It was the first time they had met, and the opening joke made both sides feel relieved. It was good that it was not difficult to get along.
Under the shade of the drifting locust trees, the atmosphere was good and the environment was beautiful. Everyone felt like old friends at first sight.
Of course, it was all perfunctory on the surface. It would be strange if they really felt like old friends at first sight.
"My humble name is Tong Renmei. I am the School of Blue Jade's …" Tong Renmei was about to introduce himself as the School of Blue Jade's Hall Elder.
Unexpectedly, Miao Yi, who was cupping his fists at everyone, completely ignored him. He turned to Hong Changhai and laughed heartily, "Elder Hong, we finally meet again. I, Miao Yi, have specially come to pay a visit. Why are you hiding at the back? Have I offended you in some way?"
Everyone from the School of Blue Jade turned their gazes towards Tong Renmei. Tong Renmei, who was cupping his fists, was like a duck whose neck had been grabbed. He couldn't bring himself to say anything else, realizing that he was actually being ignored by Miao Yi. His face flushed, and he awkwardly lowered his hands.
However, his expression quickly returned to normal. He even smiled and stepped aside to allow Miao Yi to greet Hong Changhai, who was behind him.
At the side, Zhan Lisong secretly transmitted a message to Tong Renmei, "This bastard is too rude. He's just a mere Steed Deputy. Does he really think he's somebody? He actually dares to disrespect Senior Brother."
"It's fine. He might not know who I am yet." Tong Renmei was quite generous.
Miao Yi took the initiative to grab Hong Changhai's wrist, holding his arm as they chatted happily. It could be said that he turned a blind eye to the others around him.
In the end, it was Hong Changhai who took the initiative to introduce Tong Renmei and the others to Miao Yi. When Miao Yi heard this, he exclaimed, "Elder Hong, aren't you the School of Blue Jade's Hall Elder?"
"My abilities are limited." Elder Hong was embarrassed.
"A great person like Elder Tong will not hold a grudge against a lowly person like me. Please forgive me for my ignorance earlier. I have offended you greatly!" Miao Yi hurriedly apologized.
In fact, he did this on purpose. It was not purely to give Hong Changhai face, but because there were too many people here with higher cultivation than him. He just wanted everyone to understand that no matter how high their cultivation was, it was useless. He did not care about them at all.
Sometimes, a shelf was used to carry things. Otherwise, it would be too much to lower one's head when coming here alone. Everyone would think that you were mediocre, and a large group of people would look down on you.
Some occasions were like that.
If you were a little more imposing, even if others were unhappy, they would have to be sensible, because they knew that you didn't put them in your eyes at all. If anyone dared to offend him verbally, he would definitely fly into a rage and put everyone in a difficult position.
If you take a step back, people will think that you know your limits, and their mentality will improve accordingly, and they may not be polite to you. To put it bluntly, he thought he was easy to bully.
Just like now, even though most of them were unhappy with Miao Yi, they would still console themselves in their hearts and not bother with this idiot. On the surface, they still cupped their fists towards Miao Yi to show their respect.
"Milord is too polite!" Elder Tong turned around and extended his hand in invitation. "Hearing that Milord is coming, the Sect Master has already come out of seclusion. Please!"
"Oh! Elder Tong, this way please! "Miao Yi courteously replied as he followed behind him.
The personnel parted to make way. He followed the two people in front of him up the stone steps step by step, listening to their laughter and conversation.
Climbing up a long flight of stairs, they came across a courtyard wall guarded by a heavy gate. After passing through the courtyard wall, there was another long flight of stairs. Finally, they could see the School of Blue Jade's grand hall behind a vast expanse of land.
When they arrived at the bottom of the grand hall's steps, most of them stopped on their own accord. The remaining few qualified to enter the hall.
Stepping into the hall, they saw that there was an empty seat under the statue of the School of Blue Jade's Ancestral Master. It was probably the seat of the School of Blue Jade's Sect Master. However, the Sect Master had yet to arrive.
Miao Yi could understand this. The Sect Master represented the School of Blue Jade's reputation. Sending an Elder to greet him was already giving him enough face. If the Sect Master were to sit here early and wait for a Steed Deputy like him … What was the meaning of that? Miao Yi wasn't qualified yet.
Even if the Mountain Chieftain of Mount Calming Sea, Qin Weiwei, were here, it would be the same. He reckoned that only Yang Qing would be able to make the School of Blue Jade's Sect Master personally come out to greet him.
The first thing the disciples did upon entering the hall was to solemnly bow to the Ancestral Master. Miao Yi didn't bow, but he still cupped his fists and bowed three times. To show his respect.
After that, they had to wait. Not long after, a boy appeared from the side door at the back of the hall, his clear voice announcing, "The Sect Master has arrived!"
Everyone shouted in unison, "Welcome, Sect Master!"
There was no need for Miao Yi to shout along with them.
Soon after, a middle-aged man dressed in black robes and wearing a ceremonial crown on his head appeared. Other than the School of Blue Jade's Sect Master, Feng Hai, there was no one else.
Feng Hai looked much younger than the group of Elders, but his cultivation was actually higher than the group of Elders. His bearing was extraordinary as well. He walked up to the high seat and took his seat, with two boys standing by his sides.
As he took his seat, Feng Hai cast his piercing gaze towards Miao Yi. The latter cupped his fists and said, "Miao Yi greets Sect Master Feng."
Feng Hai smiled, "Milord, you must be tired from your long journey. Have a seat!"
Immediately, a School of Blue Jade disciple brought over a chair and placed it at the side, inviting Miao Yi to sit. The others didn't have the right to sit in the Grand Hall. Miao Yi had the right not because of his strength, but because of respect for Miao Yi's background as an official. It wouldn't be right for an official to stand below and reply.
"May I know why Milord has graced the School of Blue Jade with his presence?" Feng Hai asked.
"This …" Miao Yi looked at the crowd. It wasn't convenient to speak of his own matters in front of everyone, so he replied, "I have some private matters that I wish to trouble Elder Hong with. I didn't expect to disturb Sect Master Feng's Transcendence Carriage. I have sinned."
Everyone immediately understood that it wasn't convenient to speak of it in public. Feng Hai's gaze paused on Hong Changhai for a moment, but he didn't ask any further.
After that, he casually exchanged a few pleasantries. It was impossible for a Sect Master like Feng Hai to be intimate with a mere Steed Deputy like Miao Yi. Miao Yi indeed didn't have that kind of strength. He only came out to express his respect for the officials.
Feng Hai instructed Tong Renmei to entertain the esteemed guest well, and then left under the respectful escort of the crowd.
Inside the Grand Hall, Hong Changhai's expression twitched violently. Miao Yi had already said that he had some private matters to discuss with him, but the Sect Master had ordered Tong Renmei to entertain him instead …
The dignified School of Blue Jade naturally had no lack of guest residences to entertain guests. Tong Renmei personally accompanied Miao Yi to stay in the guest residence.
The large courtyard was surrounded by tall walls, shady ancient trees, a small bridge over a flowing stream, an ornamental rockery, and a waterside pavilion. The scenery was tranquil and beautiful. Although it was small, it had all the essentials. It was a quiet and elegant place to stay. It was the best place to entertain guests.
After Tong Renmei personally brought Miao Yi around the elegant guest residence for a tour, he asked, "It can't compare to East Arrival Cave's spiritual landscape. I hope Milord won't take it to heart."
Miao Yi shook his head and said, "Elder Tong is too kind. Although East Arrival Cave's environment is good, it has been ravaged by war. It can't compare to the elegant heritage of this place."
He wasn't just being polite. The various Caves had been ravaged by war, and were indeed unable to create such a heritage. For example, East Arrival Cave didn't have any hundred-year-old ancient trees in the courtyard. They could only transplant some flowers and plants to decorate the place. This was the difference in heritage, and it couldn't be bought with money.
"Speaking of being ravaged by war, I have heard of Milord's deeds of leading your subordinates to defeat powerful enemies time and time again in the School of Blue Jade. Milord is indeed young and promising. Your future is bound to be limitless."
"I was just lucky. It's all thanks to the School of Blue Jade's disciples risking their lives to help me. If the day comes where my future is truly limitless, I will definitely not forget the School of Blue Jade's contributions."
The two of them flattered each other in the courtyard. After entering the main hall and taking their seats, Tong Renmei finally changed the topic to proper business. "Earlier in the grand hall, I heard Milord mention that you have a personal matter to visit. I wonder if there is anything I can help you with?"
Miao Yi was secretly amused. He didn't know if it was because of his powerful background as an official, or because he himself was truly amazing. There was actually someone who couldn't wait to have Hong Changhai step aside and rush to serve him.
Of course, he didn't think he was amazing. He only thought that it was because of his powerful background as an official.
Little did he know that no matter how powerful he was, he was still just a Steed Deputy. The reason for this was because of Hong Changhai. In order to protect himself, Hong Changhai praised Miao Yi to the skies, as if he had great value.
It couldn't be helped. If Miao Yi lost his value, then even if he, Hong Changhai, pulled this string, no one would care about him.
And from the news from the other School of Blue Jade disciples in the two Manors, this former Cave Master of East Arrival Cave was indeed very arrogant.
When Yang Qing was in danger, this bastard fought Zhang Decheng's troops in the north, single-handedly killing his way in and out of the encirclement of one to two hundred men, forcefully rescuing Yang Qing's daughter. In the south, he resisted the ambush of Liu Jingtian's troops, forcing them to retreat in defeat. He even killed Mount Returning Loyalty's Mountain Chieftain Su Biao. A mere Cave Master could be said to have outstanding military service in the two Manors.
If nothing unexpected happened, this kind of person would be promoted sooner or later. Otherwise, it would be unfair.
What was even more valiant was that this bastard actually dared to lead a Cave's troops to attack Mount Shaotai's Mountain Chieftain Xiong Xiao twice. He was very powerful within Yang Qing's two Manors.
As for the claim that he had angered Yang Qing, the School of Blue Jade didn't believe it. Previously when they were still working together, the School of Blue Jade already knew that this bastard was highly regarded by Yang Qing. He actually managed to become a Cave Master with a cultivation at White Lotus First Grade, and could be said to be Yang Qing's trusted aide.
From the moment he was demoted to Steed Deputy, Yan Xiu became the Cave Master of East Arrival Cave, and the authority of East Arrival Cave was still in this bastard's hands. On the surface, it looked like Yang Qing was biased towards Xiong Xiao and dealt with this bastard. However, the School of Blue Jade dared to conclude that in Yang Qing's heart, Xiong Xiao was definitely inferior to this bastard.
Thus, the School of Blue Jade concluded that this bastard's reappearance was only a matter of time. Once his cultivation improved, he would probably become a Mountain Chieftain within a hundred years.
Furthermore, his subordinates were almost all School of Blue Jade disciples, and all of them were disciples of Hong Changhai's lineage. Once this bastard became a Mountain Chieftain, what would that mean? It meant that there would be no one else available. When he became a Mountain Chieftain, the various Cave Masters under him would mostly be assumed by Hong Changhai's disciples.
Things were different now. Yang Qing was no longer suppressed by the School of Blue Jade, so Yang Qing probably wouldn't be too obstructive when the time came.
This also meant that when the time came, Hong Changhai's disciples would be in control of a territory with millions of followers. It would be extremely convenient for the School of Blue Jade. For example, just opening up the business within the territory to the School of Blue Jade would bring them a huge profit in crystal coins.
When the time came, the entire School of Blue Jade would have to look up to Hong Changhai. Otherwise, if Hong Changhai was unhappy, he could order his disciples to obstruct them. When that happened, Hong Changhai would probably be reinstated by his disciples.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
