Chapter 552: The Contradictory Man (10/10, Autumn Moon Tickets)

Tian Erjun made a gesture of invitation, casting a glance at the white-robed followers of You Sisi; the white-robed and blue-garbed guards understood and began leading the way ahead.

"Then we won't be rude—we'll accept your hospitality and rest first at your Qingsi Office."

"Hah! Lord Tian, you're too kind! To be honest, our Rongwo Sect has never properly toured Qingsi County—this time, let our disciples get a good look, and truly appreciate the scenery of the first county of the Heiqing Shanmai."

The massive procession followed the white-robed figures, filing into the city in orderly single file.

You Sisi frowned slightly: "What's wrong with the question I just asked? Without tallying combat strength, how can we assign personnel? How can we face the enemy?"

Tian Erjun sighed: "They're sect members, not our Qingsi Office people. Asking such a thing publicly won't earn you answers—it'll only offend them."

Sects are not monolithic; they are bound by rivalry and mutual opposition.

The strength of a sect's strongest member is a crucial trump card—no one would ever casually reveal it to their rivals in public.

Even if most sects have a rough idea of each other's top fighters' strength, as long as no one has stated it outright, it retains immense deterrent power—who knows if someone has broken through or attained sudden enlightenment over the years?

The higher the cultivation realm, the greater the gap—even a minor advancement brings a massive disparity in power.

This, as a Xiantian Realm cultivator, Tian Erjun understood best.

Of course, one never reveals one's true cultivation level in public—but privately, it's acceptable to ask, provided the relationship is strong enough.

Tian Erjun's relationships were unquestionably strong—he was the one every sect expected to remain Qingsi County's Chief Qingyi until retirement, so everyone trusted him and maintained good private ties.

"The three Human-level figures are: Bei Hufa of Liehuo Sect, Heng Zongzhu of Hengshan Sect, and Hei Zhanglao of Heilu Sect."

"Including me, there are over twenty Xiantian Realm cultivators."

"The rest are elite post-heaven disciples."

This time, all major sects have deployed their strongest forces to safeguard Qingsi County.

With the three Human-level cultivators standing guard, You Sisi's anxieties eased considerably.

As the two anticipated this, seven or eight more Black Clouds drifted in from afar, swiftly passing overhead and merging directly into the great dark cloud above.

Boom—

The thunderclap exploded, causing the long line of troops entering Qingsi County to all look up at the dark cloud.

Tian Erjun frowned: "That dark cloud—do you have any solution for it?"

"Lord Han said it's the Wuyu Clan's 【Guizu】. I've asked around—no one in Qingsi County can resolve it, and few even have information on it."

"Then how do you plan to handle Ye Baiyi?"

You Sisi didn't hide it—she laid out her previous plan to Tian Erjun.

"Not advisable."

Tian Erjun glanced at the sect leaders entering Qingsi County, then at the dark cloud above—many wore hesitation, their faces grim: "If Ye Baiyi's Black Cloud erupts within Qingsi County—even if, as you say, it sinks underground—a Black Cloud of that scale would still engulf half the county. Once 【Night Rain】 falls, everyone and every Guiyi will suffer. We're already barely holding our own against the Guiyi; add 【Night Rain】, and we're doomed."

"... Then what's your suggestion?"

"..." Tian Erjun said nothing, turning his face away.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me—what are you truly thinking?" You Sisi's tone cooled.

Tian Erjun met her gaze again and sighed: "Since we've established a refuge zone, we can also establish a zone for Ye Baiyi—let him hide in a corner of Qingsi County, as far from the battlefield as possible."

"That's not right—you want him to leave the city." You Sisi said bluntly.

"... Yes."

"I..." You Sisi wanted to say she disagreed.

But the words stuck in her throat.

Because she knew Tian Erjun was right: sending Fang Yue out of Qingsi County was the best protection for the county.

Sacrificing Fang Yue alone would greatly increase Qingsi County's chances of survival.

But to cruelly expel Fang Yue—whose head is crowned by a massive Black Cloud that could unleash 【Night Rain】 at any moment, who bears a terrifying 【Guizu】, whose life hangs by a thread—she simply couldn't do it.

'It's for his own good...' Tian Erjun wanted to say that, but his mouth opened and closed—he couldn't speak it. The words felt nauseating.

He wanted to be the villain this time—but remembering Ye Baiyi's contributions to Qingsi County, he couldn't bring himself to repay kindness with betrayal.

The two stared at each other in silence, tacitly letting the matter drop, agreeing only to return to Qingsi County first.

Indeed, they needed to return to Qingsi County first.

While the two conversed, the sect members had already erupted into chaos.

The sudden arrival of the Black Clouds merging with the one above Qingsi County, accompanied by thunder—this phenomenon was terrifying, unmistakably a precursor to 【Night Rain】.

But it was still daytime; all around, white clouds drifted, the sky clear—only above Qingsi County did the Black Cloud churn, lightning flashing.

Earlier, You Sisi and Tian Erjun had explained the cloud's nature to only a few high-ranking sect members; most remained unaware.

Had the high-ranking members not ordered them to enter, they likely wouldn't have dared step inside, staring at that massive cloud.

Even now, inside Qingsi County, gazing up at the colossal Black Cloud, everyone remained uneasy.

"Holy shit! This is epic! The atmosphere team nailed it!"

Tian Long secretly thrilled.

He was among the first players of the Game Watch, but had terrible luck—no talents whatsoever.

After struggling through hardship, he joined his village's Guard Team as a member, then one midnight, in the village temple, he spotted a drunkard. It was pitch black—he panicked, mistook the man for a Guiyi, and killed him by accident.

After inspection, they discovered the drunkard was actually a disciple of Hengshan Sect, with a token and other proof of identity.

The incident was quickly uncovered. Had he killed a common villager, punishment might have been light.

But since it involved a sect, the village feared repercussions and expelled him.

Not every village's Guard Team is close-knit, mutually supportive.

Most village Guard Teams, under extreme danger, grow even more selfish, obsessed only with self-preservation.

Expelled and wandering aimlessly, Tian Long drifted into a small caravan, barely surviving as a lowly bodyguard—earning little, but never starving, even gaining strength from cooperating to kill Xiao Guiyi.

Later, after traveling with the caravan through two villages and arriving in Qingsi County, he stumbled upon a shocking truth—he had killed a Hengshan Sect disciple who was, in fact, a wanted traitor of Hengshan Sect.

(End of chapter)