Chapter 413: Eight Hundred

Song Yulou smiled bitterly, knowing that with such conclusive evidence, the other party could not possibly believe him.

Li Weiyi felt doubtful, thinking Song Yulou's state was strange. He looked at Yao Qingxuan, asking, "Could a Death Spirit Fire have been planted inside him?"

Yao Qingxuan shook her head. "If the Dao Sect had planted a Death Spirit Fire in him, the Third Palace Master would surely have noticed."

Li Weiyi said, "This is too unusual! How could the Dao Sect not control someone as important as Song Yulou? Patriarch Song, did you hand over any personal items like clothing, soul strands, blood, hair, or your birthdate to the Dao Sect?"

Song Yulou, anxious, said without reservation, "Venerable Lingxiao did ask for my birthdate and blood, to refine a Dao Sect Life Token specifically for me. Venerable Lingxiao is Zen Master Liunian."

"For a Dao Sect Life Token, only blood is needed; your birthdate isn't necessary." Li Weiyi looked at Yao Qingxuan, "Master, do you know about the Liunian Mind Control Curse?"

Yao Qingxuan said, "You suspect Song Yulou was subjected to this curse by the Dao Sect, and that at a specific time, his mind was controlled. So he doesn't even know what he did? He thought he had deceived the Dao Sect, but in reality, the Dao Sect merely used him as a tool."

"That's quite possible!" Li Weiyi said.

Yao Qingxuan fell into deep thought. "The Liunian Mind Control Curse is merely a legend. Because it is too sinister, those who cultivated it were once purged by various factions and had long disappeared by the era of the Liunian Heart Devil. Moreover, the method of Gu curses often harms the caster before the victim, and the casting conditions are extremely demanding."

Song Yulou, possessing exceptional intelligence, immediately said, "If my mind was controlled and I was helping them steal array scripts and diagrams, Zen Master Liunian would definitely grow suspicious if I couldn't get there by the specified time. Believe me this once; modify a portion of the array scripts and diagrams in the book and let me deliver them."

Li Weiyi shook his head. "First, the Dao Sect couldn't possibly place all their hopes on you alone. If you were to go missing, their other trump cards would surface."

"Second, when the Dao Sect approached you, it must have been at least several years ago, right? At that time, you were very important to them, because the Dao Sect alone would have found it very difficult to breach the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain."

"But now, with the Crown Prince of the Demon Kingdom having arrived, Kirin Xuanzang being invincible, and the Underworld of the Deceased eyeing us menacingly, this pawn of yours is no longer so important!"

Song Yulou's pupils suddenly turned grey; a moment later, they returned to normal, but his gaze was completely different from before. He struggled desperately for a moment, unable to break free from the seals and chains on him.

"As expected, there's a problem." Yao Qingxuan noticed the change in his eyes.

Elder Zhuo walked over. "Perhaps there really is a powerful individual using a Gu curse to control his mind. It's terrifying; simply impossible to guard against. Can even the arrays of the Transcendent Manor not withstand this kind of curse attack?"

Elder Zhuo reapplied the seals.

Li Weiyi put Song Yulou into a cloth bag. "I don't think it's necessary to kill this person. It's better for the Jiuli tribe not to offend the West Sea King and the Third Palace Master, lest future revelations bring great disaster. I'm transferring him now; we can't keep him here indefinitely."

Throwing the cloth bag into the carriage, Li Weiyi was about to drive away, but Yao Qingxuan stopped him.

"What exactly did you come back for? I'm very angry right now!" she said.

Li Weiyi gave her a smile. "I will definitely return before noon tomorrow, and then I will give both of you an explanation."

Yao Qingxuan was unmoved, still blocking his way.

"I came back hoping that all the hidden people, including you, Master, can leave the Cloud Heaven Immortal Plain alive. Many sacrifices could actually be avoided."

Li Weiyi drove around Yao Qingxuan and left the manor.

Yao Qingxuan did not stop him again; even if she were to tie him up and send him out of Lingxiao City, he would still return.

Elder Zhuo activated his night-traveling attire and invisibly followed him.

The old cook walked up to Yao Qingxuan and whispered, "He came back to get married. The potential bride might be that girl from the Jiang family, and Hidden Two is even setting up a new room for him!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this news, Yao Qingxuan's vision blurred slightly, and she felt a strong urge to immediately chase Li Weiyi back.

This is simply preposterous!

Li Weiyi drove to Qingyun Quarter, where the West Sea King's Residence was located. The sky was gradually brightening, and the quarter gates were already open.

Whipping the horse, the carriage headed towards Minglun Alley in the southwest corner of the quarter, stopping in front of the gate of the residence where Old Zhuang lived.

Li Weiyi's face at this moment was as it was when he first came here. He jumped out of the carriage, stepped forward, and knocked on the door.

After a while, the door opened.

Old Zhuang was bare-chested, holding an iron hammer, and covered in sweat, evidently having been up for a while, forging artifact metal. His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, then he limped to lead the horse and pulled the carriage inside.

After entering, the array activated.

Old Zhuang put down the iron hammer and said, "Why haven't you left yet? Many government offices are trying to apprehend you."

Li Weiyi said, "I came to fulfill my promise."

Old Zhuang was slightly moved. "Are you leaving? When will you leave?"

"This afternoon, before the city gates close. You, Zhuang Yue, and my people will all leave the city. There will be a place for you in Lizhou," Li Weiyi said.

Old Zhuang said, "So urgent?"

"Extremely urgent."

Li Weiyi added, "Grandpa Zhuang, please immediately bring Zhuang Yue and Jiang Ning here. My time is very limited; I must see them before noon."

Old Zhuang rode away on his horse, hurrying towards Luantai.

Li Weiyi went to the noodle shop located next to the main gate of Minglun Alley, ordered a bowl of noodle soup, and waited quietly.

Regardless, he still wanted to take Jiang Ning with him.

He didn't know if Zuoqiu Hongting had left Lingxiao City, but he had already sent Hidden Two to contact the people of the Zuoqiu Hidden Sect, advising them to evacuate before the war erupted.

By the time Zhuang Yue and Jiang Ning arrived at Minglun Alley, an hour had already passed.

In the courtyard, Jiang Ning's eyes were full of resentment. "I received news that you appeared in Fuzhou. Since you left, why did you come back?"

"I heard you were assassinated. Have your injuries healed?" Li Weiyi thought of his upcoming marriage with Zenhai Guanwu, feeling an inexplicable sense of guilt and suddenly as if he no longer had the right to care about her.

Jiang Ning's heart warmed, and the reproach in her eyes faded. "I'm fine! Look, do I look like someone who was gravely injured now?"

Zhuang Yue stood behind Jiang Ning, hesitating to speak.

Li Weiyi looked at her. "Zhuang Yue, speak!"

Zhuang Yue immediately said indignantly, "Xie Chucai definitely turned love into hatred and attacked viciously; Miss nearly lost her life. Today is the first time she has left Luantai since her injuries."

"If I encounter him again, I will definitely kill him," Li Weiyi said.

Jiang Ning said, "His state is very strange; he seems to have lost his sanity and turned into a monster."

"Don't mind him! Jiang Ning, you, Zhuang Yue, and Grandpa Zhuang must leave the city today. It's best to leave right now. Don't go back to Luantai to pack your belongings, don't alert anyone; just leave immediately," Li Weiyi said.

Jiang Ning, being perceptive, stared intently into Li Weiyi's eyes. "Give me a reason."

Jiang Ning only knew that the Suizong Sect was backed by a cult and posed a huge hidden danger, but she was unaware of the impending attack on Lingxiao City.

Li Weiyi stopped deceiving her. "Because you won't be able to leave tomorrow!"

"Why?" Jiang Ning asked.

Li Weiyi looked at Zhuang Yue and Old Zhuang, who were also watching him, and then told them everything he could.

Zhuang Yue's face turned pale with fright. "How dare they? The Grand Palace Master is still at the summit of Fenghuang Pavilion, and the Third Palace Master controls the arrays. No matter how many demons and monsters there are, they can be killed."

Jiang Ning turned around and walked towards the main door.

Li Weiyi flashed in front of her, blocking her path. "With our cultivation levels, there's only so much we can do. We've already given our best. Staying any longer is meaningless."

Jiang Ning had listened very carefully earlier and naturally knew how critical the situation was.

She tried hard to appear calm enough. "Li Weiyi, I'm truly grateful to you, and I don't know how to express this gratitude. But you should know me; I can't possibly leave alone. I am a Dao Seed Realm martial cultivator. If all Dao Seed Realm martial cultivators of the court chose to flee in the face of war, who would fight?"

"To put it another way, if today, facing danger and calamity, I cannot firmly face them, uphold the beliefs I have always cherished, and fulfill the responsibilities I must uphold, then if we were to be together in the future and face hardship and setbacks, I would also abandon you at the first sign of trouble. Do you wish for me to be such a Jiang Ning?"

"Can you understand me?"

When Li Weiyi heard her last sentence, he felt as if he had been struck by a club.

Jiang Ning knew that today's parting might be forever. She stepped forward, embraced Li Weiyi, and rested her beautiful face on his chest. "If I stay in Luantai, tomorrow's actions can help you. My staying is not without value. You've already done enough for the court; take Zhuang Yue and Grandpa Zhuang and quickly leave the city."

"Alright!"

Li Weiyi's palm touched the top of Jiang Ning's head; spiritual light burst from his palm, and with a single touch, he knocked her unconscious.

He had already anticipated that given her character, she would never leave.

Zhuang Yue glared and scolded, "What are you doing?"

"If you're not obedient, I'll knock you out too," Li Weiyi said.

From beginning to end, Old Zhuang was the calmest. He smiled. "I only have a couple more years to live anyway, so I'm not leaving! If I can have a magnificent battle before I die, that would be truly satisfying. Don't try to persuade me. You young people have your future, with infinite possibilities, but old folks also have their own views on life and death."

Li Weiyi smiled. "There are two things I need to ask of you, Grandpa Zhuang. First, there's a person in the carriage; look after him well and under no circumstances open the bag. At the very moment the various government offices in the city open tomorrow, send him to the West Sea King's Residence."

"Alright, I'll take care of it," Old Zhuang said.

Li Weiyi said, "For the second matter, how many old soldiers live in Qingyun Quarter?"

"Eight hundred are capable of fighting; all of them were once top elite masters," Old Zhuang said.

"Eight hundred it is then. Gather them all today. Tell everyone that they are rushing to Shenming Pass, rejoining the West Sea Camp, to face the national crisis together." Li Weiyi asked, "Grandpa Zhuang, do you think they will answer the call?"

"Little Li, are you looking down on people now? Yesterday, when the war report from the Western Border reached Lingxiao City, some old comrades already stepped forward and called out to return to the Western Border battlefield, and many responded," Old Zhuang smiled.

Li Weiyi said, "Alright then, tomorrow at dawn, gather everyone outside Dianyue Quarter. What I said earlier, the information must not be leaked."

"Plant a Death Spirit Fire in me," Old Zhuang said.

Li Weiyi pointed a finger, and a wisp of Death Spirit Fire entered Old Zhuang's body.

It wasn't distrust, but concern about an unexpected situation.

After handing Song Yulou to Old Zhuang, Li Weiyi placed Jiang Ning inside the carriage, then drove out of Minglun Alley.

Zhuang Yue bit her lip, lifted the back curtain of the carriage, exchanged glances with Old Zhuang, who had followed to the gate of Minglun Alley, bidding him farewell. Only when they reached the corner did the tears finally fall from her eyes.

From beginning to end, she didn't say a single word to persuade him, acting very calm and rational, intending to show Old Zhuang that she had grown up and could take care of herself from now on.

Li Weiyi listened to the crying coming from inside the carriage, looked up, and saw the sun getting higher and higher.