After Che Gongwei's death, Wei Tu had no time to linger at Moon Condensation Palace waiting for Wei Yan to leave seclusion.
He left a letter talisman each for Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen with careful instructions, then summoned his Wind Cleaving Eagle and flew west toward Golden Long Valley.
This time, without Yu Gongshou and the others, his power was much weaker. But traveling alone also meant he was less conspicuous and wouldn't attract unwanted attention.
Because of that, he made the trip in half the time it took before, reaching the area around Golden Long Valley in just about one month.
"Success and failure both lie with Qi Chengchu," Wei Tu murmured, stopping his light as he gazed at the formation shield glowing over Golden Long Valley.
Thanks to Qi Chengchu, the Loose Cultivator Alliance leader, and his exceptional formation skills, Golden Long Valley had become an unassailable fortress—a true isolated island in the war between the two sects.
All around were Earth Sword Mountain cultivators laying siege.
They knew that if they didn't take Golden Long Valley, they couldn't risk sending their forces deeper into Ancient Sword Mountain's territory without getting bogged down.
That's why the Loose Cultivator Alliance had been forced to act as Ancient Sword Mountain's pawn. Over nearly ten years of conflict, their losses were catastrophic, with no fewer than five Golden Core experts already fallen.
Wei Tu thought to himself: if only Qi Chengchu were still alive, with a Golden Core expert of such talent, the Loose Cultivator Alliance wouldn't be in such a passive position today.
At least they wouldn't have ended up as puppets on Ancient Sword Mountain's strings.
"There are four late-stage Golden Core cultivators watching Golden Long Valley. No wonder none of the Loose Cultivator Alliance's Golden Core cultivators dare to flee," Wei Tu silently activated Know Heaven Crossing, a peak-tier detection technique, and sensed the hidden Golden Core experts nearby.
"These four don't pose much threat to me, but right now it's best not to reveal my strength in front of Earth Sword Mountain," he thought.
"As for Junior Sister Su, I'll have to put that aside for now."
After considering it, Wei Tu flicked his sleeve and flew southeast toward Ancient Sword Mountain's sect gate.
He had two reasons for traveling from Moon Condensation Palace to Golden Long Valley:
1. Avenge his master's death by finding an opportunity on the battlefield to kill Yao Chongshan and Guan Yingzhi.
2. Honor Che Gongwei's last wish by taking care of Su Bing'er.
The first goal required a chance.
The second would be difficult if he tried to break into Golden Long Valley by force, and it could ruin his chance at the first goal entirely.
Wei Tu guessed that after the war began, Ancient Sword Mountain had probably already set up a teleportation array inside Golden Long Valley.
So if he wanted to rescue Su Bing'er, the best plan wasn't a direct assault, but to use Ancient Sword Mountain's teleportation array to quietly spirit her away.
Two days later, Wei Tu reached Ancient Sword Mountain's main gate.
After a moment of thought, he pulled out a shell-shaped magical item and sent several incantations into it.
This shell, called a Sound-Transmitting Shell, came in a pair—a "public" shell and a "mother" shell. It was a common short-range communication tool for Golden Core cultivators.
More than twenty years ago, when Situ You delivered the translated Crimson Bright Text jade slip as promised, he had also given Wei Tu a mother Sound-Transmitting Shell so they could stay in touch.
Half a quarter hour later, a dusky yellow streak of light shot out from Ancient Sword Mountain, landing in front of Wei Tu and transforming into a handsome man with sword-shaped eyebrows and bright eyes.
"Alchemist Wei!"
Suspended in midair, Situ You cupped his hands toward Wei Tu with a cold and arrogant expression. His attitude was far less respectful than when he had come begging for pills all those years ago.
"Brother Situ, do you have some misunderstanding with me?"
Seeing this, Wei Tu looked surprised, his tone carrying a hint of astonishment. He had investigated Situ You's background before. He knew Situ You wasn't the type to treat people warmly at first only to turn cold later.
If Situ You were such a person, he would have ignored Wei Tu long ago after getting his Golden Marrow Pill. Why would he have bothered to find the Crimson Bright Text translation for him or given him the Sound-Transmitting Shell?
"Since we're friends, why did you agree to help Wei Hua and say you'd get involved in the two sects' war in the future?"
Situ You's voice was icy as he questioned him.
More than twenty years ago, when he'd asked Wei Tu to refine pills, he had made it clear: Wei Hua was his mortal enemy for stealing his wife.
"Brother Situ, you're mistaken. Those words I said before were just empty pleasantries," Wei Tu replied with a bitter smile, explaining himself.
When he saw Situ You still looked doubtful, Wei Tu added, "If that weren't true, why would I come to you first upon arriving at your sect's gate instead of going to Wei Hua?"
Hearing this, Situ You's tense expression immediately softened, and he broke into a friendly smile.
Clearly, he believed Wei Tu's words—or rather, before coming here, he never really doubted Wei Tu.
He didn't think Wei Hua and Wei Tu would have had the chance to build any deep relationship. But he needed Wei Tu to say it himself, to leave no excuse.
"Brother Wei, you must have come to our sect gate to handle your master's affairs…"
Without waiting for Wei Tu to ask, Situ You brought up Che Gongwei's death himself.
As he spoke, Situ You flipped his palm and handed Wei Tu a green jade slip.
Wei Tu wasn't surprised by Situ You's keen grasp of the situation. Since he knew Wei Tu had spoken with Wei Hua earlier, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to learn about Wei Tu's connection with Che Gongwei.
If he pretended not to know, that would have been suspicious.
Wei Tu took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense, reading its contents.
"Brother Situ, you're very considerate," Wei Tu said with gratitude after finishing.
The jade slip didn't contain any secret information, just details of how Che Gongwei had died on the battlefield from beginning to end.
But gathering those details would have been nearly impossible for an outsider like him without Situ You's help.
"It was just a small thing," Situ You replied, waving his hand to show Wei Tu shouldn't dwell on it.
"Brother Wei, what else brings you to Ancient Sword Mountain?"
Wei Tu got straight to the point, asking Situ You about the teleportation array in Golden Long Valley.
As a former military officer, Wei Tu knew well how crucial it was for Ancient Sword Mountain to have a two-way teleportation array at this strategic location.
"You're right, Alchemist Wei. Our sect has indeed set up a hidden two-way teleportation array in Golden Long Valley," Situ You said, but his face showed hesitation.
It wasn't just his personal feelings—among Ancient Sword Mountain's higher-ups, the Loose Cultivator Alliance was seen as nothing more than a disposable pawn, used to grind down Earth Sword Mountain's forces.
Che Gongwei and the other Loose Cultivator Alliance Golden Core cultivators had died as part of that plan.
Out of friendship, he wanted to help Wei Tu take Su Bing'er away from the battlefield. But as a member of Ancient Sword Mountain's leadership, helping them escape would be a betrayal of his sect.
After all, even if Su Bing'er was weak, she was still a Golden Core cultivator who could help reduce casualties for Ancient Sword Mountain.
"I have some wealth I can offer to ransom Junior Sister Su. I hope Brother Situ can help negotiate," Wei Tu said, bowing his head after thinking it through.