"Has Yan Yu already noticed?" Ze Fang asked faintly. Xiao Man hadn't considered another possibility: that the City Lord's mansion didn't *want* to let people from the Land of No Return in, but *couldn't*. The Land of No Return wasn't something that could be opened at will.
"The old City Lord's injury was a signal. That old fox is cunning. He kept the old City Lord's injury a complete secret. Even the attacker wasn't sure how badly injured the old City Lord was, so they didn't dare make a move," Xiao Man chuckled. "I don't need to sow discord. Our City Lord will let the Seven Great Sects know that someone intends to seize Wuji City."
Yan Yu was old and cunning, and she understood. But why did she also have so many petty thoughts? The Land of No Return was truly a terrifying place, capable of turning a fine young man into a scheming, dark-hearted youth. But that was for the best; simple people didn't live long.
"And then you'll take advantage of the chaos to rescue them?"
"Yes." It was Shan Yun, who had finished regulating his breath and opened his eyes.
"Shan Yun, how do you feel?"
"Much better, boss. Have you found any trace of the others?"
"They should all be in Wuji City," Xiao Man said gravely. "We need to return to Wuji City as well."
The City Lord's mansion was bustling with guests today.
After seeing off the last batch of visitors, Yan Yu leaned back in his chair, exhausted. Acting was the most tiring thing. Now, he had spread the news that a certain faction intended to harm the City Lord's mansion. Those acting in secret would have to reconsider if they wanted to make a move against the City Lord's mansion.
"Father, why did you tell the Seven Great Sects?" Yan Yan asked, puzzled. "We still don't know who secretly attacked us."
"Whoever it is, it must be from the Seven Great Sects," Yan Yu analyzed calmly. "By clarifying this matter, the sects that didn't make a move will come forward to warn the attacker, and we will have more protection."
"Will the person behind this give up?"
"I don't know if the person behind this will give up, but the Zhang family certainly won't give up easily," Yan Yu said, looking at his daughter. "Yan'er, don't act foolishly."
"Father, when have I ever acted foolishly?" Yan Yan asked, disagreeing.
"I'm just reminding you to consider the bigger picture and not act foolishly for that Zhang family boy."
Yan Yan fell silent for a moment, then gave a wry smile. "Father, I may be a bit naive and easily deceived, but I'm not stupid. I used to like him, that's a fact, and it can't be changed. But I've moved on from him now, that's also a fact. Moreover, from now on, our two families will likely never interact again, and might even become sworn enemies. How could I not see the situation clearly?"
"I'm just afraid you'll be soft-hearted."
"Don't worry, Father. In the face of the bigger picture, your daughter knows right from wrong," Yan Yan said with determined eyes. "Besides, I've already moved on."
"You've really moved on?" Yan Yu asked with some concern. He knew his daughter's nature. She might say she had moved on, but her heart might not have.
"Father, what's the use of dwelling on someone who doesn't love me? Moreover, your daughter has met someone even better," Yan Yan said with a smile. "Don't you think Xiao Qin is better?"
"Xiao Qin..." Yan Yu immediately thought of Xiao Man, but for some reason, the mere thought of Xiao Man sent a chill down his spine. "That kid is more full of schemes than a sieve. You can't play him."
Yan Yan glared at Yan Yu. "Father, how can you speak about our benefactor like that!"
"She has indeed been kind to us, but that kid is also full of schemes!" Yan Yu believed his judgment. The person who could infer from their request for Dragon Spirit Bamboo that someone in their mansion was severely injured and dying, and could guess from his father's injuries that someone wanted to change the ruler of Wuji City – such a person was full of schemes and truly unsuitable for his daughter.
"Father, I don't care if she's full of schemes or not, I just like..."
"Xiao Qin!" Yan Yu stared behind Yan Yan.
"Father, Xiao Qin went to the Roland Mountain Range to cultivate. You can't trick me anymore."
"Are you back for a reason?" Yan Yu asked sternly.
Yan Yan found it amusing. "Father, you're getting into it. Even if Xiao Qin were here, your daughter would still be saying this..."
"Young lady, what are you saying?" Xiao Man asked, puzzled.
Yan Yan was startled and turned around. She saw Xiao Man standing in the hall, with another person behind him.
"Weren't you going to the Roland Mountain Range to cultivate? Why are you back so soon?" Yan Yan walked forward. "Did something happen?"
"My friend has been captured and is currently in the city," Xiao Man looked at Yan Yu. "City Lord, I need your help."
"What can I do?"
"I need to know the detailed situation of the Seven Great Sects in the city."
The City Lord was somewhat puzzled. Asking about the Seven Great Sects at this time, was he trying to investigate their strength, considering which sect to recruit from? No, if he were considering which sect to join, why would he need detailed information on the Seven Great Sects? Was this kid planning to stir up trouble?
"The Seven Great Sects each have their own strongholds in the city. The people who came to recruit this time..." Before the City Lord could finish speaking, Xiao Man suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, splashing all over the City Lord's face.
"Xiao Qin, what's wrong?"
"I have an urgent matter to attend to," Xiao Man wiped his mouth, turned, and rushed out, moving extremely fast, disappearing in an instant.
"Father, Xiao Qin..."
"You two stay in the mansion. I'll go and see," Yan Yu had a bad feeling, especially seeing Xiao Man's extremely grim expression. Ze Fang, who was following, was caught by Yan Yu and thrown to Fan Ting. "You stay in the mansion too, keep an eye on them, and don't run around."
Xiao Man's face was as dark as ink. She had thought everyone else was in Wuji City. She hadn't expected someone to be in the Roland Mountain Range and encounter danger. Zhu Qing using such a method to notify her showed how urgent the situation was. She had to get there as fast as possible.
In the Roland Mountain Range, Zhou Yan and Yu Da were hanging from trees, sprinkled with a powder that attracted demonic beasts, serving as bait. Both were severely injured and on the verge of death, lacking the strength to resist.
Zhu Qing hid in the grass, pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan. However, its master was too far away, and it didn't know if its master had received its plea for help. It probably had, but it didn't know if its master would punish it afterward.
Just then, there was movement in the distance. Something seemed to be rapidly approaching. The person hidden in the dark showed a look of joy. They're here. As expected, living people are the best bait!
Roar! The angry roar grew louder as it approached, heading straight for them. The ground trembled slightly, indicating that the demonic creature was getting closer.
"Zhou Yan... wake up quickly. If this continues, we're doomed," Yu Da called out to Zhou Yan with difficulty. After they were attacked and scattered, they encountered this group of people, only to be captured and used as bait to attract a Lion Roar Beast.