The law of cause-and-effect is not something to trifle with, as Chen Kuang had already personally proven trough personal experience just now.
Because no one can predict what method the Heavenly Dao will use to make up for that one missing variable.
Chen Kuang's prediction for the "compensation" was that perhaps, Di Wu's mortal enemy just happened to be passing by, saw the situation, was outraged, and stepped in to righteously rescue Zhou Yanwei.
Said enemy wouldn't be too strong, just barely enough to save Zhou Yanwei. The effect would be comparable to Zhou Yanwei pulling out his token and identifying himself, thus maintaining the causal balance.
A reasonable and non-contrived development.
The actual "compensation" however..
Was a literal divine intervention, a heavenly sword strike summoned from the imperial capital a thousand miles away, slashing down and obliterating everything in its path!
Even more terrifying was that of all people, the wielder of that sword was actually Shen Xingzhu!
Chen Kuang had so thoughtfully prepared a balanced solution for fate... and then fate itself flipped his entire table.
At this moment, Chen Kuang had one thing to say, but whether he should say it or not, well, three expletives probably weren't enough.
Amid the sword cry that shook the land for a thousand miles, the heavens and earth were split open by that ray of sword light.
This sword from the west was like a strike from the heavens themselves.
Before, the battle between Saints had been too distant. And with his cultivation too weak to perceive its truth, Chen Kuang only now understood what a true Grandmaster meant.
In just a single instant, the sword qi descended and landed right on the half-ruined tower ship.
Where the sword passed, it cut through all like a scythe through grass.
In a flash, the entire ship collapsed and sank into the lake.
Of course, Chen Kuang wasn't the only one shocked beyond belief.
In fact, everyone besides him and Shen Meinan probably had no idea what just happened, dying confused and unaware.
The one who probably felt most wronged of all was Di Wu.
The moment he sensed the sword from the west, his pupils contracted, and he immediately shouted:
"I am Di Wu of the Wind and Rain Tower, under the Martial Sage! May I ask which senior- "
Before he could finish asking, his head had already vanished within the sword light.
Only his body remained standing in place, frozen.
A moment later, it fell stiffly into the lake, along with the shattered ship.
Countless broken limbs and body parts floated to the surface, staining the water red... with all the Wind and Rain Tower cultivators.
What had once been a chaotic battlefield was now deathly silent.
Today, Di Wu had come to receive the Great Zhou Enlightenment Envoy, and to show due respect, he had brought nearly the entirety of the Wind and Rain Tower's main force.
Although, to be fair, the Wind and Rain Tower's true combat power lay mostly in Di Wu alone. Still, the others weren't exactly nobodies.
And now, all of them had perished on the ship.
In other words, with just one sword from Shen Xingzhu, an entire well-known prefecture-level sect had been wiped off the map.
Standing on the shore, Lin Eryou was dumbfounded. Even when the waves splashed into his face, he seemed to feel nothing, turning into a drenched chicken on the spot.
Though he had suspected Chen Kuang was no ordinary person, he hadn't expected that he could stir up such massive waves.
Wind and Rain Tower, erased from Jishao Prefecture in one day!
This was a true lunatic!
You dare cross me? I'll just exterminate your whole sect!
The only question was: which Grandmaster was backing Chen Kuang this time?
This man should be a genuine commoner by birth. So how did he seem like the heir of some hidden clan, always able to summon some ancient monster to aid him?
Moreover... why did that sword intent seem so familiar?
Lin Eryou took a deep breath, wiped the water off his face, and his expression changed. He quickly walked to the lake's edge and shouted:
"Fellow Daoist Ruogu! Fellow Daoist Shen! Fellow Daoist Zhou!"
The tower ship had completely collapsed. Chen Kuang and Shen Meinan had been caught off guard and naturally fell into the lake, nowhere to be seen.
Splash!
Moments later, two figures suddenly surfaced.
Lin Eryou squinted and immediately beamed: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you're still alive!"
Those two figures were, of course, Zhou Yanwei and his old servant.
The servant was nearly exhausted. Zhou Yanwei, ignoring the man's resistance, forced a life-saving pill into his mouth and supported him ashore.
Once he landed, his gaze immediately turned cold. He drew his sword and looked at Lin Eryou:
"Lin Eryou, you shame the name of Liberty Mountain! You betray trust and frame others, you are not fit to be called a man!"
Furious, teeth clenched, he was about to unleash a secret technique for a proper duel.
The old servant suddenly raised a hand to stop him.
Zhou Yanwei blinked in confusion. "Old Man, what do you mean by this?"
The servant coughed twice, then turned to the ever-smiling Lin Eryou and bowed.
"This old servant once heard that the Master of Liberty Mountain intended to abandon the Peach Grove and enter the secular world. From what I've seen today, the rumor must be true."
Abandon the Peach Grove and enter the world?
Zhou Yanwei's pupils shrank. The Peach Grove, of course, referred to that stretch of peach trees cultivated by the students of Liberty Mountain.
The Master had once said: If the world has the Dao, then die for the Dao; if the world has no Dao, then sacrifice the Dao.
Thus, when he saw that the world held to the Dao, he distanced himself from mortal matters, took in students, and cultivated the Dao in peace.
Now, if he was abandoning Liberty Mountain and his students?
That would mean...
He believed the world to be without the Dao, and would now intervene personally in worldly affairs?
Lin Eryou straightened his robes and saluted the old man solemnly. "Senior has sharp insight and a meticulous mind. My earlier ploy was truly out of desperation. I beg your forgiveness."
These words sounded high-sounding and righteous, but Zhou Yanwei no longer had any words of reproach.
The second prince stared at Lin Eryou. "Is the Master truly coming out of seclusion?"
Lin Eryou smiled. "Soon."
With those words, Zhou Yanwei couldn't say anything more. Instead, he seemed vaguely anxious. "Then... are you selecting candidates on his behalf?"
Lin Eryou nodded openly. "Exactly. The past month was observation. Just now, that was the test."
"In the face of danger, you had a pure and untainted heart."
He smiled and gave a deep bow. "Congratulations, Your Highness. You are now my recommended candidate."
Zhou Yanwei opened his mouth slightly.
Lin Eryou muttered, "Speaking of which, I must thank that Chen Ruogu. If he hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have figured out how to test you."
Zhou Yanwei blinked, suddenly realizing that sword strike just now must also have had something to do with Chen Kuang. He looked around but didn't see him anywhere.
"That Chen... Brother Ruogu, and that Fellow Daoist Shen, where are they?"
Lin Eryou slapped his forehead, finally reacting.
That guy had already run off with her!
Lin Eryou muttered curiously, "Everyone from the Wind and Rain Tower is dead, why would he run?"
Zhou Yanwei laughed bitterly. "What, he's afraid I'll come for revenge?"
...
Chen Kuang wasn't worried about Zhou Yanwei holding a grudge over that little prank. What he was hiding from was far more terrifying.
Splash!
Pfft pfft!
Shen Meinan, looking miserable, spat out a mouthful of water and curiously patted the massive turtle slowly paddling below her.
"How did you get it to listen? Don't tell me you can control beasts?"
She sat sideways on the turtle's back, took off her soaked shoes and socks, revealing her slender, snowy-white feet. She wiggled her glistening toes, kicking up a splash.
Chen Kuang sat on the other side of the broad shell, removed his blindfold, and wrapped it around his wrist, modestly saying, "I know a little."
In reality, it was the effect of his Like a Fish in Water passive.
And to be honest, it worked quite well.
Hearing the sound of water, Shen Meinan's ears flushed red. She peeked over at Chen Kuang, only to be stunned by the sight of his delicate side profile and starry, icy eyes.
"You're not blind!"
She was dumbfounded. The matter she'd almost forgotten hit her again, and she huffed in annoyance. "You're not Ruogu. You're that Chen Kuang!"
She held up two fingers. "You lied to me, twice!"
"I didn't lie."
Chen Kuang's expression didn't change. "Surname Chen, given name Kuang, courtesy name Ruogu."
Shen Meinan frowned sternly and withdrew one finger. "Fine. Once!"
Heh.
The silver longevity lock on her body jingled faintly. Shen Xingzhu's cold voice suddenly sounded:
"A commoner musician sent into the palace, what need have you of a courtesy name?"
Chen Kuang sighed.
"Fairy Shen, ever aloof and far above the mundane. Must even the common people be forbidden from giving themselves a courtesy name?"
Now with a "United Front Against Shen Xingzhu," Shen Meinan spoke up confidently, instinctively defending Chen Kuang:
"Exactly! Even if he gave it to himself, it's still a courtesy name!"
Shen Xingzhu: "..."
She was silent for a moment, then said to Shen Meinan, "You snuck out using a puppet decoy. I assume the family still doesn't know?"
As the eldest sister, practically a second mother, Shen Meinan instantly wilted.
She lowered her head guiltily and muttered, "They don't know..."
Shen Xingzhu said nothing.
After a moment, she said to Chen Kuang, "Protect her."
Chen Kuang couldn't help but ask, "Fairy Shen, have you forgotten what kind of relationship we have? What makes you so sure I'll protect her?"
Shen Xingzhu replied calmly, "You will."
Chen Kuang raised an eyebrow. Why did it feel like her killing intent had eased...
Could it be that she finally realized she couldn't kill him, and switched to soft persuasion? Trying to get him to accept her "Dao"?
But Shen Xingzhu's attitude toward Shen Meinan really was different than he expected.
He probed, "With my cultivation not even reaching the Innate Realm, how am I supposed to protect her?"
Shen Xingzhu's voice remained calm: "A wisp of my soul resides within the longevity lock."
Chen Kuang paused. "So what you mean is..."
Shen Xingzhu seemed to smile faintly. "I'll be staying with you, always."