Chapter 158: Turning the Hands to Bring Rain, Flipping the Hands to Bring Clouds

I am quite confident about cooperating with Brother Zhao, said Ye Xin.

I will take good care of Wen Rong, but there is no way I can guard against Tie Guantian. If he is determined to use Wen Rong to strike at you, I can only endure it, because he holds my weakness in his hands... no, our weakness, Zhao Xiaobao slowly said. Sooner or later, he will ruin our plans! I have been thinking about it for a long time just now. His hatred for you is too deep, and it should be impossible to change him. Since that is the case... it is better to act decisively!

Indeed. If he does not die, I will not only have to worry about Wen Rong, but also about Tie Renhao, Ye Xin said. Only when he dies will Tie Renhao become a sensible child.

Precisely, precisely... If Tie Renhao is disobedient, you will have trouble, and your trouble is very likely to become my trouble, Zhao Xiaobao smiled. However, this time we must first return to the sect. After all, this is a family matter of the Tie clan, and the Sect Master might question him. I can only spare his life for now. In a few days, I will bring him out to collect the tribute stones, and then resolve him along the way. Grand Commandant Ye, I leave him to you; you need not worry about him.

Thank you for your trouble, Brother Zhao, Ye Xin said.

This is only what I should do. Zhao Xiaobao paused. Are you planning to send troops against the Dayu State next year? Are you really confident?

I am, Ye Xin said. I am only worried about... Rosy Clouds Mountain...

Could it be that you also intend to occupy the Seven-Colored Spirit Lake of the Dayu State? Zhao Xiaobao was moved.

I do indeed have this thought, Brother Zhao. Am I being too greedy? Ye Xin asked.

Everyone has greed, and greed in itself is nothing much, Zhao Xiaobao said. If you grab and leave, the people of Rosy Clouds Mountain will not show themselves. We also have our own rules among sects. But if... you want to occupy the Seven-Colored Spirit Lake, the outer sect disciples of Rosy Clouds Mountain will descend the mountain and return to the mortal world to fight for the Dayu State. Of course, the inner sect disciples still cannot interfere; otherwise, my Azure Abyss Sect is not to be trifled with either, and we will definitely step forward to back you up!

Brother Zhao, similar things must have happened in the past, right? How did the higher sect handle them? Ye Xin asked.

The disappearance of every principality represents the fall of a sect, Zhao Xiaobao showed a nostalgic expression. Disputes in the mortal world will sooner or later evolve into a great war between sects.

Then, between the Azure Abyss Sect and Rosy Clouds Mountain, which is stronger and which is weaker? Ye Xin asked again. Brother Zhao, you must tell the truth. This will influence my decision.

They cannot defeat us; otherwise, I would have already made the decision for you just now, Zhao Xiaobao said. I can only say this much. How you choose is entirely up to you.

Ye Xin understood. The strength of the Azure Abyss Sect was indeed greater than that of Rosy Clouds Mountain, but Zhao Xiaobao did not dare to shoulder such a heavy karmic consequence, which was why he let Ye Xin make the decision.

Brother Zhao, if I keep plundering again and again for a few years, will it affect Rosy Clouds Mountain? Ye Xin asked.

Of course it will, and the impact will be huge, Zhao Xiaobao narrowed his eyes. When Pan Yuanshan's Blood Mountain Legion attacked Nine Tripods City, the outer sect disciples of my Azure Abyss Sect had already made preparations. As long as Pan Yuanshan dared to linger any longer, they would have descended the mountain. Fortunately, that brat was still somewhat alert. He fled far away after snatching the sub-tripod, never entertaining the ambition to covet Nine Tripods City; otherwise, he would never have been able to leave.

I see. Then I am in no hurry, Ye Xin said. Anyway, I never intended to achieve success in a single battle. Haste makes waste. Over these next few years, I will repeatedly wear down the strength of the Dayu State, and then consult Brother Zhao's opinion before making a decision. That won't be too late.

That is the logic, Zhao Xiaobao smiled. Ye Xin, now I can finally be certain that within the Nine States, no one else can overshadow your brilliance! Hahaha...

Brother Zhao flatters me too much, Ye Xin sighed.

I will take them back to the sect first, and come again in a month, Zhao Xiaobao looked at the messy ground and smiled again. You don't need to see me off. Go ahead and tidy this place up first. Alas... your temper is quite fierce, kid.

Ye Xin showed a wry smile, then made a gesture to escort him out. Zhao Xiaobao waved his hand, floated gracefully toward the hall door, and stepped outside.

Only Ye Xin remained in the grand hall of the Grand Commandant's Mansion. He lowered his head to look at the documents scattered all over the floor and remained silent for a long time.

By driving Tie Xinsheng to his death, the Azure Abyss Sect was bound to send people to question him. This would be Ye Xin's greatest crisis, yet relying on his eloquent tongue, his peerless communication and interpersonal skills, and his insight and understanding of human nature, he had turned danger into safety without spilling a drop of blood. This could truly be considered a miracle.

Yet, Ye Xin did not pride himself on his ability, nor did he rejoice in having escaped disaster.

In fact, Ye Xin had anticipated today's outcome long ago; otherwise, he would not have harbored such deep guilt toward Wen Rong.

To see through things is the pinnacle of human wisdom, while to change them belongs to the realm of gods.

Ye Xin could see through the deduction of logic, yet he could not make reality completely conform to his own will. This was his sorrow.

His power was still far from enough!

At that moment, Xue Baiqi strode in from outside, his voice visibly trembling. My lord, were those people cultivators from the Azure Abyss Sect? How did it go?

It's settled, Ye Xin let out a long breath, a deep sense of exhaustion showing in his brows. The negotiation just now was by no means inferior to a life-and-death battle on the battlefield. The anger, the madness, the sorrow, the hesitation, the determination—he had played his part with his very life, and everything had been performed flawlessly. Only now did he realize how extremely drained his spirit had become.

Settled... it's settled?! Xue Baiqi widened his eyes, almost unable to believe his ears.

They had known all along that Ye Xin was determined to rebel, and they understood that once the deed was done, the Azure Abyss Sect would not let the matter rest. The reason they followed him without hesitation was simply because they were not afraid to die.

According to normal circumstances, they should have long since died amidst the chaotic armies. Every day they lived now was a stolen bonus. Since Ye Xin had given them a new lease on life, returning their lives to Ye Xin now was nothing.

Anyway, they had lived—lived brilliantly, doing many things others wouldn't even dare to dream of. What did it matter if they died?

Ye Xin had said he had a way to deal with the Azure Abyss Sect, and these young wolf cavalrymen had chosen to trust him out of habit. Deep down in their hearts, however, they hadn't truly believed it. Yet no one had ever brought it up, let alone opposed it. Most importantly, in doing something so monumental, Ye Xin had not mobilized the veteran garrison. Therefore, they guessed that Ye Xin wasn't certain either, and that keeping the veteran garrison out of it was meant to leave a root for the Heaven-Guilt Camp.

To fall in battle alongside their commanding general could be considered a fitting finale to their martial careers; none of them were afraid.

Today, when Xue Baiqi heard the word 'Exalted Master' spoken by Ye Xin, he knew his time had come to an end. Yet he had maintained his composure, offering a seat and serving tea before passing the word along, quietly waiting outside. In the end, after a long, agonizing wait, the cultivators of the Azure Abyss Sect had simply walked away without a fight breaking out!

And now he was hearing this answer. Xue Baiqi's mind simply refused to turn. This was a completely impossible thing. How on earth had Ye Xin managed it?!

Go and tell them, lest they worry, Ye Xin smiled.

The elite members of the Heaven-Guilt Camp had all gathered in the Grand Commandant's Mansion, and even Mo Yan, who was responsible for guarding the mother tripod, had arrived. Today was to be the final battle of their lives; they had no reason to retreat.

It's settled! Xue Baiqi strode in, his face brimming with excitement. As calm and steady as he usually was, he lost his composure at this moment. The Azure Abyss Sect cultivators have already left.

Settled? Xie En, who was practicing with his sword, abruptly halted his movements. He used to be very lazy, but at the very end of his life, he wanted to move around, because soon he wouldn't be able to move at all.

Settled? Hao Fei, who was stroking a little clay figurine with his fingertips, abruptly raised his head. Those little clay figurines had all been crafted by his own hands and painted by him too, meant to commemorate his brothers and sisters. At this very moment, he had been reminiscing about past happy times while preparing to leave alongside his brothers and sisters, leaving forever.

Settled? Fu Shang, who was leaning on a heavy copper staff in deep thought, paused, then burst out laughing. He dropped the copper staff, raised his hand, and punched Ziche Hui right in the jaw, needing to vent his excitement.

Settled? Mo Yan, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, opened them, a warm smile actually blooming on his rigid face.

Settled? Yang Xuantong let out a long breath, his body slumping almost entirely into the chair. He didn't want to die; he still wanted to continue researching his talismanic Dao.

Settled? Lin Tong gripped Zhou Suying's hand tightly. He knew that his happy life was not over yet, while Zhou Suying's eyes appeared slightly moist.

Settled? Yue Hu let out an eerie, sinister laugh, twirling the bone-chopping knife in his hand before speaking slowly: From now on... even if the lord says he can pierce a hole in the sky, I will believe him. Whoever dares not believe it, come ask my blade first!

Settled? Ziche Hui, knocked flat onto the ground, hadn't even realized he'd taken a punch. In the past, he would have leaped up and tangled with Fu Shang into a brawl, but right now he just looked thoroughly dazed.

No one was willing to face the end. If they had faced death unflinchingly, it was because they all owed it to Ye Xin. Ye Xin had done so much for the Heaven-Guilt Camp; how could they let him walk the path to the netherworld all alone? No! Even if it meant death, they would stay by Ye Xin's side!

Never had anyone imagined that Ye Xin would work another miracle! They had already been staring death in the face, yet Ye Xin had forcefully hauled them back!

However, they were all veteran warriors accustomed to life and death. Though their emotions were stirred to the absolute limit, they quickly recovered.

Oh... right, Ziche Hui, the money you owe me, you should pay me back now, right? Fu Shang suddenly remembered something.

Didn't you say yesterday that you didn't want it anymore? Ziche Hui widened his eyes.

Yesterday was yesterday, today is today. Can't I go back on my word? Fu Shang said.

You fucking... Ziche Hui was filled with righteous indignation, but knowing he was in the wrong, he blinked. Did you hit me just now?

No, Fu Shang flatly denied.

Then why am I sitting on the ground? Ziche Hui yelled.

You sat down yourself, who are you going to blame? Fu Shang retorted, his tone even more righteous than Ziche Hui's.

But... my shoulder hurts a bit... Ziche Hui racked his brains to recall, but the news from just moments ago had shocked him into a sort of temporary amnesia, and he couldn't remember what had happened no matter how hard he tried. (To be continued.)