He Kao tried contacting Wu Yanjun again, but the messages he sent vanished without a trace.

He couldn't reach Jiang Daozhen by phone either, so He Kao left him a voicemail, yet there was no response.

Why can't I get in touch? He Kao speculated privately that perhaps the old man was somewhere without signal or might be in seclusion cultivating...

He guessed right; Old Man Jiang was indeed in the Flower Shocking Grotto Heaven these days. If others have urgent matters, they can contact the Ancestral Hall personnel, and if necessary, the Ancestral Hall will send someone to notify Elder Jiang at the Grotto Heaven.

But He Kao couldn't do that; neither his identity as a supposed Secret Disciple nor as Hidden Moth was suitable for such action.

Old Qian was reliable after all; he managed to contact Wu Yanjun's senior uncle, Ye Hui, and roughly found out what happened, and quickly informed He Kao.

Wu Yanjun returned to his hometown, Nanhua, for the New Year, and only returned to Grandma on the seventh day of the lunar New Year. Little junior sister Ye Yuxuan was clamoring to visit Acheng; she had swiped many short videos online during the holidays and heard that it's fun there in winter.

But no one was willing to accompany her to freeze, and since everyone had their own business right after the New Year, she decided to go alone. Xiaowu felt uneasy and went along with her.

After all, Ye Yuxuan was already a Tier Two Scholar of the Micro Realm Sect; she had practiced to some extent, and ordinary people couldn't be a match for her, so why worry?

Perhaps Wu Yanjun was concerned that the little junior sister was too naive; everyone around her usually pampered her, and going out alone might lead her to be deceived by bad people... On the other hand, he might also be seeking an opportunity to spend time alone with her.

They spent two days in Acheng, and then went to a place near Yimei's mountain area called Ice and Snow Village, which was a tourist spot developed within the forest.

Ye Yuxuan wanted to experience a farmhouse stay, ride a horse-drawn sled, and then wander the Forest Sea Snowfield.

It was while playing in the area of Ice and Snow Village that Wu Yanjun got into a conflict with other tourists... Unexpectedly, the other party's family member was also a Magic Sect Disciple, which Wu Yanjun hadn't known beforehand.

As an athlete, he has a very impulsive temper and even served jail time before; maybe he injured or scared someone, but ultimately it was a misunderstanding... Ye Hui had rushed to Acheng and was negotiating with the opposing party.

Why was the negotiation happening in Acheng? Because both sides had returned from Ice and Snow Village. The opposing party was negotiating with Ye Hui to see how much "sincerity" he could show to "resolve" the matter.

As for Wu Yanjun, perhaps he was frightened by the trouble he caused and had hidden away, possibly waiting for his senior uncle to settle the matter before showing himself.

In summary, what Old Qian found out is this: Ye Hui was vague on the details. If Qian Guran hadn't specifically sought him out for questioning, Ye Hui might not have mentioned it at all...

Ye Hui also reminded Qian Guran not to publicize the matter; he was negotiating with the other party to resolve it. It was a conflict caused by misunderstanding, and he didn't want it to escalate, which wouldn't be good for Wu Yanjun.

Upon hearing Qian Guran's information, He Kao asked, "Old Qian, what's your take?"

Qian Guran pondered and said, "Xiaowu must have encountered trouble! I suspect he and his little junior sister were set up, and even Ye Hui got deceived. The opposing party was targeting Xiaowu, but Xiaowu escaped, and they haven't found him yet.

So the opposing party is negotiating with Ye Hui on purpose to stall for time to capture Xiaowu; they temporarily don't want the matter to go public. Ye Hui might indeed be manipulated by them..."

He Kao: "You didn't mention what I saw, did you?"

Qian Guran: "Of course I didn't! You saw someone trying to catch Xiaowu and said Xiaowu violated the Joint Punishment Order; Ye Hui probably got manipulated in this way.

If Xiaowu really violated the Joint Punishment Order, once the matter is exposed, he's doomed! Ye Hui's daughter was also present and might get implicated as well.

So before the matter is clear or before settling with the other party, Ye Hui has no certainty, nor would he reveal much to an outsider like me."

He Kao: "Who did Xiaowu get into a conflict with?"

Qian Guran: "Ye Hui didn't tell me."

He Kao: "Can't Ye Hui see the problem with the other party?"

Qian Guran: "What good would it do if he could? As it stands, he seems to be at fault, because Xiaowu caused trouble and ran away!

Besides, Micro Realm Sect sorcerers deal more with things than people; they aren't as good at plotting as other sorcerers! Ye Hui apparently doesn't want to talk about this matter and won't confide in me.

If I hadn't broken through to Tier Four becoming a High-tier Sorcerer, and happened to meet some elders of the Micro Realm Sect at the Ancestral Hall, connecting with Ye Hui through them, he probably wouldn't bother with me."

He Kao: "Won't Micro Realm Sect disciples plot? That might not be the case; the Huiming Shi Family is no good bunch!"

Qian Guran: "That's a separate matter, and can't be generalized... Is this the point?"

He Kao: "What do you think the point is?"

Qian Guran: "Of course, the truth is the point! The urgent thing is to find Wu Yanjun first and ask clearly what's happened."

He Kao: "Anything else?"

Qian Guran: "There's also Ye Yuxuan; she should be a key witness present, so her understanding of the situation is important. Ye Hui flew to the Northeast, likely to protect his daughter first."

He Kao: "Understood, since I've already encountered people chasing Xiaowu, it means Xiaowu should be nearby; better to find him first."

Qian Guran: "This doesn't feel right, don't force yourself!"

He Kao: "Don't worry, I won't force it, I'll go according to my ability."

Qian Guran: "Better contact Elder Jiang first!"

He Kao: "I've already sent him a message, but he hasn't replied yet."

Qian Guran: "Where exactly are you? Do you need me to come help?"

He Kao: "Just having you say that is enough! I don't need you to come over, and even if you tried, it would be too late. In Acheng, I can still find someone else to help..."

After hanging up, He Kao didn't want to just sit and wait. After pondering for a long time, he finally decided to call Xiao Guangnian.

He told Uncle, yesterday, he went into the forest for camping and skiing, and wasn't sure how far he skied, but ended up spotting two suspicious individuals.

He suspected they were poachers, so he snuck closer but overheard a conversation...

This explanation provided a seemingly reasonable cover since Uncle didn't know he was the Hidden Moth. He also told Uncle that Xiaowu was his friend, and passed along the information Qian Guran had gathered.

He Kao originally didn't want to trouble Xiao Guangnian, which is why he hesitated for so long before making the call. Ye Hui and others were in Acheng, and he wanted to ask Uncle to help inquire about the specifics.

Although both are Tier Four Sorcerers, Xiao Guangnian's seniority, background, and standing in the Magic Sect were far above Qian Guran's. With him being involved, those people wouldn't dare act recklessly.

On the other hand, Xiao Guangnian is a Tier Four Divine Stick, and should be adept at calculations. Based on the known information, He Kao also wanted to ask him for help in analyzing the situation.

"Your friend, President Qian, has some reasonable analysis. There's definitely something fishy about this matter.

Let's assume the Xiaowu you mentioned indeed violated the Joint Punishment Order, yet the conflicting parties are keeping it under wraps. Not only did they fail to report to the Ancestral Hall, but they also haven't told anyone, which is suspicious.

First possibility, the other party threatens Ye Hui to extort considerable benefits.

Second possibility, Ye Hui coerces the other party to keep the secret, preventing it from getting out.

And the third possibility, Wu Yanjun and his junior sister both violated the Joint Punishment Order, or maybe solely his junior sister did. Ye Hui, to protect his daughter, wants Wu Yanjun to take the fall, and the parties are negotiating terms."

This was Xiao Guangnian's analysis, and He Kao shook his head saying: "I feel these three possibilities are unlikely, rather, the two people I encountered in the mountain present a much bigger issue!"

Xiao Guangnian: "The analysis earlier assumes the violation of the Joint Punishment Order indeed occurred."

He Kao: "I don't think Xiaowu would violate the Joint Punishment Order, he must have been set up."

Xiao Guangnian: "Do you not believe it, or do you not want to believe it?"

He Kao: "I neither believe it nor want to believe it."

Xiao Guangnian: "What help do you want from me?"

He Kao: "I want to find out what happened, please help analyze it. Ye Hui and his daughter are currently in Acheng, reportedly negotiating with the other party, and if possible, I would like you to inquire about the situation."

Xiao Guangnian: "Anything else?"

He Kao: "Uncle Jiang's phone doesn't connect, my messages go unanswered, do you have any way to contact him? If Uncle Jiang can't be reached, then reaching Elder Li of the Xingshen Sect would work to pass along this matter."

Xiao Guangnian: "I can help inquire, and can help contact, but have you thought this through?

Xiaowu is your friend, and if he really violated the Joint Punishment Order and went on the run out of fear. His senior uncle is trying to save him, negotiating with the other party, to exchange conditions for them not to pursue.

But if you pursue this matter, it could be exposed, then Ye Hui won't be able to save him... Are you sure you want to proceed?"

He Kao contemplated for a moment before answering: "I am sure! My goal is not to shield anyone, living to live clearly, dying to die clearly too, and I trust Xiaowu more."

Xiao Guangnian: "What if he really did violate the Joint Punishment Order?"

He Kao gritted his teeth: "Then whatever punishment is necessary, let it be. But the truth must be uncovered first, then let the Ancestral Hall issue the Joint Punishment Order against him!"

Xiao Guangnian seemed to exhale deeply, saying only one word: "Okay!" Then he asked, "Before the matter is cleared up, you seem quite confident about Xiaowu?"

He Kao: "The two individuals I encountered in the mountain are the real problem. One Sorcerer, secretly took a foreign disciple, deceiving the Ancestral Hall.

Moreover, from their conversation, it's evident they're using the Joint Punishment Order as a pretense... They don't plan to let Xiaowu off, wanting to capture him alive just to question something before silencing.

Am I supposed to believe such people and not Xiaowu?"

Xiao Guangnian pondered: "Makes sense... If someone indeed manipulated events against a Tier Two Scholar with no background, why go through such trouble?"

He Kao: "I want to know why too."

Xiao Guangnian: "How did you meet Xiaowu, and what do you know about him? Tell me everything."

Despite his anxiety, He Kao patiently recounted how he met Xiaowu. He mentioned Xiaowu's experiences, especially those concerning his master Zhang Yanfei in the detention center, everything he passed on to Xiao Guangnian.

Xiao Guangnian was silent for a long time, seemingly pondering or calculating something before finally sighing: "Meeting Zhang Yanfei is both fate and calamity; acknowledging the pendant swap by his junior sister is both virtuous and fortunate.

Whether he can safely get through this ordeal depends on you. Do what you feel needs to be done!"

Xiao Guangnian's words were profound but his expression was solemn. After ending the call with He Kao, he immediately started reaching out.

**

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