Seeing that Zhou Tianhao was completely unmoved, Ling Feng had no choice but to go back and discuss the next steps with Lan Qin.

"You mean he doesn't admit to knowing us?" Lanqin asked, her eyes wide.

“Yes. He’s like a different person. Also, his little apprentice, Xiuzhu, isn’t with him anymore,” Ling Feng said.

“Lingfeng, it seems this Master Zhou has changed his mind. We should go find him now, but I don’t know if he’ll inform them. Those Taoist priests might still be searching for us,” Lanqin said. “Did you tell him where we’re staying?”

“No, he acted as if he didn’t know me at all, not asking me a single question. Naturally, I didn’t tell him anything about us either,” Ling Feng said.

“Alright, it seems this Taoist priest doesn’t want to provoke his fellow disciples. But judging from his behavior, he doesn’t want to get involved in anything. Then we can only rely on ourselves,” Lanqin said.

"Master, have you come up with any ideas?" Ling Feng asked, seeing Lan Qin's expression.

"Hmm. Lingfeng, I have a plan, please listen to me." Lanqin pulled Lingfeng aside and whispered the idea that had been swirling in her mind.

Upon hearing this, Ling Feng exclaimed in surprise, "No, Consort, this servant absolutely cannot let you take this risk."

Lanqin quickly gestured for him to lower his voice and said, "Lingfeng, this is the only way. Your mission is the most important. You need to go to Xiangzhou as quickly as possible to find Young Master Du and ask him to help you mobilize troops from there to come to your aid."

Ling Feng still disagreed, saying, "Consort, you are taking too much of a risk. If they catch you, how will I explain it to Master?"

“No need to say more, I’ve already decided to do it. You just need to follow orders. There’s no time to waste. The others have been detained for seven or eight days and we still don’t know what’s going on. If we delay any longer, I’m afraid things will change. We’ll talk to Brother Dong when he returns. He’s the prey in these mountains and knows them very well. It should be easier for him to find the secret in that cave than for us. Ling Feng, stop talking. Now it’s just the three of us, and everyone’s role is clearly defined,” Lan Qin said.

Seeing that Lanqin's tone was firm, Lingfeng had no choice but to agree. However, he took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Lanqin, saying, "This is Fourth Master's jade pendant. It can prove his identity. Please keep it with you."

Lanqin nodded and took it from his hand. Lanqin personally went to talk to Aunt Dong and asked her to be a good godmother to Ling Feng so he could carry it with him. Then she took off the jewelry she was wearing and gave it to Ling Feng so he could use it to buy a horse in the city.

After seeing Ling Feng off, Dong Er Kui returned just then. After Lan Qin and the Dong family mother and son finished dinner, they called Er Kui to their room to discuss something.

"Miss Lanqin, just say what you have to say!" Dong Erkui listened to Lanqin's words, which were roughly about how Fourth Master and Ling Feng had discovered a cave near Dumenpo, and the secret hidden inside was definitely related to the Golden Core cultivators of Wudang.

“Brother Dong, I’d like to let you try the Dumen Slope again. I wonder if you’d be willing to go?” Lanqin asked.

Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open from the outside, and Aunt Dong rushed in.

"No, Er Kui, you can't go to Dumenpo! That place is extremely evil, you absolutely mustn't go!" Aunt Dong stared at Dong Er Kui excitedly, then turned to Lan Qin and said, "Who exactly are you? Why are you encouraging my son to go to such a place!"

It turned out that Aunt Dong was still worried about Lanqin. Seeing that Lanqin had taken her son away to talk alone and closed the door, Aunt Dong secretly went outside to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Lanqin was caught off guard by Aunt Dong's question and couldn't answer for a moment. Dong Erkui quickly said to his mother, "Mother, don't misunderstand. This lady wants to help us. Do you remember how Father died?"

Old Mrs. Dong was naturally unwilling to let her son take any risks, so she grabbed Er Kui's arm and said, "Son, your father has been dead for so many years, and I'm used to it. You shouldn't think about it anymore. We can't afford to mess with those people."

Seeing that Aunt Dong was worried about Er Kui, Lan Qin quickly said, "Aunt, this is not just about Brother Dong wanting to avenge his father's death. It also concerns the people around Wudang Mountain and the safety of the country."

Aunt Dong didn't understand Lanqin's words at all, and interrupted her, saying, "You girl, ever since you came, my Erkui has changed. Before, he worked honestly and lived a peaceful life. But since you came, you've made our lives miserable."

“Mother, it has nothing to do with her. I begged her for help. Father can’t have died in vain. I’ve long suspected that these Taoist priests are strange,” Dong Erkui said hurriedly.

“Er Kui, listen to your mother, don’t be silly. What kind of place is Dumenpo? It’s a place haunted by evil spirits. So many people have died there. How can you go to such a place? You are my only son. If anything happens to you, I won’t be able to live anymore,” Aunt Dong cried.

When Lanqin heard Aunt Dong say this, she said, "Brother Dong, you'd better not go. Just pretend I didn't say anything. Please see me off tomorrow. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Aunt."

Dong Er Kui was about to say something when Aunt Dong forcibly dragged him out.

Lanqin understood Dong Da Niang's concerns as an elderly woman, and naturally wouldn't hold a grudge. She quietly lay down on the simple bed, thinking about what she needed to do the next day.

It turned out that Lanqin planned to find the old woman who delivered night soil to Wudang Mountain, and use her identity to go into the mountain to find Fourth Master and the others.

Originally, she planned to send Ling Feng to Xiangzhou to ask Du Zhiqian for reinforcements, and Dong Erkui to continue searching for the secret of the cave at Dumenpo, while she herself would secretly infiltrate the cave disguised as someone transporting night soil. With efforts from all three directions combined, they could eventually rescue Fourth Master and the others. Now, Aunt Dong forbids Dong Erkui from taking the risk, so Lanqin has no choice but to abandon the Dumenpo plan.

With these thoughts in mind, she drifted off to sleep.

Dong Er Kui started arguing with Dong Er Niang. He said to Dong Da Niang, "Mother, we can't just live our own mundane lives. I was only seven or eight years old when Father died. You worked so hard to raise me. I just can't swallow this. They killed someone, how can they not pay with their lives?"

“Silly son, you know how hard it was for your mother to raise you. Don’t you think about what would happen to your mother if something happened to you?” Aunt Dong said, tears streaming down her face.

“Mother, it’s alright. I’ve been living in these mountains for over ten years. I know exactly where everything is. Nothing will happen,” Dong Erkui assured her.

"No, I can't let you take such a risk." Aunt Dong still disagreed.