The woman outside the cave invited Li Kun to the Bai family to destroy Nangong together.
Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal exchanged a look, then a smile appeared on their faces.
"Senior, please agree to her."
"We will definitely find out the truth."
Looking at Xu Mu's earnest eyes, Li Kun hesitated for a moment before finally sighing helplessly, "Alright."
The torch extinguished, Li Kun casually laid down a restriction on the rock walls and then led Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal out of the cave.
When Bai Nian'er saw Li Kun emerge, her expression brightened, and she was about to kneel in a salute, but was stopped by the young man beside her.
Zhou Yan frowned and said,
"There's someone behind us."
"Someone?"
Bai Nian'er was stunned for a moment, then curiously tiptoed to look inside the cave.
Then, she saw two familiar figures.
An old man and a young man.
The old man was dishevelled, the young man serene.
They were the two they had met at the Gold and Silver Merchant House.
Xu Mu's gaze met the young man's, and he raised an eyebrow:
"It really is them."
"When I heard this woman's voice just now, I thought it sounded familiar. I didn't expect her to be from the Bai family."
The Wine Immortal chuckled softly, "They probably didn't expect us to be here either."
Li Kun walked to within ten meters of the two and asked with a frown, "Did Bai Yun send you two?"
Bai Nian'er was startled and bowed, "Replying to Jade Celestial Venerable, it was Ancestor Bai Yun who sent me to find you."
"Ancestor Bai Yun said that it's time for the matter of those years to have a conclusion, and she wishes to invite you to witness the moment the Nangong clan is annihilated."
Upon hearing this, Li Kun let out a cold snort, his gaze indifferent, and a trace of his aura leaked out, startling the two.
On their way here, her father had specifically warned her about the taboos when meeting Li Kun, especially certain names that should not be mentioned, and certain words that should not be spoken. Her posture should be low, even as humble as possible.
If Li Kun were to get angry, killing her would be like killing nothing, and no one would avenge her. It wasn't because they feared Li Kun's strength, but because she was Bai Yun's half-teacher.
Li Kun looked at the two, his aura emanating for a moment before he slowly withdrew it.
"After so many years, it is indeed time for it to end."
Li Kun nodded calmly and turned to ask the Wine Immortal,
"Since you are both here, why don't you accompany me to personally witness the annihilation of Nangong? It will be a proper farewell to our departed brothers."
The Wine Immortal, in disguise, immediately entered the role, his eyes reddening slightly, and sighed wistfully, "This is for the best."
"Mu'er, you come too. It's good for young people to experience battle to temper their character."
Xu Mu's lips twitched slightly, and he calmly cupped his fists and replied, "Yes."
On the other side, Bai Nian'er watched the two of them sing in harmony and was about to follow them to the Bai family when she hastily spoke,
"Elder Li Kun, Patriarch Bai Yun only invited you. As for the others..."
Hearing this, Li Kun narrowed his eyes and asked,
"Oh?"
"Are you implying that I, Li Kun, cannot bring two friends to your Bai family?"
Bai Nian'er knelt on the ground, breaking out in a cold sweat, and said through gritted teeth,
"This is the order of Patriarch Bai Yun. I dare not disobey."
Li Kun heard this and asked calmly,
"Are you suggesting I go question Bai Yun myself?"
"Shall I go ask her if the current Li Kun has the right to bring two companions into the Bai family? Do you think that would be acceptable?"
As Li Kun spoke, he leaned forward slightly, his Domain Lord realm might crashing down. Bai Nian'er's face turned pale. Just as she was about to speak again, the young man beside her interjected.
"Of course, that is unnecessary."
"Given Senior's status, naturally, he can bring as many friends as he wishes into the Bai family. Nian'er was foolish for a moment, I hope Senior will forgive her."
Hearing this, Li Kun glanced sideways and asked, "And who might you be?"
The young man cupped his fists and replied, "I am Zhou Yan, son of Marquis Xuanping of the Great Zhou Imperial Family."
"The Great Zhou Imperial Family." Li Kun stared at Zhou Yan for a long time, his expression solemn, then he suddenly laughed, "You annihilated the Xi family line, so the Bai family is forming an alliance? How truly amusing."
Li Kun waved his hand and said directly, "Lead the way, let's not waste any time."
"It's been so many years since I last saw her. I'm starting to wonder what the current Bai girl looks like."
Bai Nian'er heard this and said, "The Patriarch, she is currently..."
"Silence!" Zhou Yan interrupted her and quickly bowed respectfully, "Regarding the matters between Senior and the Patriarch, this junior dares not interfere."
Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal's eyes flickered.
Proper etiquette, meticulous thinking, their intuition told them that this Zhou Yan was not simple.
Li Kun said no more, took a few steps forward, and said loudly,
"Children, class is dismissed early today. You may go."
"I will inform you of the time for the next lesson at your homes. Go back first!"
A burst of surprised laughter came from the schoolhouse, and then many six or seven-year-old children, carrying cloth bags, ran out, chasing each other across the small river.
"Goodbye, teacher!"
"Teacher, we're leaving. We'll bring you malt candy made by Mom next time we come back."
"Teacher, is there no homework after school today?"
Li Kun looked at the skipping children and smiled faintly, "No."
Then, he added in his heart.
"If luck is not on your side."
"There will be no more from now on."
The Nangong clan's mountain gate was located on a perilous cliff, difficult to attack and easy to defend, with a ten-thousand-foot abyss behind it.
The left, center, and right of the mountain gate were all surrounded by a large number of troops. Countless Domain Lords guarded the foot of the mountain, and cultivators from all sides gathered, a vast ocean, an army pressing forward.
The setting sun's red glow was like fire, illuminating this blood-stained earth of ochre. Families from all sides beat their drums and retreated, and the energy users attached to the mountain descended like ants climbing trees, returning to their camps to rest.
Ten miles in front of the center of the Nangong mountain gate were the Bai family's camp formations, numbering over a thousand. They housed esteemed cultivators, either elders of a sect or sect leaders, all invited by Bai Yun as helpers to attack the Nangong clan.
Their position in the center was naturally the main attacking force. The Dongfang clan and the Cheng clan served as auxiliaries.
At this time, Bai Yun was sitting high in the largest dark-colored camp at the very front, her expression calm, her eyes with a hint of coldness, staring at the tent entrance as if waiting for someone.
Soon, as time passed, footsteps and the clanging of armor from several guards kneeling in salute finally echoed from outside the calm tent.
Bai Yun's fingers twitched, then she returned to her composed posture, her sitting posture more upright, like a cold and majestic female emperor.
The tent curtain was lifted.
Bai Nian'er entered, then knelt on the ground with a thud, her eyes red, and said,
"Reporting to the Patriarch, Elder Li Kun has brought back two friends, whose identities are unknown, and they are waiting outside the tent at this moment."
"Your subordinate has failed in her duty and was unable to stop them. I hope the Patriarch will punish me lightly."
Hearing this, the coldness in Bai Yun's eyes slowly rose, and she said,
"Vile creature, is that how you address Elder Li Kun? You must call him Jade Celestial Venerable!"
A ruthless aura entered Bai Nian'er's body, and she instantly felt a heart-wrenching pain, prostrating herself on the ground. A sweet taste filled her throat, but she dared not spit out blood.
Because Bai Nian'er knew that if her blood stained the carpet inside the tent, she would truly die.
A moment later, Bai Yun withdrew her pressure, her gaze fixed coldly, and said,
"Whom Mr. Li Kun brings is his affair. You have no right to call his name, nor do you have the right to stop him."
"Go, bring them in, and then go to the stewards to receive your reward."
Hearing this, Bai Nian'er hurriedly prostrated herself,
"Thank you, Patriarch!"
After bowing, Bai Nian'er quickly got up and exited the tent. Ignoring Zhou Yan's concerned look, she directly walked to Li Kun's side and knelt down, saying with a sob,
"Lord Jade Celestial Venerable, I truly should not have stopped you earlier. Please consider me blind and spare me this once."
Li Kun looked at her without speaking.
Seeing this, Bai Nian'er wiped away her tears and said, "Jade Celestial Venerable, the Patriarch is already waiting for you inside."
Li Kun nodded slightly, glanced at Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal, and then strode into the tent.
Xu Mu and the Wine Immortal followed three steps behind him, their faces calm, but their hearts began to anticipate, wanting to see what Bai Yun looked like.
Li Kun himself was also very excited. Since teaching in the mountains, he hadn't seen Bai Yun for decades.
He wondered how she was doing now?
The tent curtain slowly lowered, and the slightly dazzling light was gradually swallowed.
Li Kun's figure slowly appeared from the darkness.
His hair was white, and he was frail with age. Except for his eyes, which were still as calm as cold jade, everything else had been changed by time.
And Bai Yun was the same.
Looking at the middle-aged woman sitting on a chair, her hair white, exuding a cold and ruthless killing intent, Li Kun was momentarily stunned.
This was no longer the Bai Yun he knew.
He couldn't help but feel saddened, and with a complex expression, he said, "When you drank the Forgetfulness Potion and cultivated the path of emotionlessness, I knew this day would come. That's why I endured my longing for decades and dared not see you."
Bai Yun looked at Li Kun, her refined and fair features devoid of expression. She said coldly,
"I do not wish to see you."
"I wish to kill you."