"Ying Huang, the Six-Heart Bewitching Clear-Eyed Fox, greets you, Brother Jiang."
Her tone was calm, and she made no special gesture, yet those few simple words stirred a fire in the heart. Understanding flashed in Jiang Yang's eyes, and he cupped his hands in return.
"So I stand before a noble daughter of the fox clan. Jiang Yang, of the Celestial River Tradition of the Profound, Hidden, and Subtle."
One was an Upper Li Sun-Fighting Luan, the other a Six-Heart Clear-Eyed Fox. Since ancient times, dragons had never dwelt with snakes. For the two to become friends, their bloodlines had to be illustrious, far beyond those of ordinary noble descendants.
Once Jiang Yang had offered his greeting, Ying Huang chuckled.
"Lady Water Mother's Dao Lineage—I've long heard of its great name. Which branch did you inherit, Brother Jiang?"
"Hmm... according to our genealogy, my Rain Xiang Mountain descends from Patriarch [Xiang Fan]."
Jiang Yang paused briefly before answering.
Fortunately, Martial Uncle Xuan Di had filled in his lineage for him. Otherwise, that question really would have stumped him. As a direct disciple of Rain Xiang Mountain, not knowing who his patriarch was would have been mortifying.
"Oh... then your Dao Lineage should trace back to the Azure Deep branch of [Kunxu]."
Ying Huang nodded slightly. She seemed exceedingly familiar with the Celestial River Tradition, actually identifying Jiang Yang's lineage with perfect accuracy.
Something stirred in Jiang Yang's heart. She seemed to know far more about his sect than he did, and he could not help asking in puzzlement:
"That's right, but why do you ask, Fellow Daoist Ying Huang?"
"Heehee, since you're Sister Yun Zhen's friend, Brother Jiang, you're my friend too. There's no need for such formality between us."
Though Ying Huang's youthful face was completely at odds with