"Old man, how are you?"

Seeing that the call was from Murong Bei, Qin Tian was momentarily stunned, then answered the phone with a straightforward greeting.

"Qin Tian, it seems like you're in a good mood. You truly are an optimist."

The voice from Murong Bei on the other end didn't share the relaxed tone of Qin Tian.

Upon hearing this, Qin Tian instantly sensed that Murong Bei's call was definitely about something important, and it seemed that this matter wasn't good news.

"What's wrong, old man? Did something happen?"

Qin Tian also shifted to a serious tone, furrowing his brows as he asked.

He initially suspected that Murong Bei called to ask him to take care of Murong Fei, considering that Murong Fei had gone to Beijing alone, and with the lessons learned from last time, Murong Bei couldn't be without worries.

But Qin Tian had oversimplified things.

Murong Bei said, "Of course, there's something important for me to call you about."

"If I tell you, hehe, you won't be so happy anymore."

Murong Bei was being cryptic, but before Qin Tian could press for more details, Murong Bei continued, "I'm calling to tell you that the Shangguan Family's, Shangguan Zhenxiong, will be released in about three months!"

After saying this, Murong Bei paused, seemingly waiting to hear Qin Tian express surprise, but Qin Tian remained calm, showing no reaction, which made Murong Bei feel a bit awkward.

"Qin Tian, why aren't you reacting at all?" Murong Bei said, speechless.

"What reaction should I have? Should I just say 'oh' to reply to you? Hehe, old man, didn't you tell me during New Year that he was getting out this year? Now it's earlier than expected, which is a bit of a surprise, that's all."

Qin Tian calmly analyzed.

This explanation left Murong Bei speechless.

He asked, "It seems you don't care at all that Shangguan Zhenxiong is getting released, do you? Qin Tian, have you completed the cultivation of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual'?"

Murong Bei's tone was obviously teasing, since completing the 'Sunflower Secret Manual' from New Year till now was clearly impossible.

"Old man, are you deliberately mocking me?" Qin Tian laughed.

Murong Bei responded seriously, "It's right that you know I'm teasing you. Qin Tian, I'm telling you, things aren't as simple as you think. My source tells me that when Shangguan Zhenxiong gets out of prison this time, his strength might be several levels higher than when he went in."

"I heard that Shangguan Zhenxiong has been diligently training in prison, just to make a comeback and then seek revenge on me. Now I'm an old man with aging bones, likely not a match for him. You, if you haven't mastered the first six chapters of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual', definitely won't be a match for him either."

At this point, Murong Bei asked sternly, "Qin Tian, tell me honestly, how far are you in cultivating the 'Sunflower Secret Manual'?"

"Just started the fifth chapter, 'Gathering Spirit Technique', I've understood some insights."

"Uh..."

Qin Tian's answer instantly left Murong Bei speechless.

Only at the beginner level of the fifth chapter, and yet you have no concern about Shangguan Zhenxiong's release? Don't you know how formidable Shangguan Zhenxiong is!?

"Old man, what's wrong?"

Hearing the awkward silence from Murong Bei on the other end, Qin Tian asked.

"Sigh!"

Murong Bei shook his head, saying, "It seems that with Shangguan Zhenxiong getting out this time, our Murong Family can't stop him. Qin Tian, I cannot leave Zhonghai City, and even if I could, Shangguan Zhenxiong, he will certainly come after me, no matter where I go."

"Even if I'm killed by Shangguan Zhenxiong, as an old man, it's of no consequence. But for Fei'er and Xue Jiao, I can't rest easy. If they stay in Zhonghai City, they might be left alone in the future. Qin Tian, I hope you can take care of them well, for the sake of your master's friendship with me..."

"Old man, what are you saying?"

Hearing Murong Bei's downhearted words, Qin Tian was instantly bewildered.

How could this old man seem like he's starting to settle his affairs? Could Shangguan Zhenxiong, who is about to be released, really leave him so hopeless?"

"Old man, don't speak so despairingly. I'm here, even when Shangguan Zhenxiong is released, if he dares to come for you, I'll definitely take care of him. Don't worry." Qin Tian assured, patting his chest.

However, Murong Bei just shook his head, thinking that this Qin Tian indeed has good martial talent, but he's a bit too confident in his youthful exuberance.

No matter how skilled you are, there's always someone better out there, and he doesn't seem to understand how many masters there are in this world!

"Forget it; the grudge between me and Shangguan Zhenxiong must come to an end. Qin Tian, I just hope you manage two things: first, take care of Fei'er and Xue Jiao so they are happy. They lost their parents very early, and I hope you can let them live without worries. Second, even if I'm killed by Shangguan Zhenxiong, you don't need to avenge me. This is my fate. You should take Fei'er and Xue Jiao, and leave Beijing, leave Zhonghai City, to a..."

"Old man, what you're saying, you're overthinking it. I'm not afraid of the Huangfu Family, why would I fear the Shangguan Family? Rest assured, I won't let the things you mentioned happen."

Qin Tian interrupted Murong Bei.

However, just when he was trying to encourage Murong Bei, Murong Bei asked him back: "Qin Tian, do you think you can beat Shangguan Zhenxiong?"

Qin Tian confidently said, "Whether I can beat him or not, I'll have to try to know."

Murong Bei said, "With your current strength only at the fourth chapter of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual', to fight him... cough, cough, you know, back when I faced Shangguan Zhenxiong, I had already cultivated to the fifth chapter of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual,' and yet it was only a tie, with a slim victory."

"Now you don't even have the strength I had back then, how can you fight him? His strength has greatly advanced while in prison, it's true, a friend of mine who's a prison guard has told me many times. His ability to refine spiritual energy might even be stronger than mine now!"

Murong Bei said solemnly, "Years ago, I stopped progressing at the sixth chapter of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual' because of my limited mobility and age. Qin Tian, I'm just telling you, with your current capability on the fourth chapter of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual', facing the present Shangguan Zhenxiong leads to only one outcome, being instantly defeated!"

"I'm not scaring you; in the face of absolute power, any fantasy is meaningless."

"Even if you successfully cultivate the fifth chapter of the 'Sunflower Secret Manual', there might not even be a twenty percent chance of winning against the current Shangguan Zhenxiong!"

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