Chapter 21: The Holy Lord has gone into seclusion? Oh no! What is he supposed to do now?

Ji Hanliang turned his head and gave an order: "On my authority as the Second Prince, you are to return to Green Wood Mountain immediately and deliver a message to the Holy Master."

"I shall obey the Second Prince's command, your subordinate replied."

"I am at your disposal, Your Highness. What message would you have me bring back to Green Wood Mountain?"

"I recall that before the Holy Master left his original sect, he had fellow disciples among the demon clan."

"Tell your Holy Master everything that happened regarding the deposed emperor."

"Tell him to contact his former demon clan associates and make preparations in advance."

"I can no longer allow the deposed emperor's influence to grow."

"We must destroy him and his wretched kingdom before his power solidifies."

The Green Wood Mountain elder received the order, left the Second Prince's residence that very day, and hurried back to the mountain.

...

The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, the elder arrived back at Green Wood Mountain and headed straight for the Holy Master's residence. Upon his arrival, the attendants informed him that the Holy Master was currently in seclusion.

"How much longer until the Holy Master finishes his seclusion?"

Upon hearing this, the elder felt a surge of anxiety. Why did the Holy Master have to go into seclusion at such a critical moment?

"I am asking you a question. Answer me!"

"This... we cannot say for certain, sir."

"You are his personal attendants. Did he not leave any instructions before entering seclusion?"

"Fourth Elder, he truly did not."

"How could it be such a coincidence? The Sect Master and we elders had only just left the mountain, and he immediately went into seclusion?"

"Logically, the Holy Master would not go into seclusion so easily while the Sect Master and the four of us were away. Could something have happened here on the mountain?"

The elder's expression darkened. The Sect Master was dead, two other elders had perished, and a third was still unconscious from severe injuries. At a time like this, the mountain could not afford another disaster.

"Elder, please do not panic. Nothing major has occurred on the mountain recently."

"It is just that a short while ago, the Holy Master felt an anomaly in his cultivation; it seemed he had found the opportunity to break through to the next level beyond the supreme tier. That is why he entered an urgent seclusion and forbade anyone from disturbing him."

"Before he closed off his chambers, he instructed his senior disciples that all minor matters were to be managed by them collectively, while major affairs were to be left for the return of the Sect Master and the Four Elders."

"And if an emergency were to arise?"

"The Holy Master had also warned that if a true emergency occurred, we were to go down the mountain directly to seek the Second Prince and let him make the decisions."

The elder sat back in his chair, his face filled with sorrow. Why did all these things have to happen at once? The Holy Master had to choose this exact moment—when the Sect Master and two elders had fallen—to pursue a breakthrough. In the world of cultivators, the higher the cultivation level, the more dangerous the ascension process. Given their Holy Master's current level, who knew if an accident might occur?

If he succeeded, it would be fine. But if he failed and suffered severe injuries, or worse... Green Wood Mountain would truly be on the verge of collapse. To lose a Holy Master, a Sect Master, and two elders all at once was a burden the mountain could not bear.

Now, only two elders remained, and one was still in a coma. As the Fourth Elder, he was the only one left to make decisions. But should he report this to the Second Prince? What if the Second Prince flew into a rage?

The Fourth Elder usually maintained a low profile on Green Wood Mountain. With the Sect Master and the three senior elders handling everything, he rarely had to intervene. Now that he was suddenly forced to take the lead, he found himself trapped in a dilemma.

In the end, fear won out. His dread of Ji Hanliang was carved into his very bones. He decided to wait a few more days to see how things unfolded. If the Holy Master emerged from seclusion, everything would be settled. If the sky fell, the Holy Master would be the one to hold it up, not him. Besides, perhaps in a few days, the Second Elder would wake up. If the Holy Master had not finished his seclusion, he could let the Second Elder make the call.

Should he bypass the Holy Master and contact the demon clan directly? Or let the Second Elder handle the response to the Second Prince while he hid in the shadows to avoid catastrophe? Having made up his mind, the Fourth Elder left the residence and headed toward the Second Elder's quarters. He could not control the Holy Master's schedule, but he could keep a close watch on the Second Elder. For now, he had no choice but to wait.

...

Three days passed. A young man of striking handsomeness arrived at the mansion of the First Prince of the Beiji Kingdom.

In the study, the First Prince, Ji Hangui, once again summoned the man from the Great Zhao Kingdom who had been staying there for the past three days. Ji Hangui sat in the main seat, and to his lower right sat the handsome young man who had just entered the residence today. This man was Yun Qing, a cultivation physician under the First Prince's employ.

When the steward led the middle-aged man into the study, he immediately noticed Ji Hangui and the handsome youth beside him. Before anyone introduced him, the man guessed that this youth must be the physician the First Prince had promised him. However, a look of suspicion lingered in the middle-aged man's eyes. Was such a young boy truly the person his master needed? Could the First Prince have just found some random person to pass off as a skilled healer?

Ji Hangui seemed to perceive the man's doubts. A faint smile touched his lips, his expression remaining as gentle and refined as it had been on the first day.

"What? Do you suspect that I am deceiving you?"

"This—I would not dare, Your Highness."

"However, may I ask how to address this young master?"

The youth seated in the chair looked up at the man standing in the center of the room and spoke slowly: "My surname is Yun, given name Qing."

It was Yun Qing?! The middle-aged man’s pupils dilated in shock. He stared at the youth in disbelief. He was so young—could he really be the brilliant young physician, the most gifted healer in the entire cultivation lineage?

"I have been rude, please forgive me, Physician Yun Qing."

Yun Qing was already accustomed to such scenes. He was unfazed. Because of his youthful appearance, he had been questioned by countless people throughout his life. The reason was always the same: his age.

Seeing that Yun Qing was not offended, the middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief. He silently chided himself for his loose tongue; he had nearly offended the physician. If he had jeopardized his master's recovery, he would have been guilty of a capital offense.

Seeing that the two had exchanged greetings, Ji Hangui did not wish to say more. "Yun Qing, you shall accompany him to the Great Zhao Kingdom."