378: It was all done by the Xuantian Pavilion; it has nothing to do with our Daodao Palace.

Night gradually descended.

As Qin Wangchuan led Li Qingluan through the lantern-lit streets.

On the distant eaves, several figures sat or stood, silently watching the scene.

"I originally thought Ninth Brother's actions were a bit reckless,"

Qin Xuanji leaned against the roof ridge, his sleeves fluttering slightly in the night wind, his expression complex. "But looking at it now, he might be thinking... much more deeply than any of us."

"Did you hear what he said? He said—he wants to bring Sixth Brother home."

"It seems pushing Ninth Brother to be the Divine Son was the right choice." Qin Qingni sat casually on the roof tiles, her elbows on her knees and her chin in her palms.

"But I think it was a mistake."

Qin Kuangge crossed his arms, his tall frame straight as a spear, his brows furrowed. "Ninth Brother is still too young; these old matters shouldn't be for him to resolve."

"But that is the responsibility of the Divine Son, isn't it?"

Qin Qingzheng also sat nearby, a long sword resting across her knees, her voice cold and clear.

"But no one said a Divine Son should be doing these things."

Qin Zhaoer sat on the edge of the upturned eaves, her straight, slender legs dangling in the air, swinging gently.

She raised her hand to tuck a few stray hairs blown by the evening breeze behind her ear, her gaze always following Qin Wangchuan in the lights below.

"Yo yo yo, feeling sorry for him again?" Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan teased playfully, tilting her head to look at her.

Qin Zhaoer didn't retort, just watched quietly.

Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan curled her lips at the lack of response and looked at the tall figure amidst the dimming lights, speaking with rare seriousness: "This is exactly the gap between him and us."

"Thinking too much, doing too much—the treasure of our Qin Family, a perfect yet naive Divine Son."

She paused and added: "He just has one flaw—he loves to shoulder things alone in secret."

"I agree with that." The corners of Qin Zhaoer's mouth curved slightly, but the smile quickly sank into her eyes. "So, Second Brother, what do you plan to do?"

Qin Xuanji was silent for a moment, his voice steady: "Since Ninth Brother has spoken, I will naturally help him."

"Even without evidence?"

Qin Kuangge suddenly turned his head, his eyes sharp. "Ninth Brother only explained that it was a warning from the future, but there's no evidence! We've seen her too; that woman doesn't seem to be faking."

He added with emphasis: "The most important point—Big Brother might intervene."

"Not might, but definitely."

Qin Qingni corrected him, her tone decisive. "Big Brother has always felt guilty toward Sixth Brother; he won't sit idly by regarding this matter." She paused. "I just don't know to what extent he will go."

"Are you going to help Big Brother?"

Qin Qingzheng's fingertips lightly stroked the scabbard as she turned her head to ask Qin Kuangge.

Qin Kuangge was momentarily speechless, a flash of struggle crossing his rugged face.

"I just... I just don't want to act recklessly without evidence."

His voice lowered. "Sixth Brother and that woman have already gone through so many hardships; they shouldn't have to endure groundless suspicion and harm again."

"And why does Ninth Brother have to do it himself? He could clearly..."

"Didn't he say it?"

Qin Zhaoer interrupted him, her voice soft but carrying a certain profound understanding. "To bring Sixth Brother home."

"Suppression alone isn't enough; his goal is to untie this century-old knot."

"But it doesn't necessarily have to be him, does it?" Qin Kuangge asked.

"No."

Qin Qingzheng shook her head, her gaze following Qin Wangchuan, carrying a near-certain recognition. "It has to be Ninth Brother."

"Ninth Brother is special; only he can do it."

"Actually, there's no need to help Sixth Brother, is there? Nothing will happen if we just leave it alone..." Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan muttered softly.

She didn't have a good impression of that cold and rigid Sixth Brother.

"He ignored me every time I asked for help. So stingy!"

"That's just the kind of person Ninth Brother is." Qin Zhaoer said calmly, her gaze distant. "Even if you or I were to fall into the abyss one day, he would come to help us."

"That is where Ninth Brother's charm lies."

A silence fell over the eaves for a moment.

The evening breeze passed through the zoomorphic ornaments on the eaves, making a soft wailing sound.

No one spoke, but the ripples in everyone's eyes reflected their silent agreement with those words.

"So, is it decided?"

Qin Xuanji slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping across everyone in turn.

Qin Qingni nodded, Qin Qingzheng remained silent, Seventh Daozi Qin Miaoyan curled her lips as a form of tacit consent, and Qin Zhaoer's gaze was calm.

Finally, his gaze fell on Qin Kuangge:

"What about you? Big Brother or Ninth Brother—who will you help?"

Qin Kuangge remained silent, his chest heaving slightly.

He seemed rough, but his heart was actually delicate and soft; he least wanted to see siblings fighting each other.

"Does it have to come to a fight?" Qin Kuangge's voice was dry. "There must be a better way, right?"

"Like explaining the situation to Sixth Brother, then imprisoning that woman and finding a way to verify her true identity..."

"Don't be naive." Qin Xuanji interrupted him.

"Think about the consequences. If you imprison her, what will Sixth Brother think and do?"

Having said that, he looked at Qin Kuangge's suddenly dimmed eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally just sighed heavily.

"If you really are unwilling to act... then just like we did back then, watch from the sidelines."

"Watch the tragedy unfold, watch everything become irreversible, watch Sixth Brother storm out."

These words were like a needle, suddenly piercing into Qin Kuangge's heart.

His gaze suddenly became sharp, as if a fire were burning deep within his pupils.

"Yes..."

"It's because we chose to just watch before that things turned out like this. Something we should have resolved has ended up on Ninth Brother's shoulders."

Qin Kuangge bit his teeth, veins popping on his clenched fists, but what finally burst out was a raspy, low question:

"Did Ninth Brother... really not make a mistake?"

Qin Xuanji met his gaze and said slowly, "Who knows."

"Anyway, Ninth Brother hasn't been wrong even once before."

Hearing this, Qin Kuangge closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold night air.

When he opened them again, there was only rock-solid determination.

"Fine." He spat out a single word, decisive. "I'll help Ninth Brother."

Qin Xuanji nodded, his gaze once again sweeping over everyone on the eaves.

"Then, the Big Brother Crusade Team is fully assembled."

"As for Sixth Brother's side, leave it to Ninth Brother."

"We are only responsible for blocking Big Brother."

"We might die." Qin Qingzheng suddenly spoke, her voice still calm and rippleless, yet it made the air freeze for a moment.

"All humans die, and we are no exception."

Qin Xuanji replied to her, his eyes showing no fear, only a calm depth. "But—we won't die here."

"Although I don't want to fight Big Brother either... but things have come to this."

"Let Big Brother lose for once."

Meanwhile.

Middle Thousand Province, Nine Bend Realm, Dao Seeking Palace.

Originally, the grand blueprint of the Dao Seeking Palace people was to build a mining Empire, using an endless stream of Spirit Stones to lay a foundation for ten thousand generations...

However, when the "Outsiders" organization under Qin Wangchuan's command joined, the vibe suddenly changed.

While everyone was still pondering where to catch more people for mining, Feng Qingjue's people had already come up with a "better" plan.

Jiang Yan was standing in a brightly lit warehouse, looking at the mountain-like piles of various fabrics before him, falling into a deep state of confusion.

Silk Stockings were just the tip of the iceberg.

There were even more flimsy garments he had never heard of or seen before, which in his conservative understanding were offensive to public morals and an insult to refinement, displayed in a dazzling array.

"These things... they do make money." He muttered, "But isn't our Dao Seeking Palace a righteous Sect?"

The Sect Jiang Yan imagined: morning practice, discussing the Dao, secluded meditation.

The reality of Dao Seeking Palace: collecting Spirit Stones in the morning, collecting Spirit Stones at noon, collecting Spirit Stones in the afternoon, and holding meetings at night to research what sells well and how to adjust for the next step.

"Is this even still a Sect?" He was a bit broken.

"Hey! Junior Brother Jiang, you're talking nonsense again."

Xiao Yun, the Senior Brother, walked over holding a stack of account books and corrected him with a glowing face: "Our Dao Seeking Palace is of course a righteous Sect! These risqué items are all the Xuantian Pavilion's doing; what do they have to do with us?"