his attack last time, it was a test. Now that you have displayed your martial arts skills and killed their people... they will not wait any longer."
Chen Xuan suddenly understood. All the fragmented clues—the Black Wind Sect's years of harassment, Liu Xiangzhu's coercion, his grandfather's fierce reaction to the topic of the sword manual, and even his parents' mysterious disappearance—were now connected by a hidden thread.
The Azure Nether Blade Manual is at the center of all this vortex.
"An old jade pendant?" Chen Xuan pressed.
Chen Zhan shook his head: "That's the strangest part. Your father did mention the words 'jade pendant' back then, but his words were evasive and seemed to have a deeper meaning. I searched carefully in the mansion and your parents' old residence, but found nothing."
"This item wasn't in your mother's jewelry box either. Perhaps your father took it, or perhaps... the clues weren't in the Chen family at all, but somewhere else."
"But once the Black Wind Sect, and even the forces that may exist behind them, know about this, the Chen family will never have peace again."
Chen Zhan shook his head with a wry smile, seemingly having given up hope of finding the keepsake.
At this point, neither the grandfather nor the grandson had any clue. By the time Chen Xuan returned to his quiet little courtyard, it was already dark.
Chen Xuan immediately closed the door, shutting out the noise from the outside world and the vague sense of crisis.
He sat cross-legged on the couch, but did not immediately circulate his internal energy. Instead, he focused his mind on his sea of consciousness.
His recent attacks, though seemingly casual, have greatly helped him control the power of the suddenly acquired perfect-level Yi Jin Jing.
Especially the final sword strike against the maid Yao Yao, which seemed to easily sever...
In reality, it requires extremely high control over one's strength; too much and it would kill, too little and it wouldn't be enough to intimidate. This gave him a deeper understanding of the "precision" of his own strength.
"Black Wind Sect..." Chen Xuan murmured the name. Judging from the original owner's fragmented memories and the rumors Zhao Fu had heard today, this was definitely not a kind person who could be reasoned with.
The death of a sect leader will not be tolerated by the other side. Conflict is almost inevitable.
He was not afraid. The complete Yi Jin Jing gave him not only strength, but also a powerful confidence stemming from a leap in his life level.
But he wasn't the only one in the Chen family. His grandfather was old, and Zhao Fu and the servants in the household were all innocent.
He might not be afraid of being surrounded, but if the other party uses underhanded tactics or targets other members of the Chen family, he will inevitably be hampered.
"We can't just sit and wait for them to come to us." A sharp glint flashed in Chen Xuan's eyes. Passive defense always puts us at a disadvantage.
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Perhaps... we should take the initiative to confront the Black Wind Sect, or even seize the upper hand?
The instant this thought arose, a clear "determination," as if breaking through the fog to find direction, coalesced in his heart.
—We cannot entrust our safety to the enemy's mercy or delay. We must proactively clarify the threats and, if necessary, eliminate the root of the problem with swift and decisive action!
This determination to "protect" and "break the deadlock" is strong and pure, as if it has touched some kind of rule in the dark.
"Buzz..."
A faint tremor, perceptible only to Chen Xuan, resounded from the depths of his soul.
Immediately afterwards, that cold, flat stream of thought reappeared, clearer and more complete than before, carrying a sense of formal initiation:
"The host has been found to possess a pure will, embodying both the 'spirit of protection' and the 'will to break the deadlock'."
"Task generated..."
"Main quest achievement: [Qingyang Purge] has been generated."
"Mission Objective: To resolve the existential crisis posed by the Black Wind Sect against the Chen family and completely end the Black Wind Sect's ongoing threat to Qingyang City. To restore order to Qingyang City."
"Task Reward: Complete the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms"