Chapter 78

Qin Lie, full of anticipation, hurriedly made his way to Han Qingrui, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

"Qin Lie, you finally came back!" Han Qingrui was waiting at the door, seemingly on purpose. As soon as he saw Qin Lie, he immediately became excited and called out loudly.

"Uncle Han, have you heard from my grandfather?"

"No."

"Then do you have a letter for me?"

"No."

"Why are you in such a hurry to find me?" Qin Lie was greatly disappointed.

"Come in and we'll talk." Han Qingrui's expression was solemn. After Qin Lie came over, he whispered, "The Pavilion Master is inside. Be careful what you say."

"Pavilion Master?" Qin Lie's expression changed slightly. "What's going on?"

"Someone specifically asked to see you. This person... Star Cloud Pavilion can't afford to be disrespectful, so the Pavilion Master is personally accompanying them." Han Qingrui, after entering the room, also seemed cautious, explaining in a low voice while leading Qin Lie to the inner room.

In the inner room, a man with a robust build smiled at Qin Lie as he approached. "You must be Qin Lie. I've heard about you from Tu Ze. Yes, I'm Tu Mo."

"I greet you, Pavilion Master." Qin Lie bowed.

"No need for formalities. Come and meet our distinguished guest from the Senluo Hall. They specifically asked to see you." Tu Mo waved his hand and then stepped aside, revealing the person behind him.

"I told you we would meet soon."

A woman in white, with a calm expression, sat in what should have been Han Qingrui's seat, her voice cold and clear.

Her old servant, still hunched over, stood beside her like a shadow. He chuckled and looked at Qin Lie with a playful expression. "Kid, wearing the clothes of the Star Cloud Pavilion, how can you escape from our hands?"

Qin Lie frowned.

"This is Xie Jingxuan, from the Senluo Hall." Tu Mo introduced her. "She needs your help in some matters. Yes, you will accompany her for a while and return after everything is settled."

"Senluo Hall..." Qin Lie pondered the meaning of Tu Mo's words and looked at the woman in white named Xie Jingxuan. He could only nod helplessly, "Understood. I will do my best to assist her as the Pavilion Master instructed."

Tu Mo smiled and nodded, "My little brother often speaks highly of you. Don't let me down."

Qin Lie smiled bitterly and nodded.

"I heard you are still an apprentice at Li's shop on the Spirit Material Street, and they sell a very rare Spirit Gathering Plaque..." Tu Mo carefully chose his words, then chuckled, "Qin Lie, help the Star Cloud Pavilion get some Spirit Gathering Plaques. We can buy them at the same price."

Qin Lie was taken aback.

"See, if the Star Cloud Pavilion's training ground is filled with dense spiritual energy, wouldn't it greatly benefit the martial artists within?" Tu Mo's eyes gleamed, "The Spirit Gathering Plaque isn't very effective for individual use, but for the Star Cloud Pavilion, the Ice Shattering Manor, and other forces, it's extremely suitable, making the training ground come alive."

"Pavilion Master, I told you about the Spirit Gathering Plaque not to compete with me." Xie Jingxuan frowned, displeased.

"Hehe, I was just mentioning it casually, asking Qin Lie to keep an eye out for me." Tu Mo laughed awkwardly.

"You came back quickly, so I'll give you an hour. An hour later, you will leave with us." Xie Jingxuan looked at Qin Lie and said calmly.

"Alright, I'll go prepare." Qin Lie responded understandingly and then said to Tu Mo, "I'll keep an eye on the Spirit Gathering Plaques and talk to Uncle Li when I return..." Then he left the room.

"You look so unwilling." As soon as he came out, Han Qingrui followed, patting his shoulder and laughing, "It's a great honor for her to notice you. You should be happy."

"What's there to be happy about..." Qin Lie muttered. To him, the time spent outside might as well be used to refine more Spirit Gathering Plaques. He frowned and asked curiously, "What's her background? Even if she's from the Senluo Hall, it shouldn't require the Pavilion Master to personally accompany her, right?"

Mentioning Xie Jingxuan's background, Han Qingrui's expression became serious. He didn't answer immediately but led Qin Lie to a secluded place and said, "Ordinary members of the Senluo Hall don't have the authority to interfere with our affairs, and the Pavilion Master wouldn't bother with them. But she... is carrying the Senluo Hall's Inspector Token."

"Inspector Token?" Qin Lie exclaimed softly.

"The Inspector Token grants the holder the authority to command the forces of the Star Cloud Pavilion, the Ice Shattering Manor, the Red Flame Association, and the Water Moon Sect. As long as they are under the Senluo Hall, she can directly request personnel." Han Qingrui smiled bitterly, "Not to mention you, even if she asked me to follow her, I would have to comply."

"Such great power?" Qin Lie was astonished.

"What did you think?" Han Qingrui looked at him, "Otherwise, why would the Pavilion Master personally receive her? You should know, the Pavilion Master's father... Tu Lao is the leader of the Senluo Hall, with a certain status. Many people from the Senluo Hall would show respect to the Pavilion Master. But the Senluo Hall's Inspector is a truly significant figure, so the Pavilion Master has no choice but to follow their orders."

Like the Star Cloud Pavilion, the Senluo Hall has a clear hierarchy. However, it is divided into War Generals, Protectors, Leaders, the Five Hall Masters, and the Grand Hall Master, rather than the Hall Master, Elder, Deputy Pavilion Master, and Pavilion Master structure of the Star Cloud Pavilion.

When one first joins the Senluo Hall, they are just ordinary War Generals. After accumulating enough merit, they can become Protectors, then Leaders, the Five Hall Masters, and finally the Grand Hall Master.

The Inspector is not part of this hierarchy but belongs to the Inspection Bureau, a unique institution of the Senluo Hall.

The Inspection Bureau of the Senluo Hall is equivalent to the combined authority of Ye Yangqiu and Han Qingrui of the Star Cloud Pavilion. It is responsible for the tribute from subordinate forces, supervising the Senluo Hall and its subordinates, and can issue orders on behalf of the Grand Hall Master, directly commanding the forces of the Senluo Hall.

The Inspection Bureau is only accountable to the Grand Hall Master, making it the strongest weapon in the Grand Hall Master's hands!

Therefore, the Inspection Bureau is very special in the Senluo Hall. Inspectors have great power, able to take action against Leaders and directly command the martial artists of subordinate forces.

After Han Qingrui's explanation, Qin Lie was secretly shocked. He hadn't expected that the woman in white, who often visited Li's shop and paid a high price for Spirit Gathering Plaques, had such a significant background.

"No wonder even her servant has a spatial ring. Now I understand." Qin Lie realized the reason and could only accept his fate. He thought to himself that the next time he bought Spirit Gathering Plaques, he would raise the price. "Where are Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian? I need to find them to return their items." He remembered his main purpose and asked again.

"They left a few days ago to hunt spirit beasts outside Ice Rock City. Kang Zhi and Han Feng also went." Han Qingrui explained, "Recently, the situation outside is not good, and the Pavilion lacks manpower. These young men can't shirk their responsibilities and must contribute to the Pavilion."

"I see..." Qin Lie frowned. He had wrapped his long sword and dragon bone whip in oilcloth, intending to let Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian try them out to see if they were suitable. He hadn't expected both to be absent.

In this case, he had nothing to prepare. All his possessions were on him.

"That woman is with Elder Han Qingrui."

"Is she really that beautiful?"

"Of course. I saw her once and can guarantee that no one in Ice Rock City is more beautiful than her!"

"We have to see her!"

"..."

While Qin Lie and Han Qingrui were chatting in a secluded place, a group of people sneaked over, whispering and peering at Han Qingrui's study from the corner of the wall.

Among them was Wei Xing's son, Wei Li, and some young, hot-blooded members of the Star Cloud Pavilion, all there for Xie Jingxuan.

"Word is that she's a big shot from the Senluo Hall. Just take a look from a distance, don't say anything, or you might lose your life."

"Understood. Who would dare to speak rudely to someone from the Senluo Hall? Do they want to die?"

"Yes, just take a look."

The group whispered, carefully hiding and peering at the entrance.

"Such arrogance." Han Qingrui smiled bitterly. Their position was secluded, and the group hadn't noticed them. "Fortunately, Kang Zhi and Han Feng left early. Otherwise, they might have acted the same way, and if they caused trouble, it would be hard to resolve." Han Qingrui muttered.

"Kang Zhi and Han Feng are like that too?" Qin Lie was speechless and laughed.

"Even worse, they're all little rascals!" Han Qingrui grumbled.

After a while, Xie Jingxuan's elegant figure quietly appeared at the door, with the robust Tu Mo following behind. They talked while waiting at the entrance.

When Xie Jingxuan came out, the few people hiding in the corner, including Wei Li, all stared with wide eyes, their expressions stunned as if they had seen the most beautiful person in their dreams, looking dazed and lost.

"Waiting for you." Han Qingrui smiled lightly.

"Qin Lie!" Tu Mo's eyes were sharp, and he immediately called out, "Since you're so free, you must have nothing to do. Don't keep her waiting. Let's go."

Xie Jingxuan also looked over and said indifferently, "If you're ready, let's go."

Qin Lie sighed and came out with Han Qingrui. As the eyes of Wei Li and others almost fell out, he approached Xie Jingxuan, thought for a moment, and took out the long sword and dragon bone whip from the oilcloth. "Pavilion Master, these are Tu Ze and Zhuo Qian's items. Please give them back when they return."

"No need. You can take them with you." Tu Mo was slightly surprised but then waved his hand, not taking the items. "On this trip... you will likely meet Tu Ze and Xiao Qi. You can give them back yourself."

"Huh?" Qin Lie was surprised.

"Ha, just follow her." Tu Mo smiled, not explaining further, but instructed, "Pay attention and don't just go through the motions. This will benefit you in the future."

"Alright." Qin Lie nodded.

"Let's go." Xie Jingxuan frowned, seemingly impatient, and headed straight out of the Star Cloud Pavilion.

"Go, kid." The old servant grunted.

Qin Lie, helpless, carried the long sword and dragon bone whip wrapped in oilcloth and a leather bag at his waist, following the old servant like a smaller attendant.

However, Wei Li and the other young members of the Star Cloud Pavilion looked at him with envy, their eyes shining.

"What kind of luck does that guy Qin Lie have to be specially chosen?" one of them whispered.

"Who knows? It's really annoying. Why not me?"

"Just cannon fodder, hmpf!" Wei Li grunted.

While they were whispering, Pavilion Master Tu Mo had already left, not even glancing at them.

"What are you all whispering about?" Han Qingrui's face turned cold, and he suddenly chuckled, "Don't think you can avoid it. You're already on the list. The next batch to leave the city will be you."

This statement made the group's faces pale, and they all begged Han Qingrui to show mercy.

"Tu Ze is already in action, and my son Han Feng has been dispatched. Do you think you can escape?" Han Qingrui grunted, "I advise you, if you want to live longer, spend more time in the training ground and less time in pleasure places."

He didn't tell Wei Li and the others how dire the situation outside was or that nearly a hundred people from the Star Cloud Pavilion had died recently.

He was afraid of scaring them.

...

PS: The book will go on sale after midnight tonight. I will release two chapters first, and there will definitely be four chapters tomorrow. This is my fifth book, and my fifth time going on sale. Each time, I have no confidence in subscriptions, and I feel very anxious.

This time is no exception.

I have no other request for everyone. I only hope that those who are following this book will subscribe to support it.

Subscriptions are the foundation of my livelihood and the necessity for supporting my family.

I beg all my brothers and sisters to subscribe to this book. I bow deeply, and I will be eternally grateful!

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