Xi Ju Hai didn’t even know what to say in response to that. It was vile indeed but she felt a little happy to hear Mu Qing say this because it meant that he was finally waking up to how bad his Master truly was and that no matter whether he had saved his life or not, there came a point where he couldn’t blindly follow any longer. It seemed that this point in time had finally arrived. Of course, she was glad about that.
She hesitated for a moment but then reached out and grasped his hand. “It hasn’t happened yet so it is not too late to stop it. Let’s think about this and find a way to solve it together.”
“I don’t see one.” Mu Qing could only repeat those words even though he loathed that he had nothing better to add. He wanted to help but didn’t know how to. Apart from having regular three views which his Master apparently lacked, he was nowhere as good as him: His cultivation lacked far behind, his knowledge of his Master’s plan was spotty at best, his mind couldn’t keep up with him on regular days and certainly not when his Master had had decades to plan all this. He just … he was out of his depths with this.
Mu Qing shook his head at himself, feeling useless. At such a time, Xi Ju Hai really couldn’t depend on him. He didn’t have the strength or the ideas to help out even though he should be the person who knew the most in this situation simply by the sake of having spent the most time with his Master. After all, after so many years, he should understand the way he thought, right? Why could he not figure this out?
Xi Ju Hai watched his expression and finally gently squeezed his hand. “Don’t rush. There are still three days. That might not be a lot but it is enough time to figure this out. If we take our time thinking about it, I believe that we can solve this.”
Mu Qing nodded but his brows were still deeply furrowed. He didn’t know how they were supposed to do this but they had to find a solution somehow. Just what could be done? What had to be done to get even close to solving this issue?
He pondered this question for a while and his expression slowly turned better. He didn’t have an idea yet but he was starting to see clearer. “First, we’d need to lessen the threat to my little junior. With his lover’s life on the line, he’ll be hard-pressed to stand up to our Master. If we can guarantee the safety of Elder Baili’s youngest disciple, he’ll have more chances to act.”
Xi Ju Hai nodded. “We can’t prevent them from taking him but maybe we can play some tricks on your side. At that time, who do you think would be responsible for guarding him? Would your Master ask you?”
Mu Qing shook his head. “He doesn’t trust me much and he knows I’m soft-hearted when it comes to you or Ah Bing. He wouldn’t risk it. Rather than that, it’s likely he’ll use some of the disciples already here in the underground palace. They all trust him so they would follow his orders closely. It’s difficult to solve from that direction.”
Yes, they could not rely on the help of others but only on what they themselves could do. Considering how many demonic disciples there would be in addition to his Master and with only him and Mei Chao Bing there to intervene … Although …
Mu Qing looked at Xi Ju Hai with some excitement. “In fact, maybe we can change matters if we act at the right time. My Master will have to let people grab Yun Bei Fen and then lure Ah Bing over. At that time, there would be both him and me who can do something.
“Meanwhile, right now, senior martial brother Zhi and junior martial sister Liu are still here. If they wait here until the time that would be an additional two people on our side with a high cultivation base. It’s not enough to defeat all the disciples of the demonic faction, not to mention my Master, but it could disrupt the rhythm and give us more time.”
Xi Ju Hai nodded. “Yes, and if the rest of our disciples joined in from the outside, that could indeed make a difference. Of course, the disciples aren’t the issue. Your Master is. Especially so if there is nobody who can win against him.”
Mu Qing nodded, his expression solemn. He could solve the guards around Yun Bei Fen to give his junior martial brother some room to breathe but even ten or a hundred of him wouldn’t be enough to defeat his Master. This was the biggest issue. “I suppose there aren’t any artifacts that could be used?”
All cultivation sects had some artifacts that could heighten the strength of a cultivator or even display explosive strength on their own. This was especially true for the four great sects which had the highest position on the righteous side. Whatever artifacts they possessed might be strong enough to deal even with a cultivator at the demigod stage.
Xi Ju Hai sighed. “Even if there are, getting them in just three days … it’s unlikely. I’ll inquire though. Maybe the sects will realize how dangerous this is and work together.” She paused and looked at him questioningly. “What else? You know your Master well. There has to be other things we can do.”
Mu Qing pondered. “That day, he is likely going to be extra careful with everything so he would notice most preparations we could make. Since keeping junior martial brother Yun safe is one of the most important steps, I suppose ensuring that he is dressed as safely as possible when he is grabbed might help. His cultivation shouldn’t be very high, after all. If he comes in here as a disciple in the foundation establishment stage, he’d be a sitting duck.”
Xi Ju Hai didn’t even know what to say in response to that. It was vile indeed but she felt a little happy to hear Mu Qing say this because it meant that he was finally waking up to how bad his Master truly was and that no matter whether he had saved his life or not, there came a point where he couldn’t blindly follow any longer. It seemed that this point in time had finally arrived. Of course, she was glad about that.
She hesitated for a moment but then reached out and grasped his hand. “It hasn’t happened yet so it is not too late to stop it. Let’s think about this and find a way to solve it together.”
“I don’t see one.” Mu Qing could only repeat those words even though he loathed that he had nothing better to add. He wanted to help but didn’t know how to. Apart from having regular three views which his Master apparently lacked, he was nowhere as good as him: His cultivation lacked far behind, his knowledge of his Master’s plan was spotty at best, his mind couldn’t keep up with him on regular days and certainly not when his Master had had decades to plan all this. He just … he was out of his depths with this.
Mu Qing shook his head at himself, feeling useless. At such a time, Xi Ju Hai really couldn’t depend on him. He didn’t have the strength or the ideas to help out even though he should be the person who knew the most in this situation simply by the sake of having spent the most time with his Master. After all, after so many years, he should understand the way he thought, right? Why could he not figure this out?
Xi Ju Hai watched his expression and finally gently squeezed his hand. “Don’t rush. There are still three days. That might not be a lot but it is enough time to figure this out. If we take our time thinking about it, I believe that we can solve this.”
Mu Qing nodded but his brows were still deeply furrowed. He didn’t know how they were supposed to do this but they had to find a solution somehow. Just what could be done? What had to be done to get even close to solving this issue?
He pondered this question for a while and his expression slowly turned better. He didn’t have an idea yet but he was starting to see clearer. “First, we’d need to lessen the threat to my little junior. With his lover’s life on the line, he’ll be hard-pressed to stand up to our Master. If we can guarantee the safety of Elder Baili’s youngest disciple, he’ll have more chances to act.”
Xi Ju Hai nodded. “We can’t prevent them from taking him but maybe we can play some tricks on your side. At that time, who do you think would be responsible for guarding him? Would your Master ask you?”
Mu Qing shook his head. “He doesn’t trust me much and he knows I’m soft-hearted when it comes to you or Ah Bing. He wouldn’t risk it. Rather than that, it’s likely he’ll use some of the disciples already here in the underground palace. They all trust him so they would follow his orders closely. It’s difficult to solve from that direction.”
Yes, they could not rely on the help of others but only on what they themselves could do. Considering how many demonic disciples there would be in addition to his Master and with only him and Mei Chao Bing there to intervene … Although …
Mu Qing looked at Xi Ju Hai with some excitement. “In fact, maybe we can change matters if we act at the right time. My Master will have to let people grab Yun Bei Fen and then lure Ah Bing over. At that time, there would be both him and me who can do something.
“Meanwhile, right now, senior martial brother Zhi and junior martial sister Liu are still here. If they wait here until the time that would be an additional two people on our side with a high cultivation base. It’s not enough to defeat all the disciples of the demonic faction, not to mention my Master, but it could disrupt the rhythm and give us more time.”
Xi Ju Hai nodded. “Yes, and if the rest of our disciples joined in from the outside, that could indeed make a difference. Of course, the disciples aren’t the issue. Your Master is. Especially so if there is nobody who can win against him.”
Mu Qing nodded, his expression solemn. He could solve the guards around Yun Bei Fen to give his junior martial brother some room to breathe but even ten or a hundred of him wouldn’t be enough to defeat his Master. This was the biggest issue. “I suppose there aren’t any artifacts that could be used?”
All cultivation sects had some artifacts that could heighten the strength of a cultivator or even display explosive strength on their own. This was especially true for the four great sects which had the highest position on the righteous side. Whatever artifacts they possessed might be strong enough to deal even with a cultivator at the demigod stage.
Xi Ju Hai sighed. “Even if there are, getting them in just three days … it’s unlikely. I’ll inquire though. Maybe the sects will realize how dangerous this is and work together.” She paused and looked at him questioningly. “What else? You know your Master well. There has to be other things we can do.”
Mu Qing pondered. “That day, he is likely going to be extra careful with everything so he would notice most preparations we could make. Since keeping junior martial brother Yun safe is one of the most important steps, I suppose ensuring that he is dressed as safely as possible when he is grabbed might help. His cultivation shouldn’t be very high, after all. If he comes in here as a disciple in the foundation establishment stage, he’d be a sitting duck.”
