Fairy, don't be afraid, I, Wang Daqi, am truly an honest man.

"Third sister-in-law, you were in too much of a rush to come back last time."

Wang Daqi had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue the story, coughing twice in feigned distress, "But I have an important mission and some urgent business to attend to, how could I dare to visit my third sister-in-law without permission, in case my eldest brother finds out..."

"You little brat, when did you become such a coward??"

Tang Youyou hummed softly, her fingers seemingly unintentionally gliding over the back of Wang Daqi's hand. The touch was smooth and moist, the teasing intent unmistakable. "Since you're already here, remember to visit me later... I've been saving up a lot of things to tell you."

"This... I'm afraid it's not very convenient?" Wang Daqi feigned hesitation.

Tang Youyou chuckled and covered her mouth, saying, "Don't worry, your good brother is away these days and won't be back for a while."

Wang Daqi finally understood.

Good heavens, this Xu Taibing, on the surface he's all high and mighty, helping Xu Sheng pursue Xia Chunlian.

They even secretly stole from their own elder brother's neighbor!

The Xu family's network of relationships is more complicated than he imagined.

"Since Third Sister-in-law has so kindly invited me, then... after I rest for a while and catch my breath, I will definitely come to your place."

Wang Daqi thought to himself that he could only keep this woman calm for now, otherwise his identity would be exposed immediately if she noticed anything amiss.

Are you sure??

"Of course, but where are you going right now, Third Sister-in-law?" He quickly changed the subject.

"I was thinking of going to town to buy some new clothes to flatter my figure."

As Tang Youyou spoke, her gaze swept over Wang Daqi's pale face, and she seemed reluctant to leave. "How about I go back to the house now? You don't need to wait any longer, just come with me. I'm really anxious lately, you know..."

"Third Sister-in-law!! To be honest, I've recently been seriously injured. I need to report to the clan elders later and also ask for some medicinal pills!!"

Wang Daqi looked helpless, inwardly exclaiming that he couldn't take it anymore; his third sister-in-law's enthusiasm was just too fierce.

"Alright, alright, look at you, you coward."

Tang Youyou sensed Wang Daqi's aura and realized that it was indeed chaotic, so she knew he wasn't lying.

She pouted slightly, a little disappointed, but then leaned close to Wang Daqi's ear, her breath sweet as orchids, and whispered reproachfully, "You rascal, you haven't been seeing that Xia Chunlian outside all this time, and you've completely ignored your old flame, have you?"

"Not at all, Third Sister-in-law, you're overthinking it." Wang Daqi chuckled dryly, sweating profusely.

"Hmph, then you go to the elder's place first. The light in my room won't be off tonight. If you don't come, see how I deal with you!!"

Tang Youyou left with a look that could steal the soul of any man before swaying her hips and walking away like a proud peacock.

Watching the trembling figure disappear around the corner, Wang Daqi secretly wiped away a cold sweat, cursing inwardly: "Xu Taibing has really left behind a hot potato!!" However, this might also be an excellent opportunity to gather information…

He straightened his clothes, maintained his heavily injured posture, and walked towards Xu Taibing's house.

When Liu learned that her grandson had returned, she hurried out to greet him, surrounded by several maids.

Liu's wrinkled face was full of joy.

However, when she got closer and saw Wang Daqi's pale face and the faint, unstable, and chaotic aura around him, her expression changed instantly.

"Grandson! What's wrong with you?" Liu grabbed Wang Daqi's hand, her aged hand trembling slightly, her eyes filled with heartache.

Wang Daqi gave a weak smile, shook his head and sighed, "Grandma, don't worry, I'm lucky to be alive. I ran into a mishap while on a sect mission. I encountered a reclusive evil cultivator who actually had the cultivation of a pseudo-core cultivator. He chased me all the way and I almost didn't see you again."

This explanation was something Wang Daqi had carefully considered before he arrived.

The fact that he was pursued by someone at the "false core" level is enough to explain why he was so badly injured.

It also suggests that there is a chance of escaping, so that people will not suspect anything.

"What?! A fake Core Formation cultivator?!" Liu exclaimed in shock, cursing, "Which bastard dares to touch the apple of my Xu family's eye! And the sect, why did they assign you such a dangerous task?!"

"Ah...Grandma, this mission involves some top secrets of the sect, so I can't say more."

Wang Daqi adopted a mysterious and enigmatic demeanor, cleverly silencing any further questions Liu might ask.

"Alright, alright, Grandma won't ask, but this injury can't be delayed!!"

Liu turned her head and was about to instruct the maid, "Quickly, go and invite the clan's honored servant, Sun, and have him come over to examine the soldier."

Wang Daqi quickly pressed Liu's hand and said sincerely, "Grandma, there's no need to trouble the family elders. Actually, on my way back, I went back to the sect first and had an inner sect elder who is skilled in medicine examine me personally. He has stabilized my injuries, but he told me that I must rest quietly for the time being. I came home just to find a quiet place to rest for a while. In the days to come, your grandson will not go anywhere else and will stay at home with you."

Hearing that an "elder of the sect" had seen it, Liu was slightly relieved.

He nodded repeatedly and said, "Good, good, it's good that you don't have to go out and cause trouble. Our Xu family is a prominent family in this area, we don't lack merit. Recovering from your injuries is the most important thing. You must listen to me and not damage the foundation of your cultivation. You are the future of our Xu family."

"Grandma, don't worry, I understand."

While responding, Wang Daqi subtly steered the conversation toward the Shen family, "By the way, Grandma, I just came in and I heard the servants whispering that things haven't been peaceful at home lately. Has something gone wrong with that Bend Lake water conservancy project we're developing in partnership with the Shen family? I heard that the family is planning to abandon the cooperation with the Shen family and instead cooperate with the Hao family?"

Upon hearing this, Liu's eyes flickered. She looked around and lowered her voice to warn, "I've heard a little about this. I heard that the patriarch and several core elders have been getting very close to the Hao family lately, and it seems they've received some incredible promises from them. However, Taibing, these matters haven't been finalized at the clan meeting yet; they're just rumors circulating in private. Just keep it in mind, and don't spread it around, lest you incur family punishment."

Wang Daqi understood.

He realized that the old lady was not in the core power structure of the Xu family and only had access to some peripheral information.

He nodded repeatedly in agreement, but in his heart he had already decided on the next step.

Next, it seems we need to find a way to contact the core members of the Xu family.

"Wait a minute, that Tang Youyou is Xu Sheng's concubine, and she's quite close to him. She might know some inside information..."

"However, I'm not Xu Taibing anymore. If I get close to her like this, it'll be easy for them to find out something."

After much thought, Wang Daqi decided to go see Xu Ying first!

But he wasn't in a hurry to see Xu Ying right away.

He has just returned, and if he acts too active, it will only arouse the suspicion of those old foxes in the Xu family.

As night fell, the moon hung in the treetops.

Wang Daqi was sitting cross-legged in the room, using the pretext of recuperating to regulate his internal energy.

Suddenly, someone's voice came through.

It's Tang Youyou!

"You rascal, I'll be waiting for you at our usual spot in the backyard. If you don't come, just you wait!!"

Wang Daqi sighed helplessly; this woman was really a nuisance.

He could only get up and, under the cover of night, quietly walk toward the small garden at the back gate.

A moment later, in the shadow of a dense patch of grass, a shapely figure had been waiting for some time.

Upon seeing Wang Daqi, Tang Youyou excitedly rushed over, lowering her voice to say coquettishly:

"Taibing, you brat, why are you so late? I sent you a message talisman and you didn't answer. I thought you'd died out there!!"

Wang Daqi feigned weakness, leaning against a willow tree beside him. He coughed twice and said in a hoarse voice, "Third sister-in-law, don't mention it. When I fought that fake Core Formation cultivator, all the communication talismans I was carrying were destroyed and lost. I barely escaped with my life."

"I plan to wait until I'm a bit better before I come to catch up with you. Right now, in this crippled state, I'm afraid I won't be able to take good care of you, Third Sister-in-law."

"Alright then, you do look a bit pale." Tang Youyou said, but she moved closer to him restlessly.

Suddenly, she revealed a mocking smile, and abruptly reached out and grabbed Wang Daqi's lower body!

"hiss!!!"

Wang Daqi froze, gasping for breath. He never expected this woman to be so audacious.

In broad daylight... no, under the clear blue sky, they actually started inspecting the goods with their bare hands!

Tang Youyou had intended to make a joke, but the moment she was grabbed, her expression changed instantly. Her playful look froze on her face, replaced by extreme shock.

"Huh? Yours... why is it swollen here too?" Her eyes widened, her voice filled with disbelief. "And why does it feel so much more swollen than before???"

Tang Youyou's eyes lit up, as if she had suddenly discovered a new continent.

"Did you have some kind of adventure while you were out there?" Tang Youyou asked.

"No, it's just a little swollen."

Wang Daqi didn't know how to answer, so he could only give an ambiguous reply.

"Okay, okay."

"By the way, Third Sister-in-law, I heard that the family is preparing to cooperate with the Hao family this time you came back?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Sure enough, Tang Youyou seemed to know something and casually remarked.

Wang Daqi asked, "Why? Has the Shen family stopped cooperating?"

Why are you asking this?

"I have a fairly good relationship with some of the disciples of the Shen family, so I'm inquiring about them," Wang Daqi said.

"Well, the main thing is that the Zhou family, who specializes in beast taming, helped us achieve victory. They also said that as long as we cooperate with the Hao family, we can enter a secret realm. There's a chance to reach the Nascent Soul stage there!! You know, our patriarch really hopes to advance further and enter the Nascent Soul stage. At that time, our Xu family will be a major force at the Nascent Soul level..."

"But what if it's fake?" Wang Daqi asked, puzzled.

"Impossible! The Zhou family patriarch has reportedly agreed to take our people into that secret realm before cooperating, so we can obtain the opportunity to become Nascent Soul cultivators! At that time, the water conservancy cooperation at Curved Blade Lake will be officially severed from the Shen family, and we will instead cooperate with the Zhou and Hao families!!!"

Just as Wang Daqi was about to ask again, Tang Youyou said with a smile, "Don't ask those irrelevant questions. These are things for the higher-ups to worry about. Let's just enjoy ourselves..."

"happy?"

"You're already up, and you're still saying you're injured???"

"You're really hurt..."

"Since you have nothing to do here, let's try your favorite position!" Tang Youyou said seductively.

Wang Daqi: "…………"

He just wants to curse right now, how am I supposed to know what your favorite position is??

This is bad, what if we get caught?