“I didn’t think you would actually speak up for me.” Seeing Fang Xiandao approaching, Luo Qingqing jumped off the long table.
“Is this strange? Wasn’t the previous exclusive possession of the Spirit Fire Land also achieved only because the families helped each other?” Fang Xiandao shook his fan. “Although we only occupied this rule for one day, my Fang family did not participate in the discussion at all.”
The young man on the side, the Luo family’s eldest brother Luo Fengqing couldn’t help but frown. “The matter wasn’t fully negotiated by sitting at a table. The initiator was Fei Nian. Unfortunately, no Fang family disciples were present. I can only say that the matter was urgent and has been dealt with expediently. Not to mention a large number of scattered clan disciples. I think one day is a reasonable provision. Otherwise, if they really make a scene—”
“All right, I’m not here to listen to your sermon.” Fang Xiandao interrupted him. “I just want to confirm one thing. Even if it’s the Night of Great Desolation, the Luo family won’t stop there and obediently evacuate Qing Shan Town, right?”
He asked about the Luo family, but his gaze wasn’t focussed on the Eldest Brother. He looked straight at Luo Qingqing.
The latter nodded. “If it was the Night of Great Desolation a hundred years ago, of course, the Luo family would have avoided it. But it has been unleashed back and forth many times, and there are no rumors of a Night of Great Desolation rampaging within the Qi Country, so I want to see for myself how much power it really still has.”
“It’s really as I expected.” Fang Xiandao laughed lightly. “And your method, I believe, is to use the well tunnels below Qing Shan Town, right? The entrance is narrow, but the interior is crisscrossed. It’s easy to defend and difficult to attack. It’s a good choice. Unfortunately…”
Luo Fengqing already looked nervous when the other party mentioned the well tunnel. Waiting for the last sentence to come out, he almost immediately continued, “Unfortunately what?”
“Unfortunately, the best place has been occupied by my Fang family.” Fang Xiandao grinned.
Luo Fengqing couldn’t help but stare.
“Otherwise, what do you think we were doing during those two days when the Fei and Luo families occupied the Spirit Fire Land?” He played with his fan and said, “Although divination cannot accurately assert the details of the event, it’s not difficult to warn of danger and find a hiding place. You guys took the lead in collecting the spirit fire, so it’s the Fang family’s turn to be first this time. Remember what I said — only those who seize the first opportunity will be able to turn the bad omen into good fortune.”
“You…” Luo You’er said sharply, “Are you saying this to deliberately piss us off?”
“Just a little return gift.” Fang Xiandao smiled faintly. “Besides, if I were a genius of the Luo family, I wouldn’t have told all the people about such an important matter. Even after so many years, the Night of Great Desolation is still very dangerous for us. If the candidates fleeing in haste can attract the attention of some of the evil spirits, won’t they be able to relieve their own pressure accordingly? Or are you that anxious to eliminate your opponents?”
Without waiting for the crowd to talk back, he gently arched his hand towards Luo Qingqing and turned around to walk away.
“So… see you in two days. I hope you’re still safe and sound then.”
“This guy, really abominable!” Luo Changtian said indignantly.
“He’s abominable, but what he said is not without reason.” Luo Fengqing looked at Luo Qingqing with a reproachful expression. “I don’t understand why you insisted on making public the clues that we didn’t obtain easily. This isn’t only pushing the Luo family into the limelight but also doing no good at all. Qingqing, it’s not that I want to use my status as a senior brother to pressure you, it’s just that you’ve been a bit abnormal these past two days. Previously, you blocked the lobby of the inn with the female disciples, and then you pulled a group of people away from the mountain without explaining your reasons to me from the beginning to the end. Don’t you believe me?”
Luo You’er shrank, “Uh… that’s not a matter of whether I believe you or not…”
“I didn’t ask you.” Eldest Brother glared at Luo You’er and continued, “Now the Fang family is one step ahead of us, and there already isn’t much space in the well tunnels. Now that they occupied the space, I can’t even say how many people we can leave there, and we basically have to start over with our plans. Not to mention the Fei family — even if they don’t know as much as we do about the Night of Great Desolation, they do know something about it. Your announcement is tantamount to reminding the Fei family to prepare in advance, adding competitive pressure to ourselves.”
He paused and his tone became a bit more stern. “Junior sister, I’m not disallowing you to have secrets, but you shouldn’t put your personal interests above the Luo family. If you don’t want me to report this matter to Master and Lord Clan Chief, give a clear account of the reasons and thoughts of what you have done in the past two days now!”
“If I tell you, will you definitely not tell Master?” Luo Qingqing asked rhetorically.
“… I’ll have to see how severe the situation is,” Luo Fengqing said in a deep voice.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about the nature of this exam, or what exactly the… invigilator wants to see.” She opened her mouth after a moment of silence and said, “Collecting spirit fire? With the right choice of place, ordinary people can do it. And what did we do? Use the advantage of having more people to exclude the scattered clans, and internally agree on the distribution of results to ensure that some of the disciples pass the mystic examination. Other than that, nothing more.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Luo Fengqing said rightfully, “Reinforce your strengths, cover up your weaknesses, use your strengths to attack your opponent’s weaknesses, and you will never lose in a hundred battles. That’s what Master always taught us.”
Luo You’er and Luo Changtian also nodded along.
“No problem, but it has nothing to do with the ‘mystics’ themselves.” Luo Qingqing revealed a strange smile. “In that case alone, the Jianghu sects are only better than us. Think about it, if the dock gangs or the local ruffians joined this examination, would they be able to pass the mystic examination? In terms of numbers, they have more. In terms of methods…” She paused, as if remembering something, then became slightly annoyed. “Spells are not necessarily superior, either. If we really fought, the loser may be us.”
Luo Fengqing shook his head, “Those people can’t even feel the Qi. They’re not qualified to take the mystic examination at all, why do you have to make such a self-deprecating assumption?”
“Just giving an example. The reason why a mystic is a mystic is that they can do things that ordinary people cannot do. What the Privy Council needs is a mystic, not a gang that relies on numbers to win.” Luo Qingqing said frankly, “Now I know what makes us unique, or the essence of this examination.”
“Fighting… evil spirits?” Luo You’er asked tentatively.
“More than that. Remember what I said, what’s the duty of the Privy Council? It is to maintain the order of this world.” She shifted her eyes to the panicked crowd in the square. “If this was not an exam… what should the Privy Council’s mystics do?”
“Well, first notify the local officials, dispatch the people, and then stop the spread of the Night of Great Desolation?”
Luo Changtian followed her gaze for a moment and suddenly revealed an incredulous expression, “Could it be that you mean—”
“That’s right. I think the collection of spirit fire is just a bright front, the core of the exam is actually the people here. All the participants are performing a rehearsal for an evil spirit event, but those playing the role of the people are not the local residents, but the candidates themselves.” Luo Qingqing welcomed the late summer morning breeze and said in a soft voice.
The seemingly unperturbed words exploded like a thunderclap in the hearts of the Luo family’s disciples!
“Candidates who are afraid of the risks and afraid of facing the evil spirits directly will be reminded and evacuated by us. For the coming Night of Great Desolation, we will resist. No matter how daunting the situation is, maintaining order remains the primary task of the mystics. It has nothing to do with the number of people, nor does it distinguish between the scattered sects of the world; those who dare to stay are our helpers. The Jianghu sects cannot do this, nor can the local ruffians.”
Luo Qingqing pulled up the tips of her hair that had been blown around her forehead and said, word for word, “This is what the mystics can do, and proof that we’re irreplaceable!”
“Wow!” Luo You’er was the first to exclaim. “I feel like my head cleared after what you said!”
“That’s why the invigilator chose the Tilting Mountain Formation as the exam location… so that’s what happened.”
“She’s the genius among the new generation of disciples of the Luo family, after all!”
Luo Changtian and Luo Tang also followed and praised.
Luo Fengqing, on the other hand, couldn’t speak for a moment, looking at the woman standing against the wind in front of him. She was obviously close at hand, but he felt that the other party was getting farther and farther away, and even had the illusion that he could only see her back.
When did this change start?
He remembered that in the past when Luo Qingqing pulled off a great coup, he was happy for her from the bottom of his heart.
“Well, I agree with you. If it’s just grabbing the spirit fire, the advantage of the families is indeed greater.” Luo Fengqing took a deep breath. “But what’s the back and forth between this and you blocking the lobby of the inn and bringing people up the mountain without informing me?”
“Please forgive me for not commenting on that one.” Luo Qingqing blinked.
“Junior sister, you—”
Luo Fengqing was about to continue when a sharp shout interrupted him.
“Bad, bad news!”
A candidate stumbled into the square, shouting breathlessly, “Bad news, we’re trapped in this town!”
“What do you mean trapped?”
“Don’t leave us hanging! What’s going on?” A new commotion erupted from the already restless crowd.
“After I found out that the townspeople were missing, I wanted to check the situation over the suspension bridge, but I didn’t expect, didn’t expect… the bridge to be cut off!”
“You said… what!?”
This news was like a thunderbolt, making the candidates present dumbfounded.
Only the disciples of the Luo family maintained a calm demeanor.
“Senior Sister.”
“Luo Qingqing.”
Luo You’er, Luo Changtian… and the other Luo family members all looked towards Luo Qingqing in unison.
Luo Qingqing knew that no matter what she did next, she would have their full support.
She pulled out the third amplification talisman and mounted the long table again.
“Everyone, don’t panic, there’s more than one way out of the town! Between the ridges of the Spirit Firelands, we found two grottoes that house several large wooden kites. Although they’re somewhat old, their skeletons are basically intact and should work with some repair! What we need to do now is to build a flying platform and get ready to evacuate. Anyone willing to give me a hand, come with me now!”
“Come with us!”
“Follow the Luo family!”
The other Luo family disciples helped out one after another.
The expanding chaos in the square was restrained.
Although many people were still arguing, at least at this moment, everyone had a temporary target to follow. Like a straw in front of a drowning person, whether it worked or not, they would want to give it a try.
A part of the group began to move towards Qing Shan Town, and at the front of the line were the blue-robed, double-feathered disciples of the Luo family. Very different from the situation three days ago, the You state families had become the leader of the crowd at this moment.