Now that even the two clan elders had taken action, how would the family handle this? Would they really have to confront the entire Chen clan? And if so, what would be the point of burning the Blood Rice?
“Damn that Zhou clan!” Shi Pojing cursed inwardly.
“Cousin, should I send a message with the Wind Spirit Bird and have the clan dispatch two more elders?”
Shi Pojing shook his head. “It’s too late. I just received word—the Zhou clan’s Wind-Chasing Falcon set out tonight.”
The Wind Spirit Bird was fast, but the round trip—sending the message, the clan receiving it, and dispatching reinforcements—would take several days. Though the Zhou clan was far from Chaotic Burial Mountain, the Wind-Chasing Falcon was incredibly swift. By the time their reinforcements gathered, the Zhou clan would likely already be there. This was no time to make a move.
“If only we had known the Chen clan had such means, the two of us should’ve used the clan’s Divine Stone,” Shi Xuyu remarked with regret.
“There’s no need for the two elders to blame yourselves,” Shi Pojing replied. “Using the clan’s Divine Stone might invite gossip. This plan failed because of my own carelessness—it has nothing to do with either of you. Once we return to the clan, I’ll take full responsibility. But this mountain is no place to linger. Elders, shall we return?”
“Alright then.”
His words left the elders feeling guilty. Including the earlier reconnaissance, they had already acted twice in quick succession—something that had never happened before. But Shi Pojing did not dwell on the failure.
On the way back, he spoke with the elders at ease. Out of guilt, they stayed by his side, and their conversation flowed from minor clan affairs to the broader political landscape of Yong’an City. The elders began to view him in a new light, impressed by his insight.
Though the plan had failed, Shi Pojing showed no sign of disappointment. As the one responsible, he would surely face criticism and blame upon returning to the clan, but the matter was already decided. There was no turning back.
Reflecting further, he realized his efforts had been misdirected. He had always plotted for the clan’s growth, yet his low standing meant his proposals rarely gained support. Even this plan could not be properly carried out. But if he could win over Shi Xuyu and Shi Xuhou, then even in failure, he would gain something valuable.
The clan leader was old and his eyesight failing. If they had acted sooner, the Blood Rice would already be theirs. In Shi Pojing’s mind, the clan needed a new leader—and to claim that position, he would need the elders’ support. Compared to that, the failure of this plan no longer seemed serious. Even avenging the fallen clansmen, who had never liked him, felt less important.
“But our trip wasn’t entirely without gain,” Shi Xuhou remarked. “The Chen clan has some depth.”
“Oh? Uncle Xuhou, what do you mean?” Shi Pojing asked, intrigued.
Shi Xuhou explained their encounter in detail. When Shi Pojing heard of the Chen clan using self-harming battle techniques, he was surprised.
Upon hearing about the green light, his brows furrowed. “Then the Chen clan members fear no injury?”
Shi Xuyu chuckled and shook his head. “Of course not. Even a totem’s power has limits. If their totem truly had such strength, how would they be in this state after decades?”
“They can heal injuries, but it’s nothing to fear. Without the Zhou clan’s backing, they’d be easy to take down. As for that self-detonation technique—it’s impressive, but it must have drawbacks and can’t be used often.”
“Now that Uncle has explained it, I feel much more at ease,” Shi Pojing replied respectfully.
From their performance, he was certain—the Chen clan had an Earth-tier battle technique. Before they secured it, this was his chance. Only in muddy waters can one catch fish.
…
“Hmph! Such an important task was entrusted to you, yet you failed. What do you have to say?”
“Now that the Zhou clan has deployed their Wind-Chasing Falcons, our clan won’t be able to act anytime soon.”
“We’ve missed a golden opportunity, Clan Leader—he should be severely punished!”
In the center of the Shi family’s grand hall, Shi Pojing sat, ignoring the chorus of accusations. The failure was not his alone, yet to protect the two elders, he bore the blame. The more displeased the others became, the closer the elders would stand by him.
To him, their scolding was like waves pushing a boat toward shore.
“Pojing, what do you have to say for yourself?” Shi Chenghong asked from the dais.
“Clan Leader, this failure is my fault. I’m willing to accept the clan’s punishment,” Shi Pojing answered evenly.
Shi Chenghong nodded. “Owning up to one’s mistakes—that is the Shi family’s spirit. This was your plan, and though it failed, the clan suffered no major loss. Still, a golden opportunity was missed. You must be punished.”
“Two months’ worth of cultivation resources,” the clan leader declared.
Shi Pojing blinked. That was light—far lighter than he had expected. He had braced himself for something far harsher. Looking toward the elders and catching their faint smiles, understanding dawned. Lose the east, gain the west—connections make everything easier. He understood now.
But the others were far less content.
Previously, he had silenced them with sharp rebuttals, but now, after such a failure, this mild punishment was intolerable.
“Clan Leader! The Zhou clan announced yesterday—Zhou Huai’an is their new leader. He’s the one who went to the Chen family to collect the Blood Rice last time. If we miss this chance, it will be even harder to act in the future!”
“Are we just going to let the Chen family walk free?”
“Once the Zhou clan leaves, we should destroy them and avenge our fallen!”
“Yes! Revenge!”
The first man to speak looked bewildered. Hadn’t he meant to point out the consequences of Shi Pojing’s failure? How had this turned into a revenge rally?
But now that emotions were inflamed, how could he return to criticizing Pojing’s competence? Compared to that, avenging Potian and the others had become the clan’s highest priority.
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