After the Green Emperor Sect’s affairs were settled, Ye Fan and Master Xuantian sat facing each other as the master explained the Zhou Yi Technique to him.

Ye Fan suddenly asked, "Senior, is your Green Emperor Sect preparing to join forces against a woman?"

"Oh?" Master Xuantian was curious. He had just returned and knew nothing of the sect’s current missions, so he had no idea who Ye Fan was referring to.

Ye Fan clarified, "She is the Dark Night Demon Queen, whose fame is on par with that of Kings. We have a long and complicated history, so if the Green Emperor Sect moves against her, I will definitely stand on her side!" He made his stance perfectly clear.

Master Xuantian replied, "I see. But rest assured, my friend. Given its current state of reformation, would the Green Emperor Sect even intervene?"

Ye Fan shook his head. No, they wouldn’t. They didn’t have the energy for it.

"So, just rest easy, my friend. The Green Emperor Sect has its own principles; they were merely obscured by a foul atmosphere. But from now on, that atmosphere has been completely cleared away!" Master Xuantian declared. "The gods are watching from above, and the Green Emperor Sect is changing!"

Ye Fan was satisfied. As long as the Green Emperor Sect stayed out of it, a great deal of pressure would be lifted from his shoulders.

What he didn’t know now were the identities of the factions allied against the Dark Night Demon Queen. Only by understanding these powers could he devise a proper strategy.

Then, Master Xuantian brought out a Go board to play against Ye Fan. He was utterly defeated in the first game, which made him suspect that Ye Fan possessed the Mind Reading Technique. It was as if Ye Fan could see through all of his strategies, even seeming to know every move before it was made.

Curious, he asked Ye Fan, "My friend, how can you defeat me so easily? I thought the first game was a fluke, but you’ve beaten me again and again with no effort at all! So, I really want to know, what’s your secret to victory?"

Ye Fan smiled. "To be honest, Senior, your Go strategies and moves are remarkably similar to someone else I know. The patterns are nearly identical, which is why I’m able to win."

"Oh? Who is he?" Master Xuantian inquired.

"Zhan Xiong!"

At the name, the Go stone in Master Xuantian’s hand fell to the ground. He sighed, "That’s right. We were always in sync. I never expected that after all these decades, our styles would remain so perfectly matched. He really hasn’t changed!"

"May I ask what your relationship is with Senior Zhan Xiong?" This was something Ye Fan was also eager to learn.

Master Xuantian explained, "We are martial brothers. Back then, we parted ways when he chose to protect the Divine Land and I chose to establish the Green Emperor Sect. Even though he is my junior martial brother, we became friends who transcended age. I feel that calling us ’martial brothers’ is less fitting than simply calling us ’brothers.’ I never expected him to know you, my friend. Life is truly full of fateful connections."

"It’s been decades since we last met," he added, asking Ye Fan, "Is he doing well?"

"He is doing very well," Ye Fan replied. "He is the Alliance Hierarch of the National Protection Alliance. His strength is at the absolute pinnacle, on par with yours, Senior. He is one of the most formidable experts in the Divine Land, and even the world."

Hearing this, Master Xuantian smiled with relief. "That’s wonderful to hear. It seems I must go and see him. Otherwise, I fear I may never get the chance in this lifetime."

"How could that be, Senior?" Ye Fan said. "You have already achieved the King realm and have a lifespan of at least two hundred years. There is still a long road ahead of you!"

Master Xuantian laughed. "Thank you for the encouragement!"

After chatting with him for a little while longer, Ye Fan took his leave.

「Three days later」

It was a day of celebration for the Mo Family. Mo Chou was overjoyed, as they had finally resolved their internal strife.

He said to Ye Fan, "Ye Fan, the Mo Family owes its success today entirely to you. Wan Chou and I have decided. We’ll mentor Tang Yurou for a while before handing the business over to her."

Tang Wanchou shot him a glare. Though Mo Chou looked embarrassed, he didn’t dare say a word.

Just then, Ye Fan suddenly asked, "Uncle, have you considered something?"

"Hm?" Mo Chou looked at him inquisitively.

Ye Fan said, "Why did your Old Family Head suddenly pass away at such a critical moment?"

"It can’t be...!" Mo Chou was instantly stunned. He realized it was indeed a possibility. Although the Old Family Head’s death was officially ruled a heart attack, who knew if there was more to the story? If Ye Fan hadn’t brought it up, the matter might have been forgotten.

"Ye Fan, you’re right!" Mo Chou exclaimed. "Mo Jue has been coveting the Mo Family for a long time. It seems an interrogation is necessary!"

The others nodded in agreement.

Ye Fan and Mo Chou headed to the Mo Family dungeon.

Mo Jue was in a sorry state, bound in his cell.

"You won’t be arrogant for long," Mo Jue sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "When the Green Emperor Sect is done with you, you’ll know what regret truly is!"

"A pity you won’t live to see that day," Mo Chou retorted triumphantly. "The Mo Family has already cut ties with the Green Emperor Sect. And your backer, Du Xinwu? He’s dead. Hahaha!"

"What?" Mo Jue stared in disbelief. He couldn’t imagine that Du Xinwu, someone so powerful and with so much support, was dead. His previous arrogance vanished, replaced by sheer despair. It was a despair that choked him with bitterness.

"You’ve won," Mo Jue admitted, his voice flat. Resistance and bitterness were pointless now; it seemed everything was already decided.

"This isn’t as simple as me winning," Mo Chou said sharply. "I didn’t come here just to tell you the Green Emperor Sect failed. I only want to ask you one thing: are you connected to the Old Family Head’s death?"

Mo Jue suddenly began to laugh. "Whether I am or not doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that he’s dead."

"No, it matters a great deal! Mo Jue, did the Old Family Head ever mistreat you? He always treated you like his own son, yet you had the heart to strike down your own foster father! If it weren’t for him, would you have ever had the chance to plot all this?" Mo Chou was furious. He hadn’t wanted to believe it, but it was true.

Mo Jue sneered. "A man must be ruthless to succeed. Foster father? So what? If he becomes a stumbling block, I would kill my own birth father!"

"You’re a beast!" Mo Chou roared.

"So what if I’m a beast?" Mo Jue shot back. "Without this kid’s help, do you think you could have ever beaten me, Mo Chou? Not in a million years!"

"You’ll pay for your viciousness, Mo Jue!" Mo Chou snarled.

"What’s the price?" Mo Jue asked without a trace of fear. In his mind, the worst Mo Chou could do was kill him.

"I’m sure you know what the Bone-breaking Hand feels like, don’t you?" Ye Fan interjected mockingly.

"I don’t. But use whatever tricks you have. I fear neither heaven nor earth." Mo Jue paid Ye Fan’s threat no mind.

"Soon," Ye Fan said, "you will understand what it means to wish you were dead."