"I am Moyu Jiao. Greetings, fellow Daoist. May I ask whether my master, Qing Zhe, is here?"
The person requesting entry to the fiefdom belonged to the Tianyuan Trading Firm. She was also Qing Zhe's disciple, a beautiful woman.
Chen Lin immediately sent Grass to fetch Qing Zhe.
Soon, Qing Zhe flew down from the Heavenly Mechanism House on the mountaintop and landed before them.
"Master, are you all right?"
At the sight of Qing Zhe, Moyu Jiao immediately stepped forward to ask after her, concern mingling with delighted surprise.
"I'm fine. How are things at the trading firm? Has anyone who crossed the sea with me returned?"
Qing Zhe asked.
"Master, everyone aboard the Sea-Crossing Ship you led has disappeared. When you failed to reach the Soul-Severing Continent on time and word reached the trading firm, they sent out a search party. They found only the Sea-Crossing Ship. Everyone aboard was gone."
"Heh, then the trading firm must think I'm dead. How are things for you now?"
Qing Zhe gave a faint laugh and looked at her disciple.
Moyu Jiao fell silent without answering.
"What, has Li Wuchang made a move against you?"
Qing Zhe's gaze instantly sharpened.
"Not exactly. But you haven't returned for so many years, Master, and you disappeared in the Soul-Severing Sea. The trading firm has already concluded that you perished, so my junior sisters and I have been stripped of all real authority. We've also been assigned several dangerous missions."
Qing Zhe nodded.
"That was only to be expected. With me gone, Li Wuchang wouldn't let you have an easy time. But it doesn't matter. Once I return, I'll deal with him."
Moyu Jiao immediately asked, "Master, why have you stayed here all this time without leaving? Have you been unable to find this