Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 341 In Xiaoxiang Valley, the Emperor's Son Descends!

Yan Fei's explanation sounded reasonable, but Xu Qing couldn't accept it. A cold smile appeared on his lips. "Ignored by the changes? I have already informed all branches of the Yin Yang School about my succession. Even if they are far away, the news should have reached them. It seems that they are not unaware, but rather unwilling to come."

Then, Xu Qing's tone changed again, "Since they are unwilling to come to see me, then I will go to see them myself and see if they are still qualified to serve as elders of the Yin Yang School."

"Yes!" Yanfei replied.

Not long after holding his first meeting as sect leader, Xu Qing, led by Yan Fei, left Mount Li.

After leaving the Yin-Yang School headquarters, the two headed west and arrived near the Jing River in about half a day.

Looking into the distance, a valley is hidden in the clouds and mist. The valley entrance is shrouded in water vapor, and the faint fragrance of bamboo and flowers drifts in with the wind. It looks quiet and elegant, like a fairyland.

"Xiaoxiang Valley is just ahead." Yanfei stopped and turned to Xu Qing to indicate, "This place is rich in earth energy, close to the Jing River, and has a dense water vapor. It is the place where Xiangjun and Xiangfuren cultivate in seclusion."

She paused, then added, "These two elders are quite special. They are descendants of the ancient Emperor Shun, and their positions are hereditary. Therefore, they have more freedom compared to the other elders."

When the word "freedom" was mentioned, Yan Fei's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer.

Does freedom truly exist within the Yin-Yang School?

Obviously not.

Xiangjun and Xiangfuren seem to be free, but this is relative. While enjoying this freedom, they must be ready to risk their lives if the higher-ups of the Yin-Yang School need them.

The two continued on their way and soon entered the valley entrance. Passing through the narrow entrance, Xu Qing looked up and gazed through the swirling water vapor, taking in the entire Xiaoxiang Valley.

The valley is filled with bamboo, but these bamboos are different from ordinary bamboos. They are covered with tear stains and are called Xiangfei bamboo. It is unknown whether they have been growing here for a long time or whether they were specially planted by Xiangjun and Xiangfuren.

After all, the story of Xiangfei bamboo is related to Emperor Shun and his two wives in history.

Many Xiangfei bamboos stand tall and lush, their green leaves swaying gently in the breeze. Various unnamed wildflowers dot the forest, vying for beauty and creating a vibrant scene.

As the two stepped into Xiaoxiang Valley, the soft soil beneath their feet and the fragrance of bamboo and flowers filled their nostrils. However, Xu Qing noticed a faint, almost imperceptible, stench of blood mixed in with the rich floral scent. Clearly, Xiaoxiang Valley was not as beautiful as it appeared.

Yan Fei also noticed something was wrong, and her expression tightened slightly.

As you go deeper into the forest, the Xiangfei bamboo becomes increasingly lush, and sunlight filters through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Xu Qing's gaze swept across the clearing in the woods and suddenly stopped in front of a hillside covered with wildflowers. The soil there was a little darker than the surrounding soil and it was loose, unlike what one would expect from a natural formation.

Without saying a word, Xu Qing raised his hand in the next instant.

Several wisps of energy flew from his hand and landed on the soil.

With a soft "boom," the surface soil was instantly ripped away, revealing layers upon layers of white bones before the two men's eyes. Some were incomplete, while others had long been eroded by moisture and turned bluish-black. They were densely packed and piled up like a mountain, a sight that made one's scalp tingle.

Yan Fei followed closely behind Xu Qing, her steps faltering slightly. Gazing at the layers upon layers of white bones, long since devoid of human form, beneath the soil that Xu Qing had swept aside with a wave of his sleeve, her expression grew solemn.

"It seems this place isn't exactly a benevolent one either!" Xu Qing said calmly.

Although it was just one sentence, it revealed some of his attitudes.

That is, he didn't like Xiangjun and Xiangfuren very much and was quite dissatisfied with them.

Indeed, Xu Qing had already killed Donghuang Taiyi and become the new leader of the Yin Yang School. Those two were not oblivious enough to take the initiative to pay homage to Xu Qing, but in the end, Xu Qing had to come here in person.

However, Dongjun still told Xu Qing about Xiangjun and Xiangfuren.

"Because of some things that happened to Lady Xiang back then, Xiangjun and Lady Xiang chose to live in seclusion here and cultivate themselves. Their personalities became more and more eccentric and violent. It is likely that these skeletons are mostly passersby who have strayed into the valley, or people who are an eyesore in their eyes."

"Interesting!" Xu Qing smiled faintly, his mind drifting to a "special chapter" whose title seemed to be "The Emperor's Son Descends".

"You said earlier that they were descendants of Emperor Shun?" Xu Qing changed his tone and spoke to Yan Fei. Before Yan Fei could answer, Xu Qing continued, "Emperor Shun was benevolent and his virtuous name has been passed down for thousands of years, but it seems that his descendants are nothing special."

Xu Qing did not take the matter of Xiangjun and Xiangfuren being descendants of Emperor Shun seriously.

That's quite an impressive statement.

But today, if people with names and surnames trace their ancestry, they can find some great figures and ancient sages.

What is Emperor Shun, after all?

Ultimately, this is nothing more than a sacredness forcibly bestowed upon the Yin-Yang School in order to demonstrate its long history.

Yan Fei did not refute Xu Qing's words.

Just then, she and Xu Qing both noticed something and glanced in a certain direction.

Aren't you coming out yet?

Yan Fei shouted coldly, and golden light seemed to burst forth from her eyes, like two divine swords.

In an instant, the bamboo forest fell silent, and the swaying bamboo branches all came to a standstill.

A tall and slender figure slowly emerged from the depths of the bamboo forest. His face was refined and melancholy, his eyes were deep, and he had a short mustache that gave him a sense of vicissitude. His black hair was tied up with a Chu-style tall crown decorated with dark gold incantation patterns, with the rest of his hair falling over his shoulders. He wore a wide-sleeved robe with dark black and dark purple as the main colors and dark gold trim. The robe was embroidered with intricate yin-yang incantations and cloud patterns, and an ancient jade pendant hung at his waist.

Compared to the other elders of the Yin-Yang family, this person appeared extremely noble.

However, his air of nobility and arrogance did not last long.

Upon seeing Yan Fei, he immediately bowed and scraped, clasping his hands and bending over in one smooth motion.

"Greetings, Lord Dongjun!"

Although Xiangjun's name is renowned, she is merely an elder in the Yin-Yang School.

Dongjun, on the other hand, is the sun god in mythology and the deputy head of the Yin-Yang School. He is truly second only to the emperor and above all others.

"Hmph! You're quite comfortable hiding here." Facing Xiangjun's bow, Yanfei didn't offer a pleasant expression. "Since you've shown up, come and pay your respects to the Sect Leader!"

Upon hearing this, Xiangjun instinctively raised her head and turned to look.

The sect leader? Where is the sect leader?

Could it be that His Majesty the Eastern Emperor is nearby?

Noticing Xiangjun looking around, Xu Qing immediately said calmly, "Stop looking, Donghuang Taiyi is already dead."

When these words reached Xiangjun's ears, her expression immediately changed slightly.

"Now, I am the leader of the Yin Yang School!"

"Xiangjun, why haven't you come forward to pay your respects?"

The seemingly innocuous words, when they reached Xiangjun's ears, sent chills down her spine as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

In terms of age, Xiangjun is older than Yueshen and Yanfei, after all, he looks like a middle-aged man. Therefore, he has experienced more in the Yin-Yang School. Not to mention that the positions of Xiangjun and Xiangfuren, the two elders, are quite special, as they are hereditary.

Therefore, he was even more aware of Donghuang Taiyi's strength and understood the opponent's tactics.

So what did he hear now?

Donghuang Taiyi is dead? The person before me is the new leader of the Yin-Yang School? Because Dongjun came here in person, Xiangjun had a slight suspicion, but it quickly disappeared.

This made him shudder with fear.

The reason is that he was completely unaware of such a major event that happened to the Yin-Yang School.

When did Donghuang Taiyi die? And when did he take his place?

Well, Xiangjun isn't familiar with Xu Qing.

He may have heard of Xu Qing, but because he usually spends most of his time in Xiaoxiang Valley guarding Lady Xiang, this is indeed the first time that Xiang Jun and Xu Qing have met.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the Yin-Yang School has a new leader, and he has to show his respect.

Xiang Jun was very pragmatic, which was a natural skill of those from the Yin-Yang School. He immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands to Xu Qing, and said, "Greetings, Master!"

Because it was not yet certain whether the new leader would also like to call himself "Donghuang Taiyi", Xiangjun did not address him as "Lord Donghuang".

Normally, after Xiang Jun expressed his stance, Xu Qing should have gladly accepted her loyalty.

However, at this moment, Xu Qing was like a middle-aged woman in a vegetable market, nitpicking over every little thing.

"If I remember correctly, I said 'kneel and leave' earlier!"

Xu Qing said calmly, his gaze falling on Xiang Jun.

"!!!"

Xiang Jun's body stiffened, and in an instant, an invisible mountain landed on his shoulder.

Even though he felt some resistance in his heart, and even though he had things he wanted to say, he ultimately didn't say them.

Pfft!

His legs went weak, and against his will, he knelt down directly before Xu Qing.

"Humph!"

Xu Qing glanced at Xiang Jun kneeling on the ground, then looked at Yan Fei, "Although I don't like Xiang Jun's attitude, he is not the person I hate the most today."

Few people come to Xiaoxiang Valley. At this moment, there are three people here. Xu Qing certainly cannot hate himself, and the person he hates the most is not Xiang Jun. So who else could it be?

Dongjun Yanfei?

That's certainly impossible.

In Xiaoxiang Valley, there are three people, but not all of them.

There is a fourth person in the valley.

Yan Fei immediately understood who Xu Qing was referring to.

Xiangjun was another one who realized the same thing.

Who else could be the fourth person besides Lady Xiang?

In an instant, many memories of the past flashed through his mind.

In the past, the role of Lady Xiang, like that of Shao Siming, was actually played by two people. They were twin sisters, one named Ehuang and the other named Nüying. Naturally, Lady Xiang also had a name, Shunjun. These names all come from ancient classical stories.

Shunjun had a close relationship with Ehuang and Nüying, and they often practiced together. Their earth magic and water magic could form a unique combination. However, when the three of them practiced together, it was easy for jealousy and rivalry to arise.

During a jealous argument, the two sisters jumped into the icy river at the same time to test Xiangjun and see who the other would save.

Xiangjun ultimately only managed to save one person.

If that were all, it would be fine.

Unfortunately, the one who survived developed mental problems; she sometimes called herself Ehuang and sometimes Nüying.

His confused state of mind left Xiangjun completely disoriented, unable to distinguish who was alive, while he also felt guilty towards the dead.

For this reason, he secretly kept watch near the Xiaoxiang Valley where Lady Xiang lived in seclusion, but because of his guilt, he dared not approach her at all.