Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

Zuo Shaojun glanced at the young man beside him and raised his hand to knock on the door.

The door opened, and Chu Xunfeng stepped into the study. The smell of paper and ink, mixed with the bittersweet taste of tea, filled his nostrils.

Chu Xunfeng followed Zuo Shaojun into the study. At the head of the table, a middle-aged man with a well-proportioned figure and slightly sunken cheeks was preparing tea.

Beside the middle-aged man, against the wall, two middle-aged men sat in armchairs, casting their gazes at Zuo Shaojun and Chu Xunfeng.

"Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I've brought the person." Zuo Shaojun took a half step down, breaking the silence.

Chu Xunfeng didn't say anything, but walked directly to the chair opposite Zuo Feichen, pulled it out, and sat down.

The two middle-aged men sitting in the armchairs exchanged a glance but remained silent. Zuo Feichen raised an eyebrow but also said nothing, handing Chu Xunfeng a cup of tea.

Zuo Shaojun, on the other hand, seemed to be startled.

"Master Zuo, I've long admired you." Chu Xunfeng looked at the master of Longquan Sword Manor. "May I ask what the meaning is behind your invitation, senior?"

"I need a way to break this deadlock." Zuo Feichen looked at Chu Xunfeng. There was no urgency or despair in the middle-aged man's expression. Instead, there was a kind of restrained calmness and scrutiny.

"Isn't the senior already making preparations?" Chu Xunfeng looked at Zuo Feichen. He felt something was off about Zuo Feichen's behavior, but after a brief moment of thought, he couldn't figure out what was wrong with Zuo Feichen, so he had to give up. "If I'm not mistaken, Longquan Sword Manor is holding the Sword Appraisal Conference because they're planning to overturn the table."

Zuo Feichen raised an eyebrow slightly, shifting his gaze from Chu Xunfeng's face to his own son standing behind Chu Xunfeng.

Sometimes, comparison is the best teacher.

"You guessed correctly," Zuo Feichen nodded, "but this approach is truly the worst possible strategy."

"No, sacrificing the pawn to save the king is not a good strategy, it's just a mediocre one." Chu Xunfeng shook his head. "Senior wants to ask me for a way to break the deadlock, and I do have an idea. However, I want Senior to be completely open with me."

Zuo Feichen stared at Chu Xunfeng for a while, then looked at his two brothers beside him and gave them a brief signal.

The two middle-aged men got up and led Zuo Shaojun out of the study.

Zuo Feichen then looked at Chu Xunfeng and asked, "Is it alright now?"

"can."

Chapter Twenty-Four: Schemes and Plans, The Curtain Is About to Rise

"Senior, my first question is, what is the purpose of Longquan Sword Manor holding another sword appraisal conference?" Chu Xunfeng sat calmly at the tea table, looking at the composed middle-aged man in front of him, and began the first step of open and frank communication.

"Firstly, I want to spread the word that replicating the Ghost Weapon is impossible. Secondly, I want to bring the matter of the Bronze Fang Beast and the Dragon Spring Sword Manor to the forefront." Zuo Feichen looked at the young man in front of him.

"A steady and methodical approach, with room for retreat, but lacking initiative." Chu Xunfeng lowered his eyes, and after a few seconds of contemplation, he had a well-developed plan in mind. "Senior, who do you plan to invite to participate in the Sword Appraisal Tournament?"

"Using the power of the Seven Star Tower, we will recruit outstanding talents from all over the country." Zuo Feichen stroked his beard.

"A good move, but still a few points short." Chu Xunfeng looked at Zuo Feichen's slightly furrowed brows and further explained, "Perhaps Senior wanted to play it safe and avoid making the whole thing too big, is that right?"

"Yes." Zuo Feichen stared at Chu Xunfeng. It would be a lie to say that Zuo Feichen felt no resentment at being evaluated twice by a junior.

"But has Senior considered that, in the eyes of the Emperor who has already begun to deal with Baidi City, incomplete obedience might be considered rebellion?" Chu Xunfeng's eyes were indifferent. Seeing Zuo Feichen's stunned expression, he remained calm. "I once firmly believed that my situation was barely manageable, but reality taught me a lesson. Since then, I have never placed too much hope in people's hearts."

Zuo Feichen remained silent for a few seconds.

Chu Xunfeng is already a hero on the Human Ranking. Although he only recently made it onto the Human Ranking, he has become very close to his son and has also been involved in the affairs of Lancang City. Zuo Feichen has also learned about Leng Junzi's past.

I once felt that I had room to maneuver, but in the end... it was nothing but wishful thinking and a pointless fantasy. As for the so-called room for maneuver, no one left it for you at all. Your self-awareness was just an illusion.

"It seems that you understand what I mean, senior." Chu Xunfeng looked at Zuo Feichen's increasingly furrowed brows and smiled calmly. "When trouble comes knocking, you either take sides completely or turn against them completely. Once you've decided to resist, the options of staying out of it or withdrawing are just excuses for self-comfort."

"Whom should I side with?" Zuo Feichen stared at Chu Xunfeng. The fact that he asked this question proved that he had been persuaded.

The young man before me may be young, but the breadth of his vision, the depth of his thinking, and even the decisiveness and ruthlessness in making decisions are not those of a novice. Since he made the suggestion, it must not be empty talk.

If Chu Xunfeng were to blurt out something like "I don't know" or "That's something you should consider yourself," his impression of Chu Xunfeng would likely be greatly diminished.

However, Chu Xunfeng would certainly not disappoint Zuo Feichen.

“Right now, isn’t the force opposing the emperor right here in Blue Cang City?” Chu Xunfeng flipped his hand and took out a nameplate from his storage wristband, placing it on the tea table.

That was the identification of a disciple of White Emperor City, and Chu Xunfeng's finger was pointing directly at that nameplate.

"In fact, the best way to avoid becoming a victim of either side in the game, besides stepping out of the game and not getting involved in the cause and effect, is to join either side of the game."

"Longquan Sword Manor will never join Baidi City." Zuo Feichen was resolute, and his gaze towards Chu Xunfeng held a hint of wariness.

He regarded Chu Xunfeng as a persuader from Baidi City.

"Senior misunderstands." Chu Xunfeng put away the nameplate. "You have not sided with White Emperor City, but with the cultivation world."

“Cultivation…world?” Zuo Feichen pondered the word, his eyes flashing, clearly having figured out some key points, his thoughts rapidly connecting.

“That’s right.” Chu Xunfeng looked at the middle-aged man in front of him and calmly guided him to think. “If we only bring in some outstanding people from the Rankings, then the so-called trickery will ultimately be just a small-scale operation.”

"How about we treat it as a bonus for the Sword Appraisal Tournament and give the forging techniques that you currently possess to the Five Continents?" Chu Xunfeng said, intending to drag the entire Xu Kingdom sect into the fray.

"After all, one fish enters the pond, two fish enter the pond, but a fish is still a fish, and a pond is still a pond. The matter of the treacherous soldiers is the pond. Right now, only Longquan Sword Manor and Baidi City are caught in it, along with the big fish, the Bronze Fang Beast. But if the fish bursts the pond, then this matter will be resolved."

Zuo Feichen remained silent for a long time. The scene described by Chu Xunfeng was grand and exaggerated, but... it was not without feasibility.

If we follow Chu Xunfeng's approach, the only problem is that "the bronze beast and the emperor of Xu will retaliate."

"Senior, you probably don't know yet that the Ghost Clan is in Blue Cang City, right?" Chu Xunfeng looked at Zuo Feichen and suddenly revealed a gentle smile. "Senior, why don't you guess what the Ghost Clan is doing in Blue Cang City?"

“A treacherous weapon… the Yin Sha Pearl!” Zuo Feichen squinted.

"By diverting the trouble to the east, the predicament that Longquan Sword Manor will face can be greatly reduced. If Baidi City also helps out..." Chu Xunfeng squinted his eyes, "Then it depends on your own abilities, senior."

After listening to Chu Xunfeng's series of plans, Zuo Feichen suddenly let out a long sigh, "But there's still one more thing."

"The Bronze Fang Beast certainly can't just sit idly by and watch this plan proceed smoothly, but... things are up to people. What the Bronze Fang Beast will do is beyond my ability to plan. I can only deal with it as it comes."

"Respond to each move as it comes?" Zuo Feichen raised an eyebrow.

"We'll deal with whatever comes our way." Chu Xunfeng nodded. "But on the other hand, all the arrangements for the Sword Appraisal Tournament must be made quickly, so quickly that we can't give the Bronze Fang Beast much time to react and make arrangements. If possible, we should pay some price and come up with a huge gimmick to grab the attention of cultivators as soon as possible and get them to gather in Blue Cang City."

“You and I both know that if the Bronze Beast is determined to make Longquan Sword Manor pay a price, senior... neither of us can afford it.” Chu Xunfeng squinted at Zuo Feichen.

Zuo Feichen was silent for a while, and finally sighed softly, "Although I am not suitable to say such things, I still want to say them."

“A son should be like Chu Xunfeng.” Zuo Feichen stood up. “Leng Junzi, there’s no need to worry too much. Since you are willing to offer advice to my Longquan Sword Manor, I will do my best to ensure your safety. However, I have one more request.”

"Please speak," Chu Xunfeng said calmly. He probably already guessed what Zuo Feichen wanted to do to get rid of him.

"Please, Mr. Leng, help me stabilize Baidi City."

"Of course, if Baidi City were to be the first to question Longquan Sword Manor's stance, then the whole matter would become nothing more than empty talk..."

"Leave this matter to me."

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Invitation

At the top of Sword Pavilion in Baidi City, all six elders of Baidi City, including the sect leader, gathered in a small study. Xu Changfeng, the current Baidi Emperor and sect leader of Baidi City, looked at the invitation card in his hand, which had been personally delivered by the Grand Elder Xu Jiujing, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Fifth Brother, has the authenticity of the nameplate been verified?" Xu Changfeng turned to look at the Fifth Elder.

“It is indeed a nameplate of a registered missing wanderer.” The Fifth Elder glanced at the First Elder, whose hands were folded in his sleeves, and looked back at the Sect Leader. “It seems that Chu Xunfeng has indeed obtained some clues that we have not been able to investigate.”

The mysterious disappearance of over a dozen wandering scholars and dozens of disciples from Baidi City in Yongzhou is no longer news. Within the Xu Kingdom, there may be forces that dare to attack Baidi City, but there are forces that can leave no trace of Baidi City's subsequent investigations...

Very few.

"Second Brother, what do you think?" Xu Changfeng looked at the Second Elder, and seeing his second brother silently shake his head, he couldn't help but frown. "Could it be a trap?"

"It doesn't seem like it." The sect leader inquired, and the Second Elder slowly offered his opinion, "If it were a trap, they wouldn't have sent an invitation in Chu Xunfeng's name, and even referred to it as a tribute from the Longquan Sword Manor..."

"If I remember correctly, the position of the Elder of Longquan Sword Manor was established around the time of the Ghost Soldiers incident," the Second Elder said quietly. "In fact, the Sword Appraisal Tournament was also a product of the period before the Ghost Soldiers incident."

“A treacherous weapon…” Xu Changfeng sighed, his finger lightly tapping on the ornate invitation. “The Longquan Sword Manor is holding a sword-tasting competition. The invitation came from Yongzhou and will arrive in four or five days at the latest. However, the competition will only be held in five days.”

"It seems Longquan Sword Manor is in a hurry." Fourth Elder Jiang Shu, who is also Xu Changfeng's wife, chuckled, seemingly trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

“We’re gathered here not to guess what happened.” Xu Jiujing, who seemed to be dozing, slightly opened his eyes and glanced at the elders and sect leader present. Once everyone’s attention was focused on him, Xu Jiujing let out a long sigh. “If you want to discuss whether to go or not, that’s your decision.”

"Going is inevitable." Xu Changfeng sighed helplessly, looking at his elder brother who seemed to be in a bad mood. "I convened the council of elders to discuss a question: who should go, and what preparations should be made?"

“In my opinion, we should just prepare according to what is written on the invitation. When we arrive in Lancang City, there are people from the Enforcement Hall. After we meet up and talk to them, we will naturally know what Longquan Sword Manor wants and what its connection is with our missing wandering warriors and disciples. As for Chu Xunfeng…” Jiang Shu’s voice was gentle, “Since Longquan Sword Manor sent out the invitation in his name, I suppose he will also entertain us.”

"That's all we can do." Xu Changfeng could only put aside his worries after hearing his wife's words. If the situation allowed, he would definitely want to personally lead the team to Yongzhou, but... he couldn't leave, nor could he leave Baidi City.

"Elders, who is willing to lead a team to Yongzhou as the invitation suggests?" Xu Changfeng asked, turning his gaze to the First Elder.

Unfortunately, Xu Jiujing lowered his eyes and remained silent.

The Second Elder seemed to ponder for a few seconds, then briefly exchanged a glance with Xu Changfeng. “If there’s no one else… I could reluctantly go, but I’m not familiar with Chu Xunfeng.”

Xu Changfeng waited a few more seconds, seemingly wanting someone else to speak, but currently, Baidi City was swamped with matters concerning the disappearance of the wandering disciple, and the elders were all busy with their own affairs. Besides...

“Second Brother, why don’t you let me lead the team this time?” It was Jiang Shu who spoke up again. At this moment, she stepped forward to help her husband. “Xiao Lingdang has made some progress in her cultivation recently, but her temperament is still not in harmony with her will. I plan to take her out for a walk. It just so happens that she has a good relationship with Chu Xunfeng. It seems perfect for me to lead the team.”

The Second Elder turned to look at Xu Changfeng, who hadn't spoken, and nodded. "Alright."

"Is there anyone else who wants to volunteer?" Xu Changfeng asked again. When no one answered, he turned his gaze to his wife and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

"It's a family matter, why talk about trouble?" Jiang Shu smiled and shook her head. "Since it's decided, I'll go down and make some preparations, and we'll set off tonight."

"Alright, be careful on the road." Xu Changfeng watched his wife fly away on her sword. He then looked at the remaining five elders. "Since the decision has been made, there is nothing else to do now... Although I don't want to say it, White Emperor City is in danger. I hope you will all remember the White Emperor's teachings and make some preparations in advance."

"Okay." Xu Jiujing was the first to stand up. "Let's go."

The Fifth Elder followed, and then the Third Elder and the Sixth Elder got up and left, leaving only the Second Elder and the Sect Leader sitting in the study.

"Sect Leader, what have you thought about the matter I mentioned to you earlier?" the Second Elder asked softly.