The little girl's eyes darted around; though puzzled, she obediently agreed, following Li Yundong into the room like a shadow.

Li Yundong entered, sat himself by the edge of the bed, and gently tapped his palm with the sealed bag in his right hand. He didn't speak to Su Chan, only wore a solemn expression, deep in thought about some unknown matter.

Although Su Chan usually treated Li Yundong playfully, seeing his tightly furrowed brow and gloomy expression, she dared not jest. She stood quietly to the side, careful not to interrupt his reverie.

After a long silence, the little girl felt the atmosphere in the room grow so heavy it was almost stifling; she nearly cried out. Just then, Li Yundong spoke, "Chan'er, I'll ask you one more time. What you told me before—are you absolutely sure?"

Su Chan nodded vigorously, "Mmm, of course!"

Li Yundong remained silent. After another stretch of quiet, he let out a long sigh.

Seeing his worried face, the little girl cautiously inquired, "Yundong, don't be like this. Seeing you so troubled makes me anxious. I much prefer your usual bright, laughing self."

Li Yundong shook his head, a trace of bitter amusement touching the corner of his lips. "I can't laugh when I realize that among the three elders of our Fox Zen Sect, one is a traitor, and I have to be the one to expose her and then kill her!"

Su Chan was inwardly shocked but showed nothing of it. Instead, she affectionately took Li Yundong's arm and said softly, "Yundong, don't overthink it. If you have worries and need help, tell me, and this little miss can help share the burden. I was so sad you didn't tell me about these things before."

Li Yundong smiled faintly at her words. "What's making you sad?"

Su Chan pouted high, her face full of grievance. "Of course! You told Zhou Qin, you told Ziyuan, but not me—that’s unfair! And I was the one smart enough to notice some clues! Hmph! I know, you just think I'm scatterbrained, that I can't keep my mouth shut, and that I often cause trouble and mess things up! But, but I’ve been trying hard to change!"

Seeing tears welling up in Su Chan's eyes as she spoke, a wave of affection washed over Li Yundong. He took the little girl's hand, gently clasping her soft palm, and murmured tenderly, "Silly girl, do you know what I love most about you?"

The little girl wiped her tears, thought for a moment, her eyes slyly shifting. She deliberately feigned a simple thought: "Is it because I’m pretty?"

Li Yundong let out a soft laugh. "Idiot. Look around this room—which woman isn't beautiful? Isn't Zhou Qin beautiful? Isn't Ziyuan beautiful? But why do I single you out and not them?"

Su Chan secretly rejoiced, her heart feeling as sweet as if she had swallowed honey. With a bright smile, she asked again, "Then what is it about this little miss you like? It can't be that you like my mischief, right?"

Li Yundong chuckled, indulgently pinching the tip of her nose. He said softly, "I love your cute purity, your spontaneous innocence. Don't you remember when we agreed that once we cultivated, we would fly wing-to-wing and travel through all the mountains and rivers of the country?"

Su Chan's face softened with longing. She instantly recalled the days when she and Li Yundong had first met, and her smile became incredibly warm and captivating. "Of course I remember! Even though we lived hand-to-mouth back then, ... it truly felt so happy and blissful."

Li Yundong sighed deeply. "Yes. Now I'm the Master of the Fox Zen Sect, the sect leader, and we've established our own foundation. But the path we took was fraught with constant peril! While our current situation seems tranquil, I feel like every step I take is like standing at the edge of an abyss on thin ice. Furthermore, the internal strife and external threats facing the Fox Zen Sect are constant thorns in my side. I'm worried sick for myself; how could I bear to let you furrow your brow with such troubles?"

As he spoke, Li Yundong lovingly stroked the little girl's cheek and whispered, "What if my little dear lost her smile, lost her happiness, from this day forward because of these matters?"

The little girl was deeply moved. She gripped Li Yundong's hand tightly and said, "Even if I became like that, you can't dislike me, you can't abandon me!"

Li Yundong laughed heartily. "Silly girl, don't say such foolish things. Your master will ensure you are happy and joyful forever, and I will never leave you, no matter what you become."

Su Chan was flooded with tenderness. Her body went soft as she leaned into Li Yundong's embrace. Looking up at him, her gaze was one of devoted adoration for her lover, and she murmured simply, "Yundong, kiss me!"

Li Yundong cupped the little girl's exquisitely beautiful and charming face, pressing his lips lightly against her rosy, tender mouth. Though their lips parted almost instantly, both felt a taste that was deeply stirring, one that resonated to the bone and made the heart race.

Both Li Yundong and Su Chan knew this was no time for lingering affection. They separated, exchanged knowing smiles, feeling that although the kiss was shallow, the sweetness in their hearts ran deep into their very core, as if this moment were eternal, as if this moment were the end of time.

Li Yundong held Su Chan close. After a moment, he patted her shoulder lightly and said softly, "Alright, Chan'er, go fetch Senior Aunt Cao Yi for me."

Su Chan straightened up and whispered, "Yundong, why do you need Senior Aunt Cao Yi?"

Li Yundong smiled faintly. "Didn't you say you wanted to help me share some of the burden? I’m arranging for your assistance now!"

Su Chan blinked her eyes. "What do you need me to do?"

Li Yundong beckoned her closer, then whispered a few words into her ear.

Su Chan started slightly upon hearing them. "What are we doing this for? Yundong, can you be certain?"

Li Yundong smiled slightly and said, "The situation in our Fox Zen Sect right now is like searching for a snake hidden in tangled grass. We know there's a snake, but we don't know where it is. If we just wait for the snake to reveal itself, the only outcome is that innocent people nearby get hurt—like Manager Cao. I still can't figure out why she was attacked."

Su Chan pondered for a moment. "So, Yundong, you've decided to..."

Li Yundong nodded. "Exactly. I'm going to 'beat the grass to startle the snake'!"

Su Chan nodded. "I understand. I'll go call Senior Aunt Cao Yi up now." Then, looking at Li Yundong with some lingering worry, she added, "Yundong, you must be careful yourself. Watch out for..."

The little girl stopped herself mid-sentence, as if realizing her concern might be misplaced.

Li Yundong laughed. "Don't worry about me; I'll be fine. Go ahead."

Su Chan left the room, went to where Cao Yi stood, and whispered a few words to her. Cao Yi paused, a strange expression crossing her face, but she still smiled at Su Chan before going upstairs and entering Li Yundong's room.

The young fox disciples of the Fox Zen Sect paid no attention to this exchange. To them, the sect leader asking to speak with a Senior Aunt was perfectly normal; they continued chatting and laughing.

Seeing that they hadn't noticed, Su Chan quietly slipped into Cao Yi's room.

Once inside, Su Chan twitched her nose lightly, searching for the scent of blood she had detected earlier. Her sense of smell was extremely acute. After only a few sniffs inside the room, she caught a faint whiff of metallic blood in the air.

The little girl’s spirits lifted, and she immediately followed the scent. Sure enough, tucked into a discreet corner at the foot of the bed, she found a small bundle tightly secured in a plastic bag. Su Chan opened it and saw it was the Taoist robe Cao Yi had been wearing earlier.

Su Chan nodded to herself, concealed the bundle in her robes, and quietly slipped out behind the balcony door.

The little girl hopped onto the balcony outside Li Yundong's room and remained motionless, holding her breath, until Li Yundong coughed inside the room and stated in a deep voice, "Little girl, stop hiding. Come in."

Su Chan then gently pushed open the balcony door and said with a smile, "Yundong, you're so powerful now, you can sense my concealed presence."

Li Yundong smiled and pointed toward the outside of the balcony. "If you were trying to truly hide your form, how many people in this world could detect you? It was your shadow that gave you away!"

Su Chan looked back and saw her long, slanted shadow cast by the sunlight outside. The little girl smacked her head, saying with slight annoyance, "So that's how it was!"

Li Yundong smiled faintly and asked, "Did you find it?"

Su Chan took the bundle from her embrace. Li Yundong accepted it and opened it. It was indeed the Taoist robe Cao Yi usually wore. Li Yundong examined it closely and saw a faint bloodstain on the cuff and near the flank.

Li Yundong nodded inwardly. His expression was grim, and he said nothing.

The little girl beside him probed tentatively, "Yundong, what are you thinking? Senior Aunt Cao Yi... is she really the... traitor?"

Li Yundong was silent for a long moment before sighing softly, neither confirming nor denying. "I think I already know who the traitor is."

Su Chan immediately pressed him with curiosity, "Is it Senior Aunt Cao Yi?"

Li Yundong glanced at her, stroked her soft black hair, and said gently, "You shouldn't pry into these matters. You shouldn't be involved in this kind of scheming. You’ve already done all the help you can; leave the rest to me. I will drive this snake out of our Fox Zen Sect."

Su Chan pouted, protesting gently, "But I'm always worried! At least tell me some of the plan. If I mess up and look foolish, that's a small thing, but if I ruin your scheme, that would be a huge disaster."

Li Yundong considered this, realizing Su Chan had a point. Furthermore, the time had come to reveal the true intentions, and there was no need for further concealment. After a moment's thought, he smiled at Su Chan and said, "Do you know why Zhou Qin is choosing this moment to reach the Foundation Establishment realm?"

Su Chan blinked, confused. "Isn't it because her cultivation has reached the required level?"

Li Yundong shook his head. "She could do it tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that. Why the urgent need to pick today?"

Su Chan was an extremely intelligent woman. Prompted by Li Yundong, she instantly connected the dots with what had happened to Cao Ke Fei earlier. Her eyes lit up, and she cried out softly in realization.

Li Yundong let out a low chuckle. "Chan'er, do you think Yan Fang will choose right now to continue trying to kill Cao Ke Fei, or to snatch back the ** Sword that Zhou Qin is carrying?"

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