Just as Madam Yuhua reacted, Song Qingming likewise turned to look behind him, not far away.
Before long, an aged figure appeared at the entrance to the great hall, slowly making his way through the formation toward them.
The newcomer wore a long grey robe. Hunched over at the waist, he leaned on a slender bamboo cane. His hair and beard had both gone white, tightly bound atop his head with a long wooden hairpin.
Even as he walked with the bamboo cane in hand, he swayed unsteadily, as though he might fall at any moment.
Yet beneath that aged face, his eyes alone shone with vigor, like a sharp sword light sweeping over everyone in the distance.
"Martial Uncle Liang!"
The blue-clothed woman and Purple-clothed Girl standing nearby were immediately startled by the Grey-robed Elder's sudden appearance. They cried out in surprise, then turned questioning gazes toward Madam Yuhua.
Madam Yuhua hurriedly stepped forward with the two behind her and raised her hand in salute to the Grey-robed Elder.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Liang, Martial Uncle."
Although the Grey-robed Elder's cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer Peak, somewhat below Madam Yuhua's,
when faced with everyone's salute, not the slightest discomfort appeared on his face. Clearly, his seniority within the sect far exceeded Madam Yuhua's.
Seeing this, Song Qingming also lightly cupped his hands toward the elder out of courtesy, though he said nothing more.
"Senior Brother has spent all these years cultivating in seclusion at the back mountain. Why did you suddenly have the time to come here today? Could it be that you have some important matter to discuss with Junior Sister?
If Senior Brother had something to say, you could have simply sent Yuhua a voice transmission. Why make the trip in person? How about