"Invite the Sect Leader of the Spirit-Taming Sect over?" Su Xuan furrowed his brows. "Do you think I can do that by myself?"

Right now, the Spirit-Taming Sect and the Floating Cloud Sect were at war, with strict security everywhere. Sending him to find the Spirit-Taming Sect's leader was no different from a suicide mission. He couldn't just stand at the Spirit-Taming Sect's main gate and yell, "Sect Leader Yan, Sect Leader Qi of the Floating Cloud Sect sent me to ask you for a chat!"

Would that work?

Of course not.

"Just hear me out," Qi Qingshan said slowly, realizing his suggestion had been inappropriate. "The most urgent matter right now is to save Qi Li, correct? I don't have the power to save her on my own. The moment I show my face, Elder Liu might ambush and kill me. Therefore, the most likely, and yet most unlikely solution, is to borrow the power of the Spirit-Taming Sect!"

"The friend of my enemy is my friend?" Su Xuan asked.

"Yes, that's it!" Qi Qingshan nodded.

"If we do that, won't it just confirm that you've defected?" Su Xuan countered. "That Elder Liu is forcing Qi Li to slander you!"

"But what if I meet with Sect Leader Yan and end the war between our sects?" Qi Qingshan asked, looking directly into Su Xuan's eyes.

Su Xuan remained silent.

"Then it wouldn't be a defection!" Qi Qingshan declared. "It would be me, risking my life alone to resolve a catastrophe for the sect through peaceful negotiation!"

Su Xuan couldn't help but marvel at the old man's cunning.

"Kid!" Qi Qingshan also held a great deal of admiration for Su Xuan. For someone from the world below to remain so calm amidst the Floating Cloud Sect's upheaval was remarkable. "You must help me bring Sect Leader Yan here to meet with me. It's the only way Li'er might be saved and the war between our sects averted. As for that hidden power, it isn't our most pressing concern."

"I understand the logic," Su Xuan said, pursing his lips. "But how am I supposed to get him to come and meet you?"

"Take this!" Qi Qingshan pulled something out and shoved it into Su Xuan's hand. "Once he sees this, there's a very high chance he'll come to see me!"

"What is this?" Su Xuan glanced down at the object in his hand. It was a glittering golden token that looked incredibly ostentatious.

"The Sect Leader Identification Token!" Qi Qingshan enunciated each word. "Seeing this token is the same as seeing me in person!"

"Is it really that important?" To Su Xuan, it seemed no different from an ID card from the world below.

"Extremely important!" Qi Qingshan said solemnly. "This token represents a Sect Leader's honor and their very life. It cannot be lost, even in death!"

"Alright." Su Xuan put the token away. "The video on my phone isn't enough proof to resolve the grudge between our sects, and who knows where Elder Liu has hidden the witness. Even if you do meet Yan Peng, how will you convince him to listen to you?"

"I have my ways," Qi Qingshan said cryptically, waving a hand at Su Xuan. "You should go now!"

"Huh?"

Su Xuan was stunned. And just like that, he's sending me off to handle such an important matter? I don't even know which way the Spirit-Taming Sect's gate faces! On top of that, I'm doing him this huge favor, and he doesn't even show the slightest courtesy? Not a single word of thanks for the trouble? Does he really see me as one of his own? Or just another disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect?

"Kid," Qi Qingshan suddenly asked, "how far have things progressed between you and my daughter?"

"What?" Su Xuan was stunned again. What kind of bizarre question is that?

"The customs in the world below the mountain are quite... unrestrained," Qi Qingshan said with a strange expression. "You two haven't... done that, have you?"

"Done what?" Su Xuan's eyes widened.

"You know, *that*!" Qi Qingshan grew flustered and puckered his lips. "*This*!"

"Sect Leader Qi," Su Xuan said with a straight face, "your daughter and I are just friends. Please show some decorum!"

PHEW.

Hearing Su Xuan's words, Qi Qingshan let out a sudden sigh of relief. So, Li'er giving him the bracelet was just a matter of necessity, with no deeper meaning. The kid's not bad-looking, but it's a shame he's an outsider with no foundation on the mountain. Otherwise...

"Sect Leader Qi, here, take these." Su Xuan interrupted Qi Qingshan's train of thought, handing him several medicinal pills before turning to leave.

"Kid, thank you for taking this on!" Qi Qingshan's tone finally became polite. "Once we've resolved the current troubles, I will personally handle the matter you entrusted to Li'er!"

"Thanks in advance." Su Xuan shrugged, then paused. "Is your formation still working? I'd rather you not be left defenseless the moment I leave."

"It's fine," Qi Qingshan said, waving his hand. "I'll reinforce it after you go."

"Alright then!" Su Xuan started walking toward the exit of the old residence.

Watching Su Xuan's retreating figure, Qi Qingshan murmured to himself, It's a good thing you have Li'er's bracelet. Otherwise, you never would have left the formation's domain so easily! The bracelet was a soul-bound item belonging to Qi Li, infused with her bloodline aura. His formation wouldn't cause too much trouble for one of its own.

TAP, TAP!

Before Su Xuan could even leave the old residence, a figure emerged from the darkness and stepped into the courtyard. Su Xuan glanced at the man but didn't recognize him, so he turned to look back at Qi Qingshan.

"Brother Dai!" Qi Qingshan exclaimed in shock upon seeing the man.

The man, however, ignored Qi Qingshan completely. He drew a longsword from his back and, with accelerating steps, slashed toward Su Xuan!

"Sect Leader Qi, a friend of yours?" Su Xuan asked as he swiftly sidestepped the attack. "What's his deal?"

"Brother Dai, stop! He's one of us!" Qi Qingshan shouted, not having time to explain.

But the man seemed deaf to his words. He swung his sword again, but then something unexpected happened. He didn't strike at Su Xuan this time but charged right past him, aiming straight for Qi Qingshan!

His real target was Qi Qingshan! His earlier attack must have just been because Su Xuan was in his way!

"Dai Xiu, how could you attack your sworn brother!" A look of profound astonishment crossed Qi Qingshan's face as he raised a knife to defend himself.

At that moment, Su Xuan understood who the attacker was. It must be the Head of the Enforcement Hall, Dai Zhuyue's father! Dai Zhuyue said her father went looking for Qi Qingshan... but why is he only showing up now? Where was he? And why does he want to kill Qi Qingshan the moment he appears?

WHOOSH!

The man reached Qi Qingshan and slashed down without mercy. Already seriously injured, Qi Qingshan didn't dare to face the fierce blow head-on and rolled to the side. Relentless, the man strode after him and swung his sword down again!

Qi Qingshan gritted his teeth and parried the blow, shouting to Su Xuan, "Help me out, kid!"

"Your father-in-law is about to be killed!"

Su Xuan's eyes widened.

Now there's another father-in-law?

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