"Radiance wants our Crimson Star to give an explanation?" Ouyang Bing raised an eyebrow.
"Give them a damn explanation!" Bei Yushan roared. "All those years fighting Radiance in the Star Market, plenty of our Crimson Star Disciples died at their hands—did they ever come explain themselves? I'll tell you what, the Sixth Master did a fine job this time. That bastard Bie Jian, I've wanted him dead for ages, just never had the chance! When I get the chance, I'll find the Sixth Master for a drink and toast him!"
Chen Tianfei's mouth twitched.
Over by the side, Madam Qin pressed her fingers against the guqin strings and parted her pale lips softly. "What did the First Master say?"
Chen Tianfei shook his head slowly. "The First Master said nothing."
"So we're not getting involved?" Ouyang Lie asked.
Chen Tianfei replied, "We can ignore Radiance, but Sword Pavilion must be treated with caution."
Bei Yushan looked stunned. "What's Sword Pavilion got to do with it?" Built like a barrel-chested tower of iron, the man was straightforward by nature. He had been sequestered in closed-door Cultivation these past days and knew little of what had transpired outside. If Chen Tianfei hadn't summoned him, he wouldn't have emerged.
Madam Qin spoke softly, "It's said that on Yuan Magnetic Mountain, because of our Sixth Master, several dozen people from Sword Pavilion were killed or wounded. Even the Starfall Sword Formation was broken. Zhong Fan, Luo Qingyun, and Lu Xue were severely injured and fled—narrowly escaping with their lives!"
Bei Yushan's eyes went round. "That old fox Zhong Fan was beaten half to death? Our Sixth Master did that?"
As one of Crimson Star's leaders, how could he not know of Sword Pavilion's terrifying power? Luo Qingyun and Lu Xue were one thing—they were both Fourth-Order Open Heaven like him—but Zhong Fan was Fifth-Order!
Chen Tianfei waved a hand. "He didn't personally strike, but this matter is directly tied to him. You could even say that the casualties on Sword Pavilion's side were entirely his doing."
"Sword Pavilion has sent people here as well?" Madam Qin's delicate brows knitted together. Just as Chen Tianfei had said, they weren't afraid of Radiance, but there was no sense antagonizing Sword Pavilion. After coexisting in the Star Market for so many years, even they weren't entirely sure what kind of hidden strength Sword Pavilion truly possessed.
"If Sword Pavilion had actually sent people, that would at least be straightforward!" Chen Tianfei let out a heavy sigh. "Unfortunately, they haven't done so."
Madam Qin and the others all frowned upon hearing this, worry etched across their faces.
"You all know how mad those sword cultivators are," Chen Tianfei said with a grim expression. "The Sixth Master went around provoking half the world on Yuan Magnetic Mountain under our Crimson Star's banner—fine, that's bad enough. But he also made a mortal enemy of Sword Pavilion. This isn't something that can just be smoothed over. These past few days my eyelids have been twitching like mad. I've got this feeling—like a storm is brewing."
"A mortal vendetta—Sword Pavilion won't let this go." Madam Qin shook her head slowly.
Ouyang Lie said, "This is going to be difficult. If it were merely injuries, that would be one thing. But people died—quite a few of them. And the Starfall Sword Formation is Sword Pavilion's very foundation. Having that broken is a slap in their face. They absolutely won't let this rest."
Ouyang Bing continued, "Pass down orders. Have everyone stay on guard from now on, especially if they encounter anyone from Sword Pavilion. Keep as far away as possible, and under no circumstances engage them."
Chen Tianfei sighed. "That was my thinking as well. If I'd known this would happen, I never would have let that Yang fellow become the Sixth Master. And now look—a few short days, and he's piled up enemies for Crimson Star everywhere. How are we supposed to keep our footing in the Void Expanse? Truly infuriating!"
"What use is crying over spilled milk? Back then, riding high off killing Poison Woman and Gan Hong, who among us would have dared say a word against him!"
That was fair enough. Had they refused to let that Yang fellow take charge of Crimson Star, more than just Poison Woman and Gan Hong would have ended up dead.
But thinking of the current situation, Chen Tianfei's mouth tasted more bitter than if he'd eaten raw Coptis root. He silently resolved to pay Yang Kai a visit shortly and ask him to exercise some restraint going forward. Crimson Star simply couldn't afford any more enemies. If they provoked the masses again, life in the Void Expanse would become truly untenable.
After the meeting dispersed, Chen Tianfei immediately headed for Yang Kai's residence. All that fat on his frame couldn't slow his swift stride.
He arrived before Yang Kai's estate before long and couldn't help but furrow his brow. With his Fourth-Order Open Heaven cultivation, he could naturally sense that within a thousand zhang of this place, numerous pairs of eyes were secretly watching the residence. He knew this was the trouble caused by that Sixth-Order Yuan Magnetic Divine Stone—the most precious treasure on all of Yuan Magnetic Mountain now sat in Yang Kai's pocket, and who wouldn't be jealous?
Even he, Chen Tianfei, had harbored such thoughts earlier.
There was someone at the entrance. A young noble-looking fellow stood before the estate with a retinue of servants behind him, his expression arrogant, nostrils pointed skyward, carrying himself as though the heavens were second only to him.
A guard-like martial artist bellowed, "Tell your master to come out!"
Inside the gate, Chen Yue stared white-faced at this fearsome-looking group, her voice small and trembling. "May I ask what brings you here?"
These past days, no shortage of visitors had come calling on Yang Kai, each harboring their own petty schemes. But after Yue He had furiously broken one of them and thrown them out, things had quieted considerably.
She hadn't expected more to arrive—and this time they came with aggressive bearing. The one speaking clearly radiated an Open Heaven aura. He was a genuine Open Heaven realm powerhouse.
Chen Yue had never faced such a scene before, and she was at a complete loss.
The guard said, "Whether there's a matter or not, there's no need to explain it to the likes of you. Go fetch your master and let him speak for himself."