Chapter 565: A Time of Prosperity (Part )
"Master, I am innocent! Madam came to me to inquire about Liu Xunyi's affairs, and there is absolutely no ulterior motive."

As soon as he entered the study, Qin Ku hurriedly explained to Luo Tianjin, fearing that he would misunderstand that he had an affair with Ling Xiaoxiao and become furious.

"Qin Ku, what nonsense are you talking about?" Xie Xuan's face darkened and he scolded, "How can you say the word 'compromise' without thinking?"

“Yes, yes, yes!” Seeing that Luo Tianjin was calm and didn’t seem angry, Qin Ku felt relieved and said hurriedly, “I just spoke nonsense. I hope the Palace Master will forgive me.”

"Madam..." When he mentioned Ling Xiaoxiao, Luo Tianjin's expression became a little unnatural, "Why did Madam ask you about Liu Xunyi?"

"Madam was worried that my daughter had married the wrong man, and she also learned that I was hanging out with Hei Zhishan all day, so she asked me about it." Qin Ku blurted out without thinking, "Besides that, there is nothing else."

"Oh." Luo Tianjin nodded vaguely, and then said, "In your opinion, what is Liu Xunyi's character like?"

"Not bad." Qin smiled bitterly, "He is not addicted to gambling, not lustful, not greedy for money, and not angry. The only thing he likes is to drink a little when he has nothing to do, which is also harmless. At least... he is a hundred times or a thousand times better than me."

"At the beginning, Liu Xunyi strongly recommended you to me. Now, you also praise him highly. It seems that you two really have the same ideals and spirits."

Facing Luo Tianjin's praise, Qin Ku heard a hint of danger in it and said hurriedly: "Since I have joined the Xianwang Mansion, I will follow the orders of the Mansion Master. As for Liu Xunyi, friends are friends, but if he dares to disobey the Mansion Master, I will not show mercy either."

Qin Ku wanted to show his loyalty in front of Luo Tianjin, but how could such childish intentions be hidden from Luo Tianjin's eyes and ears?

However, since ancient times, 'one should not hit a smiling person'. Even though he knew that Qin Ku was trying to curry favor with him, Luo Tianjin was still very pleased and nodded, saying, "He who knows the current situation is a hero!"

After that, Luo Tianjin said to Xie Xuan and Murong Bai: "You guys go and do your work first. I want to chat with Qin Ku about family matters."

"Yes."

Xie Xuan and Murong Bai understood and left the study one after another.

The fragrance of books and ancient rhyme, and the air is filled with curling green smoke.

The study seemed calm, but in fact it made Qin Ku feel more and more uncomfortable.

Luo Tianjin looked at Qin Ku with a smile on his face and said nothing for a long time.

Qin Ku stood in front of the table in a daze, looking back at Luo Tianjin cautiously with timid eyes. For a moment, it was not right to look away, nor was it right not to look away, it was so awkward.

"Qin Ku, if you count the days, you have been in the mansion for more than a month." Luo Tianjin said quietly, "As the deputy fan holder, I should have had a long talk with you a long time ago. Unfortunately, I have been busy with many things recently and have not been able to spare the time."

"The Lord of the Palace is busy with paperwork and has no time to spare. I understand."

"According to the rules of the mansion, I have to personally test every new disciple who enters the mansion." Luo Tianjin said, "And you are the one who satisfies me the most."

"The mansion master is talking about... killing Qin Tianjiu at the martial arts conference?"

"That's right. You and Qin Tianjiu are from the same clan, but you can fight for me. It's not easy."

"What do you mean by same clan and origin?" Qin Ku said disdainfully, "I have been in the martial arts world for many years, and I haven't learned any real skills, but I can understand a thing or two about the principles of the world. Most of the people who stab you in the back are not outsiders, but often your relatives and friends. Especially those who are from the same clan, they are even more ruthless. They know your weaknesses better than outsiders, so they can often kill you with one blow."

"Haha..." Hearing Qin Ku's deep pain, Luo Tianjin couldn't help but laugh, "I know you've been through some twists and turns, but there's no need to be cynical. Compared to outsiders, most people who are willing to stand up for you in times of crisis are still your relatives."

"The mansion master taught me that."

Qin Ku did not argue. His years of experience in the martial arts world had made him worldly-wise and open-minded, and he would not argue when faced with difficulties.

"There is something I should have asked you earlier, but I couldn't find the opportunity, so I kept putting it off." Luo Tianjin changed the subject and said, "At the martial arts conference, the swordsmanship you used when fighting Qin Tianjiu seemed... not just the Qin Family Swordsmanship, but there was something else behind it?"

Hearing this, Qin Ku's eyelids twitched slightly, and a sense of vigilance immediately arose in his heart.

"What do you mean by this, Lord?"

"Qin Tianjiu is superior to you in both reputation and status. As for his martial arts, it is obvious to all." Luo Tianjin said calmly, "It is said that Qin Tianjiu's martial arts is not inferior to that of 'Ba Dao' Qin Ming."

"What exactly does the Palace Master want to say?"

"You were able to defeat Qin Tianjiu and even kill him. It was not luck, but strength." Luo Tianjin said bluntly, "In other words, your martial arts today are already better than Qin Tianjiu." "So what?" Qin Ku argued, "Back in Shaolin, Liu Xunyi also defeated Qin Tianjiu. Since Liu Xunyi can defeat him, why can't I..."

"Good refutation!" Luo Tianjin said with a smile, "That day, Liu Xunyi narrowly defeated Qin Tianjiu, not because of his superior martial arts, but because he had a master behind him to guide him. Therefore, he knew Qin Tianjiu's tactics and methods very well, and was able to catch him off guard. However, this method can only be used once. If they fight again, Liu Xunyi may not be Qin Tianjiu's opponent."

"This……"

In fact, Qin Ku knew very well about Luo Tianjin's hidden meaning, but due to the secret of "Xuan Shui Volume 2", he did not dare to admit it rashly, so he was hesitant and indecisive.

"In fact, the master who was guiding Liu Xunyi behind the scenes was you." Luo Tianjin observed his expression and said what he was thinking, "You are familiar with Qin Tianjiu, and Qin Tianjiu also knows you. Therefore, it is impossible to kill Qin Tianjiu who has already practiced the 'Red Fire Upper Volume' to be as pure as fire with your martial arts alone. Even if you are a genius, you can only barely fight him to a draw. However, in fact, you are better. Why? It's not that Qin Tianjiu's swordsmanship is not as good as yours, but because your swordsmanship has integrated the exquisiteness of the 'Red Fire Upper Volume' and the 'Mysterious Water Lower Volume', so Qin Tianjiu is unable to match it and eventually loses, right?"

Luo Tianjin's narration made Qin Ku tremble with fear and sweat profusely.

"Palace Master... has good eyesight."

In fact, when Qin Ku performed the "Wheel of Ten Thousand Tribulations Blood" at the martial arts conference, he had already guessed that his secret could no longer be concealed, let alone hidden from the cunning Luo Tianjin.

After being pointed out by Luo Tianjin today, Qin Ku simply stopped quibbling to avoid getting into trouble.

"Did you really get the 'Xuanshui Xiajuan'?"

Although Luo Tianjin had expected this, he couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart when he heard Qin Ku admit it himself.

Qin Ku raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and trembled a few times with a fake smile, and admitted: "Yes, the "Xuan Shui Xia Juan" is in my hand."

"Then you..." Luo Tianjin said, but suddenly felt something was wrong, so his expression relaxed and asked curiously, "How did you get the 'Xuan Shui Xia Juan'? Don't tell me that the person who disguised himself as Pan Yuyin on the Shaolin Mountain Road that day... was you?"

"I don't even believe this kind of thing." Qin Ku said self-deprecatingly, "With my bloated body, even if a Daluo Jinxian descended to the earth, I'm afraid I can't become as slender as Miss Pan."

"That……"

"To be honest, I bought 'Xuan Shui Xia Juan' from a gangster." Qin Ku said vaguely, "As for where he got it from, I don't know. According to the rules of the gangster world, these gangsters, like Bai Xiaosheng, exchange money with goods. As for the source of the goods, it is their livelihood, and no one can ask about it."

Luo Tianjin's brows furrowed slightly, and he quickly calculated in his mind.

He knew that "jianghu dealer" was just an excuse for Qin Ku. What dealer in the jianghu would dare to get involved in something that Shaolin, Qin's family, and Xianwang Mansion were jointly pursuing?
However, Luo Tianjin knew that Qin Ku was a smart man. Since he refused to tell the truth, he must have his own concerns. In this case, if he continued to ask aggressively, the result would not be satisfactory, but would end in a quarrel with Qin Ku, or even difficult to end.

Now, Qin Ku is very important to Luo Tianjin. Falling out with him would definitely do more harm than good and would be extremely unwise.

Thinking of this, Luo Tianjin's eyes quietly changed, and he smiled and said: "If this is the case, it is enough to prove that "Xuan Shui Xia Juan" is destined to be with you, which is really rare."

Facing the sarcastic Luo Tianjin, Qin Ku couldn't help but wonder, and cautiously asked, "The Palace Master doesn't want to take the 'Xuan Shui Xia Juan' back... does he?"

"Want to go back?" Luo Tianjin was stunned and said in astonishment, "'Xuan Shui Xia Juan' was not mine in the first place, how can I take it back?"

"I mean, to get it back for the Pan family..."

"Don't worry!" Luo Tianjin comforted, "The Pan family has long had enough of the bloody storms in the martial arts world. Now they just want to do business in peace and stability and don't want to be involved in the martial arts world anymore. Therefore, the "Xuan Shui Volume 2" is like a hot potato to them. They can't even hide from it, so how dare they ask for it back?"

"That's good." Qin Ku let out a long sigh, and a silly smile gradually appeared on his face.

"It's just that..." Luo Tianjin changed the subject and said with difficulty, "Although the Pan family no longer cares about the 'Xuan Shui Xia Juan', there is one person who still can't forget it and won't let it go. If this matter cannot be properly resolved, not only will you be in trouble, but the Xianwang Mansion and even me will be implicated by you, and everyone will be in turmoil."

Looking at Luo Tianjin who was acting so serious, Qin Ku suddenly realized something and said bluntly, "The mansion master is looking for me to discuss how to deal with Qin Ming?"

"That's right!" Luo Tianjin said seriously, "You should know better than me why he came here."

"I don't know what the Lord of the Mansion means..."

"Since this matter was caused by you, it should be resolved by you. After Qin Ming arrived, I only played the role of a good host. As for how to deal with it, it is up to Liu Xunyi and you to decide. Now, the upper three sects have registered all the martial arts sects, and the martial arts tokens are ready. They are just waiting for me to issue the leader's order to officially implement the "sect level" and send out the tokens. This matter is urgent and cannot be delayed. Therefore, I will only give you seven days. After seven days, I don't want Qin Ming to hinder my martial arts plan for any reason."

……

(End of this chapter)