Li Sheng found it hard to speak, feeling a surge of frustration. The reminders from Steward Liu, as well as the mess involving Li and Fei, all hinted that staying here was unwise. However, with the sect's base bound to this location, he couldn't simply run away.

"Who is framing me? Chen Hu from Xinghuo Sect? No, they're in cahoots. Who else could it be? I haven't offended any warriors of that level..."

"Master Li, long time no see."

A gentle voice came from the right. Turning to look, he saw a refined man in a blue robe holding a feather fan approach effortlessly across the hundred feet between them.

"Zhuge Fu?"

"Good memory, Master Li."

"What brings you here?" Li Sheng frowned, sensing something elusive in his intentions.

"‘Friend"is a nice title," Zhuge Fu chuckled lightly. "I'm here for Bai Ye... or rather, Yan Miaoyi..."

"Yan Miaoyi..." Li Sheng muttered to himself.

"Who are you, and how do you know my former name?"

Bai Ye's expression hardened as she pointed her sword at Zhuge Fu.

"Bai Ye... Yan Miaoyi... is that your original name?"

Li Sheng smiled; no matter her name, she was still his sister.

"Zhuge Dao-you, please state your intentions." Li Sheng spread his hands.

"I mean no harm. I just wanted to see this girl," Zhuge Fu said, his expression a bit wistful.

Bai Ye felt uncomfortable under his gaze and hid behind Li Sheng, whispering, "Brother, I didn't mean to conceal my name; I just..."

"Enough. I only know you are my sister; your other identities don't matter." Li Sheng shook his head, signaling her not to explain.

"Brother..." Bai Ye's nose tinged with sadness, her eyes reddening.

Zhuge Fu waved his fan, speaking to himself, "Once, there were a group of passionate youths who ventured into the world together. They experienced much, grew, and witnessed the darker sides of life."

"Some were indifferent, while others wanted to change."

"Gradually, this group began to diverge, going their separate ways. I joined some of them in a faction to try to make a difference."

"They were busy with tasks, often apart, and over time, some fell, some went missing, with only a few in contact."

Li Sheng listened quietly, feeling a bit impatient, yet the sense of danger emanating from Zhuge Fu forced him to remain patient.

After a moment's pause, Zhuge Fu took a deep breath, his gaze darkening:

"Until... two years ago, that gentle, lovely, optimistic, kind girl who always called me Zhuge Gege... she fell. Her name was..."

—Bai Xiaoxiao

"Bai Xiaoxiao... quite famous?" Li Sheng looked puzzled at Liu Hongfeng.

Suddenly, he felt a tightening in his arm.

Turning around, he saw his sister's face filled with grief, tears streaming down her cheeks like a broken dam as she murmured in disbelief.

"Bai Xiaoxiao?"

"You are Qingshan?!"

Zhuge Fu exhaled, looking at Bai Ye with complex emotions.

"Yes, I am Qingshan! Your... your mother... huff..."

"Two years ago, my mother passed away... She was calm when she left, but... she mentioned ‘Qingshan"several times, wanting me to visit the Changqing Mountains for her... She said she liked it here, so I came."

Bai Ye's expression was sorrowful as she recalled her mother's features.

Liu Hongfeng sighed, stepping forward to comfort her.

This gesture only made Bai Ye cry harder, tightly embracing Liu Hongfeng.

"Good grief... my sister's mother's old... old lover?" Li Sheng chuckled bitterly inside.

"I said that guy was unreliable, with a cowardly nature, yet she never listened..."

"Useless thing, can't even protect his own woman!"

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

"Useless! Useless!"

Zhuge Fu's emotions flared, seemingly cursing someone, his aura surging violently.

Li Sheng's expression grew serious; with his current strength, he could overpower a fifth-level consummate warrior, yet he felt pressure under Zhuge Fu's momentum.

"This guy is a fourth-level Yunding realm?"

"Uncle Qingshan, what do you mean by not being able to protect your woman? Do you know who harmed my mother?"

Calling him Uncle Qingshan snapped Zhuge Fu back to reality.

"Your father, though a waste, is still a prince. Aside from a few in the royal palace, who else could harm Xiaoxiao..."

"So that's why... I wondered why I and my mother were expelled from the royal residence; it was to avoid implicating us... Yan Yuhuan... cough!"

Bai Ye was enraged, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Li Sheng grasped her wrist, checked for injuries, and sighed in relief when he found none.

"Zhuge Dao-you, are you deliberately trying to anger my sister?" Li Sheng asked, slightly displeased.

Zhuge Fu shook his head with a bitter smile. "I'm leaving here, and I wanted to see how this girl is doing and if she would leave."

"Is your Fengjian Valley also leaving?" Li Sheng inquired.

"Not Fengjian Valley, but me. I've destroyed Fengjian Valley, let it remain here forever."

"Destroyed? Didn't you say you had deep feelings for that valley master..." Li Sheng paused.

Fengjian Valley was among the top two-star factions, with nearly ten fifth-level masters, most at consummate level, poised to break into the fourth level at any moment.

But considering Zhuge Fu's realm, it didn't seem far-fetched.

Fourth-level Yunding realm, condensing martial domains, comprehending divine abilities, would result in a qualitative change.

"True feelings, indeed... But unfortunately, he bowed down and wanted to be a dog, so as a brother, I naturally had to help him preserve his integrity." Zhuge Fu calmed down, speaking indifferently.

"To preserve a brother's integrity, you kill him before he betrays?"

Li Sheng felt a chill; to kill a long-time brother so callously seemed heartless.

A deeply cherished woman dies, and yet he can still act so coldly... What kind of person is this?

"Girl, are you willing to come with me?" Zhuge Fu showed a warm and polite, yet shrewd expression.

"Wherever my brother is, I am!" Bai Ye shook her head, determination in her eyes.

"Since that's the case, you all be careful. Prepare some food; don't leave the sect for now," Zhuge nodded, not trying to persuade her further.

"Is a demon cave about to open?" Li Sheng asked.

"Indeed, this time's demon cave is extraordinary; the area within a thousand miles is sealed off. Except for a few factions that can leave, everyone else is like fish in a barrel."

"Sealing off a thousand miles... Why not let people within the area leave?" Li Sheng pondered.

"It's said that the demon cave is a dimensional passage formed by two realms colliding, existing for a short time and having randomness. How would you know where a demon cave will open?"

"Naturally appearing caves are indeed unpredictable, but..."

—What about those manipulated by people?

"Manipulated?" Li Sheng felt a chill; there were hundreds of thousands of people within a thousand miles.

"If it's manipulated..." Li Sheng pondered.

"The black mysterious stone your mother left is the mark of that organization. If you wish to inherit it, you can recognize it with your blood. If you don't, just give it to Uncle Qingshan."

Bai Ye took out a thumb-sized stone from her pouch, her eyes flashing with determination:

"I am willing to inherit it!"