"There's really nothing to complain about."
Knowing she was in the wrong, Elder Cold Moon sighed.
"My disciple acted foolishly and committed a grave mistake, angering the True Cultivator."
"I failed to discipline my disciple properly, so I deserved punishment as well."
"Palace Heir, you should return and focus on your cultivation. Don't ask about this person anymore, or else..."
"Explain."
An Ziqing interrupted her calmly.
"As the Palace Heir, if I don't even inquire about something like this, how am I supposed to command respect in the palace?"
Over the years.
While handling the Cold Purity Palace's affairs outside, he had often dealt with Cold Moon, its elder of external affairs.
The two occasionally exchanged letters as well.
Now that something like this had happened to her, outsiders would expect him to inquire, whether out of personal concern or duty.
Elder Cold Moon fell silent for a moment before asking:
"How much do you know, Palace Heir?"
"Only that you failed to recruit an outsider."
An Ziqing's eyes flickered as his red lips parted.
"So I'm rather puzzled myself."
"Whatever happened, Shuanghua is still a disciple of the Cold Purity Palace. Why would the True Cultivator favor an outsider so heavily?"
He paused at this point.
"The only explanation is... that person has exceptional talent?"
"Exceptional doesn't begin to describe it."
Elder Cold Moon sighed.
"It's absurdly good."
An Ziqing's brows furrowed even more deeply.
He had not actually believed that would be the answer.
But seeing Elder Cold Moon's expression, he still asked for confirmation:
"Better than mine?"
"..."
Gale force howled between them.
After a long silence, Elder Cold Moon finally nodded slowly.
It would be far too easy to verify later. She simply could not lie about it.
An Ziqing fell silent as well.
Yet now