Chapter 285: Standing in Line
"You, you, you..." Meng Zhang pointed at Aunt Jin but couldn't find the right words to say.
Meng Zhang finally understood that Qiaoshou Sect and Flying Swan Sect were working together. Reflecting on his previous meeting with Aunt Jin, where she seemed to be fully aware of the situation in the Endless Sea of Sand and reassured him that there wouldn't be any chaos for the time being, he now realized that the information might have come from Flying Swan Sect.
Being a Gold Core sect, any connection with Flying Swan Sect meant that even with his Grand Evolving Fortune, Meng Zhang couldn't deduce Qiaoshou Sect's secrets.
After a while, Meng Zhang calmed down. The alliance between Taiyi Sect and Qiaoshou Sect hadn't been long-lasting, and it was natural for them to keep certain secrets hidden. Just as Taiyi Sect wouldn't reveal its confidential information to Qiaoshou Sect, it was reasonable for the latter to have their own undisclosed matters.
Though he understood, Meng Zhang couldn't help feeling a sense of discontent from being kept in the dark. He wore a cold expression and expressed his displeasure, "Senior Jin, you've caused great distress by hiding this from me. Who knew that your sect had become so close to Flying Swan Sect? Yet, you didn't even give me a hint, which is somewhat unkind."
Aunt Jin smiled bitterly, understanding Meng Zhang's feelings. "Sect Master Meng, please don't be angry. It was not my intention to hide this from you. The connection between Qiaoshou Sect and Flying Swan Sect isn't recent. To be precise, we have had ties for over five hundred years."
Five hundred years ago, Meng Zhang was taken aback. That was indeed a long time ago. Wait a minute, five hundred years ago was precisely when Twin Success Valley became a vassal of Flying Swan Sect and began expanding its influence in the surrounding areas, right?
Meng Zhang believed he had figured out Qiaoshou Sect's background. "Flying Swan Sect is truly farsighted. They set up Qiaoshou Sect as a pawn over five hundred years ago, constantly monitoring Twin Success Valley, right?"
Aunt Jin listened to Meng Zhang and couldn't help but laugh wryly. "Sect Master Meng, you misunderstood us. Qiaoshou Sect isn't a pawn of Flying Swan Sect, nor do we have any task to monitor Twin Success Valley."
"Sect Master Meng, think about it. Twin Success Valley is just a Foundation Building sect. Would Flying Swan Sect really care so much and plan so far ahead, setting up such a profound layout over 500 years in advance?"
Seeing Aunt Jin's expression, it didn't seem like she was lying. Puzzled, Meng Zhang asked, "Then, Senior Jin, what is the relationship between Qiaoshou Sect and Flying Swan Sect?"
Aunt Jin looked troubled and said, "Sect Master Meng, please don't put me in a difficult position. The relationship between Qiaoshou Sect and Flying Swan Sect is complicated and not easy to explain. Some details are better kept secret, as they can do more harm than good if revealed. Although Qiaoshou Sect has had ties with Flying Swan Sect for a long time, we are neither their vassals nor their pawns."
"We have our own principles and won't blindly follow Flying Swan Sect. Flying Swan Sect alone can't command Qiaoshou Sect."
Meng Zhang carefully looked at Aunt Jin, trying to figure out if she was being truthful. In his impression, the Qiaoshou Sect, despite its 500-year history, wasn't a powerful faction. In the past, it was merely one of Twin Success Valley's many dependents. Now, it had become a vassal of the Forest Spring Watch, just like Taiyi Sect.
Aunt Jin seemed to be quite confident in her speech, but she didn't appear deceitful or overbearing. It seemed that there were many secrets behind the Qiaoshou Sect that Meng Zhang was unaware of.
"Senior Jin, since the Qiaoshou Sect is not a pawn of the Flying Swan Sect, what did you mean by your earlier question?" Meng Zhang asked directly, setting aside all his confusion for the moment.
"Sect Master Meng, my intention is simple. Does Taiyi Sect intend to accept Fei Hongzi's proposal?" Aunt Jin replied firmly.
"Sect Master Meng, let me tell you the truth. You cannot keep postponing this matter; you must provide a clear answer. Dilly-dallying is not an option, and trying to please both sides will lead to destruction. Now is the time to take a stand," Aunt Jin's tone carried a distinct sense of threat.
"Don't push people too far. Even if we take a stand, Taiyi Sect can also stand with the Forest Spring Watch," Meng Zhang retorted defiantly.
"Hahaha..." Aunt Jin burst into laughter.
"Sect Master Meng, you really don't know anything, do you?"
"Erasing the Forest Spring Watch is not just the Flying Swan Sect's idea. There are many influential figures involved in this plot. Even the Flying Swan Sect itself is just a pawn in the game."
"Sect Master Meng, based on our long-standing relationship, I advise you not to act impulsively."
Observing Aunt Jin's proud demeanor, Meng Zhang wanted to believe that she was lying or exaggerating. However, his intuition told him that Aunt Jin was telling the truth.
Her revelations left Meng Zhang quite taken aback. Seeing that he was visibly affected, Aunt Jin continued persuading him.
"Sect Master Meng, I can swear that everything I said is true. You have experienced the chaos caused by the sand monsters firsthand. But do you know that sand monsters are not naturally occurring beings? They were artificially created."
Having fought the sand monsters numerous times and even infiltrated their lair, Meng Zhang had always wondered about their origins. However, lacking any leads, he had set the question aside. Now, hearing Aunt Jin's words, he couldn't help but ask, "Then who exactly possesses such great power to create these formidable enemies of mankind? And what is the purpose of this entity's existence?"
Aunt Jin's expression betrayed a trace of fear she couldn't conceal.
"I'm not entirely sure about all the details. All I know is that the creator of the sand monsters is a 'great power' from the depths of the Deadly Sea of Sand. As for their motives, it's beyond my knowledge."
"What I can tell you is that Guang ZhiDaoist Master of the Forest Spring Watch is connected to this 'great power.' The recent chaos caused by the sand monsters was probably orchestrated by Guang ZhiDaoist Master in the shadows."
"The sand monsters have been a scourge of the Endless Sea of Sand for many years, making them enemies of humanity. Guang ZhiDaoist Master, driven by his own selfish desires, has been covertly fueling this menace and using the sand monsters to harm innocent lives."
"The actions of Guang ZhiDaoist Master are no different from those of demons. I suspect that he has fallen into the path of evil and become a malevolent being."
As Aunt Jin spoke, her righteous indignation was evident. The amount of information in Aunt Jin's words overwhelmed Meng Zhang, and he needed some time to process it all before responding to her.
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