Chapter 246: Hong Lie

Chapter 246: Hong Lie

As Xiao Nanfeng walked toward the Vault of Scriptures, a large number of Taiqing disciples greeted him on the way. He nodded to them all.

As he approached Ku Jiang's residence, he found the doors wide open. There were three figures deep in discussion: Ku Jiang, Zhao Yuanjiao, and a middle-aged man with a muscular physique.

"Master, Senior Brother, I've returned," Xiao Nanfeng called out from outside the door.

Zhao Yuanjiao's eyes lit up as he smiled.

Ku Jiang smiled in relief. "Enter."

"Yes, Master!" Xiao Nanfeng stepped into the hall.

"You're Xiao Nanfeng?" The middle-aged man suddenly stood up and considered him.

Xiao Nanfeng gave the man a quizzical look. "This is...?"

"Nanfeng, this is the Mortal division leader and your senior uncle, Hong Lie," Ku Jiang replied.

"I greet Senior Uncle Hong." Xiao Nanfeng bowed.

"You've grown so big! Your father wouldn't recognize you if he were to return now, I'd bet." Hong Lie smiled.

Xiao Nanfeng looked toward Hong Lie. Was this the senior brother that his father had mentioned, with whom he had a lifelong bond? He had initially come to the Taiqing Immortal Sect in hopes of seeking assistance from Hong Lie, but had ultimately chosen not to do so because he was on guard.

"I've heard about your situation over these last few days. I would never have expected that you were in such dire straits. Now that I'm aware of it, I don't intend to let you suffer any further," Hong Lie replied seriously.

Xiao Nanfeng smiled and nodded, but didn't reply. In the decade in which he had been a captive of the Xiao manor, Hong Lie hadn't appeared even once—and now, his protection would be extraneous.

"Have you really not heard even a single rumor of Nanfeng's straits these past years?" Ku Jiang asked.

"Senior Brother Ku, given my relationship with Xiao Hongye, do you really think that I'd stand by and do nothing if I knew that his son was being mistreated?" Hong Lie asked.

"In other words, Nalan Qiankun deliberately hid his malicious treatment of Xiao Nanfeng from you?" Ku Jiang pressed.

Xiao Nanfeng stood to the side and watched as his master stood up for him.

Hong Lie shook his head. "He wouldn't. Would Nalan Qiankun—Emperor Tianshu—be so petty? Why would he mistreat Xiao Hongye's son? There would be no reason to do so, and it would only invite petty rumors."

"How could that explain Nanfeng's decade of mistreatment in the Xiao manor, then? He's easily able to survey his lands, and he pledged to take care of Xiao Hongye's son on his behalf. Despite all that, without Nanfeng's own wiles, he would be nothing more than a crippled cultivator by now," Elder Ku declared.

Hong Lie considered the situation carefully. "We've been remiss. Nalan Qiankun and I have been busy with a big affair. We return only occasionally, and he only has an avatar in the Tianshu Empire. It's likely that something has happened to that avatar, but now that we've returned, that problem will easily be resolved."

"His avatar? That's no excuse. What you've revealed indicates that Nalan Qiankun cared not for this obligation and responsibility that he bears to Xiao Hongye. Has he forgotten that, if not for Xiao Hongye's voluntary withdrawal, he would never have become Emperor Tianshu? Xiao Hongye cared little for fame and power, but that doesn't mean that others can claim what belongs to him. He entrusted you with his son, and yet..." Elder Ku trailed off, a cold smile on his face.

"As I said, something must have gone wrong. This would never have happened otherwise. Don't accuse us of being malign, Ku Jiang. I, Nalan Qiankun, and Xiao Hongye were the three pillars of the Mortal division, and we are sworn brothers. There's no way that we would turn against one of our own. As an outsider, you have no right to judge us," Hong Lie replied.

"Yes. I have trustworthy companions recruiting disciples at the Hall of Immortal Recruitment."

Hong Lie frowned. "Elder Ku has intimated to me that your titled lands are in a state of chaos and disarray. It would be difficult to do anything with the help of just a few dozen disciples."

Xiao Nanfeng smiled. "I believe I should be able to enlist the help of a few thousand disciples."

"A few thousand disciples?" Hong Lie raised his eyebrows.

There were fewer than ten thousand disciples in the Taiqing Immortal Sect. Did Xiao Nanfeng really think so many would respond to his call? Was he serious?

"Don't you know?" Ku Jiang replied. "This isn't the first time that Nanfeng has led a thousand-member expedition."

"I had almost forgotten." Hong Lie blinked, then laughed as he turned to Xiao Nanfeng. "Both you and Nalan Yunhai are recruiting disciples. I suppose the majority of the Taiqing disciples will be working with one of you two."

"Perhaps," Xiao Nanfeng replied, smiling. He didn't think Nalan Yunhai would find himself with many recruits at all.

"Nalan Yunhai is investigating Nalan Feng's disappearance in the draconic palace. I heard of your feud with Nalan Feng. Did you encounter him within the draconic palace?" Hong Lie asked.

"No, never," Xiao Nanfeng replied, shaking his head.

"That's a pity. Too much has occurred in the draconic palace of late. Nalan Feng never made it out of the draconic palace, and I fear the worst." Hong Lie frowned.

Xiao Nanfeng didn't respond. He stood quietly to the side.

"Nalan Yunhai's a decent man, and he once intimated that he intends to lead an army to help quell the unrest in your lands. You might get along well," Hong Lie added.

Xiao Nanfeng certainly didn't believe this, but he didn't discredit the notion outright. He only nodded and smiled.

"On the contrary, Nalan Yunhai seems like a rather deceitful young man. How would he help Nanfeng? More like he wants to claim the Xiao lands for himself!" Ku Jiang shook his head and said precisely what Xiao Nanfeng thought.

"Senior Brother, how could you besmirch a younger-generation cultivator like that? Nalan Yunhai's a generous young man with honorable intentions. What good would the Xiao lands do him?"

Just then, an anxious voice came from outside the hall. "Elder Ku, Disciple Ye Sanshui requests to meet Senior Brother Xiao!"

"Enter," Ku Jiang said.

Ye Sanshui rushed over to Xiao Nanfeng. "Has something happened at the Hall of Immortal Recruitment? What are you doing here?"

"Perhaps because he noticed how many disciples we've recruited, Nalan Yunhai secretly seized Dafu. I don't know whether he's dead or alive. Senior Brother Xiao, what should we do?" Ye Sanshui asked.

"What?" Xiao Nanfeng frowned.

Hong Lie's eyes widened. He had just praised Nalan Yunhai's generosity—what was going on now?

"Ridiculous! How could Nalan Yunhai do such a thing?" Hong Lie demanded.

Only then did Ye Sanshui notice Hong Lie's presence. He immediately bowed. "I greet the division leader."