Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 406 - 385: First Update

Chapter 406: Chapter 385: First Update

Zong Yunqian knew he couldn’t escape this question. From the moment he knew his master and senior brother’s thoughts, he felt that it shouldn’t be as they thought.

Although Zong Yunqian didn’t know the details about the matters between Qiandao Temple and Ghoul Ravine, he was aware that Ghoul Ravine and Qiandao Temple, many years ago, belonged to the same sect. The ancestors of Ghoul Ravine and Master Huo Yi of Qiandao Temple were originally fellow disciples, but due to straying onto the wrong path and practicing the Ghost Path, they gradually transformed into what they were today.

Therefore, the predicted omens could be referring to Qiandao Temple, as well as Ghoul Ravine.

His master and Master Yu Sheng believed that the downfall of the Nanzheng Imperial Clan was related to Ghoul Ravine, and Ghoul Ravine’s stirring in the Northwest Border indeed confirmed the suspicions of his master and Master Yu Sheng. However, Zong Yunqian always believed that the prophetic celestial signs were pointing to their Qiandao Temple, as it was in accordance with the Heaven’s Will.

Zong Yunqian knew that whatever he said now, his senior brother wouldn’t believe him. He also had doubted his own judgment. Yet, there was a detail in the prophecy that only he knew about; neither his master nor his senior brother had noticed this detail, and even if he spoke of it, the people of Qiandao Temple might not believe him, because he had seen it in dreams—from childhood to adulthood, countless dreams that grew clearer and clearer, as if something was guiding him to this answer.

"That day when Master and brother discussed the prophecy, they didn’t avoid me. Perhaps it’s because Master and brother think that Yunqian doesn’t possess the root of wisdom and couldn’t see it, but actually, Yunqian truly saw it," Zong Yunqian spoke up. "Senior brother, do you think that Ghoul Ravine’s visit this time is related to what the prophecy mentioned?"

Master Yu Sheng was slightly startled. His initial thought was that Master had informed his younger disciple about the prophecy indeed; they hadn’t avoided Zong Yunqian because the prophetic signs, even if placed openly, are not something that just anyone can see.

In Qiandao Temple, only Master and he could see the prophetic signs.

"So, you’ve always been able to see the prophetic signs?" Master Yu Sheng asked, then why didn’t you tell Master? It wasn’t that Master Yu Sheng was overly suspicious, but the art of prophecy, the spells taught by Master, were only known to him. If Yunqian, the disciple, could also...

Zong Yunqian shook his head.

"Not every sign, currently, I can only see this one." Perhaps, to be precise, this prophetic sign wasn’t something he saw, but something he dreamed about. The series of events in the dream involved Qiandao Temple conforming to the Heaven’s Will, replacing the Nanzheng Imperial Clan, with the people of Nanzheng State being saved from fire and water. And the person who could accomplish this in that dream...

Zong Yunqian had never spoken of it, but all signs indicated that he seemed to have this kind of memory ingrained within him, as if it was his own memory.

Master Yu Sheng didn’t refute the credibility of Zong Yunqian’s statement. Whether it was true or not was for Master to decide; at the moment, they had more important matters.

"The people from Ghoul Ravine, after leaving Prince Duan’s Mansion, haven’t gone far from the outskirts of Zheng Capital City, having stayed for a day, although no actions have been witnessed, the presence of any bigger scheming is unknown. Junior brother, we can’t afford to be careless or let our guard down because of this."

Upon hearing this, Zong Yunqian was startled. How could this be? Why would Ghoul Ravine act now, it’s simply not possible.

...

In an abandoned courtyard in the suburbs of the Zheng capital city, black smoke swirled around, from afar it looked as though dark clouds pressed over the city, and a storm was approaching. Yet all around was calm, the leaves unmoved, and even the sunlight appeared to penetrate through the clouds.

The passing citizens complained about this eerie weather, sunny one moment and rainy the next, but such weather had been frequent in Zheng capital this year, as if presaging some kind of omen.

But just before the omen arrived, no one would believe these strange sights. They just cursed and muttered, deep into autumn, how can such ghostly weather still persist.

"Young Master, please calm down; now is certainly not the time to go back." Having just regained consciousness, Elder Can spoke earnestly without daring to deceive or coax any longer, emphatically pleading as if his life depended on it, hoping to sway the Young Master.

The youth coldly glanced at Elder Can, his gaze icy, as if looking at an inanimate object. If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t just kill people here—where the Master of Ghoul Ravine, along with Elders Can and Su, indeed possessed some strength—he wouldn’t have bothered speaking with these people any more. If fighting them wasted his energy, he would be even less sure about facing the people from Qiandao Temple.

Gui San, Gui Si, and Gui Wu looked at Elder Can nervously, fearing that the Young Master might strike at any moment. Having been by the Young Master’s side slightly longer than the other disciples of Ghoul Ravine in the courtyard, they knew his temper better—they knew the Young Master’s ruthlessness allowed no one to interfere with his decisions.

Gui San and Gui Si glanced anxiously behind them; inside, the Ravine Master was treating Elder Su’s wounds, while everyone else stood still, unaware of what awaited them.

Gui San gritted his teeth, ready to sacrifice his life in hopes that the Young Master would take out his anger on him, thus sparing Elder Can from danger at this moment.

Just as Gui San was about to speak, there was a sudden commotion inside; Elder Su had come out. Although not fully recovered, he was significantly better, and since Master Yu Sheng had not used his full power to restrain them, hoping to conserve strength for the confrontation with the Master of Ghoul Ravine, Elder Su had now recovered to about eighty percent with the Ravine Master’s intensive treatment.

"Young Master—" Elder Su, not fully understanding the situation and seeing Elder Can kneeling, was taken aback, but they had been tricked by Qiandao Temple, which was indeed detestable.

Elder Can became anxious; he had been with the Young Master for so long yet had barely earned a bit of his trust, and now Elder Su’s interference could ruin everything.

"Young Master, it is all our fault; if we hadn’t lagged behind, we would have already left Zheng Capital as the Commandery Princess instructed, and Her Royal Highness wouldn’t be worried about us now."

Elder Su was stunned; what was this all about? He couldn’t understand.

Gui San, Gui Si, and Gui Wu immediately understood and knelt down together.

"It’s our fault, Commandery Princess specifically instructed us to safely escort the Young Master out, and we have failed..."

"Elders, elders—" Just then, the disciples who had gone out to gather information rushed into the courtyard, "Elders, it’s bad—the people from Qiandao Temple have followed us here."

Elder Can and Elder Su’s expressions became anxious; with the Ravine Master attempting a rescue, fighting Qiandao Temple again was uncertain, and if the Young Master left now...

"Young Master, we absolutely must not let the people from Qiandao Temple prevail. Young Master, the Commandery Princess had instructed us, word by word, before leaving, that we must escape to plan for the future." Elder Can, caring for nothing else, contorted the truth as necessary.

The youth appeared somewhat confused, having a hard time understanding what Elder Can was saying.

"Is that really what she said?"

"Of course, why else would the Commandery Princess make herself bait to let us escape?" Elder Can urged desperately.