I handed the pen to Yu Hao, "Draw the location of Guizi Stone."

Yu Hao searched for a long time, "There's no Guizi Stone here? Your map is incomplete!"

I looked at Shen Qingbai, who said in a deep voice, "This map was drawn by disciples of this sect who traversed the entire mountainous region. There can be no discrepancies."

I turned to Feng Ruoxing again, "Did you find the map I asked you to find?"

Feng Ruoxing produced another map, "This is a Japanese map I retrieved from the archives."

I placed the two maps side by side. Apart from minor differences, there weren't many discrepancies overall. The only obvious distinction was a small circle drawn in red ink around the edge of the Japanese map.

I pointed at the red circle and asked Feng Ruoxing, "What does this mean?"

"An uninhabited area, or an area of unknown danger." Feng Ruoxing placed his hand on the edge of the red circle, "The Ao Xue Sect's map shows this as an impassable cliff."

I pointed at the map with my finger and said, "There should be a path there. A path the Japanese didn't find, and the Ao Xue Sect didn't discover."

Yu Hao said, "What do you mean there's a path there, a path so obvious that no one saw it?"

As he spoke, Yu Hao drew two strokes on the map, "The path is right here. Going up from here is the location of Guizi Stone, and three li (one li = approximately 0.5 kilometer) further from Guizi Stone is that small mountain."

"I've never been to the small mountain. The furthest I've been is Guizi Stone."

Yu Hao said, "That's all my foster father told me. Oh, right..."

Yu Hao suddenly remembered something, "My dad told me never to go home. Even if I see people, don't bring them home. That's what they told me."

Xuan Yue said excitedly, "I'll organize the men immediately and head up the mountain now."

I shook my head slightly, "We can't go up the mountain now. This fox demon is too suspicious. It's easy for us to fall into their trap if we go up the mountain."

"Time waits for no one!" Xuan Yue tapped his hand and said, "We have over two hundred experts here, as well as top elders from the Enforcement Hall to oversee things. Not to mention a single fox demon, we can advance and retreat freely even if we face an entire sect. What are you still hesitating about?"

I slammed my hand on the table, "Can you stop your incessant babbling?"

"So what if there are two hundred people? If the enemy has set a trap and is waiting for us to walk right into it, not to mention two hundred people, even two thousand would be lost on the mountain."

"I think you're afraid, aren't you?" Xuan Yue slammed the table and said, "Is this Yu Hao fake? Is that fox demon fake?"

"The map is here, the witness is here. As long as we go up the mountain and find that Yang Jian Jie Ming Ren (one who borrows life from the underworld), everything can be resolved. What are you still hesitating about?"

I said sternly, "Listen carefully, I'm in charge of this matter now, not you. I..."

"Don't tell me who's in charge!" Xuan Yue roared, "You're not going up the mountain, are you? All disciples of the Ao Xue Sect, follow me. You, Yu Hao, come with me too. Our sect will guarantee your family's safety."

"This..." Yu Hao looked at me.

I said expressionlessly, "Make your own choice. There's no turning back once you've chosen!"

Xuan Yue raised his hand and clapped twice. Immediately, disciples opened the door, and the corridor outside the dining hall was neatly lined with Ao Xue Sect disciples.

Although the disciples were silent and motionless, their imposing aura was evident, and they could be considered an elite force.

Outsiders often only see these superficial things.

Yu Hao looked back and forth between me and Xuan Yue several times, "But... but my foster father told me to find someone with a cross-shaped scar on his shoulder."

Xuan Yue laughed and said, "You've already found the person, and he's introduced you to this sect. Isn't that karmic destiny?"

Yu Hao gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! I'll go with you."

"You guys take care of this little brother." After handing Yu Hao over to his disciples, Xuan Yue said, "Shen Qingbai, capture Li Po!"

Shen Qingbai didn't move, "The Sect Leader's order is to follow Mr. Li's command. The Dark Hall only listens to the Sect Leader's orders."

Xuan Yue said in a deep voice, "The Supreme Protector can act on behalf of the Sect Leader."

Shen Qingbai said, "The Sect Leader is still in the sect. The Supreme Protector cannot act on behalf of the Sect Leader."

Xuan Yue's face darkened, "The Dark Hall disciples are under my command. You stay and guard Li Po and the others. This is my final bottom line."

Shen Qingbai then took a step back, indicating that he had compromised.

In fact, they could contact Huang Tiangong with a single phone call to decide what to do, but neither of them wanted to consult the Sect Leader for an outsider.

Xuan Yue had his own plans.

Shen Qingbai wouldn't insist to the end either.

Each taking a step back, dividing the responsibility, was a result that both of them could accept.

Xuan Yue said again, "Li Po, you failed to cross the Heavenly Gate this time. However, the grudges between you and our sect are not entirely your fault."

"It's impossible to write off the grudges. After the tribulation, come to the sect to confess your sins, and I will guarantee you won't die."

I looked at Xuan Yue coldly, "You can guarantee your own survival first before you talk about that!"

Xuan Yue sneered, led the elite of the Dark Hall, and left the hotel. I also looked at Shen Qingbai.