Chapter 554: The Beginning of a Daydream (2/10, Autumn Moon Tickets)

The Elder Black let out a bitter laugh and said coldly, "Fine, then let's exchange a move?"

Sect Master Heng leapt to his feet: "Fine, let's exchange one!"

"Gentlemen! Gentlemen!" Tian Erjun hurried forward to stop them. "Gentlemen, think of the bigger picture—direct your anger at the Possession, not at your own allies."

"Allies? Who's his ally?!" spat out a mouthful of saliva, and Sect Master Heng sat back down.

"Hmph!" The Elder Black sneered and turned his gaze away.

These people had barely sat down in the Qing Office for a few minutes, and already they were bickering among themselves.

With no authority to enforce order, Tian Erjun could do little—relying solely on the Qing Office's official status and personal connections to ease tensions.

You Sisi frowned, disliking this kind of thing intensely.

But she didn't think Tian Erjun's posture looked weak—she felt it was him who was being wronged.

Who would willingly kneel if they could stand and get things done themselves?

This isn't weakness of power—it's a matter of choosing humility.

"Lord Tian, they're just like this—let them squabble. Let's get back to the real matter at hand."

Said the Bei Hufa of the Flame Sect with a smile.

Though he smiled, his tone carried an air of absolute authority, commanding the entire room.

"What the Bei Hufa means is…"

"There's nothing to discuss. We don't care how many contributions Ye Baiyi made to Qingsi County. He has now drawn the Black Cloud. As long as he remains in Qingsi County, he is a threat to us. So, let him leave Qingsi County—for now."

"... But he suffers from the Curse of Possession—he can't go into the wild alone..."

"I said." The Bei Hufa narrowed his eyes. "Let him leave Qingsi County."

"..." Tian Erjun fell silent.

You Sisi clenched her fists and stood up abruptly, glaring furiously at the Bei Hufa: "What if we refuse?"

The Bei Hufa frowned at You Sisi: "Then the Flame Sect will withdraw entirely from Qingsi County and cease all involvement in its rescue efforts."

"You're not afraid—"

"Not afraid!" The Bei Hufa sneered. "If this goes to the higher Qing Office, I'm still in the right! Our sect came to support Qingsi County, not to die for it. We could easily remove this threat—but because of one man, we're all being dragged into danger. Do you really think the higher-ups will side with you?"

"..."

You Sisi fell silent, trembling with rage, and said coldly: "I am of the Qingdu You Family—mind your tone!"

The You Family? The Qingdu You Family?!

The Bei Hufa froze, his expression shifting several times before he forced a stiff smile and softened his tone: "Lady You, you misunderstand—I'm not targeting you. I merely believe our sect's proposal is better. What do you think?"

As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in the Bei Hufa's eyes.

You Sisi could not refute him—if she did, she would bring shame upon the You Family. To fail to see this much is to betray her lineage. If this escalates to the higher authorities, the Flame Sect will still be in the right—and still walk away unscathed.

"I—" You Sisi, flames rising in her chest, was about to retort when Tian Erjun clamped his hand over her mouth.

"Bei Hufa, Lady You has only just become Chief Qingyi—she may not have considered all angles. Why argue with her over this?"

"How would I dare have any grievance against someone from the Qingdu You Family? I merely raised the issue for everyone to discuss, right? Sect Master Heng? Elder Black?"

Sect Master Heng chuckled: "Exactly, exactly—just discussion. No need to get so heated. Misunderstandings are bad."

Elder Black sipped his tea and agreed: "Indeed. We're all here to protect Qingsi County. Let's not turn on each other."

At this moment, the three were united.

You Sisi, now calmer, realized she had nearly spoken herself into disaster.

She slapped away Tian Erjun's hand, glared at the three, and stormed out.

"Hey? Why is Lady You leaving? The matter isn't settled yet!"

"Yes! Lady You, you're Chief Qingyi—you can't be absent from such an important meeting!"

Leaving those voices behind, You Sisi quickly exited the meeting chamber.

Seeing this, the Flame Sect's Bei Hufa spread his hands toward Tian Erjun: "The Chief Qingyi has left. Now Qingsi County is entirely under your word, Lord Tian. What do you propose we do about Ye Baiyi?"

"... I... I leave it entirely to your judgment." Tian Erjun clenched his teeth, and finally spoke.

"Excellent! Since Lord Tian agrees, let's now discuss how to set up our defensive lines." The Bei Hufa clapped his hands sharply, delighted.

Clearly, the official cooperation between Qingsi County and the sects had now truly begun.

You Sisi walked aimlessly, her mind churning with memories of roughly four or five days ago—when they had rescued Lord Han and others, fleeing the Underground Stronghold under pursuit by the 【Coffin Possession】, when Jing Yan had spoken to her.

"Lady You, Lady You, you can't kill Captain Lin or Xiao Xuedou—or Lord Han!"

"I never said I'd kill them."

"But your eyes betrayed you. You might dare not touch Lord Han—but Captain Lin and Xiao Xuedou—you clearly want them gone!"

"... Xiao Xuedou has already become Possession twice. Captain Lin's 【Possessed Eye】 is full Possession. For Qingsi County's safety, either they leave—or I handle them myself."

"I knew it, I knew it! But you can't do this!"

"Why not?"

"Because... because... because Ye Ge!"

"Him? Ye Baiyi? What about him?"

"Ugh! I can't hold it in anymore! Lady You, I'm telling you this secret—only you, and no one else, ever!"

"What secret? About Ye Baiyi?"

"Yes! About Ye Ge! Actually... actually, he—he likes you!!"

"... Huh?"

"Lady You, you're so slow! Haven't you noticed? Ye Ge is always so eager to impress you. Sure, part of it is to save lives—but mostly, it's to impress you!"

To impress you! To impress you! To impress you!

The triple echo reverberated in his mind.

"R-really?"

"Absolutely! I'm the worm in Ye Ge's belly! I know exactly what he's thinking!"

"He… why? It feels like I and he…"

"Ye Ge noticed you long ago! Even back in Gu Yue Cun, he declared he'd love no one but you in this lifetime! He couldn't care less about any other pretty faces! You don't know—every girl in the village cried their eyes out, and the village beauty even tried to kill herself for him!"

"I… am I really that outstanding?"

"Of course you are! Ye Ge couldn't sleep or eat thinking of you! On the way to Mo Cun, a mountain Captain chased after him relentlessly, but he remained faithful to you alone—no one else mattered! Later, when they reached Mo Cun, the Fire Captain admired Ye Ge greatly—but once she learned your rival was 【Thousand Threads Sword】 You Sisi, she bowed out in shame, admitting defeat."

(End of Chapter)