Cheng Xinzhan returned to Bright Governance Mountain first. Ji Hehe kept Wen Sukong behind for a while. The Daoist could guess that it must have been to teach her "One Qi Transforms into the Three Pure Ones." Although his master was unwilling to become Deputy Sect Leader and manage sect affairs, she had, after all, cultivated an innate Dharma Steam Body, and she was about to head north to eliminate demons. The Sect Leader was bound to worry, so he would surely teach her this art.
Even the way the Sect Leader would impart it was easy to guess. He would certainly teach her the art first, then afterward emphasize that it was originally reserved for the Deputy Sect Leader who managed sect affairs-a spell the Patriarch had devised out of consideration for later generations, to balance cultivation with sect duties. Only out of concern for his master's safety would he now make an exception, using this to gain a little leverage over her. Later, he could use it as a pretext to arrange for her to assist with sect affairs.
After a while, Cheng Xinzhan saw a streak of light fly back into the mountain from Flat-Top Mountain. Knowing his master had returned, he called out through voice transmission, "Master! Come to the Bamboo-Hiding Stele!"
The streak of light turned and descended toward Cheng Xinzhan.
Wen Sukong looked thoroughly displeased.
Cheng Xinzhan laughed inwardly at the sight and asked a question whose answer he already knew,
"What is it, Master? Why the sour face?"
Wen Sukong answered indignantly,
"That Sect Leader! I thought he had kindly kept me behind to teach me an art, but once he finished, he prattled on and on and wouldn't stop. He only let me leave after I lost my temper. Hm, wait-"
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