Chapter 946: Solitude

Proofreader : Papatonks

The guy paused, seeing everyone wearing dumb looks, and bowed again, "Clan Head, Gu Yifan is wise and brave, a real hero. When we found him, he was still protecting his son despite the heavy wounds."

"His character isn't the issue here, but being a miracle worker is!"

Shangguan Feixiong's face twitched and sighed, "A single Sword King has enough power to do everything he wants. Two of them around, they are invincible. Then there's Baili Jingwei, the wisest in the Sword Star Empire. His intellect alone could make him a Sword King if it was strength instead. Yet none of them, despite covering every aspect, could stop a Radiant Stage from toying with them and come out alive..."

Shangguan Feixiong sighed, actually relating to them, "Since when could the opponent we feared so much could be controlled so easily? What's worse, can't any of the experts of our best clan in the eastern lands match to one Radiant Stage kid? Ha-ha-ha, what an utterly ridiculous joke! The cruel irony is even more obvious from how we lost so many people with our plan while the kid easily got the sword without losing anything, ha-ha-ha..."

Shangguan Feixiong shook his head hard, in defeat.

The precious divine sword they all wanted so much all this time was now in their hands but it felt flat, dull, giving them no sense of achievement whatsoever.

It was because of the circumstances of the retrieval. The Soaring Sword wasn't recovered through their blood and sweat, but a kid did it and sold it off to them. They not once won against Shangguan Feiyun. It was the kid all along who did everything, fighting, toying and surviving.

Shangguan Feiyun was the Shangguan clan's biggest traitor, but the victory belonged to a kid's resourcefulness.

None of them were better than a meager Radiant kid.

Clan Head's desolate figure holding the divine sword, killed everyone else's joy.

They felt nothing from it, not when another scored a win and just handed it over. It was a subtle contrast between taking and receiving the win that made all the effort worthwhile.

By taking it yourself, you proved that you had the ability to do it, while having someone just hand it over was a humiliation. It proved the other guy was better than you, being thrown to the side by the enemy and focusing on the better adversary.

Such a win felt empty to them, having no value.

They believed Shangguan Feiyun's group, when they fought, did not show any regard to them, always thinking about Gu Yifan.

[Shangguan clan? They're nothing...]

Gu Yifan, a Radiant Stage kid, came around out of nowhere and robbed the Shangguan clan of their honor.

Sure he got the Soaring Sword for them, but they didn't look quite as thankful...

The three venerables knew their feelings and chuckled, "Feixiong, the Soaring Sword is back where it belongs. We now should focus on leaving the central area. Name, reputation, glory, they come and go many times in life."

"As a Clan Head I know none of these are important before the clan's righteousness. We're lucky to have suffered a few losses this time, ending with our win. I am very happy to see this, but..."

Shangguan Feixiong tensed and sighed, "Having thought about everything that happened, I can't help but wonder if I'm fit to be the Clan Head. Feiyun was right, I'm beneath him in power and potential. I'm headstrong and can't see the bigger picture, unable to be proactive like Gu Yifan and Baili Jingwei. Their convoluted and intricate plans opened my eyes at how deep their schemes can go, of how detailed they are.

"I think that the next time we clash with Baili Jingwei, I will cause the death of everyone. I, Shangguan Feixiong, am plain, with no outstanding quality. Will keeping this chair of mine help or lead to disaster? Ha-ha-ha, the clan might not grow much under my helm. I've seen Gu Yifan's handiwork, his cruelty. No low is beneath him, even detonating someone, but one can't deny the results either. Having him as a son-in-law might not be such a bad idea. Leaving him to take over from me will raise the clan to new heights. At least he's far more capable than me..."

The venerable looked him in the eye, "Feixiong, we all knew there's a limit to what you can do, but do you know why we picked you?"

"The choice was between me and Feiyun. But he was too conceited and erred constantly..." Shangguan Feixiong frowned.

The venerable chuckled, "Everyone makes mistakes. You think we didn't let him take the seat because of some mishaps? We even had a long dispute back then over Shangguan Feiyun's talents..."

"Why then..."

The venerable smiled, "The ruler is to be wise and not rash, average and not proud. The former is for the royal succession to avoid vies for power. The latter is to avoid the biggest faults in one's character. Average people hardly achieve success, but they also represent stability. They need but find a capable official to assist and they can thrive. As for the egotistic rulers, they think themselves above everyone, that they can do everything and won't ever take advice. They can take the clan out of trouble, yes, but one day it might lead it to disaster. That is why an emperor would always choose the average son over the proud one if there's no one talented and having virtue. Virtue has always been the main criteria for all ancestors."

Shangguan Feixiong nodded, "I see. You were afraid Feiyun's arrogance would lead to the clan's demise so you renounced him. Then what of Gu Yifan's virtue..."

"The kid's virtue ain't bad." The venerable waved Shangguan Feixiong's question with a vague smile.

Shangguan Feixiong jerked, "Second Venerable, you mean he has it? How come I don't see it?"

"Ha-ha-ha, if you could, you'd have seen Shangguan Yulin's degenerate character. Feixiong, you can't judge a book by its cover. He may behave cruelly, but deep down he's a man of principles. Don't lump cruelty with being insidious. Insidiousness always strays you from the path, but his path stretches far and wide. "

The venerable smiled, "He may be cruel and unscrupulous, but everything has a purpose. He was only after his goal when he clashed with us, but did nothing despicable. Think about it, did he forgo righteousness for gains? Did he go back on his words? And most importantly, he's a loving father that would do anything for his son. How bad can he be? Well, I've seen people far worse than him, looking dignified but resorting to atrocities when no one's looking. Such a kind and dark youth is worth making friends with, better than those insidious and petty ones."

Shangguan Feixiong nodded after a pause.

"Yeah, the kid only clashed with us in our goal. But all he said and done is to my liking. He's like a demonic gentleman. Then my plan..."

"Feixiong, you should just forget it."

The venerable cut him off, "It's not a bad idea to have him as your son-in-law. He'd also benefit the clan by having him around, but not the Clan Head."

"Why? He's far more qualified than me. Is it because of his scheming..."

"No, his scheming is very much within reason. He's in conflict with our beliefs, as he walks the demonic path, regardless of how upright he is."

The venerable said, "It's just that he walks in solitude, unfit for a Clan Head."

"Solitude?"

"He has no ties with anything but his son, let alone a clan. He can't take the helm of a clan."

The venerable sighed, "A Clan Head bears on his shoulder the fate of his people, holding within him their lives and deaths. But he is alone, without such responsibility. He is indeed capable, but not fit for a Clan Head. As for being like Baili Jingwei, governing the empire, or a Clan Head's right hand, there's no one better."

Shangguan Feixiong nodded after digesting his words.

He bore too much solitude to carry the weight of a leader, a loner meant to roam the world.

But a cultivator communing with the world had such a quality as well. While too many mundane affairs hindered one's comprehension of the inner workings of the world.

[Doesn't that mean it's us who're led astray from the straight and narrow?]