Yuan Xi began urging Zhang Xiangyun to leave Taiyi and return home to lie low, using his injuries as an opening. Zhang Xiangyun's face darkened as he listened; he clearly had no intention of leaving.
Seeing his expression, Song Yubo gave up without even trying to persuade him.
Yuan Xi turned to Song Yubo and Nian Qiuyan, gesturing for them to say something too.
"I didn't come tonight to persuade him to leave Taiyi and save his own skin," Nian Qiuyan said.
He kept smiling as he continued, "They need a new batch of Return Soul Incense outside. The Sage swept through the outer city and destroyed our strongholds, so we can only go to a secret stronghold that's been relocated to make it."
Nian Qiuyan lowered his eyes toward Zhang Xiangyun. "Xuan Kui's deliveries are always on time. We don't miss deadlines—that's one of Xuan Kui's rules. So they're pressing us hard right now, and I received another message demanding the goods today."
He took a tiny Message Dragonfly from his sleeve. It was the kind of little dragonfly commonly seen in country fields, and one of Xuan Kui's message-carrying Insect Beasts. The delivery time and requirements appeared on its nearly transparent wings. Nian Qiuyan showed it to the other three, then destroyed it.
"We have only half a month left. Given the situation, that's cutting it close." Nian Qiuyan looked at Zhang Xiangyun. "Once this batch is ready, you can take it away. You can go home to recover and keep a low profile at the same time."
Yuan Xi was trying to help Zhang Xiangyun, in his own way. "That's not a bad idea. At least you wouldn't be going home empty-handed—you could even make up for your mistake."
"What mistake am I supposed to make up