Zi Yuan’s question left Li Yundong momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally sighed deeply and asked, "Why don't you want this Human Essence Golden Elixir?"

Zi Yuan smiled faintly. "For those of us who have reached the Yang Spirit realm, consuming elixirs yields little effect. First, we must cultivate slowly on our own. Second, unless we consume an Earth Essence Spirit Elixir, breaking through the bottleneck to the Golden Body realm in a short time is impossible. Therefore, this Human Essence Golden Elixir would be wasted on either of us."

Li Yundong considered this, his expression troubled. "I actually have a leaning in my heart, but it's hard to say right now. I need to talk to the other two and ask for their opinions before I can make a decision."

Seeing how difficult this made Li Yundong, Zi Yuan felt awkward pressing him further and said, "Then forget it. Go ahead and ask your other questions."

Li Yundong didn't stand on ceremony and immediately asked, "Do you think Yan Fang intended to force us out then?"

Zi Yuan paused to think. "It's highly possible!"

Li Yundong pressed on, "Do you think she deliberately lured us to Mount Gezao tonight?"

Zi Yuan deliberated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "There is a possibility of that!"

Li Yundong frowned deeply, seeming to muse aloud, "If she intentionally lured us to Mount Gezao, then why? If she lured us there, why force us to show ourselves? What benefit does forcing us into the open bring her?"

Zi Yuan followed his line of thought. "Have you considered why the deceased Mei Niang reappeared before our eyes? If the one we saw was real, then who was the one that died?"

Li Yundong clapped his hands, stating gravely, "You’ve hit the crucial point! I suspect the one who died was a substitute, or perhaps a Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman! Since the Six Jia Yang Spirit Talisman can conjure a lifelike living person, why couldn't it conjure a desiccated corpse that has been drained dry?"

Zi Yuan showed a look of admiration, praising, "You are correct! That is very likely!"

Encouraged, Li Yundong’s spirits lifted, and he continued, "Furthermore, we saw a mysterious person rescue Mei Niang and then trap us with the Immortal Binding Rope. And I have met this person before in the secret chamber of the Fox Zen Sect. Who do you think this person is?"

Zi Yuan's extremely beautiful eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "I have a vague guess, but I shouldn't say it."

Li Yundong said, "If you can’t say it, then write his name in your palm, and I’ll write one too. Let’s see if our thoughts align."

Zi Yuan nodded. "Alright." With that, she picked up a pen from Li Yundong's room, wrote a character in her palm, and handed it to him. After Li Yundong had written his character, they both opened their hands.

Li Yundong stared intently. He saw the character 'Liu' written in Zi Yuan's palm, while he had written 'Ye'!

Li Yundong and Zi Yuan exchanged a look and then burst out laughing simultaneously.

Li Yundong closed his hand. He said, "If this person is the former Sect Master Liu Ye, then there are even more questions."

Zi Yuan gently rubbed the palm that had been writing on, and the character in her hand vanished. Zi Yuan nodded and said, "You are right. Why did Liu Ye fake his own death? Why did he pass the Fox Zen Sect on to you? Why is he allied with Wan Zhenyuan of the Gezao Sect? Why has his appearance and physique changed so drastically? Why did he orchestrate a scene to fake the deaths of Changsun Hong and Mei Niang? Why did he save Mei Niang? Why did he tie us up with the Immortal Binding Rope?"

Faced with so many 'whys,' Li Yundong couldn't help but sigh, forcing a bitter smile. "I never imagined that becoming the Sect Master of the Fox Zen Sect would stir up so much trouble."

Zi Yuan’s expression turned severe. "Li Yundong, don't underestimate these matters. My Second Martial Aunt Yan Fang repeatedly warned me that a great catastrophe was coming to the cultivation world. And haven't you suspected all along that someone has been following us? Moreover, this person stole the corpses of those two golden snakes. It now seems highly likely that Liu Ye stole them! If my premonition is correct, a major calamity is brewing in the cultivation world, and the one instigating it is either my Second Martial Aunt Yan Fang, or Liu Ye and Wan Zhenyuan!"

Li Yundong pondered. "You speak sense. Liu Ye stealing the two great golden snakes was likely to give them to Wan Zhenyuan to refine the Earth Essence Spirit Elixir. But what would he want with the Earth Essence Spirit Elixir? For himself? What benefit does orchestrating all this bring him?"

As Li Yundong spoke, a strong sense of resentment suddenly welled up in him. Taking over the Fox Zen Sect was supposed to be a duty accepted in a crisis, but in the end, he realized he had been used. This feeling made him extremely uncomfortable.

Zi Yuan seemed to sense Li Yundong’s mood and gently comforted him, "If you don't want to be used, then don't be the Sect Master."

Li Yundong sighed deeply. "I didn't take this position for myself. Although taking a group of stunning fox spirits around is certainly eye-catching, I absolutely would not have become the Sect Master if it weren't for Su Chan. She has lost her master, and if the Fox Zen Sect were also destroyed under my watch, I truly wouldn't know how to face her. Furthermore, although Liu Ye performed a vanishing act by faking his death, it doesn't necessarily mean he harbors ill intent. I believe the others in the Fox Zen Sect are unaware of Liu Ye's pretense; most of them are like Su Chan—simple, guileless, sweetly naive little spirits. If I abandon them, I fear they will face utter ruin!"

Zi Yuan was momentarily stunned, and a look of deep admiration and praise bloomed in her eyes. She said, "Indeed, this is a man of true loyalty and righteousness! After spending time with you, I can sense how profoundly reliant the entire Fox Zen Sect is on you. If you were to abandon them now, they certainly wouldn't be able to accept that reality or its consequences!"

Li Yundong nodded. "Yes, all I can do now is keep it from them and protect them in secret, especially Su Chan and Zhou Qin. I owe them the most, and I absolutely cannot let them suffer even the slightest harm."

Zi Yuan smiled faintly. "So, what do you plan to do going forward? The cultivators we offended tonight—while they didn't attack us immediately, it suggests they have accepted that we took the Human Essence Golden Elixir—they certainly won't let this go. Based on my analysis, there are only a few ways they might retaliate against us."

Li Yundong’s expression turned solemn. "Tell me. I'm listening."

Zi Yuan extended a slender, delicate finger. "First, they could come to our doorstep to challenge us and arrange a private meeting in a hidden place to settle the score. This is unlikely, because the more ordinary mortals surround us, the less they can do. We can simply refuse that arrangement."

Li Yundong nodded. "Correct. And the second?"

Zi Yuan extended her second finger. "Second, they could attempt a sneak attack on you, much like what you've experienced before."

Li Yundong snorted. "Then let them come. As long as they don't target the other members of the Fox Zen Sect, I don't care."

Zi Yuan said, "The cultivators we offended tonight are all people of status and reputation. Although some among them may be shameless and greasy, they wouldn't stoop so low as to do such a thing. Otherwise, their reputation would be utterly ruined."

Li Yundong relaxed slightly. "If that’s the case, that’s a relief. What about the third?"

Zi Yuan raised her third finger. "Third, the Lotus Gathering Festival is approaching soon. They will certainly invite us. If we don't attend, every Daoist sect in the world will come after us, because they will all perceive you as weak and easy to bully. Relations between cultivation sects are mostly cold struggles for survival; there's little talk of chivalrously aiding the weak. Beating a dog when it’s down is their usual practice. But if we attend, they can openly make a move against you. This is the dual dilemma that worries me most!"

Li Yundong let out a soft laugh and clapped his hands. "What's there to worry about in that? As the saying goes, you go toward the tiger's den knowing there's a tiger there! These people are hoping we won't show up, so I absolutely must go. Not only must I go, but I must also show this group that I, Li Yundong, am not someone to be trifled with, and that our Fox Zen Sect is not some soft persimmon to be squeezed at will!"

Zi Yuan nodded slightly. She continued, "Fourth, and finally, if the direct approach fails, they will certainly resort to softer tactics: suppressing us in business, squeezing us out, and cutting off our sources of income!"

Li Yundong frowned, pondering. "This is what worries me most. Other sects have vast influence, and your previous connections have been severed by the Orthodox Unity Sect. In this area, we are at a definite disadvantage and might suffer a huge loss!"

Seeing Li Yundong fret, Zi Yuan, in turn, gently counseled, "There’s no need to worry. As the saying goes, face troubles as they come. As long as they don't brazenly storm in, we have ways to cope. Besides, at worst, we just close this shop and find other ways to earn money. There are countless ways to make a living in this world; there's no need to clash head-on with them."

Hearing Zi Yuan’s words, Li Yundong chuckled. "It won't be that easy for them to cut off our livelihood. The mortal world, unlike the cultivation world, operates on reason and rules; they won't be allowed to cause chaos here."

Zi Yuan smiled faintly. "It's better if you can maintain perspective and remain calm. I just fear you might act rashly and make a mistake because you can't let things go."

Li Yundong laughed, "Am I that kind of person?"

Zi Yuan glanced at Li Yundong. "Weren't you? Back at Mount Gezao, you acted rashly to the point of almost committing suicide, and you even yelled at me. Have you forgotten so quickly?"

Li Yundong threw his head back and gave a forced laugh. "That was an accident, just an accident!" As he spoke, his gaze lingered with playful interest on Zi Yuan's ethereal, stunning face. He teased, "Does an Immortal Fairy also keep track of past slights?"

Zi Yuan froze slightly, annoyed, and shot Li Yundong an exasperated look. "What? Am I not human? In all my years, no one has ever yelled at me like that!"

Li Yundong quickly apologized with a conciliatory smile. "Alright, alright, I was wrong. Please forgive this humble one this time, Immortal Fairy? I could never repay the immense kindness you've shown me, even if I served you like an ox or a horse!"

Zi Yuan snorted. She opened her mouth, intending to deliver a sharp retort to Li Yundong, but suddenly felt that talking to him this way was improper, too much like the teasing banter between young lovers. Zi Yuan’s earlobes flushed warm and red. She didn't dare linger, walking to the doorway herself. She turned back and said, "I'll go call Su Chan in. You can talk to her now. I'm leaving."

Li Yundong watched Zi Yuan’s expression—a blend of playful anger and delight—her cheeks flushed pink, and a rare hint of seductive charm shining in her eyes. She was indescribably captivating. His heart gave a sudden jolt, and the words he was about to speak caught in his throat. He watched helplessly as Zi Yuan left the room, unable to utter a single sound.

After stepping outside, Zi Yuan found Su Chan sitting on the sofa in the living room. The young girl had her head bowed, gently swinging her legs, her eyes fixed on her own dangling feet as if lost in thought.

Su Chan looked up when she heard the door upstairs open and saw Zi Yuan emerge. Her eyes lit up, and she hurried to meet her. "Sister Zi Yuan, Yundong didn't say anything harsh to you, did he?"

Zi Yuan looked at Su Chan's innocent, pure face and, for some inexplicable reason, felt a complicated, indefinable emotion; she suddenly didn't want to face this girl right now.

Zi Yuan's gaze darted away as she said vaguely, "No, um... Li Yundong wants you to go up now." With that, she quickly left Li Yundong's residence, leaping from the balcony back to her own quarters