Striding into the room, Ma Xianhong found himself looking at an elder with crane-white hair and a youthful face, dressed in plain Daoist robes and radiating an immortal air.
The Old Celestial Master, Zhang Zhiwei-the "one" in The Outcast.
Also known as Guaranteed-Win Bro.
This first meeting went even better than he had imagined. From his appearance and bearing alone, the Old Celestial Master left Ma Xianhong with an excellent first impression.
"Ma Xianhong, leader of the new Jiejiao of Biyou Village, pays his respects to the Old Celestial Master." He cupped his fist and offered a frank, unreserved bow, then took a seat under the guidance of a young Daoist attendant.
Ma Xianhong felt no pressure whatsoever about coming onto the turf of the current leader of the Daoist Sect and calling himself the leader of Jiejiao. This wasn't some primordial fantasy world. His Jiejiao had nothing to do with Shangqing, and even less to do with Zhengyi or Quanzhen.
He wasn't even a member of the Daoist Sect himself.
Rather than a Daoist organization, his Jiejiao was more like a chaotic-good, neutral-leaning version of Quanzhen.
As for whether he might offend some taboo and clash with the Old Celestial Master?
What a joke.
He had never heard of anyone picking a fight over another organization's name.
"Your letter said you've come to help the Celestial Master's Mansion avert a calamity?" After a few brief pleasantries, Zhang Zhiwei narrowed his eyes slightly and looked straight into Ma Xianhong's.
"That's right." Ma Xianhong nodded, making no attempt to hide it.
"You probably aren't skilled in Qimen, are you? Your surname is Ma..."
"You're certainly right about that. I really don't know Qimen, but that doesn't mean I can't help the Celestial Master's Mansion avert a calamity." Ma Xianhong shrugged, his