Chen Qing and Li Baichuan returned to the backyard of Qingmu Institute.
Li Baichuan glanced at him and said evenly, "You took so long to return. Looks like you came back with your bowls and basins brimming full this time."
Chen Qing cupped his hands. "Master Li jests. My delay was mainly because an Earth Origin Sect elder struck me with a palm from afar, leaving me somewhat shaken. I had to regulate my breathing while rushing back, and I also had certain concerns. Moreover, I heard that the Demonic Sect stronghold at Xiyang Mountain withdrew ahead of schedule. The leak of that information was rather strange, and I am worried..."
He stopped there, but the deeper meaning was already obvious—he was hinting that there might be a spy hidden within the Four Sect Alliance.
Li Baichuan snorted. "And after getting hold of the True Treasure Pearl, you were afraid someone would set their sights on it and snatch it the moment you returned, so you simply hid away to study it thoroughly before showing yourself?"
Chen Qing rubbed his nose. Nothing could be hidden from this old bastard after all.
Li Baichuan nodded. "Still, your concern was not unnecessary. While you were gone these past few days, the Sect Master used this disturbance to hook a small fish hidden in Hanyu Valley."
"The Sect Master went fishing?" Chen Qing was somewhat surprised.
"What was He Yuzhou's nickname in the martial world again?" Li Baichuan asked unhurriedly.
Chen Qing's heart jolted, and he blurted out, "Canglang the Old Angler..."
He understood immediately.
He Yuzhou appeared to be holding down the center, but in truth, he had long since laid his traps. Using the news of Chen Qing's "death" as bait, he waited and watched. Sure enough, someone could not hold