The Dao Alliance and Star Realm envoys had already arrived outside the Tianjing defensive zone. They were expected to enter one after another within the next two days. Xia Ruize's delegation had arrived a step ahead of them, led by his chief senior disciple, Zuo Qiuhan. The deputy leader was an old acquaintance: Mu Yixin, Gong Ningyan's mother. This woman, whom I had never met but who had already left an impression on me, was someone I had wanted to meet for a long time.
Zuo Qiuhan was Xia Ruize's second personal disciple, while Yuan Muying was his senior sister. According to the records, he had also acknowledged Heizi as his adoptive father, because Heizi had used the alias Zuo Qiuheng in the Jie Cult. That was the information Tianjing had obtained. I knew what Xia Ruize meant by this, so when I prepared to receive them, I summoned Yuan Muying as well.
As for Mu Yixin, it was obvious that Xia Ruize had sent her here not only to explain the matter of the New Liuxian Sect, but perhaps also because she wanted to see her man and child. However, after asking Gong Tieyun, it was clear that the middle-aged man had other considerations—some insurmountable obstacle or the like—and was unwilling to receive her. Naturally, I had no intention of forcing him, so I only included Gong Ningyan.
Yuan Muying was all right. The little girl had a sturdy psychological defense, and her expression revealed not the slightest clue. Gong Ningyan, on the other hand, wore a trace of worry between her brows, warning me that her mother would be difficult to deal with.
Of course I was not afraid of Mu Yixin. This was my territory, after all, and when it came to matters between Xia Ruize and