Wait a minute, where is my master?

Mr. Song's single mention of the term "profligate" instantly reduced the smile on the other party's face.

The young master in the purple-black brocade robe had not yet had a chance to respond.

Mei Shouyi then followed up softly,

"Boy, you'd better call your island's Island Master here, otherwise if this matter isn't resolved today and causes a conflict between Qingmu Academy and the Shui Clan, I'm afraid you won't be able to bear the consequences."

Chen Er, the young master, froze. These words were just what the enforcer cultivator beside him had said to a few people earlier.

Now, the other party had directly returned them.

Was this Confucian practitioner so adept at innuendo?

He bowed his head and pondered for a moment. When he looked up again, his face instantly regained its radiant smile and he said,

"Gentlemen, actually, it's just a minor issue, there's really no need for things to escalate this far. However, if my clan really does end up in conflict with you, I'm afraid it's you who won't be able to bear it.

"You should know, the Shui Clan today is not what it was in the past."

Chen Er's words were filled with confidence.

The Suihan Three Friends and the others, upon hearing his transmitted message, were confused.

Aside from the recent breach at the Nine Provinces Sea Eye, there had been no major changes at sea. Yet, from his tone, it seemed as though the Shui Clan had found some formidable backers.

In the crowd nearby.

The young Taoist in the black brocade robes frowned slightly upon hearing the transmitted message, as a foreboding feeling inexplicably arose in his heart.

And sure enough, he next heard the following conversation.

Mei Shouyi: "Ah, not what it was in the past? Why don't you explain how it isn't the same?"

Chen Er: "This matter has yet to spread through the Nine Provinces Cultivation World, but telling you now doesn't hurt."

As he spoke, he looked around at the people surrounding him, then deliberately raised his voice louder,

"Listen well, everyone, the Great Xia's brother-in-law, Jin Xu! Now, he is the grandson of the Shui Clan Elder, his Taoist partner, and the pillar of our clan, a vital bridge over the seas! The recent chaos at the Sea Eye was quelled by his very hand, and I heard that the Shui Clan Elder is already planning to grant him the long-vacant position of Clan Leader!

"For those not familiar with the terrestrial affairs, you may inquire about just who Jin Xu is!"

The onlookers were instantly abuzz.

Suihan Three Friends and Yao Qinxiao exchanged glances as well.

Seeing the reactions of those around and in front of him, Chen Er's smile grew even more brilliant.

He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "What do you think? With such a pillar, isn't the Shui Clan unlike what it was in the past? I've heard that Qingmu City, which is near your Qingmu Academy, seems to have once been under Jin Xu's influence…"

While he was basking in his moment of pride, a sudden flash of golden light appeared in front, and then Chen Er felt a palm clutching his throat.

"Stop!"

"How dare you!"

The Shui Clan enforcer cultivators, hidden behind a purple-black light barrier, saw their master suddenly being caught and couldn't help but shout out.

However, before they could react, they saw Yaoer holding a blue token.

"...Shui Clan Elder's token!?"

The man with bluish-black scales on his face saw the token and paused, then without further action, knelt down on one knee.

The young Taoist, who was clutching Chen Er's throat and making it hard for him to breathe, barely managed to speak,

"You... who are you, daring to commit violence on a Shui Clan island? Haven't you heard what I just said…"

"I am the Great Xia's brother-in-law that you were just talking about!"

The young Taoist stared at the man in his grasp and spoke softly.

Damn it, all this time drawing the snake out of its hole only to find I'm the snake myself.

And judging by their reaction, it seems they don't even know what I look like, yet they dare to use my name to bluff.

"And they say Grandma Yu wants to give me the position of Shui Clan Clan Leader. How come I, the person involved, didn't know!?"

Jin Xu ranted wildly in his mind.

After Second Master Chen, who had been grabbed by the throat, heard him reveal his identity, his eyes first showed shock, then astonishment, and finally, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

"Young Master, what should we do with this person... Eh, Young Master, did you strangle him to death?"

After Yu Yaoer showed the token and stabilized the group of law-enforcing cultivators, she walked over to the side of the young Taoist, intending to inquire.

Then, she saw the state of the profligate who had fainted in Jin Xu's hands.

"He's not dead, probably just fainted, but it's not important. You go ahead and talk to Grandma about what happened here. We might need to ask her to help dispel this rumor later."

Saying this, he gestured to his own Husky nearby.

"Little White, come and wake him up."

After that, he threw the person in his hands towards it, then walked towards the Three Cold Friends.

"Long time no see, gentlemen."

"Good day, young Taoist."

"Long time no see, young Taoist."

"Young Taoist, are you really with your demon pet... Woo woo woo, Boss Song, why are you covering my mouth!"

The last question was asked by Mei Shouyi, but he was dragged away before he could finish.

Hearing this, Jin Xu helplessly gave a bitter smile, then said politely,

"I apologize for the scene you witnessed. Everything he just said was a rumor, I don't know where he heard it from. I wonder if any of you gentlemen could use the 'Truth-Telling Skill' to help inquire for me."

"I can do it, I can do it! Young Taoist, let me use the 'Truth-Telling Skill' for you!"

Mr. Mei, who was dragged aside, hearing the words 'Truth-Telling Skill,' struggled fiercely to come back, his eyes clearly flashing with the light of gossip.

The young Taoist stared at him for a moment, then turned his head and repeated the same words to Song Xili beside him.

"Young Taoist, I... mmm woo woo."

Mei Shouyi was dragged away again, while Mr. Song politely agreed to Jin Xu's request.

——————

In Miao State, within a massive subterranean palace 500 kilometers deep.

The only remaining elder of the Demon Sect was sitting under the Transformation Mother Tree, blankly staring at the ink jade figurine in his hand.

In his hand, there now could be seen a yellow talisman paper, drawn with strangely shaped runes.

"Should I believe them?"

The Great Elder of the Demon Sect muttered to himself, his eyes showing a hint of confusion.

A few breaths later, he abruptly stood up from under the tree.

"Given the weak hope of breaking the Demon Lord out of his seal with my current power, rather than lying low for thousands more years, I might as well take a gamble."

"If the mysterious presence that gave me this talisman paper is telling the truth."

As soon as the Great Elder of the Demon Sect finished speaking, he casually stuck the yellow paper onto the Transformation Mother Tree beside him.

In that instant, the strangely shaped tree vanished into thin air, invisible to both the naked eye and Spiritual Sense.

After carefully observing for a moment, the Great Elder took a cool breath and muttered,

"Hiss... the runes passed on by the other party are indeed miraculous."

After a while, he suddenly realized two very serious problems.

First, now that neither the Transformation Mother Tree can be seen nor sensed, how was he supposed to peel off the yellow paper?

Second, without the mysterious presence's bestowed talismanic rune, how was he to go to Xuanxu Temple and steal the ink jade fishing rod?