Chapter 258

Chapter 258: A Pawn!

War on the Yang Family!

Zhantai Ge’s expression was incredibly grave. Once upon a time, the power of the myriad worlds and the real world were roughly equal, but later, as the major forces of the real world gradually declined, the Yang family eventually made a powerful entry into the real world, and with their arrival, the real world’s strength immediately surpassed that of the myriad worlds.

Especially that Sword Master of Guanxuan!

The extent of this person’s power remained a mystery to this day.

Zhantai Ge had never expected that this unknown, mysterious force would actually set its sights on the Yang family.

And from the looks of things, the other side clearly wanted to wage a full-scale war.

The Divine Realm?

She had never heard of it.

But she knew that the myriad worlds might be finished, because once this place was opened up as a new battlefield, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophic disaster for all living beings here.

But…what did any of that have to do with her?

Si Ling paid no attention to Zhantai Ge. She raised her head and gazed into the depths of the star river, her eyes passing through the endless expanse of stars until they finally came to rest on the real world.

Looking at the real world, she smiled, “Yang family……don’t you dare disappoint me! It’s been such a long, long time since I’ve had a good fight.”

The real world, inside Guanxuan Hall.

An Yan and Fazhen had sought out Ye Tianming on their own initiative. An Yan said in a low voice, “Young Master, I’ve noticed something feels off lately.”

Ye Tianming looked toward An Yan, who continued, “Over this period of time, the noble clans and sect forces within the academy have been extremely cooperative with all your policies. That level of cooperation is far too abnormal.”

Ye Tianming gave a slight nod, “I understand.”

An Yan seemed to want to say more but held back.

Ye Tianming smiled, “It’s fine, just focus on your own affairs.”

An Yan glanced at him, nodded, then said, “Young Master, there’s one more thing. I know you might not be happy to hear it, but I still have to say it.”

Ye Tianming looked toward An Yan, who met his gaze, “Regarding the matter of the Ye family from below — the Ye Tianming branch — I want to overturn the label of ‘traitors’ that Guanxuan Academy gave them back then. I……want to clear their name.”

Upon hearing this, Fazhen’s expression immediately changed. He hadn’t expected An Yan to suddenly bring this up.

Though he felt the same way in his heart, honestly speaking, years of hardship at the lower levels had matured him considerably, and he no longer acted as rashly as before.

He simply couldn’t afford to be as reckless and impulsive as before.

Recklessness and impulsiveness, more often than not, only made things worse and worse.

Ye Tianming set down the brush in his hand and looked at An Yan, “Clear the Ye family’s name?”

An Yan showed no fear. He nodded and held Ye Tianming’s gaze directly.

After a moment of silence, Ye Tianming said, “Why do you want to clear the Ye family’s name?”

An Yan said, “Because what happened back then was the academy’s fault to begin with. It was those noble clans and sects who were in the wrong. The Ye family had done nothing wrong whatsoever.”

Ye Tianming said nothing, simply looking at An Yan.

An Yan remained completely unafraid.

The fact that he dared to step forward and raise this matter meant he had already prepared himself for any possible outcome.

After a moment, Ye Tianming said, “Let’s put this matter on hold for now.”

An Yan still wanted to say something, but Fazhen had already stopped him.

Ye Tianming looked at An Yan and smiled, “When I say to hold off, I don’t mean to drag it out. Rather, this is something that should be handled by someone else, not me. Of course, whether it’s handled or not no longer holds much meaning — after all, the people are already gone.”

An Yan said in a low voice, “That is precisely why they deserve justice all the more.”

Ye Tianming replied, “The people are dead. What meaning does justice hold now? An Yan, don’t be hasty. The most pressing matter right now is handling the academy’s affairs. As for justice for the Ye family……”

He gave a slight smile, “Justice for the Ye family is not something that can be settled with just a few words.”

An Yan let out a deep sigh.

A moment later, Fazhen pulled An Yan, who still seemed to want to say more, and they withdrew.

Outside, Fazhen said in a low voice, “An Yan, you’re being too hasty.”

An Yan shook his head, “It’s not that I’m hasty. It’s that this was the academy’s fault, and the Young Master’s fault too. I feel the Young Master should acknowledge that.”

Fazhen said, “That’s the principle, but you have to consider the reality of the situation. Asking the Young Master to bow his head and admit fault right now simply isn’t realistic.”

An Yan let out a deep sigh.

Fazhen continued, “And haven’t you noticed? The Young Master has become a little different.”

An Yan gave a slight nod. He had spent time with Yang Jia before, and Yang Jia had always been quite amiable, but how to put it — the amiability back then was a kind of polite amiability, the sort of courtesy a superior shows to those beneath them. The amiability now was the kind that carried no sense of distance whatsoever.

Fazhen continued, “Right now the Young Master clearly wants to transform the entire academy, and this is something only the Young Master can accomplish. What we need to do now is support him, carry out a thorough reform of Guanxuan Academy, and make it a better place.”

After a brief silence, An Yan gave a slight nod, “For now, that’s all we can do.”

As he said this, a flicker of complex emotion crossed his eyes, “I wonder how Tianming is doing now.”

After arriving in the real world, he had also asked around about Ye Tianming. Upon learning that Ye Tianming was now the sect master of the Buddha-Demon Sect, he had gone there once, but hadn’t managed to see him.

Fazhen said in a low voice, “Tianming has grown so fast!”

As he said this, he too felt a sense of wonder.

Ye Tianming’s rate of growth was simply too fast. In terms of strength, he and An Yan combined were no match for Ye Tianming now.

An Yan said, “What I’m worried about right now are those noble clans and sects. They’ve been far too quiet lately — quiet to an abnormal degree. I have a feeling they’re plotting something big.”

Fazhen laughed, “It’ll be fine. I can see the Young Master has everything under control. Besides, if those clans and sects really do try to stir up trouble, there’s not much we two small fry can do about it anyway. Let’s just do what we’re supposed to do and what we’re capable of.”

An Yan also laughed, “You’re right, let’s go!”

Soon, the two of them departed.

Inside the hall.

After Ye Tianming finished writing and set down the last memorial, he slowly rose to his feet.

Not far away, Miss Ding, who had also been busy, suddenly set down her brush. She looked at Ye Tianming and smiled, “Are you still worried?”

Ye Tianming said, “Miss Ding, that Young Master Xin is the adopted son of the Guanxuan Sword Master, and these noble clans and sects are also forces that the Guanxuan Sword Master cultivated back in the day……now that they’re about to stir up trouble, the Yang family can’t really just ignore it, can they?”

Miss Ding smiled, “You’re asking whether I can help you call in some backup?”

Ye Tianming nodded.

Miss Ding shook her head, “Everything has its cause and effect. Haven’t you noticed? The reason they’re moving so quickly is entirely because of your reforms.”

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Miss Ding continued, “If you hadn’t pushed for reform, even if that Young Master Xin wanted to stir up trouble, the others might not have truly followed along. But because of your reforms, you’ve driven them to band tightly together…….”

At this point, she suddenly smiled, “Actually, this is precisely your goal too, isn’t it? Either don’t do it at all, or go all the way. Am I right?”

Ye Tianming glanced at Miss Ding and said nothing.

This woman before him was truly sharp. His feeling was that no thought or intention of his could be hidden from her.

And yet this extraordinarily brilliant person had come specifically to play him.

He had known from the very beginning that she had a purpose in approaching him, and she had never once concealed that purpose.

This time it was chess played in broad daylight!

Reforming Guanxuan Academy and the Immortal Treasure Pavilion was just the first move.

Of course, he also understood.

Practice inevitably brings difficulties.

Miss Ding said, “You’re not afraid of the sects and clans, and you’re not afraid of that Young Master Xin either. What you’re worried about now is the unknown — specifically, why Young Master Xin would dare to scheme against you even knowing you possess the divine sword……you know there may be someone behind them, and what you’re truly worried about is what kind of force that person behind them actually is. Because their strength is unknown, yet they dare to target the Yang family, so you feel uncertain.”

Ye Tianming smiled, “Miss Ding knows everything. However, I do have another question I’d like to ask you. Miss Ding, should Guanxuan Academy and the Immortal Treasure Pavilion be reformed?”

Miss Ding smiled and turned the question back on him, “Young Master Ye, tell me — with so many people in the Yang family and so many people in the academy, could they really not see these problems?”

Ye Tianming’s brow furrowed slightly.

Miss Ding smiled, “Let me give you a hint. You still haven’t grasped what the real core issue is. Is it truly about reform? Is it truly about corruption? Young Master Ye, if you can’t see the core essence of the problem, then you’re in real danger.”

Ye Tianming fell silent. The core essence of the problem?

Indeed.

He seemed never to have considered it — could the people of the Yang family really not see these problems?

So why had they all chosen to stay silent?

Miss Ding added, “Of course, I can understand you. What you’re doing now isn’t wrong either. Some problems always need someone to address them.”

Ye Tianming suddenly said, “Miss Ding, I remember there was a senior called Old Yang. But ever since you and your people appeared, this senior has vanished. I can’t reach him no matter what I try……that has something to do with you, doesn’t it?”

Miss Ding nodded, “It does. We had him go elsewhere for a while.”

Ye Tianming looked at Miss Ding and said nothing.

Miss Ding smiled, “Do you think Old Yang is a good person?”

Ye Tianming asked in return, “Why do you ask?”

Miss Ding thought for a moment, then said, “You need to understand that whatever anyone does, there’s always some purpose behind it, more or less. Haven’t you noticed? Old Yang has been by your side all this time, yet you’ve never once sensed any purpose from him. Do you really think that because you’re talented, everyone who comes to help you does so purely because you have talent and value?”

Ye Tianming fell silent.

Miss Ding continued, “You’ve read many books, but you’ve experienced few things and few people. And your understanding of human nature isn’t deep enough yet……in other words, you’re still too young.”

As she said this, she spoke with a meaningful tone, “Sometimes, what looks good on the surface isn’t necessarily truly good, and what looks bad on the surface isn’t necessarily truly bad.”

“Purpose?”

Ye Tianming shook his head slightly, “Miss Ding, have I ever truly had any right to choose? I had no choice in being born……and now, I have no choice either. Just as you told me before — this bet, whether I want to take it or not, I have to take it…….”

As he said this, he gave a self-deprecating smile, “I should say, from the moment I was born, I was already a chess piece!”