Both Xiang Shaoyun and Zi Changhe looked at the newcomer. The newcomer was a young man about 20 years old. He had a square face, short hair, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. Something about him made him look like a competent person. His entire body radiated an overbearing aura, making it clear he was not at all a pushover. He was Zhuo Yi, the younger disciple of Long Hui and his pride and joy. In fact, Long Hui almost viewed him as a son and treated him much better than Qin Yu.
Zhuo Yi looked at Xiang Shaoyun with a contemptuous gaze and asked, "You're Xiang Shaoyun?"
Xiang Shaoyun saluted Zhuo Yi before answering, "Yes, Senior Brother Zhuo."
He now assumed the identity of Long Hui's follower. Although Long Hui had declared him as a distant relative, he still needed to act in accordance to his station as a follower.
"You are the one who had beaten up Wen Jinrui and Wang Jiaohua?" asked Zhuo Yi with an unfriendly tone.
Xiang Shaoyun frowned and answered, "Yes, Senior Brother Zhuo."
Zhuo Yi then looked Xiang Shaoyun up and down before saying with a commanding tone, "Come with me."
At this time, Zi Changhe signaled Xiang Shaoyun with his eyes, hinting that Xiang Shaoyun shouldn't go with Zhuo Yi.
Xiang Shaoyun met Zhuo Yi's gaze and asked, "Do you need anything, Senior Brother Zhuo?"
Zhuo Yi berated him. "If I tell you to come, you come. Why so many questions?"
When Long Hui brought Xiang Shaoyun back the day before, he wasn't around. However, he had heard from others that Xiang Shaoyun was his master's follower. As far as he was concerned, his master's follower was the same as his own follower. Thus, he viewed Xiang Shaoyun as an insignificant nobody unworthy of his attention.
But when he subsequently heard about Xiang Shaoyun defeating Wen Jinrui and Wang Jiaohua, he felt threatened by the talent showcased by a person so young. He was afraid that his master would eventually accept Xiang Shaoyun as a disciple, affecting his own status. But that wasn't the main reason he was here today. He was here because of his identity as a member of the Lightning Alliance.
Right this moment, a loud and clear voice rang out, "Who are you telling to follow you?"
The newcomer was Long Hui, with Liu Xinji beside him.
"Master, Elder Liu!" Zhuo Yi quickly greeted Long Hui and Liu Xinji before answering, "Your disciple wishes to take Xiang Shaoyun out with me."
Long Hui snorted coldly and berated, "Hmph. Are you thinking of handing him over to your Lightning Alliance?"
Zhuo Yi could hear that something was wrong in his master's tone. With an awkward expression, he said, "Master, he had beaten my brothers from the Lightning Alliance—"
"That's because they deserved the beating. Leave the Lightning Alliance right this moment. You are no longer allowed to mingle with them. Put your focus on cultivation instead. Try to reach the Skysoar Realm as soon as possible," Long Hui reprimanded Zhuo Yi, causing Zhuo Yi's expression to turn unsightly.
Zhuo Yi had never been scolded like that by his master before. Inwardly, he cursed, Xiang Shaoyun, I'll remember this. The Lightning Alliance will not spare you!
He blamed everything on Xiang Shaoyun, thinking that his master would never treat him that way if it wasn't for Xiang Shaoyun.
And thus, Zhuo Yi left gloomily.
Long Hui quickly and anxiously looked at Xiang Shaoyun and asked, "Y—Shaoyun, are you fine?"
"I'm fine, Elder Long," replied Xiang Shaoyun.
When Liu Xinji saw the care Long Hui was showing Xiang Shaoyun, a bitter smile formed on his face, and he said, "Looks like Elder Long will not be willing to part with your cherished junior. Oh well, I'll excuse myself."
Liu Xinji had gone looking for Long Hui to discuss accepting Xiang Shaoyun as his disciple. However, he had been directly refused. He could see that Long Hui himself was most likely going to accept Xiang Shaoyun as his own disciple. Thus, it would be unlikely that he would succeed. There was no helping it since Long Hui's status was above him.
After exchanging a few more words with Long Hui, Liu Xinji left. As for Zi Changhe, he stayed to continue catching up with Xiang Shaoyun. Only about half a day later did Zi Changhe leave.
Xiang Shaoyun then called Long Hui over and asked about the Lightning Alliance and for the more discreet information about the Cloud Margin Pavilion. The information would let him have a clear view of the situation within the Cloud Margin Pavilion. He had also asked about Gong Qinyin's master, the Zither Empress.
It turned out the Zither Empress was an expert who had made her name a long time ago. In the Cloud Margin Pavilion, she had a supreme status. She was one of the 10 greatest Emperors of Cloud Margin City and an accomplished zither player. Her style of fighting was to utilize the tune of her zither to attack in ways people couldn't block.
After figuring out more about the Zither Empress, Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help but to lament the good luck Gong Qinyin had. Xiang Shaoyun was in no rush to start cultivating. Rather, he made use of Long Hui's influence and got Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan to come over. He had decided that it was time he helped the two grow even faster.
"Tsk, tsk, boss, you sure are capable. You can actually get the two of us into the inner pavilion?" Xia Liuhui said with flatter.
His face was still wrapped up due to his wounds. Thus, he looked rather comedic with his badly swollen face. Wang Zhenchuan remained silent, but from his expression, it was clear he was no less grateful than Xia Liuhui.
Xiang Shaoyun did not want to linger on the same topic, so he went straight down to business. "You two are growing a tad bit too slowly. Do you want to increase your cultivation speed?"
Excitement covered their faces when they heard those words.
"B-boss, y-you can help us with that?" Xia Liuhui was almost drooling as he spoke.
He knew that with his boss's capability, it was very unlikely for his boss to say empty words.
Xiang Shaoyun looked at Xia Liuhui like he was looking at an idiot and said, "Yes or no. Give me a straight answer!"
"Yes!" Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan answered at the same time.
Xiang Shaoyun nodded and said, "I will teach you some high-level cultivation methods. But remember, never ever leak them, even to those closest to you. If you can promise that, I will teach you."
Xia Liuhui and Wang Zhenchuan both swore to keep the cultivation methods to themselves. It was only then that Xiang Shaoyun started teaching them some of the high-level cultivation methods he had memorized in the past.
With the high-level cultivation methods, their cultivation speed would increase. Furthermore, they would be able to reach an even higher height in the future. Xiang Shaoyun never hoped that the two would grow strong and be helpful to him. He sincerely wished that the two could live a better life.
The two were extremely grateful after they were taught the cultivation methods.
Xiang Shaoyun also taught them a tier-4 battle technique and told them to only start training it upon reaching the Transformation Realm. They would not be able to unleash the power of the battle technique and might even suffer a backlash if they trained it before the Transformation Realm.
Just like that, the two obtained a cultivation method and a battle technique that many disciples would dream to have. One could say that they were lucky to have known Xiang Shaoyun. After sending the two away, Xiang Shaoyun called Lu Xiaoqing over. This time, he did not call Gong Qinyin. There were some words that would be more appropriately spoken to Lu Xiaoqing alone.
When Lu Xiaoqing saw Xiang Shaoyun again, she handed him a cloak and said, "Shaoyun, this is a cloak I have knitted personally. Try and see if it fits!"
The gift was presented to Xiang Shaoyun before he could speak, hitting a certain tender spot in his heart.
Since young, apart from his father, he had almost never received sincere care from anyone else. Lu Xiaoqing was a cultivator, yet she had personally knitted a cloak for him. It filled his heart with warmth.