"Qingyang Sect is no longer safe to stay in."
Chen Zhong scratched his head with some frustration and said, "Boss, when you left, didn't you tell me to spread the news about Chu Qingfeng being possessed by a foreign soul? I secretly wrote about this on paper slips and scattered them all over the Qingyang Sect.
At the time, it did draw the attention of the sect's higher-ups. The Elders Hall and the Punishment Hall jointly interrogated 'Chu Qingfeng', but not only did they find nothing, the Second Elder even thought 'Chu Qingfeng' had rather good talent and took him on as a nominal disciple.
Fearing exposure, I didn't dare scatter any more slips, thinking I would wait for you to return before deciding how to handle this matter..."
After listening to Chen Zhong's account, Lu Li finally understood what had happened in the Qingyang Sect over the past two years.
It turned out that Qin Feng had not only managed to deceive the interrogation somehow, but had also stumbled into the lucky chance of becoming Second Elder Yu Tong's nominal disciple.
Now, his cultivation had even reached the terrifying eighth level of Qi Refining, and his sharp edge directly overshadowed Ling Xiaoyun, who possessed dual spiritual roots. He was now hailed as the Qingyang Sect's number one genius.
This matter did not directly affect Chen Zhong all that much.
However, just a month ago, Qin Feng suddenly exposed the news that Lu Li had killed fellow disciples and possessed an evil artifact, instantly causing an uproar across the sect.
The Elders Hall directly announced the revocation of Lu Li's status as a Qingyang Sect disciple and issued a bounty to capture him and bring him back to the sect for trial.
Ling Xiaoyun went to her master, Fang Buwei, to plead for Lu Li, but instead ended up being punished and sent to the back mountains to reflect on her mistakes for a year.
Upon hearing these developments, Chen Zhong realized that the Qingyang Sect was no longer safe for him. Anyone with a mind to investigate could easily uncover his relationship with Lu Li. Thus, he inquired about Lu Li's whereabouts overnight and finally learned from Liu Feng of the Affairs Hall that Lu Li had accepted quite a few missions.
These missions were scattered across various places. With his mind in total turmoil and no time to overthink, Chen Zhong decided to flee first.
After escaping, he headed south aimlessly.
After traveling for several days, Chen Zhong suddenly remembered that Ling Xiaoyun was rumored to have returned from the Thunderfire Mountain Range, so he headed in this direction on the off chance of trying his luck.
To his surprise, he actually ran into Lu Li.
One had to admit that both of them possessed astonishingly good luck. Otherwise, even if Lu Li truly was in the Thunderfire Mountain Range, Chen Zhong could never have found him so easily, as searching for someone across thousands of li of mountains was practically no different from finding a needle in a haystack.
After listening, Lu Li furrowed his brows tightly. He had not expected that after two years apart, Qin Feng would reach the eighth level of Qi Refining and blow his affairs wide open.
This truly constituted a major trouble.
"Boss, where do we go now?" After catching his breath, Chen Zhong asked.
Lu Li pondered for a moment and replied, "The one the Qingyang Sect is looking for is me, which has little to do with you. If you stay by my side, it will only bring you trouble.
Here is what we will do: I will write a letter for you to take to the Earth Tiger Stronghold in the southern part of the Thunderfire Mountain Range. Once you arrive there, someone will make arrangements for you."
It was not that he refused to bring Chen Zhong along, but rather that he could not. Traveling alone, he could escape without a second thought even if pursued by the Qingyang Sect; if Chen Zhong tagged along, things would become burdensome.
"You... you aren't saying my strength is too low and that I'd be a drag, are you?" Chen Zhong was not entirely foolish, staring gloomily at Lu Li.
"How could that be? I am doing this for your safety... The people at the Earth Tiger Stronghold are quite reliable, and I will feel at ease with you there."
"All right." Chen Zhong agreed with a dejected expression, never expecting that they would have to part ways the very moment they reunited.
After a brief thought, Lu Li retrieved the Gale Steps manual from his Storage Bag, took out another Storage Bag filled with True Essence Pills, and handed both over. "Here are nine thousand True Essence Pills along with a rather decent movement technique. Take them and cultivate diligently."
Since Chen Zhong possessed the five elements along with wind and thunder spiritual roots, he was fully capable of cultivating the Gale Steps.
"Nine thousand!" Chen Zhong gasped in shock before shaking his head. "Boss, I will take the movement technique, but you should keep the True Essence Pills for yourself."
"Stop chattering nonsense." Lu Li shoved the Storage Bag straight into Chen Zhong's hand. "Are we brothers or not?"
"Fine, then I accept them. Once my cultivation achieves success, I'll help you beat up those old bastards from the Qingyang Sect!"
"Good." Lu Li nodded with a smile. "Go on, and be careful on the road."
Watching Chen Zhong depart, Lu Li finally retrieved the Blood Soul Banner and stowed away Xu Shan's Storage Bag as well.
The current Blood Soul Banner was significantly stronger than before, and he estimated it would be more than enough to deter any sixth-level cultivator.
"Ah, meetings never seem to happen at the right time!"
Casting one last glance in the direction Chen Zhong had left, Lu Li let out a soft sigh of emotion, mounted his large black horse, and rode toward Qinglei City.
As evening fell.
Qinglei City.
East City.
The old Liu family site.
Against the lamplight cast from the Tongwang Restaurant across the street, a black horse could be seen standing quietly outside the main gates, its head lowered as it snuffed softly, its owner's whereabouts unknown.
Inside the manor, within the courtyard square.
Before the tombstone of Liu Xinyu rested an aged head.
Lowering his head, Lu Li gazed quietly at the stone tablet before him, muttering softly, "Junior Sister, the vengeance you desired has been secured by your Senior Brother. Rest in peace..."
With those words, he offered a low bow, turned, and departed.
Upon stepping out of the Liu manor, Lu Li realized the hour was late and decided to rest for the night before resuming his journey. Noticing that the restaurant opposite was still illuminated, he led his horse across the street.
Business at the Tongwang Restaurant appeared rather poor tonight, as a waiter sat blankly behind the entrance doors. Seeing Lu Li approach with a horse in tow, the sharp-eyed fellow hurried forward with an enthusiastic greeting, "Honored guest, are you lodging for the night?"
Lu Li nodded. "Help me stable this horse properly."
"Right away!" The waiter immediately stepped over to lead the mount toward the stables.
Once the waiter returned, Lu Li followed him inside.
Glancing around, Lu Li noticed that although lamps burned throughout the hall, not a single patron was present, prompting him to ask with mild curiosity, "There are no other guests here, why bother lighting so many lamps?"
At this, the waiter offered a sheepish smile. "You wouldn't understand, honored guest. Ever since the tragedy at the Liu manor, hardly anyone dares walk this street anymore, especially at night when it turns deathly quiet. I happen to be rather faint-hearted, so I lit a few extra lamps."
"So that's how it is." Lu Li nodded. "Are you the only one running this inn?"
"Indeed," the waiter replied. "Originally, our Tongwang Restaurant's business was among the finest in Qinglei City. But after that incident occurred, things gradually went downhill. The entire inn is down to just me, and even the proprietor went back to his hometown.
However, things should look up soon. According to word from the proprietor, someone has taken over the old Liu family residence and plans to demolish it shortly, after which the proprietor will return, and our restaurant's business will recover..."
"Demolished!"
Lu Li frowned slightly. "Who took it over?"
Shaking his head, the waiter answered, "That... I couldn't say. Property transactions are typically handled by the City Lord's Office. Why? Does the honored guest wish to purchase it as well?"
"Purchase it, you say." A flicker crossed Lu Li's eyes. "Get me a room first, and have a few simple dishes sent up later."
"Right away, honored guest. Please follow me, I will show you to your room..."