Hou Yuduan's eyes flickered slightly, and he softly asked, "May I ask..."

"However, the Sect Hierarch has ordered that before we head north to the capital, we must visit Wangchuan Road City to pay a visit to... the National Teacher's wife and son!"

Hou Yuduan's pupils suddenly contracted, and the wine cup in his hand trembled slightly. If not for his strong will, he might have jumped from his chair.

The National Teacher's wife is my elder brother's wife, my sister-in-law Zhao Qingxue.

The National Teacher's son is my elder brother's son, my nephew Wuji.

Sikong Yue had these people go to the capital to find my elder brother, Hou Yuxiao. At this critical moment, it's nothing more than a discussion about the Divine Temple treasure; but why seek out Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji? The most crucial question is how did Sikong Yue know that Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji are in Wangchuan Road City?

Three questions suddenly emerged in Hou Yuduan's mind.

Especially that last question filled his eyes with dread and fear.

Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji are indeed in Wangchuan Road City, but this is something Sikong Yue shouldn't know, accurately speaking, no one in the world should know. Only the five of us should be aware.

Sikong Yue, is she a human or a ghost...?

"Fifth Master Hou, may it be possible?"

No, of course not!

Without even thinking, Hou Yuduan directly showed a difficult expression and said, "You all may not know, but my sister-in-law and nephew were indeed staying in Wangchuan Road City for a time, but they've since been taken to the capital by my elder brother. If you wish to visit, I'm afraid you must seek out my elder brother."

Firstly, he couldn't understand why Sikong Yue wanted to see his sister-in-law and nephew before meeting his elder brother in the capital; secondly, he indeed had no right to decide whether to allow them to visit; finally, the fact that his sister-in-law and nephew were in Wangchuan Road City, at a time when his elder brother was in the capital, under the intense scrutiny of the Great Jin, the Divine Sect, and other major Holy Lands, was something he absolutely could not disclose, even if he knew in his heart that Sikong Yue was aware.

Just because Sikong Yue knows, doesn't mean others know too.

Those who wish to control my elder brother are numerous enough, from the Great Jin Imperial Court to various major Holy Lands, and numerous Martial Dao Saints. If they find out Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji's whereabouts, it would be a disaster for both my elder brother and me.

This was something discussed with my elder brother before the war began.

It certainly wouldn't be overturned by a simple word from Duanmu Hong.

"Oh, I see, then what a pity, we'll just have to visit the capital!"

Hou Yuduan's brow furrowed tightly; he detected a casual tone in Duanmu Hong's remark.

Duanmu Hong's casualness clearly implied that he didn't believe Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji were in the capital.

He took a slight breath, raised his head to meet Duanmu Hong's gaze, and immediately found his answer, his expression instantly darkening.

Sikong Yue being able to confirm Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji's whereabouts meant that sending Fahai and Duanmu Hong over had a clear message.

This was an obvious threat.

Hou Yuduan didn't continue this topic but started talking about something else.

Of course, while chatting casually, his mind constantly pondered the true intention behind Duanmu Hong's mention of Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji.

At this time, the New Moon Cult seeking out my elder brother could only be because of the Divine Temple treasure matter.

Mentioning Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji, could it be to use the two of them to threaten my elder brother?

It seems to be the only possibility.

Hou Yuduan felt a little nervous; Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji are now within the Five Elements Heaven that my elder brother entrusted to me. There are too many troops stationed in the Five Elements Heaven now and they cannot move freely, so I must stay in Wangchuan Road City. If Sikong Yue really has determined their whereabouts, it would also mean she knows that the joint army of the Hou Clan, Jiangbei Alliance, and Lu Family are also inside.

This isn't a minor issue, and I must find a way to immediately notify my elder brother.

The New Moon Cult party didn't leave in haste.

Duanmu Hong expressed his intention to stay in Wangchuan Road City for four more days. Hou Yuduan didn't know where this number came from, but he still made every effort to arrange things. Meanwhile, he also sent someone to rush to the capital to notify his elder brother.

Everyone remained calm and didn't do anything out of line in Wangchuan Road City. Even the youngest, Zhantai Wuyuan, stayed inside his assigned residence all day and never came out.

Hou Yuduan was waiting anxiously and with confusion, hoping that the New Moon Cult party would leave soon. The four-day period felt like sitting on pins and needles, and he dared not relax for a moment.

......

1333, New Yu Era, March 14, Capital

There was only one day left from the one-month period Sikong Yue mentioned.

Hou Yuxiao sat alone at the head of the National Teacher's Mansion, lightly nodded after hearing the account from the messenger sent from Wangchuan Road City, dismissed him, and fell into deep thought with his brows tightly knitted.

"Fahai, Duanmu Hong, Saint Child Wu Yuan?"

Can these three, when paired together, open the Divine Temple treasure for me?

How is that possible?

But it's... Sikong Yue after all!

Hou Yuxiao overturned his confidence, his pupils full of confusion and doubt.

With only a day left from the one-month period, besides controlling the capital, his mind was most occupied with the movements of the New Moon Cult, specifically Sikong Yue's activities.

He could not take Sikong Yue's words lightly.

Over these ten years, Sikong Yue had put him at a disadvantage many times.

In fact, many people all over the world had suffered losses at the hands of Sikong Yue.

Underestimating this woman would certainly come at a heavy price.

"To pay a visit to Qingxue and Wuji, what is the real intention?"

Could it be, as Old Fifth said, Sikong Yue wants to use Qingxue and Wuji's lives as leverage to force me to open the Divine Temple treasure?

Hou Yuxiao shook his head; Old Fifth's conjecture had some validity but was not entirely sound. Besides, whether Fahai or Duanmu Hong could find the whereabouts of the Five Elements Heaven or not.

Even if they found it, the Allied Holy Lands wouldn't allow them to do this.

Capturing Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji to control me is not something Sikong Yue could manage. The alliance and Great Jin are now constantly keeping an eye on him. Even forgetting that, Hou Yuduan in Wangchuan Road City is also under watch. As soon as Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji appear, the three parties certainly won't permit any to capture both.

Gaining control over myself in the capital has already become the center of the world. Whoever controls me will gain great benefits; the Great Jin and the alliance both know this. In this war, the New Moon Cult positions itself as an outsider, like an opportunistic fisherman. Allowing them to control me would be too advantageous for the New Moon Cult.

"So what exactly are they trying to do?"

Hou Yuxiao pondered deeply for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Eventually, he exhaled slightly and said nothing, but glanced downwards outside the National Teacher's Grand Hall.

"It seems we'll need to find a way to bring Qingxue and Wuji over here. With Sikong Yue aware of their whereabouts, leaving them there isn't safe. Bringing them back to the capital can also help avoid some of the attention and give Old Fifth more room to maneuver!"

After thinking for a while longer, Hou Yuxiao called out towards the palace doors, "Come in."

Soon, two soldiers clad in armor entered, knelt, and bowed:

"At your service, State Preceptor!"

"Go inform General Chu and Lu Taiyin to come to me. Tell them I have important matters to discuss with them, and do not let this be known."

"At your command!"

Watching as the two subordinates went out to deliver the message, Hou Yuxiao's brow slightly furrowed.

At this time, there were countless eyes in the capital watching him. He could not leave recklessly, but he didn't trust entrusting the matter of retrieving Zhao Qingxue and Hou Wuji to others, so he had to make proper arrangements with Chu Kuangren and Lu Kangping.

As long as wife and son were brought back to his side, Sikong Yue's stratagems would be rendered useless.

Hou Yuxiao had already made up his mind. Over this period, his relations with Chu Kuangren and Lu Kangping had essentially been reconciled. Both understood that the capital needed a central figure as a backbone; they knew what kind of person Jiang Yuyun was, realizing continued tacit support for him would only lead to losses for all involved. Therefore, they now obeyed Hou Yuxiao's every word.

After issuing orders, Hou Yuduan left the capital under cover of night.

Using the Divine Lotus as a disguise, nobody knew he secretly went to Wangchuan Road City, preparing to bring back his wife Zhao Qingxue and son Hou Wuji.