Free Web NovelChapter 840: Chapter 94: To Each Their Own
"Then we won’t disturb you any longer, Granny, please feel free to do as you wish."
The sect leader of the Five Immortal Sect, an old woman clad in a purple sea-cloud robe, showed no resistance and turned to leave immediately.
Elder Fan Qingqing also maintained a natural and respectful expression, "As Granny commands, we shall follow."
During the conversation, she glanced at Jiang Wang unintentionally, "You two esteemed guests, please continue your discussion at your leisure."
The senior members of the Five Immortal Sect quickly withdrew, and the vast Zheng Sheng Hall was left with only Jiang Wang and Granny Bizhu.
Having come to the Near Sea Archipelago, Jiang Wang had anticipated meeting Granny Bizhu. After all, the rescue of Zhu Bijing could hardly avoid involving her master.
Even his visit to the Five Immortal Sect was largely because he had heard that Granny Bizhu stood behind the sect.
But he had indeed not expected to meet her this soon.
What kind of person was Granny Bizhu?
From the occasional stories told by Zhu Bijing, this old woman seemed to have a strong personality, causing some fear in Zhu Bijing, but she was very kind to her disciples. As a de facto elder, her position in Diao Hai Building spoke for itself.
After Zhu Suyao was almost ruined, Granny Bizhu also fought for her chance to enter the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, which proved that Granny Bizhu was indeed good to her disciples.
And when Zhu Bijing returned to the island, she reported how Zhu Suyao had been sabotaged. Although Hu Shaomeng had already died, he was quickly expelled from the sect.
This showed Granny Bizhu’s protection of her disciples.
And, from Jiang Wang’s initial contact now...
Granny Bizhu was undoubtedly a formidable figure!
The moment she appeared, with just a few words, she firmly took control of the situation.
On one hand, in the main hall of the Five Immortal Sect, she sent the sect’s senior members away, displaying to Jiang Wang her strong control over the Five Immortal Sect.
If Jiang Wang genuinely represented someone from Qi Country with some designs on the Five Immortal Sect, he would have to reconsider carefully.
On the other hand, by choosing to meet Jiang Wang herself and excluding the sect’s high levels, she completely prevented the Five Immortal Sect from borrowing any false influence and playing all sides.
She could personally observe Jiang Wang’s purpose in visiting the Five Immortal Sect, without any interference.
Conversely, people like Fan Qingqing, who were completely unaware of what they would discuss outside the hall, would inevitably be cautious about what should and shouldn’t be said going forward. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Unless Jiang Wang or, in other words, the forces behind Jiang Wang, had already established a close and firm collaboration with the Five Immortal Sect. Besides that, any intentions formed during the initial contact should shatter.
Another thing Jiang Wang noticed was Granny Bizhu’s casual commands to the senior levels of the Five Immortal Sect... indicating that she was no longer merely a support to the sect, nor merely in a relationship of mutual benefit, but was beginning to control the sect, turning the Five Immortal Sect completely into her subordinate vassal.
Perhaps, this was the reason behind Fan Qingqing’s previously ambiguous attitude toward Jueming Island.
An elder and a youth, each with their own observations and considerations.
With politeness, Jiang Wang first greeted, "Granny, please have a seat."
"Where is the precedence for the host to sit before the guest?" Granny Bizhu said meaningfully, "You sit first."
She effectively behaved as if she owned the place.
Jiang Wang smiled, not bothering to explain to this old woman fearful of others taking her territory, and simply sat down in the original spot. Then he asked, "May I know, Granny, what is it that you wish to discuss with me?"
Granny Bizhu walked slowly and finally sat in the main seat, quietly listening to the sound of the tide for a while before she suddenly sighed, "I’m old now!"
Jiang Wang thought to himself, isn’t that obvious? The wrinkles on your face are deep enough to trap flies.
But he would never be so impolite as to say it aloud. At the same time, he was too lazy to offer insincere flattery.
Seeing that Jiang Wang remained silent, Granny Bizhu added, "Seeing a young and vibrant person like you inevitably reminds me of my own youth. But even back then, there were few young people like you."
"I’m merely youthful and impetuous," Jiang Wang asked, "Does Granny know me?"
"Qingyang Town’s Jiang Wang, how could I not know? Just hearing the name, I knew who it was," replied Granny Bizhu, sighing deeply, "After all... My disciple Biqiong often mentioned you to me."
It was she who first brought up Zhu Biqiong.
But Jiang Wang didn’t immediately engage in the conversation and instead said, "You had your youth, and I will have my old age. That’s the way it is with all people and all things under heaven. What are prodigies and talents but fleeting moments?"
He had thought that Granny Bizhu only knew of someone visiting from Qi Country either through her informants in the Five Immortal Sect or because Fan Qingqing had deliberately spread the news.
And Granny Bizhu’s purpose in coming to Zheng Sheng Hall must naturally be to protect her "legacy" and prevent outsiders from interfering with the Five Immortal Sect.
But now... why mention Zhu Biqiong? What was her intention?
Did she know his purpose for coming to the Near Sea Archipelago?
Jiang Wang needed time to think, and he did not wish to reveal his stance too early, so he pretended as if he had not heard Zhu Biqiong’s name.
Granny Bizhu sighed again, "It’s rare to see a young person with such clarity like you. It’s no wonder Biqiong always talks about you."
The old woman was always sighing heavily, seemingly mired in burdensome thoughts from which she couldn’t escape, and she mentioned Zhu Biqiong repeatedly.
Jiang Wang could no longer avoid the topic, "Actually, my visit to the Near Sea Archipelago is not only for official duties but also to see Fellow Daoist Zhu. How is she now?"
"How can she be?" The old woman’s tone was sad, her voice low, "She’s just waiting to die..."
She changed the subject, "Biqiong is fortunate to have met a friend like you in Qi Country. You also helped with the Hu Shaomeng matter. It’s just a pity..."
"Killing Hu Shaomeng was merely fulfilling a promise," Jiang Wang’s eyes narrowed slightly, "Only a pity?"
Granny Bizhu sighed deeply again, "Sect rules are hard to violate. Even though I hold some status as an elder by virtue of seniority, I can’t control major events like the sea sacrifice. I can only watch helplessly as Biqiong..."
At this point, she was somewhat choked up, "Her cultivation... I personally destroyed it. I truly am..."
Her voice was sorrowful, and her expression was mournful, almost bringing the onlookers to tears.
Especially in Zheng Sheng Hall, it was particularly moving.
Thinking about Zhu Biqiong’s plight, Jiang Wang inevitably felt a deep sorrow too.
But at that moment, he suddenly remembered something he hadn’t thought of before, something Chongxuan Sheng had missed because he didn’t know Zhu Biqiong well enough—Hai Zongming, as the influential elder of the Diao Hai Building, would have been secretive about his movements. So how could Zhu Biqiong, with her simple mind, have known about them?
Zhu Biqiong was certainly no fool, but neither was she particularly wise. She had been well protected by her sister, Zhu Suyao, and was thus naive and inexperienced.
How could such an innocent girl have been aware of Hai Zongming’s movements and managed to deceive such a formidable figure as Granny Bizhu?
He and Chongxuan Sheng knew that Zhu Biqiong’s cultivation had been destroyed and she was sent to the sea sacrifice because she violated sect rules, which indirectly led to the death of Hai Zongming, a sect elder.
Their focus had always been on how to influence the rules of Diao Hai Building, how to affect the sea sacrifice, and how to rescue Zhu Biqiong, yet they had overlooked the very beginning—why Zhu Biqiong could have delivered the news about Hai Zongming to him!
