"This is a disciple I recently took in. Her name is Yang Ling'er. I believe you've met her."
Noticing Chen Cuo's gaze, Nanmingzi introduced her.
Yang Ling'er was well-behaved. She hurried forward to pay her respects, cautiously sizing up this junior uncle of hers.
His reputation was known far and wide. He was universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of the Mortal World in name and in truth! Nothing else needed saying; the might he had displayed moments ago had already surpassed her imagination.
She had learned much about this junior uncle long ago and had even made plans involving him. But only now, standing before him, did she realize all her calculations were useless.
"Of course I remember. I crossed paths with them at a temple once." Meeting Yang Ling'er's gaze, Chen Cuo nodded slightly, making no attempt to avoid the matter.
"So that Daoist really was you, Junior Uncle! I was disrespectful then. Please don't hold it against me!" Yang Ling'er dipped into another slight curtsy.
"What is there to hold against you? You did nothing discourteous. Even if you had a few ideas in mind, human hearts are tangled and ever-changing. How could I judge them all alike?" Chen Cuo shook his head. After a brief exchange with his niece-disciple, Nanmingzi took the initiative and asked what he intended to send.
"This." As he spoke, Chen Cuo opened his right hand. Layers of white mist immediately gathered over it, followed by a speck of gray mist that swelled within them. Faint shrieks came from inside!
Yang Ling'er's heart gave a jolt. She could barely make out what sounded like an ape's cry. When she looked more closely, however, the gray and white vapors in Chen Cuo's palm had vanished, replaced by a Flat Peach the size of his