Chapter 370 (1/2)
”Xue, you must leave, you can easily use one of the secret shelters that we created in these lands. Even if it's the Soaring Dragon Sect they won't be able to find you.”
”Brother, it's fine…”
A confused Zhang Liu was yanked back as he was trying to pull his younger sister away. He was just informed by Zhang Jin of what the real reason for that sect's arrival was. If it was true then his sister would be subjected to a life worse than death.
”What do you mean, you must escape, we can't let that maniac desecrate you!”
While Zhang Liu continued yanking Xue finally managed to get her hand free. She grasped her wrist while looking down to the floor. Her shoulders were slumped forward but she seemed to have made up her mind.
”No brother, if I escape by myself many of our brothers and sisters could die…”
Zhang Jin that was here as well started frowning as he knew what his great-granddaughter was getting at. There was no telling what the young master of the Soaring Dragon Sect would do if the prize he came for was not here.
He knew of a few circumstances of this happening which always led to more deaths. This person clearly didn't hold people up to high standards. When being denied what they thought was theirs they would lash out and if they did lives were at stake.
”It pains this old man to admit it but…”
”But what? You can't seriously be thinking of just giving up Xue to those bastards!”
Zhang Jin didn't know what to say, he could see the pain in Zhang Liu's eyes. It seemed that he was taking it rather badly while his sister was somewhat composed. Zhang Jin wasn't sure what was going through her head but she was clearly willing to make the sacrifice.
”Brother, stop shouting, it's not grandfather's fault! If it means that I can save lives I will gladly sacrifice myself for the sect just like master did!”
Zhang Xue started shouting back while tears formed in her eyes. The moment she mentioned her master everyone was reminded of the times that Zhang Dong put himself in danger for the sect.
The first time was against the Dark Palm sect, he had almost lost his life during the expedition. Then he faced off against their elders in the final battle and finally came out victorious at the end with some help from the two other nascent soul elders.
Some of the sect members were against how the Patriarch acted. This was shown at the time where he agreed to help another sect out. No one really saw the merit of them facing off against that monstrosity. Some even blamed him to this day as his disappearance only weakened them.
”Have you set your mind to this?”
Zhang Liena walked out while being followed by two attendants.
”I did, matriarch.”
”Liu, you need to calm down. Nothing is set in stone, you might not be the reason for that young lord to come here.”
What Zhang Jin informed them about had been confirmed by some other sources. This didn't mean that the man in question always went for the particular beauty in question.
”For the time being, remain hidden, if he doesn't call for you directly we won't have to reveal you to them.”
Zhang Liu let out a sigh of relief but his frowning face did not vanish. He would remain by his sister's side for the time being.
”The scouts say that they will be there within four hours. Please use this time to calm yourself down.
Soon everyone from here departed. The members from the Huo side of the sect were a bit less friendly as they left a few people to watch Zhang Xue and Liu's movements. Everyone knew that the sect was at stake here and they would be willing to give up the late Patriarch's niece to let it survive.
”This sect is changing…”
”Yes, it has not been the same since master vanished, wherever could he be… we couldn't find anything, not even a flicker of his Qi or soul…”
Zhang Liu dropped down on a couch while sighting out some more. Both he and his sister noticed that after about a year of their master's disappearance the people started to change.
Their master was not one to make public appearances often but he was regularly seen flying around the sect. At first, they told everyone that he was just cultivating, this was an excuse that worked most of the time.
It could take many years for a nascent soul cultivator to progress through a bottleneck. Thus it was not odd to not see them for years on end. Even then, everyone knew that something was off.
Whenever something happened only the grand elders were sent to clear up the problem. Some problems were resolved but others were not. The sect started clearly operating similarly to others and not as it used to when the Patriarch was at the helm.
Soon some started speculating that the Patriarch was either injured or dead. No longer did they see him clearing up demonic beasts or healing the injured. No more lectures were given, the techniques that he improved upon were also slowly getting withheld by the top brass.