Chapter 131: The Danqing Jade Scroll, The Retreat, and the Reason

"Who dares to question the presence of two Xian Tian Jing masters?"

The martial artists, already gasping under the crushing pressure of the two Xian Tian Jing auras, were stunned into silence. Then, from the grand gate of the Wei Family Residence, a figure stepped forward—calm, unhurried, as if walking through an empty courtyard.

It was a young man in plain cloth robes, ordinary in appearance, yet his presence was anything but. In his hands, he held a jade scroll, glowing faintly with a silvery-white light. That radiance enveloped him, shielding him completely from the oppressive might of the two Xian Tian Jing. He walked freely, unshaken, as if the overwhelming force were nothing.

The sight left the gathered martial artists speechless. Even Wang Cangyi and Wei Shanhai—both Xian Tian Jing-level masters—felt their eyes narrow slightly.

"Two elders," the cloth-robed youth said calmly, "Sheng Shan once issued a decree: Xian Tian Jing cultivators must not attack those below the Xian Tian level without cause, nor wage Xian Tian-level battles in densely populated cities. Are you truly willing to break that edict?"

Facing the piercing gazes of the two titans, the youth remained composed. His tone, however, grew sharper.

"Dan Shu Yu Juan," Wang Cangyi fixed his eyes on the scroll, voice low and tense. "You are from Tian Ji Lou?"

The young man bowed slightly. "Zhi Rui, of Tian Ji Lou, at your service."

Upon hearing the confirmation, Wang Cangyi’s heart gave a jolt. He studied the man intently, then slowly released the sword qi coiling in his palm. Though he could not be certain of the man’s true identity, the legend of the Dan Shu Yu Juan was well known. Only those from Tian Ji Lou could activate such a sacred artifact.

Wei Shanhai, too, sheathed his blade. But unlike Wang Cangyi, a subtle relief passed through him.

He knew—Tian Ji Lou had arrived. That meant this confrontation would not escalate today.

Wang Cangyi, perceptive as ever, sensed the faint shift in Wei Shanhai’s inner state. His suspicion solidified: the other man’s injuries were still fresh. His earlier display of strength had been nothing but bluff.

A dark cloud settled over Wang Cangyi’s face.

He turned to the youth. "I’ve heard Tian Ji Lou never meddles in the affairs of the world’s factions. Are you truly prepared to abandon your principles, Zhi Rui?"

"Tian Ji Lou’s stance has never changed, Elder Wang," Zhi Rui replied calmly. "We do not interfere in your dispute. But if you insist on fighting within the city, you must consider the consequences."

Wang Cangyi’s expression flickered—furious, hesitant, fearful. Without Zhi Rui here, he could have killed Wei Shanhai, seized the treasure, and vanished. Even if Sheng Shan later investigated, he could fabricate excuses and shift blame.

But now? With Zhi Rui present, he dared not move.

Rumors said the Dan Shu Yu Juan possessed a miraculous function: anything written upon it would instantly transmit to Tian Ji Lou’s headquarters. No matter how many people he slaughtered to silence them, the truth would still reach the outside world.

"Wei Shanhai!" Wang Cangyi glared, then suddenly barked at the Wei Family’s Ancestor. "Have the courage to face me outside the city!"

"Ha-ha-ha! Wang Cangyi, don’t rush!" Wei Shanhai laughed heartily. "I’ve traveled for days—tired. Let me rest a few days, then I’ll come personally to take your dog’s head!"

His tone was bold, unafraid. But the truth was clear: he wasn’t fighting. He was retreating.

"Ugh!" Wang Cangyi fumed. "Coward! You have no will to fight! You disgrace the name Xian Tian Jing!"

"Better than you, a sneak who only strikes from the shadows—like a thief in the night," Wei Shanhai shot back.

"You—!" Wang Cangyi’s chest heaved with rage. He knew full well: Wei Shanhai had decided to hide behind the city walls, playing the coward.

And Wang Cangyi couldn’t do a thing about it.

If he forced a battle, and anyone else was harmed, he would be held accountable by Sheng Shan. The consequences would be severe. He couldn’t afford to spend the rest of his life imprisoned under Sheng Shan’s watchful eye, trembling with fear.

After weighing the odds—knowing Wei Shanhai, even injured, was still beyond his reach—Wang Cangyi clenched his jaw.

"Old bastard!" he snarled, eyes blazing. "You wait. I won’t stop until I claim what’s mine. Stay hidden in this city forever—cower like a turtle. But the moment you step outside its walls… that will be your last day."

With a sharp crack of displaced air, he vanished atop the rooftops.

"Master!" The massive warrior and his companions gasped in shock.

"Get out—now!" Wei Shanhai’s voice dropped like thunder. A surge of aura erupted from him, and the warriors didn’t hesitate. They fled in panic, some even kicked by their comrades to speed their escape.

When the last of the Tian Cang Sect members had left, Wei Shanhai turned toward the eaves of a nearby roof.

"Come out, Master."

There was someone hiding up there?

The Wei family members stared, confused.

Then, a figure emerged from beneath the eaves, landing gracefully on the ground.

"Respected Elder Wei," the man said, bowing to Wei Shanhai. Then he turned to Zhi Rui. "Zhi Rui, you came just in time. I thought I’d never see another day."

The Wei family members were stunned. The county magistrate had been hiding there all along?

Even Zhi Rui blinked in surprise. The usually calm man looked genuinely taken aback.

Seeing his friend so nonchalant, Zhi Rui sighed. "You really need to stop this habit of watching trouble unfold. One day, I’ll get word of your death, and I won’t be surprised."

"Zhi Rui, now that’s harsh," the man chuckled. "A friend, and you wish me dead?"

As they bantered, Wei Shanhai landed beside them and bowed deeply to Zhi Rui.

"Thank you, Zhi Rui, for saving the life of my entire family."

Zhi Rui’s expression returned to its usual calm. "Do not misunderstand. I came not to save your family. I came to prevent anyone from breaking Sheng Shan’s decree."

"Regardless," Wei Shanhai said, "your presence today saved us. I shall never forget this debt."

Zhi Rui shook his head, then turned and walked away.

"Zhi Rui, wait!" the Dan Feng Yan man called after him. "Come on—let’s go drink together!"

Wei Shanhai watched the two disappear down the street, saying nothing.

"Ancestor!" Wei Xinghe rushed forward, hand on his chest, voice trembling with emotion. "That was dangerous! You were nearly struck by Wang Cangyi’s sword qi. Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," Wei Xinghe said, shaking his head. "Who could have guessed a Xian Tian Jing master would strike a mere descendant like me? Thank you, Ancestor, for arriving in time."

"Hmph. Wang Cangyi has always been treacherous. He never cared for honor."

"Ancestor," Wei Xinghe asked, "why didn’t you keep Zhi Rui here? He saved us. To let him go so easily… isn’t that ungrateful?"

Wei Shanhai shook his head. "It’s not that I wouldn’t have liked to keep him. But his identity is too delicate. He rarely interacts with other factions. Keeping him would only burden him."

Wei Xinghe opened his mouth to argue, but Wei Shanhai raised a hand.

"Come inside. Have someone clean up the courtyard."

Wei Xinghe fell silent, but once they were alone in the inner hall—just the Ancestor, the Grand Manager, and himself—he asked again:

"Ancestor, when did you return?"

"I’ve been back for several days. But I didn’t enter the city. I knew Wang Cangyi would be waiting for me."

"Who are these people? And what is Wang Cangyi’s grudge against you?"

For days, this question had haunted Wei Xinghe. Their family’s treasures were hidden, known to only a few. How had a mysterious sect learned of them?

"The attackers," Wei Shanhai said, "are from the Northern Frontier’s Tian Cang Sect. Wang Cangyi is their Second Elder."

"And the grudge?"

Wei Shanhai exhaled deeply.

"We were once friends."

"Friends?!" Wei Xinghe and Wei Da Zong Guan stared in disbelief.

"Over a hundred years ago," Wei Shanhai began, "I was a young man, full of fire and ambition. At just twenty, I had already reached the peak of physical cultivation—rare talent among the Wei family in centuries."

To seek a breakthrough into Nei Fu Jing and broaden my horizons, I set out on a journey across the land to meet the great heroes of the world.

It was then I met Wang Cangyi—of similar age, but from a major sect. He was powerful, well-versed, and far more experienced than I, a young man from a minor family.

We connected instantly. I was captivated by his presence. We even sworn brothers.

For years, we traveled together, facing dangers and witnessing wonders. But as time passed, I began to see his true nature.

He wasn’t as noble as he appeared. His heart was narrow. He held grudges over petty slights, and his vengeance was merciless. Anyone who offended him—no matter how small—was hunted to death. If not for me, he would have wiped out entire families for trivial insults.

Our ideals began to clash. We argued often. But still, I saw him as my brother—flawed, yes, but fundamentally good.

The final break came after we discovered a hidden cavern.

We uncovered a secret vault, a treasure beyond imagination.

When dividing the spoils, we argued.

Wang Cangyi claimed he had done most of the work and deserved ninety percent.

I believed we were brothers. I had risked my life inside, shielding him from deadly traps. I didn’t deserve only ten percent—but I wasn’t asking for half. Even one-tenth was fair.

He refused. He insisted we take turns—one item at a time.

I was furious. I had no way of knowing which item was the most valuable. Even if I picked first, I couldn’t guarantee the best. Yet he wouldn’t even allow me that small advantage.

I realized then: he wasn’t a man of honor. He was selfish, greedy, and utterly without principle.

So I took a few items at random, and after we left the cave, I cut the ties between us—cut our brotherhood like a severed sleeve.

"Looking back," Wei Shanhai said, "if my cultivation hadn’t advanced that day, if I hadn’t reached his level, he might have killed me on the spot."

Wei Xinghe and Wei Da Zong Guan listened in silence.

"Ancestor… so the treasure you received… was the one in our family vault?"

Wei Shanhai nodded. "The most precious of all we found."

"The most precious?"

"Yes. I didn’t even know it at the time. I picked it at random—and it turned out to be the greatest treasure."

"Even Wang Cangyi couldn’t have expected that. He’d planned everything… but never counted on luck."

A faint smirk crossed Wei Shanhai’s face.

"Perhaps he was furious. I can only imagine the look on his face."

Wei Xinghe and Wei Da Zong Guan exchanged glances. They could almost picture it—Wang Cangyi, seething with rage.

"So he came here for that treasure," Wei Xinghe said. "But why did he attack you, Ancestor?"

Wei Shanhai sighed. "That’s my fault. I was careless."

"After our split, we never met again. Recently, he wrote to me—old friend, let’s meet. I thought: a hundred years have passed. We were young and hot-headed. Why hold a grudge now?"

So I went.

But when we met, he pretended to reminisce about our youth. Once my guard was down, he struck—sudden, vicious. I barely escaped with my life."

"Ancestor… your current condition?"

"I’m still healing. At best, I can use only three out of ten of my strength."

Wei Xinghe and Wei Da Zong Guan gasped.

Before they could ask more, Wei Shanhai suddenly asked:

"By the way… why haven’t I seen Ningyan or Zian? Where are they?"

Xian Tian Jing senses were sharp. He had just realized—Li Ningyan and Wei Zian were nowhere to be found.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end