When Tang Yi returned, the disciples had already dispersed. Luo Yuan Gong, Su Po, and Tang Su Su remained, waiting for her.
Seeing the wine jug in Tang Yi's hand, Tang Su Su's face immediately darkened, and she asked angrily:
"Did he give this to you?"
Tang Yi replied seriously:
"Perhaps my father buried this jug."
Tang Su Su wanted to say something, but held her tongue. She had wanted Tang Yi to throw the wine away, but upon hearing it might be a relic from her father, she immediately changed her mind.
Su Po approached Tang Yi and asked:
"Sect Head, what about him?"
Tang Yi sighed and said:
"He won't stay, he's gone...!"
Tang Su Su spoke in a cold tone:
"That scoundrel of the sect, how much trouble he has brought us. If the former sect head hadn't forgiven him back then, he would already be dead!"
"Don't say such things!" Luo Yuan Gong snapped at her again. Then he calmly asked:
"Sect Head, the sect will be safe for a while. Now we need to put everything in order. Disciples have already been sent to apprehend the several dozen traitors. However, it will be difficult to catch them in the mountainous regions. I also ask the Sect Head to spread the rumor that some disciples betrayed the sect, so that other sects will eradicate them!"
Tang Yi replied:
"It's good that they fled. There's no need to trouble them as teachers. Keeping them would also be useless. Moreover, they might be caught in an ambush if one was set. Especially since there might be spies among them. This way, we'll avoid bad situations. Perhaps it's even for the best. As the saying goes, misfortune might be a blessing in disguise."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone either nodded in agreement or silently concurred. Indeed, what use were these unfaithful disciples to them? Only the three elders noticed that Tang Yi had changed. She used to listen to their opinions, but now she had begun to express her own.
Tang Su Su said angrily:
"We definitely cannot leave these traitors unpunished!"
Tang Yi:. "Of course we can't. But that's not the main priority right now, and certainly not worth our current expenditures. As Elder Luo Yuan Gong said, after that person appeared, we won't be troubled for a while. Only temporarily. And we must use this allotted time to prepare thoroughly. Recall the disciples we sent out. As for the traitors, I will send out a list of their names. This will make their lives difficult and spread ill repute about them. Furthermore, I will add Song Shu to the list. Song Shu sent an assassin to kill fellow disciple Niu You Dao, and he also betrayed his mentors and conspired with the Liuxiang Sect to launch a surprise attack on our sect. Let the whole world know of his misdeeds!"
The three elders were utterly stunned.
Song Shu to be included in the list of traitors to their mentors? Of course, they knew that Song Shu was behind the actions of the Liuxiang Sect. However, he was definitely not involved in the attempted murder of Niu You Dao. Tang Su Su was to blame for that, and she had shifted all responsibility onto Song Shu. But if Tang Yi took the initiative, who would believe Song Shu when his deeds were known throughout the land?
It was indeed a good method. She had simply shifted all the blame from Tang Su Su to Song Shu.
Tang Su Su was very surprised. She looked at Tang Yi with a softened gaze. After all, she hadn't wasted her efforts in making Tang Yi the sect head. They were family, after all!
In the end, everyone noticed the change in Tang Yi.
Luo Yuan Gong replied worriedly:
"Sect Head, this method is good. But this way, we will completely sever all ties with the Song Family. It will then be difficult for us to endure."
"I have made my decision!" Tang Yi looked towards the Supreme Purity Palace. Determination gleamed in her eyes. She picked up the jug and walked towards it, telling the elders:
"We must light candles for the founder!"
Light candles for the founder? The three elders froze. They exchanged glances, but followed her. Who would refuse to light candles for the founder?
They arrived at the Supreme Purity Palace. Tang Yi took and lit three candles. She stood before the founder. The three elders also approached and lit candles, then stood behind the sect head.
Tang Yi gazed at the large sculpture of the elder for a long time, then suddenly knelt. Everyone's expression changed at this.
There was nothing wrong with kneeling before the founder, but... it was usually only done during grand ceremonies.
However, if the sect head knelt, wouldn't the elders follow suit?
Holding the candles in her hands, Tang Yi raised her head to look at the founder's sculpture and spoke sincerely:
"Founder above, ancient mentors above, I, Tang Yi, the eleventh head of the Supreme Purity Sect, have fallen short! Today, the Supreme Purity Sect faces critical danger. This disciple is helpless. Today, with the Supreme Purity Sect at a perilous moment, this disciple vows to the founder to dedicate all her strength to revitalizing the Supreme Purity Sect. If I fail in any way, I will bear all responsibility myself. Let the heavens be my witness!" After speaking, she humbly bowed her head three times.
The three were surprised. Everyone knew that the sect's current predicament hadn't come about in a single day. It was certainly not Tang Yi's fault alone. Yet, Tang Yi was now taking full responsibility before the sect's founder.
The three exchanged glances and also began to bow.
Tang Yi stepped forward and placed the three candles into the incense burner, then returned to her spot.
The three elders then also approached, placed their candles in the incense burner, and stood behind Tang Yi. Waiting until they were in place, Tang Yi turned to them and looked at them seriously.
"The Supreme Purity Sect is currently in such a difficult situation. Do the three elders know of any method to extricate us from this predicament?"
The three remained silent. If there were one, wouldn't they have already said so?
Luo Yuan Gong cautiously asked:
"Has the Sect Head thought of something?"
Tang Yi:. "We don't have a good way out, but we shouldn't remain here and watch the sect perish. We cannot simply stay and await death. If we truly act that way, we will be remembered for our ill deeds!"
Remembered for ill deeds? The three immediately grew serious. For few wished to be remembered for ignoble actions. Especially their generation; how would they face their ancestors in the heavens then?
Luo Yuan Gong: "Sect Head, what should we do then?"
Tang Yi: "I don't need to explain what is happening to the Supreme Purity Sect right now. Even if no one attacks us, we are now without resources. We can no longer nurture our disciples. And what's the point then? In that case, there will be even more traitors than there are today. If a tree is transplanted, it might die. But a person will live. I wish to temporarily leave the main sect and travel to other lands in search of resources. To attempt to revive the sect!"
Luo Yuan Gong and Su Po's eyes widened.
Tang Su Su looked as if she had been slapped. She cried out:
"You are a high-ranking sect head, and you want to abandon the sect? Haven't you considered how the world will look upon you? Everyone will laugh at you! Haven't you considered that the bones of the founder and ancient mentors are buried here. Even your father is buried here. And you want to allow just anyone to trample on their graves? How can you speak like that before the founder?!"
She also wanted to mention her husband and son. They were also buried here. And how could she allow other people to walk and trample on their graves?
Moreover, the remains of some teachers had already disintegrated, so much so that they couldn't even be transported if one wished. What would be the point then? In that case, it would truly mean abandoning the sect.
As for Ling Shan Mountain, if you abandon this earthly paradise, someone will definitely occupy this place. How will you ever get it back then?
It is easy to abandon a place, but difficult to return to it with the Supreme Purity Sect's strength. If you want to leave, then leave, but why force others?
Tang Yi retorted:
"No one can guard the Supreme Purity Sect. If no one protects us, what are we to do but await our deaths? We must find an opportunity to rise. To develop. And when we have the strength, we can return. I also do not wish to see our ancestors' graves desecrated. But this will be the price for our resurgence. The founder and ancient mentors must surely understand us!"
"You..." Tang Su Su pointed a finger at Tang Yi, and said angrily:
"Fine. Fine, fine! For now, what you say is correct. This old woman is in the wrong. But the Yan Kingdom is vast. Where are we to go? Are we to follow your Niu You Dao to the rebel Feng Lin Bo?"
Tang Yi: "Facing such difficulties, I too have pondered this and racked my brains for evenings. I did indeed consider the option of joining Feng Lin Bo, with Shang Chao Zong. However, Feng Lin Bo would hardly be able to take us in. Even less so the Heavenly Jade Sect. They are already under heavy pressure now because they accepted Shang Chao Zong. They would hardly want to accept us. Even if they did, it would still be very difficult for them. And right now, the entire territory of the Yan Kingdom is unstable. We would also need to find a place where the imperial house would not trouble us. And we would need to settle in such a way that other states wouldn't discover the country's precarious situation. Otherwise, numerous states would attack us. And from that, no one would benefit."
Tang Su Su said mockingly:
"Are you suggesting leading the Supreme Purity Sect to another country? So that strangers will welcome us warmly?"
Tang Yi: "I am prepared to lead the sect north. To the rebel army of General Shao Deng Yun!"