Xiao Hua had naturally noticed someone approaching long ago. Looking up now, he saw the vermilion gates thrown wide open as an elderly man of about sixty, broad and powerfully built, emerged in splendid robes, followed by several guards carrying sabers. Though somewhat advanced in years, the old man was in excellent spirits, his ruddy face faintly bearing traces of You Zhongquan.
The old man did not answer You Heming at all. With a cold snort, he said, "I'm asking you—who are you chattering nonsense with here? Are you not afraid of the You family's rules?"
"Master, forgive me, Master has misunderstood!" You Heming hurriedly bowed. "Th-this is Daoist Master Xiao and his disciple. Back then... when this servant accompanied Seventh Uncle to Tongzhu Kingdom to search for the young master—ah, I remember now! This Daoist Master Xiao... he even saved the young master's life back then! It's just... it's just that Daoist Master Xiao seems not to have changed at all over all these years, so this servant nearly failed to recognize him!"
"Oh?" Hearing You Heming's explanation, the old man could not be negligent. He looked at the youthful Xiao Hua and cupped his hands. "So it is Daoist Master Xiao. My apologies, my apologies. This old man ought to repay Daoist Master for saving my son's life. However, this old man has urgent business at the palace and cannot accompany Daoist Master. Heming, go to the accountant and withdraw a thousand taels of gold. See Daoist Master Xiao off with due respect."
"Yes, Master!" You Heming did not dare delay and hurriedly answered.
Xiao Hua waved his hand. "Master You seems to have misunderstood this Xiao's purpose in coming."
This Master You had not even told Xiao Hua his name. He seemed truly to have urgent business,