"Dad... don't get worked up..." Lin Ying quickly pulled him into her embrace.
Li Chonglou looked stunned.
He had never seen his master appear so stern.
In his heart, his master was gentle and dignified, exuding authority without anger. He had never shown hysteria or rage.
That was because those were emotions of the weak.
But at this very moment, he felt his master's anger.
The target of this anger was not him.
It was his senior sister, Lin Ying.
"You called Chonglou here?" Lin Zhendong didn't need to think. Seeing Li Chonglou hesitant to answer, he immediately looked at his daughter.
Lin Ying could only nod in acknowledgment.
"What did I tell you? West Sea is not suitable for Chonglou. If he comes here, he will face great tribulation!" Lin Zhendong trembled with anger.
His emotional fluctuations were so violent right after waking up that Lin Ying dared not retort.
She could only endure her father's burning gaze.
She knew Li Chonglou was not suited for West Sea, but the situation was urgent. She couldn't truly keep her only junior brother out of it.
What if her father passed away?
If she hadn't called Li Chonglou, he wouldn't even have been able to see him for the last time. Would he have forgiven her?
If she hadn't called her junior brother, how could they have obtained the Qingyan Shi and successfully revived him?
"Dad, if you want to scold me, then scold me. I asked Chonglou to come. I didn't want him to put himself in danger," Lin Ying finally spoke up to explain after a few seconds.
"You already put him in danger!" Lin Zhendong choked with rage.
"Master, you can't blame senior sister for this," Li Chonglou could no longer stand by. He gently persuaded, "You know that everything that happens here was destined long ago."
"If I hadn't come, I would have regretted it for my entire life."
"As for any great tribulation, I don't take it seriously. I've experienced life and death countless times, what tribulation can't I overcome?"
"If you want to blame senior sister, blame me too."
Xu Lie stood by the side, unable to intervene. Not wanting to see Lin Ying and Li Chonglou being reprimanded, he could only softly add, "Punish me too."
"You guys..." Lin Zhendong was so angry he laughed, then closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
He could not refute Li Chonglou's words.
Indeed, everything was destined, and Heaven's will could not be defied.
Even though he had told Lin Ying not to notify Li Chonglou before he fell unconscious, the outcome was still unfolding as planned.
Li Chonglou had come after all.
And he had saved himself.
If there was a tribulation, it had already begun and could not be avoided.
Lin Zhendong was a man of great wisdom and would not dwell on a dead end. In just a few seconds, he had thought it through.
His anger thus dissipated into nothingness.
Opening his eyes again, he surprisingly sat up and beckoned Li Chonglou over: "Come here beside me."
Li Chonglou obediently sat down.
"What did you use to save me?" Lin Zhendong's eyes were bright.
"Qingyan Shi..."
"No wonder! Not only has my damaged heart recovered, but even my severed meridians have regained some function!" Lin Zhendong said something shocking: "After surviving a great disaster, there must be good fortune. I thought I would only live like an ordinary person for the rest of my life, unable to contend with heaven and earth."
"I never expected to have the chance to cultivate again."
"Chonglou, everything is because of you."
Upon hearing this, the three people in the ward showed expressions of immense joy.
This...
Master had consumed Qingyan Shi, not only healed his injuries but could also resume cultivation.
This was truly a stroke of great fortune. Who could have imagined such a thing would happen.
"However, although the meridians have been reconnected, it will take some time to return to peak condition," Lin Zhendong said, holding Li Chonglou's hand. "During this time, return to Qinzhou with me!"
"After I recover my strength, I will investigate West Sea again."
Hearing this, Li Chonglou was genuinely happy for his master.
But he could only shake his head and refuse with regret: "Master, I have already promised the richest man in West Sea, Su Yinchuan, that I will depart tonight to accompany him to the old site of West Sea County."
"If I breach the contract now, with Su Yinchuan's influence in West Sea, we won't be able to get on the plane."
"Furthermore, he provided the Qingyan Shi to save you. I cannot go back on my word."
He knew his master's intention was undoubtedly to help him avoid tribulation.
But the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be shot.
Even if there was a great tribulation, he had to go to the old site of West Sea County.
These words were actually to mislead his master. The reason he had to go was because of that scoundrel Liu Zhibo.
If this revenge was not taken, he would be a disgrace to his master!
Lin Ying also heard the hidden meaning in their conversation, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.
She knew her father too well. She had never seen him so tense before.
Previously, she thought there was nothing in the world that could make her father afraid, but now there was.
He cared about his junior disciple, Li Chonglou, too much, and his concern made him flustered.
He still wanted to protect his junior disciple, but...
"I will personally go find Su Yinchuan and ask him to delay," Lin Zhendong's pupils contracted upon hearing this, and he tried to get out of bed.
He was quickly stopped by the three of them.
"This time, I really can't listen to you. Su Yinchuan will send people to pick us up immediately. Master, senior sister, wait for me here." Li Chonglou walked to the bedside and knelt down with a thud: "Your disciple acted on his own and made you worry."
"I will return safely. If I can't even overcome a mere tribulation, how can I go with you to find Shi Boqiong and my father?"
These words and actions came from his heart.
Lin Zhendong was completely stunned on the bed, infinite melancholy rising in his eyes.
He wanted to speak, but he couldn't say anything.
He knew he was being too attached and that his perspective was not as clear as his disciple's.
If it is a blessing, it cannot be avoided; if it is a calamity, it cannot be escaped.
He had already tried to intervene, but unfortunately, Heaven did not allow anything to deviate from its predetermined course; at least he could not do it.
But Li Chonglou might be able to, as many people he had influenced had changed their destinies and lived different lives.
Perhaps this tribulation was not a mortal danger for him.
Before anything happens, there are always variables.
"Be careful with everything. If the green hills remain, you need not fear having no firewood to burn," Lin Zhendong finally nodded heavily and said.
"Master, don't worry. As long as I am here, no one can touch Chonglou," Xu Lie also knelt down and solemnly swore.
Seeing him like this, Lin Zhendong showed a look of comfort.
He took off a cylindrical jade pendant, the size of a finger, from his neck and handed it to Lin Ying, signaling her to put it on Li Chonglou.
"This jade has been with me since I was sixteen, for forty years," Lin Zhendong said. "It is my lucky charm. Wearing it might be useful."
Li Chonglou took the jade pendant, feeling warmth in his heart.
He knew the significance of this jade pendant to his master; it was a memento left by his father.
He cherished it as his life.
And now, he was giving it to him to ensure his safety.
What a profound kindness this was.
He knew he could not refuse. If he didn't accept this pendant, his master would be uneasy and constantly worried.
He could only accept it and solemnly put it around his neck.
Forcing himself to smile, he said, "Master, senior sister, wait for me to return."
After speaking, he got up and left the ward with Xu Lie.
Downstairs, Lan Ying was personally driving a Hummer H3, waiting in the parking lot.
Seeing Li Chonglou and Xu Lie carrying tools, she gracefully walked out of the driver's seat.
A cold smile graced her face: "You two really put on airs. I've been waiting here for three minutes."
"Isn't it very uncivilized to keep a lady waiting?"
Her tone was immediately sharp.
It was clear she was deliberately provoking him.
She didn't understand why her godfather valued Li Chonglou so much, not only asking her to rescue him but also specifically instructing her to pick him up personally today.
On the surface, she was obedient, but in her heart, she was already brimming with resentment.
She wanted to give Li Chonglou a taste of her authority right from the start.
Unfortunately, she had chosen the wrong person.
If it were someone else, they might have tolerated her a bit due to her beauty.
But Li Chonglou and Xu Lie were standard straight men.
Upon hearing her words, they retorted directly: "Women who are too sharp and mean generally don't marry into good families."
"You..." Lan Ying's pretty face darkened, her teeth clenched tightly.
She cursed inwardly, "Just you wait. I won't let you off when we get there."
Seeing that she had fallen silent, Xu Lie gave her a deep look, his eyes full of warning: "You sit in the back. I'll drive!"
He still didn't know that Li Chonglou had gone to rescue Yang La, nor did he know that Lan Ying had saved Li Chonglou.
Therefore, seeing the woman's deep hostility, he couldn't help but classify her as an enemy.
Fortunately, he generally didn't bother with women. If it were a man speaking to him like that, he would have slapped him long ago.
"Big oaf, how dare you speak rudely to me. Just you wait, you'll be sorry later," Lan Ying's anger flared up from Xu Lie's glare. However, recalling her godfather's words, she didn't dare to cause trouble now.
She could only suppress her anger for the time being.
Once they reached the old site of West Sea and finished their business, she could deal with these two however she pleased.
"Where should we rendezvous?" Xu Lie asked, sitting in the driver's seat and starting the car.
"West Sea West Expressway entrance. My godfather is waiting for you there," Lan Ying replied unhappily from the back seat.
Li Chonglou simply stopped engaging with her, leaning back in the passenger seat and closing his eyes to rest.
In less than twenty minutes, they saw Su Yinchuan's convoy at the expressway entrance.
Two Hummer H3 rugged SUVs and three Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons.
Su Yinchuan stood by the road, accompanied by the head of the highway toll station, who was fawning over him.
Seeing Li Chonglou and the other two arrive, Su Yinchuan personally walked to the car.
With a half-smile, he asked, "Little Li, we meet again. Are you getting along well with Lan Ya?"
"Don't worry, Godfather," Lan Ying deliberately put on a smiling face.
"It's alright. What about that boss surnamed Liu?" Li Chonglou opened his eyes, changing the subject, and scanned the cars.
He was eager to meet Liu Zhibo now, to see what the scoundrel who almost harmed his master looked like.
"Him? He's like a dragon that shows its head but not its tail. He's not traveling with us; it seems he's already arrived at the destination," Su Yinchuan said with a smile, unaware of the deep enmity between them. "I'll introduce you when we get there."
"Follow the convoy and stay behind. Let's go."
After speaking, he waved to the toll station leader: "You can go back. We're leaving."
Then, he instructed the convoy to drive onto the expressway.
Silence filled the car for a full half hour before Li Chonglou slowly spoke: "Since you dislike us, why don't you ride in the same car as your godfather?"
"Why are you still clinging to our car?"
"What do you mean 'your car'? This car is mine!" Lan Ying immediately exclaimed with displeasure. "Believe it or not, I'll kick you out. You're shameless!"
"Brother Xu, it should be fine to just dump her on the expressway, right?" Li Chonglou ignored her and spoke to Xu Lie on his own.
"Of course. The police will come to rescue her," Xu Lie replied seriously. "Perhaps I'll lose points on my license or get a warning."
"You dare!" Hearing this, Lan Ying's pretty face turned a little pale, a hint of fear showing through her stubbornness.