When Lin Lin found Ma Zhaoyuan again, the latter was already impatient and wanted to call for help everywhere.

  Seeing Lin Lin arrive, Ma Zhaoyuan hurriedly set out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. "Senior Brother Lin, the sect leader agreed, right? Let us first write a public notice listing the crimes of Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan."

  "Cough, Elder Ma, wait a moment."

  "What is it?"

  Hearing Lin Lin's hoarse voice, Ma Zhaoyuan thought the situation had changed.

  "Get me a cup of pre-rain tea. I just talked a lot and my throat is a bit dry."

  Ma Zhaoyuan was agitated, only thinking about how to destroy Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan.

  Seeing Lin Lin unhurriedly asking for tea, he felt extremely annoyed.

  By the time the outer disciple boiled water, added tea leaves, and brewed the tea, another quarter of an hour had passed.

  Lin Lin deliberately did not speak during this quarter hour, just wasting time.

  After Ma Zhaoyuan had pulled out several strands of hair in anxiety, Lin Lin tasted the new tea, smacked his lips, and finally spoke.

  "Elder Ma, you are too impatient. The Canglong Gang's territory is over a thousand miles from here. At most, counting the round trip to hire people and prepare, it will take half a month. What are you panicking about?"

  Ordinarily, Ma Zhaoyuan might have jumped up again.

  But after witnessing Lin Lin's sword art, Ma Zhaoyuan was much more docile.

  His uncle was at early Foundation Establishment and had also hunted demon beasts.

  So Ma Zhaoyuan understood that Lin Lin's strength was probably not inferior to early Foundation Establishment.

  In fights between cultivators, although cultivation level was the main factor, martial arts were also inseparable.

  With only cultivation level and no martial arts, a cultivator was just a meat target.

  After confirming Ma Zhaoyuan had been worn down and had no temper left, Lin Lin began to explain the situation.

  "Elder Ma, I also know something about the Canglong Gang. Although the thugs in the gang are not highly cultivated, they are very capable fighters."

  "If we gather all our strength in Qingfeng Sect, we might not necessarily defeat the reinforcements Li Wangxuan brings."

  "Moreover, it is better to resolve grievances than to keep them. If we really fight, it will be a life-and-death struggle. No matter who wins or loses, Qingfeng Sect's strength will be greatly damaged."

  "Then, if external enemies take advantage of our weakness, how will Qingfeng Sect deal with that?"

  This speech left Ma Zhaoyuan helpless.

  Since hearing the news that Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan had gone for reinforcements this morning, he had not calmly thought about a counter-strategy.

  Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan were not fools, or rather, even if they were fools, the Canglong Gang was not.

  The thugs coming this time probably had calculated Ma Zhaoyuan's available combat power.

  Hunkering down in Qingfeng Sect would only lead to being wiped out.

  Ma Zhaoyuan thought it over and确实 felt he had been rash. "Sigh, Senior Brother Lin, just tell me your plan. I am listening."

  Biting the bait.

  Lin Lin unhurriedly finished his tea and began to pitch his evil plan.

  "To hit a snake, you hit its head. If we cannot win by force, we must seize the vital point."

  "Elder Ma, are Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan the vital points here? No. They are just two Qi Refining brats. Could they hire Canglong Gang experts on their own?"

  "Ultimately, the reason the Canglong Gang is willing to follow these two brats against us is because of the Li family's wealth and the endorsement of the two elders."

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  This left Ma Zhaoyuan confused, still not grasping the key. "So, Senior Brother Lin, we have money and people. Can we also hire people from the Canglong Gang?"

  Lin Lin showed a look of pity for the mentally challenged.

  The Canglong Gang was not stupid. They would not let internal orders conflict.

  It was not like you hire some Canglong thugs, someone else hires some Canglong thugs, and then they fight each other.

  Once they successfully hired Canglong thugs, it would effectively mean the Canglong Gang had taken sides.

  Ma Zhaoyuan seemed somewhat clever, but his way of thinking was particularly foolish.

  Lin Lin was secretly happy again.

  It was better that Ma Zhaoyuan was a fool. Otherwise, setting up the next part of the plan would be difficult.

  "Elder Ma, right now the two elders are still in secluded cultivation inside the cave. As long as we seal the cave and activate the defensive array, they will not be able to enter for a while."

  "If they dare to forcefully break the array, we will chop off one of the elders' arms or legs and throw it out."

  "Zhang Shan might not care about his uncle Elder Zhang's safety. But Li Wangxuan? He is only twelve. He still needs his father's protection in the future."

  A wake-up call.

  Ma Zhaoyuan suddenly understood. "Right! His father is still in seclusion in the cave. We can take him hostage."

  Lin Lin paused for a moment, then put on a stern face. "This Li family is no good either. They definitely pushed Li Wangxuan to seek reinforcements this time."

  "We need to send a surprise force to ambush near the Li family. That way, we can threaten Li Wangxuan and force them to negotiate."

  "If Li Wangxuan refuses to negotiate, we can slice his father into sashimi, and also slaughter the entire Li family."

  "He is just a twelve-year-old kid. Without his father and family support, he is just a stray dog. He will have no choice but to yield."

  Ma Zhaoyuan also felt this was probably the best plan.

  But he was still worried about the unstable factor of the Canglong Gang. "What if Li Wangxuan really grits his teeth and wants to destroy us? What do we do then?"

  Lin Lin had certainly considered this.

  So he had prepared a backup plan.

  "When Li Wangxuan traveled all the way to hire the Canglong Gang, he could only bring a deposit at most."

  "To pay the Canglong thugs, he will need the Li family's resources and Qingfeng Sect's assets."

  "So we need to implement a scorched earth policy and gather all the sect's cultivation resources inside the cave's array."

  "If the negotiation fails, we can take the opportunity to destroy the Li family and confiscate their wealth. That way, Li Wangxuan cannot take Qingfeng Sect and loses the Li family's money bag. The Canglong Gang will definitely not listen to him anymore."

  Lin Lin's plan was seamless, without a single flaw.

  Ma Zhaoyuan was stunned.

  Previously, Elder Ma had warned Ma Zhaoyuan that Lin Lin was meticulous and he should learn from him.

  Back then, Ma Zhaoyuan was still a hothead who really thought Lin Lin was just Liu Fenghai's dog, so he had been very rude.

  Now, after this careful scheming, he was completely convinced.

  No time to lose. Lin Lin began to arrange the work.

  First, do not spread the news internally.

  The Li family was not stupid. They definitely had spies watching Qingfeng Sect now.

  Ma Zhaoyuan's careless way of making a big fuss would easily alert the enemy.

  So Lin Lin had Ma Zhaoyuan spread the word through inner disciples that something was lost in the sect and the search was ongoing.

  This would temporarily稳住 the Li family.

  Also, when moving the sect's assets to the cave later, this excuse could be used as cover.

  Second, Ma Zhaoyuan should write a letter for the Ma family to gather cultivators.

  If Li Wangxuan really dared to bring Canglong thugs to the mountain gate, Ma Zhaoyuan's uncle would immediately lead a team to the Li family and seize control.

  But before this, Ma Zhaoyuan had a request. "Father has been in seclusion for three months since last time. Can I see him?"

  Facing possible exposure, Lin Lin was happy.

  "Yes. That is exactly what I was going to say. I plan to let you enter the cave to take care of the sect leader and the other three elders."

  "At that time, I will confront Li Wangxuan and Zhang Shan. If they make any move, you take your father's usual axe and chop off the fingers of the two elders."

  Ma Zhaoyuan was not smart, but not stupid either.

  He knew hiding in the cave protected by the array was the safest choice.

  He was very satisfied with Lin Lin's arrangement to personally risk the negotiation. "Good. Then, when can I see my father?"

  Lin Lin did not hesitate. He put down his teacup and walked. "Right now. Come with me to the cave. There are some things about the Moonlight Wine I need to explain to you."

  The two leisurely walked towards the cave, deliberately taking a detour to avoid other disciples.

  At the cave entrance, Lin Lin tipped each guard a spirit stone again.

  The outer disciples understood and let Lin Lin enter the cave.

  They reached an open area inside the cave. Lin Lin picked up a towel from nearby and handed it to Ma Zhaoyuan. "The secluded chamber is now filled with lunar essence. Your cultivation is still shallow. Entering rashly might cause a demonic deviation."

  "Senior Brother Lin, then I..."

  Lin Lin picked up a sealed jar labeled "B-ethyl-m" , opened the seal, and poured the liquid inside onto the towel. "This liquid can neutralize the lunar essence. Quickly cover your face with it and take deep breaths. Once the vapor spreads throughout your body, you will not be afraid of the lunar essence."

  Ma Zhaoyuan looked at the nearly colorless liquid in the jar and did not suspect much.

  Cultivators were mostly ignorant. When they got a pill, whether real or fake, they would first take it.

  Moreover, Ma Zhaoyuan was already convinced Lin Lin was on his side. He unhesitatingly pressed the towel soaked in liquid to his face.

  "Hurry, hurry! This liquid evaporates quickly. You need to inhale the vapor into your internal organs as fast as possible."

  Urged by Lin Lin, Ma Zhaoyuan frantically inhaled the scent from the towel.

  After just five breaths, he fell to the ground, unconscious.

  Looking at Ma Zhaoyuan on the ground, his eyes rolled back, Lin Lin laughed heartily. "Hahahaha! Your father drank nitroglycerin, and you inhaled ether. You father and son both have bright futures!"

  "Ma Zhaoyuan, can you guess what my next move is?"