"Even though those who had grudges against us let us be when all that was left of the Clear sword river sect was some outer disciples and servants, it didn't mean they let us go completely."
Wang Yi sighed as a look of hatred, frustration, and resignation flashed in his eyes.
"When we came here, we clashed with some of the local forces here before we could settle down. Even though everything valuable had been taken by that domain expert, we still had a few personal trinkets with us, which even though weren't worth much, were still able to help us to create a footing in this place,"
Wang Yi paused as he took another sip of his tea, as he habitually poured Yang Qing another cup too. He may be a sect master now, but he had been a servant far longer. Some of the habits he had from back then would show themselves every now and then.
"Despite settling down, the friction between us and the neighboring organizations didn't stop. At first, we thought it was just weariness to outsiders and them showing dominance and resistance because of it.
However, later we discovered things were not as simple as they seemed to be. Opponents who we had no difficulty fighting to a draw, grew in quality and quantity. Even bandits with half-step core formation experts started showing up at our doors.
It was only later that we discovered all our attackers had been instigated by our old enemies. They may have let us go but they didn't forget about us. They continuously harassed us using the organizations around Deer mountain kingdom.
It was why our decline was so rapid despite settling down and our old enemies not chasing us anymore. We were constantly attacked while those same organizations put us in an embargo halting our growth completely.
The few promising disciples we had, were either poached by them or severely injured. With our dwindling resources, those injuries were no different than fatalities.
I have to give it to those organizations, they were pretty thorough,"
Wang Yi said with deep sorrow in his tone as he smiled wryly.
"Of the names, your colleague has mentioned;
Chu Qingwu got injured a year after she came back and passed away three years later,
Zhi Lang didn't have much ambition, he left the sect and decided to start a family someplace else.
Xian Lu got killed by the disciple of another sect when they got into an argument over a mortal rank herb. That child has always been unruly. He acted like the world was beneath his gaze but unlucky for him, he never had the talent to back up that act.
As for Li Feng….."
Wang Yi paused as a look of confusion, sadness, and worry appeared in his eyes.
From Wang Yi's reaction, Yang Qing guessed he had a very close relationship with Li Feng.
Maybe they were even kin, if outsiders couldn't carry the torch for the sect maybe someone of the same bloodline could.
"In the past hundred years, he was the one I had the highest hopes on of succeeding me.
We found him abandoned at the foot of the mountain of our sect when he was just a baby. One of our members took pity on him and brought him into the sect.
I couldn't care less back then and left his care to them. I had a lot on my mind back then, with my dwindling lifespan and the possible demotion of the sect if nothing changed.
I didn't have the headspace for anything else. I even stopped training the few disciples who had remained since it wouldn't change anything, not with the talent they had. Though there might be a possibility their poor results was because I was a horrible teacher.."
Wang Yi chuckled in embarrassment as he said the last part.
"It was during that period that I started trying my hands at forbidden arts. It was a couple of years later when I had hit another wall, like usual, during my cultivation, that Li Feng caught my eye.
That kid had talent. My judgment may be off when comparing him to others but I know he had more talent than me atleast or most of the disciples we have had over the years," said Wang Yi as he smiled in pride.
"Even with our pathetic levels of resources and only two high-rank red grade techniques to our name, the kid managed to cultivate his body to the silver body realm and then broke through to the qi refinement realm.
I can't help but wonder if we had better resources, higher-grade cultivation arts, and a better teacher for him, what heights he would reach.
I sent him to the Order in the hopes of making it up to him for what we could not give him. As for where he is after he left, I honestly don't know.
Some part of me is hoping he is coming back and is just delayed somewhere while another part of me hopes he doesn't come back and got recruited by a better sect out there. I feel like it's selfish of me to tie him down to my own obsessions of reviving the Clear sword river sect. "
Wang Yi seemed like he had made his peace with the sect disappearing.
"Another part of me dreads that something happened to him on his way back," Wang Yi said as deep worry showed on his face.
Most of his thoughts would swarm toward the last option. With the talent Li Feng showed, getting targeted for murder was a highly likely option.
Yang Qing's frown became deeper.
"That's not right," Yang Qing thought to himself.
Once the training period was up, those from the weaker sects would have their disciples dropped off at their doorsteps by employees from the Order, especially those who exhibited some form of talent. It was considered a waste by the Order if those seedlings died before they even exhibited their potential. It was why transport back was included in their quota package.
Li Feng had most been likely dropped off at his sect's gate. After that, he either left after the Order employee dropped him off, or someone targeted him the moment the person from the Order left.
Yang Qing shook his head dismissing the last thought as improbable. If there was someone lurking by, waiting for Li Feng to arrive, the person from the Order would have detected the person and acted.
This could only mean one thing, Li Feng left the moment he was dropped.
"Luckily the revised quota rules will be made into effect at the next assembly," Yang Qing silently muttered as he sighed.
