The inn was surrounded by many people, so they naturally dared not discuss confidential matters in full.
Led by Bai Yichen, the group came to a teahouse some distance away from the inn.
Yu Chi Feng looked up and caught sight of the shiny golden plaque with the words "Red Plum Teahouse" hanging on the door, marveling at how even the teahouse's plaque was so imposing.
"Is this place suitable for talking?" Feng Tingliu asked with some doubt. He knew that this place was a stronghold of the Fifth Prince.
"It doesn't matter." Bai Yichen replied calmly.
The waiter of the teahouse saw Bai Yichen and came up with a smile, leading several people into the private room at the innermost corner after the turn on the second floor.
Seeing that he was extremely familiar with this place, Feng Tingliu understood.
Although the Mount Hua Sect is a sect in the martial arts world, as one of the top sects, its influence is far-reaching.
The Mount Hua Sect had been associated with the imperial court in the early years. At that time, the sect leader often entered the palace, and the reasons for this were variously discussed.
Some said that the sect leader at that time was of noble birth in the imperial family; some said that the emperor considered that the Mount Hua Sect believed in the national religion and therefore took care of them; others said that the emperor wanted the method of immortality and sought their help.
In any case, the good relationship with the imperial court gave the Mount Hua Sect many conveniences.
Now, if Bai Yichen is really associated with the Fifth Prince, it is reasonable.
Several people sat down in the private room, and the waiter put on a standard business smile: "What would the guests like? Our private room has first-class privacy, and no one will disturb!"
Feng Tingliu ordered a pot of top-quality Longjing tea.
Bai Yichen had no objection, but after Feng Tingliu ordered, he also reported several names of sweet pastries.
Originally, Xia Yi was sitting next to Feng Tingliu, full of resentment. At this moment, when he heard about the pastries, his eyes suddenly lit up.
However, because Bai Yichen was present, he controlled his gluttony, swallowed his saliva, and continued to pretend to be angry, not moving.
The waiter quickly served the tea and pastries and then closed the door. The room fell silent.
"Now we can talk. Why did Taoist Priest Bai come to Beiji City?"
Feng Tingliu broke the silence in the room and asked Bai Yichen.
Bai Yichen was not in a hurry. He added a piece of each pastry to a small plate and gently placed it in front of Xia Yi.
Xia Yi did not want to look at him, but was still attracted by the pastries. His eyes shone, and regardless of who handed over the plate, he started to eat heartily.
Bai Yichen's eyes showed a bit of satisfaction, and then he said steadily:
"Lord Feng should be aware of the situation in the imperial city. The Second Prince wants to compete for the throne, but this person is violent by nature. If he obtains the throne, it will surely bring chaos to the world.
Since the original Crown Prince died in battle, the current Emperor has never shown the intention to appoint another Crown Prince. However, after the Emperor handed over most of the power to the Second Prince, the court has tacitly recognized the status of the Second Prince. As a result, the Second Prince has relied on his power and been arrogant and domineering for a long time.
In two days, the imperial inspector will arrive in Beiji City to secretly investigate the corruption of the Beiji Prefectural Governor under the pretext of searching for black salt."
At this point, Bai Yichen lifted his wide sleeve with one hand, picked up the tea, and took a sip to moisten his throat.
He only needed to say this much to make Feng Tingliu understand the reason.
Feng Tingliu nodded, glanced at Xia Yi who was heartlessly eating pastries, tapped the teacup with his finger for a while, and said:
"The Prefectural Governor is corrupt. The Emperor thinks that behind this, is it the Second Prince?"
"No, the Emperor has notPerceive the Second Prince's ambition. This investigation is based on the memorial submitted by the court officials."
"How could such a confidential matter be easily told to me by Taoist Priest Bai?"
"I naturally know your position." Bai Yichen did not explain clearly, only looking at Feng Tingliu.
Feng Tingliu curved his mouth, supported his head with one hand, and removed the golden tobacco pipe from his waist with the other hand, pointing the pipe bowl at Yu Chi Feng.
Yu Chi Feng immediately understood and came back to his senses from the court affairs they were discussing, helping him light the tobacco.
While Feng Tingliu was smoking, he suddenly asked:
"For whom did Taoist Priest Bai make this trip? Is it for the current Emperor or the Fifth Prince who pretends to be harmless but is actually very shrewd?"
Bai Yichen was not surprised by Feng Tingliu's judgment and remained calm.
"Since Lord Feng already has an idea in his heart, why should I hide it? To come to Liudu City to protect the imperial inspector is naturally the meaning of the Fifth Prince."
"Oh - So it is. I think some officials in the imperial court have already supported the Fifth Prince."
"That's right. The Fifth Prince is not as carefree as he appears on the surface. He has already secretly drawn in those who are unwilling to support the Second Prince."
"Among them, does it also include you, or perhaps the Mount Hua Sect?"
When Feng Tingliu mentioned this matter, Bai Yichen's expression changed.
He seemed helpless and sighed softly, saying: "The world is in turmoil, and the Mount Hua Sect has a close relationship with the imperial court, and it is inevitable to be involved."
"The world is about to be in chaos, and the Mount Hua Sect cannot avoid it. Now, do you still want Xia Yi to return to the Mount Hua Sect?" Feng Tingliu tapped the tobacco pipe on the table, causing the tobacco inside to tremble.
Xia Yi raised his head when he heard his name. His mouth was full, but he frowned.
"I don't want to go back!"
Bai Yichen turned to look at Xia Yi, and at a glance, he saw the powdered sugar on the corner of his mouth. He took out a clean handkerchief from his bosom and wiped the corner of his mouth for him.
But Xia Yi immediately turned his head to avoid it, not giving Bai Yichen this opportunity.
The helplessness appeared again in Bai Yichen's eyes. He sighed almost as many times as the old man outside. He had to put the handkerchief on the table, letting Xia Yi use it or not.
"The incident in the past was my fault. I failed to protect Xia Yi. When I came to my senses, he had already been taken away from Mount Hua. But now, the internal affairs of the Mount Hua Sect have been sorted out, and I can also protect Xia Yi's safety."
"I don't believe it!" Xia Yi suddenly shouted and slapped the table hard. The originally simple eyes showed a trace of viciousness: "I don't need your protection! I can protect myself! What did I tell you back then! I said there were traitors in the sect, there were evil cults, and someone wanted to harm me! But compared to me, you trust the Mount Hua Sect more, don't you!"
"I..." Bai Yichen's body stiffened, attempting to explain, but was interrupted by Xia Yi again.
"The Mount Hua Sect has beenRectification by you, and you have also become an elder. You have the strength, but if you don't believe me, what's the use!"
"I didn't not believe you..."
"Go ahead and dream your big dream! Bai Yichen, in your dream, there is the world, there is the sect, but there should not be me!"
Xia Yi was so angry that his eyes turned red, and the grievance and anger that had been distracted by the pastries suddenly rushed up.
He grabbed the handkerchief by his hand and threw it at Bai Yichen, then turned and ran out.
The door was forcefully kicked open and closed, making a deafening sound.
But Bai Yichen could not recover for a long time, holding the handkerchief that Xia Yi threw back into his arms, his fingers trembling slightly.
Yu Chi Feng was somewhat worried and asked Feng Tingliu with his eyes.
Feng Tingliu raised an eyebrow and said: "Don't worry about him. He's not a child anymore. He can find his way."
This statement seemed to refer to the present situation and also seemed to remind Bai Yichen.
Bai Yichen sighed again, carefully folded the wrinkled handkerchief, and put it back into his bosom.
"What he said is right. All of this is my fault. Now, it is too late to try to make up for it."
Yu Chi Feng remembered what Xia Yi once said, that he was abandoned by the Mount Hua Sect, and also showed the same terrifying expression as before.
He couldn't help but ask: "What exactly happened back then?"
Bai Yichen did not mind his question and said slowly: "In that year, the old Evil Cult was rampant in the martial arts world, and there were also spies of the Evil Cult in the Mount Hua Sect. They tampered with the martial arts manuals in the sect's library, integrating the evil arts into them and having the disciples practice...
At first, some disciples started to go crazy due to practicing the wrong arts. Then, the elders discovered the problem with the manuals. And Xia Yi found that he had also practiced that manual.
But Xia Yi did not show any signs of going crazy, so I thought he was safe and did not take this matter to heart.
Later, I don't know where Xia Yi got the news that the elders planned to expel all the disciples who had read that manual from the sect."
Yu Chi Feng was greatly shocked: "Even the disciples who did not go crazy, would they do this?!"
"Dozens of disciples went crazy due to practicing the wrong arts. This is already a scandal for the Mount Hua Sect. Nearly a hundred people have read this manual, and no one knows who will be the next. Compared to them, the elders care more about the reputation of the Mount Hua Sect." Bai Yichen shook his head and clenched his five fingers into a fist.
"So, Xia Yi told you about this, but you did not believe him."
"Yes, I was also young and impetuous back then, and I have always respected and trusted the Mount Hua Sect. Who would have known..."
"Who would have known that the great martial arts sect has already rotted to the core." Feng Tingliu suddenly said.
Bai Yichen forced a bitter smile. With his appearance, even with such an expression, he still looked like an immortal.
"Xia Yi was called away one night under the pretext of an urgent mission, but in fact, he was forcibly taken away to a remote place. I don't know how Xia Yi escaped. When I learned of his whereabouts, he was already in Liudu City."
Yu Chi Feng also felt helpless. In such a matter, it is impossible to judge Bai Yichen's right or wrong. He even cleaned up the internal affairs of the Mount Hua Sect for Xia Yi and became an elder at a young age.
Bai Yichen held the tea cup, disregarding that the tea had already cooled, and drank it in one gulp.
"I am unworthy of being his senior fellow apprentice..."
Bai Yichen inevitably thought of the Xia Yi in the past, that innocent and sweet junior fellow apprentice who would sweetly call him "Senior Fellow Apprentice" and pester him to practice swordsmanship.
Now, Xia Yi has grown up. Even though his height has not changed, he has become much more mature.
His swordsmanship is excellent, his martial arts are powerful, and he has a pair of sharp eyes.
But he is no longer willing to recognize him as his senior fellow apprentice.
After a while, Bai Yichen finally pulled himself out of that sadness and returned to being the cold-faced immortal.
He discussed some matters regarding the imperial inspector with Feng Tingliu.
This matter is too coincidental. There is a dispute between the Exorcism Society and the old Evil Cult in Beiji City, and at this time, the imperial inspector is about to come for an inspection.
Feng Tingliu suspects that there is something strange about this and insists on getting involved.
After the discussion, it was already getting late.
Bai Yichen came this time with the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect. Now that they have been out for a long time, they have to return.
But he is also worried about Xia Yi and does not know how to speak.
"Don't worry, Taoist Priest Bai. Since we have the same goal, you will definitely meet Xia Yi again." Yu Chi Feng said when he saw Bai Yichen's expression.
Having his thoughts exposed, Bai Yichen was not annoyed. He just sighed again, waved his horsetail whisk, and then left.
When Yu Chi Feng and Feng Tingliu arrived at the house, Xia Yi had indeed returned as expected. He even brought back a lot of sweets and was eating them in the yard.
When Xia Yi saw Feng Tingliu return, he shivered, remembering his bold act of rushing out of the door, and couldn't help but admire his courage at that time.
He looked at Feng Tingliu's increasingly dark expression and felt that something was not good.
"Yu Chi Feng, go clean the room. Xia Yi, come with me."
Xia Yi glanced at the pair of red eyes that shone faintly in the dark, and was so scared that he dared not disobey and could only follow.
Yu Chi Feng looked at the backs of the two and touched his chin, digging out a word from somewhere in his mind.
A strict father and a stern mother.
Hiss, this cannot be said carelessly, otherwise, it will be himself who suffers.