249: Chapter 249 Perception

Valley Master Qin Cangyan's tone was calm, his gaze pausing for a moment on the qiankun furnace at Zhou Tianchen's waist, and then pausing for another moment on the Jinghan Sword at Lu Jinghan's waist.

"Young Master Mu gave specific instructions to spare the lives of those Kunlun Disciples for now and deal with them slowly after entering the Xuanhuang Fortress. Today's priority is the Sun Family; Sun Mingcheng must die."

"Kunlun." The Second Protector, who had been leaning against the wall resting his eyes, opened his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly.

He put down the long saber in his arms, looked at Valley Master Qin Cangyan, and his tone lacked the previous nonchalance, replaced by a bit of solemnity.

"Valley Master, Kunlun is no pushover. How long has that incident with the Liuli Sect been over? Ancestor of Liuli Sect is a genuine Half-Step Immortal, yet they executed him just like that. Isn't it a bit risky for our Cangyan Valley to go head-to-head with Kunlun?"

Valley Master Qin Cangyan turned around, his gaze falling upon the Second Protector. A trace of approval flashed through his deep and composed eyes, but there was even more certainty.

Over the years, he and Cangyan Valley had grown to where they were today under the protection of the Mu Family, and they had never relied on sheer recklessness.

Who could be touched, who could not be touched, and who could not be touched temporarily but could be touched later—he had a clear ledger in his mind.

Kunlun was indeed not to be trifled with, but Young Master Mu was right. Today's priority was the Sun Family; as long as the people of Kunlun did not actively interfere, Cangyan Valley would not touch them. As for the Xuanhuang Fortress, that was another matter.

"Precisely because Kunlun is not to be trifled with, Young Master Mu specifically instructed that today we only touch the Sun Family and do not touch Kunlun's people." Valley Master Qin Cangyan looked out the window again, his voice low and steady.

"There is no need for you to remind me of the Liuli Sect's cautionary tale. Figures like Ancestor of Liuli Sect perished in the Southern Wasteland, and Cangyan Valley is not arrogant enough to think it can arm-wrestle with Kunlun."

"However, Young Master Mu also said that life and death within the Xuanhuang Fortress are up to the heavens. Even if the Lord of Kunlun wants to investigate afterwards, he won't be able to pin it on anyone."

The Second Protector pondered for a moment, nodded, and said no more.

The remaining three Protectors also put away their previous lazy expressions, their demeanor carrying a bit more caution.

Valley Master Qin Cangyan was right; Kunlun's people could be dealt with slowly after entering the Secret Realm, but moving against them prematurely today would be tantamount to Cangyan Valley digging its own grave in Huaiyang City.

"Wait until Sun Mingcheng leaves the tea stall, and make a move in a secluded place." Valley Master Qin Cangyan withdrew his gaze, his tone returning to its habitual cold stiffness.

"Settle it quickly and leave no traces. Number Four, go set up a teleportation array outside the North City Gate. Once it's done, we will evacuate from the North Gate and not stay in Huaiyang City a moment longer."

The Fourth Protector, who was browsing a Jade Slip, acknowledged, stood up, and pushed the door open to leave.

At the tea stall across the street, Lu Jinghan slowly placed the teacup in his hand back onto the table, the bottom of the cup touching the wooden table with an extremely light, crisp sound.

His gaze still calmly looked at the bustling crowd on the street, but his Divine Sense had already quietly swept across the entire street in an imperceptible gap.

From the guest room on the second floor of the inn shrouded by sound-insulating Restrictions, to the window seat on the second floor of the teahouse where Zheng Lingfeng was, to those hidden sentries of the Zheng Family pretending to stroll at the corner of the street, and those Cangyan Valley Disciples in the inn lobby who appeared to be drinking and eating meat.

All the details fell into place one by one in his perception, like chess pieces turned over on a chessboard, the position of each one clear and definite.

"Brother Sun." Lu Jinghan spoke, his voice not loud, yet it made Sun Mingcheng involuntarily put down the folding fan in his hand.

"Does Brother Lu have any instructions?"

"How much longer until your Second Uncle arrives?"

Sun Mingcheng took out a communication jade talisman and glanced at it: "Just received word, he was delayed for a moment by the city guards at the North City Gate. There's about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense left."

"Then we will wait for him here." Lu Jinghan's tone was calm, "Do not leave alone."

Sun Mingcheng was slightly stunned, and then sensed something.

He looked in the direction where Lu Jinghan's gaze had just swept, first seeing those suspicious Zheng Family attendants at the street corner, and then seeing that dark red figure in front of the second-floor window of the inn.

Although his expression did not change drastically, his fingers holding the folding fan tightened a bit.

He did not ask further, just nodded solemnly, and then quietly moved the short sword at his waist slightly forward to ensure he could draw the sword at any time.

Duan Xinghe also put down the sword tassel in his hand at the same time.

He did not speak, simply placing the pitch-black long sword from his arms onto his knees, his slender fingers resting lightly on the hilt, his movement as casual as if he were merely changing into a more comfortable sitting posture.

However, the illusory starlight Qi around his body became a bit more solid in that instant, like starlight blown away by the wind in the night sky suddenly gathering into a beam.

Zhou Tianchen was still holding his teacup, his expression as usual, and even a hint of a gentle smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.

But if one looked closely, they would find that on the lid of the qiankun furnace at his waist, at some point, an extremely thin circle of golden fire lines had appeared, slowly roaming along the edge of the furnace lid like a dormant wandering dragon resting its eyes, ready to open its eyes at any moment.

On the second floor of the Medicinal Pill shop diagonally across from Laifu Inn, Yun Tianxiang took in all of this.

He saw Zheng Lingfeng's winning look by the teahouse window, saw a Protector of Cangyan Valley leave from the side door of the inn heading towards the North City Gate, and saw Lu Jinghan quietly placing his hand beside the hilt of the Jinghan Sword.

He knew that Senior Brother had already noticed.

He continued to stare at Zheng Lingfeng, staring at the movements of Cangyan Valley, and more importantly, he wanted to see if Mu Mingfeng would show up behind today's affair.

Zheng Lingfeng was merely a prodigal son used as a knife by others; the true mastermind was the faction of the Fifth Elder of the Mu Clan.

He had to secure direct evidence of the Mu Family's involvement in this matter so he could follow the clues and find out what role the Mu Family played in the destruction of the Yun Family back then.

The time it takes to burn a stick of incense slowly passed in silence.

Sun Mingcheng's Second Uncle, Sun Heting, finally appeared at the street corner, followed by two attendants leading three weary Spirit Beast mounts with bulging saddlebags, clearly having harvested a bountiful harvest from this trip to the Northern Territory.

He spotted Sun Mingcheng at the tea stall at a glance, raised his arm and waved from afar, and walked towards them with large strides.

"Mingcheng, why did you run off to the East City? I was planning to go to the Sun Family to look for you. Yo, and these few are?"

Sun Heting walked up close, his gaze falling upon Zhou Tianchen and the other two, sizing them up slightly.

Having traveled outside year-round and having seen countless people, he could tell at a glance that these three young people possessed extraordinary bearing, especially the dark-clothed youth with an ice-blue long sword hanging at his waist, whose body Qi was restrained to the extreme, to the point that even he, in the Early Integration Stage, could not fathom his depth.

"Second Uncle, these few are my friends, Disciples of Kunlun." Sun Mingcheng stood up to make introductions, and introduced Zhou Tianchen and the other two to Sun Heting one by one.