"Qin Hu, stand down. After all, he holds a Celestial Patrol Order." At some point, an elder appeared on the eaves nearby. No one had noticed his presence until the very moment he spoke.

"Holding a Celestial Patrol Order means it is an internal conflict within the two branches of the Celestial Patrol Department, and outsiders must not intervene."

When Qin Hu saw him, he was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to reveal himself so quickly.

For he was the Li Family's ancestor, Li Chungen, a veteran of the Celestial Patrol Department, who had cultivated the Secret Skill, Wind and Thunder Thunderbolt Palm, to the Twenty-Seventh Layer of Perfection and was attempting to step onto the Path of the Celestial Human.

It was initially assumed that he would reveal himself only at the final moment, but unexpectedly, he made such a grand appearance now.

"Yes, Elder Li." Qin Hu said nothing more. Since even this revered figure had appeared, there was no need for him to take the lead. He cast a cold glance at Lu Chengfeng and withdrew his spear.

Li Chungen, clad in a long robe of green cloth, with a head full of white hair and a beard, looked like a celestial figure with a gentle bearing. He held a wine gourd, yet there was no smell of alcohol on him.

"Young man, I don't know why you are targeting the Li Family, but if I let you leave after killing our clan elder, the Li Family's honor would be utterly lost."

"Since you hold a Celestial Patrol Order, I will speak with you according to the rules of the Celestial Patrol Order."

"In an internal conflict within the Celestial Patrol Department, the holder of a Celestial Patrol Order can engage in martial debate until one side completely surrenders and relinquishes all power and resources. The victor must not wipe out the other."

"Do you accept these rules or not?"

Lu Chengfeng looked at Li Chungen sitting on the eaves opposite him. The elder sat there, holding a wine gourd in his left hand, a smile on his face, speaking unhurriedly, without any semblance of authority or murderous intent.

But he could feel the opponent's fearsome aura. The man's clothes swayed in the wind with a mysterious rhythm, like the clouds and winds of the Nine Heavens; once stirred, there would surely be lightning and thunder.

He had to admit he had miscalculated. The Li Family did not send out the younger generation, Li Chengqian, nor did the current Patriarch appear, but instead, the Li Family ancestor directly showed up.

Lu Chengfeng said in a deep voice, "I accept these rules."

"Good," Li Chungen smiled, "Since you accept the rules, we will proceed accordingly."

"You should go back. Tonight, the Li Family will send out all its experts to the Zhao residence. Except for Zhao Tianyou, everyone else must die."

"If you are afraid of death, leave Central Capital before nightfall, and we will not pursue you."

These words were spoken brightly and confidently, filled with an overwhelming assurance as if a Divine Dragon in the Nine Heavens was looking down upon the beasts in the forest.

Lu Chengfeng also smiled, "Very well, I will await the esteemed elder's arrival at the Zhao residence."

With that, he wasted no time and swiftly left, carrying Su Wanqing in his arms.

Qin Hu frowned slightly, looking at Li Chungen and asking, "Elder Li, why not capture him directly?"

Li Chungen, unlike others who masked their intentions, spoke plainly, "His backing is Youdu. Naturally, I must give due respect and also offer him a chance to escape."

"But if he insists on remaining and troubling the Li Family, then he has no one to blame but himself."

"If he dies in Central Capital, it is his own doing. I will ensure a fine coffin is prepared and send his body back."

"After all, this is a crucial time, and we must adhere to rules and reasoning to avoid giving anyone an excuse to cause trouble."

Qin Hu nodded, asking no further. "If so, then I will take my leave." He was convinced that the Li Family ancestor would never let the Handsome Yama leave Central Capital alive.

Li Chungen appeared composed and leisurely, yet, in truth, he was ruthless and decisive. The Li Family had thrived over the years, producing numerous talents, all thanks to this man.

...

After leaving Zhongshun Hall, Lu Chengfeng looked at Su Wanqing in his arms and asked, "Junior Sister, why do you disregard your own well-being?"

Su Wanqing murmured, "If not for my mother, I would have ended my life long ago. I am merely prolonging my existence...

She wanted to say more, but her words fell short. Before meeting him, she felt she had a thousand words and endless longing.

But upon truly meeting him, after the initial excitement, there was no imagined intimacy.

Because... there was no romantic affection or sentiment between them!

Su Wanqing indeed had a fondness for Lu Chengfeng, but it had not reached the point of being unable to marry anyone else.

It was just that her family was too oppressive. Rather than becoming a concubine to that old man, she would rather marry someone she liked.

However, Lu Chengfeng had always regarded her with camaraderie, feeling pity and compassion but lacking desire and affection. The reason he accepted the jade hairpin was more out of friendship, not wanting to see her forced to death.

When they met now, after the initial excitement and joy, although Su Wanqing lay in his arms, with the two so close, there was none of the longing and entwining that comes with lovers reuniting after a long separation.

She could sense his care and pity, yet it was not the affection between a man and a woman...

Lu Chengfeng sighed. Although he was not very old, he already had a wife and a concubine at home. In the Martial World, he had also had many fleeting relationships with numerous women.

But he was not the kind of man who falls in love with every woman he sees or is unable to step away from beauty. To receive Zhao Changzhen's blessing, despite his childhood affection for Zhao Ling'Er, he resolutely chose to marry Luo Suyi.

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