Long Feng nodded. Seeing that Qiao Yihong had said as much, he didn't linger. After cupping his hands toward Zhao Zhicheng, he turned and departed.

Zhao Zhicheng quickly returned the salute to Long Feng. Only after Long Feng was far away did he quietly inquire of Qiao Yihong, "Brother Qiao, this young man is quite young, yet he seems to possess the strength of the third layer of Inner Strength. Is he also a disciple of the Medical Saint Martial Sect?"

Qiao Yihong shook his head and smiled faintly. "He is not a disciple of our Medical Saint Martial Sect. That is Long Feng of the Long family."

"So, it's Long Feng!"

Zhao Zhicheng was inwardly startled. Long Feng was currently the most talked-about scion of the Xuanyuan Long family, and rumor had it he was already designated as the next Family Head.

Gazing at Long Feng's retreating back, a look of envy crossed Zhao Zhicheng's eyes. Truly, to be a scion of the super-clan Long family—not only had he broken through to the third layer of Inner Strength at such a young age, but he was also destined to become the Long family patriarch. There was another rumor circulating in the cultivation world: apparently, Long Feng didn't inherently qualify to be designated the Long family Head, but because he shared the closest private relationship with Zhang Yang within the family, and Zhang Yang had saved the Long family from the brink of collapse, he was exceptionally chosen as the next patriarch.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zhicheng felt an even deeper bitterness. If the misunderstanding between the Yitian Sect and the Medical Saint Martial Sect could not be resolved, who knew what fate awaited the Yitian Sect in the future? When a mere youth with a good personal relationship with Zhang Yang could become the next patriarch of a super-clan, how many people would strive to curry favor with Zhang Yang?

Zhao Zhicheng did not want the Yitian Sect to become a stepping stone for others seeking Zhang Yang's favor. With this realization, his resolve to seek forgiveness from the Medical Saint Martial Sect solidified.

"Brother Qiao, I wonder if you have time? Our Yitian Sect is nearby. Although our accommodations are rather humble, we have both wine and meat. Why don't we go over and share a few drinks?"

Anxiously watching Qiao Yihong, Zhao Zhicheng spoke cautiously. Qiao Yihong was now his only tangible link to the Medical Saint Zhang family, an opportunity he absolutely could not miss.

"Very well, I happen to be free as well. Let's go to your place for a few drinks."

Qiao Yihong, having failed to grasp the crucial point no matter how hard he tried, had to let it go for the moment. Seeing Zhao Zhicheng's invitation, and having no leads himself, he paused and then agreed.

Zhao Zhicheng was overjoyed. He quickly led Qiao Yihong toward where his Yitian Sect disciples were encamped.

Outside the Long family plains, the best camping spots were occupied by the Hua family, Li family, Wudang, Shaolin, the Demonic Sect, and the Zhou family. For a second-rate minor sect like the Yitian Sect, getting close to the plains was impossible. Consequently, Zhao Zhicheng and his disciples hadn't established a formal camp near the Long family plains; they had simply found an unoccupied small hillside and set up a few tents to make do.

When Qiao Yihong followed Zhao Zhicheng to the Yitian Sect's location, he was inwardly astonished.

Back at the foot of Kunlun Mountain, when the Yitian Sect shared a camp with minor sects like the Spirit Snake Gate and Tiger Fist Sect, the Yitian Sect occupied nearly a quarter of the entire camp, and their tents were quite imposing.

But now, the Yitian Sect’s tents were far fewer than before, and each one looked rather shabby. All of this indicated that Zhao Zhicheng was having a difficult time.

"Brother Qiao, please, come this way, come this way!"

Zhao Zhicheng glanced at his meager camp, his face flushing slightly. Then, he gestured for Qiao Yihong to come to a cleared space near a large tree, where a stone table sat—perfect for sharing wine.

Following this, Zhao Zhicheng roared toward the tents, "Zhibing, quickly, bring out all our finest wine!"

At that moment, Zhao Zhibing emerged from one of the tents. The moment he saw Qiao Yihong standing beside the Sect Master Zhao Zhicheng, he immediately understood. He responded with an affirmation and turned to leave.

Before long, Zhao Zhibing and several Yitian Sect disciples had carried all the wine to the stone table, and they also prepared a number of dishes.

Afterward, Zhao Zhibing stood quietly behind Zhao Zhicheng, not daring to speak. However, he kept stealing glances at the food on the stone table, his Adam's apple occasionally bobbing—clearly showing his intense longing for the meal.

Qiao Yihong could tell that this was likely the best fare Zhao Zhicheng could currently prepare. Otherwise, Zhao Zhibing, the senior disciple, wouldn't have reacted this way upon seeing the food.

After they were seated, Zhao Zhicheng dismissed all the other Yitian Sect disciples, keeping only his senior disciple, Zhao Zhibing, by his side. Then, he looked at Qiao Yihong, gritted his teeth, and with a great display of resolve, raised a cup of wine in a toast.

"Brother Qiao, I will speak frankly this time and not beat around the bush. I implore you, Brother Qiao, you must help me!"

Qiao Yihong raised his wine cup. He could roughly guess what Zhao Zhicheng intended to say. He flicked his peripheral vision toward Zhao Zhibing standing behind Zhao Zhicheng, sighed softly, and thought to himself, If only they had known this day would come, why bother with the past?

If only the people of the Yitian Sect hadn't looked down upon the couple Yan Yefei and Li Juan, and hadn't scorned the Medical Saint Martial Sect, they wouldn't have ended up like this today.

"Senior Qiao, I was truly wrong. I truly know my mistake now. Please give me a chance, and I will personally visit Sect Master Zhang to apologize!"

Seeing Qiao Yihong remain silent, Zhao Zhibing suddenly knelt on the ground, his eyes filled with tears, pleading desperately with Qiao Yihong. "Senior Qiao, I beg you, please help our Yitian Sect, speak a word for us to Sect Master Zhang!"

The original incident was entirely caused by Zhao Hailiang, but without Zhao Zhibing's backing, Zhao Hailiang wouldn't have dared to humiliate the Medical Saint Martial Sect so severely. However, Zhao Hailiang had now been expelled by Zhao Zhicheng. Naturally, the Yitian Sect needed someone to take the blame now.

Zhao Zhibing had already heard of Zhao Hailiang's fate. Rumor had it that after the Yitian Sect departed that day, Zhao Hailiang was publicly displayed by Ling Yuntian, the leader of the Spirit Snake Gate, hanging before their camp for three days before being thrown down Kunlun Mountain, half-dead.

The thought of Zhao Hailiang's outcome made Zhao Zhibing tremble with fear, which accounted for his extreme reaction upon seeing Qiao Yihong.

Seeing Qiao Yihong still silent, Zhao Zhicheng could not sit still either. He took out the Emei Sword—the symbol of the Yitian Sect Master's authority—from his side and placed it horizontally on the stone table. He spoke, "Brother Qiao, for the sake of our acquaintance, please help our Yitian Sect. This sword is the treasured symbol of our Yitian Sect Master, an heirloom passed down from the Emei Sect. I will give it entirely to the Medical Saint Martial Sect, only asking that Sect Master Zhang be merciful and forgive us."

Qiao Yihong gave a wry smile and said nothing, tilting his head back to drain the wine in his cup in one gulp.

In truth, he didn't know what to say. Zhang Yang had likely already forgotten the incident at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. After returning to the Long family plains, Zhang Yang hadn't mentioned the Yitian Sect or Zhao Zhicheng once. Still, Qiao Yihong understood why Zhao Zhicheng was acting this way.

Zhang Yang's fame was simply too immense, and now the entire cultivation world knew of the Medical Saint Martial Sect. Anyone who offended them would suffer sleepless nights.

Zhao Zhicheng and Zhao Zhibing saw Qiao Yihong drink down his wine so readily, and a flicker of joy immediately crossed their eyes.

"Brother Zhao, rest assured. If the opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly put in a few good words for you before our Sect Master."

Setting down his wine cup, Qiao Yihong shook his head, a tone of deep helplessness in his voice.

"That is enough, that is more than enough!"

Hearing Qiao Yihong say this, Zhao Zhicheng immediately put on a wide smile and let out a great sigh of relief. He hastily poured a fresh cup for Qiao Yihong himself.

"Senior Qiao, Zhibing here thanks you first for your willingness to help!"

Zhao Zhibing stood up excitedly, quickly poured a cup for himself, and then respectfully raised it toward Qiao Yihong, draining it in one gulp. The gloom on his face finally dissipated.

"By the way, why have so few of your Yitian Sect disciples shown up now?"

Qiao Yihong drank his wine cheerfully, glanced around, and asked casually.

"Alas, that is a long story. Ever since Sect Master Zhang led the Medical Saint Martial Sect away, I brought our Yitian Sect disciples here to the Long family, hoping to beg for Sect Master Zhang's forgiveness. Some disciples I sent back to Emei, while others defected from the Yitian Sect and switched allegiance to other sects."

Zhao Zhicheng drank a cup alone, then said with a bitter smile, "That's fine, but we did lose one Elder, which is rather regrettable."

"An Elder?" Qiao Yihong, who was holding his wine cup, suddenly startled. He realized he might have just grasped the critical piece of the puzzle!

"Brother Qiao, do you remember that Yitian Sect Elder who was following me? The one who looked relatively younger? He was a fourth-layer expert I unexpectedly managed to recruit into the Yitian Sect after arriving at Kunlun. I suppose he saw that we had offended the Medical Saint Martial Sect and left without saying goodbye."

Zhao Zhicheng hadn't noticed Qiao Yihong's change in demeanor and continued lamenting.

"Yes, that's him!"

Qiao Yihong instantly sobered up. He knew exactly what crucial point he had sensed upon meeting Zhao Zhicheng.

A fourth-layer expert, wandering around the vicinity of Kunlun, who then joined a mere second-rate sect like the Yitian Sect—this was too suspicious!

"Brother Zhao, exactly how much do you know about this fourth-layer expert who joined your Yitian Sect?"

Qiao Yihong immediately put down his wine cup and stared directly at Zhao Zhicheng as he asked.

"Hmm? Is there a problem with this person?"

Zhao Zhicheng blinked, surprised that Qiao Yihong was interested in the fourth-layer expert he had recruited. But since Qiao Yihong wanted to know, he would naturally tell him everything he knew.

"Yes, Brother Zhao, please tell me everything you know about this person."

Qiao Yihong laughed heartily. He hadn't expected such an unexpected gain right after leaving the Long family plains.

He was now almost certain that this expert who had suddenly joined the Yitian Sect was definitely connected to the recent unexpected events at the Long family! To be continued...