Gu Yong let out a sigh.
"Here, take them.
"As for establishing your Guanyun Pavilion, I'll give you whatever you need—men, gold, intelligence channels, you name it.
"Even if you want to build Guanyun Pavilion into a second Tianji Pavilion, go right ahead."
Li Guanqi curled his lip and replied bluntly, "I don't have such grandiose ambitions."
He twirled the teacup in his fingers and murmured, "A man dreads fame just as a pig dreads growing fat. Right now, too many eyes are watching me.
"Most of the time, it's inconvenient for me to make any moves.
"I need a faction of my own, raised by my own hand, to handle matters for me!"
Gu Yong nodded with a grave expression. "It's sensible to think that way.
"After all, you can't treat the Great Xia Sword Sect as your personal trump card. Cultivating your own people is the right path.
"However... making Guanyun Pavilion effective in the short term will be exceedingly difficult."
Li Guanqi smiled and agreed. "I know. I don't expect Guanyun Pavilion to be of immediate help, but I have to plan for the future."
Gu Yong gave a nod, then reached into the void with an earnest look and drew out two soul lamps!
"The purple one belongs to Ji Yuchuan, and the blue one is Su You's."
Li Guanqi frowned at the two soul lamps before him.
Within them, he sensed an extraordinary fluctuation...
That was... a master-servant contract!
"Why?"
Gu Yong lifted his eyes to look at him, murmuring softly, "Because that is the price they had to pay.
"It is also why I can say with absolute certainty that they would never dare rebel."
Li Guanqi could tell there was more to the story, and that the two must have willingly surrendered these soul lamps.
Even so, controlling subordinates through such means left him feeling unsettled.
As if reading his thoughts, the elder chuckled. "Do you think it's too callous?"
Li Guanqi nodded.
Gu Yong set down his teacup and tucked his hands into his sleeves, his back slightly hunched.
"Jiang Yi, Yuan Hongyi, Tu Yongsi..."
"None of them had one."
Li Guanqi's brow knitted even tighter as countless thoughts raced through his mind. At last, he gave a quiet nod.
"I understand."
With a wave of his hand, he stowed both soul lamps away.
Rising to his feet, he clasped his fists. "Elder Gu, now that matters in Tianji Pavilion are resolved, I should head back.
"Over in Shenbao Domain, Wanshu hasn't broken through yet, so I'm somewhat worried.
"Besides, my sect will soon be making its own moves, and I need to be there to oversee things."
Gu Yong smiled and nodded. "I know a little of what's happening with the Great Xia Sword Sect. Lu Kangnian's decision... is a fine one!"
Li Guanqi grinned teasingly. "Then once I'm back, I'm throwing those two pawns of yours out, all right?"
Gu Yong pointed at him, shaking his head in amused exasperation. "You don't have to throw them out. Those two kids don't know a thing."
Li Guanqi nodded. He had learned a bit about the Blue Tower's operations by now.
Those two Great Xia Sword Sect disciples were merely sleeper agents; they didn't even realize they belonged to Tianji Pavilion.
Bidding farewell, Li Guanqi turned to leave, toying with a miniature thunder tower in his palm as a smirk touched his lips.
"Hasn't been much lightning lately..."
As he spoke, violent arcs of lightning erupted from his hand and surged into the tiny tower.
Hearing the agonized screams echoing from within, the corners of Li Guanqi's mouth curved upward.
"Ah, that feels better..."
*Whoosh!*
At that moment, the scent of blood hung heavy over the Tianji Domain, filled with terrified, desperate cries.
Li Guanqi sat atop a mountain peak. Within just a single incense stick's time, the rising and falling shouts of slaughter had died away completely.
Drenched in blood, Ji Yuchuan flew through the air and soon landed before Li Guanqi.
Bowing with deep respect, he said, "Ji Yuchuan greets the Sword Venerable."
With a flick of his sleeve, Li Guanqi produced a jar of fine wine and tossed it to him with a smile. "Have a few swallows to wash away the stench of blood.
"There's one more person coming. Wait a moment."
Ji Yuchuan caught the wine jar with a grin, sat down beside him, slapped off the mud seal, and drank in deep gulps.
*Whoosh!*
A young man clad in yellow robes landed on the peak and bowed to both of them.
"Su You pays his respects to Lord Ji and the Yanluo Sword Venerable."
Li Guanqi glanced back at Su You and waved him over with a smile.
Su You hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside Ji Yuchuan.
Li Guanqi handed him a jar of wine as well, then brought out both of their soul lamps right before their eyes.
The instant he saw the soul lamps, intense emotion surged through Su You.
Ji Yuchuan, by contrast, remained completely calm, continuing to tilt his head back and drink.
Li Guanqi hid nothing, speaking his mind directly.
When he finished, Ji Yuchuan nodded and said softly, "I am at your disposal."
Su You paused for a moment, then echoed the same sentiment.
Yet Li Guanqi simply turned toward the sunset visible beyond the spatial rift and made a quiet promise.
"A century.
"Serve me for one hundred years. When that century is up, your soul lamps will be returned, and both of you will be free."
Ji Yuchuan's pupils contracted violently!
He whipped his head toward the young man beside him, an unreadable light flickering in his eyes.
"Do you know what you are saying?
"Or rather... do you truly understand the worth of someone like me, who stands on the verge of stepping into the Body Integration Realm?"
Li Guanqi gave a wry chuckle, the corners of his mouth turning up.
Meeting Ji Yuchuan's gaze with pure white eyes, he said, "Of course I know.
"Nevertheless... that is my promise.
"Of all Guanyun Pavilion's future revenue, Ji Yuchuan will take twenty percent, and Su You will take ten percent.
"Consider that income your cultivation resources.
"You don't need to give me the rest. Pour it all into expanding Guanyun Pavilion, and spare no expense in nurturing talent."
Su You stared intently at Li Guanqi, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Are you... speaking the truth? A century!"
Li Guanqi nodded solemnly. "If you doubt it, I can swear a Dao oath."
Ji Yuchuan shook his head and looked directly into his eyes, murmuring, "That won't be necessary.
"The word of Li Guanqi, the Yanluo Sword, carries more weight than any Dao oath."
With that, a genuine smile finally spread across Ji Yuchuan's face, making him appear once more like a warm, refined nobleman.
"Ji Yuchuan of Guanyun Pavilion pays respects to the Pavilion Master!!"
Su You rose as well, the stiff, unreadable expression on his face melting into an untamed, carefree smile.
As if the shackles binding him for centuries had finally shattered, he bowed deeply with a scholar's warmth.
"Su You of Guanyun Pavilion pays respects to the Pavilion Master!"
Both voices were filled with lighthearted relief, devoid of the slightest lingering grudge.
Li Guanqi stood and said softly, "Then let us depart.
"The two of you will go ahead to the Great Xia Domain's Yunding Auction House and find Qianqiusui.
"I presume tracking down a single person won't pose a challenge to either of you?"
Ji Yuchuan let out a hearty laugh. "The Pavilion Master worries too much. We will take our leave first.
"We guarantee that by the time you visit next, the foundation will already be laid!"
Li Guanqi nodded, then added softly, "One more thing. Find someone named Chen Xiaotian.
"Nurture him in secret, but don't meddle too deeply in his life."
Chapter 697