Free Web NovelChapter 22: Chapter 19: Junyang Chen Clan (2)
Chen Zongzheng lifted his cup of clear tea and took a delicate sip before setting it back on the table. Only after this deliberate sequence of movements did he speak, his voice faint. "The Chen Family belongs to the Tai Su Sect."
"Hah, a fine ’Tai Su Sect’s Chen Family’ indeed," Chen Lian sneered. "It seems that since I, Chen Lian, married out of the family, and my children are not disciples of the Tai Su Sect, we are naturally not considered members of the Chen Family. My Lian’Er, my Hua’Er, and I—we are the real outsiders in your heart, Brother."
"Lian’Er, you were born a daughter of the Chen Family. You are my, Chen Zongzheng’s, younger sister. You are naturally a member of our family and will never be an outsider."
This was the first time Chen Zongzheng had addressed Chen Lian by her name directly, yet the seemingly warm words were spoken with a tone as cold as frost. "Yang Lian and Yang Hua, since coming of age, have they ever once returned to the family with you? They have no contact with our Chen Family members. When they travel, they cause trouble for Tai Su Disciples at every turn, never holding back when fighting and killing the disciples of the Tai Su Sect..."
"Have your precious sons ever considered themselves even half a Tai Su Disciple? Have they ever thought of themselves as kinsmen of the Chen Family?"
"Enough." Chen Lian closed her eyes, two streams of tears uncontrollably spilling forth. "Ever since I married Yang Huai Venerable, how many benefits have I secured for Tai Su and for the Chen Family? Within the Celestial Fire Sect, how many people call him the Chen Family’s ’fine son-in-law’ and the Tai Su Sect’s running dog? Lian’Er, Hua’Er, how much bullying and condescension have they endured? Even he and his father are at constant odds because of it! They are just being rebellious in their youth, Chen Zongzheng! How can you say such cold-hearted words?"
The words were spoken in a level tone, yet they were laden with such emotion that even Chen Shifeng’s cool expression shifted slightly. Chen Zongzheng, however, remained silent.
Seeing Chen Zongzheng’s lack of response, Chen Lian’s heart turned to ash. She gave a desolate laugh, said no more, and, disregarding all etiquette, rose to her feet and left.
Chen Zongzheng did not spare her a single glance, not even as her figure disappeared from the hall. He simply picked up his tea and sipped it faintly. The room fell into a heavy silence that lasted for a long time. ƒrēewebnovel.com
"Uncle, is this really for the best?" Chen Shifeng suddenly asked.
When Chen Zongzheng did not reply, Chen Shifeng hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "What Aunt said is not without reason. Otherwise, Chen Yuanji would not have rashly spoken up on her behalf. Handling it this way... won’t it chill the hearts of our clansmen?"
"What reason?" Chen Zongzheng didn’t even lift his eyelids. "Our clansmen only see the countless benefits Yang Huai Venerable has secured for Tai Su, most of which have fallen into the pockets of our Chen Family. As for Yang Lian and Yang Hua, no matter how rebellious they are, no matter how much trouble they cause for the Tai Su Disciples, they would never directly confront our own Chen Family members. So what does it have to do with us? Is that it?"
"Is that what you think as well?"
Before his most outstanding nephew of the next generation could think, Chen Zongzheng continued, "So what if Yang Huai Venerable secured countless benefits? They still ended up in the Chen Family’s pockets. Meanwhile, the sons of a Chen Family daughter, of this ’fine son-in-law’—True Disciples of the Celestial Fire Sect—are out there causing trouble for Tai Su at every turn, fighting and killing countless Tai Su Disciples. How do outsiders see this? How do the other families see this? How does the sect see this?"
"Your Chen Family... is it the Chen Family of Tai Su, or the Chen Family of Celestial Fire?"
"This!" Chen Shifeng staggered back a step in shock. ’The Chen Family of Tai Su, or the Chen Family of Celestial Fire?’ Chen Zongzheng’s words were like the tolling of a great bell, deafening and resonant, echoing endlessly in his mind. In an instant, he felt the back of his robe become soaked with cold sweat.
Chen Shifeng forced the words out. "I was foolish. My thinking was short-sighted."
Chen Zongzheng did not reply, and the atmosphere grew cold and silent once more.
After a long while, Chen Shifeng spoke again. "But... isn’t this a bit unfair to Aunt?"
Chen Zongzheng was surprised, but also felt a mix of relief and perhaps pity. He sighed. "Shifeng, I never thought that despite your usual cold demeanor, you could still think of others at a time like this."
"But no matter what, the Chen Family cannot express any dissatisfaction over this matter, let alone move against a True Disciple of the sect. Do you understand? Later, remember to send a message to the sect and order Zong He not to do anything foolish."
Chen Zonghe was a Nascent Soul Venerable of the Chen Family who held the position of Vice Director in the sect’s Law Enforcement Hall.
After giving these instructions, Chen Zongzheng waved his hand. "I am weary today. You may leave."
"Yes." Chen Shifeng knew this was the most correct decision. He said no more, bowed respectfully, and prepared to depart.
But suddenly, Chen Zongzheng called out again, "Wait."
Chen Shifeng stopped and looked back in confusion. He saw Chen Zongzheng holding his teacup, motionless, seemingly lost in thought. After a long moment, he let out a long breath and said, "There is one more thing. Go and handle it at once."
"Go pay a visit to Zong Yu. When you see him, regardless of whether Lian’Er is there or not, you are to warn him that it would be best not to get involved in this matter."
"Youngest Uncle?" ’Best not to’? freēwēbnovel.com
Confusion flashed through Chen Shifeng’s mind. This Youngest Uncle was the youngest of his father’s generation. Although he was an elder, he was born much later than his older brothers and sister, making him a mere hundred-some years old.
As far as Chen Shifeng knew, when this Youngest Uncle was a child, aside from the servants, he was mostly cared for by Chen Lian. The two were very close, so he certainly had reason to help his aunt regardless of the consequences. But...
Chen Shifeng couldn’t help but ask, "Although Youngest Uncle was also... a former True Disciple, his cultivation has been crippled. Even if he wanted to stand up for Aunt, he would be willing but powerless, wouldn’t he?"
"Oh?" Chen Zongzheng glanced at him, his voice grave. "Do you look down on Zong Yu?"
Although Chen Shifeng did not answer, Chen Zongzheng read everything from his expression and couldn’t help but shake his head. "Even if his cultivation is crippled, Zong Yu once formed a Top-grade Golden Core and was ranked among the Tai Su True Inheritance."
"And you? It has been over twenty years since you perfected your Dharma practice. Back then, before Xuzhuang left to travel, his cultivation, Spells, and fame were far inferior to yours. And now? When will you touch upon the Golden Core Dao? When will you rank among the True Disciples? When will you be able to truly support the next generation of the Chen Family, Shifeng? What reason, what right do you have to look down on Zong Yu?"
"What does a Top-grade Golden Core matter? Wasn’t his Golden Core shattered and his cultivation crippled by that Zhong Shenxiu of the Upper Profound Bell, before he had even formed a Golden Core himself?" Chen Shifeng said coldly. "Given time, I will certainly form a Top-grade Golden Core as well. Whether it’s Xuzhuang or Zhong Shenxiu, I will eventually test my strength against them."
"What of a Top-grade Golden Core? A Top-grade Golden Core represents that in terms of talent, temperament, wisdom, and fortuitous encounters... in every aspect, they are above you. This is true for Xuzhuang, and it was true for Zong Yu. The Golden Core Dao is so simple, so why was it Xuzhuang who formed a Top-grade Golden Core, and not you? If you cannot correct your mentality, you can forget about ever forming a Top-grade Golden Core."
Chen Zongzheng said coldly, "As for Zhong Shenxiu... that child is the embodiment of the world’s spiritual essence, born of the profound sect’s destiny—a natural-born Daoist. Even a Primordial Spirit True Man would see him as a future peer. To cross swords with him..." His words trailed off, but a soft scoff made his opinion perfectly clear.
"Go." Chen Zongzheng couldn’t be bothered to say more. With a flick of his sleeve, he vanished, leaving behind only the cup of clear tea on the table.
"..." Chen Shifeng’s habitually cold expression did not change, but within his sleeve, his fist was clenched tight. He stood silently for a moment before bowing to the empty air and striding out of the room. The sky was no longer bright; a sliver of the setting sun hung over the sea, painting the horizon in a blaze of crimson.
"Top-grade Golden Core..." Chen Shifeng gazed at the distant sunset, his fist clenching ever tighter inside his sleeve. After a long moment, he relaxed his hand. Drop by drop, crimson blood flowed from his palm, down his fingers, and dripped onto the deck of the ship.
At the same time, atop the ship’s main building, Chen Zongzheng was also gazing into the distance. He picked up his tea, then set it down again. Shaking his head, he reached out and summoned a wine jug. Without need for a cup, he lifted it and poured the contents directly into his mouth, a clear stream of liquid gushing from its spout.
He drank as day turned to night, not setting down the wine jug until deep into the night. Then, suddenly, he let out a long, loud laugh.
He suddenly thought: ’Which of the words I spoke today were what I truly wanted to say? And which of my actions were what I truly wanted to do?’
’When I first began my path of cultivation, I was also very pure. My heart held only the Great Dao, Spells, and Divine Techniques. As I grew older, I gradually came to understand the sect, master and disciple, family, and brotherhood. And later still, marriage alliances, elixirs, Magical Artifacts, resources, Spiritual Ores...’
’Unconsciously, more and more things came to occupy my mind.’
’Master, oh Master, you warned me to constantly wipe away the dust from my heart for any hope of reaching the Primordial Spirit Dao. Why did you fail to do so yourself?’
’Now I have been trapped in this cage for so long, sinking deeper and deeper. Can I still break free and single-mindedly seek the Dao?’
"The Primordial Spirit..."
