He Yiming snorted softly, “If you don’t wish to speak, I won't force you.”

Huo Dongcheng’s lips trembled slightly before he managed, “Senior, an hour ago, the two Island Masters from the Leng family came together, bringing another person. They insisted on reclaiming that three-thousand-year pearl. My father argued back a couple of times, and that person immediately struck, severely wounding my father. Now, my father is gravely injured and confined to bed…”

Saying this, Huo Dongcheng could no longer restrain himself and began to sob.

He Yiming’s expression gradually darkened. He had never imagined such a thing could have happened.

In the end, this was all trouble instigated by the treasure pig. What chilled He Yiming even more was the possibility that someone had already discovered the secret within that pearl.

If it truly became known that the pearl was not three thousand years old, but rather a ten-thousand-year pearl that could only be produced in the Outer Seas, it would certainly incite countless covetous desires.

Taking a deep breath, He Yiming turned his head. “Brother Huo, why did the two from the Leng family go back on their word?”

Huo Leqing forced a bitter smile. “The Leng brothers said that before Mr. He’s pet pig took the pearl, they had already reached an agreement with that person—an exchange for a Xiantian Golden Elixir. But when that person went back to fetch the Xiantian Golden Elixir, the pearl was snatched away by your pet pig. Now that person has come calling, and they are helpless.”

He Yiming’s eyes brightened. “Just who was it that struck and injured Huo Hongxiang?”

“It was the person who wanted to exchange for the pearl,” Huo Leqing sighed deeply. “Mr. He, before that person left, they left a message: they will return tomorrow to claim the pearl. If we flee, they will use the excuse of disrupting Qianshan City to condemn my Huo family.”

His voice was incredibly dry. Though clearly furious, He Yiming could still detect the underlying worry in his tone.

Zhang Haitai snorted coldly, “Brother Huo, who exactly is that person to have such audacity?”

Huo Leqing shook his head. “Brother Zhang, this is my Huo family’s affair. You need not involve yourself.” With that, he bowed deeply to He Yiming. “Mr. He, please pity my hundreds of kin in the Huo family and return the pearl. My Huo family will never forget this kindness.”

He Yiming gave a dry laugh, the look in his eyes gradually turning cold.

That was a ten-thousand-year pearl. Since it had fallen into He Yiming’s hands through a twist of fate, there was no way he would return it.

However, since this trouble was initiated by him, he would naturally resolve it.

“Brother Huo, what is the origin of that person? They seem to make you quite fearful.”

Huo Leqing’s expression became increasingly bitter before he finally confessed, “That person’s surname is Dong, and he is the eldest young master of the Dong Mansion on the east side of the city.”

“The Eldest Young Master of the Dong Mansion?” Zhang Haitai’s face instantly turned extremely ugly, his prior indignation vanishing in an instant.

He Yiming asked calmly, “Brother Zhang, what is the background of the Dong Mansion? Does it have ties to your Qianshan Sect?”

Zhang Haitai looked embarrassed. “Mr. He, the master of the Dong Mansion, Dong Mingrui, is a Grand Elder within our Qianshan Sect, and also the direct disciple of our Sect Ancestor. He has already condensed two Manifested Flowers, and even within our own sect, he ranks among the top five supreme experts.”

“A Dual-Flower expert?” He Yiming’s face showed a hint of a wry smile. “Brother Zhang, who is your sect’s Ancestor?”

Zhang Haitai immediately adopted a solemn expression, lifting his chin proudly. “Our Sect Ancestor is Venerable Zhan Hongtu, one of the only four remaining Venerables on Penglai Immortal Island today.”

He Yiming turned his gaze away. His face was expressionless. “Who is the Eldest Young Master of the Dong Mansion?”

Huo Leqing had initially been reluctant to specify, but meeting He Yiming’s eyes, an inexplicable chill surged through him. He quickly added, “Mr. He, the person who came tonight is Dong Fangxiang, Dong Mingrui’s most beloved great-grandson.”

Zhang Haitai frowned deeply and forced a bitter smile. “Since it is Dong Fangxiang making trouble, then this really is a bit of a headache.”

He Yiming asked without showing emotion, “What is this person’s martial cultivation like? Is he stronger than Dong Mingrui?”

Zhang Haitai smiled wryly. “Mr. He is joking. Dong Fangxiang is only thirty years old this year, yet he has already cultivated to the peak of the Ninth Layer of Internal Strength. He is the descendant in the Dong family most likely to advance to the Xiantian realm, highly valued by everyone in the Dong family. If he truly wishes to cause trouble for Brother Huo, then Brother Huo has no path left except to leave the island.”

“A fine Dual-Flower, a fine Eldest Young Master of the Dong Mansion.” He Yiming let out a few dry laughs, then suddenly said, “Dongcheng, take me to see your father.”

Huo Dongcheng dared not disobey and quickly led the way, bringing He Yiming into the inner room.

Most of the direct descendants of the Huo family—dozens of people—were gathered outside the room, their faces etched with worry. He Yiming’s gaze swept over them, and everyone respectfully lowered their eyes.

He Yiming inwardly sneered, wondering if these people were truly worried about Huo Hongxiang inside, or worried about their own future prospects.

After all, on Penglai Immortal Island, offending a powerful family like the Dong family was certainly a catastrophic misfortune.

Entering the inner room, He Yiming immediately saw Huo Hongxiang lying on the bed, his eyes tightly shut. His face was ghastly pale, completely devoid of color, and his breathing was quite rapid, interspersed with occasional coughs.

He stepped forward to check his pulse; the heartbeat was extremely weak. Although his life was not in immediate danger, such a severe injury would not be easily healed and fully restored.

He Yiming felt annoyance rising within him, but his external demeanor grew even calmer.

He took out a jade bottle from his robe and poured out a pill. “Dongcheng, go give this to your father.”

Huo Dongcheng responded, respectfully accepting it with both hands. Without asking what the pill was, he poured a cup of warm water. However, as he placed the pill into his father’s mouth, the pill immediately dissolved and flowed automatically down his throat.

Subsequently, a faint fragrance diffused throughout the room.

In the time it took to steep a cup of tea, Huo Hongxiang’s breathing stabilized, and his complexion gained considerable color. He drifted into a deep sleep.

Everyone’s faces relaxed. In truth, upon smelling that fragrance, everyone knew this must be a miraculous elixir for healing internal injuries, but no one had expected its efficacy to be this potent.

Huo Leqing approached, alternating between surprise and joy. He checked his son’s pulse, a look of relief appearing on his face. “Mr. He, thank you for your intervention. My son’s injuries have stabilized. With a few months of recuperation, he will be completely as good as new.”

Zhang Haitai also sighed, “Mr. He truly lives up to his reputation as a Grandmaster of the Dao of Pills. Not only can you refine Xiantian Golden Elixirs, but even your wound medicine has such miraculous effects.”

He Yiming smiled but remained silent. Inwardly, he felt a pang of shame. The pill in his hand was gifted to him by Venerable Fan Shuo from the Grotto-Heaven blessed land; it was not something he had refined himself. However, seeing the look of admiration on Zhang Haitai and the others’ faces, he found it difficult to explain.

Shaking his head slightly, He Yiming suddenly asked, “Dongcheng, do you know where the Dong Mansion is?”

Huo Dongcheng nodded heavily. “The Dong Mansion is quite renowned in the city. I have seen it from a distance twice.”

He Yiming laughed loudly. “Excellent. Lead the way for me.”

The faces of Zhang Haitai and Huo Leqing both changed drastically. They quickly said, “Mr. He, you must not go!”

“Why not?” He Yiming asked coldly.

Zhang Haitai hesitated for a moment. “Mr. He, Martial Uncle Dong is, after all, an important figure in our sect, and a Dual-Flower expert. If you go alone, even if you manage to defeat him, our Sect Ancestor absolutely will not stand idly by.”

His words were extremely sincere. Although Dong Mingrui was part of the Qianshan Sect, the Huo family was his sworn friend. From his perspective, he truly did not want to see an irreconcilable conflict arise between the two sides.

He Yiming chuckled wryly. “Brother Zhang, I appreciate your good intentions.” He waved his hand lightly. “Dongcheng, let’s go.”

Huo Dongcheng looked at Huo Leqing and Zhang Haitai, his face full of hesitation.

He Yiming’s expression darkened slightly. “Dongcheng, the one lying on the bed is your father…”

Huo Dongcheng’s eyes reddened, his gaze also growing faintly crimson. He stopped caring about the expressions of the two Xiantian experts and turned to leave.

Huo Leqing was shocked and quickly shouted, “Dongcheng, don’t!”

However, just as he uttered the word “Dong,” he felt a surge of pressure that he couldn't contain, as if the surrounding air was squeezing in on him with endless might.

A look of utter horror flashed in his eyes, and he hurriedly mobilized his True Qi, trying to resist. But in the next moment, he discovered he was like a small boat in a vast ocean, utterly incapable of resistance.

Just as he felt himself reeling, as if death were imminent, the surrounding pressure abruptly vanished without a trace.

He shook his head, calming the indescribable shock in his heart, and turned to look around, only to catch sight of Zhang Haitai’s equally terrified eyes.

The two exchanged a look and instantly understood that they had shared the exact same sensation.

Then, they realized that He Yiming and Huo Dongcheng were already gone from the room.

“Where are they?” Huo Leqing demanded sharply.

Huo Hongsheng bowed inexplicably. “Father, Mr. He has taken Dongcheng and left.”

“Why didn’t you stop them?” Huo Leqing asked irritably.

The thought of them provoking a top-five expert in the Qianshan Sect made his heart pound nervously. At this moment, he even considered having the entire family pack up immediately and leave Penglai Immortal Island to seek refuge.

Huo Hongsheng looked at him in surprise. “Father, didn’t you and Uncle Zhang also fail to stop them?”

Huo Leqing broke into a bitter smile, yet he also felt a deep throb of fear from He Yiming’s uncanny, instantaneous movements. By now, he knew that if He Yiming wanted to take their lives, it would be as easy as turning his hand; there would be no chance for resistance.

Zhang Haitai sighed deeply. “If fate wills it, it will happen; if calamity looms, it cannot be evaded. Brother Huo, let’s hurry over and see what happens.”

Huo Leqing nodded heavily, and the two quickly sped toward the east side of the city.

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