With his identity exposed by a single remark from Shi Zhangji, Cheng Xinzhan was first surprised, then smiled freely. There was no one else around Heavenly Lake just then, so Cheng Xinzhan dispelled his transformation, restored his original appearance, and said with a smile, "Nothing escapes your discerning eye, fellow Daoist. It was truly discourteous of me to enter your mountain in disguise under an assumed name. I hope you will forgive me."
Shi Zhangji smiled and waved a hand. "Grand Master, your visiting card humbly spoke of 'seeking an audience on the humble Dao, gazing in admiration upon the Sword Sect,' and you signed it from Three Pure Ones Mountain. With hints that clear, you plainly had no intention of concealing anything from me. Your disguise and assumed name were only to keep others from noticing. What offense is there to forgive?"
Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded. Speaking with clever people really did save trouble. That was indeed the case: his disguise and assumed name were merely to keep others from noticing. He intended to stay in the Sword Sect for a while, so how could he have expected to conceal his identity from beginning to end? He was on the mountain of fellow cultivators of the Righteous Path, not mingling in a demon's den. If he acted that way, would he not make the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect lose face when his identity eventually came to light?
Thus, he had always intended to find an excuse after meeting the Sword Sect's leader to ask him to dismiss his attendants, then reveal himself outright. He had not expected this sect leader to recognize him immediately, come to receive him in person, and bring him straight to the deserted Heavenly Lake Shore.
"Could you determine my identity from the words