No Forcing It

Help? Yan Li pressed. "Who?"

Niu Youdao shook his head, looking unwilling to say, and changed the subject. "No one noticed me leaving, did they? Are your people reliable?"

Yan Li said, "I moved people away from the route you took in and out. Not many people from Purple Gold Cave saw you either. Those who know won't talk recklessly."

"That's good." Niu Youdao nodded, then asked, "As for Chu Fengping, has Elder Yan thought of a way to deal with him?"

At the mention of this, Yan Li got a headache. He sat cross-legged before Niu Youdao as well. "That shameless old bastard actually brought the female disciple straight in with him over this. He intends to settle the matter directly in the Tiandu Secret Realm. That leaves you with no way out! The crux is that protecting you requires the support of all the Yan Kingdom forces here. Especially with that first place Sha Rulai arranged for you—unless all the Spirit Seeds collected by everyone here are gathered under your name, it will be difficult for you to take first place. If you refuse Chu Fengping now, this will all fall apart. Sigh, I've turned it over and over, but I can't think of any good solution for the moment."

No sooner had he finished than Xiaoyao Palace Elder Shan Hai's voice came from the cave entrance. "Wu Zhaoxing, get out of my way! I saw Yan Li go in. Don't keep fobbing me off with that nonsense about it being inconvenient to disturb them!"

After exchanging a glance with Yan Li, Niu Youdao called out, "Senior Wu, let him in."

Very soon, a figure flashed inside. Shan Hai entered and stood before the two of them. He looked Niu Youdao up and down, his gaze shifting between