"Ah!"
The sudden sound made Pu Tao cry out in alarm, and she instinctively threw the branch she was holding.
However, in the next moment, a plain white palm caught the branch steadily.
"Ancestor!"
Pu Tao's eyes widened as she looked at Xu Yi, her face lighting up with joy.
"Ancestor! Is it really you? I must be dreaming."
Yang Mei stared at Xu Yi blankly, unable to believe her eyes.
Had her words been prophetic?
"I was wondering why my ears felt itchy; turns out you two were secretly talking about me," Xu Yi said with a slight smile.
"Ancestor! You're finally back!"
Pu Tao leaped down from the tree and threw herself into Xu Yi's arms.
Xu Yi caught her steadily, but before she could speak, she had to open her arms again to catch another figure jumping down from the tree.
"Ancestor, we missed you so much," Yang Mei said, hugging Xu Yi's arm and pouting playfully.
Yang Mei was naturally more reserved than Pu Tao, but her joy at seeing Xu Yi overcame her usual composure, and she emulated Pu Tao, expressing her feelings without restraint.
After all, who knew when she would be this close to Xu Yi again.
Xu Yi allowed them to fuss over her until their emotions settled, then asked, "Have you two been well recently? Has anything significant happened within the Xuan Ji Sect?"
Pu Tao replied, "Ancestor, we are all well. The Xuan Ji Sect has been peaceful lately, but..."
"But what?" Xu Yi pressed.
Yang Mei chimed in, "It's just that, for some reason, a few years ago the sect suddenly issued an order that we cannot go out casually. We need elder approval every time we leave."
This was the biggest event that had occurred in the Xuan Ji Sect recently.
Xu Yi nodded silently.
She had returned discreetly this time, only having the gatekeeping disciples verify her identity before slipping in on her own.
Xu Yi had originally intended to go directly to Ji Buwang. However, she had spotted Pu Tao and Yang Mei along the way and had detoured to this location, coincidentally overhearing their discussion.
The Xuan Ji Sect's restriction on disciples leaving the sect must also be due to some discovered anomaly.
Xu Yi couldn't help but feel that her decision to return to the sect was incredibly wise.
"Ancestor, how long are you planning to stay this time? Can you stay for a bit longer? Not just us, but all the disciples of the Xuan Ji Sect miss you, as do my master and the elders."
Pu Tao looked at Xu Yi with a pleading expression.
"I..."
As Xu Yi opened her mouth to reply, she suddenly detected a subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy behind her.
She instinctively turned her head, then her face broke into a smile.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
Pu Tao and Yang Mei also saw the approaching figure. They quickly let go of Xu Yi's arms, stepped back, and bowed.
While they dared to be informal with Xu Yi, they wouldn't dream of being so with Ji Buwang.
Ji Buwang's imposing presence as Sect Master was deeply ingrained in the hearts of every Xuan Ji Sect disciple.
"Why didn't you inform me and the other elders about your return, Ancestor?"
Ji Buwang's tone was clearly respectful, yet Xu Yi inexplicably detected a hint of dissatisfaction.
She raised an eyebrow. Was it her imagination?
Or was it as she suspected...
"I simply did not wish for the elders to be troubled. It is my fault."
In front of Pu Tao and Yang Mei, Xu Yi didn't want to appear too flippant. She answered earnestly, not forgetting to acknowledge her mistake to Ji Buwang.
Pu Tao and Yang Mei, with their heads bowed, secretly clicked their tongues.
Even the Ancestor was so proper in front of the Sect Master. The Sect Master truly commanded immense authority.
"Ancestor, you are too kind," Ji Buwang replied indifferently, then continued, "Do you have any pressing matters to attend to now, Ancestor?"
Xu Yi glanced at Pu Tao and Yang Mei.
The two girls immediately felt a sharp, cold gaze fall upon them.
Pu Tao raised her head and quickly waved her hands, "Disciples have no other business. We shall withdraw now."
Pu Tao and Yang Mei bowed again and then scurried away in a hurry, afraid of incurring the Sect Master's displeasure with a moment's delay.
"Look at you, you've scared them into being like quails," Xu Yi said with a smile to Ji Buwang.
As soon as Pu Tao and the other girl left, Xu Yi reverted to her former demeanor when conversing with Ji Buwang.
"They are simply timid."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Ji Buwang's eyes.
He wouldn't eat them, after all.
Those two disciples were making a mountain out of a molehill.
Xu Yi shook her head, knowing that Ji Buwang was likely unaware that his cold demeanor could make even the most unruly disciples of the Xuan Ji Sect dare not act recklessly.
Xu Yi's gaze swept over Ji Buwang.
Ji Buwang felt Xu Yi's gaze as if she were stripping him bare, inside and out.
He turned his head away somewhat awkwardly, wanting to say something but unsure how to begin.
Ultimately, it was Xu Yi who broke the silence first.
"This is the first time I've seen you wear the Sect Master's robes. They look really good on you."
Xu Yi had seen her master, Old Ancestor Yuan Ming, wear the Sect Master's robes before.
However, Old Ancestor Yuan Ming had given her a feeling of righteousness and solemn majesty.
But Ji Buwang gave her a completely different impression.
The white Daoist robe, outlined with golden edges, combined with the cold, detached aura that surrounded Ji Buwang, gave off a sense of sacred and inviolable justice, making one want to...
Stop!
She couldn't dwell on it any further!
Xu Yi hastily called a halt to her thoughts, fearing she might make a grave mistake.
Ji Buwang's throat moved silently as Xu Yi praised his attire for the first time.
The lingering resentment he felt for Xu Yi not meeting him immediately began to dissipate significantly.
"Let's go. Elder Qingfeng and the others are already waiting in the Central Hall," Ji Buwang said calmly, suppressing his unusual feelings.
"Elder Qingfeng and the others already know?" Xu Yi's eyes widened slightly, thinking, "This is bad. They've caught me this time."
Ji Buwang replied helplessly, "Such a significant event as an Ancestor returning to the sect, the gatekeeping disciples naturally would not dare to conceal it."
In fact, the news had reached Elder Qingfeng immediately after Xu Yi had entered the sect.
If Ji Buwang hadn't used his authority as Sect Master to restrain the elders, the person standing before Xu Yi wouldn't have been just him.
Xu Yi awkwardly rubbed her nose.
She hadn't intentionally tried to conceal her return. It was just that every time she came back to the sect, the elders made such a grand fuss, which put her in a difficult position.
Thinking of facing a group of old men whining again soon, Xu Yi felt her scalp tingle. "Ji Buwang, you absolutely must help me later."
Xu Yi simply couldn't handle the elders' theatrical displays of emotion.
"Mmm," Ji Buwang replied softly, his mood lifting.
The two then proceeded towards the Central Hall. Before they even entered the hall, a booming wail could be heard from within, making Xu Yi tremble.
"Ancestor! You've finally returned!"
Before the words had even fallen, five old men, moving with a speed completely unbefitting their appearance, darted out from the hall and surrounded Xu Yi.
"Ancestor! I never thought I'd see you again before I died. I have no regrets!"
"Ancestor! This old man missed you terribly! You won't be leaving again, will you?"
"Ancestor! Ancestor! Wuwuwu..."
Xu Yi's ears buzzed as if a thousand bells were ringing in unison.