Qin Shiyue was deeply satisfied with Zhang Xiaohua's cooperation. The situation just now had been truly perilous. If Zhang Xiaohua had not stepped forward, Qin Shiyue would likely have been the one lying on the ground, dead from poison. Thus, on one hand, he had dealt ruthlessly with Situ Yueming and Murong Jian, determined not to let them survive. On the other, he was genuinely grateful to Zhang Xiaohua from the bottom of his heart. Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaohua was connected to an important matter that concerned the Cult Master of the Divine Cult. Otherwise, Qin Shiyue could have made the decision to release Zhang Xiaohua right then.
Of course, what he had said to Zhang Xiaohua earlier had also been sincere. A gentleman did not leave kindness unrepaid. Qin Shiyue had never considered himself a gentleman, but he disdained doing something as ungrateful as repaying kindness with enmity.
The group followed Dragon King Xu around the main hall. On the other side of the island in the middle of the lake were several somewhat smaller flatboats. Everyone split up and took seats. Although Xu Jiaotong had not approached Qin Shiyue again after her earlier loss of composure, she still chose the same boat as him. One stood surrounded by the others, while the other stood somewhat silently at the bow, yet her eyes still secretly, seemingly inadvertently, glanced in his direction.
Once everyone had boarded, Dragon King Xu gestured to a servant. The servant turned back, and before long, another special signal shot into the air. Dragon King Xu smiled at Qin Shiyue. "We'll be leaving now. Let the lads disperse as well. Fighting too much with those naval forces who know nothing of the inside story would do no good. We may well meet again another day."
Qin Shiyue