Xu Ziling's steady gaze slowly swept across the room, his brow slightly furrowing.
With a hint of helplessness, he asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Kou Zhong scanned the group again.
Duan Yanqing, the Blood Saber Old Ancestor, Yun Zhonghe, Su Xinghe, Xue Muhua...
Without a doubt, Su Xinghe and his group were more to their liking.
But Su Xinghe and his people seemed to belong to the Carefree Sect, not the Black Dragon Stronghold.
That was a bit of a problem.
With a wry smile, he said, "Let's wait a bit. We'll talk once we're inside the Black Dragon Stronghold."
Xu Ziling nodded.
Jiumozhi and Ou Jinghao remained silent, appearing obedient.
Amid the complexity, Su Xinghe and his group began making arrangements.
No one tried to escape, not even Ding Chunqiu, who still had some ability to flee.
They obediently accepted Su Xinghe's arrangements and silently tended to their injuries.
As Su Xinghe and his men organized everyone, they each seemed lost in their own thoughts, quietly pondering.
After a while, Su Xinghe's gaze sharpened, and he went to find Li Qingluo, who had followed Li Daoqiang after he left.
In a somewhat crude bamboo hut.
Li Qingluo looked at Li Daoqiang, hesitated, then said solemnly, "Setting aside Ding Chunqiu's strength, his poison skills are formidable. One slip and it could lead to disaster."
"Heh, if his poison skills weren't formidable, why would I keep him around?" Li Daoqiang smiled, quite nonchalantly.
Li Qingluo's words caught in her throat. Looking at the calm, confident, and domineering demeanor across from her, her mind wavered uncontrollably again. She averted her gaze.
Coldly, she said, "Handle it yourself. Don't be fooled by his submissive act and let your guard down."
"Rest assured, Mother-in-law," Li Daoqiang said with a smile.
He didn't resent Li Qingluo's constant reminders.
As long as the advice was genuinely for his good, not forceful or overbearing, he was quite willing to hear it.
Without saying more, Li Qingluo returned to her quarters.
On the issue of Ding Chunqiu, as long as Li Daoqiang didn't let his guard down, she wasn't really worried.
After all, Ding Chunqiu might be a patient venomous snake.
But what kind of man was Li Daoqiang?
A mere Ding Chunqiu wasn't even fit to polish his shoes.
That was her thinking.
As for reminding him several times, she just felt like saying it.
Back in her own place, Li Qingluo suddenly felt a wave of irritation, an inexplicable displeasure.
Her brow furrowed slightly, a shadow of gloom settling on her face.
Then, she sat there in a daze, not moving for a long time, until Su Xinghe arrived.
"Junior Sister," Su Xinghe called out warmly.
"Senior Brother Su."
A flicker of awkwardness crossed Li Qingluo's face. She felt no attachment to the Carefree Sect, no fondness for her father, let alone this senior brother.
Still, she called him "senior brother" for a simple reason.
He was a grandmaster-level expert, and the Carefree Sect had some power.
The sect leader was her own daughter, so she had to show some respect.
"Junior Sister, the reopening of the Carefree Sect's mountain gate is a major event. What do you think?" Su Xinghe asked seriously.
Li Qingluo looked at him, her mind stirring, and replied calmly, "What does Senior Brother think?"
"First and foremost, we follow the sect leader's orders," Su Xinghe said without hesitation, his tone resolute.
A hint of satisfaction flickered in Li Qingluo's eyes. She believed Su Xinghe wasn't lying.
Given how he had guarded Wu Yazi for over thirty years, playing deaf and dumb all that time, she knew his character.
He would probably die for Wang Yuyan without a second thought.
Su Xinghe hesitated for a moment, then added, "The sect leader will likely be based at the Black Dragon Stronghold from now on. The reopening of the Carefree Sect's mountain gate..."
"Senior Brother, feel free to speak your mind," Li Qingluo said, frowning slightly, her tone serious.
"Alright. I plan to lead my disciples to follow the sect leader and reopen the Carefree Sect within the Floating Cloud Mountains. First, to stay close to the sect leader. Second, to keep an eye on Ding Chunqiu. I don't trust him at all. I'm afraid he might harm the sect leader in secret. So I'd like to ask Junior Sister to speak with the Great Chieftain," Su Xinghe said gravely.
Li Qingluo's eyes flickered, a hint of seriousness dawning on her.
Su Xinghe's words reminded her: open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to defend against.
Even with Li Daoqiang around, if Ding Chunqiu ever got the chance, he might still plot against Yuyan.
Not only Li Daoqiang but Yuyan herself couldn't afford to be careless.
She nodded solemnly and said firmly, "Senior Brother, you're right. Better safe than sorry. Right now, Ding Chunqiu is clearly useful to the Great Chieftain, and he doesn't want to kill him yet. There's no point in us saying more. So we should prepare our defenses."
Su Xinghe nodded repeatedly.
Li Qingluo paused, then said decisively, "Here's the plan: the Carefree Sect has always been a reclusive sect, not particular about a mountain gate. You can move directly into the Black Dragon Stronghold, stay with Yuyan, and protect her. I've been worried that Yuyan might be isolated and vulnerable in the stronghold, unable to stand firm. With you all there, I'll feel at ease."
Su Xinghe was taken aback, finding it a bit awkward, but on second thought, there was no issue.
The Carefree Sect was indeed a reclusive sect, not fussy about a mountain gate.
Everything revolved around the sect leader.
Just as he was about to agree, Li Qingluo, thinking his silence meant hesitation about the bandit den, cut off the sound and said sternly, "Senior Brother, I'll speak plainly."
Seeing Li Qingluo so serious, Su Xinghe immediately grew more solemn and said gravely, "Junior Sister, speak your mind."
"Alright, Senior Brother, you know that aside from Ding Chunqiu, Li Daoqiang has more than one wife. Among them is even a top-tier expert."
As she spoke, Li Qingluo's expression grew heavier: "Li Daoqiang is at his peak now, his forces expanding rapidly, and naturally, the situation is becoming more complex. Yuyan is kind and gentle by nature. In a bandit stronghold like that, she can barely stand on her own, relying entirely on Li Daoqiang. But that won't do. She must have her own power to stand on, that's the long-term solution. Originally, I planned to use the Lin'an Wang family as Yuyan's backing, including the Murong family, barely counting as one. But those ties are too distant. How can they compare to you, Senior Brother? Only with you all can Yuyan truly establish herself in the Black Dragon Stronghold. So, I ask Senior Brother to bring your disciples into the stronghold to protect Yuyan. You inside, me outside—that way, we can surely keep her safe."
The more she thought, the more she realized. Li Qingluo understood that not only must she be cautious about Ding Chunqiu, but also within the stronghold itself.
As a woman running the Mantuo Manor, she knew too well that without her own strength, even the most beloved wife was like a floating weed, with little standing.
So she had been trying to leverage the Lin'an Wang family.
Su Xinghe's words had fully awakened her.
Su Xinghe and his group were the best support Yuyan could have in the stronghold.
She held nothing back, laying it all out directly.
After all, Su Xinghe's thirty-plus years of conduct left no need for concealment.
Sure enough, Su Xinghe's face turned extremely serious, and he nodded heavily: "Junior Sister, rest assured. Even if we all die, we will protect the sect leader unharmed."
"Mm, thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother. I'll handle Li Daoqiang," Li Qingluo said, a rare smile appearing, her attitude warming considerably.
"This is what we should do," Su Xinghe shook his head, speaking earnestly.
He had no ulterior motives.
In his eyes, his master was paramount.
With his master gone, the sect and its leader were the most important.
And now, the sect leader was his master's granddaughter. He would gladly die for her, let alone enter the Black Dragon Stronghold to protect her.
(Chapter three. After some thought, I pushed through and wrote it. No need to delay if unnecessary.)
...