[You walk over and circle around Wan Qingluan, giving her a once-over]
["Good friend, that little dress of yours looks quite pretty today!"]
[Wan Qingluan is in her normal personality today, exuding a cold elegance: "Oh? Haven't you seen me wear this before?"]
[You take another look: "It doesn't seem... capable of holding something like a sect's foundational techniques, does it?"]
[Wan Qingluan's eyes curve into crescents as she smiles faintly: "I didn't bring any techniques with me."]
[Your tone suddenly becomes calm and earnest: "Little Wan, as ordinary friends, I think we should maintain an appropriate distance."]
[A misty smile appears in Wan Qingluan's eyes: "We can keep distance now, but we won't in the future!"]
["What do you mean?"]
[Wan Qingluan changes the subject without answering: "Do you know about the recent turmoil in the martial world?"]
["I'm a model citizen who doesn't mix with the underworld. How would I know about martial world affairs?"]
[Wan Qingluan then explains the current situation in the martial world]
[Recently, conflicts have inexplicably broken out frequently between various sects, with attacks happening left and right]
[Long-standing grudges between sects have been dug up and used as excuses for violence]
[Small sects are fighting fiercely, while the Four Great Sects and Two Demon Factions have also joined the fray]
[Even Ultimate Grandmasters have entered the conflicts, with casualties already occurring]
[But every sect insists the other side struck first, claiming they're just seeking revenge]
[By now, who started it no longer matters—many sects have become mortal enemies who fight on sight]
[The martial world has descended into complete chaos]
[Even neutral sects like Danxia Sect have had multiple groups come to pick fights]
[Fortunately, Danxia Sect has good relations, so it's only been minor skirmishes that Ruan Bai and the elders can handle]
[But with Danxia Sect's strongest elder only at early Dragon Transformation stage, if a high-level Dragon Transformation or even a Grandmaster comes, the elders won't be able to protect the sect]
[After hearing Wan Qingluan's account, you and Hu Zhongxuan exchange glances, concern evident in both your eyes]
[Hu Zhongxuan considers for a moment: "I'll return to the sect!"]
["Elder Uncle, can you stay at Danxia Sect permanently?" you ask]
[Hu Zhongxuan thinks it over: "Impossible. Court matters require my attention. At most I can leave for three to five days."]
[You say: "Then I should go back instead. Your temporary presence at Danxia Sect would help, but once you leave, things would revert back."]
[Hu Zhongxuan frowns: "That won't do either. While it shocked me that you killed mid-level Dragon Transformation Shen Dingyuan, if a high-level Dragon Transformation or Grandmaster comes, even you might get trapped there."]
[You smile: "I don't think there'll be any problems."]
[Hu Zhongxuan's eyebrow twitches as he studies you carefully]
[He knows that while you usually act carefree, you're serious when it counts—your diligent cultivation proves that]
[He understands your confidence means you have a plan, but he doesn't know what gives you such assurance]
[Somewhat stunned, he probes: "Not even a problem against a Grandmaster?"]
["Shouldn't be a problem. We'll see," you say calmly]
[Hu Zhongxuan stares blankly at your composed expression, deep in thought]
[Finally he says solemnly: "If you encounter someone you can't beat, prioritize your safety!"]
[You shrug: "I'm slippery as an eel—who could catch me?"]
[Your current combat strength could kill a mid-level Grandmaster, and with your sixteen Earth Source sword qi going all out, even a peak Grandmaster would have trouble]
[Even an Ultimate Grandmaster would find it difficult to capture you—your Wandering Heaven Steps and Earth Source sword qi would create significant obstacles]
[While you can't defeat an Ultimate Grandmaster, escaping wouldn't be a problem]
[You turn to Wan Qingluan: "Good friend, want to come play at Danxia Sect for a couple days?"]
["The sect leader is in the capital—I stay with her," Wan Qingluan refuses, though her tone remains amused]
["What, is someone trying to kill Li Anlong again? Honestly, being emperor seems pointless—either being assassinated or on the way to being assassinated."]
["No, the sect leader and other major faction leaders have all come to the capital. Not sure why."]
["All of them?" You look at Hu Zhongxuan, "Elder Uncle, do you know?"]
[Hu Zhongxuan shakes his head in confusion]
[Though you can't figure it out, you're certain these Ultimate Grandmasters are up to no good, but you can't be bothered to care]
[You leave directly with Wan Qingluan]
[Wan Qingluan goes to find Yan Zhixue]
[You shoot into the sky, transforming into a streak of light heading toward Danxia Sect]
[This time you plan to return quietly to avoid revealing your strength and drawing more attention to Danxia Sect]
[You remind yourself: "Must enter the village quietly—no gunfire!"]
[Traveling at full speed, you soon reach Danxia Sect]
[You know that normally, upon returning, you'd coincidentally arrive just as Danxia Sect was cornered by a powerful enemy, allowing you to dramatically appear and save the day]
[You've even prepared some heroic one-liners, choosing the most impactful: "How dare a mere Grandmaster bully my sect—taste my blade!"]
[Imagining the scene makes you tremble with excitement]
[You're fully prepared to show off]
[But when you return, you find Danxia Sect peaceful and quiet]
[So you go find Ruan Bai]
[You discover Ruan Bai sighing deeply]
[Turns out a late-stage Dragon Transformation cultivator came yesterday claiming Danxia Sect owed him two hundred Essence Pills]
[Ruan Bai knows this is another extortion attempt—several such people have come recently]
[These extortionists don't demand much—just a few dozen or hundred pills—taking their loot and leaving quite professionally]
[Considering the losses minor, Ruan Bai thought it better to pay than provoke trouble—hiring high-level martial artists for protection would cost more than the extorted pills]
[But daily extortion is unbearable]
[So Ruan Bai had already sent letters to you and Hu Zhongxuan days ago, though the messages naturally haven't arrived due to the distance]
[Just as Ruan Bai worries about what to do next, you descend from the sky in radiant splendor]
[You stride directly into the main hall, where Ruan Bai's fragile heart is instantly soothed at the sight of you]
[It's as if he's seeing his own father's towering figure—warm sunlight floods his heart]
["Senior Brother—! Why did you take so long to return!!"]
[Ruan Bai clutches your leg, weeping uncontrollably with perfect emotional delivery: "Senior Brother, now that you're back, the dawn has come!!"]
[You pat Ruan Bai's head: "Good child, tell Senior Brother—which little bully picked on you?"]
[Ruan Bai explains everything in detail]
[He adds that yesterday's late-stage Dragon Transformation extortionist left saying: "I also bought fifty Healing Pills—I'll come back tomorrow for them"]
[Your eyes narrow: "That motherfucker's gotten addicted to pills!"]
["Exactly, Senior Brother!" Ruan Bai says resentfully]
[You look at Ruan Bai: "Tomorrow lure that greedy kitten into the main hall. I'll cure his gluttony!"]
[Ruan Bai nods frantically: "Yes! Senior Brother, yes!!"]
[Dear Tim]
[The late-stage Dragon Transformation cultivator indeed returns]
[Ruan Bai gracefully leads him into the main hall]
["Hero Zhang, please sit. You mentioned buying fifty Golden Sore Pills, but our records show no such transaction!"]
[Hero Zhang, seated in a chair, glares: "Hah?! Is Danxia Sect going back on its word? Don't blame me for losing my temper!!"]
[Bang—]
[Hero Zhang slams his palm, shattering a fine rosewood tea table into splinters and dust]
["Hero Zhang! Don't be angry—I've sent for the account books. Once verified, we'll get your pills immediately!" Ruan Bai hurriedly placates]
["What account books?! Get me my pills!" Hero Zhang roars]
[Since he never actually bought any, the accounts would only expose his lie]
[But Ruan Bai remains unmoved]
[Hero Zhang knows that one-on-one, no one in Danxia Sect can match him, but if the whole sect gangs up, he'd be in trouble]
[So he hasn't resorted to direct force]
[But Ruan Bai's indifference to his blatant extortion makes Hero Zhang feel the sting of passive aggression]
[Fury rises in his heart as malice fills his guts—he raises his palm to strike Ruan Bai's chest]
[Clang—]
[A clear blade rings out]
[Hero Zhang's hand is severed clean at the wrist]