The fairy forced me to marry into her family, so I retorted by throwing myself into the Pool of Fate

"Hmm, that was a bit too much force."

Seeing that Hong Peng stood there in a daze without responding, Li Ping dispersed the nascent giant wave with a single palm strike.

Hong Peng composed himself and walked to Li Ping's side: "Fellow Daoist Li's cultivation is mediocre, but I didn't expect him to have such talent in the art of magic."

"It's only because of my superior magic that I was able to defeat you."

Li Ping waved his hand, and seeing that he still wanted to ask more, he added, "To tell you the truth, this spell was actually bestowed upon me by Yuebai."

"I see," Hong Peng said, suddenly realizing.

The two then walked along the shore, talking as they went.

After the exchange, both of them felt they had benefited greatly.

At this moment, Hong Peng stopped and turned back to look at Qing Teng Island. He couldn't help but sigh, "Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. I never thought I would have to leave this island one day."

Li Ping glanced at him: "Qingteng Island is a barren place to begin with. Fellow Daoist, are you not happy about moving to another place?"

"Fellow Daoist Li, you flatter me. I'm just having some emotional turmoil right now."

Hong Peng smiled, then changed the subject, saying:

"I wonder what your future plans are for Green Vine Island, Fellow Daoist Li?"

"If you don't want to cause trouble, just follow the steps," Li Ping said. "Of course, every year, a portion of the tidal vines on this island will be reserved for your Hong family."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Li."

Hong Peng bowed and then began to explain the essentials of caring for the vine.

Li Pingyuan thought that this Tide-Growing Vine was a wild spiritual plant and that it was fine to just let it grow.

But after Hong Peng explained it to me, I realized there were many intricacies involved.

"According to Fellow Daoist Hong, if I want to manage the Tide-Growing Vine on this mountain, do I need to hire someone to take care of it?" Li Ping asked.

"That's natural. In the past, my Hong family on the island had no fewer than five cultivators, one of whom was a spirit plant master."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping was immediately put in a difficult position.

Hiring someone isn't difficult; just go to the Mu family's General Affairs Hall to issue the task.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Mu family disciples, with their high standards, are willing to come to this remote island.

Furthermore, the spirit stones required to hire cultivators are also a considerable expense.

"If Fellow Daoist Li needs manpower, my Hong family has plenty available," Hong Peng said.

Li Ping turned his head and gave him a deep look.

"Li is just a front-line soldier. I need to go back and discuss this with my wife before making a decision."

"That's true." Hong Peng nodded and said no more.

The two continued deeper into the island, inspecting all three sites under repair before turning back.

"Judging from this, it should be completed in a week at most?" Li Ping asked.

"No need for a week, three or four days will suffice," Hong Peng said.

"Now that the project is finished, why don't we hold a banquet to reward everyone?" Li Ping asked with a smile.

Hong Peng was taken aback and stopped in his tracks.

Remembering the five hundred spirit stones he had been swindled out of last time, he could no longer remain calm.

Just as he was about to refuse, he saw Li Ping turn around and smile:

"What, Fellow Daoist Hong, are you unwilling?"

"Last time..."

"Judging from your expression, I'll provide the spirit stones this time, and you can just wait for the feast tonight."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Ping turned and walked away.

Hong Peng stood there stunned for a long time before he came to his senses.

This kid... at least he has some conscience now.

But why does it make me seem petty?

Hong Peng shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and went back to his courtyard on his own.

……

……

As night deepened, only the small courtyard on the island remained brightly lit.

In the courtyard, two square tables were filled with delicacies and fine wines.

The aroma of wine and meat filled the air.

Hong Heipi sniffed, inhaling the aroma of wine and meat filling the courtyard, and couldn't wait to join the feast.

"Look at you, like you haven't eaten in eight hundred years." Hong Ji curled his lips.

"So what? That's just how I am. Take it or leave it."

"Hey, look at him..." Hong Ji looked at the other three Hong family cultivators.

"You've finally managed to get a meal, so try not to say too much," someone advised.

"Yes." Uncle Hong sighed softly, suddenly feeling a little sad. "After five years of hard work on the island, I never expected that these last few months would be the most comfortable."

"Li Daoyou is still the best."

When no one responded for a long time, he turned his head and saw Hong Xing staring coldly at him from the side.

"Friend Li, you might as well change your surname to Li," Hong Xing said discontentedly.

"Sister Xing, I..."

Uncle Hong tried to explain, but was interrupted.

"No, he's a son-in-law who lives with his wife's family; you should change your surname to Mu."

Hong Xing raised an eyebrow and turned to leave.

She sat down next to Hong Peng and repeated what she had heard.

"They've suffered so much these past few years," Hong Peng sighed.

"Father, why are you like this too?"

Seeing that Hong Peng remained silent, she could only sit aside and sulk.

After a long while, Li Ping pushed open the door and entered.

Seeing that all the cultivators on the island had arrived, he said with a smile:

"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone please take your seats."

After everyone was seated, Li Ping went between the two tables.

"The construction on the island is nearing completion, and everyone has worked incredibly hard. This banquet is a special occasion prepared by the Mu family to express our gratitude to you all."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Heipi and his three companions clasped their hands in response.

In contrast, Hong Xing and Hong Peng reacted indifferently.

Li Ping smiled, his gaze suddenly falling on Hong Heipi: "Hong Heipi, how has my Mu family treated you?"

Hong Heipi glanced guiltily at Hong Xing, and seeing her expressionless face, replied, "Of course, it's excellent."

Li Ping nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "Excellent? Then why would your Hong family plot against my Mu family?"

Upon hearing this, all the cultivators were shocked, and even Hong Peng suddenly stood up.

"Fellow Daoist Li, the Hong family and the Mu family have been on good terms for generations. Please retract such remarks immediately, lest you damage the friendship between our two families."

"Fellow Daoist Hong, now that things have come to this, are you still going to keep pretending?" Li Ping sneered.

Hong Peng felt a little uneasy, unable to figure out where Li Ping's confidence came from.

He glanced at Hong Xing instinctively, and seeing her shake her head, he hardened his tone again: "Fellow Daoist Li, don't talk nonsense."

"Nonsense? I'm asking you, what did you do at that cave and spring?"

Hong Peng's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart skipped a beat as he realized something was wrong.

He forced himself to take a breath and explained, "Naturally, it's to build a cultivation cave."

Li Ping was amused by his words. He shook his head and looked at Hong Ji and Uncle Hong: "Why don't you two brothers tell me why you were guarding the mountain spring in the middle of the night?"

The two men's expressions changed, and they looked to Hong Peng for help.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Hong hasn't told you brothers the really important matter."

Li Ping sighed softly, then suddenly saw Hong Peng give the others a wink.

In the blink of an eye, the Hong family cultivators, who had been so respectful just moments before, suddenly sharpened their eyes and locked onto Li Ping, waiting for Hong Peng's command to swarm him.

"Fellow Daoist Li, sometimes being too smart isn't necessarily a good thing." Hong Peng stepped forward slowly, a smile on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Hong, do you think you've got me cornered?"

"Use whatever means you have," Hong Peng said calmly.

Li Ping smiled coldly and clapped three times in quick succession.

Bang!

The courtyard gate was kicked open, and a group of cultivators rushed in.

There were only five people, but each of them possessed a powerful aura, all of whom were at least in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, with the three leaders being in the late-stage of Qi Refining.