Nipping Disaster in the Bud

"Greetings, Senior Sister, and two Senior Brothers."

Li Yang activated the formation to let the three of them in. Though he already 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. This Senior Brother has come today primarily to ask a favor."

Before Wang Qi could even state what the matter was, Liu Sizhe cut him off.

"Wang Qi, you don't get to call the shots. What if you're just trying to pressure our junior brothers and sisters? Let Senior Sister speak."

Liu Sizhe had always been a straightforward sort, but today, for the sake of love, he'd finally managed to think things through a bit.

Wang Qi gave a cold snort at this, but he knew full well how things stood between him and Senior Sister Yan'er, and he also understood that Li Yang was well aware of their relationship. So he wasn't afraid.

"Fine, then. Let Yan'er speak. Neither of us will interfere with the other."

With that, Wang Qi deliberately cast a barrier over the two of them, ensuring they could only listen and watch, but not transmit any sound outward.

Liu Sizhe wasn't about to be outdone. He didn't trust Wang Qi—this was the despicable little man who had tricked his senior sister. So he set up a barrier of his own.

Lan Ling'e was confused. She watched the bickering Wang Qi and Liu Sizhe, then glanced at Liu Yan'er, as if sensing something strange.

Seeing the two of them acting so petulantly, Liu Yan'er could only give a helpless, wry smile. She stepped forward and said, "Junior Brother, it's like this. You know that I and Junior Brother Qiqi pledged our feelings to each other back during the Northern Juru Continent Expedition. So we'd like to ask you to bear witness."

Li Yang listened, then sized up Wang Qi and Liu Sizhe beside him, putting on a show of understanding.

"So that's how it is. Senior Sister, you've given me quite a difficult task. But regarding the Northern Juru Continent Expedition, Martial Uncle Jiu Jiu and Senior Sister Youqin were both witnesses. Their testimony should be far more convincing to this Senior Brother than mine."

In truth, Li Yang had already subtly confirmed the matter by saying this. But Liu Sizhe, whether because his mind was slow or because he was too deeply in love, simply didn't catch on. This left Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi feeling quite helpless.

"We wanted to, but Senior Sister Youqin is in seclusion, and I didn't dare disturb her. We also went to ask Martial Aunt Jiujiu, but she's in seclusion too. We had no other choice, so we came to seek out Senior Brother Li Changshou and Junior Brother Li Yang. So..."

Seeing Liu Yan'er's gaze fall on the Thatched Cottage not far away, Li Yang said, "My Senior Disciple Brother has gone down the mountain to sever his worldly ties. He won't be back for at least a year. Besides, even if we did bear witness, what good would it do?"

Li Yang's eyes settled on Liu Sizhe, his expression unreadable, the meaning clear enough.

Helpless, Liu Yan'er could only plead, "I know this matter puts you in a difficult position, Junior Brother. But I can assure you, Liu Sizhe is pure of heart. He just thinks I'm using Junior Brother Qiqi as a shield, that I don't want to hinder his path to immortality. So you can rest assured."

Pure of heart?

He thinks it's a shield?

If this man were a fool, he'd never have cultivated to the Return to Void Sixth Stage.

He simply doesn't believe it, and doesn't want to believe it. He's just deceiving himself.

Someone like this—if I spell it out for him like this, he'll definitely hold a grudge against me.

But this matter has to be resolved eventually. It can't be delayed, or it'll only cause more trouble later. After all, if such a melodramatic plot can play out, then a scenario where a junior brother falls to demonic ways over fighting for his senior sister wouldn't be out of the question, would it?

And then what? Destroy the Immortal Crossing Sect? Take revenge on Lesser Qiong Peak? The consequences would be...

Anyway, I've seen plenty of templates for this kind of thing in my past life's xianxia TV dramas.

"Senior Sister, if you want this Junior Brother to bear witness, you'll all have to swear an oath."

"Fine!" Liu Yan'er agreed without hesitation.

But Li Yang raised a hand to stop her, then pulled out a Great Dao Oath specially crafted by his Senior Disciple Brother, Li Changshou.

"Here. This is what the oath looks like."

Liu Yan'er stared at the meticulously detailed, all-encompassing Great Dao Oath, utterly dumbfounded.

She lifted her head and fixed her gaze on Li Yang, genuinely wanting to crack open his head and see what was inside, to understand why he would make someone swear such an oath.

But thinking of her junior brother Liu Sizhe, and then of her future happy life with Junior Brother Qiqi, she still chose to agree.

"Alright." Then she looked at Wang Qi and Liu Sizhe.

The two of them dispelled their barriers. Wang Qi also agreed without hesitation, but Liu Sizhe was hesitant.

Hah!

Li Yang sneered inwardly. Look at this guy. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.

This Liu Sizhe was definitely not stupid. Seeing so many clauses in the Great Dao Oath, his face even turned a bit pale. Then he shot back directly.

"I can swear the oath, fine. But who can guarantee that what you say is true? Who can guarantee you're not a plant? Unless you swear an oath too!"

"Hah," Li Yang gave Liu Sizhe a dismissive glance, not bothering to answer him. Instead, he turned his gaze to Liu Yan'er.

After all, this was a Great Dao Oath. He couldn't just swear it casually. Even if it were true, even if there were no harm in it, he wouldn't swear it lightly.

Let alone for someone like this, over something like this. It was simply... pointless.

If it weren't for avoiding Ling'e having a sudden bright idea and causing a disaster like in the original story, he wouldn't have bothered with this at all.

Liu Yan'er still hadn't caught on, but Wang Qi had. He said, "How about this: let Junior Brother Li Yang draft another Great Dao Oath, one specifically for me and Senior Sister Yan'er to swear. It will prove that everything we say is true, and also prove that Junior Brother Li Yang is not a plant we hired."

As soon as he finished, Liu Yan'er quickly chimed in, "I have no problem with that. In fact, this is the best way. I believe Junior Brother won't still think a Great Dao Oath is fake, will he?"

Li Yang nodded along. "Alright. I can draft a version of the Great Dao Oath similar to this one, and I'll make sure it's detailed. So, this Senior Brother, Senior Brother Wang Qi and Senior Sister Liu Yan'er have both agreed, even to two Great Dao Oaths. What about you?"

At this point, Li Yang didn't need to say anything more or take any action. If Liu Sizhe refused to swear this oath, he'd be the one in trouble.

After all, if he didn't swear it, that would prove he knew the matter was true. Which would prove he was deliberately trying to stir up conflict between the disciples of the two peaks. And then... heh heh!

"Fine. I'll swear it!"

Liu Sizhe gritted his teeth and glanced at Li Yang; who knew what that look contained.

But it didn't matter—this Great Dao Oath itself bound him from using any means to find trouble for him, for Lesser Qiong Peak, or for the others.

As long as he swore it, he would be under the oath's dominion for the rest of his life.

As Liu Sizhe swore the oath, Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi followed suit, and then Li Yang crafted specific Great Dao Oaths for Liu Yan'er and Wang Qi.

Once the two had finished swearing, Liu Sizhe knew he had lost—utterly and completely.

But Li Yang didn't let him off; instead, he made a demonstration right in front of them.

"This Senior Brother, do you believe me now?"

Faced with Li Yang's rhetorical question, Liu Sizhe said nothing and walked away, dejected.

Throughout this, Lan Ling'e, who had been playing a supporting role, was very curious.

"Senior Brother, was it necessary to make them swear such a harsh Great Dao Oath?"

In Lan Ling'e's eyes, the three were nothing but dirt and rubble—why be so cautious?

Hearing this, Li Yang gave Lan Ling'e a sharp rap on the head.

"Look at your thinking—so utterly improper.

It's only lucky that I came out of seclusion; otherwise, with that mindset of yours, who knows what great disaster you'd stir up.

Remember, remember, remember: never underestimate anyone of a lower realm. The Karma of heaven and earth is densely interwoven, and don't meddle carelessly.

If you do meddle, cut it off as quickly as possible—like the Great Dao Oath I used. Do you understand?"

Lan Ling'e clutched her head, sobbing.

"Senior Brother, goose understands, goose understands."