The Path of the Martial Arts BOSS

"Ever since Xuan Chen returned to the Sect after being injured, he has sequestered himself, refusing to see anyone, focusing solely on healing his wounds, not even seeing me, the Peak Master of Su Nu Peak," Xuanzhen said.

In the Zhenwu Sect, the one most skilled in medical arts was none other than Xuanzhen, the Peak Master of Su Nu Peak. Xuanzhen's medical skills, even if measured against those of the whole world, would be highly regarded.

Each time the Hundred Herbs Pavilion extended invitations to famous physicians across the world for the Hundred Herbs Conference, Xuanzhen would always receive one.

"Hmph, it seems that Xuan Chen doesn't even trust you, the neutral faction, preferring to heal on his own rather than have you assist him, Sister. Your decision to give up on Xuan Chen's faction was the right one," Xuan Shang scoffed.

"Junior Brother Xuan Shang, you..." Xuanzhen sighed softly.

Although this Junior Brother Xuan Shang had gained much experience from being outside for ten years, his thinking was still not comprehensive in some respects. Certain things are inherent and difficult to change.

"If Xuan Chen truly sustained serious injuries, he would have to let me treat him to stabilize my confidence," Xuanzhen said.

The serious injury of Xuan Chen was undoubtedly a huge weakening of the Sect Leader Faction; now was the time to stabilize Xuanzhen's allegiance, not to display distrust and hostility, pushing Xuanzhen toward the Anti-Sect Leader Faction.

Moreover, even if Xuanzhen truly intended to harm Xuan Chen, she wouldn't resort to underhanded methods during the treatment. Didn't the Zhenwu Three Elders still have two unscathed members?

It is one thing to be hostile towards the Sect Leader on regular days, but to scheme against the Sect Leader in this critical moment would be harmful to the entire Zhenwu Sect. If Xuanzhen did this, the Zhenwu Sect would certainly not tolerate her.

"So, Sister, what do you mean by that..." Xuan Shang asked.

"I have two conjectures," Xuanzhen said gently, "Perhaps Xuan Chen is so grievously injured that it's beyond healing, and he fears the spread of this news would destabilize people's hearts, providing us dissenters with an opportunity.

Alternatively, it could be that Xuan Chen's injuries are not severe, but he wishes to feign grave injury, leading us to believe there is an opportunity to act, to push him into a palace coup. At that point..."

Xuanzhen left her sentence unfinished, but Xuan Shang understood what she meant. If it were the latter possibility, then Xuan Chen would be trying to bait the Anti-Sect Leader Faction into action, perhaps even deliberately leading them into a forced takeover by force.

That way, history might repeat itself, and like Master Xuan, a failed coup attempt would lead to becoming a traitor of the Zhenwu Sect, suppressed by the Sect Leader and the Zhenwu Three Elders.

"Sister, how likely is the second possibility," Xuan Shang asked with a grave expression, "even Uncle Tong Ming was seriously injured and hasn't woken up yet; that guy Xuan Chen couldn't possibly just have minor injuries, could he?"

"But, Xuanming and Xuanyin's injuries are not that serious, and they are now in the recovery stage. Junior Brother Xuan Shang, if even Xuanming and Xuanyin survived the attack from the Blood Demon Sect unscathed, why couldn't Xuan Chen, a master of the Divinity Realm, have merely sustained light injuries or even be unharmed?

You should know, Xuanyin is not part of the Sect Leader's faction," Xuanzhen said with a meaningful tone.

If there were a chance, Xuan Chen likely wouldn't mind sending Xuanyin to her death. That's because even though Xuanyin is cold and indifferent, she harbors a sentiment for what happened to Master Xuan in the past.

This, Xuanzhen and the others who grew up together as fellow disciples all knew well.

Xuanyin and Xuan Shang would swear to avenge Master Xuan to their deaths. The vengeful hearts of the others were not as resolute as theirs.

"So, what you mean, Sister, is that either Xuan Chen wasn't seriously injured or..."

"She has forgotten the vengeance of the past?"

Compared to Xuan Chen not being seriously injured, it was more plausible that Xuanyin would forget her hatred and ally with Xuan Chen. Because if Xuan Chen wasn't badly injured, it would be even easier to let Xuanyin die at the hands of the Blood Demon Sect.

Regardless of whether Xuan Chen was seriously injured or not, Xuanyin's chances of survival should have been extremely slim. That's how it should have been, especially since even Tong Ming was seriously injured and on the brink of death.

"Indeed, people do change," Xuan Shang said with a profound sadness on his face, "I talked with Senior Brother Xuan Lin before, and I found that he now opposes Xuan Chen more for his own sake; he is afraid that Xuan Chen will purge the remnants of Senior Brother Xuan's faction.

He admired Master Xuan so deeply back then, drowning his sorrows in drink with me all night after the Master's death. And Xuanfeng, he was the same back then. But they have all changed, they have forgotten past camaraderies."

Xuan Xu and others could change, and so could Xuanyin. When Qing Yu had informed Xuan Shang of a possible traitor, Xuan Shang refused to believe it. But after a deep conversation with Xuan Xu, he had to accept it.

For Xuan Xu was a glaring example; he had resigned himself, opposing Xuan Chen not to uphold past camaraderie and truth, but for his current status and life.

"Junior Sister Xuanyin is cold and enduring; she's not one to change her mind by the passage of over a decade. We must believe..."

Xuanzhen merely put forth a hypothesis; she was close to Xuanyin and understood her temperament very well. To make Xuanyin forget her feelings for Master Xuan was extremely difficult.

Xuanzhen was about to say just that, but as she spoke, a look of utter disbelief flashed in her eyes, as if she had suddenly recalled something previously forgotten, and her face was filled with astonishment and surprise.

"Sister?" Alarmed by her demeanor, Xuan Shang asked.

Xuanzhen's eyes were nearly closed, and her face bore traces of worry. She spoke in a low voice, "Junior Brother, when Xuanming and Xuanyin were injured and returned, I was the one who personally treated them. And during the treatment, I inadvertently discovered..."

Her voice faded completely; she conveyed the inadvertent discovery of that secret to Xuan Shang via secret transmission.

After listening, Xuan Shang also closed his eyes, his face a mask of calm. But the trembling of his facial muscles suggested he was clenching his teeth, holding back his rage.

"Sister, what should we do?" Xuan Shang asked, his words coming out gritted.

"The inner workings of Zhenwu Sect are becoming ever more insidious..."

Xuanzhen sighed, "The only course of action for now is to wait. Wait until I achieve a breakthrough, or until Qing Yu ascends to a higher level. Only power on par can secure equal treatment."

Without sufficient power, even if they had evidence threatening to Xuan Chen, they could not expect fair treatment. The Zhenwu Three Elders aimed for the stability and development of the Zhenwu Sect; between two detriments, they would choose the lesser, and rational people always make rational choices.

And the Zhenwu Three Elders were unquestionably rational. Having weathered countless storms, they always chose the optimal path, but such choices were not necessarily acceptable to everyone.

"We must wait and endure," Xuan Shang said with fierce resolve, "I have endured for over a decade, and I don't mind enduring for a few more years, or even decades more, as long as there's hope, I'll keep waiting."

Despite his words, Xuan Shang's expression conveyed he wasn't as tolerant as he claimed. To say that his patience and waiting were effortless wasn't quite the truth.

"It won't be long..." Xuanzhen's voice trailed off into the ether as she drifted away from the cliff, leaving behind her faint words floating in the air.