"Fellow Daoist Dongfang, please wait!"
Inside the Que Luo Immortal Abode of the Incense Accumulation Sect, a young, newly promoted True Disciple called out to Dongfang Cheng of the East Sea's Spirit Emperor Sect and asked curiously, "I heard you'll be heading back soon. Is that true?"
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Shu." Dongfang Cheng nodded slightly. "It is. We're leaving early next month."
He recognized the man. His name was Shu Moli, and he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment ten years ago, becoming a True Disciple.
Come to think of it, he and these people had been classmates for years, spending their childhood and adolescence together at the Incense Accumulation Sect's Academy.
"I see. Then..." A strange expression crossed Shu Moli's face, and he seemed hesitant to speak.
Seeing this, Dongfang Cheng smiled. "What you really want to ask is whether my younger cousin Dongfang Xi will be going back with us, isn't it?"
Shu Moli flushed slightly, but admitted honestly, "Yes."
Dongfang Cheng teased him. "Why not ask her directly? That cousin of mine will certainly tell you."
Shu Moli sighed softly. "You're right."
With that, he really did turn and head in another direction to find Dongfang Xi, the cousin Dongfang Cheng had mentioned.
Dongfang Cheng stood where he was, watching him leave with a smile. Only after Shu Moli had vanished from sight did he say evenly, "If I remember correctly, he's a member of the Divine Incense Gate's Shu Household?"
"Yes, young master," an attendant behind Dongfang Cheng replied.
"A member of the Shu Household... was he born to the principal wife or a concubine?"
"A concubine."
"I see. That really is a pity." Dongfang Cheng spoke lightly. "But Xi was also born to a concubine. It seems best to let things take their natural course."
With