"Clone?"
Han Pengfei's surprise flickered briefly across his face. After reading the jade slip again in detail, he finally spoke.
"So they tried to ambush you outside Tianyue City? That means they must have accomplices inside the city as well?"
"I don't like leaving loose ends. Those ten should be all of them. Whether they have footholds in other cities or used other means to conceal their traces, that's something Cloud Sea Sect will have to investigate on their own. I won't overstep."
Han Pengfei cupped his hands in thanks.
"Thank you for the warning, Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ. I will report this to the Sect Master and ensure the matter is thoroughly investigated."
"I trust in your sect's capabilities. Also, it seems they had a specific pattern when choosing their targets. Likely cultivators from second or third-generation families — not strong in cultivation, but wealthy in spirit stones and able to affect their elders' decisions at critical moments."
"You're suggesting they were deliberately targeting that type of cultivator?"
"My guess is they followed Lu Xuanyuan all the way here."
"So when you discovered him, you insisted he board Heavenly Sword Sect's ship, and even after arriving here, you never let him leave your mountain?"
"Looks like the famed Peerless Young Master gets his information quickly. That's right. Since I intervened, I wanted Purple Sky Sect to owe me a favor."
A slight smile appeared on Han Pengfei's chiseled face.
"You're still the same as always."
"What do you mean?"
Jian Dan arched a brow.
"Graceful as a celestial maiden, and more stunning than ever."
"Didn't expect that even Peerless Young Master has learned how to flatter," Jian Dan replied with a faint smile.
Han Pengfei retrieved a blue brocade box from his storage ring. He opened it and gently pushed it in front of her.
"I'm grateful for the times you've saved me. This is a small token of appreciation. Last time was rushed, and I didn't get the chance to properly thank you. So this time, I'm formally expressing my gratitude."
Jian Dan glanced at it. It was a spiritual hairpin, delicate and refined, shaped like a magnolia flower crafted from white, pink, and pale yellow pearls. It was clear the gift had been chosen with care.
"This hairpin was made from pearls I collected from deep-sea clams during my training travels. I had one of our sect's top artifact forgers craft it. It can repel water and offers defensive properties. Most importantly, wearing it long-term helps maintain youthful looks."
"Now that you've explained it, I really do like it. I'll accept it."
Without ceremony, Jian Dan swept her sleeve and tucked the gift away. Then she casually tossed Han Pengfei a three-thousand-year-old Wind-Fixing Pearl.
"This is my return gift. Don't refuse. Just take it."
Han Pengfei looked at the green pearl in his hand, feeling a bit disappointed, but still solemnly stored it away.
"Thank you, Zhūnzhǔ. I truly like this return gift. With this pearl, I'll have added protection while traveling at sea where the weather can change in an instant."
"Zhūnzhǔ, Zhūnzhǔ, a female cultivator is at the foot of the peak demanding to come up. She's looking for someone, but Bian Qikang stopped her."
Yue Liang appeared in a blink and nestled into Jian Dan's arms, reporting what she saw.
Jian Dan gently rubbed her head, teasing, "Did you patrol the entire Yunyin Peak?"
"Yes. When outside the sect, we have to be extra cautious. Plus, we'll be staying here for a while. Someone has to guard the gate."
Yue Liang swished her tail and spoke with serious formality. Jian Dan laughed, and even Han Pengfei couldn't help but smile.
"Pengfei, since someone's come to find you, I won't keep you any longer. We'll have many chances to meet again."
Han Pengfei looked a little awkward this time. He quickly bowed and left the mountaintop.
Jian Dan tapped Yue Liang on the forehead.
"You clever little thing. The woman down there clearly asked for Han Pengfei by name, and you still acted all vague."
"Yue Liang was helping him hurry down and take her away. Don't disturb Zhūnzhǔ's rest. Besides, if she barged her way up here, what face would Heavenly Sword Sect have left?"
"Heh, you've got quite the reasoning there. Still, it makes sense."
Yue Liang lifted her head proudly. Jian Dan continued, "Then you're in charge of patrolling the peak. Report back if anything happens."
"Yes, as Zhūnzhǔ commands."
In a blink, Yue Liang disappeared from Jian Dan's arms again.
Jian Dan swept her divine sense across the peak and, as expected, saw Han Pengfei leading away a delicate young female cultivator in green robes. She looked reluctant, casting one last glance back at Yunyin Peak.
Jian Dan chuckled softly, "Quite the peach blossom luck."
She immediately sent a message talisman to Bian Qikang, telling him not to disturb her unless it was a visit from someone of Purple Sky Sect.
After that, she returned to the temporary cave residence and set down a warding formation.
While Jian Dan finally enjoyed some peace, the mood of Peng Xilai, the City Lord of Yunling City, was anything but good.
His grandfather, Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ, had recently gone into seclusion after a moment of insight, leaving Peng Xilai to manage affairs.
Normally this wouldn't be a problem. Peng Xilai had done a decent job as city lord. But today, after receiving a jade slip from Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ of Heavenly Sword Sect, his mood took a nosedive.
The Jia family really had some nerve, daring to pull something like this right under his nose.
Peng Xilai felt like tearing someone apart. Worse, other families were involved too. The whole thing was starting to give him a headache, and he was beginning to wonder if he should disturb his grandfather's seclusion.
"Reporting to City Lord, someone from Heavenly Sword Sect is here. This is their greeting card."
Peng Xilai had just taken a step when he froze, then stepped back to accept the card. The signature confirmed it. It was from Jian Li.
"Invite them in, quickly!"
Peng Xilai rubbed his chest to calm himself, then went to the main hall to personally welcome Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ.
Jian Li wore a dark blue robe. His imposing presence radiated authority. Standing nearly two meters tall, he made even the usually composed Peng Xilai feel pressure.
"Greetings, Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ."
Jian Li lifted a hand to acknowledge him.
"No need for formalities, City Lord Peng. You likely know why I've come. Is Peng Wang Zhūnzhǔ available?"
He strode into the hall without waiting for an invitation and took the main seat without hesitation. Peng Xilai had no choice but to stand and reply.
"My grandfather is in seclusion."
Jian Li frowned slightly. He hadn't intended to handle this personally, but the situation had become more complicated than expected. Besides the four major families in Yunling City, it also involved several sects.
The Jia family had been cautious. Over the past forty years, they had distributed only ten five-thousand-year Wind-Stabilizing Pearls, eighteen three-thousand-year ones, and about fifty of the one-thousand-year kind.
Of the ten highest-grade pearls, five had been used within Yunling City. The remaining five were traceable, mostly purchased by high-level cultivators, making it unlikely that black-armored insects had been hidden in those.
The eighteen mid-grade pearls had mostly gone to small- and mid-sized sects and families. But the one-thousand-year pearls were everywhere.
Some had been sold directly, others bundled with high-grade magical tools, and some given as favors. Among this last group, the risk of black-armored insects was especially high.
"What does City Lord Peng plan to do?"
"Give me a few days. I need to confirm the specific destinations of all the Wind-Fixing Pearls sold by the Jia family. I also need to find out whether they transferred any suspect pearls to other merchants. Only then can we take proper action."
Jian Li was silent for a moment before replying.
"Make it quick. Jian Lu from our sect has already wiped out the Heifeng Ravine's base. It's been a full day since then. The longer we wait, the more likely they'll sense something is wrong."