It didn't take long to find Xu Jingzhi. Mo Tiange approached him and noticed his complexion was also terrible. She tugged at his sleeve to regain his attention.
"Junior Brother Ye..." Xu Jingzhi trembled slightly, "How... how could this happen?"
How could Mo Tiange answer that question? She could only try to comfort him: "Senior Brother Xu, don't worry. I think they just want to annex the other two sects. They won't kill people unless absolutely necessary."
Xu Jingzhi shook his head. "Annexing other sects isn't that easy. The three sects have been established here for thousands of years. There have been times when one sect was particularly powerful, but they've always coexisted peacefully... Every sect has complex relationships. Oppressing with force is easy, but gaining complete control isn't simple. I have a feeling that with the Zixia Sect taking this action, rivers of blood will flow."
Mo Tiange fell silent. She didn't understand much about sect and family politics, but what Xu Jingzhi said sounded quite reasonable.
Turning her head, she saw Qin Xi approaching. "Two Junior Brothers," he said. Though his expression was calm, it was much graver than usual.
"Senior Brother Qin." Mo Tiange looked around. "Have you seen Senior Brother Liu?"
Qin Xi shook his head. "I don't know where Senior Brother Liu is. I only saw you two." He paused, then added, "I did see Senior Brother Jiang, though. He looked very upset."
Xu Jingzhi snorted coldly. "Of course he looks upset. It was his Jiang Family that betrayed the Yunwu Sect!"
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi were both startled. "The Jiang Family?" That Core Formation cultivator who acted as the inside agent had indeed been addressed as 'Brother Jiang'.
"So that was the Jiang Family's Core Formation Ancestor," Qin Xi nodded slightly. "It seems Senior Brother Jiang isn't feeling well about this either."
"What does he have to feel bad about?" Xu Jingzhi sneered. "Now his Jiang Family has gotten what they wanted—seizing power within the sect, even if it means becoming someone else's lackey!"
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a glance but didn't respond. Everyone knew Jiang Shanghang didn't get along with his family. Besides, Qi Refining disciples like them wouldn't be privy to such matters. Jiang Shanghang had probably just found out, and his feelings were undoubtedly more complicated than anyone else's.
After some thought, Qin Xi said, "Right now, all we can do is wait. Junior Brother Xu, keep your spirits up. If something changes, we need to be ready to respond."
Xu Jingzhi knew this, but thinking about his family within the Yunwu Sect made him restless.
The three of them found a corner and waited slowly. A night passed, and finally, a streak of Escape Light flashed across the horizon. This light landed on the square, revealing another Core Formation Cultivator. After exchanging a few words with those left behind, the cultivator walked up to the Yunwu Sect disciples and announced, "All disciples, follow me back to the Yunwu Sect. Do not disobey!"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange and the other two hesitated.
Xu Jingzhi whispered, "Could it already be..."
They could guess what he meant. Being ordered back now could only mean the matter had been settled. They didn't know what had been done to seize control of the sect.
Qin Xi remained calm. "We'll know when we get back and see."
Mo Tiange nodded. "Exactly. Senior Brother Xu, let's go back first."
Xu Jingzhi nodded, his face pale.
Hundreds of Yunwu Sect disciples boarded the Core Formation Cultivator's flying Magical Treasure. When they came, their unease was due to excitement. Now, returning, their unease was due to fear.
Though Mo Tiange wasn't as worried as Xu Jingzhi, she feared that innocent people might be hurt during the conflict. If the Core Formation cultivators' battle destroyed the Yunwu Mountain Market, her Second Uncle would be in danger.
Anxious and impatient, the journey of several hours felt especially long. After what seemed like an eternity, the entrance to Yunwu Mountain finally appeared below.
After landing on the Yunwu Sect square, the Core Formation Cultivator barked, "All disciples, return to your Cave Abodes! Do not go out casually!"
Naturally, no one dared question this. The Yunwu Sect disciples lowered their heads and scattered. Even those worried about their families didn't dare say anything. Mo Tiange glanced toward the foot of the mountain. Everything seemed calm, with no signs of fighting. Her Second Uncle should still be safe, right?
Returning to their residence, no one was in the mood to talk. They all sat in the small hall in a daze. Even Jiang Shanghang didn't return to his room, instead sitting with them, staring distractedly at the door. Liu Yidao was nowhere to be seen and still hadn't appeared.
Xu Jingzhi grew more anxious the longer he waited. He stood up and began pacing circles in the hall. Finally, Jiang Shanghang slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table with a loud "thud" and growled, "Stop pacing!"
This outburst gave Xu Jingzhi's pent-up emotions an outlet. He stopped abruptly, his eyes seeming to spit fire. After a long moment, he stiffened his neck and said, "What did you say?"
Jiang Shanghang muttered, "You're making me dizzy!"
Xu Jingzhi paused, then suddenly stepped forward, his teeth clenched. "You dare say that! It's all because your Jiang Family bit the hand that fed them! As elders of the Yunwu Sect, you actually colluded with outsiders! How dare you say anything?!"
Jiang Shanghang's face paled, then flushed red the next instant as he sprang to his feet. "What they do has nothing to do with me! What do you think the others are, saints? Your Xu Family just didn't have the capability! Otherwise, who knows who would have been the traitor!"
"You..." Xu Jingzhi's expression changed dramatically. He rushed forward, grabbed Jiang Shanghang by the collar, and raised a fist.
Jiang Shanghang wasn't about to back down either. With just those words, the two were about to start brawling.
Mo Tiange's mind was troubled, but seeing them like this, she had no choice but to step in and break it up. However, she was still cautious and didn't dare get too close to them. For a moment, she couldn't pull them apart, so she cast a pleading look at Qin Xi, who remained seated and unmoving.
But Qin Xi shook his head at her. Mo Tiange was puzzled. What did that mean? Should she not interfere?
Qin Xi sighed and pointed to the spot beside him. When she hesitantly came over and sat down, he said, "They're both unsettled. Letting them fight it out might help them vent. Don't worry, look—they're not using spiritual energy. They won't seriously hurt each other."
"Is that so..." She looked back to see the two finally wrestling, punching and kicking without any technique, just like ordinary mortals.
After a long while, they finally stopped, exhausted. Both were bruised and panting heavily. Mo Tiange sighed and helped Xu Jingzhi up. "Senior Brother Xu, I won't help treat your injuries. You can look in a mirror yourself."
Xu Jingzhi slumped into a chair and smiled bitterly. "What kind of time is this, Junior Brother Ye, and you're still cracking jokes?"
"What else can we do but joke?" Mo Tiange looked at the peaceful scene outside. "We can't do anything."
Just then, someone hurried into the courtyard. Xu Jingzhi exclaimed with delight, "It's Senior Brother Liu!"
Everyone gathered around. Liu Yidao was startled as soon as he entered the room.
Unable to hold back, Xu Jingzhi asked, "Senior Brother Liu, what happened? Where did you go?"
Liu Yidao looked at them and smiled bitterly. "I was left behind at the Zixia Sect and just returned. You—" He noticed the bruises on Xu Jingzhi and Jiang Shanghang's faces. "What happened to you two Junior Brothers?"
Qin Xi said, "Don't worry about it, Senior Brother Liu. They just had a disagreement. When you returned, did you see what's happening outside? How are things?"
Liu Yidao glanced hesitantly at the two, then answered, "Don't worry, Junior Brothers. There haven't been any major changes within the sect. However, it's best not to go out these next few days. I heard they're going to purge the various factions within the Yunwu Sect. We'd better not get involved."
"Is that so?" Hearing this, Xu Jingzhi smiled bitterly. "I don't know how my family is doing. If they're fine, they should have sent a message."
Liu Yidao comforted him, "Don't worry, Junior Brother Xu. Immortal cultivation families are the foundation of the sect. As long as your family didn't resist, they should be fine."
Even so, Xu Jingzhi couldn't help worrying. Jiang Shanghang, though not worried about his family, felt even worse upon hearing this news. Without a word, he returned to his room and slammed the door shut with a loud "bang."
Mo Tiange gazed outside, her mood heavy. So a purge was indeed coming. It seemed that beneath this calm surface, the Yunwu Sect was truly about to see rivers of blood flow.