The three of them sat down at the table. Zhang Yilin picked up the teapot and poured tea into the cups in front of the other two. "The bitter buckwheat tea here is quite good. Please try some."
Yu Daofen and Zhang Xiaoqiang exchanged a glance, then picked up their cups and took a sip.
Zhang Xiaoqiang put down his cup and got straight to the point. "I won't waste time with pleasantries. You must have received the sect leader's notice. I'm here to take the wooden box."
Zhang Yilin nodded. "That's right, I received the notice. However, the wooden box is in the room upstairs. The sect leader specifically instructed that you must retrieve it yourself."
As he spoke, Zhang Yilin took out a key and pushed it towards Zhang Xiaoqiang.
Zhang Xiaoqiang frowned. What was inside this wooden box to be so mysterious?
It shouldn't be anything too important. If it were, they should have sent Tang Junsheng to retrieve it, especially since he was here too.
Zhang Xiaoqiang picked up the key and glanced at Yu Daofen beside him.
Yu Daofen nodded. Zhang Xiaoqiang then got up and walked towards the room upstairs.
Yu Daofen wasn't worried about Qiangzi being in danger. If the Yan Shu Sect wanted to harm Qiangzi, they would have done so already. Why bother appointing him as an elder?
It was an unnecessary step.
"I wonder if Senior intentionally sent Qiangzi away to speak with me?" Yu Daofen looked at Zhang Yilin opposite him and smiled.
If he were just going to hand over the wooden box to Qiangzi, he should have taken Qiangzi upstairs to retrieve it together, not let Qiangzi go alone.
Seeing that Yu Daofen had figured it out, Zhang Yilin didn't hide anything. "As expected of a rising star among the younger generation, not just in terms of strength."
Yu Daofen smiled faintly and said nothing, but he mused inwardly.
This person before him was indeed a master. Although he didn't know his exact strength, he was definitely not an ordinary person.
"Since you've discovered it, I'll get straight to the point. You've helped Qiangzi a lot in obtaining the spiritual spring, and I'm aware of your relationship with him. But I must warn you, if you intend to use him for anything, you'd better think twice."
"I know your background. You can't stay in Jiangdu forever. This is the intention of the Yan Shu Sect leader."
Yu Daofen grinned. "Senior is overthinking. Qiangzi and I are brothers, so I would naturally not harm him. However, I find your threatening tone rather difficult to bear."
Although Yu Daofen's face showed no anger, he cursed inwardly.
Damn it, they're giving me a warning right from the start. If I don't test the opponent's skills, I won't be satisfied!
Zhang Yilin naturally understood what Yu Daofen meant. "So, Young Master Yu wants to test my skills."
Yu Daofen didn't deny it. To be honest, he also wanted to know the opponent's true strength.
"Forgive me!"
As soon as Yu Daofen finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand and chopped towards Zhang Yilin's neck with a knife-hand strike.
Yu Daofen's attack was extremely fast. Seeing this, Zhang Yilin didn't dodge. He simply extended a finger and blocked Yu Daofen's chopping hand.
Yu Daofen's expression changed slightly when he saw Zhang Yilin block his knife-hand strike with just one finger.
Although he hadn't used his full strength in this attack, it wasn't something an ordinary person could block.
This guy in front of him is a master, and a super master at that!
"Does Young Master Yu wish to try again?" Zhang Yilin asked with a faint smile.
"My apologies for the offense just now." Yu Daofen cupped his hands.
This guy's strength was definitely above his own. A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. He would surely suffer if they fought. A true man knows when to bend and when to stand firm.
Zhang Yilin waved his hand. "It's nothing. We hope Young Master Yu will keep our conversation confidential."
Yu Daofen nodded, his mind filled with curiosity about Zhang Xiaoqiang's relationship with the Yan Shu Sect.
If it were simply because Zhang Xiaoqiang was an elder of the Yan Shu Sect, there would be no need for such elaborate measures.
Zhang Yilin could see what Yu Daofen was thinking and said, "As for Zhang Xiaoqiang's relationship with the Yan Shu Sect, Young Master Yu will understand in the future."
Yu Daofen understood that Zhang Yilin meant it wasn't the right time to know.
Not far away, Zhang Xiaoqiang walked towards the two of them, holding a palm-sized wooden box.
He came to Yu Daofen's side, pulled out a chair, sat down, and placed the wooden box on the table. "What exactly is in here? It's so mysterious."
Zhang Yilin shook his head. "I don't know what's inside. However, the sect leader instructed that you should keep this item. If you encounter any unsolvable troubles in the future, you can open this box."
Zhang Xiaoqiang was a little puzzled. Judging by Zhang Yilin's words, this item was being given to him.
But why was it being made so mysterious if it was a gift?
As the saying goes, not taking advantage of a good deal is foolish. No matter what's inside, it's better to accept it.
"Since that's the case, I'll keep this for now." Zhang Xiaoqiang said, putting away the wooden box.
Zhang Xiaoqiang then asked, "Did the sect leader have any other instructions for me?"
Zhang Yilin shook his head. "There were no other instructions."
Seeing that there were no further instructions, Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded and left the Daohuaxiang Inn with Yu Daofen.
After the two of them left the inn, a short figure emerged from a room.
The person who came out was none other than the renowned Shen Tongchou, Tang Junsheng.
"To give away something like this so readily, you're quite generous," Tang Junsheng quipped.