By the time Li Yun returned to the secluded courtyard at Blood Tiger Stronghold, it was already late.
After a brief rest, he had someone summon Wang Chaoshan.
"Young Master Li... you're back."
Wang Chaoshan beamed. Li Yun had been away for two days, but the fifty disciples of Blood Tiger Stronghold had continued to make clear progress in the Wind-Splitting Saber Art after Li Yun left the imprint of his Blade Intent in their minds.
As time passed, however, that imprint had gradually faded.
If they wanted to improve further, Li Yun would have to leave it again, perhaps several times.
Wang Chaoshan had worried that Li Yun might not return in time—or might simply never return at all. Now that he saw Li Yun back, his worries vanished.
Before Wang Chaoshan could speak, however, Li Yun got straight to the point.
"Have you heard of Crossblade Manor?"
"Crossblade Manor? Of course I have. That's the Zhuang Lineage... They're on the summit of White Ox Mountain. Within a hundred or two hundred li of the mountain, no force can compare with Crossblade Manor."
"If we really establish the Crane Mountain Blade Sect, we'll probably face their suppression right away."
Wang Chaoshan guessed that Li Yun had spent the past two days investigating Crossblade Manor, likely to prepare for the sect's founding.
But Li Yun shook his head.
"The Crane Mountain Blade Sect can't be established. Blood Tiger Stronghold will probably have to leave Crane Mountain together, too."
"What?"
Wang Chaoshan jolted, unable to process it for a moment.
"Young Master Li..."
"Didn't we agree that once we secured the Martial Armory, we'd share it with you, and you'd help protect the newly founded Crane Mountain Blade Sect?"
"Why has that suddenly changed...? Has something happened?"
Li Yun nodded.
"Something