"Master's diligence is rewarded by Heaven. How can a lazybones like Xiaoxiao, who relies on talent, compare to him? I think her martial arts achievements will only be this much in this lifetime, far less than Master's enormous potential." Once he started flattering, He Yunxiao's speech became much smoother.

"Chu Xiaoxiao is not lazy, but she has already reached the peak of her training and can no longer progress." Qing Yuzi's voice finally appeared.

He Yunxiao felt ashamed. This Master Bai really knew how to put himself in others' shoes; even in this situation, he still managed to say a good word for Xiaoxiao. He was practically a model of a kind-hearted person.

"Master, when are we going to the city gate of the Broken Moon Pass?"

"You set the time. I'm available anytime."

"Master, are you really capable of defeating that Grandmaster from the Yan Kingdom?"

He remained silent.

“Oh, Master, I don’t mean to look down on you. What I mean is, what if they have two Grandmasters? Master, your martial arts are superb, but fighting two against one is still… still…”

Just as He Yunxiao was trying to find the right words, Qing Yuzi suddenly said, "What you said makes sense. That day, I..."

Qing Yuzi recounted what she had seen that day—the meeting between the Southwest King and the mysterious Grandmaster—which startled He Yunxiao.

"Is the King of the Southwest plotting something with someone?" He Yunxiao asked in surprise.

Who is the King of the Southwest? He's of Meng lineage, boasts a proven track record of military exploits and prestige, and commands a large army abroad. He's the epitome of a rebel. He currently commands an army of a million, almost half the military strength of the entire Qi state. Yan couldn't destroy Qi, but if he comes, he can.

"Judging from their tone of voice, it seems that the Grandmaster asked the King of the Southwest to do something, and he agreed," Qingyuzi said.

"Master, do you know the specific details?"

"I hadn't investigated at that time. I only started investigating after I realized something was wrong, but by then I had already missed the chance to hear what was going on."

Whether the King of the Southwest was treacherous or loyal was almost entirely determined by the content of their conversation. But the most important thing was precisely what Master Bai hadn't heard.

“Alas,” He Yunxiao sighed, “If only Master could hear this. But with just a few words, there’s nothing we can do now.”

Qing Yuzi said quietly, "I'm sorry."

He Yunxiao was taken aback, and quickly said, "It's not Master's fault. Master's ability to hear this is a great help."