The moment Xu Qingtong uttered the name "Chen Ruoling," surprise appeared on Duoduo's face.
"What? You know your Martial Aunt Ruo Ling?" Xu Qingtong asked.
"Yes! When Aunt Siwen came to see me last time, she brought someone named Chen Ruoling! She should be your older female cousin, right, Master?"
Xu Qingtong nodded. "That's right!"
"Oh, Master, Aunt Siwen asked me last time whether I'd seen you. She seemed very anxious!" Duoduo said.
"Oh? She came looking for me?"
"Twice! Once with Martial Aunt Chen, and once by herself!" Duoduo said. "Master, did you and Aunt Du have a quarrel?"
"What are you talking about! You're just a child. Don't go asking such things!"
Duoduo pursed her lips at his words and said nothing more.
Xu Qingtong also asked Information Gatherer Bao to help find two mortals to move into the newly purchased courtyard house, both to care for Duoduo's grandfather and to keep the old man company.
Once everything was arranged, Xu Qingtong took Duoduo back to Juxian Academy.
He first went to see Sect Master Shen Haotian and briefly recounted the past few years of his travels.
Seeing that Xu Qingtong had returned and had already formed a Golden Core, Shen Haotian was overjoyed. He drew Xu Qingtong aside and plied him with questions, chatting for over an hour.
"Sect Master, during my travels, I discovered a promising young talent and have already taken her as my disciple!" Xu Qingtong said.
Shen Haotian looked at Duoduo. The little girl had delicate features and was quite pretty, but she was different from ordinary cultivators. Just where that difference lay, he could not immediately tell.
"Duoduo, come pay your respects to the Sect Master!"
Hearing this, Duoduo hurried forward and bowed. "Ouyang Duoduo pays her respects to the Sect Master!"