Yu Lan

The banquet passed quickly. Su Yao glanced around, saw nothing amiss, and turned to return to the inner hall. Just then, he heard a clear, melodious female voice behind him:

"Fellow Daoist Su, please wait."

He paused, then turned around.

Princess Ziheng of Nanzhao had risen from her seat, gave him a slight bow, and maintained her dignified and composed expression.

"Today marks the opening of the Pear Garden, Qixia lineage is re-establishing its Daoist center in Nanzhao. This is a grand occasion for Nanzhao. Heng conveys my father's congratulations to my Daoist brother."

Su Yao returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his tone indifferent:

"Your Highness is too kind. This humble Daoist is merely following orders to open the mountain."

Ziheng gazed at him, her eyes lingering on his face for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words. As a princess of the Nanzhao Kingdom, she had been taught the rituals of the Divine Dao path since childhood, which was not the same as the Mysterious Gate Immortal Dao path.

There are some things that are inconvenient to say outright, yet we cannot help but ask.

She smiled slightly and said softly:

"Brother Dao, you've been in Nanzhao for several months now. Are you getting used to the local customs and scenery?"

The question seemed ordinary, but Su Yao sensed its hidden meaning. It was an attempt to find out how long he planned to stay in Nanzhao and what his future plans were.

He remained calm and composed, simply saying:

"Nanzhao a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters, with a spring-like climate all year round; it's a perfect place for spiritual practice."

Upon hearing this, Ziheng understood the situation. This Daoist was extremely tight-lipped and refused to utter a single unnecessary word.

She didn't press further, but simply nodded slightly and smiled, saying:

"In that case, I will not disturb your cultivation any longer. If you have some free time in the future, I hope you will come and visit me at the palace."

Su Yao nodded and only said one sentence:

"Princess, please take care."

Ziheng did not linger any longer and led her maid out of the palace.

Ziheng descended Golden Ao Mountain and boarded the ship. After dismissing everyone around her, she stood alone at the bow. Only then did the elegance on her face gradually fade, revealing her weariness.

She gazed at Golden Ao Mountain, shrouded in auspicious clouds, its summit bathed in the glow of the setting sun, and the faint sounds of gongs and drums from the Pear Garden could be heard.

"Father is right," she murmured, a bitter undertone in her voice, "These people didn't come to Nanzhao to live; they came to watch us die."

The maid called softly from outside the cabin door:

"Your Highness, shall we depart?"

Ziheng withdrew her gaze, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her face had regained its composed and elegant expression.

"Let's begin."

Ziheng's ship disappeared into the clouds. At the same time, the banquet on Golden Ao Mountain ended, Liu Yunhe saw off the last group of guests at the foot of the mountain, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to turn back to the mountain, he saw a man in Qingyi and two people dressed in Bai People clothing returning side by side, and his heart tightened. These two had returned, probably because there was something they couldn't say in public during the banquet.

"Young Master Li, Young Master Yang," Liu Yunhe greeted them with his usual smile, taking two steps forward. "Is there anything you two need regarding the hospitality during the meal?"

Li Mosi, dressed in Qingyi, quickly waved his hand:

"Master Liu, you flatter me. There's something I couldn't discuss in detail with so many people around, so I came back to ask you about it privately."

Yang Yanchang, dressed in Bai People clothing, nodded in agreement, his expression even more solemn than Li Mosi's.

"Indeed. If you, Master Liu, have a moment to speak with me?"

Liu Yunhe already had some guesses in his mind. Apart from the Nanzhao Royal Family and the officials sent by the court, most of the guests who came to the banquet today were practitioners from the Nanzhao region.

If someone turns back as soon as the banquet ends, they're most likely not there to discuss romance.

His smile remained unchanged as he stepped aside to lead the way.

"Please follow me to the guest room for tea."

The three of them walked up the stone steps and entered the guest hall, where they took their seats as host and guest. Li Mosi, holding a teacup, exchanged a few pleasantries, praising everything from the auspicious clouds that marked the opening of the mountain that day to the perfect cooking of the vegetarian dish they had just eaten, going around in circles before gently setting down his teacup.

"Master Liu," he leaned forward slightly, his tone even more polite than before, "To be honest, I've come to inquire about directions for a younger member of my family. My grand-nephew has just turned six this year, and he has good Root Bone; he's a promising candidate for cultivation. With the opening of the Pear Garden this year, I thought I'd ask if your esteemed temple will be accepting disciples here?"

He paused:

"My family has a tradition of scholarship, and most of our scholars came to the celestial court through examinations and seeking official positions, or through practicing Confucianism. However, we have long admired the Immortal Dao."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Yanchang put down his teacup and took over the conversation:

"My path hasn't been as convoluted as Brother Mo Si's. It's a younger brother in my clan, ten years old this year. He's quite talented; the clan has tested him, and his aptitude is decent. He's already at the Late Mysterious Pass. However, the clan's Cultivation Method have changed several times, and they don't quite suit his path. If he wants to continue, he'll have to find another master." He paused, his tone becoming increasingly solemn. "My father said that Qixia Temple is the orthodox lineage of the Mysterious Gate. If we could send my younger brother to your esteemed temple, it would be the right path. Today, at this banquet, my father specifically instructed me to ask your temple about this matter in person. I don't expect an immediate answer; I just want a definite answer: when will your temple begin accepting disciples? Are there any age or aptitude requirements?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunhe remained outwardly composed, but his mind was racing. The two guests were no ordinary individuals. Li Mosi was the son of the county magistrate, and Yang Yanchang was the young patriarch of the only Purple Mansion Immortal Clan in the vicinity, with a Purple Mansion True Person standing behind him.

Both families, one an official and the other a celestial being, are prominent figures in the Nanzhao region. Today, they have come with gifts, displaying an extremely humble attitude. To refuse them directly would be to lose face.

But even if he agreed, he couldn't agree.

Firstly, Su Yao had not yet revealed the rules for accepting disciples, and as a mere guest, he had no right to overstep his bounds; secondly, although these two men were sincere in their intentions, their backgrounds still needed to be investigated, especially given Yang Yanchang's statement that "the clan's Cultivation Method are incompatible with his own."

What kind of Cultivation Method method would clash with Lineage's?

There's probably more to this story than you can say in public.

He gently set down the teacup, his smile fading, and said seriously:

"To be honest, when I first arrived in Nanzhao, I did intend to establish my own school and take on disciples. However, whether to accept disciples, when to begin, how many to accept, and how to examine them—these are all still being drafted and have not yet been finalized. I have noted your requests. Once the regulations are finalized, I will send someone to inform you."

He paused deliberately, making sure his words were concrete, before turning to Li Mosi and softening his tone:

"Brother Mo Si, the path of cultivation is not as stable as studying and becoming an official. After all, once you pass the Pear Garden for the examinations in the future is also a viable path."

Upon Li Mosi nodded solemnly:

"I've noted it down."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunhe simply nodded and said nothing more. He drank a few sips of tea and then looked at the other person.