When Lian Li saw him approaching, he immediately pointed at him and said to the East Island Matriarch and the West Island Lord, “Ask him. After he and I analyzed it that night, he also thought my analysis was very accurate.”
As soon as Yun Huizhou heard this, he knew what Lian Li was talking about. He cast a subtle glance at the East Island Matriarch.
He remembered that before he went to find Zhao Honglan and Qu Tingquan, he had already spoken to his Senior Aunt. At the time, she had looked quite serious and said she would ask his Junior Uncle about the situation.
How had her attitude changed after he went out and came back? Could it be that his Junior Uncle had returned and told her something that proved the Spirit Cult and the Demonic Sect had no connection?
Thinking of Lian Li’s serious expression after finishing his analysis last night, Yun Huizhou felt that if his Senior Aunt and Junior Uncle denied the analysis, he would have to comfort the kid when they were alone later so he wouldn’t be too discouraged.
Just as he was thinking this, he heard the West Island Lord speak: “Oh, is that so? That’s what you think? It seems to have some merit, but it’s still a bit far-fetched.”
Yun Huizhou was about to turn his head to look at the West Island Lord when he suddenly met the East Island Matriarch’s gaze. He saw her wink at him, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.
Over there, Lian Li was still earnestly arguing with the West Island Lord.
Yun Huizhou looked at Lian Li, then back at the West Island Lord, and noticed a hidden smile in his Junior Uncle’s eyes as well. He understood instantly.
Senior Aunt and Junior Uncle were intentionally teasing Lian Li.
“So! We still need to keep a close eye on the Spirit Cult. I feel like they’re up to no good,” Lian Li suggested. Noticing that Yun Huizhou hadn’t responded, he slapped Yun Huizhou on the shoulder and said, “Why aren’t you saying anything? Didn’t you agree last night?”
Yun Huizhou: “…Ah, right. I think what Lian Li said makes sense. Those people’s arrival is indeed suspicious. Junior Uncle, did you notice anything when you went over to the Spirit Cult’s side?”
The West Island Lord felt he had teased him enough and turned serious. “Because I didn’t know such things had happened on your end, I didn’t think too much of it when I went over. However, looking back now, I did notice those two old fogies were quite surprised when I appeared. One of their Hall Masters had a rather unnatural expression, though.”
“There’s something fishy!” Lian Li sat up straight instantly and said, “That Hall Master is definitely suspicious.”
The West Island Lord paused for a moment, then said to the East Island Matriarch, “Senior Sister, it seems we’ll have to find time to scout the Demonic Sect’s side later.”
“I’ll send a message to Master and let him go,” the East Island Matriarch said. “I’m preparing to return to Drunken Dream Island to whip these two boys into shape.”
She pointed a finger at Yun Huizhou: “Especially you.”
Yun Huizhou lowered his head to drink water, not daring to talk back. Lian Li also shrunk his head like a timid quail, not daring to chime in.
The West Island Lord stared at Yun Huizhou’s face for a while and suddenly chuckled, asking despite already knowing the answer, “What happened to your face?”
Yun Huizhou: “…”
He lifted his head. Although his face wasn’t exactly black and blue, it wasn’t far from it.
It was all from being beaten by the East Island Matriarch these past few days.
Lian Li hadn’t been beaten any less than him, but when the East Island Matriarch hit Lian Li, she didn’t aim for his face.
When she hit Yun Huizhou, however, she aimed right for it.
If Lian Li were to take off his clothes right now, the West Island Lord would see that his body was covered in bruises and scrapes from falling.
When he slept at night, the bruises on his back hurt when he lay flat, the bruises on his arms hurt when he lay on his side, and the bruises on his knees hurt when he lay on his stomach.
In short, everything hurt. Even moving a little bit was painful.
And yet, under the East Island Matriarch’s devilish training, even with his whole body aching, he could fall asleep almost the moment he touched the bed.
Yun Huizhou was slightly better off, but he was also essentially tormented to the point of having no energy to think about anything else.
The small talk ended, and the East Island Matriarch stood up. Having been tormented by her since childhood, Yun Huizhou naturally knew that the break was over and it was time to start practicing again.
Lian Li hadn’t understood at first, but after these three days, he had more or less figured it out.
Seeing the Matriarch’s movements, he still subconsciously shivered.
The East Island Matriarch glanced at him and flicked his forehead with her finger. “Have some backbone!”
The West Island Lord pulled out a fan from somewhere and began fanning himself, seemingly prepared to watch how the two of them would get beaten by the East Island Matriarch.
Lian Li could only express his strong dissatisfaction internally. With a slumped head, he walked to the center of the courtyard.
Today, a new element was added: no one could use Internal Energy. It was a pure contest of techniques, a three-way battle.
Lian Li and Yun Huizhou teamed up to face the East Island Matriarch together.
Before the West Island Lord returned, they had already practiced two rounds.
The results went without saying.
In the battles where Lian Li participated, Yun Huizhou fought even harder than before. He was already struggling against the East Island Matriarch, and now he had a forced liability by his side.
While facing the Matriarch’s attacks, he had to constantly monitor Lian Li’s situation to ensure he wasn’t knocked out immediately.
Because once Lian Li was knocked out and only Yun Huizhou remained, the East Island Matriarch would give him a brutal thrashing.
Lian Li knew this as well, so he could only focus all his concentration.
Fortunately, Lian Li’s martial arts had been taught by Yun Huizhou, so Yun Huizhou understood him well enough. Although Lian Li didn’t fully understand Yun Huizhou, they shared a basic level of unspoken chemistry.
Yun Huizhou didn’t harbor any negative feelings just because Lian Li was a weak point. After losing and getting beaten, he would squat with Lian Li and review their previous battle.
The two of them joined forces and struggled to resist under the East Island Matriarch for fifteen minutes before Lian Li was finally knocked out.
By the time he crawled up from the ground, covered in dust, he saw that Yun Huizhou was already being pinned to the ground and pummeled by the Matriarch.
When the round ended, the two of them lay on the ground exhausted, staring at the sky with eyes full of utter despair.
The East Island Matriarch withdrew her hands and said a rare word of praise: “Not bad. You lasted the time it takes to drink a cup of tea longer than the last round. It seems your progress is acceptable.”
Having heard nothing but discouraging words these past few days, Lian Li’s eyes instantly brightened a bit, and a smile finally tugged at the corner of Yun Huizhou’s mouth.
The West Island Lord, having enjoyed the show, was in a good mood and decided to rescue his two nephews.
“We’ll set off for Drunken Dream Island tomorrow, so let’s stop here for today.” As he spoke, he looked at the East Island Matriarch. “What do you think, Senior Sister? They need time to pack their things and get some proper rest. After all, they need to be in good condition for the journey.”
The East Island Matriarch glanced at the West Island Lord, knowing he was pleading for these two brats.
She gave the West Island Lord face and nodded, saying, “Fine, you two can go. Pack your things and we leave tomorrow. Oh, and go notify that kid named Zhao and the young girl.”
Hearing they were being let off, the two of them instantly bounced up from the ground, heading outside in high spirits.
At that moment, the West Island Lord spoke again: “Go ask the Qu girl if she wants to come to Drunken Dream Island for a while. I want to study the Holy Gu inside her body.”
