Divine Fist Sect (Seeking Follow-up!)

Almost simultaneously.

On the other side, at the Han Mansion.

The former reception hall was draped in mourning banners and white silk, with a coffin placed in the center. A crowd of figures knelt in prayer or stood with heads bowed, shedding tears.

"The mourning hall is prepared."

"Then do not keep the guests waiting any longer."

An old man with graying hair, leaning on a cane, suddenly spoke.

At the front of the crowd.

Han Qingyue nodded gently, her vermilion lips parting slightly.

"Open the mansion gates and welcome the guests."

"Ruan Chen, Baili Ce, and Song Wenruo of the Divine Fist Sect have arrived..."

"Pei Junyi of the Canghai Martial Arts Hall..."

"The Canal Gang..."

Following a series of high-pitched, shrill announcements.

An endless stream of figures.

Immediately appeared within the mourning hall.

Among the first three to arrive, the leader had a face the color of a jujube, arms that reached past his knees, and temples that bulged prominently. His eyes, burning with a captivating brilliance, walked straight toward Han Qingyue.

"Junior Sister Han, please accept my condolences..."

"Had I not been delayed by sect matters, I could have arrived sooner. Perhaps this tragedy would never have occurred."

"You are kind, Senior Brother Ruan."

Han Qingyue's eyes shimmered with tears as she shook her head. "All things are ordained by Heaven. If my father's tribulation was fated, the outcome would likely have been the same whether you arrived early or late."

"Junior Sister, please do not grieve too much."

A flash of infatuation crossed the man's eyes. He pulled a jade-green porcelain bottle from his robes and said, "This is a Body Protection Pill. It not only nourishes the spirit but also slows the aging of one's appearance. It is a specialty of our Divine Fist Sect; please, accept it."

"Furthermore, at the request of Deacon Baili and myself."

"The Han Family will be permitted to accompany us to the Divine Fist Sect."

Upon hearing this.

A strange look flickered in Han Qingyue's eyes. She lifted a slender, fair finger to touch the pill bottle, whispering, "For you to help me so much is already a great kindness. How could I be so impolite as to accept such a heavy gift?"

The man's breath hitched.

He reached out to grab her fair hand.

At the same time, he said, "I sought this item specifically for you, Junior Sister. If you do not accept it, then this pill loses all meaning."

Han Qingyue withdrew her hand, her expression stubborn, but she said nothing more.

Seeing this, Ruan Chen gave an awkward laugh.

He then looked at the man behind him.

The man understood and spoke up, "Junior Sister Han, you do not know what a great price my senior brother paid for this pill..."

"Patriarch of the Qin Family, Qin Jiu, has arrived..."

At this moment.

Another name was announced.

Han Qingyue frowned, subconsciously glancing at Ruan Chen before bowing to the group: "Please forgive me, Deacon Baili, and you two senior brothers. Today is my father's funeral, and I must attend to the guests. I cannot step away to keep you company for now..."

"It is of no consequence."

The figure who had remained silent until now.

Waved his hand and said, "Go attend to your duties. We can discuss the matter of entering the sect later."

"Thank you, Deacon."

After Han Qingyue departed.

A figure immediately walked toward them.

"This Humble One is the Vice Leader of the Canal Gang in Songshan County. I have long heard of the Divine Fist Sect..."

In the front courtyard of the Han Mansion.

Qin Jiu looked at the figures surrounding him, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

"The Han family has quite a good reputation."

"I suspect it is because of those people; it is said they come from the Divine Fist Sect in Ning'an Prefecture."

Qin Xuanzhou whispered.

He had heard people gossiping the moment he arrived.

Songshan County was in utter chaos now.

If one could join a great sect and leave this place, no one would be willing to remain in the county town.

Qin Jiu nodded, feeling relieved.

He himself had come here with the same intention of making connections with people from a great sect.

Before the mourning hall.

Han Qingyue looked calm as she bowed slightly.

"Patriarch Qin."

"My condolences."

Qin Jiu did not know what to say, so he simply sighed softly and inserted three sticks of incense before the coffin.

His heart was heavy, after all.

In the past, the Qin Family had suffered a great disaster.

To protect themselves, they had sought to marry into the Han Family.

At the time, Han Zheng might have harbored thoughts of annexing the Qin Family, yet the Han Family had also been attacked by a Demon, causing their strengths to swap. Regardless of whether Han Zheng acted out of fear or genuine regard for his past friendship with Qin Guihong, he had agreed to the marriage.

Even though it did not come to pass in the end.

The fact that they were willing to offer a nearly Tier 4 spirit beast as an apology showed their sincerity.

Yet now, he had still died in the Demon unrest.

"Young Master Qin."

At this moment.

An aged voice rang out.

Qin Jiu turned his head and saw an old man leaning on a cane.

"Are you, Elder Han Qing?"

"It is this old man."

Hearing this, the stiff expression on the old man's face softened, and he said, "Of the great families in this Inner City, only our two remain. With Zheng'er having met his end, the villain who slaughtered the Li Family might strike again."

"Our two families must look out for one another."

"This matter..."

"Hmph."

Before Qin Jiu could finish his sentence.

He was interrupted by a pretty figure beside Han Qing.

"My sister has a deep friendship with the disciples of the Divine Fist Sect. Now that they have come to the Han Mansion, what thief would have the gall to cause trouble here? Why would we need to look out for the Qin Family?"

The slightly sharp words.

Caused many gazes to converge here.

One figure, who had been conversing with others, strode over upon hearing this.

Han Qing's expression changed slightly.

"A'Ning."

"Elder Han, you are not of the main line of the Han Family, so naturally, you do not know the relationship between me and Junior Sister Han."

Ruan Chen walked over and grinned, "Miss Han Ning is right."

"If any such thief dares to come."

"I shall certainly suppress them."

"Senior Brother Ruan is truly the hero my sister described."

A faint smile appeared on Han Ning's face.

Ruan Chen looked at her pretty appearance, a flash of imperceptible heat crossing his eyes, as he patted his chest and said, "That goes without saying. In my travels across the jianghu, I have mostly engaged in eliminating Demons and upholding justice. How could I tolerate such evil occurring in the Han Mansion?"

After he finished speaking.

He looked at Qin Jiu again.

"And this is..."

"This Humble One is the Patriarch of the Inner City Qin Family, Qin Jiu. I have long heard of the great name of the Divine Fist Sect. Seeing the demeanor of your sect's high disciple today, it is truly imposing."

Qin Jiu smiled faintly and cupped his hands toward him.

The latter's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he laughed heartily, "Brother Qin is too kind."

"I was just discussing it with someone; I have heard of the Qin Family."

"To be honest with you."

"My Divine Fist Sect has come to Songshan County this time to select disciples. The Qin Family is flourishing, and your former patriarch was a dragon among men who reached the Internal Strengthening realm. If your Qin Family has any promising sprouts, you might as well send them over in a few days to give it a try."

"There is no time like the present."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiu felt a surge of joy and said, "Brother, why not test them right now?"

As these words fell.

Ruan Chen's figure stiffened slightly.

He had originally just been upholding a spirit of mutual flattery to keep the conversation going, never expecting the other party to climb up the pole the moment it was offered.

"This..."

"Patriarch Qin, isn't this a bit too abrupt?"

Suddenly.

Han Qingyue, who had been silent all this while, spoke up with a frown: "Senior Brother Ruan is here for my Han Mansion; how can you be so rude?"