He played back the conversation between Zhou Qing'ang and the stone-face.
.....
"And this time, He Zhenghao suffered heavy losses too. I’m asking for these hundred thousand contribution points so I can seize the chance to strengthen my ties with him.
"He’s an expert in arrays who even took part in setting up the island protection array, and he’s completely guileless. With his help, we’re bound to decipher the array much sooner."
.....
Since Zhou Qing'ang wasn't in his usual appearance, He Zhenghao didn’t understand what he was watching at first.
But as the conversation unfolded, He Zhenghao realized what was happening.
When he heard his own name mentioned in the dialogue, He Zhenghao face turned deathly pale. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead as he trembled uncontrollably.
Putting away the Image Recording Stone, Li Fan looked at He Zhenghao with a stern expression: "Fellow Daoist He, exactly how much information about the island protection array have you leaked?"
"Not... not much! Truly not much!" He Zhenghao stammered, defending himself.
"You’re still not confessing honestly? Should I just submit this Image Recording Stone to the Martial Hall and let them interrogate you?" Li Fan roared angrily.
He Zhenghao initially trembled in fear, but then he detected the underlying meaning in Li Fan's words, and hope suddenly sparked in his eyes. He grabbed Li Fan's hands urgently, pleading repeatedly, "Fellow Daoist, save me! You have to save me!"
Li Fan shook him off. "If you truly want me to save you, then tell me everything about this Zhou Qing'ang!"
With a miserable expression, He Zhenghao recounted everything in detail.
After listening, Li Fan felt somewhat speechless. It turned out that a significant portion of the data regarding the array’s outer structure submitted by Zhou Qing'ang actually came from He Zhenghao's contributions.
"He constantly flattered me, boasting about my array skills, and then asked me for guidance on arrays," He Zhenghao explained. "I got carried away by the praise and just... Who would have thought that Zhou Qing'ang, a fellow island guardian of the Congyun Sea, was actually a spy! How could I have been so blinded by his sweet talk?"
He Zhenghao looked ready to burst into tears.
"Whether you knew or not doesn't change the fact that you leaked the Myriad Immortals Alliance's secrets," Li Fan snorted coldly. "Fellow Daoist He, you understand the consequences, don't you?"
He Zhenghao shuddered. "Dismissal, strict investigation, lowering of permission level... They might even abolish my cultivation..." The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became, feeling as though his future was bleak and hopeless.
Compounding this was the fact that he had lost his lifelong savings and had been frantically taking on tasks to reaccumulate contribution points, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted.
Under the weight of these multiple blows, He Zhenghao could no longer hold back. His composure shattered, and he broke down into loud, unrestrained sobs.
"Why is my life so miserable? I've lost all my savings, and now this happens! How am I supposed to go on living?"
Li Fan remained unmoved.
After crying for a while, He Zhenghao noticed that Li Fan showed no reaction and felt somewhat embarrassed. Wiping his tears, he said in a choked voice, "Fellow Daoist, you must save me! This Image Recording Stone absolutely cannot be submitted. Otherwise, my future will be completely ruined!"
Li Fan retorted, "Reporting a spy is a great contribution. Surely you understand that, Fellow Daoist?"
He Zhenghao stammered, "I... I can compensate you, Fellow Daoist."
Li Fan chuckled. "Fellow Daoist, you're penniless now. What could you possibly offer me? I have no shortage of contribution points. Perhaps you haven't heard—during the Spirit Mist Grass incident, I made a profit of six hundred thousand!"
He Zhenghao's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Li Fan.
"What, you don't believe me?" Li Fan asked, slanting his eyes.
"I do, I do!" He Zhenghao nodded hurriedly, his expression growing even more envious and regretful. "If only I had listened to your advice back then!"
After a moment, He Zhenghao thought of something and said, "I have half a volume of the Detailed Explanations of the Hundred Veins Array Diagram. It represents my life's—"
Before he could finish, Li Fan interrupted him. "Arrays? I'm not particularly interested. The position of an array maintenance technician is just a stepping stone to me."
He Zhenghao hesitated for a long time before finally forcing out another offer with great difficulty. "I also have a daughter... She's also at the Foundation Establishment realm. I could introduce you to her..."
Li Fan's expression turned stern, and he refused with righteous indignation. "What kind of person do you take me for? Don’t mention this to me again!"
He Zhenghao let out a slight sigh of relief, then furrowed his brow. He could clearly see that Li Fan genuinely intended to spare him. Yet it was equally clear that Li Fan wanted something from him.
But aside from those, what else did he possess? He was utterly destitute.
He pondered for a long while but could find no answer.
Finally, He Zhenghao gave a bitter laugh. "Fellow Daoist, please stop toying with me. Whatever it is you want, just say it plainly."
Li Fan smiled faintly and patted He Zhenghao on the shoulder.
"I want you."
He Zhenghao stared blankly for a moment, then his face went pale. He instinctively leaped backward, eyeing Li Fan with suspicion.
"Heh, what are you thinking, Fellow Daoist?
"What I mean is," Li Fan said, standing before He Zhenghao and speaking slowly, “From this day onward, I want you to follow my lead without question."