Chapter 43: Yin Ghost? Dharma Protector?

"Father, if something happens to the Chen Clan, our Shang Clan won't be able to avoid it either," Shang Hongchen said coldly.

Shang Yingnian waved his hand: "I naturally understand the principle of shared peril. The Chen Clan won't compromise easily, but I fear the Yin Gui Sect has other calculations. If that fellow Chen Yuan takes a desperate risk for Chen Chusheng, then our Shang Clan would be in danger."

Shang Hongchen thought for a moment, then shook her head: "That won't happen. Uncle Chen Yuan wouldn't do such a thing. The Chen Clan would never throw itself into the embrace of the Yin Gui Sect — Father, do you still not believe this?"

"I naturally believe in Chen Yuan's character, and I believe in the Chen Clan. But with matters like this, who can guarantee anything?" Shang Yingnian said. "Our Shang Clan must also make preparations, so we won't be caught off guard."

Shang Hongchen looked at her father. After a long while, she asked: "Father, if the Chen Clan asks you for help, would you?"

Shang Yingnian naturally knew the reason his daughter asked this. He nodded: "Naturally, I would help. The Chen Clan and the Shang Clan rise and fall together. As long as Chen Yuan doesn't take the wrong path, I, Shang Yingnian, will not play the petty man."

"Besides, there's the matter between your sister and Chen Chuyang."

The words stopped. He had let it slip.

Shang Hongchen's face visibly fell. She said quietly: "Father, Hongxue cannot marry Chen Chuyang, and she cannot marry into the Chen Clan. She is your daughter, not a tool for political marriage."

Shang Yingnian waved his hands repeatedly: "I naturally know that. Hongchen, I wouldn't do such a thing."

"Hmph." Shang Hongchen snorted coldly, warning: "Chen Chuyang is not worthy of our Hongxue. Don't ruin Hongxue's bright future either."

"I know."

Shang Hongchen shot her father a glare — he was too dismissive.

However, Chen Chusheng of the Chen Clan had actually been ambushed by the Yin Gui Sect, and... captured.

This was not good news. A crack had appeared in the iron fortress of Longshe Cheng.

"Chen Chusheng... the Chen Clan."

……

"Master, I've brought Chen Chusheng back."

"Hahaha, Dulan, you've done well. I never expected you to actually succeed. Very impressive."

In the darkness, a voice suddenly rang out.

Candlelight flickered. Luo You Dulan carried Chen Chusheng back, and the Yin Gui Dharma Protector grew excited upon seeing this.

He stepped closer to take a look and confirmed Chen Chusheng's identity.

"Good, it's Chen Yuan's eldest son. With Chen Chusheng in our hands, Chen Yuan won't be far behind."

"Our sect's plan will succeed right here with this Dharma Protector. Hahaha."

The Yin Gui Sect had always wanted to invade Longshe Cheng, but had been blocked by the Chen Clan.

The Chen Clan and the Shang Clan were not easy to deal with, but more importantly, the Great Qi Dynasty behind them was even less easy to deal with.

The Yin Gui Sect had long coveted the vast lands of the Great Qi Dynasty — those resources, those humans, were delicious.

Devouring even a single town was enough to transform them utterly.

The Yin Gui Dharma Protector also had his eyes on those humans, as well as those cultivators — they were the true delicacies.

"Dulan, rest assured. After the matter is done, I will certainly petition for credit on your behalf. When that time comes, I will help you ascend to the position of Holy Maiden of our Yin Gui Sect. Then, we master and disciple will control the Yin Gui Sect and become the supreme beings of the Yin Gui Sect."

"Thank you, Master."

The Yin Gui Dharma Protector stared at Chen Chusheng's body, narrowing his eyes, and slapped Chen Chusheng's body a few times with his palm.

"Alright, watch over him well. I need to go out for a trip, to meet that old fellow Chen Yuan."

"As you command."

Longshe Cheng.

The Shang Clan.

Shang Yingnian saw Chen Yuan off and raised his hand.

Shang Hongchen walked out from behind and asked: "Father, this time you...?"

"He, Chen Yuan, came to my door — how could I not help?"

Shang Yingnian said coldly: "Chen Chusheng cannot come to harm. Hongchen, keep an eye on the Shang Clan these days. Watch over your younger brother and sister well. Don't let them leave the Shang Clan, and don't let them go to Longshe Shan either."

"Your daughter obeys."

Longshe Shan.

Chen Chuyang looked at his father, brows tightly furrowed.

"Father, you're saying eldest brother was captured?"

"Correct," Chen Yuan said with a dark expression. "I've investigated. Your brother was taken by disciples of the Yin Gui Sect. Right now, he's in some cave outside Longshe Cheng. That area is the territory of Yin Gui Sect Dharma Protector Jiang Ming. This time, Jiang Ming..."

Jiang Ming, a Dharma Protector of the Yin Gui Sect, was his father's old adversary.

The two had been rivals in the past, fighting continuously, neither able to get the better of the other.

This time, it was also Jiang Ming who had come to the Longshe Cheng area — old adversaries meeting again.

Eldest brother Chen Chusheng had also been ambushed by Jiang Ming and fell into his trap.

"Father, you intend to go face the Yin Gui Sect Dharma Protector directly?"

"I've found your Uncle Shang. He's going with me." Chen Yuan was still worried.

"I'm worried about you, so I came to tell you in advance."

Chen Yuan feared that when he and Shang Yingnian went to confront Dharma Protector Jiang Ming and rescue Chen Chusheng, this youngest son might encounter problems on his end. He had dispatched some people to protect Longshe Shan, but those people could not stop the people of the Yin Gui Sect.

"Father need not worry about your son, and need not send people to protect your son."

Chen Chuyang still knew a thing or two about the terror of the Yin Gui Sect.

If those Chen Clan disciples came, they would only be sending themselves to their deaths.

"But you..."

"Father, don't worry. Your son's Longshe Shan is not that fragile."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan nodded, acknowledging Chen Chuyang's words.

"Chuyang, on this trip, if your father..."

Chen Chuyang hurriedly interrupted his father's words: "Father, nothing will happen to you."

"Let us hope so."

Chen Chuyang comforted him: "Father, you can definitely save Eldest Brother."

"How about I go with you to save Eldest Brother."

Hearing this, Chen Yuan immediately objected: "No need, Chuyang, you cannot go."

"It is very dangerous this time — not somewhere you can go."

"Stay here peacefully. I do not want to lose you too."

Chen Chuyang rubbed his nose, feeling rather awkward — he was quite formidable.

"Father, I…"

"Enough, say no more. I have decided: you will wait at Longshe Shan. You are not allowed to go anywhere."

"I obey your command."

Chen Chuyang watched his father leave, his eyes narrowing.

"A Dharma Protector of the Yin Gui Sect? Father going to save Eldest Brother this time, perhaps he could…"

"Maybe I should still go take a look. After all, they are my father and Eldest Brother."

He could not just watch his father and Eldest Brother die. His father and Eldest Brother had treated him well enough, after all — they were his own blood kin. Chen Chuyang was not the cold and heartless sort, nor the selfish and self-serving sort.

All these years, his father and Eldest Brother had protected him plenty. Chen Chuyang had seen all of it with his own eyes. Though sometimes Eldest Brother's words were harsh to hear, everything was for his own good.

His father was the same — he had done much, and though he never said it, Chen Chuyang knew. This was his father.

"Sigh."

Chen Chuyang activated all the Formations, then picked up his Alchemy Furnace and turned to leave.