A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 542 Concession
As dusk fell, tiny specks of light, like beans, appeared on Cuiwei Peak.

Lanterns were also lit up under the eaves and corridors of the manor halfway up the mountain.

Suddenly, the door to Young Master Li Ruozhou's room opened, and a servant carrying a food box came out, turned the corner in the corridor, and headed towards the kitchen.

The guards standing there only glanced at the servant before looking away.

Li Ruozhou was quite fond of food and drink, and the servant in his room would go to the kitchen every night to bring back some food and wine. The guards were already used to it.

The servant walked down the corridor with his head down, his hat drooping...

He hid in the shadows of the corridor, the newly fallen twilight providing excellent cover, and no one noticed his swollen, bruised head.

After passing the area within the manor where the Tianyan Sect resided, the servant breathed a sigh of relief.

Inside the manor, the patrols and guards in other areas were all from the Taiyi Sect, so no one paid any attention to him.

He slung the food box over his shoulder and swaggered toward the kitchen, but instead of going inside, he walked through the kitchen and headed straight for the west gate of the manor.

The west gate of the manor was where miscellaneous items came and went, and where maids and servants changed shifts. Maids and servants came and went from time to time, and the guards only checked those who came in, but ignored those who went out.

Li Ruozhou was dressed in a slightly ill-fitting servant's outfit, but it was dark at the time, so it was not easy to see that he was a servant. He blended into the sparse crowd and walked straight out of the west gate.

Li Ruozhou exited through the west gate and slowly walked to the edge of a platform. He glanced around, and taking advantage of a moment of inattention, suddenly darted into the dense forest. He tossed aside the food box he was carrying and vanished into the darkness...

Inside the Elders' Council, Li Yunjing was presiding over the negotiations for the alliance. His proposal was once again rejected by Zhu He. This time, Li Yunjing was furious and simply quit, telling Zhu He to come up with a new proposal.

Zhu He was quite decisive and quickly came up with a plan. Li Yunjing actually rejected it twice in a row. He said, "Chief Zhu, you can't just look at the problem from your own perspective."

Zhu He said, "Sect Leader Li, if I loosen my grip even a little on this treaty, it would mean huge profits. I think we should clarify things."

Li Yunjing sighed. What he feared most was someone like Zhu He. Zhu He was an expert on all kinds of interests, big and small, and very patient, arguing with you bit by bit, with an attitude of neither taking advantage of you nor letting you take advantage of him. This kind of guy was polite on the surface, but he was the most difficult to deal with.

The two went through several drafts before finally reaching an agreement on this matter.

By this time, it was almost midnight, and the area outside the Elders' Council was already pitch black.

Li Yunjing had worked through several versions of the treaty and spent the whole day studying the densely packed text. Suddenly, he looked up at the lamp beside him and felt a wave of dizziness. He turned his head and saw that it was already pitch black outside. He sighed and said, "Let's stop here for today! Even though we managed to gnaw a piece of the toughest bone, we've still gained something. We can talk about the rest tomorrow."

The elders all stood up wearily and dispersed.

Li Yunjing walked back to his room in the manor, plopped down in the armchair, and didn't want to move. He sipped a few mouthfuls of ginseng tea before remembering that he still had Li Ruozhou to think about.

"That brat!?"

The thought of Li Ruozhou sent a sharp, stabbing pain through his temples. Though unwilling to move, he struggled to his feet and headed toward Li Ruozhou's room.

When he reached the door of Li Ruozhou's room, he gently pushed it open, and the door opened with a click. The bolt he had kicked off that morning was still lying at the doorway.

As Li Yunjing entered the room, he saw Li Ruozhou sitting with his back to him at a table, with a stack of books in front of him and a square cap on his head.

Li Yunjing frowned and scolded, "When were you ever reading a book back in the sect? What are you pretending for now?"

As Li Yunjing cursed, he suddenly noticed that "Li Ruozhou" was trembling uncontrollably...

A bad feeling flashed through his mind.

Just then, "Li Ruozhou" suddenly rolled over and knelt down, the square cap she had been wearing fell off her head, her long, flowing hair cascading down, and she cried out in a delicate voice, "Sect Master, spare my life! It was the Young Sect Master who forced me to sit here!"

Li Yunjing gasped, his face turning extremely pale. He shouted, "Where is he?!"

He shouted, startling the woman so much that she trembled like a leaf. She tried to speak, but her teeth chattered, and she couldn't utter a word. She pulled out an envelope and held it tremblingly in both hands. "Young Sect Master..."

Before she could finish speaking, the envelope suddenly swayed and shot into Li Yunjing's hand like an arrow.

Li Yunjing glanced at the envelope and saw it was sealed with wax and stamped with Li Ruozhou's personal seal. He tore it open, pulled out the letter, and, by the lamplight, stared intently at it. It read: "Father, I have no intention of arranging this marriage! Your unfilial son is leaving now! Do not make a big fuss about finding me; I will not return to Youzhou for the time being! Your son has decided to travel and broaden his horizons. Do not worry! Your unfilial son, Ruozhou!"

"This unfilial son!?" Li Yunjing's roar was like a thunderclap, and his right palm surged with energy, smashing the flower stand and flower pots by the door to the ground into dust!

This loud shout, along with the flower stand reduced to dust, terrified Li Ruozhou's lover, causing her to turn pale and almost faint.

Yang Tianyi also heard the noise and moved to the corridor by the door. He didn't know what had happened, so he just stood there at the door, not daring to go in!

Li Yunjing's face turned fierce as he suppressed his anger. Looking at the fair-skinned woman who was slumped on the ground like a noodle, he asked sharply, "When did he leave?"

The woman knew she was being questioned, so she bit her lip hard to calm herself, and answered in a trembling voice, "Just after... 5 PM... they left after dusk..."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunjing's eyes turned even more ferocious. It would have taken them almost two hours to get there!

He suddenly transformed into a streak of black light and rose into the air.

Li Yunjing stood in the night sky, riding the wind. The howling wind blew his hair and sleeves. He looked at the endless, dark mountains and felt a pang of sorrow. He sighed, "Li Yunjing, you have truly failed in raising your son!"

Two hours have passed, and Li Ruozhou has long since disappeared. Where can he find him in this dark, endless mountain range?

Li Yunjing returned to the manor and landed in the corridor in front of Li Ruozhou's room, where Yang Tian was already waiting.

Li Yunjing glanced at the fair-skinned woman in the room, a deep disgust flashing in his eyes, and coldly said, "Tianyi, beat this woman to death!"

Li Yunjing's tone was calm and cold.

Upon hearing this, the woman knew her death was imminent and immediately cried out for mercy. "Spare me! Zong..."

As soon as she cried out, Yang Tianyi strode over, grabbed her by the throat, and dragged her away.

A few breaths later, Yang Tianyi returned to the corridor. He knew that Li Ruozhou had escaped and Li Yunjing must have something to tell him.

Sure enough, as soon as he arrived, Li Yunjing said, "Tianyi, take a few people and ride the Cloud Feather Mad Eagle back to the sect tonight. Use all the resources within the sect to find that rebellious son for me!"

“The focus is outside Youzhou.” Li Yunjing said, handing the letter left by Li Ruozhou to Yang Tianyi.

Yang Tianyi took a look, and his expression immediately turned serious. "Outside of Youzhou, the sects' strength is limited, I'm afraid..."

"Go! Do your best. Don't delay!" "Yes, Sect Master!" Yang Tianyi clasped his hands in a fist salute and strode away.

After Yang Tianyi left, Li Yunjing stood in the courtyard for only a moment before suddenly transforming into a black beam of light and shooting straight from the manor toward the Elders' Council.

The Elders' Courtyard was completely dark by this time, except for a guard at the entrance who was yawning.

Li Yunjing did not go to find the servant on duty, because the person was of low status and communication would be too slow.

As he hovered above the Elders' Council, two powerful divine senses swept towards him in a crisscrossing motion.

Li Yunjing then released his divine sense and headed towards one of the powerful divine senses.

He knew that the four guards in the Elder Council were all experts at the Cave-Nether Realm, and were directly under the leadership of the Sect Master Chu Qiushan. They could report directly to Chu Qiushan if anything happened.

After the two divine senses crossed and swept over him, they already knew Li Yunjing's identity. Therefore, when he flew into one of the people's bodies, no one stopped him.

Li Yunjing landed in front of the man and saw an old man with white hair and a white beard not far away. The old man was sitting on a large rock in the southeast corner of the Elders' Courtyard, holding a cat in his arms.

In the pitch-black night, the cat's two eyes gleamed with a cold, eerie light, like two jewels.

The old man squinted, seemingly unaware of Li Yunjing's arrival.

Li Yunjing clasped his hands in greeting and said, "I have urgent business to attend to and wish to see Sect Leader Chu. Could you please show me the way?"

The old man opened his eyes, glanced at Li Yunjing, and during this time, his aged, wrinkled hand gently and slowly stroked the cat in his arms. He coldly asked, "What is it?"

Li Yunjing hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Two days later is the engagement ceremony for the two marriage alliances. But my son is unruly and has run away!"

Upon hearing this, the old man, holding the cat, stood up from the large rock. He knew this was an important matter and could not be delayed.

The old man tossed the cat aside. The cat, which had been lazily curled up, suddenly flipped over in mid-air, landed smoothly, and let out a rather disgruntled meow.

The old man said, "Follow me!" and then transformed into a streak of black light, shooting into the sky.

Li Yunjing also transformed into a streak of black light and followed closely behind.

Two black streaks of light swept across the night sky, and soon after, they drew a rather graceful arc and landed on a mountaintop.

The old man looked at a thatched hut not far away and said, "Sect Leader Chu lives over there. Sect Leader Li, you may go there yourself. I'll take my leave!"

After the old man finished speaking, he transformed into a streak of black light and disappeared before Li Yunjing could reply.

This old man was a senior member of the Taiyi Sect, and he was known for his eccentric nature. Li Yunjing had chosen to approach him, but he didn't mind and walked towards the thatched hut.

Li Yunjing was quite surprised that Chu Qiushan lived alone in such a thatched hut. He couldn't help but think to himself: "A thatched hut on a lonely mountain. It seems that this person is indeed devoted to the Dao."

There were no talisman arrays near Chu Qiushan's thatched hut, but as soon as Li Yunjing approached, a dim light shone from inside the hut.

Li Yunjing stood at the door, clasped his hands and said, "Sect Leader Chu, please forgive my late visit!"

"Sect Leader Li, please come in!" Chu Qiushan's slightly hoarse voice rang out.

Li Yunjing lifted the animal skin curtain hanging at the door and stepped into the house.

The room was extremely simple, and the two sat down in front of a dilapidated wooden table.

Chu Qiushan poured Li Yunjing a glass of water and said, "I am by nature carefree. I built a thatched hut on this mountain and live here. When I am not the sect leader, I am no different from a wild man. I hope Sect Leader Li will not laugh at me!"

"I wouldn't dare!" Li Yunjing said, "Sect Leader Chu is single-mindedly focused on cultivation; this is the true nature of us cultivators!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Qiushan smiled slightly and asked, "Sect Leader Li, your visit at this time must be due to some trouble, right?"

A look of displeasure flashed across Li Yunjing's face. "My son is unruly and refused the marriage proposal. Two hours ago, he actually ran away!"

Chu Qiushan's eyes flickered. He picked up the bamboo tube, took a sip of water, and said nothing. His silent face was as hard as a rock.

Li Yunjing said, "This matter is a breach of etiquette by our Tianyan Sect! It is also due to my poor discipline that I have raised such a rebellious son. Sect Master Chu, my suggestion is that the engagement ceremony be postponed for five days?"

As Li Yunjing spoke, an ugly smile appeared on his face. He was just trying anything, and he didn't believe for a second that he could find Li Ruozhou in seven days.

Chu Qiushan glanced at Li Yunjing and said coldly, "This matter concerns the marriage alliance between the two sects. I need to ask the ancestor before I can reply to Sect Master Li."

Li Yunjing said, "Of course, of course, that's how it should be."

The marriage was originally arranged by Li Ku and Lü Yinlin. In fact, after agreeing to postpone the wedding, Li Yunjing would also report the matter to Li Ku.

Chu Qiushan stood up and said, "Sect Leader Li, you may return to the manor first."

Li Yunjing said, "I will wait here for Sect Master Chu! I will be restless and unable to sit or lie still if I go back now!"

"That works too!" Chu Qiushan replied, then transformed into a streak of black light and shot into the night sky.

Deep in the valley, inside Lü Yinlin's cave dwelling.

After listening to Chu Qiushan's report, a hint of displeasure flashed across Lü Yinlin's face. He pondered for a moment and then asked, "Qiushan, what is your opinion on this matter?"

When Chu Qiushan saw that Lü Yinlin was asking for his opinion, he clasped his hands and said, "Ancestor, although Yang Sixuan led people to quell some of the rumors about Li Ruozhou yesterday, many rumors are still circulating within the sect. Li Ruozhou's escape has only fueled the fire, and the rumors and speculations are flying everywhere."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yinlin sighed with a grave expression and said, "Li Yunjing intends to postpone the engagement ceremony by five days. What do you think?"

Chu Qiushan said, "This idea is absolutely unacceptable!"

Lu Yinlin looked at him with interest, signaling him to continue.

Chu Qiushan continued, "The invitations to the wedding ceremony, scheduled for two days from now, have already been sent out. If we change it again, combined with the news of Li Ruozhou's escape, it will make it seem like our Taiyi Sect is eager to form a marriage alliance with their Tianyan Sect. There will inevitably be gossip throughout the sect. Moreover, what if we really postpone it for five days and still can't find Li Ruozhou? That would be even more embarrassing, as if we were rushing to offer him up, but they didn't want him!"

Lu Yinlin's face was very gloomy. Although Li Ruozhou's escape was a breach of etiquette for the Tianyan Sect, it was also a slap in the face for the Taiyi Sect.

Lu Yinlin coldly said, "Tell Li Yunjing that the wedding will be held two days from now, the date remains unchanged! If Li Ruozhou cannot be present in two days, it will be a breach of etiquette by the Tianyan Sect. In that case, they will have to make concessions on this alliance!"

(End of this chapter)