"I can't see anymore..." Elder Liu's eyes brimmed with deep regret as he closed them, and then he died, never having revealed the secret to Qi Qingshan.

"Sect Leader, I struck too hard," Dai Xiu said guiltily, seeing Elder Liu was dead. "I shouldn't have let him die so quickly."

"It's not your fault." Qi Qingshan pinched Elder Liu's mouth open and looked inside, finding it full of black blood. He turned to Dai Xiu and said, "He had a poison sac hidden in his mouth. When he saw me arrive, he knew he couldn't survive and decided to take his own life."

RUMBLE!

At that moment, seven or eight people rushed in. They were stunned to see Elder Liu dead on the ground, and even more astonished when they saw Qi Qingshan. They were some of the top figures from the Floating Cloud Sect, summoned here by Elder Liu.

"You all thought I was dead, didn't you?" Qi Qingshan's face was ashen as he coldly addressed them. "I've always treated you well. Why would you betray me?"

"Sect Leader, we thought you were..." someone began to explain, but Qi Qingshan cut him off.

"Those who still remember old loyalties, stand where you are and await my judgment," Qi Qingshan said coldly. "Those who no longer wish to follow me may leave now. The Floating Cloud Sect will not keep you! Of course, if any of you wish to attack me, feel free!"

The air grew quiet. No one said a word, and certainly, no one dared to lay a hand on Qi Qingshan.

If Qi Qingshan dared to show himself, he must have an ace up his sleeve!

After a moment of silence, someone finally spoke up. "I'm leaving!"

"Left Protector, you've got guts!" A fierce glint appeared in Qi Qingshan's eyes. The man was none other than the Left Protector of the Floating Cloud Sect. He immediately asked, "What exactly did Elder Liu tell you? What benefits did he offer?"

"Nothing at all," the man said. "I just despised your cowardice for leading our Floating Cloud Sect into decline!"

Before he could even finish his words, the man swiftly turned and fled outside.

However, several figures suddenly sprang out, surrounding the Left Protector just as he ran out the door. They hacked him down in a flurry of blades!

The Left Protector barely raised an arm to block before he was cut down, collapsing into a pool of blood.

Those figures were the death warriors arranged by Yan Peng of the Spirit-Taming Sect.

Yan Peng was among them. He walked into the room and spoke indifferently to the rebels, "Anyone else want to leave? My men have been hiding in the rain for half a day. It would be hard to justify not killing a few more people!"

The high-ranking members of the Floating Cloud Sect were stunned once again.

Why is Yan Peng from the Spirit-Taming Sect helping Qi Qingshan kill people? Aren't the two sects at odds? Have they reconciled? And Qi Qingshan really did have an ace up his sleeve; no one is leaving today!

"Does anyone else want to leave?" Qi Qingshan asked, his tone heavy.

CLATTER!

Those who had brought weapons with them dropped them to the ground.

"You are all stripped of your positions and will be thrown into the dungeon!" Qi Qingshan ordered in a deep voice.

Enforcement Hall Master Dai Xiu smiled, put two fingers in his mouth, and blew a shrill whistle. A group of Enforcement Hall Disciples quickly rushed over and took the traitors away.

Qi Qingshan suddenly called out towards the doorway, "Young Su! I hereby announce that you are officially a disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect and will assume the position of Left Protector!"

"Sect Leader Qi, let's discuss that later!" Su Xuan appeared at the doorway, rubbing his chin. "I only came up the mountain to find a doctor. I'll be leaving once I've accomplished my goal. You should release Qi Li from the dungeon as soon as possible."

"Of course." Having regained control of the Floating Cloud Sect, Qi Qingshan once again carried the air of a superior. His gaze towards Su Xuan, however, was exceptionally gentle. "Without you, it would have been difficult for me to quell the unrest in the Floating Cloud Sect. How about you go and release Qi Li? I have other matters to discuss with Sect Leader Yan."

"Go on, Brother Su!" Dai Xiu also waved over two Enforcement Hall Disciples and said to Su Xuan, "Let them guide you. Little Li must be waiting for you."

"Greetings, Protector Su!"

"We await Protector Su's orders!"

The two disciples bowed respectfully to Su Xuan.

Su Xuan shrugged and had no choice but to leave with the two disciples.

***

In the dark, damp dungeon filled with a musty smell, Qi Li anxiously asked Lu Dongshan, who was in the cell across from hers, "Brother Lu, do you think Su Xuan can find my father?"

"Don't worry. Brother Su is a clever man with incredible strength. He'll definitely find Sect Leader Qi," Lu Dongshan replied.

At that moment, Lu Dongshan's complexion had improved somewhat, but his expression was just as anxious. If Su Xuan didn't complete his task by dawn, they would both be in terrible trouble; it was highly likely that Elder Liu would have one of them killed.

"The witness hasn't been discovered, has he?" Qi Li asked again.

"No," Lu Dongshan said. "The moment I realized something was wrong, I hid the witness. Elder Liu won't find him."

"That's good." Qi Li let out a sigh of relief, but the worry on her face did not lessen.

If Su Xuan can't find her father, then the witness might be useless.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from the dungeon entrance.

Qi Li and Lu Dongshan couldn't help but look toward the entrance.

It's probably Elder Liu, coming to cause trouble again.

But then, their eyes lit up, and expressions of joyous surprise appeared on their faces.

Qi Li suddenly saw a familiar figure appear before her. "Su Xuan! It's Su Xuan!"

Lu Dongshan's hands trembled with excitement. "It's Brother Su! He succeeded!"

They also noticed two Enforcement Hall Disciples following him. Sect Leader Qi must have ordered them to accompany Su Xuan! That must mean the turmoil in the Floating Cloud Sect has been resolved!

Su Xuan nodded at Qi Li and Lu Dongshan. "Sorry to keep you waiting." He then waved at the two disciples. "Go on, let them out."

"Yes, Protector Su!" the two disciples replied respectfully, immediately unlocking the cells.

Qi Li and Lu Dongshan were completely baffled, wondering how Su Xuan had become a protector.

Lu Dongshan didn't even have time to ask Su Xuan. He grabbed one of the disciples and demanded, "What happened tonight?"

"Senior Brother Lu, Sect Leader Qi has returned. He killed Elder Liu..." The disciple recounted what he knew, adding, "The Left Protector is also dead, so Protector Su has taken his place."

Lu Dongshan's mouth fell open in shock. "Oh... oh!"

Despite the disciple's matter-of-fact tone, Lu Dongshan could imagine the thrilling and dangerous events that must have transpired. Any single misstep could have led to disaster. And who could have masterminded such a meticulous plot?

Lu Dongshan looked towards Su Xuan.

He was one hundred percent sure this was all Su Xuan's doing! Otherwise, why would Qi Qingshan give him the position of Protector? That position in the Floating Cloud Sect held great authority!

"Brother Lu, Sect Leader Qi and Sect Leader Yan have temporarily reconciled," Su Xuan said warmly, not taking credit for himself. "But Sect Leader Yan still has some doubts. Is your witness still alive?"

"Alive, definitely alive!" Lu Dongshan quickly replied. "I'll go get the witness right now!"

Whether or not Lu Dongshan was intentionally trying to give Su Xuan and Qi Li some time alone, he immediately left the dungeon.

Qi Li still hadn't figured out exactly how Su Xuan had managed everything, but she thanked him all the same. "Su Xuan, thank you!"

Su Xuan pulled out an object and handed it to Qi Li. "I'm returning this to you."

Qi Li looked at the object, then shook her head, her face flushing. "I... I don't want it anymore..."

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