Chapter 446: The Calm Before the Storm
Translator: SoupHunter Editor: Milkbiscuit
Miao Yi asked curiously, "If I recall correctly, didn't I demote you already? How did you get reinstated?"
Liu Xinggong didn't know how to answer this question and only stuttered unintelligibly. Zhou Huan hurriedly stepped forward with cupped fists and responded, "Mountain Chieftain, Liu Xinggong is a highly capable subordinate. After gaining the two Aunties' approval, he was reinstated to his former position."
Miao Yi sized him up and asked, "Don't tell me you were also reinstated to your former position because you are a highly capable subordinate?"
This was a rather strange question to ask. Zhou Huan revealed an awkward expression, unsure of how he should answer.
Miao Yi turned around and looked at Qian'Er and Xue'Er, who lowered their heads quietly—they had failed to live up to their Master's expectations. However, so much had happened these past ten years that they couldn't explain it all on such short notice.
Since he was still unsure about what happened, Miao Yi said nothing else on the matter. He then walked up to Yang Qing, the crowd making way for him as he did, cupped his fists and said, "Manor Head, your subordinate originally planned to set up a feast nearby in East Arrival Cave to entertain you and Deacon Fan. However, I've just found out that there's a new Cave Master in charge of East Arrival Cave. Your subordinate is unsure of this person's capabilities. I fear he will cause delays in your and Deacon Fan's affairs. If Manor Head and Deacon Fan don't mind, the environment in Mount Calming Sea is much better than it is here. We should be able to make it there and organize another feast before sundown. What do you think?"
His words were as blunt as they could get. This was practically a slap to Liu Xinggong's face. He was clearly saying—'I don't acknowledge you as Cave Master!'
Yang Qing could tell that Miao Yi was trying to figure out his stance on the matter. He smiled and said, "You are the Mountain Chieftain of Calming Sea. We will naturally follow your arrangements!"
Fan Zizhang also laughed and said, "Us guests shall follow the host's arrangements!"
Miao Yi turned around and swept his gaze across the crowd. With a slight chillness in his tone, he decisively ordered, "Back to Mount Calming Sea!"
East Arrival Cave Master Liu Xinggong smiled awkwardly. Before Miao Yi reached, he had already ordered some of his men to head back and prepare a feast. However, it was clearly unnecessary now. The crowd on the port began moving en masse, and everyone was gone shortly after.
Over a hundred riders galloped across the highway with Yang Qing, Fan Zizhang, Zhao Fei, and Sikong Wuwei in the front, and Miao Yi directly behind them.
The reason Miao Yi wished to head back to Mount Calming Sea was not simply to spite East Arrival Cave Master Liu Xinggong, but because he could sense there was something amiss with the current situation. However, as he had no idea about the past events, he couldn't just deal with it however he saw fit. It would be bad if things were to end up being just a misunderstanding.
And with the relatively long journey ahead of them now, he could use this opportunity to ask Qian'Er and Xue'Er about the situation.
All in all, Miao Yi's face gradually darkened along the course of their journey. By the time it was sundown, and they had reached Mount Calming Sea, he understood the gist of the situation. In a nutshell, with Zhou Huan in the lead, the members of the three major sects had turned the whole Mount Calming Sea upside down while he was away. Not only did they strip Qian'Er and Xue'Er of their authority, they even made unscrupulous agreements with that Fat Bastard Shen, promising him the two ladies for him to humiliate.
And speaking of that Shen Fenghua, every time he visited Mount Calming Sea, he would sleep in Miao Yi's quarters and even drag Miao Yi's women with him for a drink!
If the two ladies hadn't mentioned him, Miao Yi would have almost forgotten that this Shen Fenghua existed. However, he definitely left a deep impression in Miao Yi's mind now, so much so that Miao Yi was almost bursting with rage!
When they had reached their destination, Miao Yi was still looking calm and composed, and he didn't treat Zhou Huan and the others any differently. He ordered the three of them to entertain Yang Qing and his other guests while he returned to the home he'd been away from for all these years.
As he sat himself down in the living room, Qian'Er asked slowly, "Master, you've had a long journey. Would you like to take a bath first?"
"No rush." Miao Yi shook his head. He looked at the two ladies and smiled as he continued, "You two must have suffered in the years that I've been away."
Feeling a lump in their throats, the two ladies raised the hems of their dresses and knelt down as they said, "It is we who have failed to live up to Master's expectations."
"It's not your fault! Things are sure to be hard on you two when you don't have any real authority! Now that I'm back, I will naturally take care of everything. You don't have to worry about it anymore," Miao Yi said consolingly as he reached out and helped the two ladies up. He then took out several jade archives and wrote down official decrees on each of them, before handing them over to the two ladies, saying, "Send these out to all the Caves immediately and have every School of Blue Jade disciple come to Mount Calming Sea and meet me."
"Understood!" The two ladies acknowledged their order and left. After which, ten spirit eagles flew off from Mount Calming Sea, disappearing into the night.
Soon, Yan Xiu reported, "The feast has been prepared."
Miao Yi rose to his feet, and with Qian'Er and Xue'Er in tow, proceeded to the place Yang Qing was residing in and personally invited the latter to attend the feast. This was a standard courtesy.
Miao then accompanied Yang Qing to the feast. As they proceeded along the stone steps of the mountain, Yang Qing laughed and said, "Miao Yi, I have good news for you. You're about to be promoted. I hear that the Palace Lord is looking on you quite favorably, and intends to promote you to Manor Head some place away from Suppressing Second Hall. This is truly something worth celebrating! When I was your age, I hadn't even become a Cave Master yet."
Miao Yi thought, 'The Palace Lord? What does this have to do with the Palace Lord? I earned my promotion to Manor Head by risking my life in the Sea of Constellations. The Palace Lord's favor has nothing to do with it.'
Miao Yi was unaware that Yang Qing didn't know much about the matter. The latter didn't even know that the Six Sages had sent their members to participate in the Subjugation Crusade. But then again, this particular Subjugation Crusade was indeed quite the debacle, and hence news about this was not widespread. Yang Qing also didn't know that all the survivors were given the privilege of choosing to take up Manor Head positions wherever they pleased, and naturally assumed the Palace Lord had something to do with it.
Still, Miao Yi replied politely, "It's all thanks to Manor Head's care all these years. Miao Yi shall never forget your kindness!"
Yang Qing could tell that Miao Yi was merely being courteous. He chuckled and replied, "The Hall Master has already instructed that I send you to Suppressing Second Hall as soon as you've finished the handover procedures for Mount Calming Sea. He wishes to meet with you."
'Huo Lingxiao still has the gall to show his face in front of me?' Miao Yi acknowledged the order, then said somberly, "This subordinate has been gone from Mount Calming Sea for many years. As I'm still rather unfamiliar with the current situation, I fear it will take a few more days for me to complete the handover procedure."
'He's not even excited about the promotion?' Yang Qing could already figure out what the other party was thinking. As he narrowed his eyes at Miao Yi, Yang Qing couldn't help laughing bitterly deep down, 'I just knew this kid wouldn't let things rest so easily.' With a blank face, he said, "I will leave Qing Ju here. Once you've settled your affairs in Mount Calming Sea, you can just hand things over to her. When the time comes, I will send someone to take over."
Miao Yi gratefully cupped his fists and said, "Once I've dealt with everything in Mount Calming Sea, I will head to South Edict Manor and formally resign."
Yang Qing thought, 'Don't you dare try to cause me trouble. Hurry up and go on your own path already.' He then smiled and said, "Why trouble yourself to make so many trips? There's no need for such formality between us. Besides, aren't you seeing me now already? When you're done, you can just head straight to Suppressing Second Hall."
The feast was held in the main hall of Mount Calming Sea. The whole place was filled with a festive air, and things seemed peaceful for the time being, as though there weren't any problems at all.
However, after the feast was over, Yang Qing suddenly said that he had urgent matters to attend to and needed to ride through the night back to South Edict Manor.
Having been made to stay for the handover procedure, Qing Ju was a little confused. Why wasn't she informed that there were urgent matters to attend to in South Edict Manor? As she escorted Yang Qing to the exit, she couldn't help asking him via voice transmission.
However, Yang Qing wanted to inform her of his plans even if she hadn't asked. Transmitting his voice over, he instructed, "This kid is so reluctant to finish the hand over procedures for Mount Calming Sea. He clearly intends to get payback! Most of the Mountain Chieftains and subordinates that came with me are members of the three major sects. With me around, he'll have a hard time making his move. Since he has already made up his mind to do this, if I continue to stay any longer, the bastard might decide to openly go against me. Why should I do something as pointless as exacerbating the situation and push things past the point of no return? Qing Ju, during this period of time, try not to go out if you can help it. You just need to wait for him to finish the handover procedures. Don't get yourself involved in what happens next. I don't wish to see the problems of Mount Calming Sea extend to the two Manors. Just let it all end quickly. Understand?"
"I understand," Qing Ju replied in kind.
Miao Yi and the others escorted Yang Qing and his entourage to the mountain gates. From time to time, Qin Weiwei would look back at Miao Yi. As a woman, she couldn't really say much to Miao Yi with so many people around. Thus, besides exchanging some formal pleasantries, the two of them had barely talked to each other at all. She originally intended to stay in Mount Calming Sea a little while longer, but Yang Qing had strictly ordered her to go back with him. There was no room for discussion.
There was a glint in Miao Yi's eyes as he watched the crowd disappear into the night. Sighing inwardly, he mused, 'Yang Qing is subtly doing me a favor here!' He thought that he had already maintained a pretty infallible facade, but it seemed that Yang Qing saw through his intentions all the same. If Yang Qing's cultivation weren't so low, he would surely be a force to be reckoned with. Miao Yi had never met someone as smart as Yang Qing.
As he thought about this, Miao Yi couldn't help finding his thoughts amusing. His own cultivation was even lower than Yang Qing's, and yet he was actually complaining that Yang Qing's cultivation was too low. It looks like he'd truly seen too many powerful experts in the Sea of Constellations.
Soon, all the Cave Masters of Mount Calming Sea stepped forward and asked to be excused as well. It was simply too nerve-racking being close to Miao Yi, and they wanted to hide as far away from him as they could. If they could hide until Miao Yi left, then all their worries would be resolved.
However, Miao Yi waved his hand and said, "There's no rush. Everyone, please stay here for the time being. This mountain chieftain has been away from Calming Sea for far too long. Later on, I will need you all to bring me up to speed on the current situation!" As he said this, he instructed Qian'Er and Xue'Er to take Qing Ju away to rest. With a blank expression, he then placed his hands behind his back and left.
As the Cave Masters exchanged glances with one another, they immediately rushed to Zhou Huan, Mao Yifan, and Liu Qian's side. The air surrounding Mount Calming Sea was now that of a heavy and oppressive silence.
Once he was back in his own quarters, Miao Yi ordered his servants to prepare another feast and invited Yan Beihong, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei for a drink. Earlier on, he was only entertaining everyone out of professional courtesy. Now, he was officially playing the host for just the three of them.
"Little Brother, isn't your Mount Calming Sea a little too dangerous? Not only are there people trying to sleep with your women, but they're even trying to sleep with mine too. How can you still endure this?"
As they sat down, Yan Beihong noticed how calm Miao Yi was and found it difficult to contain himself.
Miao Yi replied coldly, "Rest assured, Big Brother Yan. I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer for this!"
Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei had no idea what they were talking about. The two asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Yan Beihong then explained to them the nasty affairs that had happened in Mount Calming Sea. As they listened on, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei were quite infuriated as well.
At this moment, Yan Xiu reported, "Mountain Chieftain, Tian Qingfeng requests an audience."
Miao Yi nonchalantly replied, "I am entertaining my guests at the moment. If he has something to say, save it for tomorrow. I will naturally look for him then."
Yan Xiu then headed back out and sent Tian Qingfeng away.
On the afternoon of the following day, all the School of Blue Jade disciples from the various Caves arrived in Mount Calming Sea. Zhou Huan and all the other three major sect disciples were immediately unnerved by this, wondering what Miao Yi intended to do. They were even prepared to fight Miao Yi if it came down to it, and were carefully watching things play out with bated breath.
In the beginning, there were twenty School of Blue Jade disciples who had followed Miao Yi to Mount Calming Sea. After which, when there was a shortage of manpower in Mount Calming Sea, School of Blue Jade Elder Tong Renmei had personally sent over another twenty disciples to fill the gaps. At the moment, all forty of them were standing restlessly in Mount Calming Sea's main assembly hall, awaiting further instructions.
As the evening approached, Miao Yi finally came out from the back of the hall, with Yan Xiu, Qian'Er, and Xue'Er in tow.
As Miao Yi sat down on the Mountain Chieftain's throne, the crowd immediately bowed and cheered in unison, "We respectfully greet the Mountain Chieftain!"
"Rise!" Miao Yi said with a wave of his hand, then nodded to Yan Xiu and the others. Yan Xiu, Qian'Er, and Xue'Er then immediately walked out the hall and stood guard to prevent anyone from approaching.
When they saw this, the crowd felt even more restless.