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As Qin Tian and Xiaozhuang were talking about Xu Kuan, Zhou Yang came over from afar and said, ”Boss is right. The most admirable quality in a person is to repeatedly fight and repeatedly lose, and then to fight again. I also appreciate Xu Kuan.”

Zhou Yang walked up to Qin Tian and said, ”I think the second point Boss was going to make about appreciating Xu Kuan is that Xu Kuan has been in West State for many years and is very familiar with the local customs, terrain, and geography. Since we’re going to West State, an unfamiliar place for us, having someone like Xu Kuan, a local, around would definitely reduce a lot of trouble.”

Qin Tian raised his thumb to Zhou Yang, saying, ”Who understands me well, it’s old Zhou.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

After the laughter, Zhou Yang stroked his chin and said, ”However, inviting Xu Kuan out of retirement is somewhat challenging.”

”What challenge?” Xiaozhuang asked, ”According to my intelligence, Xu Kuan resigned because his mother passed away. If we invite him out, he should be quite happy about it.”

”Third brother, it’s not that simple.”

Zhou Yang continued, ”In ancient times, there’s a term called ’Dingyou,’ which means when a parent passes away, the son must return home to mourn, typically for several years, doing nothing during that time. Xu Kuan is currently in his Dingyou period, it’s only been a few months, so getting him out will require some work.”

Qin Tian nodded and said, ”This is something I’m thinking about right now.”

”Why don’t we give it a try first? Maybe we’re overthinking it?” Lin Yu suggested, ”I heard Xu Kuan is a neutral character in the court and is often sidelined, feeling unfulfilled. Boss, your trip to invite him out would be recognizing his potential. He wouldn’t refuse, right?”

Qin Tian smiled: ”I’m not familiar with him; why would he give me face?”

Xiaozhuang said, ”Then let’s first investigate his preferences. Everyone has a weakness; if we target his weakness, he’s bound to comply.”

Qin Tian and Zhou Yang had no other recourse at the moment; since Ye Kun and others would take a few more days to reach the Imperial City, he let Xiaozhuang conduct the investigation.

As a result, upon investigation, Xiaozhuang found out that Xu Kuan is a filial son and is currently single.

”Oh my, by age, he should be around sixty years old, yet he’s still single?”

Lin Yu was somewhat surprised, ”Although those who have passed the Transcendence Tribulation Stage equate sixty years with being akin to infants, remaining single all along is rather...”

Xiaozhuang said: ”Boss, according to our investigation, Xu Kuan seems to have someone he likes. According to his neighbors, he has been secretly in love with a woman for over ten years but has never taken action, so...”

”A Second Grade General secretly in love?” Qin Tian was also taken aback.

Xiaozhuang laughed: ”Boss, this woman is not an ordinary woman. Given the customs of the Spiritual Domain and Xu Kuan’s stubborn nature, he can only secretly be in love. Although I heard that the woman actually likes Xu Kuan too, both have had feelings for each other for a long time but just can’t be together without explicitly saying so.”

”Whoa, what kind of situation is that? What is this woman’s status that they can’t be together?”

Qin Tian was increasingly curious.

Xiaozhuang laughed heartily and said, ”The woman is his sister-in-law.”

”Hiss...”

As Xiaozhuang spoke, Qin Tian, Zhou Yang, and Lin Yu were left dumbfounded.

After that, Qin Tian and Zhou Yang laughed and said in unison, ”There’s nothing better than dumplings, nothing more fun than... haha...”

”This Xu Kuan, really has such a hand?” Qin Tian felt that Xu Kuan shouldn’t be like this.

”Boss, you misunderstood.” Xiaozhuang quickly explained, ”Xu Kuan had a brother who was frail and sick with a terminal illness from childhood. When his brother was in his fifties, the family found him a wife with matching birth dates, saying it was purely for good fortune, and it worked.”

”Unfortunately, the day after their marriage, Xu Kuan’s brother passed away, leaving the woman widowed at twenty.”

”I guess over the years, Xu Kuan took on the household burden alone and developed feelings for the woman over time. I think this story is quite simple, very pure.”

After hearing this, everyone stopped laughing and felt some respect for Xu Kuan.

”The key is, over the years Xu Family has been in decline. After Xu Kuan’s mother’s death, except for dozens of servants, only Xu Kuan and his sister-in-law Lin Qing’er are left as the household members.” Xiaozhuang added.

”Therefore,” Xiaozhuang displayed a sly smile, ”Boss, how about we start with Lin Qing’er? I suspect that Xu Kuan resigned partly because he worries about leaving Lin Qing’er alone at home since she isn’t an Immortality Cultivator.”

Xiaozhuang’s words directly prompted Qin Tian, and Qin Tian instantly felt full of confidence, saying, ”Got it, I have a solution now. Haha, this time, I’ll surely succeed!”

The next day, Qin Tian and Zhou Yang went to visit Xu Kuan at his residence.

Sure enough, when Qin Tian explained his intentions, Xu Kuan directly declined Qin Tian’s recruitment, citing his current mourning period.

Qin Tian was not in a hurry; he chatted leisurely with Xu Kuan. During the conversation, Qin Tian met Lin Qing’er and extended an invitation for her to visit Qin Tian’s residence.

Lin Qing’er initially hesitated but couldn’t resist Qin Tian and Zhou Yang’s repeated invitations, eventually agreeing.

That afternoon, Lin Qing’er returned to Qin’s residence with Qin Tian. Once there, Qin Tian arranged for Fan Bing and Du Qiuniang to host her and had already informed them of his intentions; knowing Fan Bing’s cleverness, she naturally understood.

As a result, Fan Bing and Lin Qing’er ended up chatting happily. That evening, Lin Qing’er stayed at Qin’s residence and extended her stay for two days.

During those two days, assisted by Fan Bing’s eloquence, Lin Qing’er grew as close as sisters with Fan Bing and Du Qiuniang.

Qin Tian even gifted Lin Qing’er a Longevity Pill, which made her immensely grateful.

Learning that Qin Tian and Fan Bing both eagerly wanted Xu Kuan to accompany Qin Tian to West State, Lin Qing’er decided to help Qin Tian persuade Xu Kuan back home.

Once Lin Qing’er was involved, coupled with Fan Bing’s personal visit to Xu’s residence to inform Xu Kuan that if he accompanied Qin Tian on the expedition, Fan Bing would immediately bring Lin Qing’er to stay at Qin’s residence.

All subsequent concerns were resolved for Xu Kuan, who had indeed been feeling stifled for years and sought an opportunity to fulfill his ambitions.

This time, under Qin Tian and Fan Bing’s repeated invitation, he finally agreed to emerge from retirement.

One day later, Ye Kun and Zuo Yuanhao led their contingent of a thousand personal soldiers to the Imperial City.

With all forces assembled, Qin Tian led an impressive procession of two hundred thousand troops on the march to West State.

Meanwhile, as Qin Tian was recruiting Xu Kuan in the Imperial City, the battlefield at West State was already poised for the offensive, and the warrior kings seemed intent on advancing back to the Imperial City.