Chapter 80: Off With His Head!
Translator: Editor:
Qin Weiwei asked, “Where did Miao Yi go?”
Yan Xiu smiled apologetically and replied, “The Cave Master went to patrol the domain.”
Surprised, Qin Weiwei realized that the guy really felt extremely at ease in his own home. He had just arrived, and dared to drop the affairs of the abode of Immortals to head out on a patrol. She then asked, “When is he coming back?”
“This…,” Yan Xiu shook his head in reply. “Your subordinate also does not know when Cave Master will be back.”
Qin Weiwei coldly sneered, “Then immediately find him and bring him back to me.”
Yan Xiu was suddenly struck with the urge to cry but had no tears left to do so. “Mountain Chieftain, the entire realm of East Arrival Cave is humongous...”
He did not dare finish his words, but the implication was obvious - ‘where would I be able to find him in such a huge place?!’
After some thought, Qin Weiwei also felt that it was indeed making things rather difficult for him, so she didn’t waste anymore time on this matter. She began to call everyone over one by one, so she could ask what was the matter with everyone reporting to condemn the slain Song Fu.
“Did Miao Yi use any tactic to threaten you all?”
“Mountain Chieftain, where did that idea come from? The Cave Master certainly did not threaten us at all. The blame can only lay on that Song Fu who really did not know the immensity of heaven and earth. Although I am from the same sect, I also cannot bear to overlook his ways any longer.”
It was futile even if she had sealed Dan Biaoyi’s lips. No matter how Qin Weiwei beat about the bush to ask, or how she attempted to threaten coax, coerce and even bribe them; her attempts were all useless. Everyone firmly stood their ground and would not say anything else. They would only speak ill of Song Fu, and were determined to defend the Great Cave Master Miao; thus causing Qin Weiwei to gnash her teeth with hatred. If only the whole of Mount Calming Sea was like this, but sadly, it was only in East Arrival Cave.
There was definitely something fishy going on here. But these people, regardless of whether it was the men with Yan Xiu whom she had personally dispatched, or the men from the School of Blue Jade, there were all banding together akin to a metal bucket. Their lips were sealed no matter what.
Qin Weiwei decided to wait until Miao Yi came back before settling the score with him.
Alas, she waited for three days and had yet to see Miao Yi return. Even she wouldn’t know when can that guy would come back.
What made her more speechless was that even with the Cave Master absent from East Arrival Cave, the group of subordinates managed to maintain the affairs of East Arrival Cave in a clear and orderly manner.
Every other Cave Master had made reports that disciples from the School of Blue Jade refused to perform tasks such as guarding the mountain gates, or doing menial jobs and the like. However, this was not present in East Arrival Cave. Rather, it was Miao Yi’s trusted subordinates, Yan Xiu and group, who did not need to do these tasks. They were all entirely done by the highly devoted and committed disciples from the School of Blue Jade.
Apart from that, the attitude Wang Zifa and the rest displayed to Yan Xiu were clearly very courteous. From this, the kind of attitude that they gave to Miao Yi could also be seen.
Observe the Great Cave Master Miao! In just one night, he had administered East Arrival Cave to this extent, his prestige shooting to extreme heights in the eyes of his subordinates.
Moreover, the people whom she had personally appointed hadn’t managed their caves very well. Each and every single one of them kept complaining to her whilst on the flip side, the person who she wasn’t willing to appoint, had managed the affairs adequately. So whose face was being slapped right now?
The thought almost caused the silently observing Qin Weiwei to cough up blood. Could it be that she was measuring the stature of great men by the yardstick of a small man?
During such tumultuous times, it was impossible for her to continue staying here. Who in the world would know when will Miao Yi return?
After waiting for three days, she finally left with her entourage. Nobody knew what she was planning to do. In the end, she had brought Dan Biaoyi along as well.
This decision caused Yan Xiu’s group, who were seeing them off at the mountain gates, to be in a perturbed state of mind. Each of them threw meaningful glances at Dan Biaoyi implying, ‘You have to stay strong!’
Everyone knew perfectly well in their hearts that once Dan Biaoyi failed to resist and spilled the beans entirely, whether or not they would still be able to obtain the Orbs of Will from Cave Master Miao was no longer of importance. The most crucial point was that the men from the School of Blue Jade would never let them get away with it.
Yan Xiu’s group had killed a disciple of the School of Blue Jade.
And the disciples of the School of Blue Jade had also betrayed their own sect.
With this resulting incident, the disciples from the School of Blue Jade were extremely frightened and full of regret. They bemoaned boarding Miao Yi’s ship of deceit with profits high in mind back then, leaving them now fearful of disembarking from his ship when facing Qin Weiwei. Furthermore, they had to desperately work together to row the terribly battered ship, with water seeping in from everywhere, without turning back to shore.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Qin Weiwei noticed the expressions on everyone’s faces. Putting on a cold front, she was increasingly and absolutely certain that there was something amiss.
Handmaiden Hong Mian shot a glance at her master, the corner of her lips unable to hold back her smile. She thought to herself, ‘regardless of whether there was something fishy going on, it was evident that Miao Yi definitely had the unruly men eating out of his hands to be able to make them band together like this.’ It was no wonder that he, just fresh off the boat, dared to throw the cave affairs down and travel as he liked. If the other Cave Masters had this same capability, it would have been much easier to settle Mount Calming Sea’s affairs.
However she was uncertain if what Mountain Chieftain had said was true, if Miao Yi had seriously obtained the sincere allegiance of his underlings, she would give the Mountain Chieftain seat to Miao Yi...
Obviously, Qin Weiwei had seen through her train of thoughts and threw her a nasty glare. Can the words which were said in a moment of anger be held true?
Qin Weiwei hurried back to Mount Calming Sea at a tremendous pace throughout the journey without stopping to rest. After briefly inquiring if there were any matters of importance, she then proceeded to rush straight over to South Edict Manor with Dan Biaoyi in tow.
The trusted subordinate who was personally appointed by Yang Qing, had killed a disciple of the School of Blue Jade immediately on taking up his post. This incident couldn’t be concealed even if they wanted to. Sooner or later, it would be found out. Regardless of whether the School of Blue Jade would have any reaction, at the very least, they would still show interest in it. Qin Weiwei had to personally make a detail report about it, so that Yang Qing could be well aware of the situation beforehand.
Dan Biaoyi almost lost his composure when he learned that they were going to South Edict Manor. Why did it seem like this incident was getting out of hand? Was this even necessary?
The people at the lower tier would not be aware of the affairs of the upper tier, as the hidden power struggles involved were often extremely complicated. If he had known, he would not have dared to do the deed back then.
When they had rushed to South Edict Manor, it was not required for Qin Weiwei to announce her arrival when she met with Yang Qing.
She trailed behind Qing Ju as they arrived at the pavilion, situated on the highest peak behind the mountain. Upon arrival, she saw Yang Qing sitting in meditation as he cultivated.
“Qin Weiwei has come to pay respects to Manor Head!” Dressed in robes as white as snow, Qin Weiwei bowed in courtesy.
Under the circumstances where they were others around, Qin Weiwei always preserved the etiquette between lower and upper rank. Only when it was completely private would she call him ‘father’.
Yang Qing retracted his cultivation and opened his eyes. He then spat out an Orb of Will roughly the size of a quail egg from his mouth and smiled, “What brings Weiwei here?”
He stood up and walked over to seat himself by the small side table. He extended his hand, signalling her to sit down to talk. “What’s the matter?”
Qin Weiwei seated herself on the opposing chair of the side table. “Manor Head, I am afraid that the Cave Master you have personally appointed for East Arrival Cave has caused quite a bit of trouble for you.”
Yang Qing let out an ‘Oh!’, his brows furrowing slightly as he asked, “Miao Yi? What did he do?”
“Manor Head, please see for yourself.” Qin Weiwei placed down the box filled with reports that she brought along in front of him.
After Yang Qing opened the box and looked over the contents, he was also overcome with confusion.
Under the gazes of Qing Mei and Qing Ju, who glanced at each other, Yang Qing swiftly examined the contents of the other jade archives again one by one.
He was a man who knew how to be circumspect and so he did not make a big fuss about it as Qin Weiwei had before. He only asked curiously, “Weiwei, what is going on?”
“I also do not know what’s the matter. To investigate this matter, I intentionally took a trip down to East Arrival Cave. But in the end, that bastard Miao Yi had gone out to patrol his domain…”
Qin Weiwei explained in detail what she saw at that time.
After Yang Qing was done listening, he tapped his fingers on the surface of table, mulling it over for quite some time. He then shook his head, unable to understand the situation. Finally, he spoke, “Summon the man you brought over to me. I will personally question him.”
Very quickly, Dan Biaoyi was summoned over. It was his first time meeting Yang Qing; him being the kind of person who was aloof and remote. Adding to the fact that he had a guilty conscience, Dan Biaoyi was in a state of extreme panic.
But there was one thing he managed to do; no matter how Yang Qing asked, he said the same things over and over again.
Unlike Qin Weiwei, Yang Qing did not beat around the bush to ask anymore questions. He got up and slowly walked over to the front of the pavilion's banister. Surveying the scenery of the mountains from a distance, he gradually clasped his hands behind his back, his face expressionless as he said in a serene tone, “Drag him out and off with his head!”
Instantly, Qing Mei and Qing Ju made their move, seizing Dan Biaoyi’s shoulders together; they suppressed him until he was unable to move before immediately dragging him out.