Jian Po had already swept her Primordial Soul across the courtyard and knew who stood beyond the restriction. With a charming smile, she turned to report to Jian Dan and Jian Jing, "Zūnshàng, it is Kong Xingkun. He has likely realized the situation."
"Let him in."
"Yes."
Jian Po flicked her hand to open the array. Kong Xingkun entered with his followers. One glance upward, and he saw that the alluring woman in black possessed Divine Transformation cultivation. The three must have concealed their realms yesterday.
As for the two seated, he could not sense their cultivation at all. Kong Xingkun's heart sank to the bottom.
That morning, after finishing a full circulation of cultivation, he had summoned Lan Yi to attend him. Instead, Lü Qiao came in.
"Young Master, Lan Yi went out early. We do not know where."
"Did you send a transmission talisman?"
"Not yet."
Lü Qiao sounded reluctant. Her pretty face was full of grievance. She murmured, "Young Master, do not favor Lan Yi too much. Lü Qiao will not accept it."
As she spoke, she brushed her storage bangle and produced a brand-new set of a male cultivator's washing implements. Like a winding vine, she wrapped herself around Kong Xingkun to help him dress and tidy.
"Once I have served Young Master well, I will send a message for Lan Yi to return."
Kong Xingkun did not refuse. He enjoyed the sight of female cultivators vying for his favor. It proved his boundless charm.
When Lü Qiao finally left with a spring breeze on her face, Lan Yi still had not returned.
The transmission talisman Lü Qiao sent circled once and drifted back to their own courtyard.
Kong Xingkun frowned and personally searched Lan Yi's room. Everything inside was as usual. Lan Yi's storage bangle and storage ring lay on the bed, but she was nowhere to be found.
Yet yesterday he had watched her walk back to her room, glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Just then, the message jade at his waist trembled. News from the clan: Lan Yi's soul-lamp had gone out at the hour of chen. They asked if there was a problem.
Alarm bells rang in his mind. Stringing the clues together, it was obvious. Lan Yi had never left the courtyard. She had been killed in her room, right under his eyelids.
Kong Xingkun understood at once and immediately gathered his people to leave Tianquan City. He feared they were being watched.
"Young Master, will we not attend the Yao and Jin clans' pairing ceremony?" Lü Qiao asked carefully. After all, they had come precisely under that pretext.
"We leave first. Lan Yi has fallen." His voice was low.
At first the others were surprised. Then a gleam of joy flashed in their eyes. One less rival for favor. Lü Qiao said, "Young Master, perhaps Lan Yi offended someone. That is her personal grudge. Why must it involve us?"
Her eagerness to smear the other woman made Kong Xingkun's heart jolt. Since entering the city, Lan Yi had been with them. The only time she went out was to investigate those three female cultivators. Could it be…
"We leave first."
Kong Xingkun's face darkened. No one dared argue. They escorted him out at once, heading straight for the Transmission Hall.
Upon arrival, the array keeper spoke politely, "Honored guests, you will need to wait a few days. The array is under maintenance and cannot be used."
Lü Qiao's brows shot up. They had just watched another group sent off by the very same array. Now it did not work?
"Then we will use a different array."
They went to the neighboring platform.
There, the keeper sent a quick talisman to his colleague, then opened the array and allowed paying cultivators to depart one after another.
Everyone waiting understood. Whether an array was "under maintenance" depended on who stood before it.
Naturally, Kong Xingkun's group was stonewalled at the other array as well. Lü Qiao tried to throw around the authority of high-level cultivators, but the Void Refinement overseer merely skimmed them once with his Primordial Soul. They wilted completely.
Kong Xingkun needed no more hints. Gritting her teeth, Lü Qiao led them to the docks for large flying boats. The result was the same.
"Honored guests, this boat has a fault and must remain in harbor for several days."
"Then why are those people boarding right now?" Lü Qiao's face turned a shade of green as she demanded.
A late Divine Soul cultivator guarding the gangway spared them a glance and said, "Since you already know why, why ask? You do not even know who you offended, yet you make a scene here?"
"You—"
Kong Xingkun's brows knotted hard.
"Young Master, we will leave through the city gate."
Lü Qiao made a new suggestion. The cultivator only curled his lip, said nothing more, and boarded the now-full flying boat, which lifted into the sky.
"Enough. Stop embarrassing yourselves. We return first."
One look at the man's expression and Kong Xingkun understood. They could not leave Tianquan City. Forcing it might bring unknown consequences. He chose to return, reconsider his options, and inform the clan. It would be shameful, but survival mattered more.
Back at Xianlai Inn, he thought it over and brought his people to Feixian Pavilion. He tapped the restriction, which led to the scene at the start.
"Kong Xiaoyou, my Senior Sister and I have matters to handle. Do not wander these few days. Wait quietly in Tianquan City. When this is over, I will send you back to the Kong clan."
Jian Dan's words held a deeper meaning. A chill ran through Kong Xingkun. He forced out,"Senior, in what way has this junior offended you? Please give me a chance to make amends."
"Oh? Did you not set your subordinates to pry into us? Could you not discover who we are?" Jian Dan sipped spirit tea and asked deliberately.
If Kong Xingkun still did not understand the reason for his confinement, his Divine Soul realm had been cultivated in vain. "Senior, forgive me. I overreached my station—"
Before he finished, Feixian Pavilion's restriction rippled again. Jian Po opened the array at once. Jin Liuli and Jin Ai entered.
Jian Dan's guests had arrived. She had no interest in entertaining Kong Xingkun further. She waved them off.
Kong Xingkun had not yet reacted when Jian Po raised her hand and ushered them out. He knew he had kicked an iron plate, but even now he did not know whose.
Jin Liuli passed them with her aunt, smiling brightly as she came to greet the two Zūnshàngs.
"Jin Ai greets the two Zūnshàngs. Thank you, Seniors, for your assistance." Jin Ai's voice was still slightly hoarse, but not unpleasant.
For today's visit, Jin Ai had changed into a fresh ice-blue robe. Her hair was coiled in flying clouds, the same blood-jade hairpin fixed in place. Her features were fair, her brows clear and gentle. She shared a three-tenths resemblance to Jin Liuli, though she was softer in bearing.
Jian Dan lifted a hand to seat the two and said, "Liuli has told you everything, I assume. Are you willing to come to Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"Jin Ai is willing. First, it allows me to put my strengths to use. Second, it is to aid Lingyun Continent. As one of its people, it is my honor."