At this thought, a flicker of anxiety crept over Palace Mistress Wan'er's face. She might have regained her freedom, but there was nothing she could do about it — she could hardly go down the mountain and stay at Gu Pengzhan and Gu Mengyao's side forever, could she?

Besides, though she had regained her freedom, whether she would be allowed to leave the mountain was still an open question. The Grand Elder had surely long since given the order forbidding her to set foot outside.

"Miss, there is nothing we can do about these matters for the moment. The good news is that the people of the hidden Yu family have made no move yet, and the hidden house where Uncle Pi resides appears not to have caught wind of it either!" Elder Li sighed. "For now, all we can do is wait and see... But at present the greatest danger to the Gu family is not the hidden Yu family, nor Uncle Pi's hidden house — it is something else entirely!"

"Uncle Li, what other trouble is there?" Palace Mistress Wan'er was briefly startled, and asked at once, anxious.

"As far as I know, Ma Zhu's master Jin Wudi has already filed an application with the Arbitration Association of the Hidden Houses, intending to emerge from seclusion and go after Wei Zhao to avenge his disciple! Whether the Gu family will be caught up in it when the time comes, I cannot say..." Elder Li let out a sigh, his expression somewhat grave as he nodded.

"But... what are we to do? How strong is Ma Zhu's master?" Palace Mistress Wan'er asked.

"I have looked into it: an Earth-rank expert, with early Earth-rank strength..." Elder Li said. "And once his application is approved by the Arbitration Association of the Hidden Houses, Wei Zhao will not be his match, I fear..."

"Elder Li, Wan'er begs you — could you pass this news on to Yao Yao's close guard Wei Zhao as soon as possible? So that he can prepare himself in time?" Palace Mistress Wan'er knew that Elder Li could not possibly intervene himself, and that she could not leave the mountain either; the only channel was through the people of the Shadow Group. And though the Shadow Group were masters of lightness skill, their actual strength was very ordinary — they could be of no real help. The one thing they could do was carry word.

"Rest assured, Miss. This much an old servant can still manage! I have loyal men of my own within the Shadow Group; I will get this news to Wei Zhao as quickly as I can!" Elder Li nodded.

"Then that will have to do. Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Li!" Palace Mistress Wan'er said helplessly, and across her delicate face swept a deep worry and sorrow...

As the saying goes, once you enter the palace gates, the sea runs deep. This palace is not that palace, but the reasoning is no different.

...

An off-road vehicle labored along the mountain road. At the wheel was Zhong Yongliang, and Gao Xiaofu sat in the passenger seat.

"Brother Liang, we are about to see Paozi! I am honestly a little excited!" Gao Xiaofu said, gazing out the window eagerly.

"Do not say anything foolish when we get there. This place is full of martial experts; in their eyes we are nothing at all. Do not go courting trouble!" Zhong Yongliang instructed Gao Xiaofu mildly.

"Don't worry, Brother Liang, I know where the line is!" Gao Xiaofu nodded hurriedly. He felt that Zhong Yongliang had grown much more reserved of late; the swagger was gone from him, and he had come to carry himself with something of Wei Zhao's calm.

Zhong Yongliang nodded, said no more, and kept driving.

Half an hour later, the car arrived before a checkpoint — not an official one, but one set up privately by the sect on the mountain.

This was neither a tourist spot nor a thoroughfare, so no one but those visiting the sect would ever pass through here.

"What are you here for?" A young man in black walked over and tapped on Zhong Yongliang's window.

Zhong Yongliang hurriedly rolled down the window and said respectfully, "Hello, we have come to visit Zhang Naipao!"

"Zhang Naipao? You are friends of Junior Brother Naipao?" At the name, the young man's manner turned respectful at once, and his attitude toward Zhong Yongliang became most cordial.

"Yes, the two of us are Zhang Naipao's good brothers, here to visit Brother Naipao!" Zhong Yongliang nodded, though inwardly he was rather startled. It seemed Zhang Naipao was doing well for himself here?

Zhong Yongliang had learned to read people by now; seeing the young man's expression, he could tell that he held Zhang Naipao in deep respect — and that respect spilled over onto himself as well!

Zhong Yongliang understood the rules of this place well: the only thing that earned a man respect was his own strength. This man called Zhang Naipao "Junior Brother," yet treated him with such deference — the only explanation was that Zhang Naipao was strong, stronger than many of his own seniors!

At that thought, Zhong Yongliang could not help but feel a secret thrill. It seemed he had not misjudged the man after all — who would have thought Zhang Naipao was such a fine hand at cultivation! Zhong Yongliang could hardly wait to learn just how far Zhang Naipao had cultivated himself.

"Junior Brother Zhang, keep watch here a while. I will take them up the mountain — they are friends of Junior Brother Naipao!" the young man called to another man not far off.

Hearing Zhang Naipao's name, the other man's face too took on a solemn expression, and he nodded. "Very well, leave it to me!"

The road above was no longer passable by car, so Zhong Yongliang and Gao Xiaofu got out and followed the young man up the mountain on foot.

After a while, Zhong Yongliang and Gao Xiaofu were visibly flagging, while the young man strode on as if flying, seemingly untroubled by the rugged path. In truth, as the lowest-ranking patrol disciple, he ran up and down the mountain several times a day; it had long since become routine.

"You have good stamina, Brother. We are done for..." Zhong Yongliang panted.

"I am only the lowest-ranked disciple. Junior Brother Naipao... heh, he is far more capable than I!" the young man said, not without envy.

Hearing this, Zhong Yongliang grew more astonished still. He could not imagine what Zhang Naipao had done to deserve it, but the man seemed to be doing rather well for himself — this fellow had admired him several times over now! If he were not truly formidable, one word of flattery would have been enough; no one would keep it up this long.

"Naipao is very strong now?" Gao Xiaofu could not resist asking.

"Incredibly strong! But there is a reason for his success — his willpower is something the rest of us cannot match. For the sake of training... he could actually... never mind, I will not say. You will know when you see him!" the young man said admiringly.

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