For several days now, Han Dong and Ouyang Ye had been quietly hiding with Qian Shan in a secluded cave dwelling.
Although they had evaded the search parties of various factions, the stone that had been hanging in Han Dong's heart had not yet settled.
It wasn't worry for herself, nor was it worry for Gu Qingfeng, but worry for her master, who was also the current Palace Mistress of Yaoyue Palace, Daozun Feiyan.
She was terrified.
Terrified that if the various factions couldn't find Gu Qingfeng and couldn't find her, they would make things difficult for her master, especially the people of Yaoyue Palace.
Han Dong was very clear that the Second Elder and others of Yaoyue Palace had long been coveting the position of Palace Mistress. They had only refrained from acting out of fear of gossip and damage to their reputation. Now that Gu Qingfeng had killed so many people at Wuse Mountain, would the Second Elder use this incident as a pretext? Would he make things difficult for her master?
Thus, she had been on tenterhooks, having wanted several times to return to Yaoyue Palace, but each time Qian Shan had stopped her, telling her to wait a while longer.
As the saying goes, what you fear most is what comes to pass.
Han Dong finally received the news she had been dreading most.
The Second Elder had indeed used the Wuse Mountain incident to make things difficult for her master. Not only that, he had made a big fuss about it. Stripping her of her Heir Apparent title was one thing, but he had even stripped her master of her position as Palace Mistress. What made Han Dong's heart ache even more was that the Second Elder and his faction had also imprisoned her master!
Upon receiving this news, Han Dong could no longer sit still. She insisted she must go to Yaoyue Palace.
She was an orphan, with no father or mother. Daozun Feiyan had raised her single-handedly. It was no exaggeration to say that Daozun Feiyan was Han Dong's only family in this world.
Qian Shan tried to persuade her: "Han Dong, you need to think this through clearly. Right now, all the major sects are looking for the three of you, and Yaoyue Palace is no exception. The reason those Elders imprisoned your master and publicized it is likely because they've already laid a trap, just waiting for you to walk right into it."
"My master's kindness to me is as weighty as a mountain. Even if I die, I must rescue her!"
Seeing Han Dong's resolute determination, Qian Shan knew further persuasion was useless.
"Sister Han Dong, if you must go to Yaoyue Palace, I'll go with you!"
"Ye Ye, you stay here. I'll go myself..." Han Dong started to say something, but Ouyang Ye directly cut her off: "Sister Han Dong, I know what you want to say, but I don't want to hear it. I'm tired of hearing those words. You also know my temperament. Once I decide on something, I absolutely will not change my mind. Today, if you let me accompany you, I'll accompany you. If you don't let me accompany you, I'll still accompany you. I'm definitely going."
Yes.
Han Dong knew Ouyang Ye's temperament.
She also knew that once Ouyang Ye decided on something, she wouldn't change her mind. But she really didn't want to implicate others, so she looked at Qian Shan, hoping Qian Shan would forcibly keep Ouyang Ye here.
Before Qian Shan could speak, Ouyang Ye, as if guessing her intention, said: "Sister Han Dong, if you want Sister Qian Shan to forcibly keep me here, I'll die right in front of you...
You know I, Ouyang Ye, mean what I say."
"Ye Ye...
How can you..." Faced with someone as stubborn and obstinate as Ouyang Ye, Han Dong truly didn't know what to say.
At this moment, Qian Shan, who had been silent, spoke up: "Since you're going, then I'll accompany you on this trip. However, this journey is truly a matter of life and death. Once you appear at Yaoyue Palace, the various factions will inevitably receive the news immediately. Rescuing your master from Yaoyue Palace's hands isn't particularly difficult, but trying to rescue her from the hands of all those factions... that is undoubtedly as difficult as climbing to the heavens. But...
Let's see how it goes. We'll try our best to rescue her if we can. If we can't...
We'll think of another way."
Under ordinary circumstances, Qian Shan would never involve herself in such mundane, worldly affairs. Although she had met Han Dong once before, that was all there was to it; there was nothing more between them.
The real reason she felt compelled to get involved in this matter was Ouyang Ye.
It wasn't just because of her good relationship with Ouyang Ye, but more importantly, because Su Hua had once instructed her, saying Ouyang Ye's identity was extraordinary, and she might even be a person destined for a great tribulation, though she hadn't yet 'awakened.' Before she awakened, her safety should be ensured as much as possible.
It was out of concern for Ouyang Ye's safety that Qian Shan felt she had no choice but to intervene in this matter.
"Senior Qian Shan, I can manage on my own...
You should still stay here..." Han Dong didn't want to implicate Ouyang Ye, let alone Qian Shan, but before she could finish her sentence, a rare smile appeared on Qian Shan's solemn face. "You don't need to worry too much. The Fairy is already on her way. If she can arrive in time, there might still be room to salvage this situation."
Ouyang Ye asked excitedly: "Is Sister Su Hua coming too?"
Qian Shan nodded in response: "A few days ago, I already informed the Fairy about this matter via a message talisman. She's been on her way for a while now and should arrive within the next couple of days."
Without further delay, Qian Shan took Han Dong and Ouyang Ye, and the three of them headed directly for Yaoyue Palace.
...
At this very moment.
The main hall of Yaoyue Palace was packed with people.
Standing on the left side were the Council Elders of Yaoyue Palace. On the right stood the direct disciples.
Seated in the central seat of the hall was a middle-aged man with a deep, somber expression. This person was slightly plump in build, appearing unsmiling and reserved as he sat upright in the chair, eyes closed, rotating two crystal-clear glass balls in his palm, as if deep in thought.
This person was precisely the Second Elder of Yaoyue Palace, Feilu.
Almost everyone in Yaoyue Palace and the Great Northwest knew that although Feiyan was nominally the Palace Mistress of Yaoyue Palace, it was only in name. The one who truly wielded power in Yaoyue Palace was this Daozun Feilu. From the Council Elders down to the direct disciples and even the ordinary disciples, the entire palace followed his lead.
Just as Han Dong had said.
The Elders, led by the Second Elder, had long coveted the position of Palace Mistress of Yaoyue Palace, but had refrained from acting out of concern for their reputation.
If they forced a palace coup, it would be unjustified and improper.
Not only would their reputation suffer, but the Second Elder would also be the subject of gossip for the rest of his life.
After all, Daozun Feiyan was the Palace Mistress personally appointed by the Borderland Queen, Feng Zhuyue.
Therefore, the Second Elder had been waiting, waiting for an opportunity.
And now, that opportunity had finally arrived.
Using the Wuse Mountain incident, the Second Elder successfully stripped Feiyan of her position as Palace Mistress and also stripped Han Dong of her Heir Apparent title.
He had thought that from then on, he could rightfully become the Palace Mistress of Yaoyue Palace. However, what the Second Elder had never imagined in a thousand thoughts was that the Supreme Ancestors of Yaoyue Palace, who had been in closed-door cultivation for many years and hadn't shown their faces since the opening of the ancient era a hundred years ago, had returned. And it wasn't just one who returned, but three.
If it were only the other Ancestors, given the Second Elder's current strength and status, he wouldn't be afraid. The problem was that Yaoyue Palace's most senior, most profoundly cultivated Ancestor, Fenghua, had also returned.