[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]