A moment after Yu Yijun left, Li Xin began to speak, "Master Yu, do you know about people born with innate perceptive eyes?"
Upon hearing the words "innate perceptive eyes," Yu Daochen was suddenly jolted, recalling the eye-unraveling technique Zhang Qiang had used earlier. An idea formed in his mind.
"Brother Li, could this innate perceptive eye be related to Zhang Xiaoqiang?" Yu Daochen hesitated before finally asking.
Li Xin nodded. He naturally knew that Master Yu and Zhang Xiaoqiang had an unusual relationship.
He hadn't intended to seek Master Yu's help with this matter, but he was truly out of options.
"This all started about a month ago..." Li Xin began to recount.
Many years ago, the Water Master sect had accepted a disciple born with innate perceptive eyes.
Initially, there was nothing unusual about it. After all, apart from their eyes being somewhat special, these individuals were otherwise ordinary. Moreover, the only sects possessing the divine art of pupil techniques were the Celestial Master's Mansion and the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
Time passed uneventfully. But about a month ago, Elder Zhang Xiaoqiang of the Flame Technique sect suddenly visited the Water Master sect.
From their conversation, it was revealed that Zhang Xiaoqiang's visit was specifically for the disciple with innate perceptive eyes.
Because individuals with innate perceptive eyes were extremely rare, and the Celestial Master's Mansion's eye-unraveling technique could only be learned by them, he had come to invite the disciple to the Celestial Master's Mansion to study the technique.
The sect leader of the Water Master sect immediately thought it was a good opportunity.
Keeping this disciple in their Water Master sect would be a waste of his talent, so they readily agreed.
However, fearing that their Water Master sect, being a minor sect, might show disrespect, they instructed Li Xin to accompany the disciple.
Although they had wondered why someone from the Celestial Master's Mansion hadn't come, they didn't think much of it, as Zhang Xiaoqiang was the closed-door disciple of Daoist Lingze.
Li Xin packed his belongings and set off for the Celestial Master's Mansion with the disciple possessing innate perceptive eyes, Wu Gang.
However, on their journey, the two discovered they were not heading to the Celestial Master's Mansion but to the Flame Technique sect.
Despite their confusion, they didn't dwell on it.
Upon arriving at the Flame Technique sect, Zhang Xiaoqiang arranged for Li Xin to stay, while Wu Gang had separate arrangements.
Initially, Li Xin found nothing amiss. But after staying for ten consecutive days, he began to suspect something was wrong.
Throughout their stay, the matter of learning the eye-unraveling technique was never mentioned. Furthermore, he hadn't seen any sign of Wu Gang during these ten days, nor had he seen Zhang Xiaoqiang.
When Li Xin inquired about Wu Gang's whereabouts, the answers he received were always evasive.
The more Li Xin thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss. That night, he stealthily searched for clues about Wu Gang.
He finally found Wu Gang in the back mountains of the Flame Technique sect.
At this point, Li Xin clenched his fists in anger, "He was imprisoned in a cage, and his eyes were gouged out!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Daochen finally understood why Qiang Zi could perform the eye-unraveling technique, but he still found it hard to believe, "Was it Zhang Xiaoqiang who gouged out his eyes?"
Li Xin nodded with icy eyes, "That's right. It was precisely Zhang Xiaoqiang, who deceived us into going to the Celestial Master's Mansion. Later, I was discovered by people from the Flame Technique sect and pursued. Forced by circumstances, I fled here seeking Master Yu's protection for my life."
Yu Daochen found it difficult to accept the reality.
What had Zhang Xiaoqiang experienced in the past year to commit such a heinous act?
"Brother Li, there might be some misunderstanding in this matter. I believe Qiang Zi wouldn't do such a thing," Yu Daochen still tried to defend Zhang Xiaoqiang.
Li Xin shook his head, his face filled with anger, "Master Yu, people can change. Is it acceptable to arbitrarily gouge out someone's eyes in the pursuit of strength?"
At these words, Yu Daochen was instantly rendered speechless, his expression filled with bitterness.
Since returning from the Peach Blossom Village expedition, Yu Daochen had called Zhang Xiaoqiang multiple times, but the latter would always engage in brief, perfunctory conversations before hanging up.
Li Xin stood up and knelt on the ground with a thud, "I implore Master Yu to please save my junior brother, Wu Gang."
Looking at Li Xin kneeling on the ground, Yu Daochen remained silent.
This matter, no matter how you looked at it, was Zhang Xiaoqiang's wrongdoing. But he truly did not wish to become enemies with his former brother.
After a long silence, Yu Daochen helped Li Xin up and slowly said, "Brother Li, please get up. Regarding this matter, I..."
Li Xin could see that Master Yu was unwilling to act and ceased his pleas.
He also knew that Master Yu and Zhang Xiaoqiang had an unusual relationship. It was already beyond his expectations that he would protect him this time.
"Master Yu, do you know about the changes that have occurred in the Flame Technique sect over the past year?" Li Xin asked.
Upon hearing this, Yu Daochen's brows furrowed, "Are you referring to the matter of Shen Tongchou Tang Junsheng falling off the Black List?"
Li Xin nodded, "Exactly. Tang Junsheng was thoroughly defeated in his battle with Ding Han, who ranked first on the Heaven List. Although the Flame Technique sect made every effort to suppress the news, rumors still spread in the martial world that Tang Junsheng was severely injured and had died."
Hearing this news, Yu Daochen found it hard to believe.
He knew that the incident in Peach Blossom Village had cost Tang Junsheng a leg, but he hadn't expected a single duel to lead to the demise of a former Black List expert.
Truly, life is unpredictable...
"There is also another piece of gossip," Li Xin continued.
"Another piece of news?" Yu Daochen became somewhat curious.