Chapter 492: Undercurrents

Nanyue City, deep night.

In the Situ family's mansion, a white-haired elder had arrived.

He sat at the table, looked solemn; the tea on the table had grown cold, and he hadn't even taken a sip.

Situ Fang furrowed her brows and asked:

"Elder Wang, what does the clan say?"

The elder named Situ Wang frowned and sighed:

"The clan can't spare any manpower…"

Situ Fang frowned: "Our Situ family is at least a third-grade clan—how can we not find over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators? Is the clan not believing this?"

Situ Wang nodded: "That's also part of the reason."

He sighed, "Eighty iron zombies, tens of thousands of walking corpses… this… is absurd…"

Even the entire second-grade prefecture might not muster enough strength to oppose them.

Situ Fang let out a faint sigh.

She herself didn't quite believe it—or rather, she dared not believe it.

But this information came from Mo Hua, and was delivered by the Bai siblings; even if she dared not believe it, she knew it was highly unlikely to be false.

Mo Hua's actions are unpredictable.

Though young, he sometimes acts recklessly bold.

Yet he always plans thoroughly before acting, considering every detail.

Since meeting Mo Hua, everything he's said and done has been reliable—he wouldn't lie.

But others might not believe him…

Situ Wang said: "I heard this information was uncovered by a young cultivator?"

Situ Fang nodded.

"How old is he?"

Situ Fang fell silent for a moment, then whispered: "Thirteen…"

Situ Wang looked speechless, helplessly saying: "Thirteen… Even if I believed it, the clan wouldn't. Thirteen…"

Situ Wang shook his head.

Cultivators live long lives.

Clan cultivators especially have deep resources and excellent conditions.

Generally, cultivators under twenty still look very young, still children.

A thirteen-year-old child uncovering something this major left Situ Wang uncertain.

But since he shared the same lineage as Situ Fang and had watched her grow up since childhood, he knew her character—so he came himself to see the situation.

Situ Fang could only say:

"Mo Hua—he's a first-grade array master."

Situ Wang was stunned, "Who?"

"The young cultivator you mentioned."

Situ Wang's hand trembled, "Thirteen? A first-grade array master?"

Situ Fang nodded.

Situ Wang dropped his elder's demeanor and couldn't help asking in a low voice:

"Is this real?"

Situ Fang sighed, "Do you think I'd lie to you? If you don't believe me, ask Elder Jin."

Mo Hua is young and has too high a talent—he easily invites envy and hatred.

Situ Fang hadn't spread the word; in the Situ clan, only she and two elders who had met Mo Hua knew.

Situ Wang seemed dazed, muttering:

"Thirteen… a first-grade array master… how could this boy's head even grow like this…"

Situ Fang said:

"Now, his words should carry some weight, right?"

Situ Wang frowned, thought for a moment, then nodded slightly:

"If true, we can't treat him as an ordinary young cultivator—a first-grade array master is a notable figure even in a second-grade prefecture; he wouldn't joke about something like this…"

Situ Fang's beautiful eyes brightened slightly, "Then Elder—"

Situ Wang still shook his head, "I can only try my best to advocate—but whether the clan agrees is beyond my control."

"Is it because of the zombie plague?" Situ Fang frowned.

"Precisely…" Situ Wang sighed, "This matter is too dangerous…"

"Such powerful iron zombies, and such vast numbers of walking corpses, controlled by someone to form a zombie tide, are terrifying."

"Zombies differ from ordinary cultivators…"

"When fighting ordinary cultivators, injuries can usually be treated without serious consequence."

"But when fighting zombies, if you're wounded and bleed, if zombie qi enters your body, if zombie poison strikes your heart and spreads, the consequences become utterly uncontrollable…"

Deep dread filled Situ Wang's eyes.

Situ Fang also fell silent.

"Moreover, there's one most important thing…"

Situ Wang looked at Situ Fang, reluctant to speak—but after thinking, he said plainly:

"This matter brings no benefit to our Situ family."

Sister Situ paused upon hearing this.

Situ Wang said silently, "Our Situ family has, generation after generation, held office since our ancestors founded their lineage in the Dao Ting Si's Demon Suppression Bureau, upholding strict principles and hating evil without mercy…"

"But no matter what, a family is still a family—we must place family interests first…"

"This matter brings little benefit."

Situ Wang paused, then added:

"At least before the risks, this benefit is not great…"

Truly annihilating the Corpse Mine and suppressing ten thousand zombies would bring immense merit.

But the cost and the risks borne would be many times greater.

In the zombie tide ruled by the Corpse King and commanded by iron zombies, the cultivators sent by the Situ family could be wiped out entirely.

The Situ family cannot bear this risk.

"What about the Dao Ting…" Sister Situ frowned.

"The Dao Ting is the same," Situ Wang said. "Even if the Dao Ting learned of it and believed it, weighing gains against losses, they might still refrain from launching a major operation."

Situ Wang said gravely, "The Dao Ting is even more complex than our Situ family—its power distribution and entangled interests are too tangled to untangle…"

Seeing Sister Situ did not fully understand, Situ Wang explained more clearly:

"Morally speaking, following Dao law and slaying zombies and demons is only right."

"But in reality, this matter is fraught with difficulties."

"To annihilate the Corpse Mine, we need Dao soldiers and spirit stones."

"Who provides the Dao soldiers? Who provides the spirit stones?"

"Dao soldiers on campaign require logistics; casualties among Dao soldiers require compensation—and all these prior and posterior mobilizations of manpower and material rely entirely on spirit stones."

"If casualties are heavy, we must shoulder immense responsibility."

"Once the mission succeeds and merit is gained, suddenly many others will appear, eager to claim a share—even those with no connection will reach out, wanting a taste of the pie…"

"At great risk, bearing great responsibility, paying a heavy price, annihilating the Corpse Mine—and yet the merit may still go to someone else…"

"Who would be willing to do such a thing?"

Situ Wang sighed:

"Unless the Lu family truly commits a grave taboo, brazenly walking the path of evil demons and provoking the Dao Ting's wrath to issue a decree for suppression—then every level of the Dao Ting Si, bloated with idle officials, will refuse to touch this hot potato…"

Sister Situ sighed in disappointment.

Situ Wang looked at Sister Situ with a touch of pity.

Though Sister Situ's talent was not outstanding, she was the most upright, most ambitious, and most responsible disciple in their lineage.

Such a disciple, compared to others with merely high talent but flawed character, is far more worthy of cultivation.

Moreover, both of them shared the same lineage, and he was her elder—so Situ Wang did not wish to let her take risks.

"The waters of Nan Yue City are too murky—we may afford to wade in, but there's no need to get ourselves filthy."

Situ Wang pondered a moment, then said gently:

"Fang girl, in my opinion, you should take this opportunity to leave…"

His brow was deeply furrowed:

"If the situation truly worsens and turns dire, this entire Nan Yue City will become a hell on earth—and at that point, no one can guarantee your safety…"

"You must cherish your own cultivation path…"

Sister Situ was startled, and sincerely thanked him: "Thank you, Uncle Wang!"

But after thinking a moment, she still shook her head:

"I am the Diansi of Nan Yue City. Though my cultivation is low, my duty demands I do all I can."

Situ Wang frowned, "But the matter is beyond resolution…"

"If the matter truly is beyond resolution," Sister Situ said, "then I will consider leaving."

Situ Wang fell silent for a moment, then sighed:

"Then so be it."

He took out another jade slip, helplessly saying:

"I will write another letter and send it back to the clan, urging them to consider the greater good and send more people—also, I'll reach out to the Dao Bing Si…"

"But how much aid we receive depends on fate alone…"

Sister Situ's eyes lit up, and she immediately bowed her hands:

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Seeing Sister Situ's response, Situ Wang felt both comfort and sorrow—but thinking of the Corpse Mine, his gaze grew heavy with worry, his expression far from optimistic.

Eighty iron zombies, tens of thousands of walking corpses…

A single misstep could trigger a catastrophe staining the entire province…

Situ Wang shook his head and sighed, "It's difficult…"

…

In Nan Yue City, within the Nan Yue Sect, a tea room filled with misty vapor.

The leader of the Nan Yue Sect was in secret discussion with Elder Su.

The Nan Yue Sect's leader bore the surname Zhao, was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, over two hundred and eighty years old, and had led the sect for one hundred and ten years, commanding great prestige within the sect.

"Have you heard about the Lu family's affair?"

After finishing their tea, Master Zhao spoke bluntly.

Elder Su frowned. "What matter are you referring to, Master?"

"The mine affair," Master Zhao said.

Elder Su fell into thought for a moment, then said slowly:

"I've only heard some rumors…"

Master Zhao sipped his tea and said nothing.

From Master Zhao's face, Elder Su could read nothing, so he carefully asked:

"Is there really something wrong with the Lu family?"

Master Zhao glanced at him and said coolly:

"If the Lu family had no problems, how could they control so many mines? How could they afford Jin Hua Street? How could they amass so many Spirit Stones? How could they live in such decadent luxury?"

"They produce nothing, yet earn enormous profits—nine out of ten times, there's something wrong."

Elder Su looked solemn. "What kind of problem could the Lu family have?"

Master Zhao shook his head slightly. "Only idle gossip—no solid evidence. I can't say anything for certain."

He glanced at Elder Su, then added:

"I know you have a fair amount of friendship with Lu Chengyun. That's why I called you here—to give you some advice."

Elder Su bowed respectfully:

"I humbly beg the Master's instruction!"

Master Zhao nodded slightly, then lowered his voice:

"Our Nan Yue Sect, from top to bottom, has always had good relations with the Lu family. We share interests and have received many Spirit Stones from them…"

Elder Su frowned.

"Are you saying that because we took the Lu family's Spirit Stones, we must stand with them as one?"

Master Zhao shook his head, speaking with deep meaning:

"What I mean is, even though we've taken the Lu family's Spirit Stones, we must not be foolishly loyal—do not tie ourselves to their boat."

Elder Su was stunned. "Wouldn't that be… unkind?"

Master Zhao shook his head. "Sects value interest, not kindness."

"Aren't the Spirit Stones also interest?"

Master Zhao explained:

"Spirit Stones are interest—but only short-term interest. The sect's survival is the fundamental interest."

"The abundance of Spirit Stones can indeed bring temporary prosperity."

"But if Spirit Stones cause us to abandon our moral stance and threaten the sect's very existence, we must act decisively—sacrifice small gains for the greater good!"

Elder Su was stunned, lost in thought.

Master Zhao sighed:

"Many cultivators don't understand this principle."

"That's why in Nan Yue City, sects and families rise and fall—but only our Nan Yue Sect has endured for centuries."

"The Lu family hasn't lasted this long either."

Master Zhao looked at Elder Su and warned:

"When it's time to speak of interest, speak of interest. When it's time to speak of principle, speak of principle."

"Do not let interest corrupt principle—otherwise, great disaster will follow!"

Elder Su nodded solemnly. "Master, I've remembered."

Master Zhao exhaled in relief and said with satisfaction:

"I've passed the age of vigor. This position of Master must eventually be passed on. You're not as cunning as others, but you're loyal and righteous, and you master arrays. With more refinement, perhaps one day this position of Nan Yue Sect Master will be yours…"

Elder Su never expected to hear such words—he couldn't help asking:

"Master, are you… trying to give me false hope?"

Master Zhao glared at him. "Do you think anyone has the qualifications to make me give them false hope? I'm placing great expectations on you!"

Elder Su immediately bowed his head:

"Yes, yes!"

After that, Master Zhao gave a few more instructions.

Before leaving, Elder Su still felt confused:

"Master, what exactly should our Nan Yue Sect do about the Lu family?"

Breaking ties with the Lu family would be unwise.

Aligning with them completely would also be unstable.

Master Zhao then gave specific guidance:

"If the Lu family doesn't get exposed, we pretend we know nothing—keep taking their Spirit Stones. That's called speaking of interest when it's time."

"If the Lu family is exposed, we must draw a clear line and cut all ties—even at great cost, we must suppress them. That's called speaking of principle when it's time…"

Elder Su suddenly understood.

No wonder he's the Master—his grasp of the balance between interest and principle is remarkably flexible.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone~

(End of Chapter)