At this time, the grand hall was not crowded; aside from Qin Xuan, there were only a dozen or so youths. Ye Jingyu recognized most of them—they were either direct disciples of the Seven Great Elders or close relatives, like Qin Yuting…
Only one man, about twenty years old, was completely unfamiliar to Ye Jingyu. He wore white robes embroidered with several wisps of cloud, his black hair tied back. He possessed a handsome face, sharp eyebrows, and piercing eyes, bearing a striking seven-tenths resemblance to Qin Xuan, suggesting he must be Qin Xuan’s direct descendant, Qin Yunxiao, who had already reached the Innate Realm…
Seeing Ye Jingyu enter, a sharp glint flashed momentarily in Qin Yunxiao’s eyes. It vanished so quickly that only Ye Jingyu perceived it; no one else noticed. However, Qin Yuting, standing beside him, revealed a cruel smile on her face…
“Good. Everyone is present now. I won’t waste time with pleasantries; let’s discuss the purpose of this gathering,” Qin Xuan cleared his throat and spoke upon Ye Jingyu’s arrival…
Though deeply puzzled, Ye Jingyu respectfully stood to the side, lending an attentive ear…
“The Imperial Army is constantly closing in, having already breached the middle of Ninglang Commandery. It is only a matter of time before they reach White Cloud Villa. We can no longer hold back the Imperial forces. In short, we have failed,” Qin Xuan stated calmly. His words carried no trace of defeat, as if this failure were merely a play to him…
Such news was, in fact, within Ye Jingyu’s expectations. While White Cloud Villa possessed the strength to challenge the Imperial Court, they were, after all, a collection of disparate forces. They could handle skirmishes, perhaps, but on a true battlefield against the regular Imperial Army, they stood no chance. That they had managed to hold out this long (For full novel reading, visit .1.(1.m.Literature.net) was already commendable. What surprised Ye Jingyu was that Qin Xuan could be so pragmatic, accepting defeat so readily, and hadn't even once blamed him for his previous counsel…
Based solely on this point, Ye Jingyu felt a surge of respect for Qin Xuan…
Of course, it was only a slight measure of respect. As for sacrificing himself for that small token of esteem alongside White Cloud Villa, sorry—our Young Master Ye was incapable of such heroism…
Yet, contrasting with Ye Jingyu’s composed expression, the others in the hall displayed distinct panic upon hearing the outcome. They were no longer brimming with the excitement or fervor they once possessed. In just half a month, they couldn't repel the Imperial Army? How could this be?
Since childhood, White Cloud Villa had represented the ultimate power in their minds; the entirety of Ninglang Commandery belonged to them. Even the officials from the Imperial Court invariably flattered and catered to them. Thus, they had always believed the Imperial Army was utterly brittle. But who could have imagined that after a mere fortnight, White Cloud Villa would be overwhelmed? This utterly defied their understanding…
However, Qin Yunxiao betrayed no surprise; he seemed to have been aware of the news already…
“Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. This is a trial sent by the heavens upon White Cloud Villa. There is no need for excessive shock,” Qin Xuan shook his head at the panic-stricken faces, continuing, “Those present here are the most elite disciples of White Cloud Villa. You are the future of this sect. Therefore, even if White Cloud Villa is utterly annihilated, you must survive…”
Following this, Qin Xuan revealed the true purpose behind gathering them…
It turned out that White Cloud Villa had suffered a crushing defeat and would inevitably be overrun by the Imperial Army. Since White Cloud Villa was an ancient sect spanning a thousand years, Qin Xuan could not stand by and watch such a grand legacy crumble under his watch. After consulting with the other Elders, they decided to select a cohort of the most promising disciples to evacuate White Cloud Villa and travel towards the State of Jiang, beyond the Heavenly Dipper Mountain Range…
At these words, the hall erupted in renewed discussion. Many voices rose, proclaiming their loyalty and readiness to perish with the Villa, yet Qin Xuan methodically refuted each one…
Ye Jingyu sneered internally at such pronouncements. He clearly sensed that many individuals were privately relieved by this news, yet they insisted on loudly proclaiming their unwavering loyalty to White Cloud Villa—an exercise in extreme hypocrisy…
But this had little bearing on him. Since he was summoned, he presumed he was part of the group slated for the journey to the State of Jiang. Did this mean his difficulty in leaving had just been significantly reduced? White Cloud Villa, Qin Xuan—they meant nothing to him…
The subsequent arrangements were straightforward. The Heavenly Dipper Mountain Range stretched for thousands of miles, running from the northernmost edge of the Douhun Continent down to the desolate Southern Barrens. The peaks were towering, perpetually capped with snow, and the valleys teemed with ferocious beasts. Even a master like Qin Xuan hesitated to venture deep into the range lightly. Therefore, for this contingent to traverse the Heavenly Dipper Mountains to reach the borders of the State of Jiang was a task no less daunting than fighting a decisive battle against the court army of Shu Yun Kingdom…
To safeguard these elite disciples, Qin Xuan summoned two Ancestral Masters who had attained the Grandmaster realm—the Villa’s ultimate trump card. He also tasked Qin Yan with looking after them. The other Elders, however, would remain behind to fight and die with White Cloud Villa…
Hearing this, a chill sank into Ye Jingyu’s heart. After all, he had been at White Cloud Villa for less than a few months; apart from the faint connection to his nominal master, he felt no bonds with anyone else. Now, the leader was Qin Yan, the very man who had brought him to the Villa. From Qin Yan’s unchanging expression, Ye Jingyu could glean nothing of his true intentions. Most critically, Qin Yan’s daughter held absolutely no goodwill toward him. Should they leave the Villa, would she seek his death? What should he do?
However, with matters having reached this stage, Ye Jingyu felt utterly powerless, left only to play by ear and see how things unfolded…
They set off early the next morning. Ye Jingyu carried minimal baggage, just a black satchel slung over his back, following the others out of White Cloud Villa. They moved directly from the rear mountain into the Heavenly Dipper Range. Before leaving, he hadn't even had a chance to bid farewell to his master, and contacting his actual father was currently impossible…
Throughout the journey, whether due to the heavy mood of the group or the inherent dangers of the Heavenly Dipper Range, a pervasive silence reigned. Only Qin Yuting occasionally glanced back at Ye Jingyu, who trailed at the rear. This irritated Ye Jingyu immensely. Why was this young woman holding such a grudge? Had he only spoken a little too carelessly that day? Why did she seem intent on seeing him dead?