"Greetings, Senior Sister, Senior Brothers."
Li Yang activated the formation to let the three of them in. Though he knew what was going on, he didn't ask. Wang Qi, however, could no longer hold back.
"Greetings, Junior Brother Li Yang and Junior Sister Lan Ling'e. I've come today because I have a favor to ask."
Before Wang Qi could explain what he wanted, Liu Sizhe interrupted him.
"Wang Qi, you don't get to decide that. What if you're threatening Junior Brother and Junior Sister? Senior Sister should be the one to explain."
Liu Sizhe had always been a simple-minded man, but for love, he'd finally had a moment of insight.
Wang Qi snorted at that, but he knew all too well how he and Senior Sister Yan'er felt about each other. He also knew that Li Yang was fully aware of their relationship, so he had nothing to fear.
"Fine, then let Yan'er explain. Neither of us will get in the other's way."
With that, Wang Qi set up a barrier around the two of them, making sure they could hear and see what was happening but couldn't send messages out.
Liu Sizhe wasn't about to be outdone. He didn't trust Wang Qi, a despicable scoundrel who had deceived his Senior Sister, so he set up a barrier of his own.
Lan Ling'e was confused. She watched Wang Qi and Liu Sizhe bicker, then glanced at Liu Yan'er, as though she'd noticed something strange.
Seeing the two men squabbling like this, Liu Yan'er could only smile helplessly. She stepped forward and said, "Junior Brother, here's the situation. You know that Junior Brother Wang Qi and I pledged ourselves to each other in the Northern Juru Continent back then, so we'd like you to serve as a witness."
After hearing her out, Li Yang looked at Wang Qi and Liu Sizhe beside her, then put on an expression of sudden understanding.
"I see. Senior Sister, you've certainly put me in a difficult position. But Martial Uncle Jiu Jiu and Senior Sister Youqin witnessed the events of the Northern Juru Continent Expedition. Their testimony should convince this Senior Brother more than mine would."
Li Yang had already confirmed the matter in a roundabout way, but whether Liu Sizhe was dim-witted or simply too deeply in love, he hadn't understood. Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi could only look on helplessly.
"We wanted to ask them too, but Junior Sister Youqin is in seclusion, and I don't dare disturb her. I also went to ask Martial Aunt Jiujiu, but she's in seclusion as well. We had no choice but to come to Senior Brother Changshou and Junior Brother Li Yang, so..."
Seeing Liu Yan'er glance toward the thatched cottage in the distance, Li Yang said, "My Senior Disciple Brother left the mountain to sever his mortal ties. He won't be back for at least a year. Besides, what good would proving it do?"
Li Yang turned his gaze on Liu Sizhe, his expression unreadable. His meaning was clear.
Helpless, Liu Yan'er could only plead with him. "I know this puts Junior Brother in a difficult position, but I can assure you that Liu Sizhe is kind by nature. He just thinks I'm using Junior Brother Wang Qi as a shield, and doesn't want me to hold back his path to immortality. So you needn't worry."
Kind by nature?
He thinks he's a shield?
If this man were a fool, he wouldn't have reached the Return to Void Sixth Stage.
He just doesn't believe it—or doesn't want to. He's deceiving himself.
Someone like him will surely resent me for making things so clear.
But this has to be settled, and it can't be put off. Otherwise, things will only get more troublesome. We've already got a melodramatic mess like this unfolding, so why not have a junior brother fall to the demonic path over a Senior Sister?
Then we'd have the destruction of the Immortal Crossing Sect, revenge against Lesser Qiong Peak... The consequences would be...
Anyway, cultivation dramas from my past life have used that plot a countless number of times.
"Senior Sister, if you want me to bear witness, all of you will have to swear an oath."
"Of course!" Liu Yan'er agreed at once.
But Li Yang raised a hand to stop her, then took out a Great Dao Oath specially drafted by his Senior Disciple Brother, Li Changshou.
"Here. This is what the oath says."
Liu Yan'er read through the thorough and detailed Great Dao Oath, which left nothing out, and froze.
She looked up at Li Yang, wishing she could crack open his head and see what was inside. Why would he make someone swear such an oath?
But when she thought of her Junior Brother Liu Sizhe, and of the happy life she and Junior Brother Wang Qi would share in the future, she still chose to agree.
"Fine." Then she looked at Wang Qi and Liu Sizhe.
The two men lowered their barriers. Wang Qi agreed at once, but Liu Sizhe hesitated.
Heh!
Li Yang sneered inwardly as he watched him. Just look at him. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Liu Sizhe was definitely no fool. At the sight of all those clauses in the Great Dao Oath, his face had gone pale. Then he immediately shot back, "I can swear an oath, but who can guarantee that what you're saying is true? Who can guarantee you aren't in on it with them? You'll have to swear one too!"
"Heh." Li Yang shot Liu Sizhe a sidelong glance but didn't answer him. Instead, he looked at Liu Yan'er.
After all, this was a Great Dao Oath. He couldn't just swear one on a whim. Even if it was true, even if there were no downsides, he wouldn't swear carelessly.
And to swear because of someone like this, over something like this? It was simply... ridiculous.
If he weren't trying to stop Ling'e from impulsively causing a disaster like she had in the Original Novel, why would he get involved in this at all?
Before Liu Yan'er could catch on, Wang Qi had already figured it out. He said, "How about this? We'll have Junior Brother Li Yang draw up another Great Dao Oath, one for Yan'er and me to swear. It'll prove that everything we said is true, and that Junior Brother Li Yang isn't in on it with us."
As soon as he finished, Liu Yan'er quickly chimed in, "I have no problem with that. This is actually the best way. Surely Junior Brother won't still think a Great Dao Oath is fake?"
Li Yang nodded along. "That works. I can draft another Great Dao Oath like this one and make sure it covers everything. Well, Senior Brother, Senior Brother Wang Qi and Senior Sister Liu Yan'er have both agreed—even to two oaths. What about you?"
At this point, Li Yang didn't need to say another word or lift a finger. If Liu Sizhe refused to swear, he'd have trouble on his hands.
After all, refusing to swear would prove that he knew the matter was true, and therefore that he was deliberately stirring up conflict between disciples of the two peaks. Then... heh!
"Fine, I'll swear!"
Liu Sizhe gritted his teeth and glanced at Li Yang. No one could tell what his gaze held.
But it didn't matter. The Great Dao Oath itself bound him from using any means to trouble Li Yang, Lesser Qiong Peak, or the others.
Once he swore, he'd be bound by that oath for the rest of his life.
Liu Sizhe swore first, followed closely by Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi. Then Li Yang drafted a separate Great Dao Oath specifically for Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi.
When the two of them had finished swearing, Liu Sizhe knew he'd lost—utterly and completely.
But Li Yang still wasn't done with him. He proved the matter right there in front of them.
"Senior Brother, do you believe it now?"
Faced with Li Yang's question, Liu Sizhe said nothing. He left in a daze.
All the while, Lan Ling'e had been watching from the sidelines, curious.
"Senior Brother, was it really necessary to make them swear such a harsh Great Dao Oath?"
In Lan Ling'e's eyes, the three of them were no more than clay dogs and crumbling tiles. Why be so cautious?
Li Yang responded by flicking her on the forehead.
"Look at your way of thinking—it's completely out of line.
"It's only lucky I came out of seclusion in time. With a mindset like yours, who knows how much trouble you'd have caused?
"Remember this, remember this, remember this: don't underestimate anyone with a lower cultivation level. The Karma woven through heaven and earth is dense and tangled, so don't get involved carelessly.
"If you do get involved, cut yourself off from it as soon as possible. Just like with this Great Dao Oath I used. Do you understand?"
Lan Ling'e clutched her head and sobbed.
"Senior Brother, I get it, I get it."
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