Shen Lingshu calculated briefly and said, "I've figured it out. It's better if I appear with you for the direct negotiation. Of course, this is just my suggestion."
Zhu Xuanji then said, "We'll follow the elder's advice."
The next moment, Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu soared into the sky together.
Zhu Xuanji's voice echoed through heaven and earth, "I am Zhu Xuanji of the Southern Bean Royal Family, an officer of the Divine Hunter Office. Today, I bring alongside me Master Shen Lingshu. We are here on official orders and seek an audience! Please swiftly open your gates and pass the message."
His voice spread into Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, resonating within the valley for a long time, leaving everyone in shock.
Atop Yuanlai Mountain.
Ning Jiufan heard Zhu Xuanji's shouts and was immediately overjoyed, "It's Lord Divine Hunter Zhu. Hahaha, how did he get here?"
"Oh! It must be Ning Zhuo, definitely Ning Zhuo."
"This wretched kid, still so cunning, actually made arrangements in advance and asked for reinforcements."
"This is a descendant of the Ning Family, hahaha. He even outsmarted Meng Kui, let alone Lin Bufan?"
In a moment, Ning Jiufan's confidence surged, and so did his spirit.
He was clearly trapped and taken prisoner, but now he stroked his beard with a smile, "Sect Leader Lin, listen, it's Lord Zhu Xuanji!"
"Months ago, Lord Zhu Xuanji came to visit the Fire Persimmon Immortal City. We had a delightful conversation, and he got along harmoniously with our Ning Zhuo."
"If you doubt my official status, you can certainly verify it with him. Lord Divine Hunter Zhu is respected throughout the country, representing the Southern Bean Royal Family on this mission. He certainly won't deceive you."
Lin Bufan: ...
What a headache.
Sect Leader Lin felt a headache coming on.
He had originally thought that as a Nascent Soul Cultivator, after painstakingly managing Ten Thousand Medicine Valley for a hundred years and having both geographical advantage and popular support, taking hold of a family that had migrated from the Northern Land would be a piece of cake.
But unexpectedly, Ning Jiufan turned out to be an official.
And more unexpectedly, after Ning Zhuo disappeared, he had kidnapped his own daughter, Lin Shanshan.
Even less expected was Zhu Xuanji's sudden appearance with a Nascent Soul Level cultivator to assist.
Lin Bufan, who had thought he could control the situation, was hit by one surprise after another, finding the situation rapidly slipping out of his grasp and becoming extremely awkward.
Ning Jiufan, with a gesture suggesting he had Lin Bufan's interests at heart, advised, "Sect Leader Lin, please make a quick decision. After all, Lord Zhu Xuanji is here on official orders. His travels represent the majesty of the Royal Family."
"If you shut the door on him and attract criticism, even if the Southern Bean Royal Family overlooks it, and Lord Zhu Xuanji, magnanimous as he is, other people will take note and speculate."
"In that case, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect's business might plummet. After all, who would want to ally with a power that has bad relations with the Southern Bean Royal Family?"
Lin Bufan snorted coldly, "Not a bad display of verbal finesse. Is this the demeanor of a man from the Northern Land?"
Ning Jiufan's smile faltered slightly.
However, Lin Bufan brushed his sleeves and flew out of Yuanlai Mountain.
He opened a narrow slit in the Mountain Suppressing Array and, through the Array, addressed Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu, "The esteemed presence of our two honored guests at Ten Thousand Medicine Sect truly graces us. This Array has been activated not to repel visitors, but due to the unclear whereabouts of Young Master Ning Zhuo. It has been set up to protect and facilitate the search to prevent any accidents. I hope both of you will forgive our precaution."
Lin Bufan, a Nascent Soul Level cultivator, also referred to Ning Zhuo as Young Master. His reason for doing so was to elevate Ning Zhuo's status to express goodwill.
Zhu Xuanji said, "I am here precisely for him..."
Before he could finish, high in the sky, Ning Zhuo appeared, accompanied by Lin Shanshan.
Ning Zhuo bowed apologetically, "Brother Zhu, Sect Leader Lin, for causing such a commotion, I am truly to blame. Earlier, I went on an adventure deep into the demon cave without notifying anyone. I did not expect such a stir upon my return, affecting the entire Ten Thousand Medicine Sect and even prompting Brother Zhu himself to come here in person. I apologize to both of you!"
After speaking, Ning Zhuo bowed deeply.
Beside him, Lin Shanshan also smiled, first greeting Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu, then calling out to Lin Bufan in public, "Dad, you're all right, I'm relieved you're concerned."
Lin Bufan's smile was as pleasant as a spring breeze, and he spoke warmly, "I'm relieved that you two are unharmed. Next time, don't go running off on your own."
Their words were loaded with deeper meaning.
After the exchange, Lin Bufan ceased the operation of the Mountain Suppressing Array and invited Zhu Xuanji and Shen Lingshu to enter the mountain with him.
Once everyone had landed on Yuanlai Mountain, the entire Ten Thousand Medicine Sect was abuzz.
People began to discuss the incident enthusiastically.
"I was wondering why the Mountain Suppressing Array was suddenly activated. It turns out it was for Young Master Ning Zhuo."
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"It gave me a start, I thought the Myriad Demons Cave was having another Demon Beast Tide surge."
"That's impossible! There hasn't been a demon beast from the Myriad Demons Cave for many years. Seeing Zhu Xuanji make an appearance, I guess something serious like a criminal has turned up here, prompting Sect Leader Lin to activate the array and start a round-up."
"I didn't expect it to be because of Ning Zhuo."
"Did you all just hear? Even Sect Leader Lin addresses Ning Zhuo as 'Young Master'!"
"I've done some investigating, the Ning Family of Fire Persimmon Mountain isn't that large, so why does Ning Zhuo receive such treatment from Sect Leader Lin?"
"I have no idea! All I know is that the renowned Divine Hunter, Zhu Xuanji, famous throughout the country, has also come especially for Ning Zhuo!"
"What on earth is Ning Zhuo's identity?"
"Rather than that, I'm more curious as to why Lin Shanshan, the Sect Leader's beloved daughter and the miss of Ten Thousand Medicine Sect, would suddenly stroll arm in arm with Ning Zhuo?"
"Hey, now that you mention it, that piques my curiosity as well!"
"What else could it be. They are of equal status, a perfect match, maybe they just took a liking to each other."
Hearing others discuss this, Hua Guzi's face turned a shade paler.
Seeing this, Hanzhou shook his head and sighed, "The struggles of the world. Hua Guzi, you…"
He was about to offer consolation when Hua Guzi coldly interrupted, "Shut your mouth!"
Hanzhou felt an unprecedented sense of danger coming from Hua Guzi and hastily closed his mouth, no longer speaking.
Hua Guzi clenched his teeth secretly, "Young Master Ning Zhuo must have encountered danger previously, otherwise Lin Bufan and Zhu Xuanji wouldn't offer their assistance."
"It must be that Lin Shanshan!"
"Hmph, it must be Lin Shanshan coveting the Young Master's beauty, leading him into danger. She's too wicked, that woman is too wicked! She wants to snatch the Young Master away from me!!"
Lao De and his fellow disciples exploded with shock.
"Little Sister? How could Little Sister suddenly appear, and stand together with Ning Zhuo?"
"She was grounded, wasn't she? How did she secretly run away?"
"I understand our master. He would never raise the Mountain Suppressing Array out of the blue if there wasn't something serious afoot."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Maybe Little Sister eloped with Ning Zhuo, and the master found out, that's why he's using the array to seal off the area!"
"Ning Zhuo has devious motives, scheming his whole heart out just for a successful elopement, even deliberately inviting Zhu Xuanji as a backup. Now, both he and Little Sister are sealed within Ten Thousand Medicine Valley, they will eventually be found, so that's why Zhu Xuanji can only make his entrance."
The brothers were silent...
Many of them covered their chests, feeling as if their hearts were about to break.
"How could Little Sister..."
"I've been annoyed by that pretty-faced Ning Zhuo for a while. That guy must have honey on his lips, a thief, he's a thief!"
"Where is the eldest senior brother? I need to tell eldest senior brother! This is too big of a matter."
"Eldest senior brother must be fretting in the Myriad Demons Cave, right?"
"Alas, we few should go find eldest senior brother and report the situation."
"Hold on, isn't this all just our speculation?"
"What else are you waiting for? If we wait any longer the sun will set!"
The group hurried towards the Great Struggle Peak's back mountain, but on arriving at the Myriad Demons Cave, they found it empty.
"Eldest senior brother?"
"Where is eldest senior brother?"
"Eldest senior brother has disappeared!"
Array-within-Array.
Linghu Jiu paced back and forth, executing his swordsmanship, breathless with fatigue, "Damn it, what is this array? How am I going to get out?"
"Ning Zhuo! Brother Ning Zhuo!!"
Being terrible at formations, he could only uselessly call out Ning Zhuo's name, hoping for assistance.
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