Chapter 1114: Hiding
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Luo Yunhai flicked around and left, leaving the three in complete stupefaction. Zhuge Changfeng quickened his step to catch up to the Clan Head.
Luo Yunhai paused moments later.
“Clan Head…”
Noticing his dark look and clenched fists, Zhuge Changfeng asked.
Luo Yunhai gulped, his voice low, “Steward Zhuge, we are too passive. Even in times when the Luo clan had nothing to their name, I still didn’t feel as passive as now. We had him, we were so close to winning after the bitter and heavy sacrifices, yet we gave it all up just because the ones above said so?”
“Clan Head, I understand your feelings.”
Zhuge Changfeng smiled, his eyes sharp, “Clan Head wants to seize power, recalling our unstoppable rise.”
Luo Yunhai nodded, “We’ve had a swift growth in the western lands, but far too benign. We have never held the right to decide in any real situation. Just how we were sent to risk our lives then gave it all up the next moment. We never had a say in it. We’re only reactive.”
“I want to lead the world and not have some codgers toy with me!” Luo Yunhai’s eyes shone as he revealed his wish.
Zhuge Changfeng nodded, “I understand everything, Clan Head. With the world now recovering after the chaos, it is ripe with opportunities. We will help Clan Head take it all. You can be sure of that!”
Luo Yunhai glanced at him, signaled, and left with his people. But for the first time, his eyes held a deep desire for power.
When in Tianyu, it was Zhuo Fan who helped him with every plan. The Luo clan was weak, but not defenseless, taking its due share every time and working its way up to change its fate.
After Zhuo Fan left, he gave Lou Yunhai three great minds to help with everything while laying the groundwork for the development of the Luo Alliance. He groomed the righteous clan to never lose its core values, or its honest style, earning the admiration of people everywhere.
Now, even with how great the Luo Alliance was, it was nothing but a pawn from the western lands on the world chessboard. Pushed around, told what to do, striving and suffering, yet not once able to fight for the right of those that perished. Even in their civil war, they just ignored the imperial order. Here though, in the war of the lands, they were to stop when told to, regardless of if the higher ups lacked the decency to explain why.
Regardless of the deal those old men reached, one thing was certain, they, the little men, had nothing to do with it. They were there to be used.
Luo Yunhai had never before been treated with such callous disregard, like a convenient tool. His heart burned with the desire to change the futility and weakness he felt.
[In this cruel world, morals and duty are garbage without the power to back them.]
You might care for the men under you, but would your superior sympathize? You might worry about the people, but would those above?
Duty and honor were built on supreme power. Everything else was moot.
[It’s why brother Zhuo took the Luo clan to the top of Tianyu before leaving. For even being another’s right-hand man, you’d still be his pawn.]
[I’ve grown lazy these years, to not understand brother Zhuo’s pain.]
Luo Yunhai closed his eyes, tearing up a bit, but then he snapped them open with resolve.
[No more. Brother Zhuo, you’ve left us three great minds to assist our assault, not defenses. The Luo clan will climb its way higher, starting now. Never again shall we be stuck in a rut like today. We write our own fate, not letting others use us ever again!]
Luo Yunhai walked on with purpose and determination.
Murong Xue never spoke a word.
“Hey, who does the punk think he is? You think you’re so tough yelling at my girl?” Ouyang Changqing finally reacted and lashed out.
Shangguan Qingyan glanced at him and smirked, “You complain now, when they’re gone? What was that back there then?”
“Uh, it’s just he made damn good sense and I had no comeback. Besides, he’s big brother’s brother and I have to show restraint. Or big brother might come after me…”
“Tch, all bark and no bite.” Shangguan Qingyan rolled her eyes and disdained. Murong Xue’s eyes shook and said to Ouyang Changqing, “You believe him? That what that fiend did was impartial?”
“Well…”
Ouyang Changqing glanced at her, not wanting his answer to anger her. ” Xue’er, Changqing, Yan’er, you’re here!”
“Elder brother!”
“Dad!”
“Father!”
The three were caught by surprise at the familiar shout, then turned with joy to find their family they had been searching for all along.
The three were looking grave, even with their warm gaze upon their children and siblings.
Murong Xue sensed the change and frowned, “Brother, what is it?”
The three sighed, with Murong Lie beginning, “Xue’er, this will be our last meeting for a long time, if not final.”
“What?” The three juniors shouted.
Murong Lie gestured to them to calm down, “We have discussed retiring and understanding Dao in peace. Henceforth, Xue’er, you shall be the acting Murong Clan Head!”
“Changqing, you’ll only have yourself to look after you in the sect from now on.”
“Yan’er, tell my decision to our venerables and elders. Take care.”
Ouyang Lingtian and Shangguan Feixiong gave their own encouragements, their eyes firm.
The juniors were left dumbstruck, “But why?”
“In our fight with the Invincible Sword, we came to understand that we’ve let the mundane matters take over our lives for too long, keeping us from seeing the path. We bug our minds with the secular affairs, unlike Sir Zhuo and Baili Yutian, who despite being in the secular world, their hearts only focus on Dao. We need to return to seclusion.”
Murong Lie was the only one who spoke, “As for the second reason, you should know by now. How did the war end?”
The juniors looked confused.
Murong Lie sighed, “I guess you’re too young still to see it, so I’ll tell you. Ever since we woke up among the ruble, we saw the war ending and were stunned. We went to Sect Leader Ling and then came to know of the deal with Baili Jingwei; a hundred year peace. But who is to stop the Invincible Sword after that?
“All I got from him was silence. Or better yet, they never once thought about it or cared. For with the fall of the Invincible Sword, it meant the four Sword Kings would run amok in their lands. While with the Invincible Sword alive, the world war might have its second act in the future. The death toll would be even higher, with the people suffering for it. Xue’er, you know that our clan is a clan of valor, Shangguan clan is righteous, but even our venerables gave in to the proposal, all so they could keep the clan alive for a century more.”
Murong Xue lowered her head and bit her lip.
“Take me but save the world. It’s the foundation of the Murong clan, but never imagined the day would come when they would push the pain a hundred years later on their children.”
Murong Lie shook his head, “Xue’er, we’ve let the profane infect us and twist our views. The Murong clan isn’t what it used to be. Shangguan clan is the same. Thus we decided to step back from worldly affairs. Sending righteousness into the mundane world only invites temptation and decay. Perhaps it only helps demonic cultivators to understand their path better.”
Murong Xue shuddered and Zhuo Fan’s warning rang in her mind, “For the righteous to reach the end, rising above is a must. Surrounded by the profane and your Dao Heart will be tainted. Drowned in your demons, you might never find righteousness again.”
[The fiend is so clear on both paths. Does that mean I’m the one unable to tell the difference between the two?]
“Juniors, this is goodbye.”
Murong Lie cupped his hands and laughed. The other two did the same and left just like that.
The juniors’ shouts were too slow to reach them.
Murong Xue was left there, with closed eyes and a sigh as she recalled Zhuo Fan’s ridiculing smile.
Facts spoke louder than words. Her own brother was disappointed in their clan. Their clan had long since lost their righteous reputation, selling out the people of the four lands. It was all them, and not those vile and cunning demons.
“It seems I need to do the same as my brother, go into hiding and learn the way.”
With a bitter smile, Murong Xue sighed, “I hope that once I understand everything, I’ll see you in a different light, fiend…”