The scene unfolded as Wen Yan lectured Yu Pingnian, hoping to secure the He family's forgiveness sooner and bring he back to Tianshun. The clouds scattered, as if nothing had happened.

　　Unexpectedly, his third senior brother bother with excuses or contrivances, instead comparing him to Ji Yanshi. This only irked Wen Yan further. He thought to himself, "What kind of a guy is Ji Yanshi? The scion of the Right National Master's Mansion, loafing around all day, occasionally dabbling as a recorder in the Tribunal. Whenever he feels like it, he'll quit and go back to loafing. Being compared to him is beneath me."

　　"Third senior brother, what are you getting at?"

　　"The adopted son of the left National Master's Mansion gets beaten and then apologizes at the door of the offender? Where's the justice in that?"

　　"We're discussing as martial siblings, not officials. Wrong is wrong."

　　"Since you're bringing up our martial sect, let's talk about it. The Eighth Master founded his sect with the tacit approval of the Senior Master. Why does the Sixth Family oppose it? Talk of unstable foundations and mixed crowds is all nonsense. They're really trying to protect the Fourth Uncle, but he and the Fourth Junior Sister have no interest in founding a sect."

　　"Everyone knows that. Why bring it up?"

　　"Our family has publicly expressed support for the Eighth Master, which means we're against the Sixth Family. That's why I'm here, and that's why I have this injury."

　　Wen Yan thought to himself, "What does this have to do with you? You got hurt because of your own stupidity."

　　"So what?"

　　"I've heard that the Fifth Uncle also supports Master Bai, but he hasn't made it explicit. In other words, we should be on the same side, junior brother. Do you agree?"

　　"The founding of a sect to bring glory to Snow Mist Mountain is indeed a good thing."

　　"That's right. The several sect leaders are all collateral disciples of Master Bai, and the others have come here because of their admiration for him. I, Qing Hu, alone don't have the face to keep them here. They're all here for the Eighth Master. Now, He Muxian is oppressing the Eighth Master's disciples because she thinks Beici County is her territory. Look at what they've been reduced to."

　　"Third senior brother, do you really think what you're saying makes sense?"

　　"How does it not make sense? I may not know what's happening elsewhere, but in Beichi County, the situation is like fire and water, mutually exclusive. Brother Yu doesn't bear a grudge and is willing to marry the enemy's daughter, showing face to the prefecture governor's mansion. Instead of appreciating it, they beat him up. Whose face are they slapping? Ours. Brother Yu has a good heart and doesn't want trouble, but after being beaten, he came up with a win-win solution."

　　"The marriage challenge?"

　　"Exactly! If He Muxian marries into the Yu family, who will oppose the Eighth Master? Who will object? This act not only brings glory to the Left National Master's Mansion but also maintains harmony among our families. Then, good senior siblings will remain good senior siblings, and good junior siblings will stay good junior siblings. Such a noble deed, yet you, fifth junior brother, disregard the facts and impose sect discipline. What kind of reasoning is that?"

　　The outrageous arguments left Qi Xiang, Long Ming, and Dang Liaoze speechless.

　　Jia Yong, Gan Ping, and Ma Zheng were so entranced they couldn't move.

　　"Third Uncle is really good at talking," someone whispered.

　　Yu Pingnian took the opportunity to back down, "Brother, that's exactly what I was thinking."

　　Wen Yan kicked him, sending him flying two and a half feet. "Get lost."

　　"Yes, brother."

　　Qing Hu stole a glance and saw that some people were starting to waver.

　　He continued, "Junior brother, earlier I was speaking as a martial sibling. Now let's talk about official matters. The animosity between your family and the Seventh Junior's family is obvious to everyone. That's why the Seventh Junior stays in this prefecture, avoiding government affairs. His willingness to yield shows his weakness and lack of ambition. Can you be like him? You're the scion of the Left National Master's Mansion, the future Shaowen Left National Master. You should weigh the pros and cons and not let your emotions cloud your judgment. Even a rustic like me understands this. How could you not?"

　　"He..."

　　"Regardless of which perspective we take, the marriage challenge is beneficial to us with no downsides. If He Muxian knows what's best for the bigger picture, she should comply. If she resists, force may be necessary. Of course, as martial siblings, there's no need for life-threatening conflict. We just need to pressure her into agreeing to marry. Besides, what's wrong with marrying into the Yu family? It'll strengthen the ties between our families and resolve their enmity once and for all."

　　"Third brother makes a valid point. What does Wen think?" Xia Yue added fuel to the fire.

　　At this point, Wen Yan was truly swayed.

　　His senior brother was right. The feud between the sixth uncleh and eighth uncles couldn't go on forever. The disunity among the Holy Monarch's Eight Families was a laughingstock. If his sixth junior sister really married their brother Yu, it would not only resolve their grievances but also strengthen their familial bonds. Why not?

　　"Hmm, there's some truth to that."

　　"Brother, you can trust your third senior brother."

　　"No, I need to think about it."

　　"No problem. There's still over twenty days left before the challenge. You have time to consider. Someone, bring out the best dishes to welcome my fifth junior brother!" Yu Pingnian was well-versed in this.

　　Wen Yan hadn't eaten much that day, only a few decent pastries in the afternoon, so he was genuinely hungry now.

　　The feast was set, but he ate and spoke little, lost in thought about how to reply to his sixth junior sister.

　　During the meal, Qing Hu hatched another plan, one that would seal He Muxian's fate.

　　He secretly summoned Jia Yong and obtained a packet of sedative, adding just a pinch to Wen Yan's and Xu Wengang's wine cups.

　　Wen Yan, completely unsuspecting, drank a few cups, feeling his head grow heavy.

　　Seeing the drug take effect, Qing Hu offered to escort him to his room, discreetly taking his a unique fan with a carved pattern.

　　With the fan in hand, he requested ink and wrote a letter.

　　The letter's contents were simple: "The marriage challenge stands. The sixth junior sister should consider the bigger picture."

　　After writing the letter, he used the engraved seven-leaf fan dipped in ink as a seal.

　　Looking at Jia Yong, he said, "You deliver this to the prefecture prefect's mansion tomorrow."

　　Jia Yong praised, "Brilliant, Qing. I'm in awe."

　　Others followed suit with their praises.

　　Hao Yun asked, "Qing Master, is this really..."

　　"Don't worry, Hao. I have a plan. I know their family well."

　　At that moment, Qian Geng arrived with a new jug of wine. "Enjoy, gentlemen," he said, glancing at the letter's contents before quietly retreating.

　　After he left, he discussed the situation with Zeng Gang.

　　Knowing the way well, they slipped out of Zhou's tavern unnoticed.

　　The journey to the Trial Office was familiar to them, and it didn't take long.

　　They announced their arrival and were soon ushered inside.

　　Zhou Ge, Shen Huan, Ji Yanshi, and He Muyu were already discussing the day's events.

　　When they saw Qian Geng, the others were puzzled, but they recognized him as the new wine steward at the tavern.

　　Zhou Ge greeted him, "Qian, you came here at this hour. Is there something?"

　　"Yes, there is..."

　　"Don't worry, there's no one else here."

　　Qian Geng then recounted everything that had happened after Wen Yan's arrival, including the seduction and the use of the fan as a seal to convey the message about the marriage challenge.

　　Ji Yanshi wasn't surprised by his fifth senior brother's reaction. This outcome was entirely within his expectations.

　　He Muyu, however, looked grim after hearing the news. "As Ji Yanshi predicted, the worst has happened."

　　Zhou Ge sighed. "Alas, we're involved now."

　　Qian Geng had nothing more to add and took the back way back to Zhou's tavern.