Please note that the original content has been rewritten to adopt the style of a Xianxia novel, focusing on natural grammar and flowing narrative.

A towering figure, Hai Zongming, strode forth from the distance, like a mountain slowly approaching.

Of course, the pressure he brought was not due to his physique, but his identity.

Zhu Biqiong, with practiced grace, yielded to the side of the road, demonstrating respect towards a sect elder.

“Zhu Biqiong?” Hai Zongming’s steps paused beside her. “Is it indeed Zhu Biqiong? Su Yao’s sister?”

“It is I,” Zhu Biqiong replied, biting her lip slightly.

“Su Yao is truly a good child, possessing both talent and temperament. We elders regard her highly. Naturally, you too are a fine child.”

Hai Zongming spoke, then let out a sigh.

A hint of guilt flickered across his face, already darkened by the sea sun. “I failed in guiding my disciple, raising a beast like Hu Shaomeng with the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog. I am truly sorry to you both.”

Zhu Biqiong knew not how to respond. She merely shook her head, indicating that the matter was not the Elder Hai’s responsibility.

“Hu Shaomeng’s death was a just punishment for his crimes,” Hai Zongming affirmed, offering solace to Zhu Biqiong’s emotions before continuing, “Right, where was his corpse buried? When you reported this matter upon your return, my anger consumed me, and I gave it no thought. But now, reflecting, the person is dead, and grudges should fade. He was, after all, a disciple of the Fishing Sea Tower. As his former master, I should at least gather his remains.”

“He was… burned, along with the house…” Zhu Biqiong felt a touch of nervousness.

Although she was in the right concerning this matter, and her own master supported her, Hai Zongming was still a sect elder. If he were to truly make trouble over the disciple’s corpse, she would find herself in a difficult position.

“Burned?” Hai Zongming showed no sign of anger, only a sigh. “Burned is good. Burned clean.”

He simply stood by the road, speaking to Zhu Biqiong in a slow, amiable voice.

He resembled a compassionate elder, showing concern for a junior within the sect.

“I was aware of Hu Shaomeng’s strength. Though morally corrupt, he possessed some talent in combat. I should have personally cleansed the sect myself.”

Hai Zongming sighed, the sorrow of losing a disciple and the anger of discovering a human face beast heart within him blending seamlessly.

“It must have been difficult for you, a young girl. Killing him surely wasn’t easy, was it? Were you injured? I have some good healing medicine here…”

“No need, no need,” Zhu Biqiong shook her head repeatedly. “I wasn’t injured. It was a friend of mine who helped kill him.”

“A friend?” Hai Zongming perfectly displayed his doubt. From the term “friend,” the only clue he could glean was that the person who killed Hu Shaomeng was not a disciple of the Fishing Sea Tower. Otherwise, Zhu Biqiong would have referred to them as senior brother or senior sister.

Zhu Biqiong nodded. “Yes, a friend!”

This was clearly not the answer Hai Zongming sought. But the old fox would not reveal too much.

“Your friend helped me cleanse the sect. I should personally express my gratitude.” Hai Zongming deliberately adopted a thoughtful expression. “What would your friend like? Dao Yuan Stones? A secret technique? A magic weapon?”

“The matter has passed, Elder, you truly need not trouble yourself further. Hu Shaomeng’s wickedness was not your fault. After all, one knows a person’s face but not their heart. Even my sister did not initially know he was such a person…”

The topic had drifted…

Hai Zongming, with an unperturbed demeanor, skillfully pulled the conversation back. “While that is true, the proper courtesies must not be neglected. We cultivators of the Fishing Sea Tower cannot afford to be the subject of idle talk.”

He spoke with a hint of pride. “You are also aware of the standing of our Fishing Sea Tower at sea.”

Zhu Biqiong, being less experienced in the ways of the world, despite her tempering in Qingyang Town, still found her cultivation too shallow before Hai Zongming.

She wanted to refuse but did not know how.

She could only rely on speaking her mind, one sentence at a time. “My friend is not in the nearby sea islands, and he acts purely out of a sense of justice, not for reward.”

“Alas, Biqiong, you speak so highly of this friend of yours. Might you harbor admiration?”

Hai Zongming deliberately furrowed his brow, acting with the intimacy of an elder towards Zhu Biqiong. “How could a good girl from our nearby sea islands be so easily captivated by an outsider? Wait until tomorrow, I will introduce you to several fine young men, I guarantee they are no worse than him!”

“It’s not like that,” Zhu Biqiong’s face flushed with embarrassment. “We are just friends.”

“I don’t believe it,” Hai Zongming said, widening his eyes. “What is his name? I would like to see who this person is, who can surpass all the young elites of our nearby sea islands? Could he be better than Ji Shaoqing or Xu Yuan? You shouldn’t be disappointed in the men of the sea because of this one rotten apple, Hu Shaomeng.”

Ji Shaoqing and Xu Yuan were both Fishing Sea Tower disciples of Zhu Biqiong’s generation, prominent figures among the young generation of the nearby sea islands.

“Elder, please don’t make such jokes, it’s truly embarrassing,” Zhu Biqiong said helplessly. “My friend’s name is Jiang Wang, and we are truly just friends.”

Trouble. Hai Zongming thought to himself.

How could the Fishing Sea Tower not pay attention to the situation in Qi Country?

And in this recent period, if there was one matter in Qi Country that was most renowned, it was none other than Jiang Wang challenging the Lei Clan prodigy, Lei Zhanqian, and easily winning, transcending a small realm!

Such a prominent prodigy of Great Qi, even he, Hai Zongming, a powerful elder of the Fishing Sea Tower, high in position and authority, could not lightly make a move against him.

If he were to rashly act against Jiang Wang on the border of Qi, it would be akin to handing his old bones over to Qi Country.

No one would let him off!

Furthermore, given the recent strained relationship between the Fishing Sea Tower and Qi Country, for him, as an elder of the Fishing Sea Tower, entering Qi Country was also a difficult matter…

This matter required careful planning.

Hai Zongming said with some annoyance, “Ah, he is a famous prodigy of Qi Country. No wonder he is not inferior to Ji Shaoqing and the others, and has completely captivated your heart.”

“Elder Hai…” Zhu Biqiong had a thin face and truly could not bear such teasing.

“Good, good, good, I won’t say anymore,” Hai Zongming acted very kindly.

He smiled and said, “Since you insist on refusing, then so be it. But no matter what, the matter of Hu Shaomeng is an apology from this old man to you sisters. Su Yao is not here, so if you have any difficulties in the future, feel free to come and find this old man at any time. In this small domain of the nearby sea islands, I, Hai, still have some influence.”

“I understand…” Zhu Biqiong nodded honestly, watching Hai Zongming’s tall figure recede into the distance.

Elder Hai was not as fierce as the rumors suggested, at least he could distinguish right from wrong and was not simply protective of his own. She thought to herself silently.

She still wished to stroll further along the street. A young man in Confucian robes with an unusually high forehead hurried past her.

He shouted loudly, “Senior sister, Senior sister, wait for me!”

The entirety of String Moon Island belonged to the Fishing Sea Tower, though of course, most areas were inhabited by ordinary islanders.

If the Fishing Sea Tower were compared to a country, these islanders were simply the ordinary citizens of the Sea Tower.

At this moment, the place where Zhu Biqiong was located was already a gathering place for cultivators. Naturally, flying was prohibited for this reason.

Only sect enforcers could move freely in the air.

Thus, this high-foreheaded young man, although clearly a cultivator, could only rely on his two legs to run on the ground.

His shout was too high-pitched, too enthusiastic, like a little pig squealing for food, attracting the attention of quite a few passers-by.

Zhu Biqiong was no exception. Following the sound, she looked over, wanting to know who the “senior sister” in the voice was and what she looked like.