What am I thinking about?

Mi Juan squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them again, although her eyes were still red and her tears were still wet, the surging uncontrollable emotions inside had been forcibly suppressed.

"Please excuse my poor appearance." Her voice was still a little hoarse. "Besides confirming your well-being and visiting my child, I have something more important to do."

“The internal investigation of Jiehai Mountain has revealed that this was a premeditated attack against our clan, and also against you, sir.” She continued, “The blood of these three children cannot be shed in vain. The entire Jiehai Mountain community will not swallow this insult.”

"For this reason." Mi Quan's voice was resolute, without the slightest hesitation.

"Jiehai Mountain is willing to cooperate with your sect. We will offer all the ancient books and materials treasured within our clan that may be useful for this battle, as well as all our strength. As long as we are of the same mind, Jiehai Mountain is willing to be at the forefront."

These words resonated deeply.

Ji Wang did not immediately show acceptance: "On behalf of the many comrades in the valley, I thank Jie Haishan for his sincerity and determination."

He looked around the hall, his gaze landing on the spot where the three people from Xunjing had sat: "But this matter is of great importance, and it is not something I can decide alone."

Then, his gaze turned to Bu Jiu beside him. Although his tone had not changed much, the natural closeness and trust were revealed: "However, since it is your tribe, I... am always more at ease."

Mi Quan's gaze, following Ji Wang's words, also focused on Bu Jiu.

The elder's emotions in her eyes softened slightly, replaced by deeper expectations and an almost earnest entrustment.

“My lord…” she called softly, her voice filled with awe and sorrow, as well as the plea of ​​a junior to an elder.

She was waiting for his statement, waiting for him to once again point the way for the community.

Bu Jiu had already calmed down: "They all agreed?"

The meaning of "they" is quite clear.

The Jiehai Mountain area is not peaceful. There are elders who have been away from home for many years and have close ties with the human race, which makes them resentful. There are also clansmen who advocate for a peaceful existence in one corner of the land and do not want to get involved in the conflicts of the outside world.

There were also peers with whom he had disagreements and harbored resentment.

These subtle barriers have always stood between him and some of his people.

Mi Quan nodded: "Yes, we agree to everything. Before the survival of the clan and the blood feud... any past grievances and differences are insignificant and can be put aside for the time being."

Her next words, spoken softly, struck Bu Jiu's heart like a hammer: "And they also know that it was you, sir, who personally helped those three children..."

She mentioned "children" again, her voice still trembling slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and spoke the second half of the sentence with perfect clarity: "...the first blood debt was avenged."

After a moment's thought, Bu Jiu's gaze returned to Ji Wang's waiting eyes: "In that case, I have no objection."

“Then it’s settled.” Ji Wang had already anticipated his agreement and had gone over the arrangements in his mind; now he only needed to state them aloud. “Jiehai Mountain has its own traditions and will, and in specific actions and internal affairs, it will naturally respect your opinions and methods. But—”

He shifted his tone slightly, his gentleness diminishing: "In important matters, especially when it involves the final decisions of Ling Gu and the forces behind him, we must listen without blaming them."

Upon hearing this, Mi Quan took a half step back and bowed in accordance with the ancient etiquette for demons meeting venerable ones: "Thank you, Venerable Daoist... and Lord He."

“Coincidentally, I need the clan’s help for something.” Bu Jiu gestured for Mi Juan to sit down. “Could we use the clan’s inherited tracking token?”

The Tracking Token is a secret treasure that the Fox Clan doesn't use lightly. It uses bloodline resonance as a medium to track the whereabouts of all clan members.

Mi Quan showed no sign of distress; on the contrary, she seemed to have expected it and immediately replied, "This junior knew that you might need this item, sir. Before we set off, the elders who stayed behind had already activated the tracking token together once."

She spoke calmly: "The last place where Ling Gu was last seen was the bitterly cold land of the far north."

“The frigid land of the far north…” Huai Qing’s tone didn’t reveal much surprise, but rather seemed to have resigned himself to his fate. “You two, you never stop talking.”

These words sound like a complaint, but they are actually filled with heavy worries.

He had just come from the medicine hut, still carrying the lingering scent of medicine, clearly having been busy preparing for the two's recovery. In the blink of an eye, he learned that they were heading to that extremely dangerous place again.

Ji Wang picked up the teacup, tested the temperature, and handed it to Bu Jiu. He then turned to Huai Qing, his expression calm: "It's no coincidence that Ling Gu fled there. It's likely a key lair, or perhaps it contains other secrets to the formation. We must go."

Bu Jiu took the cup and continued, "Blood debts must be avenged, and hidden dangers must be eliminated."

Seeing their increasingly resolute expressions, Huaiqing knew that any further persuasion would be futile. The decisions these two had made, especially those involving blood feuds and the greater good, were likely beyond the sway of even their own mothers.

He sighed, a sigh that carried more helplessness than blame.

"What about your injuries?" he asked directly. "Your shoulder injury has improved, but it's not fully healed. His demonic power and mental state are also depleted... What kind of place is the far north? Spacetime is chaotic, making every step difficult, and even the flow of spiritual energy is affected. Are you going there in this state to chase after the enemy, or to deliver yourselves to their doorstep?"

Ji Wang paused for a moment, then admitted, "So I need time to prepare, and I also need your help."

He looked at Huaiqing with sincere eyes: "I will hurry up and adjust my breathing to try to guide the Dao Source to protect my body more stably. Bujiu needs better pills to strengthen his foundation and nourish his vitality. Perhaps the books sent by Jiehai Mountain will have some, and I will need your help to select them."

Bu Jiu also spoke in a low voice to Huai Qing, "I will adjust my condition as soon as possible. Now that the clan has agreed to cooperate, some suitable secret medicines and items to keep warm should be available."

Hearing that they had a plan, Huaiqing's expression softened slightly, but her brows remained furrowed.

"And what about our allies?" Huaiqing said clearly. "Do Xunjing and the others know? The far north is remote and treacherous; it's impossible for a large force to go there. Should you scout ahead first, or do we need elite troops to assist? What about the people from Jiehai Mountain? These things need to be discussed."

Ji Wang nodded: "I was just about to go and discuss it with them. Mi Quan has returned to her clan's territory to gather supplies and intelligence, and we should have a response by tomorrow at the earliest."

Huaiqing looked at them, knowing that everything was already set in stone: "Alright, I'll go check the prescription and prepare some emergency medicine for you, so you don't really perish in that freezing weather."

Only when Huaiqing's figure disappeared outside the door and the sound of her footsteps faded into the distance did Ji Wang realize that his peaceful days were about to end again.

He watched as Bu Jiu finished his tea in small sips, his expression softening slightly. Suddenly remembering something, he hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"Huaiqing... he's always wanted to travel around, to see rare medicinal herbs and ancient medical relics. It's just that we troublemakers always hold him back. This trip to the far north, though dangerous, often hides rare and exotic herbs that are extinct elsewhere..."

He looked at Bu Jiu, his eyes filled with a hint of probing and negotiation: "Why don't we ask him if he wants to go together?"

Bu Jiu slowly began, "I'm afraid he'll go into hibernation halfway through."

"..." Ji Wang's expression went blank for a moment.

Hibernation? But that doesn't seem entirely unreasonable? After all, Huaiqing's original form was...

Ji Wang's expression gradually shifted from blank to enlightened, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

He leaned closer to Bu Jiu, his tone slightly incredulous, to confirm: "Would you still be like this after transforming?"

Bu Jiu glanced at him: "With high cultivation, one can naturally suppress one's nature. But the extreme north is bitterly cold, and when one's energy is greatly depleted, one's instincts will be affected to some extent, especially when one is in the dark for a long time."

Bu Jiu gestured, trying to describe the state more accurately: "Not really asleep, but reactions may be slower."

Ji Wang imagined the usually capable and efficient Huai Qing gradually becoming listless and sluggish in the freezing cold, perhaps even subconsciously wanting to find a warm cave to curl up in…

The image lingered in his mind, and Ji Wang's smile hadn't completely faded, but his expression had become serious: "Huai Qing has always been very measured in his actions, so we don't need to make decisions for him. If he really wants to go, he will definitely find a way to overcome the obstacles beforehand. He's not the kind of person who would hold us back."

He stepped forward and kissed Bu Jiu's lips, softening his tone as if in a coquettish manner, and analyzed, "Moreover, with your people now, and the Jiehai Mountain lineage being so long-standing, there must be someone in the clan skilled in medicine who can stabilize the rear. On the contrary, it's us..."

Ji Wang pointed to himself and Bu Jiu: "One's Dao Source is not yet restored, and the other's demonic power is damaged. When we venture into such a dangerous place, it is only with Huai Qing by our side that we feel at ease."

Bu Jiu had to admit that Ji Wang was right.

His long eyelashes drooped, concealing the thought in his eyes. When he looked up again, his eyes were resolute: "Then let's ask him what he wants. If he really did fall asleep by accident, I can bring him back safely."

Looking at his reliable appearance, Ji Wang couldn't help but lean closer, pressing his forehead against Bu Jiu's forehead, and sighed softly with a smile, "With you by my side, I really feel at ease."

The reliance and trust were undisguised, making Bu Jiu's ears burn slightly, and the serious atmosphere of the previous discussion softened.

Ji Wang took the opportunity to straighten up and stretch his shoulders: "Speaking of which, I feel that this injury is healing quite quickly. Huaiqing's medicine is indeed powerful. After lying down for so many days, my bones are about to stiffen."

He looked at Bu Jiu with bright eyes: "If the weather is nice tomorrow, will you come with me to the back mountain to practice swordsmanship? We won't use spiritual power, just to stretch our muscles and bones."

Bu Jiu's gaze immediately locked onto the injured area on Ji Wang's shoulder blade: "Really healed?"

He clearly didn't believe Ji Wang's claim that things "got better quite quickly," as this person was used to reporting only good news and not bad.

"Let me see." Bu Jiu said, leaning forward naturally and reaching out to unbutton Ji Wang's clothes.

The next second, Ji Wang nearly jumped off his chair like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Why are you taking off my clothes!"

Bu Jiu was taken aback by his overreaction, his finger hovering above his clothes: "What do you mean by taking off your clothes!"

He pressed down hard on Ji Wang's uninjured shoulder with his other hand, signaling him to behave: "How can I check your injury if I don't do this!"

"That...that won't do either!" Ji Wang's cheeks inexplicably flushed, his eyes darted around, and he spouted absurd arguments, "The first time you took the initiative to...take off my clothes, how could it be...like this!"

His words were incoherent and rambling, but he grasped the key point in an extremely strange way.

Bu Jiu was clearly stunned by the unusual angle and wording, his movements completely frozen. He slowly raised his head, and then a burst of blood rushed from his neck to the tips of his ears.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Bu Jiu's voice rose unusually. "I need to see the injury! See the injury! What kind of rubbish are you thinking about all day long!"

He was so angry that the tips of his ears were practically steaming, and he wished he could pry open Ji Wang's head to see just how many inappropriate thoughts were inside.

Seeing Bu Jiu's neck flushed red, Ji Wang suddenly found it extremely amusing: "What was I thinking? I just said that this scene should be a bit more formal? Like under the flowers and moon, with flickering candlelight or something..."

His words became increasingly absurd, and seeing that Bu Jiu's gaze shifted from shame and anger to danger, he immediately knew when to back down: "Okay, okay, I was wrong! Let me see your injury! Please, look at it as you please! I promise I won't move or say anything more!"

That's what he said, but he couldn't hide the smug smile in his eyes.

Bu Jiu glared at him fiercely, her chest heaving a few times before she barely managed to suppress the urge to smash the teacup next to her over his head: "I'm not watching anymore!"

"Can I go practice swordsmanship tomorrow?"

"what ever!"