Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1439 - 1432: The Young Faction

Chapter 1439: Chapter 1432: The Young Faction

After leaving Yichuan Long, Cheng Ziang and his group headed directly and without hesitation northwards, leaving the territories of the Dangyang Family and the Yichuan Clan and returning to the area controlled by the Demon Clan army.

Having encountered Yichuan Long, Ziang realized that their efforts to instigate division within the Yichuan Clan had essentially come to an end. This was already the best outcome they could achieve; there would be no further progress.

Intuition told Cheng Ziang that the Yichuan Clan was very likely to launch a large-scale offensive to break the Demon Clan army’s encirclement of the Yichuan Clan’s domains.

The reason was nothing else but the conversation he had with Yichuan Long, which made Cheng Ziang realize that Yichuan Long was a young and energetic military officer who held power over the troops; for him, war was always more attractive than political struggle. And what they loved to do the most was to take the initiative to attack, not to passively defend.

On the way back, Cheng Ziang and Yichuan Ying chatted briefly, specifically about Yichuan Long. He wanted to understand Yichuan Long’s temperament and disposition, then use this understanding to predict his possible actions.

"My older brother is someone who has been envied from childhood," said Yichuan Ying. "He devoted himself to cultivation, achieved accomplishments at a young age, and grew up to repeatedly create miracles. So much so that when people mention the Yichuan Clan of Jiangzhou, they think first of Yichuan Long, not Yichuan Yong."

"No wonder your father values him so," nodded Cheng Ziang, and then he asked, "What do other people think of him?"

"Other people," Yichuan Ying paused to think, then said, "My brother shows respect for the talented and is generous in his dealings with others. Therefore, he holds high prestige in the family, and many household soldiers willingly obey him. Most people are very satisfied with him—only..."

"Only Yichuan Yong?" Cheng Ziang curiously added.

"Yes," Yichuan Ying nodded and said, "My eldest brother doesn’t like him, always feeling that he has taken everything away from him. He always speaks ill of my older brother in front of my father, but it’s of no use."

"Why is it of no use?" asked Cheng Ziang.

"My father trusts my brother very much, and it’s unconditional trust. In fact, my father really likes my eldest brother and listens to him in everything, but when it comes to my other brother’s affairs, no matter how much my eldest brother complains, he has no reaction," Yichuan Ying explained with a tilt of her head.

"It seems your father understands Yichuan Long very well," Cheng Ziang acknowledged with a nod.

"From childhood to now, my brother has been my role model, but it’s a pity I will never reach his level..." said Yichuan Ying, her voice trailing off with a bitter expression.

"No wonder you hesitated earlier; you couldn’t bear to part with him," Cheng Ziang commented.

"In truth, I wouldn’t mind any suffering as long as I could see my brother. But it seems he doesn’t think so; he always feels that if I am uncomfortable, he is helpless to change it..." Yichuan Ying continued, her voice becoming nasal as she spoke.

"I think Yichuan Long might be right; you really shouldn’t stay in the Yichuan Clan, and that’s why he entrusted you to us," Cheng Ziang said, trying to console her.

"My father said..." sniffing, Yichuan Ying spoke with a touch of sadness, "Although I’ll never reach my brother’s realm, I can still contribute to the family like he does, so..."

"So he sent you to your death, to hell with it, your father is a real son of a bitch!" Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but swear angrily upon hearing this.

Faced with Cheng Ziang’s curses, Yichuan Ying lowered her head and remained silent.

After taking a deep breath, Cheng Ziang softened his tone a bit before continuing, "If Yichuan Long knew about this, he would definitely settle the score with your father."

"My brother said he’s known about it for a long time..." Yichuan Ying said hesitantly.

"Your brother, too..." Cheng Ziang was at a loss for words, finally saying, "Sometimes I really don’t understand his attitude towards you. Knowing that you were being sent to your death, why didn’t he do something? If we hadn’t taken you with us that day and instead killed you, what good would his regret do then? So, your brother is a bastard too."

"No, that’s not it..." Yichuan Ying protested somewhat angrily.

"Are you still going to defend them?" asked Cheng Ziang.

"No, no... it’s all my fault..." Yichuan Ying lowered her head, speaking sorrowfully.

"You see, here it is again; so your father is not wrong, your brother is not wrong. The one at fault is you, and you’re the one who dies. Why should someone powerless bear such inexplicable malice from the world," said Cheng Ziang.

Cheng Ziang didn’t know how to evaluate the Yichuan Clan. Feudal ethics suppressed individuals’ feelings. Yichuan Long cared so much for his sister, yet he had to be loyal to the Yichuan Clan, loyal to Yichuan Hong, and even watch indifferently as his father murdered his closest sister.

And the unrestricted cultivation system also created a huge chasm within society, playing out countless tragedies.

If freedom is left unchecked, it simply becomes the exploitation of the weak by the strong.

In the East Continent, this principle could be understood as, if no one governed the cultivation system, the strong would get stronger, and the weak would only become weaker.

Because cultivation relies not only on talent, but also on nurturance. A master, mental techniques, and elixirs are nearly indispensable. To become talented, besides one’s own diligent cultivation, a significant investment of resources is required.

In such circumstances, cultivators only need to do one thing, and that is to continuously cultivate and break through, not bothering with anything else.

Only someone with a talent like Yichuan Long, who found cultivation to be twice as effective, could spare the time to learn something else, and thus be skilled in both literary and martial arts. As for the other cultivators, they were more likely to be naively lead by the nose.

Because Yichuan Ying was unable to cultivate, she was neglected. Deprived not only the opportunity to cultivate but even the right to read, it resulted in Cheng Ziang being able to coax her away quite easily.

As for Yichuan Long, from the start of their conversation, he could feel that Yichuan Long was different from other cultivators, difficult to manipulate, let alone abduct.

After three days of continuous travel, the party finally left the Yichuan Clan’s territory and returned to the Demon Clan army’s camp.

For the safe return of the party, Zisu was very happy, personally going out to welcome them. After all, if anything had happened to Cheng Ziang and the others, she truly wouldn’t know how to explain it to Luo’er.

After a bit of pleasantries, she noticed the young girl Cheng Ziang had brought with him and looked at him with an inquiring gaze.

"Oh, this is Yichuan Ying, the daughter of the Yichuan Clan," Cheng Ziang didn’t hide anything and introduced her.

"What, the daughter of the Yichuan Clan?" Upon hearing this, Yunji excitedly slammed the table and stood up.

Zisu glanced at the excited Yunji, then scrutinized Yichuan Ying and finally said unhurriedly, "Yichuan Ying, daughter of Yichuan Hong, the Patriarch of the Yichuan Clan, is useless in cultivation and holds no significant status within the clan."

"Don’t say that," Cheng Ziang spoke, unable to help but regard Zisu with a new perspective.

He hadn’t expected that she, sitting at the rear, would have such a detailed understanding of the Yichuan Clan’s genealogy. It seemed he had underestimated this master of intelligence.

"I’m just stating facts. Yunji, it looks like you’re happy for nothing. Yichuan Hong will not fight desperately for her," Zisu said, looking at Yunji with a smile.

"Wait, Yichuan Ying is our guest. Please be courteous to her, she’s not your captive," Cheng Ziang declared, stepping in front of Yichuan Ying.

"I know, she’s not of much use anyway," Zisu nodded and spoke indifferently.

"If she were..." Cheng Ziang asked hesitantly.

"If that were the case, we would consult your opinions," Zisu answered, smiling at Cheng Ziang, and said in a lowered voice, "After all, I don’t want to anger Luo’er."

"It seems I’m benefiting from Luo’er’s favor," Cheng Ziang managed a wry smile.

"That’s one way to look at it. So, what else have you gained besides bringing back a young girl?" Zisu inquired.

"We’ve already soured the relationship between the Yichuan Clan and the Dangyang Family, but..." Cheng Ziang said.

"But what?" Zisu pressed on.

"Yichuan Long, have you heard of him?" Cheng Ziang asked.

"Of course," Zisu nodded, "the golden signboard of the Yichuan Clan in Jiangzhou, who hasn’t heard of him?"

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