His face was etched with worry, his eyes clouded with concern... a genuine, heartfelt worry that lacked any pretense, which deeply moved Ye Jingyu. In the beginning, their alliance was purely transactional, but as time passed and experiences were shared, a friendship had unknowingly blossomed between them.

“Young Master need not worry. I am quite alright now...” Sensing his condition through a divine sweep, finding no lingering pain, Ye Jingyu said, feeling profound gratitude.

“That’s good, that’s good. Mr. Zhuge told me everything about your situation. Do you know who the person was that tried to kill you that day?” Hearing Ye Jingyu affirm he was fine, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief. But as Luo Ruofeng spoke, a raw, naked killing intent flashed in his eyes. Someone dared to assassinate Ye Jingyu while the remnants of the Tang Sect were in disarray! If this reached his Father King, it would be no small matter...

“I don’t know. I only know the person was called Miao...” Ye Jingyu shook his head.

“Miao?” The Third Young Master Luo Ruofeng, Zhuge Yishi, and even Bieli, all frowned simultaneously. Clearly, none of them had ever heard of such an individual.

To be able to so easily inflict such serious injury upon Ye Jingyu, that person’s strength must have reached at least the Grandmaster realm. Yet, there weren't many Grandmasters around, and those who existed were all famous figures. But this ‘Miao’ was completely unknown? Even with Zhuge Yishi’s vast knowledge and breadth of experience, he had never heard the name. As for Chi Yixiu, Hu Yanzhi, Hu Yanmeng, and the others, they were utterly bewildered; having grown up in the Southern Wilderness Forest, they knew nothing of the martial artists in the Shu Yun Kingdom.

“Third Young Master, even without knowing this Mr. Miao, we can still deduce who the mastermind behind this is...” At this moment, Zhuge Yishi spoke up.

“Oh?” All eyes turned towards him.

“Currently, the only ones who desperately wish to eliminate Brother Jingyu are a few of the Young Masters and Marquis Baiyun. However, this incident involves the assassination attempt on the Princess by the Tang Sect remnants first, which implicates the Tang Sect—a taboo for the Sovereign. Whether it’s the Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master, or the Seventh Young Master, none would risk such a gamble. Aside from finding concrete proof, even the slightest suspicion would be enough to significantly tarnish their standing in the Sovereign’s eyes. Therefore, they absolutely would not send an assassin after Ye Jingyu at this juncture. That leaves Marquis Baiyun...” In a few brief sentences, Zhuge Yishi laid bare the crux of the matter. Such strategic acumen earned the sincere admiration of everyone present.

As for how he knew all this, Luo Ruofeng, upon learning he was from the Zhuge family, had already briefed him on everything that had transpired in Yunjing recently.

Currently, what Luo Xiaofeng feared most was rebellion from the remnants of the Three Great Sects. This time, it even involved the assassination attempt on the Princess, a highly sensitive matter. Because if they sent someone to kill Ye Jingyu, any calculating individual could easily link the two assassination attempts. Killing Ye Jingyu would be a minor offense; colluding with the Tang Sect remnants to murder his own daughter—that was enough to send Luo Xiaofeng into a complete fury. As long as the other Young Masters weren't complete fools, they wouldn't risk such a monumental danger.

After all, their standing in Luo Xiaofeng’s estimation was also at stake here.

As for Marquis Baiyun Qin Yan, he had absolutely nothing to fear. He was merely a retired marquis now; though his status was noble, he held no actual power. Moreover, as the greatest contributor during the War of Treason, there was no reason for him to collude with the Tang Sect remnants. Even if someone suspected him, without evidence, Luo Xiaofeng wouldn't dare do anything drastic.

Ultimately, the martial arts factions remained powerful. Many sects, though temporarily pledging allegiance to the court, did so out of coercion due to the court’s prestige, not true loyalty. If Luo Xiaofeng were to kill Marquis Baiyun now, what would the other martial artists think? If Marquis Baiyun, who rendered such great service, could be killed, then surely they too would eventually be eliminated by Luo Xiaofeng? This would surely spark another wave of unrest. Therefore, Marquis Baiyun Qin Yan, despite not being favored, would never be touched by Luo Xiaofeng.

Coupled with the deep-seated enmity between Qin Yan and Ye Jingyu, only he would dare ignore such a sensitive topic and dispatch someone to assassinate Ye Jingyu.

“Marquis Baiyun...” Prompted by Zhuge Yishi, everyone instantly understood. Luo Ruofeng spat out those three words through gritted teeth, his killing aura unreservedly unleashed. Clearly, he now regarded Marquis Baiyun as his greatest enemy.

“Young Master, do not let anger consume you. Marquis Baiyun slaughtered so many of my Ye family; I will repay this debt sooner or later. More importantly, how much time is left before the expedition departs?” Ye Jingyu intervened.

“My Father King was uncertain about the severity of your injuries, so the departure has been postponed by a month. However, he has ordered General Protector of the Nation Xiao Geng to lead the troops north first... He has always been Father King’s most trusted man,” Luo Ruofeng stated flatly, a sense of deep helplessness coloring his gaze. Because of the Sovereign's trust, coupled with his own strength, Xiao Geng had developed an arrogant disposition. While he paid lip service to respecting the Young Masters, he never truly held them in high regard.

“Xiao Geng? Heh heh, Young Master, do not worry. This time will be our best opportunity to turn the tide...” Upon hearing Xiao Geng’s name, Ye Jingyu flashed a cunning, wicked smile.

“Yes, I believe in you, Jingyu. This time, with Mr. Zhuge’s complete assistance, even if this mission is arduous, I am confident you two can find a path through the danger. I have already arranged for Mr. Zhuge to become the strategist for the Iron Army. Do you have any objections?” Luo Ruofeng now wore a gentle smile.

The Zhuge family: an engineering lineage spanning thousands of years, acclaimed as the foremost house of wisdom in the realm. Were not all those who emerged from the Zhuge family peerlessly brilliant figures? ‘Literary Brilliance Zhuge, Martial Prowess Xuanyuan’—how could a family capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the formidable Xuanyuan family be ordinary?

However, what puzzled Luo Ruofeng was why the usually reclusive Zhuge family would suddenly emerge now to aid him. Could it also be because of Ye Jingyu?

Seeing the confident smile on Luo Ruofeng’s face, Ye Jingyu looked up at Zhuge Yishi. The look of doubt in his eyes deepened. The Zhuge family—was this yet another mysterious lineage?