While waiting, Qin Xiao had Li Rende bring over the catalog list again, thinking that since there was nothing else to do, he might as well acquire some more goods for his disciples.
Li Rende was naturally happy to oblige, having someone bring over the list and personally receiving them.
This was hardly just coming to buy things; this was clearly coming to stock up. No wonder he was the holder of a Membership Card. This was the first time he had received a guest of this level.
Tianyi City was neither large nor small, but the highest membership tier here was only the Purple Card. Those holding a Supreme Membership Card would never come to such a place.
This time, the purchase wasn't extensive, since he had already acquired quite a bit in Tianyuan City. Here, he was simply looking for items unavailable there.
Yet for Li Rende, this still constituted a major transaction.
"Brother Qin, sorry to keep you waiting. What urgent matter brought you here in such a hurry?"
About two hours later, Ling Wushuang appeared in the reception hall.
"Brother Ling, I didn't expect you to come personally. You're far too polite."
Seeing that Ling Wushuang had actually arrived, Qin Xiao was somewhat surprised. Scarcely two hours had passed.
In truth, what Qin Xiao did not know was that those two hours were not spent traveling. Rather, Ling Wushuang had been attending to matters at the branch, which took two hours, while the journey itself had taken less than a few minutes-and that only because he had to traverse several formations.
"Since the Young Master has arrived, I shall not intrude on your reunion. I will take my leave."
Seeing Ling Wushuang enter, Li Rende tactfully withdrew. He could tell these individuals were acquaintances with matters to discuss, and he knew better than to linger.
"Senior Brother Ling, are you stationed nearby? How else could you have arrived so quickly?"
Lin Shimeng remained somewhat dazed, still finding it hard to believe that Qin Xiao had actually summoned Ling Wushuang.
"Well, more or less. What brings Brother Qin to seek me out?"
Unsure how to answer Lin Shimeng, Ling Wushuang offered a vague reply before turning to ask Qin Xiao about his purpose.
"It's nothing monumental. I wanted to ask if you could lend your connections. Do you happen to know any high-level figures within the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty?"
Without beating around the bush, Qin Xiao directly inquired about his influence.
"I do know a few. The Qingzhou Governor-General happens to be a close friend of my father. Did Brother Qin have a conflict with the local City Lord? Such a trivial matter requires no grand connections; I can help you settle it."
Assuming it was a minor dispute, Ling Wushuang readily offered to step in and smooth things over.
"The situation isn't quite that simple."
Had he merely offended the City Lord himself, Qin Xiao wouldn't have been concerned in the least. At worst, he could simply leave; it wasn't as though he had provoked the entire Supreme Heavenly Dynasty over some trivial affair. However, this was the headquarters of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, and since they refused to abandon their home, Qin Xiao had no choice but to explore other avenues.
Thereupon, Qin Xiao recounted the entire sequence of events to Ling Wushuang.
"I've crossed paths with this Commander Chen once before, though we had no real association. I never took him for such a vile character-he is truly a disgrace to the Heavenly Dynasty. Rest assured, this matter is in my hands. While I might not possess the clout to pressure that Commander Chen directly, I can certainly handle the City Lord for you. Should Commander Chen still refuse to back down, I will simply ask my father to intervene."
After listening to the account, Ling Wushuang felt a deep disdain for Chen Shunyi's actions. What kind of logic dictated destroying a family simply because a woman refused a marriage proposal?
"Won't this cause you trouble?"
Qin Xiao realized he had still underestimated the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. He had never imagined they would have the means to handle a City Lord so effortlessly.
"What trouble could this possibly be? Brother Qin saved my life; this is merely a trifle. By the way, Brother Qin, was it you who eliminated Yao Kaidong?"
Once he finished speaking, Ling Wushuang could not resist probing out of curiosity.
"Indeed. Though, strictly speaking, he was beheaded by my disciple with a single sword strike."
Qin Xiao gestured toward Yun Man, who wore a veil over her face.
The reason Qin Xiao saw no need for concealment was that Ling Wushuang had traveled from afar to assist him; further pretense was pointless. Surely the Immortal Dao Merchant Association didn't need to show deference to the Great Elder, or else that Elder's prestige would be boundless.
"It truly was you! I had my suspicions. Even a Soul Formation Demon Beast couldn't do anything to you; wiping out one or two Golden Core cultivators is hardly a challenge."
Receiving confirmation, Ling Wushuang wore the expression of a man whose suspicions had been verified.
"What? It really was you?"
This was the first time Lin Shimeng had heard the truth. Though she had already guessed as much, hearing it confirmed still left her struggling to accept it.
"Even if it was, so what? You are my disciple now. If you wish to report me, feel free to do so. Just don't come looking to me for cultivation guidance in the future."
Qin Xiao made no effort to keep it from Lin Shimeng. After all, whether he admitted it or not mattered little now, as everyone had already concluded he was the culprit. Moreover, he had no fear that Lin Shimeng would betray him; he spoke this way quite deliberately.
After stammering in silence for a long moment, Lin Shimeng ultimately relented. It was true-she had already boarded this pirate ship and could no longer disembark.
Meanwhile, though the Ye Family estate remained tightly surrounded, no assault had been launched thus far. The gates stayed firmly shut, and the family awaited further developments. After all, the Ye Family was merely a secondary target; the crux of the matter lay with the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion.
At the pavilion itself, a detachment of the City Lord Manor's guards had been deployed.
Ye Qiuyue and Ye Tianyi stood resolute at the entrance.
"Elder Ye, Pavilion Master Ye, please do not make things difficult for us. We are merely following orders."
The captain of the guards wore an expression of utter helplessness. The City Lord had gone mad, insisting that they search the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion for fugitives.
"Making things difficult? Today, I'd like to see who dares to trespass upon the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion-and whether I dare to take lives."
Ye Qiuyue cared for no such excuses. If they dared to force their way in, she dared to slaughter them.
"Elder Ye, my hands are tied. These are the City Lord's direct commands."
The captain could only deadlock with her, well aware of Ye Qiuyue's ruthless temper.
"Tell Chen Lou to come here himself and see if he dares to step inside. If he has the courage to enter, watch whether I cut him down where he stands. If a single sword strike fails to scatter his very soul, consider my cultivation in vain."
Ye Qiuyue maintained her overbearing posture, brooking no challenge.
"Very well then. I shall send someone back to request the City Lord's final verdict."
The guard captain was no fool; the order came from the City Lord, but his life belonged to him alone. A mission could go unfulfilled, but throwing away his life was entirely unacceptable.
"What a lively scene. Martial Aunt, I have arrived."
Accompanied by Ling Wushuang, Qin Xiao had just reached the exterior of the Heavenly Clothes Pavilion.
"Xiao'er, your Martial Aunt may be about to engage in a great slaughter today and cannot entertain you. Return to the Tianyuan Sect at once; once I have settled these matters, I shall come looking for you."
Catching sight of Qin Xiao, Ye Qiuyue immediately urged him to depart before bloodshed began and escape became impossible.
"Hm? Ling Wushuang?"
Ye Tianyi was more composed, instantly recognizing the figure standing beside Qin Xiao.
"Martial Aunt, there is no need for such constant bloodshed. This is a minor matter; I have brought Brother Ling here to help resolve it."
Seeing that Ye Qiuyue looked ready to strike at any moment, Qin Xiao hastily stepped forward to dissuade her.
"Elder Ye, Pavilion Master Ye, this junior Ling Wushuang greets both Seniors."
Ling Wushuang bowed respectfully in greeting.
"Hm? Ling Wushuang of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association? Why are you present here?"
Only then did Ye Qiuyue notice him, her expression turning one of mild confusion.
"It is like this. Brother Qin mentioned encountering some trouble and asked for my assistance, so I came to investigate. Elder Ye, please set your mind at ease; I have a way to resolve this."
Ling Wushuang was acutely afraid that Ye Qiuyue might attack. Once violence broke out, the situation would spiral out of control, shifting entirely in nature. Even if his father stepped in personally, the aftermath would prove difficult to manage.
"Very well. Since the boy of the Ling Family has spoken, I will grant you this face."
Seeing Ling Wushuang step forward, Ye Qiuyue withdrew her sword, her demeanor calming considerably. Avoiding bloodshed was naturally preferable, though should it prove unavoidable, she harbored no reservations about wiping out the entire City Lord's household in a mutual destruction.
"To settle this matter properly, we must visit the City Lord Manor. Let us all go together so that the misunderstanding can be cleared up."
Seeing Ye Qiuyue sheathe her weapon, Ling Wushuang hastily proposed the next step.
With that, the group set off together toward the City Lord Manor.