“In the end, he is really the same as before.” A flash of light shortly appeared in Zhao Shuangyan’s eyes. She could not blame anyone for the incident and she could not do anything much to change it either.

“Why Aunt’s mood change?” seeing the sudden change in her aunt’s mood made Zhao Zhi asked.

“Do you know that Mister Ye is really good to us today?” although she did not know the exact reason why Ye Guhan was in a good mood at the end of their discussion it also became a good thing for her.

“Hmm.” Zhao Zhi could tell just by the interaction between the two of them and nodded to show her agreement.

“What I’m afraid the most is not the family or the people but the destruction of our entire family. Can’t you see that our family now is in decline?” Zhao Shuangyan then sat back.

“Aunt, I know that. But still, we should not make Mister Ye did all of that. I can feel the unpleasant aura came from Mister Ye every second but it drastically increased when the matters about his family involved.”

Zhao Zhi could see it with her own eyes that the first half of the meeting was not good but then near the end, the situation changed.

“Of course he will be angry. But at the least, he is still the same person as before.” Then Zhao Shuangyan smiled and a small circular plate appeared in her palm.

“That’s the recording jade in disk form!” seeing the disk made Zhao Zhi astonished for a moment. She then recalled when Ye Guhan stood instantly, there was a faint feeling of air movement but she thought that it was only due to the movement Ye Guhan produced.

“He still did it the military ways. Looks like even the passage of time will not change the habit of someone easily.”

The disk contained the actual feelings Ye guhan wanted to convey to her. And only Zhao Shuangyan could know what was stored inside. Then she placed the disk inside the item that could store a large batch of items.

“And do you think I can’t see that your dog took a liking to that young man previously?” Zhao Shuangyan asked Zhao Zhi. She actually wondered why the dog like the young man instead of its owner.

“I don’t want him to get close to me or else my dog will always play with him instead.” Zhao Zhi pouted.

“Whatever. But I only hope that he can protect the safety of this city as well as its safety, and for you to stay here.” Said Zhao Shuangyan when she stood up. Her eyes did not leave Zhao Zhi for the moment.

“Why!? Not only me that wanted to return to my home but there are also other people that wanted the same. So why only me?”

But no answer came to greet her question.

-

“You really care about that dog.” While strolling leisurely, Ye Guhan took notice that the junior disciple Luo Mang kept his eyes on the dog that had stolen a piece of meat from him.

“Yeah, because that dog keeps annoy me and then stole my meat.” Luo Mang raised both his hand in resignation.

When Ye Guhan left the place, he had also received a similar plate like what he had sent to Zhao Shuangyan. He laughed softly so no one could hear it. It was because he realized that the unknown eyes and ears started to appear like locust.

Especially since the city successfully defended against other forces, the tight security became the utmost importance.

“And what do you think about the people in this city?” Ye Guhan asked Luo Mang. To that question, even Luo Mang turned silent because he could not describe it with just mere words.

“Are you hungry?” Luo Mang remembered exactly that when he was so broken and his body could not support his body anymore someday just after his recovery, someone helped him.

“What are you talking about!? I’m not hungry or anything, just tired.” Ignoring the person who tried to help him, Luo Mang just walked again despite the fuzzy sensation in his head and the yellow thing in his vision.

“Sir, you need to go rest. Your walking is not straight, it’s forming a strange line. Please don’t force yourself!”

But the more Luo Mang heard it, the dread feelings inside his heart increase. He at least knew that normally, no one would pay attention to someone sick like him in other places he had known.

“Sir, your qi circulation is not stable. I’m afraid that you need light treatment as well as good rest. Please rest at my place if you don’t have any objection.” The person that said it forced Luo Mang to rest his body.

“I told you that I’m fine, don’t bother me again!” seeing the person being stubborn to brought him, Luo Man became enraged for that. In addition to his blurry eyesight, he almost lost his direction several times in the city.

“Ugh!” only several more meters after that, Luo Mang coughed heavily. His head felt so heavy like a ship in the middle of the storm and it could only follow the wave, being swayed by it.

And that person shouldered Luo Mang and even called several people to help him. Luo Mang could hear what they were talking and from it, he was amazed by the reaction they gave to each other. Luo Mang realized that these peoples had known each other and even their relationship did not lose to the sworn brothers he had known outside.

“Please help me gather some herb for this young cultivator. The outside world made his carefulness reached the new level and did not immediately receive my help. Now that he already fell into this state, I plead to all of you to help me just this time.”

That was the last sentence he had heard before losing consciousness. After he opened his eyes, the first scene that entered his eyes was a foreign ceiling.

“I can’t feel anything. Even my energy circulation halted and my body feels heavy.” Luo Mang sighed while his voice was low enough for only him to hear that.

“What I have told you before, did you forget when you leave?” at his side, Han Lang stared at him with the people Luo Mang could recognize behind him. Those people were the same people that brought him.

“Doctor Han, why are they here?” the heavy sensation inside his head was still effective so Luo Mang could barely see the object in front of him.

“They found you staggering around the street and decided to help you. I already told you that your energy circulation is not in the most optimal condition so any drastic change can cause some symptoms to emerge.”

As Han Lang said those words, he grabbed Luo Mang’s wrist. He let out part of his energy which was more larger and denser than Luo Mang.

Suddenly Luo Mang shrieked, as his body moved in a crazy and unrestrained manner. Han Lang understood that Luo Mang had experienced the pain from all the part of his body, from the blood veins in his body to be exact.

“Doctor, he screamed in pain. Will this be alright?” asked one of them. They had never seen someone in pain just after a little touched like Luo Mang did so their reaction was normal.

“He’s injured. His condition is quite severe now and needs some nourishment.” Han Lang wanted to continue his treatment but someone cut in the middle of his explanation.

“If there’s something you need to cure him, maybe I can help you.”

Han Lang had the chance to look back and could not help but admire the intention the young man had. Even if his figure was ordinary but he cared even for some stranger, which made Han Lang did not know how to reply that for a moment.

That was what Luo Mang had told. So he had various impression towards the people in the city and just answered with his honest feelings.

“They’re kind.”

Ye Guhan then smiled. Of course, he felt proud after hearing such a response from someone that had never been in the city. He believed that only a few places in the continent were comparable with Xuan City regarding the morals and kindness its people had.

“But you have to return sooner or later. Do you want to do it the soft way or the hard way? It’s your choice to take.” Said Ye Guhan.

Of course, Ye Guhan had to count numerous times when dealing with this young man. He had known about the plan to escape from the city but let it be but today, he personally asked the person in charge.

“Mister, you know about it already?” Luo Mang only surprised for a moment but rolled his eyes.

“Of course for me, it would be an easy effort. Besides, the problem I have now currently related to your sect.” Ye Guhan seriously turned his body to face Luo Mang.

“So, what is the problem then? Is it because they provoked this city first?” of course Luo Mang knew about it but could not do anything about it.

The more he stayed here, the more guilty he felt when he really thought about the extra resources he would get when he finished the task to attack the same city he currently resided.

“Maybe as your position within the sect is like a pawn, they will not tell you but it definitely involved the entire continent if you ask me. Or perhaps, they wanted to sacrifice the entire continent already and already executed their plans long ago.”

Luo Mang could not refute all of that for he had known some of it.

“But in the end, it all depends on the decision the elders of every sect have. Now that the letter of negotiation had been sent, all you have to do is to watch a good show.”

As soon as Ye Guhan ended his words, he patted Luo Mang on the shoulders. Luo Mang reacted in return and his body trembled slightly.

On another place in the city, Ye Canghai stared blankly when he finished hearing the content the recording jade had. The recording jade itself was owned by Ye Guhan but he gave it to Ye Canghai.

“Brother, is this really the best?”

As he lamenting the content, Ye Canghai also understood the weight it had for him and for the city as well. The content stated that the mayor had already sent the letter of negotiation to the sect whose disciple was now in their hands.

“I’m afraid that they already brewing something for the last few days. The problem is just when?” Ye Canghai bitterly laughed.

“I’m sure it must be sooner than we had anticipated. Don’t worry about it, will you?” from his side, Yu Feng comforted him.

“Hmph, if not for the assurance from Her Excellency I will not be this calm. Fortunately, this negotiation plan was arranged earlier by them. But looks like they are here already.”

Ye Canghai nodded because the time was right for those old elders to come right at the front door. But of course, he had known about the act they had executed in the dark. If not for the formation that protected the city then their plan would be as good as done.

“They’re here? Good. But what about the prisoners? Should we use them as the proof or as the bargaining chip?”

For the last few days, several infiltrators including assassins entered the city and probed for more information. Fortunately, their every movement was detected by the formation and soon they could not escape even if the wanted.

And when those people knew about it, they would definitely rush to XuanCity at full speed. Even some of them lamented at their lack of understanding towards their opponent.

Like a certain elder from Incense Ancient Sect. At the entrance of the cave, there were several people waiting for him.

“What is the latest information they get?” an elder asked. They wore the same robes and the energy they emitted was the same variant.

“No contact ever since they entered the city. Should we move or we wait?” another elder waited for the decision to move.

“According to what our forces acquired, part of our disciple there met with disaster. Most of them had died even one of the elders also became the victim. From their memories, I can only speculate that the incident is the working of a large formation inside the city.”

“But we don’t know anything whether that was true if we don’t get any response from our infiltrators. That is why we are gathered here.”

“Just what is inside the cave?” what he could only see was the colorful ceilings with the beautiful color combination in every part of the cave.

“This cave is the location of the old but powerful eccentric. I’m sure you have heard it numerous times already but I'm seriously pointing this fact to you all to prevent any unnecessary trouble.”

Hearing that made all of them stunned. There were many powerful and eccentric cultivators around their territory but when regarding fame, only one person crossed their mind.

Raising his brows and his eyes narrowed, one of the elders then said with a tinge of admiration in his voice.

“Don’t tell me it is the secular man whose fame spread across the continent years ago, Gong Teng?”

Just as the voice left the mouth, a laugh reverberating throughout the entrance of the cave could be heard. Even the ground shook while the air trembled with only the power the voice contained.

“Well, well. Why are there so many of you come here now? Especially you Bai Zhen, I specifically told you that only when the sect faced with the certain fate of destruction that you can come here. But from your condition, it seems that is not the case.”

Gong Teng then looked at the calm elder among them.

“What is the meaning of this? It is like the man himself is the protector of our sect. Is this just my imagination?”

No one truly blamed someone in ignorance especially Elder Bai Zhen for he did not inform them about it earlier. After that sentences that Bai Zhen realized he did not even introduce Gong Teng properly.

“Forgive this old man for forgetting this important fact. This honorable man Gong Teng previously was the protector of our sect. It was until the end of the war that he silently secluded himself, never to be seen again for a long time.”

Shock, some disbelief, and surprise joy could be seen on those elders. They obviously knew just how the name Gong Teng caused so much sensation within their city much less their sect.

“We are here because we need your help.” Saying that Bai Zhen then pleaded while kneeling. His action made the rest followed him.

“Just say it then, no need to plead like that.”

“There is an impact in our plan due to the lack of knowledge and part of our strength now had lost. We even don’t know anything except that the last thing we had seen from their memory is the complete annihilation of a strange force and a strong expert.”

Bai Zhen regarded himself lucky because he saw that the expression the man had currently was normal, even rather happy if he had to say honestly.

“Where? Is it the capital city or in a secluded place?”

“Replying to the expert, it is when an expedition near the eastern region marched to the place called Xuan City.” Just when Bai Zhen answered, a cold and murderous aura enveloped him and the elders.

“You really mean it? Xuan City in eastern region?” the eyes of Gong Teng became identical with the eyes of demon whose stare was enough to intimidate them.

“Then you better not touch that territory for a while. I believe that other powerhouses already sniffed about it so just gather again your strength for the crucial moment.”

Gong Teng answered cooly but in his heart, he almost exploded with raging fury.

‘Just wait for the moment to come when I reap everything in one fell swoop! They didn’t want to give me that item so be it then. Now that the only one who knows about that item is the family resides in Xuan City, there is no way I just let it go.’

“Go back to your place. Just do it as I say and if anyone dares to refute then tell them that I am the one who told you, understood?”

Gong Teng then saw them all nodded while gulping with sweat covered their face. After that he returned to the depth of the cave, leaving all the elders there.