Settling the Trouble

Li Guanqi looked toward the numerous cultivators at his side, cupping his hands in a polite return greeting. "Thank you all for taking the trouble." Li Congxin rubbed his nose and curled his lip. "They're all my sworn brothers. What's there to worry about troubling them?" Hearing this, many of them instantly chuckled and threw affectionate curses at him. "You little bastard! And here I thought I rushed all this way for nothing!" "Haha, we're not afraid of trouble, but it's been years without a single word from you—and the moment you reach out, you're neck-deep in a mess!" "Don't even mention it! My damn self had just entered secluded cultivation when I got this kid's message!" "I just thought, how could we let him get bullied in the Sunset Domain? If word got out, wouldn't people laugh their teeth off?!" "Exactly! Hmph, the Xiang clan has been acting overbearing all these years anyway. Replacing them works just as well." The original cultivators of Fenhe City were flushed red with excitement. Never had they imagined that in a small place like Fenhe City, they would witness so many mighty powerhouses—and even the Yanluo Sword Venerable in the flesh! Every single deed Li Guanqi had accomplished over the years was enough to shake heaven and earth. Earlier, he had even slain Xuanmen Domain Lord Zhang Qixuan. Now, having descended the celestial staircase of lightning, Li Guanqi's demeanor stood head and shoulders above the rest. Simply standing there quietly with a calm smile was enough to make him the focal point of every gaze. His aura fully restrained, Li Guanqi raised a hand and cast a glance toward Xiang Zurong. Instantly, a spirit sword of lightning pierced through the man's skull! The head shattered like an overripe melon. Li Guanqi merely swept his eyes over the remains and said softly, "As for the Xiang clan's position, replacing them will do." Lu Yong, Fu Yin, and the others felt a jolt in their hearts. Even if they had spoken of replacing the Xiang clan, they would still have needed to discuss it among themselves afterward. Yet Li Guanqi had struck and killed him the moment he appeared! Disregarding all rules, acting entirely as he pleased. At Li Guanqi's level, so-called great clans and factions were nothing more than slightly stronger ants. Looking at Li Congxin and sensing the changes in his primal energy and sword intent, the corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved slightly upward. Turning toward Fu Yin and the other two, he pondered for a moment before speaking softly: "Let's find another place to sit and chat." "Fellow Daoists, you are welcome to join us. I am deeply grateful that you traveled thousands of li to help Congxin." Hearing his words, the crowd nodded in agreement one after another. Getting to sit and drink freely with an expert of Li Guanqi's caliber was an opportunity that rarely came by. Li Congxin grinned broadly. Every single move Li Guanqi made gave him immense face. After all, these men were all his sworn brothers; if Li Guanqi acted too dismissive and aloof, it would put Li Congxin in an awkward position. Li Guanqi smiled, produced his Guanyun Jade Pendant, and spoke softly into it. "Does our chamber of commerce have any taverns or properties in Fenhe City of the Sunset Domain?" When Yu Hua received Li Guanqi's transmission, the corners of her mouth curved upward. She replied softly, "In response to the Pavilion Master, the largest tavern in Fenhe City, the Yunmeng Zuixian Pavilion, is ours." Li Guanqi smiled slightly and said softly, "Mm... charge all structural damages in Fenhe City to Guanyun Pavilion." "Additionally, I will be bringing some people to the Yunmeng Zuixian Pavilion shortly. Have someone make arrangements; we will be there soon." With that, he put away the jade pendant and said gently, "Let's go. We will head to the Yunmeng Zuixian Pavilion together." The powerhouses dismissed their sect disciples and subordinates, and the party of nearly thirty took flight toward the city's grandest restaurant. Ling Borong of the Ling clan didn't even have the chance to say a single word before Li Guanqi had already led everyone away. Only the Ling clan members were left behind, slumped on the ground and gasping for breath. On every face flickered the joy of having survived a calamity. Gu Qingzhou was astonished to discover a surge of pure medicinal energy coursing through his body, aiding in healing his injuries. Looking down, he discovered that at some point, an inscribed talisman had been affixed to his chest! The potent power slowly mended his cracked golden core. Boom! Mid Core Formation Realm! Gu Zheng, the Gu clan ancestor, was helped up by Gu Qingzhou. Gu Qingzhou's father turned toward the direction where Li Guanqi and the others had departed, bowing deeply. "Son, you have forged a tremendous bond of goodwill..." Gu Zheng, however, saw things with utter clarity. Waving his hand, he said softly: "Our Gu clan has escaped a catastrophe this time." "However... remember well, you must never flaunt that lord's name through the streets, draping yourself in a tiger's skin to intimidate others!" The man's expression turned solemn as he bowed in agreement, and Gu Qingzhou did the same. As he flew into the distance, Li Guanqi's lips curved slightly upward, murmuring inwardly, He truly sees things clearly. Mm... in the future, the chamber of commerce can reach out to the Gu clan a bit. They have quite some integrity. From beginning to end, Li Congxin had never interfered with how Li Guanqi handled things. Because he felt that however it was handled, it was good. Before long, the group arrived before a nine-story pavilion. Across the structure, the name of the establishment was inscribed in flamboyant calligraphy. In the lower right corner, a line of smaller characters read: "Guanyun Chamber of Commerce!" Those four words alone were worth more than having any supreme powerhouse guarding the place! When Li Guanqi and the others arrived at the pavilion, rows of maidservants and attendants were already lined up along both flanks. Leading them was a middle-aged woman dressed in a flowing green robe. Mature and graceful, her expression bore not the slightest hint of coquetry. The woman was an early Soul Formation Realm cultivator. Standing deferentially by the entrance, she dipped into an elegant curtsy. Then, turning toward Li Guanqi, she dropped to one knee. "Subordinate Zhu Man respectfully welcomes the Pavilion Master!" Li Guanqi raised his hand slightly and said gently, "Zhu Man, is it? No need for such formality. Lead us up." The woman bowed her head slightly and stood half a step behind Li Guanqi, guiding the crowd forward. "Seniors, please enter. The entire ninth floor is reserved for you." "There are still other patrons in the restaurant; after coordination, we did not clear the premises." Fu Yin and the others frowned slightly, but Li Guanqi merely smiled. With a wave of his hand, he tossed over a purple-gold jade bottle and a cyan inscribed talisman. "You did well." "It seems the pavilion's rules and regulations have been strictly upheld." A fleeting look of delight flashed across the woman's face, though she did not act overly ecstatic; her sense of belonging to Guanyun Pavilion only deepened significantly! This was because Li Guanqi had instituted a rule: even when higher-ups of Guanyun Pavilion visited the chamber's properties, clearing out patrons was strictly forbidden. Thus, the moment the group stepped into the restaurant, the guests across all eight lower floors erupted into an uproar! "Ahhh! It really is the Yanluo Sword Venerable!" "Sword Venerable!" Immediately afterward, everyone rose to their feet and bowed deeply to Li Guanqi! Li Guanqi smiled and raised a hand, after which spatial energy wrapped around the party, teleporting them directly into the private dining rooms on the ninth floor. Soon, maidservants and attendants served fine wine and delicacies, and everyone drank and chatted freely. Although they were all sworn brothers with Li Congxin, some were unfamiliar with one another. Certain sects and clans even had past friction between them, but during this gathering, all former grievances melted away in laughter over wine. Meanwhile, in the smallest private room, Li Guanqi looked at Lu Yong. With a sweep of divine sense, he understood why Lu Yong had yet to step into the Mahayana Realm. In his view, among the trio of Lu Yong, Fu Yin, and Cui Xian, Lu Yong possessed the greatest talent. Yet Lu Yong harbored an old internal ailment within his body that had remained unhealed to this day. After a brief consideration, Li Guanqi drew a shimmering cyan inscribed talisman from his robe and handed it to Lu Yong. "Lu Yong, this talisman is for you. It should help you break through to the Mahayana Realm." Sensing the boundless vitality contained within the talisman, Lu Yong's pupils constricted abruptly. He hurried to his feet, bowed deeply, and extended both hands. Forcing down his tumultuous emotions, he bowed and said, "Many thanks, Sword Venerable!" Li Guanqi pulled back his hand and playfully scolded him, "You're Congxin's Sixth Brother already, why are you being so formal?" "If you stay this stiff, I'm taking it back." Hearing this, Lu Yong retracted his hands in slight embarrassment and stood up, looking at Li Guanqi as he said softly, "Sword Venerable... this gift is truly far too precious..." Li Guanqi then handed the talisman to him with a smile. "To Congxin, the sense of security you give him is, in my eyes, countless times more precious than this talisman."