Chapter 136: Dangerous Nature

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When Elder Chang told Liu Jin he was to deliver a message, Liu Jin had not expected the Elder to shove a clump of Qi into his Aura for Elder Xue to retrieve. Considering Nine-Headed Snake God and Old Jiang saw no issue leaving things inside his soul, Liu Jin supposes this shouldn’t be surprising. Maybe it is common for high-level cultivators to hide stuff inside people.

It is still extremely rude.

“Is he an idiot?”

Unlike Liu Jin’s thoughts, Elder Xue’s angry words are not aimed at Elder Chang.

“I may have thought the reinstitution of the Internal Force was reckless, but I was still impressed by his daring! But this? Freeing Xun Huwen? What is that fool Dang thinking?”

Elder Xue’s Qi is dense around her body as she paces around her laboratory. Most likely, she is trying to prevent it from flaring up. Too much Qi in this room may interfere with the barriers around the many projects Elder Xue has lying around. Liu Jin can only be grateful for her self-control. The presence of an angry Emperor is not easy to bear, especially when standing so close to one. Already Elder Xue’s Qi has begun pushing out even the oxygen in the air despite her efforts.

“That idiotic fool! And Lord Feng Shang… There is no way something like this was done without Lord Feng Shang’s approval. Unless… Could he really have gone behind Lord Feng Shang’s back? That sort of gamble is far too big for a man like him, but…”

If nothing else, the sight of Elder Xue alternating between muttered theories and hissed insults is a novel one, though one Liu Jin wishes were happening under more auspicious circumstances.

Liu Jin also wishes he had more context. It is this last thought that compels him to open his mouth.

“If this disciple may be so bold as to interrupt Elder Xue’s musings.”

Elder Xue immediately turns her eyes to him, the movement so quick Liu Jin does not see it happen. Her stare is so intense Liu Jin’s words falter, but only for a little while.

“Who exactly is Xun Huwen?”

Elder Xue does not answer. Not right away. A breath goes by. The intensity of her presence diminishes as she forcibly quiets it down.

“I am not surprised you have not heard about him. After all, this is a tale from over three hundred years ago.”

Another breath goes by. The tension around Elder Xue has completely disappeared now.

“Xun Huwen was one of the more talented disciples the Eternal Flame Clan had seen in centuries. Diligent, driven, and hard-working. The Heavens gave him no end of blessings.” Elder Xue grimaces. “Xun Huwen was also cruel, petty, vengeful, and overly ambitious.”

“Oh.”

“Make no mistake,” Elder Xue adds. “Many of our disciples and some of our Elders can be described in similar ways. Despite his flaws, Xun Huwen’s potential was simply too great to ignore. Even though he killed many talented disciples as he rose through the ranks, there were still plans to select a suitable woman of Feng blood so that he may marry into the Feng Clan.”

Liu Jin’s eyebrows rise. From how Elder Xue describes him, Xun Huwen sounds like someone who could have become an Elder or a Branch Master. Had that marriage taken place, his progeny may have even gone on to marry into the main branch of the Feng Clan.

“What changed?”

Had Xun Huwen finally attacked someone whose importance was too great to overlook?

“Xun Huwen had… an unfortunate Dao.”

Liu Jin blinks.

Elder Xue smiles. “Were you expecting something more dramatic? Sorry to disappoint. Xun Huwen’s Dao revealed itself to be Destruction. By itself, that is not particularly damning, but Xu Huwen’s particular brand of Destruction was too uncontrollable.”

“This disciple must express some confusion, Elder Xue.” Liu Jin tilts his head to the side. “Is there more than one type of destruction?”

“There are several,” Elder Xue says, much to Liu Jin’s surprise. “The Eternal Flame Clan is a place of fire. Because of it, it is not uncommon for our disciples to reach the path of Destruction. However, not all Destruction is the same. Forty-seven different types of Destruction Dao have been recorded in the history of the Eternal Flame Clan. An additional one hundred and nineteen are purely theoretical in nature. It is an interesting field of study, but not something you should concern yourself with at your current stage of development.”

Elder Xue pauses, most likely for Liu Jin’s benefit. Indeed, the youth does his best to absorb Elder Xue’s words. His master had spoken of Dao to him more than once, but he had not mentioned there could be so much variation in what most would consider a singular path.

“In most cases, there is nothing wrong with reaching the Dao of Destruction. Lord Feng Gui, for example, walks the path of Destruction. Young Master Feng Zhi will likely reach the same answer eventually. As long as the disciple is properly guided, it is not a condition to be feared.”

Elder Xue’s face darkens.

“However, the same cannot be said of Xun Huwen. A Dao is the result of a cultivator’s journey, and it will go on to further shape a cultivator’s path to Eternity. Xun Huwen’s Dao is Destruction without motive or purpose. It cannot not be controlled or relied on.”

Elder Xue sighs.

“At his first offense, we levied the harshest punishment we could upon him and locked him away in the Punishment House. Some argued time in isolation would teach him patience and temper his Dao, but those people were either deluding themselves or offering empty platitudes.”

In other words, Xun Huwen’s punishment had never matched his crime. They had locked him away in the Punishment House using flimsy reasoning because they all considered him dangerous.

That is probably why it is now possible for Elder Dang to release him. From the beginning, Xun Huwen’s punishment was only upheld because all the Elders were all in agreement about how potentially dangerous he was.

Until now.

“Elder Xue, this disciple has one more question. Xun Huwen’s name… I know there is bound to be more than one person with the same family name but is he perhaps…”

“Xun Huwen is Elder Xun’s grandson as well as his only living relative,” Elder Xue says before Liu Jin can finish his question. “You intuit correctly. That is also the reason why he was not immediately disposed of and why freeing him is so risky.”

Oh.

That changes things.

That changes things quite a bit.

In order for Xun Huwen to be imprisoned, Elder Xun must have agreed to it.

However…

“We cannot place Xun Huwen back in the Punishment House without due cause. We cannot kill him because there is no telling what Elder Xun might do if his grandson is killed instead of jailed. He might even side with Lord Feng Shang to avenge him,” Elder Xue says, summing up their situation.

The author’s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“So we can only hope that this Xun Huwen attempts a truly terrible crime that he can be charged with this time?”

“There is no need to hope,” Elder Xue says, shaking her head. “Xun Huwen has surely been released to cause chaos and nothing else.”

The look on Elder Xue’s face is grim.

“The only question is where Elder Dang will try to aim him at.”

~~~

“Xun Huwen is in Heaven Realm. He is not a foe you can defeat at your current level. I have told you about him so that you may know not to engage him. Dealing with him is a matter that will be left to the strongest among our Core Disciples. That you have brought Elder Chang’s message to me and caused the Internal Force to reveal their hand is enough. For now, lay low and await further instructions.”

Despite Elder Xue’s words, Liu Jin cannot help but feel restless. It is a good thing the Medical Pavilion has so much work for him to occupy himself with. The disciples who have been hurt by the brawl in the Sparring Hall are all in need of treatment. That should help him focus his mind elsewhere.

Alas, that idea dies the moment he steps into the lobby.

A group of disciples from the Internal Force are already there and arguing loudly over something. Bu Jing is not among them. Liu Jin doesn’t know whether that is a good thing or not. It would have been troublesome if Bu Jing had come to challenge him so soon after their last bout. However, Bu Jing not being here could mean their fight taught him that defeating Liu Jin will not be as easy as he had assumed. A rather regrettable outcome.

Liu Jin would rather not face a properly prepared foe.

A problem for later.

“What are you waiting for?” The Internal Force disciple shouts. “Release them to us now!”

“What is the meaning of this?” Liu Jin asks as he makes his way in front of the members of the Internal Force. “This is the Medical Pavilion. We have several patients who require rest. I will not have you disturbing them.”

“We are here to pick up the disciples who were left the other day so that they may be taken to the Punishment House.”

“Those disciples are still in need of treatment,” Liu Jin replies, immediately deciding there is no way he is going to entrust his patients to the Internal Force, especially the patients who support Lord Feng Gui. “When they are healed, I will send them to the Punishment House with a proper escort.”

Liu Jin wonders if the men Lady Ling lent to him are still technically under his command or if the incident in the Sparring Hall caused her to rescind that privilege. Using those five as escorts would be perfect.