Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8587 8587: Variable (1)

Yu Qing made his way back to his chamber and summoned Uncle Yi there. As soon as Uncle Yi showed up, Yu Qing fixed his gaze on him and spoke gravely, "Uncle Yi, I have something crucial to share with you. Once you return, reach out to all our allies and instruct them to stay alert. The moment I order a withdrawal, they must act without a second thought."

Uncle Yi stared at Yu Qing with a puzzled expression. "Young Master, are we withdrawing? To what place? And how will we do it?" As his adoptive uncle, he remained in the dark about these matters, fueling his intense curiosity regarding Yu Qing's instructions. Lacking knowledge of Zhao Hai and his companions, or even the underground domain's existence, he naturally voiced these queries.

Yu Qing shook his head firmly and replied, "No need to fret over the details. Just keep this in mind: when I command evacuation, hesitate not. Should someone arrive to extract you, offer no resistance. Things here could shift dramatically." Yu Qing understood perfectly that circumstances on the island had likely altered. This was no longer merely a clash between two Elders; mishandled, it could engulf the entire Dark Ghost Sect.

Having been raised within the Dark Ghost Sect, Yu Qing—despite his Yu family roots—had arrived there as a child. Thus, he knew the Sect's operations intimately. He grasped its inner workings well: the Sect Leader wielded hidden weakness, while the Elders held excessive might, each pursuing their own agendas. Outwardly stable, the Dark Ghost Sect seethed with fierce, concealed rivalries among the Elders.

This incident with Cheng Wanchun revealed that the Law Enforcement Hall disciples truly hailed from the authentic Hall, dispatched under Elder orders. Yet the Sect Master had granted no approval, twisting the affair's nature. Primarily, those Law Enforcement Hall members' identities were genuine; Yu Qing's unauthorized slaying of them constituted a grave error, far beyond mere mistake.

"Next, the Elders Guild erred as well. Mobilizing Law Enforcement Hall forces without notifying the Sect Master or securing his consent was inherently unlawful. But that paled in comparison. The true crux lay in the Elders Guild's stance on the issue."

Among the Dark Ghost Sect's eight great Elders, Lin Dong would never endorse this. Likely, he hadn't even heard of it. Had he known, he'd have forbidden those intruders from setting foot on Yu Qing's island. Thus, the remaining Elders must have consented—at minimum, five of them. This alliance of five Elders spelled dire trouble for Lin Dong.

Yet Lin Dong probably remained oblivious. Unaware that the Law Enforcement Hall assailants were legitimate, this could well be a scheme by Third Elder Jing Changtian targeting him. They might sacrifice those Hall members to gain leverage against Lin Dong.

That scheme had succeeded now. Gu Ming eliminated the intruders, and Lin Dong would stand by him unwaveringly, pinning the blame squarely on Lin Dong. Should the Elders Guild exploit this to target him, Lin Dong's position would crumble perilously.

What followed hinged on unfolding events. Lin Dong held a disadvantaged spot, yet he wasn't utterly defenseless. Overlooked was a pivotal wildcard: the Sect Master. Though covertly feeble, his influence loomed large, with the Law Enforcement Hall under his direct command. Even Elders required Sect Master approval to deploy Hall forces. Bypassing that here defied the Sect Master outright. Moreover, a united Elder front might strip away his remaining authority—something intolerable to him.

Precisely for these reasons, the Sect Master emerged as this conflict's unpredictable factor. Jing Changtian appeared dominant against Lin Dong, but offending the Sect Master proved costly. Should the Sect Master side with Lin Dong, the plot might fizzle into nothingness.

Myriad schemes swirled through Yu Qing's thoughts, yet joy eluded him. While the Sect Master served as one variable, a far greater one overshadowed the entire saga: the Yin Yang Sect.

A survivor of the Yin Yang Sect's obliterated Yu Clan, Yu Qing faced peril regardless of past motives. Though Tang Clan—the chief exterminators—had fallen, their surviving allies persisted. Discovering Yu Qing's survival, they'd relentlessly pursue his demise. As a looming threat of vengeance, Yu Qing imperiled them; they'd deny him any chance, ensuring his end. Jing Changtian's outreach could forge their alliance, plunging Yu Qing into deeper peril.

Still, Yu Qing clutched hidden aces. Zhao Hai and his group formed his ultimate safeguards. None suspected Yu Qing retained such potent allies. Ultimately, these could prove decisive. Yu Qing now placed full faith in Zhao Hai's crew—they'd never forsake him. Thus, his worries eased somewhat.

Yet the trajectory rested on Yu Qing's maneuvers and beyond. Exhaling deeply, Yu Qing declared resolutely, "Let's observe closely. I'm eager to witness your schemes!" With that, he shut his eyes, sinking into meditation. He knew strength alone guaranteed his safety and compelled respect, preventing easy abandonment.

In truth, Yu Qing fretted not only for Gu Ming's group but Zhao Hai's as well. He trusted the latter more profoundly. Still, dread lingered that Zhao Hai might desert him in crisis, spelling true doom. Though such cultivation yielded no breakthroughs, idleness offered no alternative—he pressed on.

As Yu Qing meditated, Gu Ming sought Lin Dong, recounting Yu Qing Island's chaos. Lin Dong didn't erupt in fury upon hearing; instead, he pondered silently, "Are you certain they belonged to Jing Changtian?"

Gu Ming nodded affirmatively. "It seems undeniable. Though I glimpsed no identity tokens, their actions confirmed it. They fled at my sight. We intercepted them, but captured, they swallowed poison and perished."

Lin Dong snorted disdainfully. "Why skip checking their credentials? Even the Sect's Law Enforcement Hall harbors Jing Changtian's spies. Sending his men this time spells greater woes. Their suicides here muddy the waters—how do we prove innocence later?"

Gu Ming froze at Lin Dong's rebuke, face paling, then bowed. "Indeed, this subordinate failed to think ahead. Elder, how shall we handle this crisis?" He grasped the peril: deploying true Law Enforcement Hall cultivators meant monumental trouble.

Lin Dong paused briefly before commanding sternly, "Return for now. I'll confront the Sect Leader immediately to probe his awareness. If informed and approving, resolution grows thornier. Ignorance offers turnaround hope." Rising swiftly, Lin Dong vanished from the chamber.

Gu Ming trailed hastily, but Lin Dong had already gone. Evident anxiety drove him, leaving Gu Ming to retreat to Ghost Bone Island. He hadn't ignored credentials—none existed on the bodies. The lethal poison eradicated even souls, erasing traces. Regret gnawed now, yet the deed was done: a blatant trap, inescapably sprung.

Leaving Gu Ming's turmoil aside, Lin Dong departed his island, racing to the Dark Ghost Sect's core—Dark Ghost Island. There, he sought the Sect Leader's audience. As one of eight great Elders, Lin Dong merited prompt welcome into the study.

Entering the Sect Master's study, Lin Dong spotted a lone figure: Mogg, the Sect Leader's trusted aide, strength rivaling his own, positioned behind Yama Ling. Lin Dong saluted deeply. "Lin Dong pays respects to the Sect Leader."

Yama Ling nodded gravely. "Elder Lin, dispense with formalities. Sit. What brings you here today?" This Sect Master projected no frailty before others, his demeanor imposing. Internally, however, dissatisfaction brewed as leader.

Powerless to change it, Yama Ling wasn't inherently feeble—the eight Elders simply dominated. Even under his master's reign, their influence swelled. He suspected their hand in his master's demise, though proof lacked. His senior brother's murder unquestionably tied to them, spurring his discovery and subsequent low profile. Feigning weakness, he watched their rise while sowing discord among them. Pre-existing fractures worsened by his subtle machinations. He'd never voice or reveal such secrets.