Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Zhu Wuyao carefully recalled the years she spent with Song Kezi, and finally said to Gu Yiguan:

"I have walked with him for years."

"I'm looking for something. Song Kezi probably guessed a bit about it, but fortunately, he knew nothing about the truly important things."

"Senior sister, can't the three sects make a move?"

Even though she had no expectations, Zhu Wuyao still asked the question.

Gu Yiguan shook his head as expected and replied:

"Licheng remains unmoved, and the three sects remain unmoved."

"We can add flowers to brocade and kick someone when they're down, but we can't risk getting ourselves into trouble by offering help in times of need or becoming the first to stick our necks out."

Zhu Wuyao raised his hands to his forehead, lowered his eyes, and fell silent.

She understands.

She understands it all.

Gu Yiguan had to take responsibility for the people in the north first. Whether the Juque Sect or Licheng was in power in the south would not have much impact on the three sects.

To provide covert assistance to Licheng in private is already an act of benevolence and righteousness.

Without the assistance of the three factions, Licheng would not have become a force to be reckoned with in just a few years.

Even though the south was ravaged by bloodshed and the people were suffering, not far away, under the rule of the Western Taibai Sect, the bookstore owner could still open the door yawning after the morning mist had cleared.

As she hurried back to Zhaixing Tower, she passed through Beixuan City, where spring was being celebrated in the streets and alleys, with children wearing flowers in their hair and laughing joyfully.

The sorrow from afar cannot diminish the joy nearby.

The three clans have lived up to the expectations of their people.

I hope everyone understands without being invited.

Because she understood, she felt helpless. She couldn't shout about justice and point her sword at the sect like a naive young man, nor could she rebuke Gu Yiguan for being cold-hearted and indifferent to the lives of the people of the neighboring sects.

"Senior sister... if you weren't the sect leader of Zhaixing Tower, what would you have done?"

"I will gather a few friends and go to Licheng together to eradicate the deep-seated problems and bring about a transformation in the South, making it the new sect's leader."

This should have been said with great enthusiasm and passion.

But Gu Yiguan's words sounded like he was talking about his childhood dreams, which made people sigh for no reason.

Zhu Wuyao smiled and said:

"Gu Yiguan, you have no friends."

"But I am the sect leader now."

Those who seize profits have no regrets, those who vie for power have no regrets, and those who know where they should go never regret anything.

Gu Yiguan held his teacup, drank some tea, looked at Zhu Wuyao, and said:

"Fu Shan was trapped in the south by her own strategy."

"Since she cannot leave, if she wants to seize the fragments of the Heavenly Dao, she can only lure you to the south. Now, she has no choice but to take a gamble."

"If I were her..."

The teacup was placed on the table, rippling outwards. Gu Yiguan, lost in thought, slowly said:

"If I were her, I would mobilize the entire clan and use all our strength to fight in Licheng."

"Success or perish."

"If you show yourself, we will turn our attention to seizing the fragments of the Heavenly Dao. If you do not show yourself, we will destroy Li City directly. At that time, with the foundation of the Juque Sect, we will surely be able to find a way out."

At this point, Gu Yiguan became somewhat serious.

She got up, paced around the Enlightenment Hall, and then stood still.

After a long silence, seemingly lost in thought, he finally spoke as if he had made a decision:

"So you can't go."

"If you show yourself and the fragments of the Heavenly Dao are taken away, Licheng will lose whether it wins or loses."

"Zhu Wuyao, I will discuss this matter with Qingyun Sect and Taibai Sect. At that time, I will lend Licheng a helping hand. Do not act rashly. After the South is pacified and Licheng is in power, you may go and search for your destined item."

Gu Yiguan's words are all reasonable.

They even promised Zhu Wuyao a bright future.

Even the biggest problems presented to her can always be solved by peeling back the layers of the puzzle.

Fu Shan wanted to turn the tide and revive the crumbling Juque Sect, but in this world, the only person she could play chess with was Zhu Wuyao.

With three powerful forces at its side, they are watching with predatory eyes.

Zhu Wuyao knew she was no match for Gu and Fu in wit and strategy, but having been deceived so many times, she couldn't help but be suspicious when someone promised her a bright future. She asked:

"Is Fu Shan really going to gamble everything in Licheng? And why are Taibai and Qingyun helping him out?"

Gu Yiguan smiled, seemingly quite confident, and said:

"As long as Juque stands, with Fushan still alive, it is very likely to become the strongest; if Juque falls, the three sects will take the opportunity to attack the mountain gate and divide the spoils, and Licheng will become the weakest."

As for why the four sects are not allowed to become three, it is due to geographical reasons. Zhaixinglou would never agree to it. If Taibai and Qingyun had such intentions, Zhaixinglou would immediately form an alliance with the South to jointly resist the two sects.

Therefore, the support that Zhaixinglou provided to Licheng was also the most.

As for why they launched an attack on Licheng recently, it's because a ready-made reason has been provided—

"Licheng is harboring a traitor of the Juque Sect, who harbors rebellious intentions. You are hereby ordered to hand him over within three months. Do not say you were not warned."

The news spread far and wide within just a few days.

Alongside this news, there are rumors about fallen leaves inviting autumn.

People in the martial arts world all say that the Juque Sect is using an open strategy to invite Zhu Wuyao into the city for a decisive battle, and that this Li City has countless connections with Luoye Yaoqiu.

The reason that traitor from Nanli was able to escape unscathed was also due to Zhu Wuyao's secret assistance.

The Juque Sect appears to be targeting Licheng, but in reality, it is aimed at Zhu Wuyao.

With Fu Shan's encouragement, those who regarded Zhu Wuyao as a hero believed that on that day, Luoye Yaoqiu would appear in Licheng.

In a small town in the south—

"Oh!"

The mortal who once stopped a passerby to have his fortune told, asking where the fallen leaves invited autumn was, and who wrote the character "invitation" on his brush, was quite surprised upon hearing this news, muttering to himself:

"I was actually right about that fortune teller. I thought she was a fraud."

"There will be someone to welcome her in a place known to all the world, and then all the world will know."

Recalling this divination text, he scratched his head, a hint of anticipation in his eyes:

"This time, that Fallen Leaf Invites Autumn is about to do something earth-shattering again. It seems the Juque Sect's fate is sealed..."

"If the divination comes true and Fallen Leaves Inviting Autumn really does appear in Licheng, then the extra copper coin will be well worth it!"

Like many others, he believed that someone like Luo Ye Yao Qiu would not avoid battle at this time.

Licheng reacted extremely quickly.

Almost on the same day the news broke, they immediately announced to all sides that they were severing ties with Fallen Leaves Inviting Autumn.

And "Ten Thousand Book Reviews" immediately pointed out the sinister intentions of the Juque School—

"If Luo Ye Yao Qiu appears, it will be a trap set for Zhu Wu Yao; but if Zhu Wu Yao does not appear, he will be seen as cowardly."

"The Juque Sect's actions have put Luoye Yaoqiu in the spotlight, forcing her to face death even though she knows it's a dead end."

"But if heroes are bound by the pursuit of chivalry, the praise of the world will only push them to their doom. Who in the world would then be willing to perform righteous deeds?"

"If Fallen Leaves Inviting Autumn is forced to accept the challenge, it would be tantamount to chilling the hearts of righteous men across the land."

This is not just about defending Zhu Wuyao.

It was the person who wrote the letter who advised Zhu Wuyao not to appear.

Inside the Star-Picking Tower, Zhu Wuyao traced the last character of his pen name with his fingertips, his expression gentle, and turned to Gu Yiguan, saying:

Do I look like the kind of person who would risk their life for a reputation?