Martial Saint with Passives

However, no matter what, he still needed to be cautious and not act rashly.

After confirming there were no more pursuers, Jiang Che carefully cleaned up the scene, then quietly left.

He didn’t go to Yin’s Cloth Shop to find Jiang Ling, but instead found an inconspicuous inn in the city to stay at.

He was afraid that showing his face there would bring danger to the Yin’s Cloth Shop.

At the same time, he sent the crow back to the Sect to closely monitor Xie Songnian’s movements.

...

Inside the Vice Sect Leader’s courtyard.

"The men I sent out all went missing??"

Upon receiving the news, Xie Songnian shot to his feet, his eyes filled with utter disbelief.

Ten experts at the Refining Organ Realm!

One of them was even at the Peak of the Refining Organ Realm!

Sent to hunt down some kid in the Bone Forging Realm.

And in a single day, they all vanished without a trace???

’That Jiang Che... there’s definitely something wrong with him!’

’The disappearances of Xingwen and Liu Cang, and Mr. Wu’s death... I’m afraid he’s connected to all of it!’

’That little bastard dared to play me!’

An intense killing intent instantly filled his heart!

The green flagstones under his feet shattered in an instant!

The trusted disciple reporting the news suddenly felt his heart palpitate, and his body couldn’t stop trembling slightly.

Xie Songnian wished he could go down the mountain right now and capture Jiang Che himself!

But a moment later, he calmed down.

He had no way of tracking the Demon Sect’s mark, so he had no idea where Jiang Che was.

Besides, Jiang Che couldn’t possibly have done all this by himself.

Which meant there had to be a mysterious expert behind him...

How strong this expert was, he still didn’t know.

But to make ten Refining Organ Realm experts disappear without a sound...

’This person has to be at least a True Master Realm expert!’

’And I’m injured right now...’

"Hmph, you can run, but you can’t hide! Unless you never return to the Sect!" Xie Songnian seethed, grinding his teeth.

’As soon as Jiang Che returns to the Sect, I’ll make his life a living hell!’

’And if he never returns to the Sect... then I can just use my authority as Vice Sect Leader to brand him a deserter!’

’By then, the ones sent to hunt him down will be the True Master Realm Elders from the Sect’s Precepts Hall!’

’Those Elders are experts at tracking and incredibly powerful. Once they’re on your tail, there’s no escape!’

Just then, a disciple came in from outside to report:

"Vice Sect Leader, the Sect Leader requests your presence."

Xie Songnian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his roiling killing intent, straightened his robes, and resumed his usual dignified demeanor. "I understand."

He then went to the Sect Leader’s Cultivation Land.

Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi was wearing a simple Daoist Robe. With silver hair and a silver beard, his complexion was ruddy as he sat meditating with his eyes closed.

However, Xie Songnian keenly sensed signs of instability in Xu Zhouzi’s True Qi.

Xu Zhouzi was a Great Cultivator at the Seventh Layer of the True Master Realm; logically, a situation like unstable True Qi should be impossible for him!

’This is a sign that his time is coming to an end!’

’The old man is getting weaker and weaker. He can barely hide it anymore. He’ll probably have to abdicate soon...’ Xie Songnian thought to himself.

On the surface, however, he remained respectful, bowing as he spoke, "Sect Leader, you sent for me?"

Xu Zhouzi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and profound. "Songnian, an edict has arrived from the Court, ordering our Three Great Sects to send representatives to the Capital City for a council."

"The Capital City?" Xie Songnian was taken aback.

"Yes." Xu Zhouzi nodded. "The Great Yan Kingdom to the west is not satisfied with taking three states; I fear they intend to start another war. The True Mother Sect rebellion in the north is also escalating. The Court’s forces are likely stretched thin, and they wish to borrow the strength of us in the Jianghu. It is inconvenient for me to travel far, so this time, you must go and represent our Cangyun Sect."

Although Xie Songnian was reluctant to leave at this critical moment, he could not defy the Sect Leader’s command. He could only bow and reply, "Yes, Songnian accepts the order!"

...

In an inconspicuous inn within Cangzhou Prefecture City.

Jiang Che sat cross-legged on the bed.

He meditated while remotely controlling the crow.

Through the crow’s vision, he saw Xie Songnian, after receiving the Sect Leader’s command, begin instructing his disciples to pack for a journey. He would soon be departing for the Capital City.

Jiang Che let out a long sigh of relief. The nerves that had been taut for days finally relaxed.

’That old dog is finally leaving...’

But he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he remained hidden in the inn for another two days.

Only after using the crow to confirm that Xie Songnian and his party had truly departed did Jiang Che finally set out for Yin’s Cloth Shop to pick up his sister, Jiang Ling.

He couldn’t stay away for too long.

If a Cangyun Sect disciple was not on a mission and failed to return for a long period, it was a violation of the sect’s rules.

It would be one thing if no one pursued the matter. But if someone with ill intentions decided to make an issue of it, they could pin the crime of "sect betrayal" on him.

And an execution order from the Precepts Hall was no laughing matter!

Especially now that Xie Songnian was convinced he was trouble, Jiang Che certainly couldn’t give him that kind of leverage!

...

The backyard of Yin’s Cloth Shop.

The air was filled with the distinct, sharp scent of plant-based dyes.

Several large dyeing vats were lined up in a row, filled with various colors like indigo and madder red.

Jiang Ling had her sleeves rolled up, following behind Yin Yingying, learning to dip a bolt of white cloth into a vat and stir it carefully.

Her nose was smudged with a bit of blue dye, but her expression was focused and joyful. Her eyes sparkled, and she would occasionally exchange a few words with Yin Yingying, letting out soft laughs.

Jiang Che stood at the doorway, watching the scene without immediately speaking.

He remembered when he taught Ling’er Martial Arts Training; although she had been serious, she was nowhere near as genuinely happy as she was now.

’It seems my sister prefers this kind of peaceful, stable life, a life with a homey feel, rather than the bloody path of the Martial Dao.’

He sighed softly, his feelings complicated.

"Brother!" Jiang Ling looked up and saw Jiang Che. A smile immediately bloomed on her face as she dropped what she was doing and ran over.

Yin Yingying also turned around, wiping her hands on a nearby cloth. She smiled, "Jiang Che, you’re here to pick up Ling’er? She’s so clever, a very fast learner!"

"Miss Yingying, thank you for all the trouble these past few days." Jiang Che cupped his fist in gratitude, his tone sincere.

"It was no trouble at all. Ling’er is very well-behaved, and she kept me company." Yin Yingying waved her hand dismissively, then said to Jiang Ling, "Ling’er, if you want to learn more about dyeing cloth, you can come find me anytime!"

"Thank you, Sister Yingying!" Jiang Ling nodded emphatically, clearly reluctant to leave.

Although Jiang Che felt his sister might be happier if she stayed at the cloth shop, he ultimately couldn’t rest easy.

Xie Songnian may have left, but the potential danger hadn’t been completely eliminated.

Only by keeping his sister with him could he look after her at all times.

Besides, imposing on the Yin Family for a long time wasn’t a sustainable plan.

After picking up Jiang Ling, the siblings immediately returned to the Cangyun Sect.

Along the way, Jiang Ling excitedly chattered about the fun things she’d learned about dyeing cloth.

Jiang Che listened patiently, a faint smile on his face, thinking, ’Once this crisis is over, I’ll send her to the cloth shop.’

After returning to their residence in the Sect and getting his sister settled, Jiang Che immediately booked a B-level Cultivation Room and threw himself into his cultivation.

He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, thinking to himself.

’Xie Songnian has only left temporarily; it’s not like he’s gone for good. However, the journey from Cangzhou to the Capital City is long, and his duties will be complex. The round trip will take some time. This period is a golden opportunity for me to increase my strength and seek protection!’

’I must place in the Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference!’ Jiang Che thought, his heart tightening with resolve.

’This great sect competition is the key to breaking this deadlock!’

This had been his plan all along.

’As long as I can shine brightly enough at the Cloud Tier Inquiry Conference and catch the eye of the higher-ups, especially if I can attract the Sect Leader’s attention, then even when Xie Songnian returns, he’ll have to think twice before making a move against me!’

’A disciple with limitless potential represents the future of the Sect. The Sect’s upper echelon won’t allow such a promising sprout to be destroyed!’

Of course, he had also prepared for the worst.

If Xie Songnian was still determined to kill him, he would immediately take his sister and flee to faraway lands.

With the life-saving Shadow Escape Skill from the [True: Shadowless Escape Stream], he was confident he could evade any pursuit!

’The world is vast; there’s always a place to hide!’

As for reporting Xie Songnian, it wasn’t that he hadn’t considered it.

But after thinking it over and over, he concluded it wasn’t feasible.

’First, there’s no concrete evidence. It would be my word against his. Who would believe an ordinary disciple’s accusation against the Vice Sect Leader? Even if someone did, they couldn’t do anything without proof. Second, the Sect’s hierarchy is rigid. Accusing a superior is a major taboo, seen as disrespecting one’s elders and betraying one’s masters. The slightest misstep could lead to being condemned by all, or even sentenced to death! What’s more, Xie Songnian has operated in the Sect for many years and has numerous followers. For me to act rashly would be like an egg trying to smash a rock!’

’Therefore, the most urgent task is not to overthrow Xie Songnian. It’s to display my own value, to step into the spotlight, and make the Sect feel that "this child is worth protecting"!’

’And the best protector...’

’Is none other than Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi!’