The next day.
Wu Tian Manor, council hall.
All five great elders of Wu Tian Manor had arrived.
The five were all Dou Wang cultivators, the backbone of Wu Tian Manor.
Yet at this moment, none of them looked particularly pleased.
"Second Elder, Madam suddenly summoned us and said she had something important to announce."
The First Elder stroked his beard, his brow slightly furrowed. "Do you think... it might have something to do with the Manor Lord?"
The Second Elder shook his head. "I don't know."
"But the Manor Lord has been in seclusion for so long without any news. I can't shake this uneasy feeling."
The other elders nodded in agreement, their expressions grave.
Wu Ya had not shown himself for several months.
Although Dugu Mei had always claimed to the outside world that the Manor Lord was in seclusion, who stayed in seclusion for that long?
And he would not even see elders like them?
Something was clearly amiss.
They had long begun to harbor suspicions.
Just then, Dugu Mei emerged from the rear hall.
She wore a long red dress today, her makeup exquisitely applied.
She ascended to the main seat step by step and settled into it with leisurely grace.
"Greetings, Madam."
The five elders rose together and bowed.
Dugu Mei sat in the main seat, smiling at them as she waved a hand.
"No need for such formalities. Sit."
The five took their seats. The Second Elder spoke first, asking somewhat impatiently,
"Madam, you said you had an important matter to announce. What is it?"
"Has... the Manor Lord emerged from seclusion?"
At those words, the other four elders also looked toward Dugu Mei, expectation in their eyes.
However, Dugu Mei smiled and shook her head.
"It is not the Manor Lord."
"Lu Xia