After dispelling Dan Xin's worries, the young girl returned cheerfully to her clansmen and chirped away with several Feather Clan girls she knew well. Meng Zhao remained where he was, gazing at the scenery below the mountain in thoughtful silence.
Just then, footsteps approached. Meng Zhao turned and looked over, surprise appearing on his face.
"Uncle Ying, what brings you here?"
Dan Qing and Dan Ying were indeed fairly close relatives by blood. Dan Qing's father and Dan Ying were cousins from the same grandfather.
However, while Dan Qing's father had decent talent, he was nowhere near as formidable as Dan Ying. He had stopped at the Grandmaster realm, and there was likely no hope of further breakthrough in this life—unless he obtained the true teachings of the Phoenix Nirvana Scroll or the methods of the Peacock King Sutra. Only then might there be a sliver of possibility.
Naturally, Dan Qing and Dan Ying were closer and more familiar with one another than they were with others.
Dan Ying looked at Dan Qing, his expression full of gratification.
"Qing, I heard what you just said to Dan Xin. Very good. I'm pleased that you have gained such understanding and changed so much. With such progress, even if you gain nothing at Little Cold Mountain Temple, you will still have a promising future in the Feather Clan."
That gratification and delight were truly sincere and fervent. After all, a junior who had once seemed immature no matter how one looked at him had, in a single moment, grown into someone dependable—someone others could rely on and trust. That sense of accomplishment and satisfaction was certainly not bad.
To Dan Ying, the former Dan Qing had been conceited, arrogant, and somewhat petty. He had acted immaturely, with the reckless vigor of a