Free Web NovelChapter 21: Chapter 19: Junyang Chen Clan
The Junyang Six Islands were a collection of Blessed Spirit Islands, a separate estate established thousands of years ago by Master Chen, a patriarch of the Tai Su sect. They served to guard the central Land Continent of Tai Su.
For thousands of years, the Chen Family has branched out and spread, but the main lineage has always resided on the Junyang Six Islands. Generation after generation built upon this foundation, forging the prestigious name of the Junyang Chen Clan.
On the main island, a Daoist Child rushed through halls and chambers, passing three grand pavilions and four or five courtyards to arrive before a lake of shimmering green water. By the shore stood a small pavilion, from which a covered bridge extended out to a floating pavilion in the heart of the lake. On the top floor of the pavilion, a young Daoist stood by the railing, gazing blankly at the lake’s surface, lost in thought.
The Daoist Child hurried into the small pavilion. Before he could step onto the covered bridge, two Daoists blocked his path, stating expressionlessly, "The Patriarch has given orders. He is not to be disturbed without urgent business." freёwebnovel.com
"It is urgent! A matter of utmost urgency!" the Daoist Child exclaimed, nearly jumping with anxiety. The Daoist blocking him remained motionless, stating indifferently, "Whether it is urgent or not is not for you to decide."
"You!" The Daoist Child said in exasperation. "An urgent message came from the sect! Master Chen Yuanji of the sixth branch has been captured! A True Disciple, Xuzhuang, forced his way into the Danxia Institute and took him!"
"What?" The two Daoists’ expressions changed. One of them said quickly, "Wait here. I will go and report this immediately."
"There’s no need." A cool, clear voice suddenly spoke. The young Daoist from the floating pavilion abruptly appeared before the three of them. He addressed the Daoist Child, "Tell me everything in detail."
"Young Master!" The three of them hurriedly bowed. The Daoist Child didn’t dare to delay and quickly recounted everything he knew, then took out the message Token he had received and handed it to the young man. The young man listened quietly to the Daoist Child’s report, accepted the Token, and said faintly, "I understand the situation now. I will go in and inform the Patriarch. You’ve done well in this matter."
He then turned to the two Daoists and said, "The Patriarch is currently with a guest and should not be disturbed. Continue with your watch."
The three replied respectfully, "Yes!" When they looked up again, the young Daoist was already back on the floating pavilion.
The young Daoist returned to the floating pavilion and glanced at the Token again. A passage on it detailed how the newly promoted True Disciple had stormed the Danxia Institute and captured Chen Yuanji in front of the Danxia Institute’s elders. Only then did his perpetually cool and detached expression reveal a hint of complexity. ’Xuzhuang...’
The young man stood by the railing for another moment, his cool expression returning. Only then did he stride into the floating pavilion. As he walked down the corridor, he heard voices from the inner room and immediately felt a headache coming on.
He heard a woman’s voice say, "Big Brother! Ever since your little sister married out, not a moment has gone by that I haven’t missed home and thought of you. And look at you! I’ve been home for so long, but you make all sorts of excuses to avoid seeing me. Do you truly see your married sister as spilled water, never to be reclaimed? Have you grown so tired of me that you can’t even stand to hear me call you ’Big Brother’ anymore?" Her words were steeped in sorrow and resentment, brimming with melancholy.
The young man hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he lifted the beaded curtain and entered the inner room. freewёbnoνel.com
At a glance, he saw a middle-aged Daoist sitting in the seat of honor. He had black hair and a black beard, with regular, well-defined features. A cup of clear tea sat on the small table beside him. He expressionlessly picked it up and took a sip.
Across from him sat a beautiful woman in the prime of her life. Her cloud-like hair was adorned with floral hairpins and golden branches. Her face was lovely, with willow-leaf brows and a touch of rouge on her cheeks. The corners of her eyes were slightly red, a single teardrop still clinging to her lashes. Hearing the sound, she looked over. Upon seeing the young man enter, a faint, forced smile appeared on her face as she called out softly, "Shifeng, you’re here." She looked utterly pitiable and lovely.
The Daoist in the seat of honor was the current Patriarch of the Chen Family, Chen Zongzheng. The beautiful woman was his biological younger sister, a former daughter of the Chen main lineage, Chen Lian.
Chen Shifeng maintained his cool and detached demeanor. He gave a simple bow and said, "Aunt." Then he walked quickly to the middle-aged Daoist’s side, bowed, and said, "Uncle."
He glanced sideways at the beautiful woman, hesitated for a moment, then took the Token from his sleeve and said, "An urgent message from the sect."
Seeing Chen Shifeng’s demeanor, Chen Zongzheng glanced over. He took the Token and scanned it, his gaze instantly hardening. He slammed the Token onto the table and snorted coldly, "Fool."
Chen Lian seemed somewhat surprised by the sound. Her pitiful expression subsided a little as she asked with concern, "Big Brother, has something happened in the clan?"
"See for yourself." He gave Chen Lian an indifferent glance, then flicked his finger, sending the Token into her hands.
Chen Lian took the Token and read it carefully. A glaring name immediately leaped into her vision, and a flash of hatred crossed her eyes.
"Xuzhuang!"
Chen Lian gritted her teeth. "Big Brother! You see? That scoundrel humiliated Yuanji so brazenly! He has absolutely no regard for the Chen Family!"
"See what? I see that he did something foolish, got himself caught, and damaged the family’s reputation. That’s what I see," Chen Zongzheng said. "In fact, I should be asking you: were you the one who instigated Yuanji’s actions?"
Chen Lian said aggrievedly, "Big Brother, what do you mean by that? Your sister has been married out for many years. What say do I have in the clan? Who could I possibly order around? Perhaps Yuanji couldn’t stand the sight of that scoundrel and acted out to right the wrongs done to me. Big Brother, you are the Patriarch of the Chen Family now. How can you side with an outsider? You should be sending people to rescue Yuanji immediately!"
"It had better be so," Chen Zongzheng said. "Yuanji broke the sect’s rules. Even if the sect doesn’t punish him, I will. As for him being captured by Xuzhuang, the Law Enforcement Hall will naturally handle it."
Chen Lian fell silent for a long time upon hearing this, her expression growing cold. After a while, she said, "Now I understand. The reason you’ve been avoiding me is because you’re afraid I would ask you to avenge my Lian’Er, isn’t it?"
"Fourteen years ago, my Hua’Er was killed by Yue Junlan. I begged you for help, Big Brother, but you refused me, saying it was inconvenient to create conflict with the Yue Family. I swallowed my anger then. Fourteen years later, my Lian’Er was killed by Xuzhuang. That scoundrel is just a newly promoted True Disciple! He wasn’t born into a powerful family, nor is he the disciple of a Zhenren in the sect. Are you really that afraid of trouble, Big Brother?"
