Chapter 75: Treason

Six hundred miles from the Wind and Thunder Cavern.

On the Storm Peak of Mad Thunder Mountain, in the inner council chamber of the Wind Sect.

It was evening; darkness had already fallen. The chamber was not large, and the lighting was dim. Yusheng Hua, the deputy master of the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall and leader of the Wind Sect, sat in a grand chair. Beside him, three other middle-aged martial artists of similar age sat upright as well.

In front of Yusheng Hua stood Liu Run, who looked anxious and stood ramrod straight.

“Run’er, your performance has greatly disappointed me!” Yusheng Hua’s tone was icy.

“Father, it’s not that I didn’t do my job, but that Chu Feng is simply too hard to deal with! Before, I tried to provoke him about the Golden Battle Python, hoping he’d lose his temper and leave, but his cultivation in self-control is impressive—he kept suppressing his anger.

Later, not only did he turn the tables and suppress me, but he also won the support of Fan Qianjun, Lei Jianqin, and Tang Jiao, putting me at a great disadvantage.” Liu Run spoke with barely concealed frustration. “As we drew closer to the Wind and Thunder Caverns, I ran out of options. I had to risk everything and triggered the Thunder Beast tide.

Who would have thought Chu Feng had a divine puppet crafted by a master from the Tianji Mu family? It actually withstood the onslaught of the Thunder Beasts!

At that point, I couldn’t hide my true intentions any longer and went ahead with a sneak attack on Chu Feng, Fan Qianjun, and the others. The three of them weren’t difficult to handle—except that Chu Feng’s luck is monstrous. He was wearing protective soft armor and wasn’t injured at all, but I ended up coughing blood, nearly dying on the spot!”

“Enough!” Yusheng Hua interrupted impatiently. “I only want to know: the Thunder King Beast you released—did it finish off Chu Feng? What of Lei Jianqin, Fan Qianjun, and Tang Jiao? Are they alive or dead?”

“The Thunder King Beast is immensely powerful—unless Chu Feng’s luck is beyond heaven’s favor, he’s certainly dead. As for Fan Qianjun and the others—if Chu Feng died, they would also be trapped by the Thunder Beasts, unable to escape the Wind and Thunder Cavern!” Liu Run nodded.

“So you cannot confirm whether those four are dead or alive?” Yusheng Hua pressed.

“Um… no, I can’t.” Liu Run admitted.

At this, the dark-skinned middle-aged martial artist stood up. “Brother Yusheng, our plan was solid: take advantage of the tenth Wind and Thunder Calamity, cause chaos, suppress the Thunder Sect, seize the master’s seat of the Thunder Shadow Sect in one swift move. Who could have predicted the complications brought by Chu Feng? What are we to do now?”

This speaker was Wen Lie, master of the Long Wind Hall, one of the sixteen halls of the Wind Sect in the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall.

“No amount of planning can account for fate! We never expected that such a minor figure as Chu Feng would be so troublesome. Our intention in inviting him to the Martial Hall was just for show, but now the pretense has become reality, and everything has unraveled because of him!”

“Indeed, Brother Yusheng, our ambitions are great, but if Chu Feng, Lei Jianqin, and the others return and reveal what happened in the Wind and Thunder Cavern, our secret will be exposed and we’ll be doomed! We must quickly devise a solution!”

The two who spoke were also hall masters of the Wind Sect: Zhao Dongqiang and Xu Ye.

“They’re right! If we’re certain Chu Feng and Fan Qianjun are dead, then what Liu Run did in the Wind and Thunder Cavern will remain unknown, and there’s no need to act in haste. But if by some chance they survive and return to the Martial Hall to expose us, we’ll be powerless to resist!”

Yusheng Hua muttered to himself, paced twice, then declared, “Indecision leads to disaster! Contact Zuo Qianshan of the Thunder Hall immediately; we must strike first!”

“Agreed, Brother Yusheng. We’ll follow your lead!” Wen Lie, Zhao Dongqiang, and Xu Ye all nodded, their faces taking on a sinister determination.

…

Atop Mad Thunder Mountain, Storm Peak was divided into northern and southern regions: the Wind Sect’s Martial Hall in the north, the Thunder Sect’s in the south.

In the Thunder Hall of the Thunder Sect, Master Lei Yingfeng was meditating in his private chamber. From his crown, chest, and back, wisps of heat steamed, his body as though enveloped in a great steamer.

His daughter, Lei Jianqin, and Chu Feng had led a team into the Wind and Thunder Cavern to resolve the Calamity—a matter that concerned the very survival of the Martial Hall. Over the past six or seven days, Lei Yingfeng had been deeply worried, but as the master he could not wear his concerns openly.

So whenever troubled, Lei Yingfeng would meditate alone, practicing the inner discipline of the Tranquil Qi Sutra to settle his mind.

Knock, knock, knock!

Suddenly, the wooden door of the meditation chamber was rapped upon.

“What is it?” Lei Yingfeng’s eyes snapped open.

“Master, Deputy Master Yusheng, Hall Master Han, Elder Fan, Hall Master Wen, Hall Master Zuo, Hall Master Zhao, and Hall Master Xu are all here. They say there is something urgent to discuss with you!”

“I understand. Have them wait in the council hall!”

Lei Yingfeng rose swiftly. It was late, and with so many hall masters convened, it certainly concerned the Wind and Thunder Cavern—he must not delay.

Soon, Lei Yingfeng arrived at the council hall, where Yusheng Hua and the other hall masters awaited, their faces anxious.

Besides Deputy Master Yusheng Hua, there were three hall masters of the Wind Sect, as well as Elder Fan Shang of the Disciplinary Hall and Han Mo, master of the Transmission Hall.

These hall masters were the backbone of the Wind and Thunder Martial Hall; only the gravest matters warranted gathering them all.

“Brother Yusheng, I hear you have something urgent to discuss? Is there news of Jianqin, Chu Feng, and Liu Run?” Lei Yingfeng asked at once.

“That’s right,” Yusheng Hua nodded. “Run’er has returned. According to him, after their party of five entered the Wind and Thunder Cavern, considerable chaos ensued.”

“What? Run’er returned alone? That’s…” Lei Yingfeng was greatly surprised. “Brother Yusheng, enough suspense—what exactly happened in the Wind and Thunder Cavern?”

“Yes!” Han Mo pressed. “Liu Run, Chu Feng, and the others entered as a group of five—why did Liu Run return alone? Where are the other four?”

Earlier, Han Mo and Elder Fan Shang had been summoned by Yusheng Hua, who’d only said there was an urgent matter, not specifying what it was.

Yusheng Hua replied unhurriedly, “According to Run’er, Chu Feng is cold and arrogant, and once inside the cavern, acted entirely on his own, disregarding the team’s plans. The five became divided and disordered, and Run’er, unable to tolerate it, left first.”

“What?” Lei Yingfeng was speechless, demanding, “The five of them entered the Wind and Thunder Cavern to resolve the Calamity—a matter of life and death for the Martial Hall, not child’s play! Even if there were conflicts, they should have put the greater good first. How could Liu Run leave in a fit of pique?”

“Indeed!” Han Mo nodded. “Brother Yusheng, from what I know, Chu Feng may be somewhat reserved, but hardly uncooperative, much less a troublemaker. If he were that sort, we’d never have let him enter the cavern! Liu Run, on the other hand, is known for his pride, and the Golden Battle Python devoured by Chu Feng was his beloved battle pet. Could it be that he simply dislikes Chu Feng?”

Chu Feng had been brought in personally by Han Mo, who now spoke in his defense, not believing for a moment that Chu Feng was a troublemaker.

“That, I cannot say.” Yusheng Hua replied impassively. “There’s another major matter I must discuss with Brother Lei and all present.”

“What is it?” Lei Yingfeng asked, sensing something amiss in Yusheng Hua’s demeanor.

Yusheng Hua said nothing, but glanced at Wen Lie.

Wen Lie immediately spoke, “Everyone, the position of Martial Hall Master has always rotated between the leaders of the Wind and Thunder Sects, with a term of sixty years each. By my count, Master Lei has served about ten years now, yes?”

At these words, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

“Hall Master Wen, what are you implying?” Elder Fan Shang’s voice was stern, eyes fixed on Wen Lie.

Wen Lie smiled slightly. “To be blunt, I propose that Master Lei step down and yield the position to Brother Yusheng!”

“Traitor! You dare commit treason?” Han Mo suddenly roared, leaping into action and launching an attack at Yusheng Hua.

But as soon as Han Mo left the ground, he felt his strength falter; before he could reach Yusheng Hua, he collapsed to the floor!