Wayfarer-Chapter 329: Vacillating Emotions

Although becoming an Immortal was dangerous, Yu'er possessed the Red Emperor's inheritance, You Jiu the Specter King's inheritance, and Croak and Warble were assisted by the technique The Divine Golden Toad. Without any distraction, they were well prepared to handle their respective tribulation.

Xiao Nanfeng noted that none of them were in trouble before he began distilling the quintessence of solarfire that he had just received. He sat cross-legged, his eyes closed as he drank in spiritual aether and sent it all toward the ninth nascent spirit in his dantian. Four hours later, a gust of flame emerged from his body and spread all around him.

"The ninth stage of Wingform!" Xiao Nanfeng's eyes opened.

Just then, a huge bang could be heard in the distance. Yu'er had fended off the last bolt of lightning in her tribulation with a punch.She was exhausted, bruised and battered with wounds from the tribulation—but she had made it.

The dark clouds above her head transformed into multicolored clouds bearing luck. They descended from the heavens and surrounded her, infusing her body with surprising strength. Within moments, she had absorbed them all.

Even so, she was too weak to do more at the moment. After her successful tribulation, her body relaxed for the first time in hours as she fell from the skies.

An arm caught her handily. She tensed up and was about to resist, only to find herself in Xiao Nanfeng's embrace. She stopped struggling and blushed red. "Nanfeng, let go of me!"

"Congratulations, Immortal Yu'er." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Call me Senior Sister!" Yu'er corrected him immediately.

For some reason, upon seeing Xiao Nanfeng, Yu'er found herself buoyed by happiness, as though all her troubles had suddenly vanished like a cloud of smoke.

Xiao Nanfeng flew back to the island with Yu'er. Once they arrived, he placed a rug on the ground before carefully placing Yu'er on it.

"I have a few pills. Will any of them help you?" Xiao Nanfeng handed her a storage treasure.

"It won't be necessary. I just survived a tribulation, and I've absorbed divine energy into my body as a reward. I simply need to distill it to heal my wounds, but it'll take some time," Yu'er said.

"Rest and recuperate, then. I'll guard you," Xiao Nanfeng volunteered immediately.

Yu'er nodded, closed her eyes, and began to heal her body.

Not too long later, Croak, Warble, and You Jiu also survived their own tribulation. The dark clouds above them transformed into radiant, multicolored clouds that were infused into their bodies.

However, they were all exceptionally weak at present. Xiao Nanfeng flew over and carried them all back.

"Apologies, Sir," You Jiu said wryly.

"I knew that all of you would have been able to flee if you were to scatter. You each summoned a tribulation and launch a kamikaze attack against the crow Immortals in order to protect Yu'er. I can't thank you enough," Xiao Nanfeng said seriously.

"No, no, Sir! This is well within the scope of my duties," You Jiu affirmed.

"Rest and recuperate for now. We can talk about everything else later," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Yessir!" You Jiu replied.

Croak and Warble did the same, finding a secluded spot within which to recuperate. freew(e)bnovel.(c)om

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanjiao ingested a limb regeneration pill. His missing limbs regenerated at a rate visible to the naked eye.

Only then did Xiao Nanfeng notice that there had been some buildings on the island, all of which had collapsed in the violent assault.

"This Immortal residence used to contain a few Immortal techniques and opportunities connected to the Immortal's death. We absorbed it all—then, when Xiang Lianzhen showed up, I had someone destroy the residence so that the technique written on the wall wouldn't fall to his hands," Zhao Yuanjiao explained.

"So be it. All of you have already obtained tangible rewards." Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

"If you hadn't rushed over in time, all of us would have suffered tremendously. How did you know there was danger around here?" Zhao Yuanjiao asked.

"I received word that one of your trusted confidantes had betrayed you. I sensed imminent danger and rushed over as quickly as I could."

Zhao Yuanjiao pursed his lips and sighed, "I was negligent. I underestimated Nalan Qiankun for placing his spy among my blackguards. Many of us died. I won't be forgetting this lesson anytime soon."

"Nalan Qiankun? He must already have been preparing to rebel against the sect. When you return, you'll have to screen all the blackguards again."

"I will. It's time to ferret out any remaining spies." Zhao Yuanjiao's eyes sparked with killing intent as he nodded.

"Has there been word of Master?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Not yet. Even the blackguards haven't found anything." Zhao Yuanjiao frowned.

"Master's exceedingly cautious, and I suspect no news is good news. He and Han Bingdie must still be recuperating."

Zhao Yuanjiao nodded.

By then, Yu'er and the others were slowly waking up.

"Nanfeng, has my mother been badly injured?" Yu'er asked.

"With Master around, she shouldn't be in danger. Have you recovered?"

"Somewhat, but it'll take me a while to reach peak strength again."

"In that case, let's leave this island at once. We wouldn't want the Xiang and Nalan clans to dispatch more Immortals here to raid the island.

"Understood!" everyone shouted.

They briefly cleaned up their surroundings and set off on their way.

Two days later, within the Xiao study in Yongding, Ye Sanshui bowed toward Xiao Nanfeng with a bitter expression on his face. "King Xiao, I bear responsibility for what happened. Please assign me punishment."

"Ye Sanshui, there's no need to blame yourself. There's likely more than meets the eye to this case."

Ye Sanshui grimaced. "I think there must be something wrong too, King Xiao. Ye Dafu might be rather thoughtless at times, but he would never betray you! And yet..."

"Tell me everything again."

Ye Sanshui nodded. "These past few years, on your recommendation, Dafu and I have been trying to contact my eldest brother while fighting in Marquis Wu's territory. My brother promised to return to the Xiao lands immediately, and we started making preparations for the return of our family members. Everything had been going smoothly, but a few days ago, my brother sent word stating that he was no longer going to return."

"Oh?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"I sensed that something was amiss and was worried that the Nalans had taken my eldest brother hostage and forced him to write a letter against his will. We continued to try to reach out to our clan, but problems arose with every method we tried. Ye Dafu was so worried that he brought his lackeys with him to sneak back to the Tianshu capital in search of his father. We've lost track of him ever since."

"You should have told me about this matter." Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

"I was going to, King Xiao, but Ye Dafu and his clique left in haste. He was worried about his father's condition, but yet too inexperienced to consider the big picture carefully. Later, the Tianshu Empire sent word instating Ye Dafu as General of the East. Everyone claims that he betrayed you for the Tianshu Empire, King Xiao, but I swear that he would never do such a thing. He must be in that position unwillingly!"

"I understand. I too would never believe that Ye Dafu would forsake us. He must have fallen prey to the Nalans," Xiao Nanfeng consoled Ye Sanshui.

"The ramifications are immense. Many cultivators in the world at large claim that the betrayal of Ye Dafu, once supreme commander of your forces, King Xiao, is clear indication of your waning power. Many of the sect masters that have chosen to join you are now wavering, and they've come to Yongding to clarify matters. I worry that something bad will happen."

"There's no need to worry. Those who are loyal to me will stay; those who aren't, I don't want to keep."

"But Ye Dafu was the one at the root of this problem! I bear responsibility for not educating him well."

"No, you don't. In this matter, you and Ye Dafu are victims," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Thank you for your consideration, King Xiao!" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.

"I've sent my subordinates to find out where Ye Dafu is located at the moment, and I've issued an edict congratulating Ye Dafu for his promotion to the Tianshu Empire's General of the East," Xiao Nanfeng stated.

"What? That would negatively impact your reputation, King Xiao. Those sect leaders who have allied with you will think that you're scared of the Nalan clan, and they'll foment rebellion and betrayal as well!"

"This is the only way by which we can save Ye Dafu. I intend to make the whole world know that Ye Dafu has 'joined' the Nalan clan and been granted the position of General of the East as a result. For the moment, they won't be able to kill him."

Ye Sanshui, touched, bowed deeply. "Thank you, King Xiao."

"I am the one who should thank you for fighting in my service. This means little to me, and is only an effective strategy because the Xiang clan is at odds with and curbing the Nalan clan. Our foremost priority must be to find Ye Dafu and the others."

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui nodded firmly.

Just then, a spectral guard reported from outside the study, "King Xiao, a man who claims to be the second-in-command of the Ye clan has arrived ostentatiously in Yongding. He headed straight for General Ye's manor, and, upon learning that General Ye has come to the Xiao manor, is making a fuss outside. He refuses to step into the manor and is requesting an audience with General Ye. A crowd has gathered around him."

"Oh? My second brother? What's he doing here?" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.

"Entering the city ostentatiously—I suppose he's up to no good." Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

Ye Sanshui frowned. "My second brother is an immoral gambler. During the time when the Ye clan served Marquis Xiao, he even dared to steal military supplies in order to pay off his gambling debt. My father broke both his hands and forced him to kneel for days in our ancestral hall as punishment. Marquis Xiao, on account of our clan's dedication, spared him from further punishment. He might know where Ye Dafu is. I'll talk to him immediately!"

"I shall join you," Xiao Nanfeng said.

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