"I can only tell you, back then, the position of Chen Dragon was personally recomnded by your father." Bai Yujing said solemnly.
"What?" Zhang Fan’s gaze darkened slightly: "You’re saying my dad also knew Chen Dragon and he beca one of the Thirteen Zodiacs because of him?"
"That’s exactly what I an." Bai Yujing replied in a low voice.
"That’s why I said, this is a family matter. Your dad telling you would be more appropriate than ."
"Honestly, though there are few left of your South Zhang lineage, unraveling the affairs of your family would take three days and nights and still be unclear."
"..."
Zhang Fan wanted to ask more, but saw Bai Yujing’s breathing beco long and steady, as if already deep in slumber.
"Chen Dragon..."
Zhang Fan murmured softly, Bai Yujing’s words echoing in his mind.
...
Two hours later, the plane arrived at Chang’an International Airport.
Bai Yujing had long arranged for a car, and the two left the airport, got in the car, and arrived at a villa on the outskirts of Chang’an.
This villa was Bai Yujing’s private property.
"The environnt here is nice, you can stay for now." Bai Yujing instructed.
"Stay here for now? What about you?" Zhang Fan asked in bewildernt.
"I need to get a feel for the situation first... You should know, I haven’t returned to Tai Sui Village in ten years. Even as part of the Zodiac, it’s not a place you can just easily walk into." Bai Yujing said in a solemn tone.
"Don’t tell you can’t find the way." Zhang Fan said with an odd expression.
"Do you think Tai Sui Village is just a spot marked on a map that you can find by following directions?" Bai Yujing cast a sidelong glance and said lightly.
"If it were that easy to find, it would have been scoured by Zhongnan Mountain a long ti ago."
"You can’t find it even as a mber of the Thirteen Zodiacs?" Zhang Fan asked in a deep voice.
"There’s a special way, but it’s difficult to seek it out actively. Otherwise... if there were Daoist spies among the Thirteen Zodiacs, wouldn’t they be able to capture all of us?" Bai Yujing said with a hint of aning.
"Has that happened before?" Zhang Fan felt his heart stir and asked instinctively.
"Of course it has happened! You’re underestimating the Wuwei Sect and the Daoist Sect."
Bai Yujing answered in a subdued tone, "The Wuwei Sect and the Daoist Sect have been dealing with each other for so many years; they know each other inside out. Conventional thods are useless."
"There was once soone from the Daoist Sect who joined the ranks of the Thirteen Zodiacs, holding high positions."
"And even... a master once beca the Human Xiao."
"Human Xiao!?"
Zhang Fan was astounded by this and suddenly recalled the mories he had seen in the Three Corpses Primordial Pill, where the Three Corpses Daoist had invited the young Chu Chaoran to be the Human Xiao for his ascension to the position of Sect Leader.
"The first Master of the Wuwei Sect had great foresight, ensuring that no matter who betrayed the sect, the incense and candle inheritance would not be affected." Bai Yujing spoke in a deep tone.
Even if any of the Thirteen Zodiacs, or the Lord of the Three Palaces, or even the Vice Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect were to betray...
Even if all these people defect from the Wuwei Sect, there would always be a spark of incense that remains lit, allowing the heritage to flourish through ti.
This is why the nine attempts to break the mountains and destroy temples never fully eradicated the Wuwei Sect; even if they were cast down, there would always be a day they rise again.
Unless...
"Unless what?"
"Unless soone from the Daoist Sect can ascend to the position of the Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect!" Bai Yujing said solemnly.
"Becoming the Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect? That’s too difficult." Zhang Fan couldn’t help but sigh.
It’s not just anyone from the Daoist Sect; even a disciple within the Wuwei Sect finds it incredibly challenging to ascend to the position of Sect Leader. Otherwise, the Wuwei Sect wouldn’t be leaderless for sixty years after the death of the Three Corpses Daoist.
The possibility is nearly zero.
"Though it’s seemingly impossible, there are still those who attempt it." Bai Yujing said quietly.
"Is there really a fool doing that? Who?" Zhang Fan couldn’t help but ask.
To him, becoming the Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect was as hard as reaching the Pure Yang Wuji Realm, let alone being an outsider. It was like climbing to the heavens, pursuing the unattainable. Is there really such a fool in the world?
"Your dad!" Bai Yujing looked at Zhang Fan with an eerie gaze and spoke.
"..."
Zhang Fan remained silent.
Back then, Li Linglong beca the Human Xiao to protect Zhang Lingzong and assist him in ascending to the position of Sect Leader of the Wuwei Sect.
"Your dad is not an ordinary person, but unfortunately..."
"His ambitions were too grand. Such thoughts sowed the seeds for the downfall of the South Zhang lineage." Bai Yujing lanted softly.
"What are you implying?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow, displaying a look of surprise.
"Zhang Fan, you shouldn’t think your life has been tough. At least until you were twelve, you had your parents to protect you, and after twelve, you had your dad standing in front of you..." Bai Yujing lanted.
"But compared to him, your father’s life was much harder. He faced great changes at a young age, lost his family, and was left with fragnted bloodlines, destined to wander, surviving near-death experiences, and the killings he faced outnumber the roads you’ve walked..."
"How much hardship and tribulation did he endure to acquire these skills?" Bai Yujing lanted.
During Zhang Lingzong’s youth, she had known him and understood him to so extent.
Nine lives and one death, great tribulations not forsaking him, he beca the most formidable Great Spirit Sect King under heaven.
"Compared to your father, you’re still too immature. Many people are shouldering burdens for you." Bai Yujing’s words were firm and resonant.
"Zhang Fan, you are indeed special, but not special enough... your ti is running out."
Saying this, Bai Yujing slowly rose to her feet.
"Aunt Bai, I have a question for you." Zhang Fan suddenly spoke.
"Go ahead."
"Did you co looking for this ti rely because Lin Jianyue asked for your help?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Yujing’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of a barely noticeable brilliance glimred in her eyes.
"Of course."
Bai Yujing spoke in a low voice and turned to leave.
"When will you be back?" Zhang Fan chased after her and asked.
"It shouldn’t take a few days."
"Am I just supposed to wait here?" Zhang Fan couldn’t help but say.
He didn’t want to waste his ti idling in this villa.
"Don’t rush, this is also a kind of heart training for you." Bai Yujing laughed lightly.
"If you’re really bored, you can go out and play, visit the Great Tang Night City, see the Terracotta Warriors, visit the Huaqing Pool..." Bai Yujing suggested.
"Chang’an is a tourist destination, with many 5A-level scenic spots!"
"Do you think I’m here for sightseeing?"
Zhang Fan’s eyes widened; before he could finish speaking, Bai Yujing was already out of the courtyard, in the car, with the engine roaring, and then she was gone in a cloud of dust.
"Co back early!"
Zhang Fan waved after her, calling out loudly, until he couldn’t even see the back of the car anymore.
"Dad..."
Zhang Fan murmured softly, Bai Yujing’s recent words echoing in his mind.
Perhaps it’s the sa for all children; they only think to try understanding, caring for, and getting closer to their parents when they grow old.
"Once I’ve sorted everything out here, I’ll co find you." Zhang Fan clenched his hands tightly.
He knew Zhang Lingzong was hiding on Ailao Mountain, a place that seed like both a cage and a forbidden zone. But now, he had a strong impulse to rush over there, even if it ant facing a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den.
"Better head back and wait for news." Zhang Fan sighed, gathering his chaotic emotions, and turned back to the villa.
He took out a piece of leather from his pocket and blew a breath of True Yang into it, and Zhang Beijiang took form.
"Protect ."
Zhang Fan instructed briefly and imdiately sat cross-legged in the living room, entering a state of ditation to cultivate his Primordial Spirit.
As the sun set and the stars appeared, until late into the evening.
Zhang Fan slowly opened his eyes and heard a rustling sound outside the villa’s door.
"Soone!?" Zhang Fan’s ears pricked up, noticing the gentle knocking echoing through the serene night.
"Who is it?"
Zhang Fan rose, went to the courtyard, and asked through the door, sensing the person’s long, continuous breathing, full of True Yang within, indicative of soone who practiced orthodox Daoist Techniques.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
The knocking sounded again. Zhang Fan hesitated slightly and opened the door, a familiar face coming into view.
"Qi Delong!?" Zhang Fan was montarily stunned and blurted out.
"I’m Qi Dongqiang now, my brother’s Primordial Spirit is asleep."
The heir of Laojun Mountain, Qi Delong and Qi Dongqiang, were brothers born of the sa mother, except that one body was absorbed even before birth, so two Primordial Spirits shared a single body.
This anomaly is unprecedented even in the Daoist Sect.
During the Battle of the Imprisoned Immortal Temple, these brothers were taken away by Zhao Jie Xuan.
Zhang Fan did not expect to et them here again, these bearers of Laojun Mountain’s legacy.
"Why are you here!?"
"Brother Zhao sent us to find you." Qi Dongqiang grinned.
"Zhao Jie Xuan!?"
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