Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1028: The question

By midday, the Iron Claw Group lodged a formal grievance with the Imperial Delegation concerning the uproar now sweeping the town.

Everyone could easily imagine that the Leader's initial urge was to rush to Silver Wing City personally and crush the culprit's throat using his signature Iron Claw grip, yet he restrained himself since it would hand City Lord Ko the ideal excuse to step in and halt him.

This move would deliver an even more devastating strike to the Iron Claw Group, with Ko Zhumen fully justified in his authority and obligations, allowing him to dominate Tiezhu Han and tip the scales of power across the continent.

Of course, the core problem remained that Tiezhu Bo had been the one who started the aggression.

Wu Long stood as the true victim who responded purely in self-defense.

Normally, such details wouldn't count for much against figures like the Iron Claw Group's Leader and his offspring, but legal procedures mattered here because Wu Long wasn't some powerless nobody—he had Wei Yuanjie's support.

In reality, this positioned the whole Imperial Delegation in Silver Wing City firmly behind Wu Long, rendering the 'might makes right' principle useless and providing Ko Zhumen solid grounds to meddle if his old adversary made a move.

Moreover, Ko Zhumen and Tiezhu Han both steered clear of entering each other's cities directly, dispatching their sons in their place due to suspicions of deadly ambushes on enemy turf—and those worries were well-founded.

Therefore, despite the crushing psychological and strategic strain on Wei Yuanjie, who needed to hold firm against an Essence Ignition Realm powerhouse and his entire faction even from afar, the chaos from this mess appeared to dissipate with minimal fallout.

Nevertheless, it granted the 5th prince some much-needed leeway, arming him with leverage to influence the Imperial Court officials. Specifically, Wei Yuanjie's group, including Duan Feng and Wu Long, kept drawing conflicts and forging mighty foes—hardly ideal allies for a prince bearing the weight of his nation's people.

—

Yet for Wu Long, an even more startling turn unfolded toward dusk, as an unforeseen guest arrived at Wei Yuanjie's inn seeking him out.

"I seem to have kept you waiting," the visitor entered the chamber, with Wu Long further startled to see Ko Gunwen without the mask from the previous night.

The young man pivoted from his restless pacing across the floor, avoiding the plush seats, "Not at all, Daoist Wu. I... wished to offer my personal formal apology again for letting that incident occur..."

Wu Long caught the emphasis on 'personal,' solidifying that the City Lord held no overt role in this call. He gestured openly toward the sofas and armchairs encircling the low table, "Please, take a seat first."

He then glanced at Butler Bang, who had trailed him quietly inside, and the butler grasped the cue, dispatching a servant for tea and treats.

"Ah! Yes, thank you," Ko Gunwen nodded with faint unease and settled onto a sofa, struggling to decide on a comfortable posture.

Wu Long claimed an armchair beside him, gaze filled with curiosity, "No need for such tension. I have no plans to fault you over it. True, your role gave you the authority to stop it, but honestly speaking, the power imbalance between your positions made it impossible."

"T-Thank you for understanding."

Wu Long gave a nod, and just then the servant brought the refreshments, which Butler Bang poured out with his flawless precision.

Once Ko Gunwen expressed gratitude, an uneasy quiet settled over the room, the visit's main purpose already covered in that brief opener. Wu Long sipped his tea leisurely without remarking on it, but the discomfort grew thicker by the moment.

"Ehem... I was curious... whether Daoist Wu has journeyed widely before reaching this place?" Ko Gunwen ventured abruptly.

"You could say that."

"I just pondered if... from your traveler's view, it seems logical that we... that my father, my brothers and I... and the Iron Claw Group... we're all fixated on this minuscule continent with just two cities... if any of that rings true..."

"It makes perfect sense—it's a sphere of influence just like the rest", Wu Long nodded. "No matter if it's tiny or grand, folks dwelling here and forging their lives around it see it as vital since it's their close world, not some faraway mighty realm. Much like mortals in kingdoms and empires scattered across this continent fret more over their own kingdom, empire, city, town, or village than which cultivator dominates the whole land—unless it hits their livelihoods right away."

"I understand", Ko Gunwen nodded, his eyes dropping with a touch of disappointment.

A smile tugged at Wu Long's lips from this sight. He now perceived it sharper—a wandering soul abruptly roused from stupor, now thirsting desperately for truths.

His response clearly strayed from what Ko Gunwen hoped and anticipated to hear.

Ko Gunwen longed for assurance that it held zero importance. That this minuscule continent was utterly trivial in the vast tapestry, a mere speck of dust amid the boundless Seven Boundless Worlds. A truth indeed, yet only partial.

"Across endless eras, myriad cultivators have pondered that very question", seized by a sudden urge, Wu Long chose to nudge him forward, "Those who pressed on in their pursuit discovered answers—some mirroring others, some entirely distinct. I wrestled with it myself; what you heard forms a piece of my reply to your true inquiry. It shifted and grew, advanced and circled, persisting in flux as I continued probing. The Dao has no form, demanding you pose the question on your own. The Dao stretches infinitely, so persist in asking beyond any initial reply. Keep questioning, keep chasing—maybe luck will favor you with an answer that holds for a time."

He rose to his feet, set to depart.

Ko Gunwen stood stunned by those words, his reaction lagging until Wu Long reached the door. On sheer instinct, for the first time ever to anyone besides his father, he bowed his head, "Th-thank you for the wisdom, Daoist..."

Wu Long just waved without glancing back as he stepped into the corridor, where Wei Yuanjie waited with growing impatience, "Where have you been? I’ve been thinking we’re going to be late to the minor auction at this rate... eh? Who’s that guy? Is it someone I know?"

He leaned forward slightly, casting a curious look into the room to peek.

"Hahaha, let’s go, we’re going to be late if you keep stalling"

"Wha-..? How shameless can you be?! I was waiting for you..."

Their voices faded into the distance, while Ko Gunwen lifted his head, Wu Long’s words still echoing powerfully in his mind.