"Come, Brother Boyong, let us toast you..."
Inside the dining hall, the sect leaders and masters from various sects were seated at a table. Sima Boyong was among them, exchanging pleasantries and toasting.
The masters of the Eagle Claw Sect and Mount Tai Sect, in particular, knew of Sima Boyong's powerful connections and status in the capital, and thus were flattering him, saying whatever sounded good.
"Brother Boyong, how is Sect Leader Duan's health?" Lu Chenzi couldn't help but ask.
"Indeed."
Shi Yizhen also put down his wine cup and said, "Could it be that Sect Leader Duan truly..."
After all, rumors had been circulating for the past two days that the Sect Leader of the Boundless Daoist Temple, Duan Wuyu, was experiencing health problems and might not live much longer. Coupled with the spread of news that Chang Wude had returned to take the position of Sect Leader, it inevitably led to speculation and confusion among the members of the various sects.
"Alas..."
Sima Boyong's expression darkened. Feigning a sigh, he shook his head and said, "My senior brother's health has indeed developed severe issues. He nearly suffered a qi deviation during his cultivation years ago, leaving him with a serious hidden illness. Now that his hidden illness has relapsed, it has caused immense problems with his internal organs. It is truly difficult to cure..."
Liu Bing, Lu Chenzi, and the other sect leaders exchanged glances upon hearing this. They all expressed their sympathy and said, "We can only hope Sect Leader Duan can overcome this ordeal."
"Yes, and we also believe in Brother Boyong's medical skills. They are skills that can bring the dead back to life!"
Li Feiyu took the opportunity to flatter him again. Sima Boyong smiled and replied, "My senior brother is unable to entertain you all at the moment. If there is any lack of hospitality, I hope you will all understand."
"Ah, Brother Boyong, what are you saying?"
Liu Bing waved his hand. "If I may say, if Sect Leader Duan's health truly has problems, why don't you, Brother Boyong, simply take over the position of Sect Leader of your Boundless Daoist Temple? After all, your hosting of the ancestral ceremony this time has been the best yet."
"That's right..."
Immediately, Lu Chenzi, Shi Yizhen, Li Feiyu, and the other sect leaders and masters nodded in agreement.
"Please, no."
Sima Boyong's expression changed, and he quickly raised his hand to signal them to stop. He smiled and said, "I appreciate your regard, but my senior brother is still here. Please refrain from saying such things, as it is not good for me."
"Understood, understood."
Liu Bing nodded with a smile. Lu Chenzi added, "But Brother Boyong, if that day truly comes, we will be the first to congratulate you."
"Thank you, thank you..."
Sima Boyong smiled, inwardly delighted. At least he was now fully confident that he could ascend to the position of Sect Leader of the Boundless Daoist Temple.
Not only did he have the support of the assembled members of the various sects, but even all the disciples within the Boundless Daoist Temple were largely on Sima Boyong's side.
As for Chang Wude and Wan Yunting, who had suddenly appeared, Sima Boyong viewed them as nothing more than small stumbling blocks on his path. As long as he could kick them aside, nothing would be able to stop him.
However, Sima Boyong still harbored a sliver of anxiety, fearing that beneath those two stones lay a thousand-pound boulder that might ruin his plans!
Outside the dining hall, Chang Wude and Wu Weizi had already downed several bottles of wine. Wu Weizi, having had a few drinks, began to open up. "Senior Brother Chang, now that Senior Brother's health has taken a turn for the worse, if he cannot be cured, then there will be no one to lead our Boundless Daoist Temple."
"If, if that day truly comes, I hope you can return to be the leader!"
Wu Weizi's words brought a somber look to Chang Wude's old face. He turned to look at him and asked, "Junior Brother, why do you choose me, and not Sima Boyong?"
"Logically speaking, everyone in the sect is inclined towards him now, so why do you oppose him taking over Senior Brother's position?"
Wu Weizi, his old face flushed from drinking, waved his old hand and said, "I know that although Senior Brother Boyong has made many contributions to the sect over the years, and the disciples within the sect all favor him, I do not feel he is suited to take over Senior Brother's position. I cannot see through him!"
"Heh."
Chang Wude let out a cold laugh, took a sip of wine from his cup, and said, "I have said it before, Sima Boyong is a treacherous villain. He will do anything to achieve his goals, but you all simply don't believe me."
Wu Weizi's old brows furrowed. He glanced back at Sima Boyong, who was laughing and chatting with the members of the various sects inside the dining hall, then stood up and said, "Senior Brother Chang, it's not convenient to talk here. Let's move to another place."
"Alright."
With that, Chang Wude picked up the half-empty bottle of Xifeng wine, had Wan Yunting and Kang Nuolan each take a few bottles, and then left with Wu Weizi.
This scene was noticed by Wei Ping in the distance. He narrowed his long, phoenix-like eyes, then walked into the dining hall, approaching Sima Boyong. He whispered into his ear, "Uncle Wuwei and Uncle Chang have left."
"Mm."
Sima Boyong nodded, dismissing it inwardly, and continued to drink and chat with the sect leaders and masters of the various sects...
Wu Weizi led Chang Wude to a courtyard on the west side of the Boundless Daoist Temple. Snow began to fall again that night, covering the eaves and walls with accumulated snow, as well as the crowns of the few trees in the courtyard. The cold wind in the evening was like a knife, causing shivers.
Wan Yunting told Kang Nuolan to return first, while he and Chang Wude followed Wu Weizi to his residence. They walked into the courtyard and entered the reception hall.
"Senior Brother Chang, tell me honestly, how did Senior Brother Xiuliang die?" Wu Weizi grabbed Chang Wude's arm, his intoxication having somewhat subsided at this moment.
Chang Wude glanced at him, took a sip of the half-empty wine bottle, and said, "I told you before, Senior Brother Xiuliang was framed by that bastard Sima Boyong. He had to hide and flee everywhere outside, and eventually died in prison."
"What, died in prison?"
Wu Weizi's eyes widened, and he looked at Chang Wude incredulously. He said excitedly, "Could it be that Senior Brother Boyong caused him to be imprisoned?"
"No, he hid himself in prison because only in prison could Sima Boyong not find him, and thus could not kill him!" Chang Wude said with a gloomy old face and a cold snort.
"But, but why would Senior Brother Boyong harm Senior Brother Xiuliang?" Wu Weizi's face was full of shock. He couldn't understand this question.
Chang Wude looked at him and said, "Wuwei, when you were brought back by Master, you were still young and knew nothing of the competition among us senior brothers. Especially Junior Brother Xiuliang and Sima Boyong, they both studied medicine under Uncle Ren.
"However, Uncle Ren favored Senior Brother Xiuliang more and passed on the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate to him. Because of this, Sima Boyong's jealousy was ignited, and from that moment on, he planted the seed of karma. Do you understand?"
Wu Weizi's old eyes widened. He still had some difficulty comprehending that Sima Boyong had framed Senior Brother Xiuliang for such a reason.
"Senior Brother Xiuliang entered the secular world, healing the sick and helping the distressed. Relying on the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate, he quickly gained fame in the traditional Chinese medicine community. Because of this, Sima Boyong's jealousy grew, leading him to frame Senior Brother Xiuliang later, causing him to lose everything and to live in hiding and wretchedness outside."
"He dared not return to the sect for fear of bringing disaster upon it. Therefore, after meeting me one last time, he went to prison to eke out a living until now, and ultimately died inside. I didn't even get to see him one last time..."
Speaking of this, Chang Wude's old face turned somber, and he sighed with heartache, finishing the small half bottle of Xifeng wine in one gulp. Wan Yunting, standing beside him, also looked saddened, feeling grief for his master.
Back then, his master had been pursued by Sima Boyong and had been a fugitive from a certain important figure. If his master hadn't had a connection with the previous warden of Huadu Prison, he wouldn't have been able to hide in prison and live such a difficult life for so many years.
"I never thought Senior Brother Boyong would be so narrow-minded. Just because of jealousy, he framed Senior Brother Xiuliang. It's truly too much." Wu Weizi's old eyes widened, and his emotions ran high. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Chang Wude's old brows furrowed tightly. "What worries me most now is our Senior Brother!"
Wu Weizi's old face stiffened, and he exclaimed, "Senior Brother Chang, you don't mean to say that he would harm Senior Brother!"
"Otherwise?"
Chang Wude's old eyes widened. "Why do you think Sima Boyong suddenly returned to the sect for no reason, and even helped repair the houses and add tiles to the sect? Wasn't it for his own benefit?"
Wu Weizi excitedly said, "But Senior Brother's health problems are due to the relapse of his hidden illness!"
"What if he intentionally delayed treating Senior Brother, or perhaps he tampered with Senior Brother's body through some means?"
Chang Wude's eyes narrowed. "Although we all understand some medical knowledge, we are not as proficient as Sima Boyong. If he truly wanted to tamper with someone, we would not be able to detect it at all."
Wu Weizi's old eyes widened. "But why would he harm Senior Brother!"
"Of course, it's for Senior Brother's position as Sect Leader."
Chang Wude's eyes narrowed, feeling helpless at his junior brother's dim-wittedness.
This time, Wu Weizi was stunned and exclaimed excitedly, "Then what should we do? Should we take Senior Brother down the mountain to be treated at the town hospital?"
Chang Wude shot him a sidelong glance. "Do you think Sima Boyong would allow you to take Senior Brother down the mountain?"
"This..."
For a moment, Wu Weizi's heart was filled with anxiety and confusion.
Because the disciples within the sect were now all on Sima Boyong's side, even Senior Sister-in-law Yang Jingyi and Senior Brother himself trusted him implicitly. If they directly suggested taking Duan Wuyu to the hospital for treatment, he himself would not agree.
"Junior Brother, do you want to help Senior Brother?" Chang Wude asked him seriously.
"Of course, I do."
Wu Weizi's old eyes widened. "Senior Brother Chang, quickly think of a solution."
Chang Wude waved his hand. "The most important thing now is to examine Senior Brother's current physical condition. Since my disciple understands medicine, you should go find Sister-in-law tonight and say you need to talk to her about something, to get her out of the way. Then, I will have Yunting secretly examine Senior Brother. What do you think?"
Wu Weizi's old eyes fixed on Wan Yunting, who was standing beside Chang Wude, and he furrowed his brows. "Will this work?"
"Don't worry about whether it will work or not, just do as I say. This is a way to help Senior Brother."
Chang Wude waved his hand and looked at him. "I just need to ask you if you can cooperate with me."
Wu Weizi's old brows furrowed tightly. After a few seconds of thought, he looked up and said, "Alright, Senior Brother Chang, I will help you."
"Yunting, what time is it now?"
Wan Yunting took out his phone and checked. "It's 9:30 PM."
"Then it will be 11 PM. Sister-in-law should still be taking care of Senior Brother then. Have a disciple go over and tell Sister-in-law that there's something important to discuss, and get her out of the way," Chang Wude said to Wu Weizi.
"Okay."
Wu Weizi nodded. Although he was not very sharp, he could also see that Chang Wude truly cared about Senior Brother, and as for Sima Boyong, Wu Weizi had always felt he could not see through him.
Hearing Chang Wude's suggestion now, Wu Weizi became increasingly convinced that Sima Boyong's return to the sect was not simple, and that he might even be aiming to seize Senior Brother's position as Sect Leader!