M49S Vol 1 Chapter 16. The Qilin Plate

“Junior Brother Xiao, what is the meaning of this?” Wang Zi’an was startled, his eyes locked tightly on Xiao Xiao. The surrounding cultivators were equally stunned. Who could have imagined that Xiao Xiao would launch a surprise attack to seize a treasure?

It was unthinkable. Xiao Xiao was a disciple of Gushan Sword!

Tu Youqiong and Song Ru were also taken aback and called out in unison, “Junior Brother!”

But Xiao Xiao ignored the cries. His face was tense as he said sternly, “Wang Zi’an, where did you get this Qilin Plate of Daoist Wuyan?”

Wuyan. The Qilin Plate.

Most of the cultivators were instantly reminded. Wuyan was a notorious demonic cultivator from beyond the borders. He had vanished in recent years, but the Qilin Plate was one of his known spiritual artifacts.

How could the Qilin Plate be in Wang Zi’an’s hands?

Wang Zi’an’s expression changed the moment he heard that name. His brows furrowed deeply. “What makes you so sure this plate is the Qilin Plate of Wuyan Daoist?”

“Have you forgotten? My master is Meng Xiu, the Little Martial Uncle of Gushan. I’ve been traveling beyond the borders with him these past few years. Others may not recognize the Qilin Plate, but I do. Daoist Wuyan’s name is foul beyond measure, and this plate has been stained with the blood of countless innocents. But how did it end up in your possession?”

Xiao Xiao’s voice grew heavier with every word. Upon hearing this, even the matter of the Vault of Ten Thousand Swords was momentarily forgotten. Everyone turned their questioning gaze on Wang Zi’an.

“This was a gift from an elder. Just because I hold it does not mean I have anything to do with Daoist Wuyan.” Wang Zi’an was agitated. He had a vague sense that something was wrong. Xiao Xiao had come prepared.

“Then why not tell us which elder gave it to you? And where did he get it from?” Xiao Xiao pressed him.

“I…” Wang Zi’an hesitated. Something had suddenly come to mind, and his heart sank.

Off to the side, Meng Qiqi, still holding the bronze plate, gave a light cough. “If you can’t say, then let’s just seize him and have that elder explain it to me in person.”

As soon as Meng Qiqi gave the order, Xiao Xiao struck immediately. As a member of the Wang clan, Wang Zi’an could hardly surrender without a fight. He struck back at once. Tu Youqiong’s eyes went wide in panic. “Hey hey hey, what’s going on here? Brother Wang? Junior Brother Xiao?”

Song Ru, however, turned her gaze thoughtfully to Meng Qiqi. He could command Xiao Xiao and was close with the senior disciple. That meant he was most likely… She gave Tu Youqiong a shove. “Join the fight.”

“Ah!” Tu Youqiong was completely stunned. He truly hadn’t processed what was happening, and could only watch as his senior sister drew her sword and leapt into the fray.

Wang Zi’an was no match for both of them. Fortunately, several Wang clan disciples finally arrived with news, though they were dreadfully late.

The scene descended into chaos. In the blink of an eye, Gushan Sword and the Wang clan found themselves drawing swords against one another. The shift came so suddenly that the other sects looked on in disbelief. What shocked them even more was the identity of the rogue cultivator holding the Qilin Plate.

Could it be that elusive figure who had yet to reveal himself… the Little Martial Uncle of Gushan?

Amid the confused and suspicious stares around him, Meng Qiqi remained calm. “Everyone, the Vault of Ten Thousand Swords is already open. If you wait any longer, there won’t be anything left to fight over.”

That brought everyone back to their senses. They looked up and saw that cultivators across the valley had already taken to the skies, flying in on their swords to snatch treasures. At that point, who could still sit still? Whether it was Wang Zi’an, Lu Zi’an, Meng Qiqi or Meng Jiujiu, treasure was the only thing that mattered.

And as the cultivators flung themselves into the scramble, the beasts, no longer held in check, scattered in all directions.

Tu Youqiong looked from his senior sister to his junior brother, then over at Meng Qiqi. He clenched his teeth, made up his mind, and chose to stand firmly at Xiao Xiao’s side. “Brother Wang, I’m sorry.”

Gushan Sword had a rather inconvenient trait. They protected their own. Even when the previous Little Martial Uncle, Zhou Ziheng, left a trail of debts across the world, he was still their Little Martial Uncle.

Meng Qiqi glanced at Song Ru and Tu Youqiong and gave a slight nod. Gushan Sword had always been too gentle, too eager to reason things out. All its sharpness had once belonged to one man, the Little Martial Uncle. So when he was gone, people began to assume the sect was easy to push around.

That would not do. So it was time to use a different kind of reasoning.

As this thought crossed his mind, Meng Qiqi’s ears twitched. He picked up a subtle trace of danger in the wind.

There was a sharp metallic sound as Xiujian left its sheath. Meng Qiqi stepped into Treading Snow and, in the blink of an eye, appeared dozens of paces away. His sword cut through the air in a blur, sending streaks of flying qi forward. The incoming attack clashed with those sword-laced currents, and several nearby trees were split apart.

The newcomer had streaked white hair and wore plain cloth robes. He looked ordinary, but the force of his cultivation was enough to make one’s breath catch. Meng Qiqi took one glance and recognized him at once. It was Wang Jing, the Grand Elder of the Wang clan.

Wang Jing’s attack was ruthless, aimed to kill from the start. Meng Qiqi could not match him in raw cultivation and had no choice but to retreat again and again. This was the very reason he had chosen to keep his identity hidden until now.

Not because he could not kill Wang Jing, but because the price would be too high and it would slow him down.

But now, with so many people watching, it would not be so easy for Wang Jing to take his life.

As expected, Wang Jing only tested him with a few moves before withdrawing. His face was withered like dried bark, betraying no hint of emotion, but the authority gathered in his brow over decades felt like storm clouds bearing down on Meng Qiqi.

“Meng Qiqi, you sneaked into the secret realm and have now laid hands on the younger generation. What exactly are you plotting?”

Meng Qiqi landed steadily on the treetop, brushed the dust from his collar, and all traces of his earlier scrambling vanished. In their place appeared the pride and defiance that belonged to the Little Martial Uncle of Gushan.

“Grand Elder Wang, I happen to be exactly twenty-five this year, which fits the qualifications for entering the secret realm. Or is it that others may enter, but I, Meng Qiqi, may not?”

Wang Jing frowned. “Have your people stand down immediately.”

“Oh? So that’s what this is about. Enough for the Grand Elder to shout and threaten me the moment we meet. One might think you’re still holding a grudge from decades ago, when the former Little Martial Uncle stabbed you once.” Meng Qiqi smiled but gave no order to retreat.

There was no need. Among the Wang clan disciples present, none could rival those from Gushan, except for Wang Zi’an. But with beasts charging through the field in chaos, Wang Zi’an was already stretched thin. By the time Wang Jing spoke, he had already been captured.

Tu Youqiong stood beside him with a complicated look, and spoke softly. “Brother Wang, I didn’t mean to. But this Qilin Plate… you really can’t tell us where it came from? If you just explain, we’ll let go right away. I swear.”

Wang Zi’an could feel the sincerity in Tu Youqiong’s voice. The words rose to his lips, but he swallowed them again. That moment of silence made Tu Youqiong uneasy. If there was nothing suspicious, why refuse to speak?

“Meng Qiqi, are you declaring open hostility against the Wang clan?” Wang Jing narrowed his eyes.

“Grand Elder, I’m not trying to oppose your clan. But you may not realize just how many crimes Wuyan committed. It’s not only the cultivators beyond the borders who want revenge. Mister Jin of the Wuhou Manor has also been searching for him. And now, the Qilin Plate appears in the hands of someone from your clan. Of course I will ask where it came from.”

Meng Qiqi stood atop the tree with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips. He continued, “If the Grand Elder is willing to give an honest answer and help remove a great blight from the cultivation world, I will release him immediately. What do you say?”

“Meng Qiqi, are you testing my patience? Do not forget that this is a secret realm belonging to the Wang clan. You lay hands on one of our own in our own territory. Are you trying to declare war between Gushan and the Wang clan?” Wang Jing’s voice was low and grave. From the moment he first saw this young man, something about him had felt familiar. He had not expected him to be the successor of Zhou Ziheng, acting just as boldly and recklessly as that man had in his youth.

Meng Qiqi shook his head, his voice laced with mockery. “Grand Elder, what kind of accusation is that? I already said, if you tell me where the Qilin Plate came from, I will release Young Master Wang. But instead, you refuse to speak and press harder at every turn. How could I not begin to suspect that you are hiding something?”

“Meng Qiqi.” Wang Jing’s eyes glinted with a trace of killing intent. The way Meng Qiqi was behaving, so brazen and unrestrained, made it clear that he already knew something.

This could not continue. He would not be led by the nose.

Having made up his mind, Wang Jing barked, “Meng Qiqi has unlawfully detained a disciple of the Wang clan. He has disgraced his status as a senior. Retrieve Zi’an immediately.”

The words had barely left his mouth when two figures shot out from behind Wang Jing, charging toward Xiao Xiao’s group. Xiao Xiao’s pupils shrank. He reacted in an instant, shoving Wang Zi’an toward Tu Youqiong and drawing his sword alongside Song Ru to meet the attackers. At the same time, Xiao Yu’er, hidden nearby, had already drawn his bowstring tight.

Gushan Sword had no cowards.

Meng Qiqi let out a cold snort and leapt forward to intercept, but Wang Jing blocked his path. The intent to kill was written plainly in his eyes.

Just then, a flash of silver tore through the air. A long sword let out a crisp whistle as it plunged into the pile of stones between them, forcing the two apart.

As that flash of silver crossed Meng Qiqi’s eyes, he smiled and took a step back. Turning slightly, he raised his gaze to welcome the arrival of Chen Boyan, who had hurried to the scene.

“Little Martial Uncle,” Chen Boyan landed in front of Meng Qiqi and gave a respectful nod.

Meng Qiqi flicked a glance at Wang Jing. The old bastard’s face now looked darker than coal.

“Senior Brother!” Seeing Chen Boyan arrive, Tu Yaoqiong immediately pulled Wang Zi’an, whose hands were still bound by the Immortal-Binding Rope, behind Meng Qiqi. Xiao Xiao and Song Ru also retreated quickly under Xiao Yu’er’s cover. Even when facing two elders with powerful cultivation, they showed no sign of fear.

Wang Jing stared at Chen Boyan’s back, eyes blazing with fury. “Chen Fangjun, what is the meaning of this? Are you planning to throw in your lot with Meng Qiqi?”

By now, many cultivators had already secured their treasures. The Vault of Ten Thousand Swords allowed each person to claim only one item, and no changes could be made. Having glanced briefly at what they obtained, they now rushed toward the disturbance.

The elders of the Wang clan were out here, and they had even exchanged blows with the younger generation. What exactly had happened?

In the blink of an eye, Xu Mengyin, Master Yinian, Jiang Xie, and several others arrived. One gaze after another landed on the sword in Meng Qiqi’s hand, their hearts stirred with countless thoughts.

So this was Meng Qiqi.

The man who looked so unremarkable, was actually the Little Martial Uncle of Gushan.

Chen Boyan turned around and raised a hand to call back Wuwang. His eyes, calm as a still lake, fixed on Wang Jing.

“Grand Elder, how can you say that? My Little Martial Uncle is a senior of our sect. It is only right that I respect and honor him. How could there be any talk of falling in with the wrong crowd?”

Wang Jing had called out Chen Boyan’s courtesy name, thinking he could assert pressure by leaning on the weight of an old friendship between families. But Chen Boyan gave no ground. The way he now stood firmly in front of Meng Qiqi made his position unmistakably clear.

“So you really don’t intend to release him?” Wang Jing had not expected Meng Qiqi to lay hands on his own grandson. And now that the boy had been taken, he found himself unable to get him back. His gaze swept over Xiao Xiao and the others. These juniors were infuriating as well, showing no deference to their elders and openly raising their swords in defiance.

Chen Boyan did not respond immediately. He turned slightly and asked, “Little Martial Uncle, may I ask what exactly happened? If I understand the situation, I can help handle it.”

“Ask them where the Qilin Plate came from. If they answer, I will return their man.” Meng Qiqi smiled. “Our Gushan Sword is not unreasonable. Once Wuyan, that scourge of the world, is dealt with, I, Meng Xiu, will personally offer my apology.”

His words drew nods from the surrounding cultivators. What Meng Qiqi said did make sense. With the Wang clan being this evasive, nothing would be learned without pressure.

Xu Mengyin, mindful of the connection between Ruizhu and the Wang clan, cupped her hands and said, “Grand Elder, in my view, it may be best to simply tell Little Martial Uncle Meng the origin of the Qilin Plate.”

If the Wang clan had nothing to hide, why not just speak plainly?

The rest of the cultivators shared the same thought. Meng Qiqi’s actions had been aggressive, that much was true, but he was still a senior despite his age. That status softened the edge of his behavior. On the other hand, the Wang clan’s refusal to cooperate was far more suspicious, leaving many uneasy.

Wang Jing remained silent. A rogue cultivator stepped out from the crowd and said, “That is not quite right. This is not only a matter of the Qilin Plate, but one that concerns the honor of the Wang clan. Why not have Little Martial Uncle Meng apologize first, and then discuss things?”

Tu Youqiong was instantly furious. In just a few short moments, his outlook had shifted again and again, and now the way he looked at the Wang clan was filled with guarded suspicion. But before he could speak, Meng Qiqi answered for himself.

“What does the Wang clan’s honor have to do with you? And in what capacity are you speaking to me?” Meng Qiqi looked genuinely puzzled for a moment, then turned to Chen Boyan. “Senior Nephew, have we Gushan Sword really become too agreeable these past few years? So much so that no one bothers to show even a shred of respect to their Little Martial Uncle?”

Chen Boyan lowered his gaze. “That is my fault.”

“Then what should we do about it?” Meng Qiqi asked with a smile.

Chen Boyan turned toward the rogue cultivator and gave a slight bow. “Showing disrespect to my Little Martial Uncle is no different from insulting the entire Gushan Sword. As the sect’s senior disciple, I have a duty to protect our elders. But my master has always taught us not to bully others when traveling outside the sect. So all you need to do is fight me. If I lose, then the fault lies with me alone, and I will not blame you.”

“You—” The rogue cultivator’s face changed at once. He had not expected Chen Boyan to say such a thing, let alone challenge him so directly.

Wang Jing’s rage surged even higher. His face grew so dark it seemed it could drip ink. Chen Boyan had the nerve to make a move the moment someone showed even the slightest disrespect toward Meng Qiqi. And as the eldest present, Wang Jing had already struck once. He could not do it again.

But among their younger generation, who could possibly defeat Chen Boyan?

Wang Ziqian stood among the crowd, thoughts flashing through his mind like lightning. His face turned a shade paler, but he still could not find a foolproof solution.

After observing these past few days, he had come to understand the situation. Chen Boyan barely acknowledged him and clearly had no interest in aligning himself with the Wang clan. As for Meng Qiqi, there was even less hope. This matter implicated the Grand Elder’s entire faction. If he stepped forward to mediate, it might earn him a reputation, but it might also drag him into a mess.

Wang Ziqian clamped his mouth shut, lowered his gaze, and focused on his breathing. The true heir of the Wang clan was here, after all, and it was not his place to take charge.

Wang Ziling, however, clutched the golden leaf in his hand, steeled himself, and stepped forward. “Grand Elder, what exactly is there to hide about the Qilin Plate? Just tell them. It’s not as if the Wang clan can’t afford to lose a bronze plate.”

The words hit Wang Jing like a blow. Rage surged through him, and he nearly passed out on the spot.