vstars Chapter 29 Origins of the Huang Clan
Chapter 29 Origins of the Huang Clan
The Huang family's study.
Huang Dehou sat in a grand chair, with secret letters sent back by Huang An and Huang Ning spread out in front of him.
The secret letter was written in great detail, from why Zhao Yuanlang brought people up the mountain, to their conversation at the academy, and finally to their walk on the back mountain, until they came down the mountain.
The letter also mentioned that Shen Qing claimed to Zhao Yuanlang that he had "failed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and was nearing the end of his lifespan." Zhao Yuanlang personally took his pulse and confirmed the matter.
After reading the letter, Huang Dehou tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
Zhao Yuanlang personally examined Shen Qingshou's pulse and confirmed that Shen Qingshou's life was nearing its end.
This proves that what Shen Qing said at Zuixianlou was true, and that Shen Qing was indeed a dying man.
Zhao Yuanlang descended the mountain with a somber face, indicating that he had not found anything of value on Qingyun Mountain.
This perfectly matches Huang Dehou's judgment.
The secrets of Qingyun Mountain are not so easy to discover.
Huang Dehou had memorized the last words left by the first ancestor of the Huang family before his death: "My ability to establish my foundation is entirely due to the mysterious Daoist sound emanating from Qingyun Mountain. I know not where the sound comes from, nor when it will resound again. However, due to my incorrect practice of the method, my foundation has been greatly damaged, and I am unable to seize this opportunity. You descendants, if you have the chance, must find the secret of Qingyun. Those who obtain this secret can expect to attain the Golden Elixir."
The first ancestor of the Huang family was named Gongwang.
This is a legend of the Huang family. One hundred and thirty years ago, Huang Gongwang was just an ordinary hunter.
One day, while hunting on the outskirts of Qingyun Mountain, he accidentally entered a valley and suddenly heard a mysterious Taoist voice.
The sound of the Dao came from nowhere, as if it descended from the sky, surged from the earth, or emanated from the mountain wall.
Upon hearing the Daoist teachings, Huang Gongwang was enlightened and instantly grasped the method of cultivation.
With this sudden enlightenment, he slowly explored cultivation on his own without any Foundation Establishment Pills or a master, until he successfully established his foundation.
But it was the Daoist teachings that brought him success, and it was also the Daoist teachings that brought him failure.
Huang Gongwang's enlightenment cultivation method was flawed. Although he successfully established his foundation, his cultivation could not advance any further due to his extremely poor foundation.
He passed away less than fifty years after founding the Huang family. Before his death, he summoned his descendants to his bedside and left behind those last words.
"There is a great secret in Qingyun Mountain. My ability to establish my foundation is entirely due to the mysterious Daoist sounds within the mountain. If you, my descendants, have the opportunity, you must find it. Those who obtain this secret can expect to achieve the Golden Elixir. Remember this well, remember this well."
After saying that, he passed away.
For more than a hundred years thereafter, successive heads of the Huang family never gave up their covetousness of Qingyun Mountain.
However, Qingyun Sect has always had Foundation Establishment cultivators in charge, and although the Huang family also has a Foundation Establishment ancestor, they have never been able to find an opportunity to make a move.
Until the Taoist priest of Fushan was summoned by the Divine Sect and died in battle in Chuzhou, Huang Dehou's father, the patriarch of the Huang family, survived.
Huang Dehou had waited far too long for this day.
He stood up, walked to his desk, spread out paper and pen, and began to write a letter to his father, who was far away in Chuzhou.
"My dearest father: Fu Shan of Qingyun Sect is dead, and his disciple Shen Qingshou is nearing the end of his life. County Magistrate Zhao Yuanlang personally went up the mountain to investigate, but returned empty-handed. I have confirmed that the secret of Qingyun still lies within the mountains..."
He wrote very slowly, carefully considering each word.
"...Zhao Yuanlang will be returning to the Heavenly Divine Sect to report for duty in less than a year. I implore Father, please return to Qinghe after the New Year. Once Zhao Yuanlang leaves Qinghe and returns to the sect, it will be the opportunity for our Huang family to seize Qingyun..."
After finishing writing, Huang Dehou folded the letter, put it in an envelope, sealed it with wax, and then summoned his trusted confidant.
"Send this letter to Chuzhou and personally deliver it to the old master. Do not make any mistakes."
The confidant took the letter and withdrew.
Huang Dehou sat back down in his armchair and looked out the window toward Qingyun Mountain.
In the twilight, the outline of the mountain peak appeared and disappeared, like a lurking beast.
It's been 130 years.
The Huang family waited 130 years for Qingyun Mountain. Starting from their great-grandfather Huang Gongwang, this secret was etched into the Huang family’s very being.
Huang Dehou had heard his grandfather and father recite the four words "the elixir of immortality is within reach" that his great-grandfather said before he passed away. Now it was his turn.
"The Golden Elixir is within reach."
He repeated it in a low voice, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
That idiot Zhao Yuanlang thought Qingyun Mountain was just a dilapidated mountain with little spiritual energy.
He had no idea that the real secret was not the spiritual veins, not the secret realms, not anything that could be detected with divine sense.
Those sounds are mysterious Daoist sounds that can enlighten mortals to the methods of cultivation and allow cultivators to establish their foundation out of thin air.
Huang Dehou did not doubt his ancestors' words. After all, a Foundation Establishment family could be built with just a few Dao sounds. If one truly mastered these Dao sounds, what difficulty would it be for a Golden Core family?
Huang Dehou picked up his teacup, blew on it gently, and muttered to himself, "No rush, wait for Father to return. Wait until Zhao Yuanlang rolls back to the Heavenly God Sect. Qingyun Mountain won't be able to escape."
The backyard of Qinghe County Government Office.
Zhao Yuanlang sat cross-legged in the quiet room, where black and white pieces were locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard in front of him.
But his mind was clearly not on the game of chess; ever since he returned from Qingyun Mountain, he had been restless.
It wasn't because anything was discovered in Qingyun, but precisely because nothing was discovered.
A dilapidated mountain with scarce spiritual energy, a dying and useless sect leader, a group of peasant disciples practicing mortal martial arts, and a run-down academy that offers free instruction.
All signs indicate that Qingyun Sect has reached its end, and Qingyun Mountain has no so-called "secret" at all.
But it was precisely because there were no secrets that Zhao Yuanlang felt increasingly uneasy.
Based solely on what we see now, how could that old fox Huang Dehou have coveted Qingyun Mountain for a full ten years?
Zhao Yuanlang didn't think that Huang Dehou, known for his shrewdness, was actually after such a dilapidated mountain.
Zhao Yuanlang knew all too well who Huang Dehou was.
Greedy, cunning, and calculating, he must have his reasons for setting his sights on something.
If Qingyun Mountain really had nothing, Huang Dehou wouldn't have wasted ten years of his life.
Unless, Huang Dehou knows something that he doesn't.
Zhao Yuanlang picked up a black piece but hesitated to place it.
"The mystery."
"The student is here," Xuanji responded from outside the door.
"Go and investigate the Huang family's background. Not Huang Dehou, but the Huang family's origin, Huang Gongwang."
"Find out exactly how Huang Gongwang transformed from a hunter into a Foundation Establishment cultivator 130 years ago."
Xuanji paused slightly, "Does Your Excellency suspect..."
"It's not doubt, it's curiosity."
Zhao Yuanlang put down the chess piece. "A hunter, without a master or Foundation Establishment Pill, how could he possibly achieve Foundation Establishment? The Huang family claims that Huang Gongwang obtained a 'predestined affinity.' What kind of predestined affinity? Where did he obtain it? How did he obtain it? The Huang family has never explained these things clearly."
Xuanji understood: "I will go and investigate immediately."
Zhao Yuanlang nodded. After Xuanji's footsteps faded into the distance, he looked back at the chessboard.
Shen Qing, Huang Dehou, Mo Wentian.
Shen Qing is a dying man and not worth worrying about. Mo Wentian's whereabouts are uncertain, but Zhao Yuanlang feels that he will not return in the short term.
The real variable is Huang Dehou.
There is less than a year left before he returns to the Heavenly Divine Sect to report on his duties. Qinghe County must not be allowed to cause any trouble during this year.
When he returns from his reporting trip, it will be another five-year term. Zhao Yuanlang felt that five years would be enough time for him to slowly unravel the mysteries of Qingyun Mountain.
If there really are mysteries surrounding Qingyun Mountain.
Zhao Yuanlang picked up a black piece and placed it on the chessboard.
"Huang Dehou, you'd better not make a move before I leave Qinghe. Otherwise..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the murderous intent that flashed in his eyes said it all.