"Mm, that was true!" Xiao Hua did not mind. Smiling, he said, "When this old man went to the Yaotai Gathering, guarding Black Cloud Ridge was indeed a matter of great importance. Xiaoyao's cultivation was insufficient, and this old man truly could not rest easy. That was why this old man wished to ask Fellow Daoist to lend this Xiao a hand and guard the place for several days. Since Fellow Daoist wished to consider it, then once this Xiao restores your disciples' cultivation, simply inform this Xiao before departure!"
"Ah???" Li Xiang stood there slack-jawed, asking strangely, "True Person... True Person merely wanted this poor Daoist to help you guard the place for a few days?"
"Yes. What did Fellow Daoist think this Xiao meant by asking you to lend this Xiao a hand?" Xiao Hua likewise put on a show of surprise.
"Oh..." Li Xiang was somewhat disordered. He had never expected Xiao Hua's request to be so low—so low that he did not know how to respond.
Princess Changling seized the moment to whisper, "Master, the National Teacher means..."
"Oh, this old man understands!" Xiao Hua slapped his forehead and laughed. "Fellow Daoist Li, do not overthink it. This Xiao is not skilled in state affairs and has never had experience as a National Teacher. Changling once said that she wished to invite Fellow Daoist Li to emerge from retirement once more and become Jiang Kingdom's Second National Teacher. That was why this old man had Xiaoyao inquire into Fellow Daoist's whereabouts, leading to this Xiao's journey to Qianyu Mountain. However, along the way, this Xiao saw that Fellow Daoist had little interest in becoming National Teacher, so this Xiao did not mention it again. Whether Fellow Daoist becomes National Teacher has nothing to do with this