"Come in, Abbot Wan, please take a seat…"
Zhang Xuanliang invited Wan Yunting into the Grand Hall of their Tianshi Mansion, asked him to sit, and immediately beckoned his disciple Huang Jingyan to personally bring tea. Zhang Xuanliang smiled and said, "This is a local specialty tea. Abbot Wan, please taste it and tell me what you think."
"Okay, thank you…"
Wan Yunting received the teacup handed to him by Huang Jingyan with both hands, sniffed the aroma, smiled at Zhang Xuanliang, then took a sip and nodded, saying with a smile, "Sect Leader Zhang, I don't know much about tea, but your tea is quite good."
"Haha…"
Zhang Xuanliang burst into laughter.
"By the way, Sect Leader Zhang, you don't need to call me Abbot Wan anymore."
Wan Yunting then corrected him, saying, "The Abbot of the Wuliang Daoist Temple is now succeeded by my Uncle-Master Wuwei Zi. The capping ceremony was held not long ago."
"Oh, is that so?" Zhang Xuanliang was surprised. He genuinely didn't know.
Wan Yunting smiled and said, "It's normal that you wouldn't know, as the Martial Arts Association banned us, Wuliang Daoist Temple, from closing our mountain for ten years."
This statement made the expressions of Zhao Yiwu and other Tianshi sitting around them a bit unnatural. Zhang Xuanliang nodded and smiled, saying, "We, Longhu Mountain, rarely interfere in martial arts affairs. It's because we are usually very busy and can't attend to other matters."
"However, for major martial arts events, we, Longhu Mountain, still have to send someone to deal with them."
Wan Yunting's expression flickered, and he smiled, saying, "Sect Leader Zhang, you really don't treat me as an outsider, do you?"
"Haha…"
Zhang Xuanliang immediately stood up and smiled, "Abbot Wan… oh no, it's more appropriate to call you Chairman Wan. The scenery in the back mountains of our Longhu Mountain is quite nice. Why don't I personally take you to see it?"
"Certainly, thank you, Sect Leader Zhang." Wan Yunting stood up.
"Please…"
"Please…"
The two walked out of the hall together. The other Tianshi wanted to follow, but disciple Huang Jingyan waved them off and said, "Sect Master Zhao, it's better if we don't follow. My Master wants to have a private chat with Chairman Wan."
Tianshi Zhang Wanfu, wearing a magnificent Daoist robe, raised an eyebrow and turned to ask Zhao Yiwu, "Senior Brother, are you sure this Wan Yunting was invited to our Longhu Mountain by our Old Tianshi?"
Another Tianshi next to him, looking younger, Lu Xiu, said, "Uncle-Master Xian'er's words are naturally true."
Zhao Yiwu's expression was a bit worried. He nodded and said, "Regardless, Sect Leader Brother has instructed us not to inquire about this matter, nor to try and ask Wan Yunting about the Demonic Cult's Demonic Pool!"
"Why?"
Zhang Wanfu asked in confusion, "Since he's already at our Longhu Mountain, shouldn't we take the opportunity to ask?"
"Brother Wanfu, do you want our Longhu Mountain to be suspected by various sects like the Wudang Sect is now?" Lu Xiu said to Zhang Wanfu.
"That's different. Wudang Sect was Zhong Yulong who secretly went to find Wan Yunting, but now he has personally come to our Longhu Mountain. It's fine if we ask him privately…"
"Alright, there's no need to say more."
Zhao Yiwu raised his hand to interrupt Zhang Wanfu and said with a serious expression, "Sect Leader Brother warned us not to inquire about this matter, so everyone should abandon that idea."
With that, he left. Junior Brother Tianshi Lu Xiu also nodded and left with his disciples.
Finally, Tianshi Zhang Wanfu remained. His eyes flashed with a sharp glint. He snorted coldly and also returned with his disciples.
"Chairman Wan, how do you find our Tianshi Mansion?"
Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanliang was personally escorting Wan Yunting around the scenery of the back mountains of Tianshi Mansion. This was the inner sect of their Longhu Mountain Tianshi Mansion. Outsiders could not enter without permission.
"Magnificent!"
Wan Yunting gazed at the continuous mountain ranges of Longhu Mountain, with mist swirling through the forests, making one feel refreshed and happy. He smiled and said, "As expected of a sacred place of Daoism. The convergence of heaven and earth energy in your Longhu Mountain is rich, making it a holy land for cultivation."
"Mmm."
Zhang Xuanliang walked with his hands behind his back, continuing to stroll with Wan Yunting and said, "To outsiders, it may seem that our Longhu Mountain cannot compare to Wudang Sect, but we do not care about reputation. This is because our Tianshi Mansion has its own orthodox lineage and inheritance, and there is no need to accept anything else!"
Looking at the confident demeanor of this sect leader, Wan Yunting smiled and nodded, "So, Sect Leader Zhang did not share the martial arts secrets of the Snow Mountain Sect?"
Zhang Xuanliang turned to him and smiled, "The internal cultivation techniques of the Snow Mountain Sect belong to the Yin cultivation system. As we are in the south, due to the region, it is not suitable to learn the techniques of the Snow Mountain Sect. So what use would it be for me?"
"Mmm, that makes sense."
Wan Yunting smiled and nodded in agreement, then continued to stroll with Zhang Xuanliang through the scenery of their Tianshi Mansion's back mountains…
In fact, Wan Yunting gradually understood Zhang Xuanliang's intention. His meaning was that their Longhu Mountain was unlike other major sects that would become enemies with him for the sake of爭奪利益 (contending for benefits).
Wan Yunting saw this point. While it might not be the absolute majority, as the Sect Leader of Longhu Mountain, Zhang Xuanliang saying this represented the stance of Longhu Mountain.
"Nephew, why did you bring him here? You made me search all around…!"
At this moment, Zhang Xian'er, carrying the cloth bag containing the fox demon Fan Si'en in one hand and a large chicken leg she was eating in the other, came over and said to Zhang Xuanliang with dissatisfaction.
"Yes, yes, yes, Nephew is wrong."
Facing this 'Grandma' Zhang Xian'er, even Zhang Xuanliang was afraid. Who could blame her for having a higher seniority?
"Why didn't you call me?" Wan Yunting said speechlessly.
"Oh, right."
Zhang Xian'er immediately showed a naive look. She waved the hand holding the chicken leg and said with a smile, "I forgot. I rarely use my phone in the mountains, so I didn't think of it. Alright, let's not talk about this. I'll take you back now."
"Uncle-Master Xian'er, are you taking Chairman Wan to see Old Tianshi now?" Zhang Xuanliang asked.
"Yes, do you want him to stay at your house?"
Zhang Xian'er's peach blossom eyes widened. Zhang Xuanliang repeatedly waved his hands and said with a smile, "Then Uncle-Master Xian'er, please quickly take Chairman Wan to see Old Tianshi. I won't go."
"Tch, my Master didn't say he wanted to see you."
Zhang Xian'er gave him a glare, then tilted her head at Wan Yunting and called out, "Let's go."
Zhang Xuanliang gave a wry smile, waved at Wan Yunting with a smile, and watched them leave…
Wan Yunting also nodded at him before following Zhang Xian'er down a small path leading to the back mountain, saying, "You're pretty good, aren't you? You don't even pay attention to your own Sect Leader, relying on your high seniority."
"What are you talking about?"
Zhang Xian'er turned her head, glanced at him, and said, "It's them who are afraid of me."
"Afraid of you?"
Wan Yunting looked her up and down. My goodness, her mouth was full of oil from eating the chicken leg. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "What is there to be afraid of with you?"
"Oh, I'm not talking about this with you."
Zhang Xian'er waved her hand, finished the chicken leg in one bite, and reached out to wipe her hand on Wan Yunting's chest…
"Hey, you want to wipe on me…"
Wan Yunting quickly opened the girl's hand. Zhang Xian'er giggled, then said, "Your martial arts seem to have improved quite a bit. Shall we spar when we get back?"
Wan Yunting waved his hand and asked, "When will we reach your and Old Tianshi's residence?"
"It's still a long way off. We'll be there after we cross that mountain ahead," Zhang Xian'er said, pointing to a mountain in front.
Wan Yunting was dumbfounded and said, "Why are you living there? Why not stay in Tianshi Mansion?"
"I wish I could, but my Master says Tianshi Mansion is too noisy, and he likes living in the mountains," Zhang Xian'er said, swinging her cloth bag and walking unsteadily.
Wan Yunting nodded in understanding, then asked, "By the way, why does your Master suddenly want to see me? What's it all about?"
"How would I know?"
Zhang Xian'er tilted her head back, her灵动 (lively and agile) peach blossom eyes glancing at him sideways, and said with a smile, "You'll know when you see him…"
"Alright…"
So Wan Yunting followed Zhang Xian'er, bantering and playing along the way. This girl would chase after small animals they passed, which caused a lot of delay. By the time they crossed that mountain, it was already dark.
"Still not there…"
The surrounding mountain forest had already darkened, but this had no impact on Wan Yunting. Zhang Xian'er also seemed unaffected. She happily shouted, "We're here, we're here! It's just ahead…"
The two walked for a while longer and finally saw a natural reservoir appear ahead. There was a moon that night, and the moonlight reflected on the water surface of the reservoir, creating ripples that spread outwards…
By the side of the reservoir, a bamboo house was built. It occupied a considerable area, and kerosene lamps were lit inside. No wonder Zhang Xian'er used her phone less; there was no electricity here…
A simple wooden bridge led about ten meters into the reservoir. A white-robed elder was sitting at the end of the bridge, holding a fishing rod made of bamboo and fishing. A bamboo basket was placed beside him; it was unclear how much he had caught.
"Old man, we're back."
Zhang Xian'er, who had brought Wan Yunting, shouted to the Old Tianshi who was fishing.
The Old Tianshi turned his head. He had a head of white hair tied in a Daoist bun and a face full of wrinkles. He seemed to have aged even more than the first time Wan Yunting saw him in Thailand.
"Come over."
The Old Tianshi showed a kind smile, seeming to lack the immortal aura of a highly achieved master. He looked like an ordinary old man and waved at Wan Yunting and Zhang Xian'er from a distance…
Zhang Xian'er led Wan Yunting across the small bridge made of a few wooden planks and arrived in front of the Old Tianshi. He immediately bowed with his fists clasped and saluted, "This junior pays respects to Old Tianshi…"
"Haha, there's no need to be so polite in front of an old man like me," the Old Tianshi said, waving his hand with a smile.
Wan Yunting then straightened his waist, and Zhang Xian'er handed him the cloth bag, saying, "Old man, the little fox is caught."
"That was fast."
The Old Tianshi hadn't expected this girl to catch the fox demon Fan Si'en so quickly after going to the capital. He smiled and said, "Let it out."
Zhang Xian'er nodded, then opened the cloth bag. The fox demon Fan Si'en immediately scrambled out. After the talismans on her back automatically burned away, she transformed into human form, revealing Fan Si'en's appearance.
Upon seeing the Old Tianshi, she was so frightened that she immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Tianshi, it was my fault. Spare me. I will never run away again…"