Chapter 112: Dragged to Death
Lan Chang'an wasn't seeking Huang Tankong for a fight.
He only wanted to ensure that this hidden threat was brought under his control, allowing him to "peacefully" pass away.
The following night.
No one noticed that the figure in Lan Chang'an's courtyard was merely an illusion created by an Illusory Truth Talisman.
Lan Chang'an had informed Li Erqing in advance, so no one would disturb his "meditation."
There was a simple and straightforward method to find Huang Tankong.
Starting from the major checkpoints surrounding the Mu Family, places suitable for ambushes, search them one by one.
Out of cautious instinct, Lan Chang'an did not immediately search outside but began his investigation from inside, starting around Feiyue Lake, to avoid overlooking anything right under his nose.
Upon investigating, he was taken aback.
"This old coot actually snuck up near Feiyue Lake!"
Two nights later, near a mine a hundred li from Feiyue Villa, Lan Chang'an detected a faint spiritual fluctuation.
Disguised as a mid-stage Qi-Refining Mu Family cultivator, he only moved at night, activating the Evergreen Technique to minimize his presence.
As fate would have it, more than a decade ago, Young Master Huang died near this very mine. At that time, the Huang Family cultivators massacred the miners here. The mine, already depleted, was subsequently shut down.
At the rocky ridge a few li from the mine.
Lan Chang'an sat in a crevice, closed his eyes, and merged his mind with the soul of the white-bearded old man from the second life of the Nine Seal Stele, greatly enhancing his spiritual perception.
The soul of the second life's late-stage Core Formation was overwhelmingly powerful! Lan Chang'an could only merge with a small part of it; any more and his spiritual sea felt like it would burst.
His spiritual sense easily penetrated the mine's rock walls, finding the target in an abandoned woodshed.
There, a ragged, skeletal old man with all his white hair fallen out, crouched. His sunken eye sockets glowed faintly, like a candle flickering in the wind.
"Cough, cough..."
Huang Tankong's violent coughs, with dried blood at the corners of his mouth, echoed within a soundproof barrier he had set up around him.
"Huang Tankong dares to infiltrate Feiyue Lake alone, so he must have expected Li Erqing to fail in discovering him. Li Erqing's timid nature wouldn't dare leave the family."
Lan Chang'an mused.
Although Huang Tankong's body was failing, as a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, his level still posed a threat. However, in his current state, he posed no threat to the Mu Family protected by a clan-protecting formation. He could only resort to stealth tactics.
Lan Chang'an estimated that his primary target was himself.
Killing Li Erqing wouldn't be easy—this talentless Foundation Establishment cultivator could still divide the Mu Family if left alive.
...
Finding his location made things easier; there was no rush to act.
The old man grew weaker by the day.
Lan Chang'an left the Earth Burrowing Rat to keep watch at the rocky ridge.
At a distance of several li, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's spiritual sense wouldn't reach here. Huang Tankong's spiritual sense was too weak and couldn't be used frequently.
The Earth Burrowing Rat could even hide underground to avoid detection.
Before dawn, Lan Chang'an returned to the lakeside courtyard of Feiyue Villa.
"Huang Tankong likely doesn't know about Huang Changling's death; otherwise, he wouldn't wait so patiently."
Lan Chang'an analyzed.
Huang Changling's soul token was in the family ancestral hall. Huang Tankong, deep in enemy territory, had no way of receiving updates.
After several days of observation, Lan Chang'an discovered that Huang Tankong had a bird spirit beast serving as his eyes and ears.
This bird, named "Swallow Sentinel," had a peak first-rank cultivation.
Small in size, and weak in strength, it was easily mistaken for a common bird. In fact, the Swallow Sentinel was fast, had excellent vision, and high intelligence, making it a good scout.
The Swallow Sentinel monitored the surroundings of Feiyue Lake, returning quietly at night to eat spirit pills fed by Huang Tankong.
Lan Chang'an realized Huang Tankong must have known he had arrived at the Mu Family.
If the Evergreen Technique didn't excel at concealing aura, it was entirely possible that Huang Tankong would intercept him on his way home.
"Let's see how long this old geezer can wait."
Lan Chang'an, with his long lifespan, held the initiative and saw no need to confront his opponent prematurely. When the man was on the brink of death, it wouldn't be too late to stomp on him.
...
A few days later, two Foundation Establishment cultivators flew in from the west side of Feiyue Lake.
One was a middle-aged man with a fair face, the other a graceful woman in a white dress.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, Nephew Lin."
Li Erqing stepped forward to greet them.
Lan Chang'an also flew out of Feiyue Manor to meet Zhao Siyao and Lin Lu.
These two Foundation Establishment cultivators, hearing about the disturbances at Feiyue Lake, had come from Jin Yun Valley to offer their condolences and support.
In the cultivation world, there was an unspoken rule: sect members should not interfere in the conflicts of cultivation families, at least not openly. Unless they themselves belonged to a family.
Sect-trained cultivators were not meant to provoke external karma. Otherwise, which family wouldn't have connections with sect cultivators?
Typically, sect cultivators would at most mediate disputes between surrounding family forces.
Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao had not met in many years.
Zhao Siyao was no longer the young girl she once was, now wearing a phoenix hairpin, her face radiant and serene, her dress immaculate.
The two chatted pleasantly late into the night.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, are you planning to participate in the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm in a few years?"
Upon hearing this, Lan Chang'an's heart stirred.
Zhao Siyao's delicate brows furrowed slightly, "Since reaching mid-stage Foundation Establishment, my progress has slowed, and at times, I feel mentally exhausted. Most Foundation Establishment cultivators in this world never break through to the late stage."
"But in the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm, there are many rare treasures, including opportunities for breaking through to late-stage Foundation Establishment. With luck, one might even find Core Formation items." Zhao Siyao's bright, clear eyes sparkled with a hint of longing for the path to Core Formation.
"Unfortunately, my abilities are limited, and I cannot accompany you into the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm." Lan Chang'an sighed, seemingly regretful.
The Green Underworld Mysterious Realm quotas were largely controlled by the five major sects of the Liang Kingdom. To appease cultivation families and loose cultivators, a few spots were sold each year.
Zhao Siyao glanced at him, her lips curling in a knowing smile.
Zhao Siyao brought up the topic to see if Lan Chang'an could help her obtain high-quality second-rank talismans ten years later. If there were second-rank superior talismans, they would be of great help to Zhao Siyao.
"Currently, I am drawing mid-grade second-rank talismans and the success rate is not high." Lan Chang'an pondered, "In ten years, who knows? By then, Fellow Daoist Zhao, you may visit Wuqi Mountain."
His words sounded humble, full of uncertainty. But Zhao Siyao's eyes shone brightly. Knowing Lan Chang'an, this "who knows" probably held significant hope. Moreover, Lan Chang'an explicitly invited her to pay him a visit.
Lan Chang'an's willingness to assist Zhao Siyao wasn't merely out of friendship. He wouldn't enter the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm himself, but he could support his Foundation Establishment friends who did, and both parties could reap benefits.
For instance, he could provide protective measures for Zhao Siyao, and ask her to keep an eye out for resources he needed inside the secret realm in exchange. Or perhaps Zhao Siyao could supply intelligence about who obtained certain resources; then Lan Chang'an could wait near the entrance, and contact them outside the secret realm to negotiate a purchase.
Wasn't this more comfortable than risking his life in the secret realm?
...
A few days later, Zhao Siyao left.
Lin Lu decided to stay longer at the Mu Family to repay Li Erqing for helping him during his Foundation Establishment period. After advancing to Foundation Establishment, Lin Lu had secured an outer sect deacon position in Jin Yun Valley.
"Fairy Jade Moon has many pursuers in the sect, but she never gives them the time of day. Uncle Lan, you're the only male cultivator of the same rank she converses with so deeply."
Watching the graceful figure in the floating dress disappear, Lin Lu smiled knowingly, hinting at something.
Lin Lu knew that his father, Lin Yi, once secretly admired Fairy Zhao. However, he never had the courage to confess.
Lin Yi's notes mentioned: after the sect assessment results were announced, he realized that he and Fairy Zhao had different fates as immortals and mortals.
From his father's occasional comments, Lin Lu learned a detail:
In their early cultivation days, when Zhao Siyao was fourteen or fifteen, she had some affection for Lan Chang'an, which displeased his father.
However, due to their differences in cultivation and status, Lan Chang'an "sensibly" distanced himself, cutting off that budding affection.
"Your Uncle Lan and Fairy Zhao are merely old acquaintances who went through life and death experiences in the Black Fog Mountain Range together, sharing decades of friendship."
Lan Chang'an said calmly.
"Do not spread such rumors outside."
"Yes, Uncle Lan." Lin Lu smiled bitterly.
As an observer, he saw it clearly: Zhao Siyao and Lan Chang'an had known each other for decades and could talk deeply into the night, showing mutual admiration.
If either took the initiative, breaking the ice, they had a chance of becoming dao companions. However, neither was the type to take the initiative; both were wholly devoted to cultivating and held little interest in romantic relationships between men and women.
...
Half a month later, Lin Lu returned to the sect.
Lan Chang'an did not consider asking the two sect Foundation Establishment cultivators to help deal with Huang Tankong.
Such an action would violate sect principles unless Huang Tankong attacked first or framed them. It wasn't worth owing a favor for an old man on the brink of death.
Lan Chang'an remained at Feiyue Lake. As someone who came from the Mu Family and Li Erqing's big brother, staying for a year or more wasn't unusual.
Before he knew it, two months passed since arriving at Feiyue Lake.
Lan Chang'an's observations revealed that Huang Tankong's aura continued to wane, and he displayed signs of impatience—perhaps indicating that he intended to leave soon.
Seeing this.
At this time, Lan Chang'an flew above Feiyue Lake during the day and circled briefly, offering Huang Tankong some hope. He positioned himself near the formation surrounding Moonheart Island, where Li Erqing stood guard, so Huang Tankong dared not act rashly.
In this manner, they wasted another month.
When Huang Tankong was showing impatience once more, preparing to find an opportunity to escape.
Lan Chang'an took another flight.
Encouraged by the glimmer of hope, Huang Tankong rallied his spirits and waited tormentedly for another month.
This tug-of-war repeated three times.
Finally, Huang Tankong sensed something amiss, and moreover, his physical condition was getting worse and worse.
...
"Lan Chang'an, you sly fox!"
Huang Tankong gnashed his teeth, but he was already so old that his teeth had long since fallen out.
He knew he'd been tricked.
Being pulled and pushed by Lan Chang'an like this for so long had exhausted too much of his energy and consciousness; his frail body couldn't take it anymore.
Late one night...
Huang Tankong finally gave up on his plan and snuck away from Feiyue Lake, intending to return home to arrange his affairs before death.
What Huang Tankong didn't know was that every move he made was being watched closely by Lan Chang'an.
He thought at most Lan Chang'an could guess that he was hiding in wait.
Normally, a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator approaching couldn't evade both the Swallow Sentinel's detection and his spiritual sense.
...
The Maple Leaf Huang Family lay south of Feiyue Lake.
During his flight, Huang Tankong appeared to struggle greatly, clutching at spirit stones to replenish his mana but failing to keep up with his consumption. His body had deteriorated to the point where it could no longer retain mana or qi.
Two days later, at nightfall, Huang Tankong was still several hundred li away from the Huang Family's headquarters.
Whoosh!
The Swallow Sentinel flew ahead to notify the Huang Family for assistance.
It had barely left for a quarter of an hour when...
Thud!
Huang Tankong fell helplessly onto a hillside.
Suddenly, he caught a whiff of medicinal herbs, which intensified his fatigue and emptiness many times over. His eyelids grew heavy, threatening to close of their own accord.
Huang Tankong strained to stay conscious, resisting the encroaching darkness, bitterly saying:
"Fellow Daoist Lan?"
"This old man's life is nearly over, half buried in the earth already, and you still resort to poisoning?"
In his blurry vision, a burly man wearing a bamboo hat came into view.
...
(End of the chapter)