Wen Li looked toward Hei Yun. “Fellow Daoist, as you can see, we are also very saddened by what happened to your son. If we happen to recall any clues someday, we will certainly return to tell you. For today, we still have business. Farewell.”
She spoke all in one breath and, without waiting for Hei Yun to react, immediately beckoned all her disciples to hurry downstairs.
However, just as she led the way to the top of the stairs, the landlady, Hua Yan, who had served them earlier, appeared.
“Hold on.”
She stood at the top of the stairs in a patterned blue and red dress. Her face wore a smile, but it carried an air of threat.
“You stepped on my son, and you think you can just leave it at that?”
Wen Li’s foot paused. She finally understood. The woman had intentionally placed her son there for Xie Tinglan to step on. The entire inn had been sealed off—they were running a total scam on her.
“Then what would the fellow Daoist like to do?”
Wen Li leaned back against the banister with her arms crossed. Her group of seven stood in a line from the bottom to the top of the stairs. Spiritual energy began to circulate as the six disciples’ expressions turned serious. Even with the snake demon couple, Hei Yun and Hua Yan, surrounding them from the front and back, they didn't seem disadvantaged at all.
Hua Yan’s gaze swept over Wen Li and the others before finally landing on Xie Tinglan. “The rest of you can go, but he stays.”
Wen Li glanced at the couple before looking back at Xie Tinglan. It seemed they had been targeting him since the landlady warmly welcomed them into the shop. Could they have actually seen through to Xie Tinglan’s bloodline?
“Can you tell what their cultivation is?” Wen Li asked Xie Tinglan with a lazy posture.
Xie Tinglan pursed his lips. “Both are Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators. There are also five Golden Core cultivators lying in wait nearby. To be able to summon so many Golden Cores, he should be the Snake clan leader.”
Hearing this, the other four besides Gu Linshu felt their eyes turn cold. Their spiritual energy surged as their magical artifacts instantly appeared.
Wen Li looked toward Hua Yan. “What do you want with my disciple? Do you perhaps want to choose a new lord for the Snake clan?”
“We only want him. Hand him over to us, and the rest of you can leave safely,” Hua Yan said, her chin tilting up slightly, refusing to be provoked by Wen Li’s words.
Hearing her uncompromising tone, Wen Li sighed and looked at Xie Tinglan.
“What should we do?”
Xie Tinglan lowered his eyes, drawing out his words, “Naturally, we...”
“Old Three!”
Wen Li suddenly shouted. With a surge of spiritual energy, Hold On appeared. she quickly set up a defense barrier in front while Xie Tinglan defended the rear. Simultaneously, Gu Linshu immediately pulled out three Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Talismans and formed hand seals.
Boom!
Three talismans glowing with fierce, overwhelming pressure were brandished, surrounding the seven of them.
The coordination between the three was so fast it only took two seconds.
Hei Yun and Hua Yan’s expressions darkened as they looked at the three talismans. Their intention to attack immediately halted.
Hei Yun said, “A mere Foundation Establishment brat can actually produce three Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Talismans.”
“It’s not like you’re the only ones who call for their parents when in danger. When it comes to whose dad is better, my disciple is way ahead of you,” Wen Li sneered.
Yao Dai, Hua Cishu, Xin Jiuxian, and even Xie Tinglan were shocked by Gu Linshu’s grand display. He was actually this wealthy? And he had a dad!
They had thought being an orphan was a prerequisite for Master to take them in as disciples.
In particular, the three who had robbed him originally—Yao Dai and the others—felt a lingering fear. Old Three really was kind-hearted; he hadn't just thrown out a Nascent Soul Talisman to wipe them all out that night. If they had known he was this rich, they would have tried to get on his good side to scam some money out of him. Oh well, there was always the future.
Hei Yun’s eyes finally settled on Gu Linshu, the most refined and harmless-looking of the six disciples.
“I wonder who this young friend’s father is.”
Before Gu Linshu could speak, Wen Li directly pulled out the fake Beast Taming Sect token she had made herself and brandished it. “I won’t hide it from you. His father is the Beast Taming Sect Master himself, Jiang He!”
Even though Gu Linshu’s real parents were also powerful, they weren't in the Southern Province. Distant water couldn't put out a nearby fire.
She lifted her head, looking full of confidence and pride, making all the disciples look at her. If they hadn't known Gu Linshu was from the Northern Province, they would have believed her.
Gu Linshu, forced to change fathers: “...”
He sighed silently, then nodded, making a decision that went against his parents' honor.
“My... My father is Jiang He.”
“...” Hearing him admit it, the other five disciples looked at him with utter disdain. To save his life, he would even claim a random father.
The next second, Yao Dai looked toward Hei Yun and mimicked Wen Li’s confident sneer. “Go ahead and try to touch us. I am from the Beast Taming Sect.”
The others turned their faces away, afraid they would burst out laughing.
Hearing this, Hei Yun let out a cold laugh. “Everyone knows the Beast Taming Sect Master only has an only daughter. You should have checked your facts before making up such nonsense.”
In the crowd, Zongzheng Huangyue pushed Xin Jiuxian forward. “Oh, are you talking about our Junior Sister, Jiang Nianyao?”
Huh? When did they start role-playing without telling her?
Xin Jiuxian, with her silver hair, expressionless face, and pale, weak appearance, stumbled forward with wide eyes.
Turning around to see everyone looking at her, she suddenly coughed several times. In her white dress, she looked extremely fragile and tragic. “It is true that Father has an illegitimate son, but I don't mind having an older brother who dotes on me.”
Gu Linshu’s eyes widened. Changing his father was one thing, but how did he become an illegitimate son?
Hua Cishu, standing beside him, saw him nearly blow his cover and immediately pinched him from behind. It carried quite a bit of personal grudge, causing Gu Linshu’s tears to well up from the pain.
“Sister... you’ve finally acknowledged me. Brother has failed you!” His eyes were watery and his voice sincere, enough to move anyone who saw him.
Zongzheng Huangyue immediately spoke up with pride, “The few of us are here on the Sect Master’s orders to escort Junior Sister Jiang Nianyao and our Junior Brother to the Qisu Kingdom to prepare for the Demon Tide Tournament in a month. If you dare harm Junior Sister in the slightest today, then wait for the Sect Master to come and level this place, making your Snake clan vanish from the Qisu Kingdom.”
Hearing the words 'Demon Tide Tournament,' the expressions of Hei Yun and Hua Yan darkened as they exchanged a look. It was indeed almost time for the tournament, and it was normal for people from the Beast Taming Sect to appear here. Could they really be from the Beast Taming Sect?
Hei Yun sent a transmission to Hua Yan, “Rumor has it that the eldest lady of the Beast Taming Sect is physically weak. I see that silver-haired girl indeed looks frail; it doesn't seem fake. To be able to produce three Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Talismans at the Foundation Establishment realm—such protective measures are indeed something only a Fourth-Grade Cultivation Kingdom would splurge on for their younger geniuses.”
Hua Yan frowned and replied via transmission, “So we just let it go? Our son’s transformation still requires the demon core of someone with outstanding talent from the Snake clan. That youth’s talent is excellent; if our son could use his demon core, his transformation would be without trouble.”
Hei Yun said solemnly, “We have no choice but to let it go!”
He looked toward Xin Jiuxian and Gu Linshu. “I did not know the identities of these two young friends. I have caused offense. My Qisu Kingdom and the Beast Taming Sect have always been on good terms. Today’s matter is a misunderstanding.”
Upon hearing him back down, Wen Li, who had been smiling apologetically just a moment ago, immediately pushed her luck, mimicking his previous questioning tone.
“Oh, a misunderstanding? You closed the inn and attacked us, and that’s a misunderstanding? Was scaring Junior Sister Jiang Nianyao also a misunderstanding?”
“Cough, cough.”
Xin Jiuxian coughed at the right time, her face growing even paler.
Hei Yun waved his hand, and the five Golden Core cultivators lying in wait immediately disappeared. “This matter is our fault. I wonder what the fellow Daoist wants?”
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