Hearing this, everyone understood Xing Yuan's meaning.
Huang Shan and Lü Luo showed no reaction.
However, Hong Mo stepped forward and said, "Lord Xing Yuan, I implore you to reconsider! In my opinion, such matters should be discussed further. There's no rush."
Hong Mo was truly anxious but couldn't find a better reason, resorting to delaying tactics out of desperation.
"Hmph!"
Xing Yuan snorted coldly. "Not cautious enough? Then give me a reason that convinces me! Since you have none, healing Gui Wu sooner is the best course of action!"
This...
With that single sentence, Hong Mo was rendered speechless. If he had any valid reason, he wouldn't have resorted to stalling.
Now, he could only pray that Gui Wu wouldn't break through. If that happened, as a Xuan-level deacon, she wouldn't pose any threat to his position.
Meanwhile, seeing Hong Mo silenced, Xing Yuan paid him no further attention. He directly produced a small porcelain bottle and tossed it to Ye Cang Tian.
"Po Xiao, remember this: this is the medicine you requested for Gui Wu. If she doesn't submit to the Dark Association after taking it, you must provide an explanation. Do you understand?"
Xing Yuan's voice echoed. Ye Cang Tian slowly nodded. "Gui Wu will follow me from now on. I will do my best to win her over, and I am confident in my ability."
"Good! You may go then."
Upon hearing this, Xing Yuan nodded and waved his hand.
Ye Cang Tian, seeing this, bowed respectfully in thanks before departing the hall.
...
Returning to his chambers.
Upon seeing Po Xiao's return, Man Tuoluo and Fei Yan immediately approached him.
"Sir, the meal is ready. You must be tired from your journey. Please come and eat."
Ye Cang Tian did not refuse and nodded, walking to the dining table and taking a seat.
As soon as he sat down, he felt Gui Wu beside him staring intently at him, her gaze tinged with nervousness.
He knew that Po Xiao's meeting with Xing Yuan would have involved his matter and the request for the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir.
In essence, whether her cultivation could be restored depended on this.
If Xing Yuan refused this time, it would prove that her value was less than that of the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, and it would be difficult to persuade Xing Yuan in the future.
In that case, it was highly unlikely she would ever recover her cultivation, which explained her extreme nervousness.
Ye Cang Tian saw through Gui Wu's thoughts at a glance but deliberately avoided mentioning it.
He turned to Man Tuoluo and asked slowly, "By the way, have you two suffered any grievances while at headquarters recently?"
"No!"
"Yes!"
In response to a single question, the two sisters answered almost in unison, but with completely opposite replies.
Man Tuoluo shook her head, denying it, while Fei Yan nodded in affirmation.
"So, have you or haven't you?"
Ye Cang Tian cast a stern look at Man Tuoluo, his expression darkening. He continued impatiently, "Is there anything you're still hiding from me?"
"No, it's just that I feel you're already facing enough difficulties and I didn't want to dampen your spirits."
Man Tuoluo quickly shook her head and continued, "It's nothing much, really. It's just that Hong Mo doesn't like us, so he's instructed his subordinates to cause trouble for us. It's all minor stuff, and we can handle it ourselves."
Hong Mo?
Ye Cang Tian's expression grew grim. He knew Hong Mo wouldn't be so complacent. As expected, he had made a move against the two sisters.
Fortunately, he hadn't acted directly but had sent his useless subordinates. Given the shrewdness of Man Tuoluo and Fei Yan, they should have been able to handle it.
Thinking this, Ye Cang Tian spoke, "Be careful from now on. Hong Mo is not a good person. Don't give him any leverage. If absolutely necessary, relocate to another city. Your safety is paramount."
"Mm!"
Man Tuoluo's heart suddenly felt warm.
She could understand many organizations prioritizing intelligence gathering over the lives of their informants.
After all, the value of a piece of intelligence could potentially save an entire faction.
Yet, Po Xiao was willing to forgo intelligence to ensure their safety, which moved her deeply.
"Cough, cough, alright, let's talk about something else."
"What intelligence have you gathered here during this time?"
Seeing Man Tuoluo's eyes glinting, Ye Cang Tian quickly cleared his throat and changed the subject.
Upon hearing this, Man Tuoluo quickly replied, "There wasn't much useful information, only a few informants of the Anti-Dark Alliance were discovered.
Besides that, I feel something is off with Huang Shan and Lü Luo!"
"Oh? What's off about them?"
Ye Cang Tian's interest piqued at this, and he quickly inquired.
After all, they were Earth-level deacons of the Dark Association. Gathering information on their movements might prove useful someday.
"Nothing specific, really. They just seem rather secretive."
"And the way they look at each other is strange, not like colleagues, but more like family, or lovers..."
Man Tuoluo mused for a moment before speaking slowly.
She hadn't obtained any concrete information, but with her keen feminine intuition, she sensed that the relationship between Huang Shan and Lü Luo was definitely more complex than it appeared on the surface.
Hmm?
Hearing this, a flicker of doubt crossed Ye Cang Tian's eyes.
Honestly, he considered himself quite perceptive, but he hadn't noticed anything unusual in their gazes.
"Could you be being too sensitive?" Ye Cang Tian asked doubtfully.
Man Tuoluo let out a soft snort. "Sir, you should trust me. Don't you remember what I used to do? No matter between men and women can escape my notice!"
Seeing Man Tuoluo's slightly annoyed expression, Ye Cang Tian fell silent.
Man Tuoluo had indeed been involved in the pleasure quarters before, so when it came to matters of that nature, she was undeniably an expert.
With this thought, Ye Cang Tian's lips curled slightly. He hadn't expected Huang Shan and Lü Luo to be an underground couple.
However, the value of this piece of information was likely not significant.
After all, even the depraved acts of Cheng Hai hadn't escaped Xing Yuan's notice. It was probable that the same applied to Huang Shan and Lü Luo, and Xing Yuan simply chose not to expose them.
Furthermore, the Dark Association had no explicit rules prohibiting Earth-level deacons from engaging in romantic relationships.
Therefore, using this as leverage against Huang Shan and Lü Luo was clearly impossible.
"Alright, list those who have been causing you trouble recently for me. I'll get back at them for you."
"Also, regarding the informants of the Anti-Dark Alliance, keep it confidential for now and don't reveal it."
Ye Cang Tian said slowly. Since someone dared to bully his people, he naturally wouldn't stand idly by.
As for the Anti-Dark Alliance, Ye Cang Tian couldn't make a move. After all, the Vice-Alliance Leader of the Anti-Dark Alliance had handed Gui Wu over to him and had crippled Xuan Bing.
He remembered that favor.
"Hey! You really don't consider me an outsider, do you!"
"Discussing these things right in front of me, aren't you afraid I'll leak it?"
Just as Po Xiao finished speaking, Gui Wu glared at him, speaking with a hint of exasperation.
In her opinion, hearing this information that lacked any significant value was one thing, but hearing Po Xiao's decision was quite another.
Po Xiao, as an Earth-level deacon of the Dark Association, knowing about the Anti-Dark Alliance's informants but not taking direct action clearly indicated something was amiss!
And her, as an outsider, knowing all this was hardly a good thing!
"Heh, am I an outsider?"
"Even if you are now, you'll be one of us in the future!"
"Besides, we're in the same boat now. If something happens to me, will you have a good life?"
Hearing Gui Wu's words, Ye Cang Tian smiled slightly and said playfully.
"You..."
With that sentence, Gui Wu's face instantly flushed. She had to admit that their interests were now intertwined, and she wouldn't leak any secrets.
However, the phrase 'one of us in the future' made her feel quite uncomfortable.
Gui Wu wasn't foolish; she naturally knew that Po Xiao wasn't acting for her beauty but to subdue her.
But his display of such confidence, his such unwavering confidence, still made her difficult to accept.
Thinking this, she said fiercely, "Whether you're 'one of us' depends on whether you can get the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir! If you can't, it's all nonsense, and I'm useless to you!"
"Heh, you're talking about this?"
Ye Cang Tian gave a playful smile and suddenly produced a small porcelain bottle, waving it in front of Gui Wu.