Li Xiaoyu's words left Zhang Xiaofan and everyone present dumbstruck.
Though the explanation was a little far-fetched, it changed Zhang Xiaofan's crime from betraying his sect to having stumbled upon a fortuitous encounter.
"But... but I..."
Zhang Xiaofan hesitated. He didn't want to lie.
"There are no buts!"
Li Xiaoyu cut him off, his voice turning stern.
"Xiao Fan, this isn't about deceiving anyone. It's about saving your life!"
"Think of your master, your mistress, and all your senior brothers. Think of how much worry they've endured and how many grievances they've borne for you!"
"Do you really want to make every one of them grieve and lose faith in you?"
Zhang Xiaofan looked at his master's aged, weary face, his mistress's red, swollen eyes, and the worried expressions of his senior brothers.
A wave of immense guilt and reluctance welled up inside him.
He didn't want to disappoint them.
He wanted to live.
"I... I understand."
At last, Zhang Xiaofan gave a firm nod, determination flashing in his eyes.
Seeing that he'd come around, Li Xiaoyu felt a weight lift from his heart.
Li Xiaoyu knew that as long as Zhang Xiaofan didn't give up, there was still hope.
He then told Tian Buyi everything about the Green Cloud Sect's founder and the secret history they'd discussed with Zeng Shushu the night before, along with their plan for dealing with Daoist Cangsong.
As Tian Buyi listened to his plan, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He looked at the calm, confident young man before him, his heart filled with gratitude and astonishment.
Tian Buyi had never imagined that when everyone else was at a loss, the young man he'd once looked down on most would find them a way out of their predicament.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Tian Buyi rose