This was no simple matter.
There were nuances to how one should send off a daughter.
He considered himself quite knowledgeable about matters between men and women, and had some insights on this.
If he sent her now, he would certainly gain many benefits.
But doing so in such haste, he felt, was not ideal.
It should be done at a more opportune time, in a better way, to present her to Li Daoqiang, so as to reap greater rewards.
For instance, waiting a while longer to let Li Daoqiang and Green Calyx develop some feelings between them.
Even just a little would make the effect much better.
A man like Li Daoqiang, Gongsun Zhi believed, would not be mired in romantic entanglements.
But not being mired didn't mean not enjoying them.
As long as a man was fond of women, he would have varying degrees of affection for different ones.
Li Daoqiang was undoubtedly fond of women; this was known to all under heaven.
And he had great confidence in his own daughter.
Any man would be fond of his daughter.
This wasn't blind paternal pride, but the view of a man.
So, he didn't want to send his daughter to Li Daoqiang right now.
Wait a while, until Li Daoqiang grew fonder of his daughter, ideally marrying her with proper ceremony.
Then he could reap the greatest benefits.
However, there was one thing that worried and made him hesitate.
What if Li Daoqiang couldn't restrain himself?
What if he thought Gongsun Zhi was being obtuse?
If Li Daoqiang made a move on his daughter directly, that would be better; he could sit tight and wait.
He was just worried that Li Daoqiang, seeing him as uncooperative, would make things difficult for him—that would be bad.
He only had one life; he couldn't gamble with it.
Therefore, once his injuries were mostly healed, he couldn't help but start hesitating.
After a long while, he still hadn't made up his mind.
His eyes flickered for a moment, and an idea formed in his mind.
Perhaps this matter still required some effort on Green Calyx's part.
A day later.
A letter from Kang Min arrived.
'To the Great Chieftain:
Great Chieftain, your concubine is currently in Xiangyang City. I have gathered much intelligence regarding the Yuan Kingdom.
This time, the Yuan's southern commander, Kublai, personally leads the army, approximately two hundred thousand strong.
The exact number of experts is unknown for now.
As for Xiangyang, Quanzhen, Shaolin, the Beggars' Guild, the Cihang Jingzhai, the Mingjian Manor, the Diancang Sect, the Huanhua Sword Sect, the Feiyu Manor, and other prestigious sects have all decided to attend this Hero Conference. The Dali Duan clan will also send representatives.
This Yuan offensive is certainly no small matter.
It is not yet known whether experts like Wang Chongyang will come. Your concubine believes that although the various orthodox sects have tasked Guo Jing and his wife with hosting the Hero Conference, given this rare gathering and the Yuan's extraordinary attack, true experts will surely come.
Min.'
After reading the letter, Li Daoqiang was fairly satisfied.
This Kang Min had done well.
He pondered quietly.
From Kang Min's letter, the situation in Xiangyang was becoming increasingly significant.
He should be even more cautious.
Suddenly, he thought of the Yin Gui Sect.
With such a lively event happening, would those restless women just stand by and watch?
"Contact Bian Bufu. Ask him about the Yin Gui Sect's recent movements. Also, tell him to come to the Heartless Valley within half a month."
"Yes." Blood Saber Old Ancestor replied respectfully.
Beside him, Kou Zhong was secretly shocked. So Bian Bufu was...
At the same time, he felt a hint of joy.
The Great Chieftain letting him know such confidential matters spoke volumes.
"Kou Zhong, learn more from Blood Saber. Master these intelligence and communication tasks as quickly as possible." Li Daoqiang looked at Kou Zhong, a hint of trust in his tone.
"Yes, subordinate will not let the Great Chieftain down." Kou Zhong replied joyfully.
Blood Saber remained expressionless, but cast a sidelong glance at Kou Zhong.
This kid really had caught the Great Chieftain's eye.
He knew that when Li Daoqiang left the stronghold, he was in charge of communication and intelligence.
Duan Yanqing, Yun Zhonghe, none of them could interfere, let alone Ding Chunqiu.
When the Great Chieftain had brought this kid in earlier, he had a feeling. Now it had come true.
"Senior Blood Saber, please guide me well." Suddenly, Kou Zhong bowed to Blood Saber Old Ancestor.
Blood Saber Old Ancestor was startled, glanced at Li Daoqiang, then quickly put on a kind smile and said readily, "You flatter me. We all serve the Great Chieftain. I will teach you everything as quickly as possible."
"Thank you, Senior." Kou Zhong said politely.
Li Daoqiang ignored this minor friction and continued to ponder.
It seemed the situation was becoming more complex and large-scale.
He shouldn't act rashly.
The main problem was still inaccurate and untimely intelligence.
It made it hard to find suitable targets.
Situations like the Heartless Valley were extremely rare.
Sigh.
He couldn't help but feel a bit troubled by his intelligence network again.
He glanced at Kou Zhong and Blood Saber, especially Kou Zhong.
He didn't know if Kou Zhong was suitable for intelligence work; he could only train him and see.
As for Blood Saber, after training him for so long, he was certain.
Blood Saber could handle part of the intelligence work, but as the overseer of Black Dragon Stronghold's intelligence, he fell far short.
For now, he still had to wait.
Days passed in a blink.
Blood Saber Old Ancestor came to report, respectfully saying, "Great Chieftain, Bian Bufu has replied. He is currently with Zhu Yuyan and cannot get away to come."
"Where is he?" Li Daoqiang asked thoughtfully.
"Heading towards Xiangyang with Zhu Yuyan, to act as a protector for the Yin Gui Sect's Saintess. For this Hero Conference, the Cihang Jingzhai's current generation has emerged. So the Yin Gui Sect's Saintess is going to meet her and settle the score. Because the Hero Conference will surely have many experts, Zhu Yuyan is taking him secretly to Xiangyang, just in case." Blood Saber Old Ancestor said.
Li Daoqiang became interested and ordered, "Pay attention to news on this matter."
"Yes." Blood Saber Old Ancestor understood.
Two days later, news about the Cihang Jingzhai's current generation and the Yin Gui Sect's Saintess arrived.
It had to be said, even martial artists couldn't easily get past the allure of beautiful women.
For stunning beauties, especially a pair of opposing righteous and demonic ones, adding to the intrigue and gossip, they were the most irresistible.
Perhaps as the Hero Conference drew near, more and more martial artists were gathering at Dasheng Pass near Xiangyang, and the atmosphere was heating up.
The reputations of the Cihang Jingzhai's current generation, Shi Feixuan, and the Yin Gui Sect's Saintess, Wan Wan, grew louder.
Especially their two duels, which sparked endless discussion, spreading like wildfire.
Li Daoqiang looked at the intelligence on these two duels and couldn't help but smile.
Say what you will, but the Buddhist sect and the Yin Gui Sect really knew how to build a reputation.
Using the Hero Conference, they had directly catapulted these two women to fame.
Their popularity rivaled that of Guo Jing and his wife.
Of course, this was also because the two women were truly exceptional.
Setting aside their looks, in terms of strength, both had reached the Grandmaster realm.
And they were both under twenty. Such excellence deserved the admiration of so many martial artists.
And he, of course, was also tempted.
Such outstanding women were rare in the world!
First come, first served.
Silently, Li Daoqiang added these two targets to his list.
Another three days passed.
A piece of news that made Li Daoqiang's heart stir again arrived.
The trace of Xiao Longnü, whom he had long ordered to be found, had finally appeared.
After only a brief hesitation, having waited so many days, he took formal action.
Good targets were hard to find; finding one and not seizing the opportunity was foolish.
"Calyx, this Chief has matters to attend to. When I return, I'll take you to Black Dragon Stronghold."
Before leaving, Li Daoqiang looked at Gongsun Lü'e with a gentle smile.
He had to admit, being served by such a pure and beautiful girl for these past days had made him truly fond of her.
Another obedient little lamb.
For such obedient little lambs, he would never let go, and he was more inclined to bring them back to Black Dragon Stronghold to keep. The more, the better.
Gongsun Lü'e's delicate face flushed red, and she softly acknowledged.
These past days, although she had initially felt more awe and fear towards Li Daoqiang, having rarely seen outstanding young men in years, she had already accepted it.
A feeling of resignation, mixed with a kind of fondness.
Anyway, in her heart, she had already tacitly accepted herself as Li Daoqiang's woman.
Li Daoqiang had long seen this, which was why he was so fond of this obedient little lamb.
If only all the women he set his eyes on were this easy to win over.
Of course, he knew that was wishful thinking.
After bidding farewell to his little lamb Calyx, Li Daoqiang led a few people northward.
The group had one more person than before: Gongsun Zhi.
After several days of hurried travel.
On a mountaintop, Li Daoqiang and his men looked into the distance at a main road.
There, a woman in a white dress was slowly approaching.
Stunningly beautiful, ethereal yet radiant, with skin like ice and bones like jade.
Her face was slightly pale, as if ill, but it only made her seem more elegant and otherworldly, like a fairy from the Gushé Mountains.
From afar, she seemed shrouded in a veil of light mist, unreal and illusory, as if not of this world.
For the second time, Li Daoqiang understood the feeling of being as beautiful as a celestial being.
That intense feeling boiled down to a single thought.
I want her.
A powerful desire, a possessiveness, surfaced in Li Daoqiang's eyes.
Unconcealed.
If before he had been seventy percent determined, now it was one hundred percent.
"You know what to do?" A cold voice rang out, full of authority.
It immediately jolted Gongsun Zhi and Yun Zhonghe, whose eyes were still lost in the sight, awake.
"Subordinate understands." Gongsun Zhi, dressed in night clothes, forced down his reluctance and replied respectfully.
Li Daoqiang turned his head, gave Gongsun Zhi a deep look, and said coldly, "Go."
"Yes." Gongsun Zhi acknowledged, pulled up his face mask, put down his weapons, and flew towards the woman.
The next moment, Li Daoqiang's figure also vanished.
Ding Chunqiu and the others relaxed slightly, watching the scene intently.
They were used to such a blatant move against a woman.
Li Daoqiang was greedy for wealth and lust.
To an extreme degree.
Greed for wealth came first, lust second.
For these two things, nothing Li Daoqiang did seemed surprising anymore.
They could do nothing but cooperate.
Of course, some among them would inevitably ponder this deeply.
(Chapter Two, thanks for the support.) ......