Tie Shou was somewhat surprised and abruptly raised his head.
He saw Qing Chen looking at him, his gaze neither kindly nor vicious.
Tie Shou hesitated for a moment, but still stood and walked toward Qing Chen step by step through the air.
He stopped before Qing Chen, cupped his fists, and lowered his head. "Greetings, Azure Abyss Marquis." His voice was neither servile nor deliberately defiant.
Qing Chen nodded. "You should thank two people."
Tie Shou looked up at him, somewhat puzzled.
"Tie Ming." Qing Chen raised one finger. "And Tie Qingyao."
Tie Shou's gaze shifted slightly.
"Tie Ming-whatever else, I owe him a few favors. He counts as a friend." Qing Chen continued, "Tie Qingyao is a decent woman. I don't dislike her. That's the second reason."
His gaze swept over Tie Shou's face as he said evenly, "Of course, I don't dislike you either. That's important. I draw a clear line between gratitude and grudges. Your Iron Household has finally earned a little more goodwill from me."
Tie Shou understood Qing Chen's meaning. He cupped his fists again, bending deeper this time. "I thank you, Azure Abyss Marquis. Thank you for your protection, Sect Leader Qing."
Qing Chen waved a hand and said nothing more.
In truth, the main reason was the Iron Household's cauldron containing the Magnetic Origin Rule. Had Li Hanyi not used it, he would almost have forgotten it.
He felt that his chance to condense his few wisps of Magnetic Origin Rule Power into a Magnetic Origin Rule Thread might lie in it.
Thus, he had to do the Iron Household a favor.
Originally, he had not cared whether Tie Shou lived or died. Now, so long as it did not affect him, he might as well let Tie Shou live.
They were