"These people from Setting Sun Valley aren’t exactly saints. Why don’t we take them to Nianhua Zen Temple and let the Great Monks try to convert them?

"If they can truly renounce their evil ways and find enlightenment, it would be a good deed on our part."

Zhai Xing’s eyes lit up.

’The Great Monks are indeed profound in the Buddhist Teachings, but having to chant sutras day in and day out to a group with no interest in the faith... that would be a torture worse than death.’

Fang Shuwen’s plan was nothing short of brilliant.

And it was exactly what she wanted.

She immediately summoned some people to take the group away.

But as He Yuanzhou walked past Fang Shuwen, Fang Shuwen gave him a light pat on the shoulder.

The pat wasn’t heavy, but it was the technique, Knocking the Mountain and Shaking the Demon. He had already cultivated the Great Black Heaven God Palm to the Great Perfection Realm. The strike seemed effortless, but its power had already seeped deep into the man’s heart.

Within three days, at most, the force would erupt. The man’s death was certain.

He had been so ruthless because the man had ambushed Zhou Qingmei from behind.

That act made it impossible for Fang Shuwen to suppress his killing intent.

As for Weng Zhenliu and the others ’making up their minds’ and wanting to see He Yuanzhou later... that was no longer Fang Shuwen’s concern.

Not killing the man outright was already a concession to the delicate relationship between the Eastern and Southern Domains.

But no matter what, He Yuanzhou had to die.

As for Weng Zhenliu and the others, once they entered Nianhua Zen Temple, it would be nearly impossible for them to ever leave.

Initially, Yuqing Pavilion had found the situation difficult because the people from Setting Sun Valley had observed all the proper courtesies during their visit. Their request for the Yuqing Fruit was impeccable.

Had Yuqing Pavilion simply refused or, worse, fought them and caused casualties, word would have spread that the Eastern Domain Martial World lacked both hospitality and magnanimity.

Yuqing Pavilion would have been seen as petty. ’It’s one thing to refuse the fruit, but why resort to violence?’

No matter how you spun it, the story would not have been a good look for them.

But once the Cow Hair Silver Needles appeared and the sneak attack during the duel was exposed...

Then, however the Eastern Domain Martial World chose to deal with them would be perfectly justified.

Sparing their lives now, on the other hand... if word of this spread, anyone in the Five Domains Martial World would call Setting Sun Valley despicable and praise Yuqing Pavilion’s magnanimity.

In reality, their only chance had lain with Fang Shuwen.

If Weng Zhenliu had actually abandoned He Yuanzhou, Fang Shuwen would not have gone back on his word.

But Weng Zhenliu refused to abandon He Yuanzhou, which led to their current predicament.

So, looking at the big picture: experts from the Southern Domain’s Setting Sun Valley visited Yuqing Pavilion in the Eastern Domain to request a Yuqing Fruit. They then tried to win by despicable means, ambushing He Yuting and nearly killing her.

Yet, Yuqing Pavilion didn’t kill them. They only detained them at Nianhua Zen Temple, which was a show of utmost mercy.

As for He Yuanzhou’s death... never mind that they had no proof Fang Shuwen was responsible. Even if they did, didn’t the man deserve to die?

Fang Shuwen had acted covertly simply to avoid giving anyone anything to talk about.

After all was said and done, Yuqing Pavilion hadn’t lost its Yuqing Fruit, and the visitors from the Southern Domain were all locked away. The matter was concluded—a happy ending for all concerned.

With Weng Zhenliu and his people gone, the great hall suddenly felt much more spacious.

It was only then that Lan Yue had a chance to approach Fang Shuwen and greet him.

"We haven’t seen each other since Qiuyue Nunnery, Young Hero Fang. Your Martial Arts have clearly progressed!"

Fang Shuwen smiled and replied humbly,

"You flatter me, senior. My humble skills are nothing worth mentioning."

His words, however, brought strange looks to the faces of everyone present.

’If his skills are ’nothing worth mentioning,’ then what does that say about their Seven Eastern Sects?’

Zuo Qingshuang then asked with a smile,

"Those moves Qingmei just used... you’re the one who told her about them, aren’t you?"

"That was all thanks to Miss Zhou’s high aptitude and exquisite Swordsmanship," Fang Shuwen said. "I only noticed that He Yuanzhou’s Inner Strength was unstable, and that there were openings in his techniques that he himself was unaware of. I just mentioned a thing or two to Miss Zhou.

"I certainly didn’t expect her to be so capable that she could bring He Yuanzhou to his knees before you with just a few casual strokes."

Zuo Qingshuang chuckled, at a loss for words. ’This boy certainly knows how to deflect credit,’ she thought.

Fang Shuwen glanced up at Zhou Qingmei, only to see that she had, for some reason, suddenly become a little unhappy.

’He was puzzled. ’Everything was going so well. She just put on an incredible display and won a lot of face for everyone. Why the long face all of a sudden?’’

But with so many people around, it wasn’t a good time to ask.

Everyone took their seats again. Even Miao Feichan, who had retreated over two hundred feet in a flash, had returned. She was now staring at Fang Shuwen with a mixture of shock and suspicion.

’When did the Eastern Domain Martial World produce such a young freak of nature?’ she wondered.

During the ensuing small talk, Zhai Xing and Lan Yue of Yuqing Pavilion thanked Fang Shuwen for intervening. They were also grateful to Zhou Qingmei for defeating He Yuanzhou. They reasoned that if she hadn’t, He Yuanzhou would never have lost his composure and used the Cow Hair Silver Needles again, which allowed Fang Shuwen to catch him in the act.

Therefore, after much deliberation, they decided to give Zhou Qingmei the Yuqing Fruit originally meant for He Yuting, once it ripened in the Cold Ice Pond.

They also invited Fang Shuwen to the Yuqing Banquet.

This was their way of offering him a Yuqing Fruit as well, as with his level of Martial Arts, he could undoubtedly dominate the proceedings and win one for himself.

However, Fang Shuwen declined.

With his level of Cultivation, competing against his peers for a Yuqing Fruit felt too much like bullying.

Besides, he possessed the North Nether Divine Technique; issues with Inner Strength were the least of his worries.

Hearing him say this, Zhou Qingmei also started to decline.

But Fang Shuwen discreetly grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

Zhou Qingmei froze for a moment, realizing he wanted her to accept the fruit.

She immediately stopped her refusal.

Fang Shuwen, however, couldn’t help but notice that the gloomy cloud that had been hanging over the young woman seemed to have vanished into thin air.

He was amazed. ’A woman’s mind truly is a fickle thing, her moods changing like the phases of the moon, without any rhyme or reason.’

He didn’t dwell on it, however, remembering his main reason for being there.

As it happened, Lan Yue asked Fang Shuwen the reason for his sudden visit. Fang Shuwen seized the opportunity, pulling Xu Shuxin forward. He first explained the boy’s circumstances, then said,

"This child has no living relatives left, save for an aunt named Xu Wenwan. I’ve heard she is an Elder here at Yuqing Pavilion."

"He begged me to escort him to Yuqing Pavilion so he could meet her... Do you know where Elder Xu is now?"

"Could we possibly see her?"

To his surprise, Zhai Xing and Lan Yue exchanged a glance after he spoke. Zhai Xing, being the more direct of the two, was about to speak but was stopped by Lan Yue, who said,

"Young Hero Fang, Elder Xu has left on business. She is not currently at Yuqing Pavilion."

"However, the boy is welcome to stay with us for a few days. We can make further arrangements once Elder Xu returns."