Chapter 181: Rumors and the Ancient Clan's Panic
Ancient Realm, Gu Yuan's Residence
Gu Yuan and Yan Jin had just concluded their conversation when a member of the Gu Clan's Black Smoke Army hurried in and bowed respectfully.
"Clan Leader, Lord Black Smoke King has sent me to ask if you have time to come to the meeting hall."
Gu Yuan nodded and waved his hand. "I'll head over shortly. You may leave now."
"Yes, Clan Leader!" the Black Smoke Army member replied, bowing once more before leaving.
After the soldier departed, Yan Jin rose with a smile. "Since you have matters to attend to, I'll take my leave for now. Let's maintain close communication between our clans."
"Very well. I'll see you off, Brother Yan."
Soon after Yan Jin's departure, Gu Yuan made his way to the Gu Clan's Meeting Hall, where the Three Elders and Black Smoke King, Gu Lie, had been waiting for quite some time.
As Gu Yuan entered, the four of them stood and bowed respectfully.
Gu Yuan gestured for them to dispense with formalities, took his seat at the head of the hall, and then turned to Gu Lie. "Elder Gu Lie, what's the matter? Speak freely."
Gu Lie stepped forward and clasped his hands. "Clan Leader, I believe we should bring Xun'er back."
Hearing this, Gu Yuan frowned slightly. "Is something amiss? Xun'er is currently studying at Jia Nan Academy, where she's well cared for. What difference would bringing her back make?"
Since deciding to ally with the Yan Clan and oppose the Xiao Clan, Gu Yuan had been reluctant to bring Gu Xun'er back. He worried that conflict with the Xiao Clan could break out at any moment, making it even more dangerous for his daughter to return home. It seemed safer for her to remain at Jia Nan Academy, located on Lei Clan territory.
The Lei Clan, having remained neutral in the disputes between the imperial clans, was unlikely to become involved, even if the Gu Clan faced defeat. This neutrality ensured Xun'er's safety.
Gu Lie considered Gu Yuan's expression and quickly deduced his reasoning. With a sigh, he explained:
"Clan Leader, my suggestion is also for Xun'er's safety. However, our people have discovered that the Xiao Clan sent some of their disciples to Jia Nan Academy many years ago.
"We don't know their intentions, but given the Xiao Clan's superior training resources and their unrivaled cultivation arrays, it's unlikely they'd send disciples there purely for study. It's safe to assume they have ulterior motives.
"If conflict with the Xiao Clan does erupt, Jia Nan Academy could become a dangerous place in an instant. Worse still, if the Xiao Clan were to take Xun'er hostage, we would be at their mercy.
"Xun'er is your only child, Clan Leader, and her safety is paramount. I believe it's best to bring her back now, while we're still on neutral terms with the Xiao Clan, to eliminate any future risks."
Gu Lie's words were calculated. While Gu Yuan might hesitate if it were anyone else, Xun'er was different. Her bloodline was exceptionally pure Gu Lie had sensed this long ago. She was not only a rare genius but also the sole heir to Gu Yuan's bloodline. If the Xiao Clan were to use her against them, the consequences could be disastrous.
After a moment of thought, Gu Yuan nodded. "Very well. Bring her back. Elder Gu Lie, I leave this matter in your hands."
"Understood, Clan Leader. I'll ensure her safe return," Gu Lie replied with a respectful bow.
As this matter concluded, another elder, Gu Dao, stepped forward.
"Clan Leader, aside from retrieving Xun'er, there's another issue we must discuss."
Gu Yuan nodded calmly. "Speak freely, Elder Gu Dao. Though I am the Clan Leader, you all are the pillars of our clan. There's no need for excessive formalities between us."
Gu Dao bowed his head slightly before continuing:
"Clan Leader, our spies have reported a troubling rumor spreading in the outside world. According to these rumors, the reason the Shi Clan and Ling Clan allied with us is that they are acting under the Xiao Clan's instructions. Their true goal is to infiltrate our alliance and report back to the Xiao Clan, especially if our alliance takes actions against them..."
Before Gu Dao could finish, Gu Yuan scoffed and waved his hand dismissively.
"Ridiculous. This rumor is clearly false. The imperial clans are shrouded in mystery how could anyone outside of the clans know of such internal matters?
"If such a scheme truly existed, the Xiao Clan would have already acted against the Shi Clan and Ling Clan. Do you think the Xiao Clan would wait this long if they knew of such a betrayal?"
Gu Yuan was no fool and refused to believe such baseless rumors. The imperial clans were too secretive for such information to leak so easily. Moreover, if there were any truth to these claims, the Xiao Clan's intelligence network would have acted swiftly, making their move long before now.
However, Gu Dao sighed and pressed on.
"Clan Leader, if it were only a simple rumor, we wouldn't give it much thought. But the details are disturbingly precise. The rumors include the exact time, location, and participants involved in the Shi and Ling Clans' alliance meeting with us.
"What's more alarming is that this rumor originated within the Shi Clan's territory, reportedly leaked by the grandson of a Shi Clan elder.
"This can't be ignored. If the Xiao Clan's intelligence network truly got wind of our plans, it could mean two things:
"First, the Shi and Ling Clans aren't sincere about joining our alliance and are acting as spies for the Xiao Clan.
"Second, there's a traitor within the Shi Clan leaking information, intentionally or otherwise.
"Either way, this is no trivial matter for our alliance with the Yan Clan."
Gu Yuan's expression darkened at Gu Dao's words. If true, this situation posed a grave threat to their alliance.
Turning to the Two Grand Elders, Gu Yuan asked solemnly, "What do the two of you think of this matter?"
"Clan Leader, the current situation is quite troublesome. Until the Xiao Clan makes a move, we have no way of discerning their intentions.
Moreover, Xiao Tiance has always been crafty. If he has caught wind of this news, he's likely already devising a plan we're just unaware of what it is."
Ancient Realm: Gu Clan Meeting Hall
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was tense as the elders discussed the situation.
"There are two possibilities," an elder continued. "The first is that the Ling Clan and Shi Clan are genuinely committed to the alliance, but the news of their involvement has leaked. If so, the Xiao Clan must have already learned of it and might act immediately.
"The second possibility is far worse: the Shi Clan and Ling Clan are pretending to ally with us. They could be Xiao Clan spies sent to infiltrate our alliance and relay information back to the Xiao Clan. If that's the case, it would leave only us and the Yan Clan in the alliance. When the Xiao Clan wages war against the Hun Clan, we would not only need to guard against the Xiao Clan but also remain vigilant of the Ling and Shi Clans."
After hearing this, Gu Yuan nodded solemnly in agreement.
Gu Lie then spoke up, his tone grave: "There's another possibility one that's even more concerning. The Xiao Clan might intend to destroy us first before moving on to the Hun Clan.
"If that happens, it would be disastrous. The Xiao Clan originally aimed to annihilate the Hun Clan, allowing us to harass them from behind. But if their focus shifts to us, the Hun Clan won't come to our aid.
"This means we'd face the Xiao Clan's full strength alone. Their might surpasses any single imperial clan, and our intelligence suggests they have over 200 Dou Sheng experts.
"The real danger, however, lies in the Yan Clan potentially turning their backs on us. If that happens, we wouldn't stand a chance against the Xiao Clan. It would mean not just defeat, but the risk of complete annihilation."
The Weight of Fear
Gu Lie's words hit the room like a bomb, stirring panic among Gu Yuan and the other elders.
The group fell silent, exchanging troubled glances. If the worst case scenario were true, the Gu Clan's destruction was all but guaranteed.
The oppressive silence stretched on until Gu Yuan exhaled deeply, breaking the stillness.
"I've taken all of your thoughts to heart," he began. "While we can't dismiss these possibilities, we shouldn't let fear overwhelm us.
"Our clan has a long standing bond with the Xiao Clan, strengthened by marriage ties and generations of goodwill. We've taken no direct action against them our efforts are solely for self preservation, not antagonism.
"As for the rumors, I believe the best course of action is to remain still and observe. Whether the Shi Clan and Ling Clan are sincere or deceitful, we cannot be certain. Thus, it's wiser to await the Xiao Clan's next move before deciding our course.
"We must ensure that we do not provoke the Xiao Clan unnecessarily. Unlike the Ling and Shi Clans, who were once vassals of the Xiao Clan and actively betrayed them, we've done nothing of the sort. While Xiao Tiance might be displeased, this alone shouldn't prompt immediate action against us.
"As for the Yan Clan, the same logic applies. Let's wait for news from the Xiao Clan before we make further decisions."
The elders nodded, recognizing the wisdom in Gu Yuan's measured approach.
Gu Lie then added, "Very well. I'll proceed with bringing Xun'er back to the clan. For now, we'll wait and see how the Xiao Clan responds."
Gu Yuan nodded. "Be cautious, Elder Gu Lie. If you encounter members of the Xiao Clan during your journey, do not engage with them. We can't afford to give them an excuse to act against us."
"Understood, Clan Leader. It's just a retrieval mission I'll avoid any contact with the Xiao Clan," Gu Lie assured him before leaving to make the arrangements.
After Gu Lie's departure, Gu Yuan stood and left as well, his heart weighed down by the troubling rumors.
Shadows of Doubt
Watching Gu Yuan's departing figure, Gu Dao sighed. "How did it come to this? To think that a proud clan like ours now fears the possibility of extinction. It's a disgrace to our ancestors."
Another elder nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Let's hope everything proceeds smoothly."
Central Plains: Tianji Tower Headquarters
Meanwhile, at the Xiao Clan's intelligence hub, Xiao Qing reviewed the latest reports with a faint smile.
After reading through the scrolls, he conjured a small flame in his palm, reducing the documents to ashes.
"Lord Tian Luo, the fish are about to take the bait," Xiao Qing remarked with a sly grin.
Tian Luo, seated nearby, chuckled. "As expected. But don't get complacent. Gu Yuan may be soft hearted, but we can't afford to rush things. The seeds of doubt have been sown. Now, we proceed to the next step.
"Betrayers must be cornered step by step, forced into despair before we close the net. Only then can we exact the perfect revenge. Let them drown in fear and perish in hopelessness that's the best punishment for betrayal."
Xiao Qing nodded, his grin widening. "You're absolutely right, Lord Tian Luo. With the fish already panicked, a bit more pressure should yield some interesting surprises."
Tian Luo poured a cup of tea for Xiao Qing and smiled. "We have time. For our plan to succeed perfectly, patience is key.
"Remember, even a cornered rabbit can bite. Though the Gu Clan may seem weak, we mustn't push too hard or too fast. After all, desperation can lead to reckless actions."
"Understood, Lord Tian Luo. Since the first phase of the plan has gone smoothly, I'll move on to the next step," Xiao Qing replied, bowing respectfully.
"Good. I'm counting on you," Tian Luo said, his tone measured. "And if everything proceeds as planned, once this matter is resolved, it'll be time for you to take your place as the leader of the Xiao Clan. Don't disappoint me, Qing'er."
A glint of ambition flashed in Xiao Qing's eyes as he bowed once more. "I won't let you down, Third Uncle."
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