The meditation chamber was sparsely furnished, with only wooden floorboards and a few cushions.
An old Daoist sat cross-legged on the cushion farthest inside, his eyes closed and his aura obscure.
"Head."
"This is Junior Brother Lu Mian. He came from the Ancestral Court!"
Wan Quan introduced Lu Mian excitedly.
At those words, Qinghezi finally opened his eyes.
His eyes were clouded, and he seemed to struggle to make out Lu Mian's face.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Qinghezi."
Lu Mian bowed.
"Greetings, Junior Brother."
"Since you came from the Ancestral Court, Junior Brother Lu Mian, do you have a token of identification?"
Qinghezi asked.
Lu Mian immediately produced Qi Jiulian's handwritten letter and the jade pendant that served as his token.
After verifying the pendant's authenticity, Qinghezi could no longer contain his emotions. "Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"
"To think the Ancestral Court hasn't abandoned us!"
Lu Mian inwardly shook his head.
The Sunflame Ancestral Court was embroiled in endless infighting. How could it spare any attention for its outlying establishments?
He had only come here to escape those internal conflicts.
Naturally, he could not say that outright.
Sometimes, a misunderstanding was a good thing.
"Wan Quan, you may leave."
Unable to discern Lu Mian's thoughts, Qinghezi sent Wan Quan away first.
"Yes, sir."
Wan Quan bowed and left the meditation chamber.
Whoosh!
The instant Wan Quan left, Qinghezi swept his sleeve and cast a barrier.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Yet even such a simple spell sent Qinghezi into a violent coughing fit, his ruddy face turning deathly pale.
"Senior Brother."
Lu Mian's expression shifted slightly, and he hurried forward to regulate Qinghezi's Mystic Qi.
"Hmm..."
"Is this Divine Radiance Qi?!"
Feeling the scorching Qi Mechanism flowing into his body, Qinghezi suddenly grew excited.
"That's right."
"Please stay calm, Head."
Lu Mian reminded him.