The Cannon Fodder’s Inner Thoughts Were Overheard by the Villain [Transmigration Into a Book] - Chapter 48

Jiang Minghuan looked at Elder Nishang, a puzzled expression on his face. “What… what does this mean? Shouldn’t Yun Ning be the Sect Leader?”

Elder Nishang’s expression turned somewhat displeased. “Xiao Ning’s cultivation level is barely sufficient to be Sect Leader. We had planned to officially announce his succession after returning from the Fallen Dragon Abyss. But now that he’s missing and his whereabouts are unknown, we can’t leave the Cloud Sect leaderless indefinitely.”

Jiang Minghuan offered words of comfort. “Elder, please rest assured. Junior Brother is a fortunate person; the heavens will protect him. He’ll surely return safely and ascend to the position of Sect Leader.”

‘With Pei Jingyuan going to rescue him, and now Jiang Zhou joining the effort, Yun Ning would have to work hard to die.’

Elder Nishang cut straight to the point. “Qiwu, you know Xiao Ning better than I do. Do you truly believe he’s capable of being Sect Leader?”

Jiang Minghuan, “….”

To be honest, I understand him even less than you. If we go by the original settings in the book, it seems… it seems… perhaps… he’s not particularly suitable.

Seeing his silence, Elder Nishang added, “If the Cloud Sect were stable, with support from other disciples and elders, he might have managed. But now, with so many pressing matters and the sect in disarray, he’s overwhelmed. Everything devolves into chaos within days, and he only knows to consult Jiang Zhou. I end up having to clean up after him.”

Oh dear, Elder Nishang seems quite resentful. She’s just shy of calling Yun Ning useless and a burden.

Jiang Minghuan could only say, “This happened suddenly. Junior Brother may not have fully recovered from the grief of losing his father. Elder, please give him more time.”

Elder Nishang sounded anxious. “I can give him time, but how can the Cloud Sect afford to wait? The Spirit Field has been destroyed, and nearly all our disciples have been killed or injured. If we don’t find someone to take charge immediately, the Cloud Sect may be erased from the Cultivation World.”

If it’s erased, so be it. Haven’t countless sects met the same fate over the past millennia?

Unfortunately, Jiang Minghuan couldn’t voice these thoughts. He could only say, “If Junior Brother can’t handle it, neither can I.”

Elder Nishang shook her head. “You were the Cloud Sect’s Chief Disciple, groomed since childhood to succeed the Sect Leader. You must be better than him.”

Jiang Minghuan had no desire to take over the Cloud Sect. He said bluntly, “Since the incident, you’ve been the one single-handedly supporting the sect. Why not succeed as Sect Leader yourself?”

After a long silence, Elder Nishang sighed with a bitter smile. “My lifespan is limited. How could I let the Cloud Sect suffer because of me? After my death, the sect will likely descend into chaos again.”

Her attachment to the Cloud Sect ran deep; after all, her ancestors had been among its founders.

Pei Jingyuan, who had remained silent until now, immediately asked, “Is the Elder’s lifespan nearing its end?”

Jiang Minghuan also looked at Elder Nishang with visible anxiety.

Elder Nishang sighed. “Less than a century remains.”

Jiang Minghuan instantly sighed in relief, nearly blurting out, “That’s still so far away!”

But he quickly realized that the Cultivation World’s perception of lifespan differed greatly from that of the Mortals.

To cultivators, less than a century was indeed a short time, considering lifespans often spanned centuries.

Once reaching the Qi Refining Stage, cultivators generally became immune to illness and could live to at least a hundred years. Advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage added another hundred years to their lifespan, the Golden Core Stage added two hundred, and the Nascent Soul Stage added four hundred.

Elder Nishang was currently at the Grand Completion Golden Core Stage, yet more than half of her lifespan had already passed without any sign of breakthrough. This was indeed a cause for great urgency.

If she couldn’t break through before her lifespan expired, it would mean the Cloud Sect would need a new Sect Leader within a mere century.

And who that would be was uncertain. If Yun Ning were to take over, she might as well disband the sect now.

After all, she saw no hope whatsoever in Yun Ning for revitalizing the Cloud Sect.

After much deliberation, Jiang Minghuan remained the most suitable candidate. While she still had some influence with Pei Jingyuan to request Jiang Minghuan’s succession, once she perished, no one would have that leverage.

Pei Jingyuan remained silent for a long moment before speaking. “Even if it’s less than a century, there’s still hope. Elder Nishang can cultivate her own disciples.”

Elder Nishang spoke bluntly. “My own talent is lacking, and none of my disciples have proven exceptional. Even with meticulous cultivation, they remain mediocre. Jiang Qiwu, however, is a peerless Chosen and a guiding light for Wood Cultivators. Recruiting disciples would be far easier for him. Moreover… Pavilion Master Pei would surely lend his support.”

Jiang Minghuan deeply sensed Elder Nishang’s profound devotion to the Cloud Sect, her heart worn raw with worry.

After a moment’s thought, he suggested, “With Junior Brother away, perhaps we should wait for his return…”

“We can’t wait. Besides, his return might only complicate matters further.”

Elder Nishang suddenly wished Yun Ning would never return. Yun Heming had been a woefully inadequate Sect Leader from the start.

He lacked ability and failed to advance the Cloud Sect, instead managing to deeply offend Pei Jingyuan.

Setting that aside, the most outrageous failure was his complete neglect of Jiang Minghuan, a peerless Chosen. He failed to nurture this prodigy, nearly ruining a promising talent.

This was a genius capable of defeating the Jade Capital Sect’s top Chosen! Yun Heming was a great fool, and Yun Ning was a lesser fool!

Elder Nishang looked at Jiang Minghuan with pleading eyes. “Qiwu, if you don’t succeed as Sect Leader, the Cloud Sect will have no hope. Otherwise… it would be better to disband now and spare the disciples further delay.”

Jiang Minghuan nearly blurted out, “Yes, exactly!”

If the Cloud Sect ceased to exist, Yun Ning would essentially lose a golden finger. That wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Of course, he couldn’t say that aloud; his carefully crafted persona would crumble completely.

Just as Jiang Minghuan was agonizing over how to refuse, Pei Jingyuan suddenly spoke. “Very well.”

Elder Nishang’s face lit up with delight. “There’s no time to lose. Let’s depart immediately.”

Jiang Minghuan slowly turned to look at Pei Jingyuan.

‘What do you mean, “very well”? Did I even say anything? If you think it’s such a good idea, why don’t you take the position?’

‘Eh? Could Pei Jingyuan be planning to have the Sword Pavilion swallow up the Cloud Sect? That wouldn’t be entirely unacceptable.’

Pei Jingyuan rose and said, “Let’s go. We’ll first visit the Cloud Sect. The Sect Leader succession ceremony will be simple, but it must still be announced to the world.”

Elder Nishang led the way, assuring him, “Pavilion Master, rest assured. Everything is prepared.”

Elder Nishang had come with an extreme mindset: either Jiang Minghuan and Pei Jingyuan both agreed, or she would immediately disband the Cloud Sect.

As they landed on the Peak of Inquiring Dao, Pei Jingyuan looked around and suddenly said, “It’s been ten years since I last set foot here. To think that upon my return, everything has changed so drastically.”

Jiang Minghuan was also deeply moved. The last time he visited, the Cloud Sect had been flourishing. But now, half the trees on the mountain were charred, the remaining half half-dead, and several surrounding peaks had been blasted away, leaving only stumps. The entire sect had lost its original ethereal aura of immortality, now suffused instead with a heavy, bloody, and deathly energy.

Just as he was beginning to wallow in nostalgia, Pei Jingyuan’s words startled him. He whipped around to stare at Pei Jingyuan in horror.

‘Remembering the past at a time like this? That’s a little creepy.’

‘Don’t tell me you’re planning to slaughter the Cloud Sect all over again?’

‘Brother, that wouldn’t be smart. Acting now would make you a murderer too, and you haven’t even gotten to your enemies yet. It would have been better to wipe them out completely back when you had the chance.’

Pei Jingyuan remained silent. He had indeed spoken casually, without any deeper meaning.

He had avenged all who deserved vengeance. Yun Heming was dead, and everyone who had wronged him was gone. He held no grudges.

The main hall of the Cloud Sect was now in utter ruin. It seemed to have collapsed halfway, with the remaining half crudely rebuilt later.

The other half of the hall had been hastily rebuilt using materials from the collapsed section, making it look like a copper patch on a golden pot—similar in appearance, but far inferior in quality.

As Elder Nishang led them inside, she explained the current situation. “The Cloud Sect is now down to barely a hundred disciples, mostly Outer Sect members who happened to be away during the disaster.”

Jiang Minghuan was surprised. “Aren’t Inner Sect disciples the ones who travel more often? Outer Sect disciples have lower cultivation and rarely leave the sect. Shouldn’t there be more Inner Sect disciples?”

Elder Nishang sighed. “Many of the disciples who were away heard the news and defected to other sects for protection.”

Jiang Minghuan, “….”

How to put this…

A sect gets the disciples it deserves. Yun Heming was selfish and self-serving, so naturally, his disciples would be self-centered opportunists.

Or perhaps, during recruitment, they simply didn’t choose anyone who didn’t share their selfish nature.

“Did you issue a Recall Order?” Jiang Minghuan asked.

Elder Nishang nodded. “Yes, but… except for a few Outer Sect disciples, hardly anyone returned.”

Her eyes held a trace of melancholy as she spoke, clearly puzzled by how the Cloud Sect had fallen into such a state.

Upon reflection, even she couldn’t bear the stifling atmosphere within the sect, choosing instead to venture out and break through her cultivation barrier. This meant the Cloud Sect had been in trouble for some time.

Jiang Minghuan nodded and suggested, “Those who haven’t returned by now probably don’t intend to. Elder, perhaps we should stop issuing the Recall Orders.”

Elder Nishang looked at him and said, “You are the Sect Leader now. The decision is yours.”

Huh?

Am I officially in charge now?

Jiang Minghuan turned to glance at Pei Jingyuan, who stood silently beside him. The man seemed genuinely like a visitor returning to familiar grounds, showing no intention of interfering with the sect’s affairs.

‘Well, this is only temporary anyway. Eventually, Pei Jingyuan will take over the Cloud Sect, and it might just become a branch of the Sword Pavilion of the Years’ Cloud Hall.’

‘For now, I’m just a Puppet Sect Leader. In the end, everything still comes down to what Pei Jingyuan says.’

Unable to voice these thoughts to Elder Nishang, he simply said to Pei Jingyuan, “I lack experience. Please remind me if I make any mistakes.”

Pei Jingyuan replied softly, “Understood.”

Elder Nishang watched the two of them, a rare smile appearing on her face for the first time in days. She felt a sense of relief, thinking things might finally be turning around.

But her sense of relief proved premature.

After the new Sect Leader, whom she had gone through great lengths to retrieve, gave the main hall a cursory once-over, he declared with grandiose flourish, “Let’s demolish the Hall of Righteous Sound first.”

Elder Nishang, “……”