Chapter 68 – Internal Rot (III)

Chapter 68

Internal Rot (III)

Long Tao’s words… shook me.

And no matter how desperately I tried denying them… they were like a cockroach, surviving whatever damn hell I threw at them. Honestly, I did occasionally think about leaving this place, but only because I thought about exploring the world a bit. I figured it would happen naturally as the entire sect grew stronger and eventually ‘migrated’ to a ‘higher realm’.

But…

The rot was undeniable.

It wasn’t just Elder Zhang, after all; there was still Spirit Sage and Light, and even if they had no inherent desire for the sect’s destruction and were mostly using it as a hiding place, it spoke volumes of the sect’s inner instability.

Having some low-level disciples as spies? Perfectly normal.

One of the most Senior Elders and the Sect Master himself? An imminent sign of a collapsing system.

Perhaps, on some level, I’ve always known, which is why I never thought about it too deeply. Well, always is a strong word–it wasn’t until Light showed up here that I began… doubting.

But Spirit Sage has shown no reason for me to doubt him–while he was harboring a Demonic Inheritor, nowhere in my memories can I find any act of his that went against the Sect.

“Ugh,” I grunted. I’d rather he never said anything, to be honest; now that it was out in the open, it was like a sign from him. No, not a sign–a prediction.

Long Tao was leaving this place. When or how are still indeterminate, but it wouldn’t be too long; otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought it up. And, judging from his words, he wanted me to come with, too.

And if I went, Dai Xiu would go too… as would Hua, who would follow her. Xi Zhao was also likely to follow me, if his incessant proclamations of loyalty were anything to go by.

That left Light.

I don’t know whether she’d come… or even if I want her to come. Travelling the world alongside a Demonic Inheritor? Wasn’t that the most obvious planted flag for inviting countless troubles?

Haah.

I brewed myself a cup of tea, incapable of escaping the thoughts. Just as the water began to boil, a guest that had been missing for a few days arrived–Elder Qin.

Truth be told, I had little love for the sect itself; I had no attachments to it or most of anyone inside of it… save for this aged man greeting me with a smile.

Even Spirit Sage seemed, at best, wholly indifferent to me, while the rest of the Elders hated my guts. Everyone except for him. If I left, I’d be leaving him to a certain death. And if I asked him to leave with me? Hah. As if.

He’d already given me the green light, too, to leave should such a day ever come. To take the kids and disappear.

“What’s got you looking so sour?” he asked as he started setting up the chessboard.

“… nothing,” I couldn’t bring it up, the idea of him leaving. “You haven’t visited for a few days.”

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“Ah, yes, I’ve been a bit busy. I hope you didn’t let Xi Zhao slack.”

“Let?” I chuckled. “All kids here seem bedeviled with hard work, truth be told. They make me feel guilty for not cultivating day and night myself.”

“Your turn to play first,” he said, spinning the board. “Have you ever considered it?”

“Considered what?” I asked, pushing the pawn forward.

“Cultivating more seriously.”

“Me and what talent?”

“… heavens aren’t unfair, Elder Lu,” he replied, pushing the pawn as well. He’d learned a lot from me and stopped playing those insane corner-pawn openings, at least. “They reward those who work hard.”

“… if they weren’t unfair,” I said. “There wouldn’t be those who needed to work hard, Elder Qin. Or those would be the only ones around.”