"No problem. As long as Uncle-Master agrees to help, I'm willing to pay a greater price!"
"Alright, I'll try my best to persuade that kid for you."
Zhou Xuan nodded, "Then I'll have to trouble Uncle-Master."
He left then.
After exiting the Tianji Pavilion.
Zhou Xuan returned to the Baili family.
As soon as he sat down, Sun Tianyou sought him out.
"How is it? Did you find anything?"
"My people searched everywhere but found no trace of Yue Lou, and even Zhang Sanbao is nowhere to be found. I suspect there's an inside mole in that prison."
"Then where are they hiding? I've mobilized all the manpower and resources of Shangjing, and yet there's not a single clue."
Sun Tianyou ran his hands through his hair irritably, clearly falling into a state of anxiety.
"Mr. Sun, should we investigate their origins through other channels?"
"No! This matter absolutely cannot be revealed to anyone else."
Sun Tianyou's attitude was firm.
Zhou Xuan was also helpless.
He thought that Jiang Yun might have news about the Zhou family from back then.
Although he only suspected that the murderer of Sun Tianyou was a member of the Qin family.
He had no evidence.
However, he had reason to suspect that Yue Lou must have been involved with the past.
He could only hope that the Zhou family's influence would rise again.
"What are your plans next, Mr. Sun?"
"First, I'll take back all those businesses from the Qin family and manage them. Additionally, I need to recruit several capable assistants. Please help me look for them."
"Sure, no problem."
Zhou Xuan readily agreed.
That night.
Zhou Xuan and Sun Tianyou drank a lot.
Sun Tianyou gave Zhou Xuan a few more instructions and then left in a hurry.
Zhou Xuan, thinking about his plan, returned to the Tianji Pavilion.
He wanted to tell Lu Qixuan some of the Qin family's secrets.
Whether for his plan or the other party's plan, they could both take it into consideration.
When Zhou Xuan returned, Lu Linglong was talking to Lu Qixuan about something.
"Qixuan, by doing this, you're undoubtedly pushing aside your benefactor. Zhou Xuan helped us; he's a good person."
"I've made myself clear enough. I won't come back, and don't bother me anymore."
"So what if he's a good person? It concerns the Lu family. If we follow Zhou Xuan, and the Qin family deals with the Lu family, are you sure you can extricate yourself?"
"Your words disappoint me greatly. The Qin family might not dare!" Lu Linglong pouted, extremely disappointed in her younger brother.
She still wanted to persuade him, but she heard Lu Qixuan beside her say, "Sister, don't be so stubborn anymore."
"I'm stubborn?"
Lu Linglong said angrily, "I'm just trying to persuade you not to get too close to the Qin family. Is that wrong?"
"That's like seeking skin from a tiger!"
Lu Qixuan said coldly, "Master also said that it's all up to me. Anyway, I'm the one handling the Tianji Pavilion. If I'm willing to be used by the Qin family, that's my business."
Zhou Xuan hadn't expected that after just one meeting, the Qin family had successfully brainwashed Lu Qixuan.
What exactly did the Qin family say?
He couldn't help but cough a few times, "It seems I've come at the wrong time?"
Lu Qixuan flicked his sleeve and left.
Lu Linglong, on the other hand, felt a little embarrassed.
"It concerns the entire Lu family. I'm truly ashamed. I couldn't persuade him."
"Indeed, being with the Qin family is no different from seeking skin from a tiger. They are desperate now and are naturally trying to unite with you. I wonder if the Zhuge family is the same as the Lu family?"
Zhou Xuan asked this question tentatively.
Lu Linglong gave a wry smile.
"Of course, the Qin family is a behemoth. As soon as they make a move, who would dare to confront them?"
"Qin Huaiyu will use any means necessary to win us over."
It was undeniable that Zhou Xuan was disappointed.
Zhou Xuan had expected to win over the Tianji Pavilion.
It seemed it wasn't possible at the moment.
He didn't force it, thanked Lu Linglong, and left.
"Hey, Zhou Xuan, aren't you going to see Master Huang?"
"Please send my regards to old Mr. Huang. I won't be going."
Going there would only add to Mr. Huang's troubles. What was the point?
Zhou Xuan always liked to fight for what he wanted.
Back at the Baili Manor.
Lu Ling'er noticed his distraction while she was cultivating.
"Brother Xuan, if you're so absent-minded, you'll suffer qi deviation. I can't stand watching!"
The old ancestor appeared at the right moment and flicked Zhou Xuan on the head.
"Ling'er is right. If you're not focused, get out. So you don't come begging me if something happens later!"
Zhou Xuan had no choice but to drag Ling'er out of the void space.
"Brother Xuan, I'll accompany you for a walk. If you talk things through, you can cultivate with a clear mind."
His beautiful and understanding girlfriend quickly soothed Zhou Xuan's troubled mood.
Zhou Xuan took Lu Ling'er for a long stroll within the Baili Manor, and his heart gradually calmed down.
"Brother Xuan, I want to go out for a walk. Are you coming?"
Zhou Xuan thought about his own matters and shook his head.
"No, it's not safe outside. I'm worried about you."
"Come on, come on! With you here, nothing will happen. Besides, I've started cultivating now, so dealing with a few hooligans won't be a problem."
"Okay."
Zhou Xuan thought her reasoning was sound.
He then took his girlfriend into a mountain range not far from Shangjing.
The mountain range was vast, filled with numerous trees and some wildflowers.
Zhou Xuan chatted with his girlfriend as he admired the scenery.
"Brother Xuan, can you tell me what's bothering you?"
"I..."
Zhou Xuan stopped in his tracks, unsure how to explain.
There had been too many things happening lately; he couldn't attend to anything else.
"It's about the Qin family, what else could it be?"
His girlfriend understood.
"I know you're busy. Don't worry, once I reach the Great Perfection stage, I'll cultivate diligently."
She reached out and clasped Zhou Xuan's arm.
At this moment.
A gust of wind swept through.
Zhou Xuan quickly shielded her in his arms.
Then, a sound of shouting and killing came from the distance.
"Who is it?"
"Kill!"
Zhou Xuan and his girlfriend rushed forward.
A group of masked men in black had surrounded someone, their killing intent palpable.
Zhou Xuan recognized one of them; it was the black-clad assassin he had injured earlier.
He could recognize that movement style even if it were reduced to ashes.
It was someone from the Qin family!
At this moment, Zhou Xuan saw a familiar figure.
Wasn't that someone from the Xu family?
It seemed to be Xu Ying's cousin.
"It's you! Has your Qin family gone too far?" Zhou Xuan sneered.
"So what if it's me? I don't need any reason to take someone's life!"
There were about ten black-clad assailants, all of them top-tier experts.
If Zhou Xuan and Lu Ling'er hadn't appeared, it seemed this cousin of Xu Ying would have surely died today.
He hadn't expected the Qin family to prepare to eliminate Xu Ying's entire family.
Cold sweat broke out on Zhou Xuan's back.
It seemed the Qin family intended to sever all his wings from the edges.
And he hadn't even realized it yet.
"Ling'er, stay behind me!"
"Yes!" His girlfriend nodded fiercely.