Buzz!
Suddenly, multi-colored flames seemed to manifest between heaven and earth, pouring into Cao Yan's body. The fragrance of pills lingering throughout the Gu clan domain also converged around him, weaving into layer upon layer of wondrous, lingering halos of light.
Even Xiang Huaizhi was stirred by the sight, teleporting over to observe.
Sensing that Cao Yan was about to awaken, Xiang Huaizhi turned to glance at Li Guanqi and said softly, "I'll wait for you."
Immediately after, drawn by the surging aura, Xiao Chen awakened as well.
Flicking over to Li Guanqi's side, he stared wide-eyed and marveled, "Tsk, tsk... Boss, Third Brother's talent is kind of insane. Why is he still bothering to practice fist techniques?"
Gu Li retorted irritably from the side, "What's that supposed to mean? Taking a dig at me for not being ambitious? I'd love to learn other weapons too, but damned if I can master them!"
Xiao Chen chuckled at the scolding and said nothing more, for Cao Yan was already waking up.
Floating in midair, the young man slowly opened his eyes. Dressed in a navy-blue robe, Cao Yan possessed an otherworldly bearing.
He gave off the impression of a refined, gentle scholar, but only those close to him knew just how maniacal he became in a fight.
As Cao Yan opened his eyes, the halos surrounding him dissolved into specks of spiritual light and merged into his body.
Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, a grayish-black wisp drifted from the corner of his mouth, and a flare of blue-purple flame flashed in his eyes.
Whoosh!
Cao Yan landed beside the trio and murmured somewhat awkwardly, "Boss."
Li Guanqi nodded and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.
It was this simple gesture that banished the vague awkwardness lingering in Cao Yan's heart. He pressed his lips together and looked up at Li Guanqi.
The four of them took their seats around the stone table. Li Guanqi brought out a jar of strong liquor and poured a bowl for each of them.
Li Guanqi's gaze swept across the group. Meng Wanshu sat quietly beside them as well.
"I've found a master for each of you."
At these words, everyone fell silent, though Gu Li's eyes flickered.
"The Eight Generals—you should have all seen them by now."
"Whether they will formally take you on as disciples, I can't say for sure. But you should all be able to study under them for a time."
Cao Yan lowered his head, turning his wine bowl with his fingers, not daring to meet Li Guanqi's eyes. In a muted voice, he said, "Big Brother... do we really have to go? Second Brother..."
Li Guanqi frowned and snapped angrily, "You don't need to worry so much about Second Brother! I will mobilize every force at my disposal to search for him. What you need to do right now is desperately raise your strength!"
Cao Yan looked up, wanting to say more, but Gu Li caught his arm to stop him.
Seeing Cao Yan's furrowed brow, Li Guanqi abruptly threw a punch!
Cao Yan crossed both arms before him to block. His feet carved two deep furrows into the ground as the sickening crackle of fracturing bone rang out.
Thunder shrieked through the space before them, tearing open a massive rift in the domain.
Gu Li and Xiao Chen were terrified by the sudden violence, and even Meng Wanshu had not expected Li Guanqi to strike so suddenly.
Li Guanqi stood up, his chest heaving violently, his eyes bloodshot as he roared, "Look at yourself! With your current strength, what can you possibly do? Even if you found Sha, could you rescue Second Brother?"
Feeling that Li Guanqi had gone too far, Xiao Chen stood up to intervene. "Boss, Third Brother only meant—"
"Shut up!"
Boom!
Thunder abruptly detonated around Li Guanqi, shattering the void within ten zhang in an instant!
His gaze was sharp as a blade, and Xiao Chen clamped his mouth shut on the spot.
"I know you're anxious! I'm more anxious than any of you! I worry about him more than anyone! But with our strength, what good does it do even if we find him? Just relying on a few Body Integration Realm cultivators like us, do you think we can kill Sha? More than a dozen Mahayana realm powerhouses couldn't take his life—can you? Or can you?"
Cao Yan knelt half on the ground, his arms drooping weakly as blood dripped from his sleeves and pattered onto the stone.
With his head lowered, he bit his lip so hard that a piece of flesh tore away.
Cao Yan did not blame Li Guanqi in the slightest for striking him; he knew how deeply his brother cared, how much bitter thought lay behind the action.
Those were the Eight Generals!
What kind of price had Li Guanqi paid, how much pride had he swallowed, just to beg them for this chance?
With reddened rims around his eyes, Cao Yan slowly raised his head, pressing his lips together as he looked at Li Guanqi. His nose suddenly felt congested.
"I understand, Boss... I'll go!"
Gradually suppressing the restless power within him, Li Guanqi took several deep breaths, then slowly turned toward the sky beside him.
Straightening his white robes, he clasped his hands and bowed deeply, speaking in a solemn voice. "Senior Xiang, I must trouble you to take great care of him..."
Xiang Huaizhi's figure rippled out from the void. Looking down at Li Guanqi, he gave a solemn, earnest nod.
"Rest assured, I will teach him well. Whether he succeeds... will ultimately depend on him."
Straightening up, Li Guanqi smiled. He walked over to Cao Yan, kicked him in the rear, and cursed with a laugh, "Get lost, and don't you dare embarrass me! Senior Xiang already has an Eight Generals candidate eyeing his teachings hungrily. If you embarrass me, just you wait!"
Cao Yan sniffled, turned, and opened his arms to pull Li Guanqi into a hug, whispering, "I'll never embarrass you!"
Li Guanqi's arms stiffened for a moment before he gently patted Cao Yan's back.
"Don't dwell on too much. The moment there's any news of Ye Feng, I'll definitely let you know. All you have to do... is train your absolute hardest. Do you hear me?"
Cao Yan nodded vigorously and gave a low grunt of affirmation.
With their farewells spoken, Cao Yan did not look back. He teleported to Xiang Huaizhi's side, turned his back to Li Guanqi, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Be sure to tell me! I will never let you down!"
Crimson flames enveloped the two of them, vanishing from the Gu clan domain in an instant.
Cao Yan was gone. Xiao Chen stood in place, his lower lip quivering, his eyes rimmed with red.
After calming his emotions, Li Guanqi turned to Xiao Chen and asked softly, "Do you know whom I found for you?"
Xiao Chen muttered under his breath, "Do I really have to go?"
Yet the furious beating Xiao Chen had anticipated never came.
Li Guanqi merely stood before him, watching him in silence, his eyes carrying an intense, piercing emotion.
Disappointment.
Seeing that look in Li Guanqi's eyes struck something deep within Xiao Chen's chest.
He parted his lips, but Li Guanqi spoke first. "If you don't wish to go, then forget it."
Turning away, Li Guanqi looked back at the flustered Xiao Chen, his low voice carrying a heavy weight.
"I thought you had had enough of being an idle playboy, that you were ready to become someone others could lean on. Now it seems... you still haven't grown up."
Xiao Chen's expression froze. He suddenly remembered what Ye Qing'er had said to him when he visited the Ye family...
"Xiao Chen... why are you still acting like a child?"
That look of disappointment had been identical to the one in Li Guanqi's eyes right now.
Xiao Chen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said resolutely, "I'll go!"
Li Guanqi smiled and said softly toward the void, "Uncle Long, I'm counting on you!"
Chapter 988