Zhang Yu looked at Chong An and said, "No need for such formality. Since returning to Celestial Xia, you have hidden yourself away and lain low. You have suffered greatly."
Chong An suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said, "These are all things a disciple ought to do. This disciple is a cultivator—how could I fail to endure such solitude? Besides, these few years truly amount to nothing. Compared with Teacher's profound grace, what this disciple has done does not even reach one ten-thousandth of it."
Zhang Yu gave a slight nod. "Sit and speak."
Chong An answered yes. He waited until Zhang Yu had taken the seat of honor, then, after offering another salute, instructed his disciples to bring tea before taking a seat below.
Zhang Yu first spoke with Chong An about the matters that had arisen after his arrival in Celestial Xia, reminding him to remain diligent in cultivation. He also pointed out certain oversights in his cultivation. Only then did Chong An learn that his teacher had always been watching over him. Moved, he said, "This disciple thanks Teacher for your protection."
Zhang Yu said, "This time, you successfully seized the enemy's body. Tell me the exact course of events."
During their earlier discussion, Chong An had already learned his teacher's identity. Zhang Yu was precisely the Court Executor responsible for internal and external campaigns within the Profound Court. Thus, he did not hesitate, recounting the entire process in detail without omitting a single detail.
Only now did he realize that the matter involved the profound secrets of his own cultivation method—the personal secrets of a cultivator. No wonder Dai Tingzhi had not asked him a single extra question, instead having him report directly to his own teacher.
After finishing, he added, "Although this disciple