Chapter 163: Turnaround (Patreon)

“So you suspect that in those three weeks that he was gone from the sect, Elder Luli was involved in the assassination of a senior member of one of the Lunar Peaks Sect’s pillar families.”

Lixian Shen had sat down on a rock beside the path to rest while Liu Wei had explained his situation to her. Besides the initial outburst at her head elder’s betrayal, she had remained calm and collected throughout his account.

“Yes. And while I will gladly bring him to justice for what he has done to your sect, finding proof of that still remains my first priority.”

“I understand. And the reason you didn’t arrest him on the spot…”

“…Is that I hope I will learn more if I don’t. I can capture and question him at any point, but I can only observe him like this before I reveal my suspicions to him.”

Lixian Shen nodded calmly, even though this naturally went against her own interests. For her, removing the traitor immediately would have been the best way to stabilize her sect’s situation.

“What is your plan then?”

“Well, considering Elder Luli has already shown us that he tends to act rashly under pressure today, I intend to do exactly that: Put him under pressure. More to the point: I want to push him to try and contact his allies directly. I’m rather certain he has not done so since I’ve arrived here. I would have noticed his extended absence, and he would probably have received some better advice on how to avoid drawing suspicion from me.”

“You intend to catch them all in one fell swoop.”

“Before they have time to respond, yes.”

“And what is the pressure you are envisioning to force him to contact them?”

“Well… That pressure is the reason I am even involving you in all of this.”

Lixian Shen looked at him questioningly. Liu Wei clasped his hands behind his back and gazed into the forest as he began to explain his thoughts.

“Take a moment to consider what each party gets out of this arrangement. Those involved from the side of my sect get to remove me for what they hope will be three years. The demonic cult gets to assassinate powerful cultivators – likely to use their bodies to refine cultivation drugs for themselves. Elder Luli…”

“…gets to become Patriarch.”

“Correct. A position that his family has been holding for generations before Patriarch Luli’s death in the war. One that he is apparently willing to go through great lengths and take considerable risks to attain.”

“So to pressure him to contact his allies, you will threaten to take away his part of the deal.”

Liu Wei nodded.

“I did not originally intend to intervene into your sect’s succession struggle, but I’ve had to let that resolution go.”

“How will you go about it?”

“I’ve already started.”

He turned back around to look at the half-masked woman that was the central piece of his plan. It was mostly the same he had done with the Li Family just a couple of weeks before, just larger in scale.

“Elder Luli’s conduct with the demonic cultist’s interrogation was not well received by the other elders, even if they didn’t openly speak out against it. Unspoken grievances erode alliances – that was the second purpose behind having you question him from the start.

“It was also not a coincidence that I asked you to speak with me right there, in front of several elders. By now, rumors that I am supporting you in the succession struggle will be circulating among them.”

“Rumors that would be correct, no?”

“Absolutely. But rather than an outright show of support, it will not force anybody’s hand right away. Instead of having to act on their existing alliance, the other elders will now have time to think on the matter and talk among themselves about whether they want to continue supporting such an impulsive leader against someone possibly supported by me. By the time I openly show my support, those doubts should have piled up enough to get them to switch sides, or at least withdraw into neutrality.”

“And once they have withdrawn their support, you suspect that Elder Luli will attempt to call upon his allies?”

“It’s not out of question, but I doubt that would suffice.”

“Then…”

Liu Wei smirked.

“There is a way to force his hand with much more certainty.”

…

The Burning Thorns Sect’s council meetings did not seem anywhere near as impressive to Liu Wei as those of his own sect.

Whether that was because this council, having not nearly as much to discuss as that of the Lunar Peaks Sect, met up in the middle of the day instead of the break of dawn, because the actual council had been so decimated by the cult and there was no patriarch to lead it, or because a room Dao Attunement Realm cultivators simply seemed like a bunch of credulous children compared to one of Dao Contemplation Cultivators, Liu Wei could not say.

Head Elder Luli had taken up a seat set up right next to the patriarch’s throne, distinguishing him as the acting leader of the assembly. Liu Wei, sitting in on the meeting despite being an outsider, had again chosen a chair right next to Lixian Shen, which, as the gazes of several elders showed him despite their attempt at being subtle, hadn’t gone unnoticed.

Almost an entire month had passed since the demonic cult’s attack on the head elder’s rival. In the time since, he had shown himself with her several times – never enough to create certainty, but enough to perpetuate the rumors of his support that were going around. Today was the day he would confirm these rumors.

“Welcome everyone to this council meeting. Today, we shall discuss all the pressing matters that our sect is currently dealing with – first and foremost, of course, the ongoing threat of the demonic cult.”

Liu Wei only listened with one ear as Elder Luli launched into a speech about the need for unity and bravery in the face of adversity. Nothing the man could – or rather would – say about the cult here was of much interest to him.

“…all of that being said, let us move on to the discussion proper. Does someone have something they wish to discuss with the council today?”

“I have something.”

Lixian Shen raised her hand.

“Elder Shen… of course. But if this is about the cultivation materials the sect owes you again, I can only repeat myself: Our sect is currently in a difficult situation, as everyone here will agree, so we need to be frugal with our resources. You will receive everything you are due as soon as this crisis is over. Until then, please make do with what you have.”

Liu Wei chose this moment to interject. Perhaps, Tang Luli had hoped to cut off Lixian Shen’s argument before she could make it with this declaration. Instead, he had given him a better opening than they had hoped for.

“Elder Luli, may I have a word?”

“Ahh- revered Elder Wei… of course, of course. Feel free to speak.”

“I do not mean to intrude on your sect’s internal business, but is it not foolish to try to reserve resources at a time when the sect is facing an external threat such as the cult?”

“No, we…”

He didn’t get any further than that, before being interrupted.

“Honored Elder Wei’s wisdom is vast! I agree with his assessment!”

“Well-spoken. Elder Shen is an important member of our sect, after all.”

“Head Elder Luli, you should not think so shortsightedly!”

Several elders nodded along. It had just been a single sentence from Liu Wei, but that was apparently they had been waiting for. Truthfully, Liu Wei hadn’t expected them to be this blatant about switching sides, but perhaps their support for Tang Luli had always been shallower than he had estimated.

Before Elder Luli could retaliate, Liu Wei spoke up again.

“If the Burning Thorns Sect’s financial situation is truly so serious that it cannot afford to take care of its own elders, I feel bad about the generous gifts you have given me. Perhaps I could return them, so they could be put to use for your own people?”

“Elder Wei’s generosity knows no bounds!”

“Truly! It would be unacceptable for us to take those gifts back though.”

“If the sect can’t do it, I shall personally contribute to Elder Shen’s funds instead!”

“I will do the same!”

“Inspiring! Perhaps we could all…”

“Enough!”

Tang Luli’s shout put a stop to the chattering elders.

“All of that will not be necessary. The sect’s coffers are near empty, but Elder Wei’s words are wise. This is not the time to reserve resources. Elder Shen, the sect shall give you what you are owed in full. I trust that you make wise use of it for the benefit of the sect.”

“I am truly glad to hear that.” Lixian Shen paused to let the moment linger, before she continued “That, however, was not, what I wished to speak to the council about in the first place. I wished to start out today’s discussion on a much more positive note.”

“Excuse me?”

Tang Luli’s apprehensive confusion contrasted with the slight, almost serene yet undeniably triumphant smile that showed from underneath Lixian Shen’s mask.

“I merely wished to inform the council that I have reached the bottleneck of understanding and will be attempting breakthrough to the Dao Contemplation Realm shortly.”