zhōng nián nán zi yī biān kū , yī biān jiāng shì qíng de yuán wěi xú xú jiǎng shù , zú zú guò le yī zhǎn chá de gōng fu , cái jiāng shì qíng de lái lóng qù mài lǐ qīng chǔ .
中年男子一边哭,一边将事情的原委徐徐讲述,足足过了一盏茶的功夫,才将事情的来龙去脉理清楚.
The middle-aged man wept as he narrated the events in detail. It took him nearly a cup of tea's time to explain everything clearly.
gōng sūn yù ér de liǎn sè zì rán shì nán kàn yǐ jí , yuán běn hái yǐ wéi shì zhāng lián bù yòng lì , méi xiǎng dào děng lái de què shì zhè bān jié jú .
公孙玉儿的脸色自然是难看以极,原本还以为是张鲢不用力,没想到等来的却是这般结局.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er's face was naturally aghast. She had originally thought Zhang Yan wasn't putting enough effort, but instead, she received such an outcome.
yǐ yī rén zhī lì jiù miè shā le zhěng duì xiū xiān zhě , nán dào duì fāng shì dù jié jí bié de lǎo guài wù ?
以一人之力就灭杀了整队修仙者,难道对方是渡劫级别的老怪物?
Could one person alone annihilate an entire group of cultivators? Could the opponent be a powerful old monster who has passed through tribulation?
fǒu zé , pài qù wéi gōng yún fēng kuàng mài de xiū shì shí lì bù ruò , jǐn jǐn fēn shén qī , jué méi yǒu běn shì yíng dé rú cǐ gān jìng lì luò , bù fèi chuī huī zhī lì jiù jiāng tā men tú chuō dài jìn de .
否则,派去围攻云枫矿脉的修士实力不弱,仅仅分神期,绝没有本事赢得如此干净利落,不费吹灰之力就将他们屠戳殆尽的.
Otherwise, the cultivators sent to attack Cloud Maple Ore Vein were not weak; they were only at the Shen Concentration Stage. They certainly wouldn't have been able to defeat them so cleanly and effortlessly without breaking a sweat.
" zhè …… shī zhí yě bù xiǎo de , jǐn jǐn yí gè zhào miàn ér yǐ , wǒ jiù bèi duì fāng dǎ dé yūn sǐ guò qù , lián duì fāng de miàn róng dōu méi yǒu kàn qīng chǔ , gèng bú yào shuō nòng qīng chǔ tā de shí lì jiū jìng rú hé ." zhōng nián nán zi wéi wéi nuò nuò , liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī gān gà de biǎo qíng kāi kǒu le .
"这……师侄也不晓得,仅仅一个罩面而已,我就被对方打得晕死过去,连对方的面容都没有看清楚,更不要说弄清楚他的实力究竟如何."中年男子唯唯诺诺,脸上露出一丝尴尬的表情开口了.
"This… Apprentice nephew doesn’t know either. It was just a simple face mask, but I was knocked unconscious by him. I couldn’t even see his face clearly, let alone understand how powerful he is." The middle-aged man spoke hesitantly, revealing an embarrassed expression on his face.
xiǎn rán tā yě jué de zì jǐ de biǎo xiàn yǒu xiē wō nāng tài guò .
显然他也觉得自己的表现有些窝囊太过.
Clearly, he felt that his performance was too humiliating.
dàn gōng sūn yù ér què bìng méi yǒu yīn cǐ zé guài shén me , néng gòu huó xià lái jiù bù cuò , miàn duì rú cǐ qiáng dí , tí tài duō de yāo qiú míng xiǎn shì qiǎng rén suǒ nán dì .
但公孙玉儿却并没有因此责怪什么,能够活下来就不错,面对如此强敌,提太多的要求明显是强人所难地.
But Baroness Gongsun Yu'er did not blame him for this. Being alive was already a good outcome. Asking for too much from such a formidable opponent would be unreasonable.
hé kuàng shì yǐ zhì cǐ , zé guài tā yě méi yǒu yòng chǔ , rú jīn zì jǐ dǎo shì miàn lín zhe liǎng nán de jué zé .
何况事已至此,责怪他也没有用处,如今自己倒是面临着两难的抉择.
Moreover, with the situation as it is now, blaming him wouldn’t help. She herself faced a difficult choice.
yī lái me , shì zǔ zhī rén shǒu , qián wǎng yún fēng kuàng mài , chóng xīn duó qǔ zī yuán .
一来么,是组织人手,前往云枫矿脉,重新夺取资源.
One option was to organize manpower and retake Cloud Maple Ore Vein. The mine produced large quantities of crystal stones, which would be significant if reclaimed. It could also benefit her two senior mentors in the alliance.
cǐ kuàng shèng chǎn dà liàng jīng shí , néng gòu jiāng tā duó huí zì rán yǒu zhòng dà yì yì , duì yú liǎng wèi shī shū zài lián méng zhōng de chǔ jìng , yì shì yǒu bāng zhù dì .
此矿盛产大量晶石,能够将它夺回自然有重大意义,对于两位师叔在联盟中的处境,亦是有帮助地.
But the risks were equally severe. A moment’s carelessness might lead to his own downfall like Zhang Yan.
dàn yào mào de fēng xiǎn tóng yàng fēi tóng xiǎo kě .
但要冒的风险同样非同小可.
The other option was to give up and return to the main sect first before making a decision later.
yī bù liú shén shèn zhì yǒu kě néng bù zhāng lián de hòu chén yǔn luò .
一不留神甚至有可能步张鲢的后尘陨落.
This was a cautious approach, but it had significant hidden dangers. If Cloud Maple Ore Vein couldn’t be taken after prolonged attacks, the other major sects in the Immortal Alliance would surely make a big fuss over this matter. At that time, while she might be safe, her two senior mentors' situation in the alliance would become much more difficult.
dì èr zé shì bà shǒu , xiān huí mén pài zǒng duò , suí hòu zài zuò dìng duó .
第二则是罢手,先回门派总舵,随后再做定夺.
What choice should she make?
zhè suàn shì wěn tuǒ zhī cè , kě yǐn huàn yě shì bù xiǎo de .
这算是稳妥之策,可隐患也是不小的.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er, usually so smart and composed, was now indecisive.
yún fēng kuàng mài jiǔ gōng bù kè , xiān méng zhōng de qí tā jǐ dà mén pài zhī dào le , yí dìng huì jiù cǐ shì dà zuò wén zhāng de . dào shí hòu , zì jǐ shì ān quán le , kě liǎng wèi shī shū zài xiān méng zhōng de chǔ jìng , yí dìng huì jiān nán xǔ duō .
云枫矿脉久攻不克,仙盟中的其他几大门派知道了,一定会就此事大做文章的.到时候,自己是安全了,可两位师叔在仙盟中的处境,一定会艰难许多.
However, at that moment, a clear voice echoed: "Yu'er, what’s troubling you?"
jiū jìng gāi zuò chū zěn yàng de xuǎn zé ?
究竟该做出怎样的选择?
The tone was calm. The familiar inflection was unmistakable. Baroness Gongsun Yu'er almost thought she had heard wrong and turned her head sharply.
yí xiàng cōng míng dà qì de gōng sūn yù ér yě yǒu xiē jǔ qí bù dìng qǐ lái le .
一向聪明大气的公孙玉儿也有些举棋不定起来了.
She saw another cultivator appear in the middle of the room, smiling as he looked at her.
rán ér jiù zài zhè shí . yī qīng lěng de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ :" yù ér . zěn me , shén me shì qíng ràng nǐ chóu méi bù zhǎn ?"
然而就在这时.一清冷的声音传入耳朵:"玉儿.怎么,什么事情让你愁眉不展?"
"Ma… Master?"
nà shēng yīn hěn píng hé . qí zhōng shú xī de yùn wèi ér gèng bù bì shuō , gōng sūn yù ér jī hū yǐ wéi zì jǐ tīng cuò , sà rán huí guò tóu lú .
那声音很平和.其中熟悉的韵味儿更不必说,公孙玉儿几乎以为自己听错,飒然回过头颅.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er’s face lit up with joy. She rubbed her eyes hard; yes, before her was indeed her master Lin Xuan.
jiù jiàn fáng zi zhōng jiān , bù zhī hé shí . yòu duō chū le yī míng xiū xiān zhě , zhèng xiào mī mī de jiāng zì jǐ kàn zhe .
就见房子中间,不知何时.又多出了一名修仙者,正笑眯眯的将自己看着.
Surprise and astonishment quickly turned to overwhelming happiness. The young woman threw herself into Lin Xuan's arms.
" shī …… shī zūn ?"
"师……师尊?"
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er had been too agitated.
gōng sūn yù ér de liǎn shàng , bù yóu de lù chū dà xǐ guò wàng de shén sè .
公孙玉儿的脸上,不由得露出大喜过望的神色.
Indeed, she had worried so much over the years.
shǐ jìn róu le róu yǎn jīng , méi cuò , yǎn qián kě bù jiù shì zì jǐ de shī fù lín xuān me ?
使劲揉了揉眼睛,没错,眼前可不就是自己的师傅林轩么?
Lin Xuan left Cloud Conceal Sect a century ago without any news.
jīng xǐ , chà yì , suí hòu suǒ yǒu de biǎo qíng . dōu bèi kuáng xǐ suǒ dài tì , xiāng fēng yì rán , shào nǚ pū jìn le lín xuān de huái lǐ miàn .
惊喜,诧异,随后所有的表情.都被狂喜所代替,香风亦然,少女扑进了林轩的怀里面.
Everyone knew that the cultivation world was full of dangers. She truly feared her master might have perished.
gōng sūn yù ér yǒu xiē shī tài .
公孙玉儿有些失态.
Fortunately, her worries were unfounded. Reuniting with her master made her immensely happy.
shí zài shì zhè xiē nián lái , dān jīng shòu pà tài duō .
实在是这些年来,担惊受怕太多.
After a moment, she realized how out of place she had been and quickly got up to bow: "Yu'er pays respects to Master."
lín xuān lí kāi yún yǐn zōng . yī huǎng yǐ yǒu bǎi nián .
林轩离开云隐宗.一晃已有百年.
"Enough, get up."
yì diǎn xiāo xī yě wú .
一点消息也无.
Lin Xuan’s strength was far beyond what it used to be, but he never put on airs towards his own people. He helped her up with a hand.
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī , xiū xiān jiè shì wēi xiǎn biàn bù , tā hái zhēn pà shī zūn shì yǔn luò diào le .
众所周知,修仙界是危险遍布,她还真怕师尊是陨落掉了.
Then they sat down. Baroness Gongsun Yu'er personally prepared wine and fruits.
hǎo zài dān xīn shì duō yú , yòu yǔ shī zūn xiāng yù , gōng sūn yù ér wú bǐ huān xǐ .
好在担心是多余,又与师尊相遇,公孙玉儿无比欢喜.
After several rounds of drinks, Lin Xuan spoke thoughtfully: "Yu'er, you looked troubled just now. Is there anything troubling you?"
guò le piàn kè , cái yì shí dào zì jǐ tài shī tài le , lián máng lí kāi , yíng yíng xià bài :" yù ér gěi shī zūn jiàn lǐ ."
过了片刻,才意识到自己太失态了,连忙离开,盈盈下拜:"玉儿给师尊见礼."
"Master, it's like this…"
" hǎo le , kuài qǐ lái ."
"好了,快起来."
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er had no secrets from her master and recounted the information she had gathered.
lín xuān de shí lì jīn fēi xī bǐ , dàn duì zì jǐ rén , què shì cóng lái yě bù bǎi jià zi dì .
林轩的实力今非昔比,但对自己人,却是从来也不摆架子地.
"Ah."
shēn shǒu jiāng yù ér fú qǐ .
伸手将玉儿扶起.
Lin Xuan didn’t seem to care much.
suí hòu luò zuò , gōng sūn yù ér qīn zì zhǔn bèi měi jiǔ guā guǒ .
随后落座,公孙玉儿亲自准备美酒瓜果.
Though he couldn't know what exactly happened at Cloud Maple Ore Vein with just that information, what did it matter?
jiǔ guò sān xún .
酒过三巡.
In the cultivation world, strength decided everything. Alliances and strategies were meaningless in the face of overwhelming power.
lín xuān chén yín zhe kāi kǒu le :" yù ér , gāng gāng jiàn nǐ mǎn miàn chóu róng , kě yǒu shén me nán chǔ ?"
林轩沉吟着开口了:"玉儿,刚刚见你满面愁容,可有什么难处?"
"Don’t worry about it. Since this mine’s fate is tied to our sect's fortune, I’ll accompany you," Lin Xuan said nonchalantly.
" shī zūn , shì zhè yàng de ……"
"师尊,是这样的……"
"Thank you, Master. But that will be quite a burden on you."
duì yú zì jǐ shī fù , gōng sūn yù ér dāng rán bú huì yǒu sī háo yǐn mán , jiāng gāng cái liǎo jiě dào de qíng bào yòu fù shù le yī biàn .
对于自己师父,公孙玉儿当然不会有丝毫隐瞒,将刚才了解到的情报又复述了一遍.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er bowed gratefully.
" yuán lái rú cǐ ."
"原来如此."
"Enough, I don’t like these formalities. Family members needn’t be so polite. How is Cloud Conceal Sect doing after all this time? How are your two senior mentors?"
lín xuān què háo bù zài yì .
林轩却毫不在意.
This was what Lin Xuan was most worried about. If it were any other time, he wouldn't have cared much. With his reputation, even if he wasn’t in the sect, no one would dare provoke him.
jǐn guǎn píng zhè diǎn qíng bào , tā yě bù zhī dào yún fēng kuàng mài fā shēng le shén me , dàn nà yòu yǒu shén me guān xì ?
尽管凭这点情报,他也不知道云枫矿脉发生了什么,但那又有什么关系?
But times had changed. The域外天魔wouldn’t hesitate to act. While Cloud Conceal Sect’s fame was a good thing, it also attracted attention. In today's world of bloodshed and chaos, even powerful entities like Immortal Monarchs could fall. Lin Xuan feared returning to the main sect headquarters only to find it in ruins.
xiū xiān jiè shì yǐ shí lì jué shèng fù dì .
修仙界是以实力决胜负地.
"Ha ha, Master is most concerned about Senior Consort Ouyang, isn’t he?" Baroness Gongsun Yu'er said with a smile.
guǎn tā shén me yīn móu guǐ jì , zài jué qiáng de shí lì miǎn qiǎng , dōu bù zhí yī tí .
管他什么阴谋诡计,在绝强的实力勉强,都不值一提.
"You brat, you really have no respect! How dare you say such nonsense to your master? Do you want me to make you sit against the wall for a hundred years?"
" hé xū duō lǜ , cǐ kuàng mài jì rán guān hū běn mén yùn shù , wèi shī péi nǐ qù yī cì jiù hǎo le ." lín xuān bù zài yì de shuō .
"何须多虑,此矿脉既然关乎本门运数,为师陪你去一次就好了."林轩不在意的说.
Lin Xuan joked and pretended to hit her.
" duō xiè shī fù , zhǐ shì tài láo jià nǐ ." gōng sūn yù ér dà xǐ yī fú .
"多谢师父,只是太劳驾你."公孙玉儿大喜一福.
"Master, please forgive me. I won’t do it again."
" hǎo le , wèi shī bù xǐ huān zhè xiē xū lǐ , zì jǐ rén hé bì kè qì , zhè me duō nián guò qù , bù zhī dào yún yǐn zōng qíng xíng rú hé , nǐ liǎng wèi shī shū yòu zěn me yàng le ?"
"好了,为师不喜欢这些虚礼,自己人何必客气,这么多年过去,不知道云隐宗情形如何,你两位师叔又怎么样了?"
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er quickly played the role of a compliant young lady.
zhè yě shì lín xuān zuì wèi dān xīn de .
这也是林轩最为担心的.
"What else is there to say?"
ruò zài píng shí yě jiù bà le , yǐ zì jǐ de wēi míng , jiù suàn bù zài zōng mén zhī zhōng , yě jué duì méi yǒu xiāo xiǎo zhī bèi gǎn luō hǔ xū .
若在平时也就罢了,以自己的威名,就算不在宗门之中,也绝对没有宵小之辈敢捋虎须.
Lin Xuan was slightly vexed. He often said that strict teachers produce excellent students. It seemed he couldn't be too lenient with his disciples; otherwise, they would become uncontrollable.
rán ér shì yì shí yí , yù wài tiān mó kě bù huì yǒu rèn hé gù jì .
然而事易时移,域外天魔可不会有任何顾忌.
"Rest assured, Senior Consort Ouyang and your two senior mentors are well. Our Cloud Conceal Sect has had good fortune, so the impact of the disaster isn’t severe. Everyone is safe," Baroness Gongsun Yu'er observed her master’s mood and stopped teasing him, speaking briefly.
yún yǐn zōng wēi míng yuǎn bō běn shì hǎo shì , dàn shù dà zhāo fēng yě shì míng yán zhì lǐ .
云隐宗威名远播本是好事,但树大招风也是名言至理.
Lin Xuan's face brightened upon hearing this.
rú jīn sān jiè zhī zhōng , xīng fēng xuè yǔ , lián sàn xiān yāo wáng zhè yàng de qiáng zhě , dōu yǒu rén yǔn luò , lín xuān hǎo pà huí dào yún yǐn zōng zǒng duò , suǒ kàn jiàn de shì yī piàn fèi xū .
如今三界之中,腥风血雨,连散仙妖王这样的强者,都有人陨落,林轩好怕回到云隐宗总舵,所看见的是一片废墟.
He had also inquired about Cloud Conceal Sect along the way, but he couldn't be complacent with just hearsay. Hearing his apprentice’s description finally put his mind at ease after days of worry.
" xī xī , shī fù zuì guān xīn de kǒng pà bú shì liǎng wèi shī shū , ér shì ōu yáng shī niáng jìn kuàng rú hé ?" gōng sūn yù ér què yī xiào de kāi kǒu le .
"嘻嘻,师傅最关心的恐怕不是两位师叔,而是欧阳师娘近况如何?"公孙玉儿却一笑的开口了.
"Good to hear."
" nǐ zhè yā tou , zhēn shì méi dà méi xiǎo , miàn duì shī fù , yě gǎn shuō zhè zhǒng fēng huà , xìn bù xìn wǒ ràng nǐ miàn bì yì bǎi nián a ！"
"你这丫头,真是没大没小,面对师傅,也敢说这种疯话,信不信我让你面壁一百年啊！"
"What about you, Master? Did you find any clues while searching for Senior Consort Ouyang?" Baroness Gongsun Yu'er asked sincerely this time.
lín xuān xiào mà zhe zuò shì yào dǎ .
林轩笑骂着作势要打.
"I found her."
" shī zūn xī nù , tú ér zài yě bù gǎn le ."
"师尊息怒,徒儿再也不敢了."
"Why didn’t she come with you?"
gōng sūn yù ér yě shì jiàn hǎo jiù shōu de rén wù , lián máng bàn chū chǔ chǔ kě lián de guāi guāi nǚ mú yàng lái le .[,！].
公孙玉儿也是见好就收的人物,连忙扮出楚楚可怜的乖乖女模样来了.[,！].
"We lost contact again later."
" nà hái bù kuài shuō ."
"那还不快说."
Lin Xuan looked dejected.
lín xuān yǒu xiē qì kǔ , dōu shuō yán shī chū gāo tú , kàn lái zì jǐ duì tú dì , què shí bù néng zòng róng tài guò , fǒu zé zhè jǐ gè xiǎo yā tou dōu yào wú fǎ wú tiān dào shàng fáng jiē wǎ le .
林轩有些气苦,都说严师出高徒,看来自己对徒弟,确实不能纵容太过,否则这几个小丫头都要无法无天到上房揭瓦了.
"Oh?"
" shī zūn fàng xīn , shī niáng hěn hǎo , liǎng wèi shī shū hěn hǎo , jǐ wèi shī jiě mèi , dà jiā yě dōu hěn hǎo , mó zāi suī rán xiōng yǒng , dàn wǒ men yún yǐn zōng yùn qì bù cuò , suǒ yǐ shòu dào bō jí de fàn wéi bìng bù duō , rú jīn dōu shì ān rè wú yàng de ." gōng sūn yù ér chá yán guān sè , bù gǎn zài tiáo kǎn le , ér shì cháng huà duǎn shuō .
"师尊放心,师娘很好,两位师叔很好,几位师姐妹,大家也都很好,魔灾虽然汹涌,但我们云隐宗运气不错,所以受到波及的范围并不多,如今都是安热无恙的."公孙玉儿察言观色,不敢再调侃了,而是长话短说.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er was speechless. Seeing that Lin Xuan wasn't in a good mood, she refrained from asking further. Her master treated his disciples kindly and they often joked around, but it didn’t mean they could be disrespectful. They respected their master deeply.
lín xuān tīng le , liǎn shàng guǒ rán lù chū xǐ sè .
林轩听了,脸上果然露出喜色.
Seeing her master's displeasure, Baroness Gongsun Yu'er’s expression became cautious.
zhè yī lù shàng , tā yě yǒu zhù yì dǎ tīng yún yǐn zōng de xiāo xī .
这一路上,他也有注意打听云隐宗的消息.
"I see, we are temporarily apart. With her strength, she shouldn’t have any issues during the disaster. There’s no need to worry too much."
suī rán méi yǒu dé dào tài zāo gāo de , dàn bì jìng shì dào tīng tú shuō , bù kě néng jiù cǐ gāo zhěn wú yōu le , cǐ shí tīng le tú ér de miáo shù , cái zǒng suàn jiāng duō rì yì zhí xuán zhe de xīn fàng xià lái le .
虽然没有得到太糟糕的,但毕竟是道听途说,不可能就此高枕无忧了,此时听了徒儿的描述,才总算将多日一直悬着的心放下来了.
(Youth Lion Book Alliance.)
The middle-aged man wept as he narrated the events in detail. It took him nearly a cup of tea's time to explain everything clearly.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er's face was naturally aghast. She had originally thought Zhang Yan wasn't putting enough effort, but instead, she received such an outcome.
Could one person alone annihilate an entire group of cultivators? Could the opponent be a powerful old monster who has passed through tribulation?
Otherwise, the cultivators sent to attack Cloud Maple Ore Vein were not weak; they were only at the Shen Concentration Stage. They certainly wouldn't have been able to defeat them so cleanly and effortlessly without breaking a sweat.
"This… Apprentice nephew doesn’t know either. It was just a simple face mask, but I was knocked unconscious by him. I couldn’t even see his face clearly, let alone understand how powerful he is." The middle-aged man spoke hesitantly, revealing an embarrassed expression on his face.
Clearly, he felt that his performance was too humiliating.
But Baroness Gongsun Yu'er did not blame him for this. Being alive was already a good outcome. Asking for too much from such a formidable opponent would be unreasonable.
Moreover, with the situation as it is now, blaming him wouldn’t help. She herself faced a difficult choice.
One option was to organize manpower and retake Cloud Maple Ore Vein. The mine produced large quantities of crystal stones, which would be significant if reclaimed. It could also benefit her two senior mentors in the alliance.
But the risks were equally severe. A moment’s carelessness might lead to his own downfall like Zhang Yan.
The other option was to give up and return to the main sect first before making a decision later.
This was a cautious approach, but it had significant hidden dangers. If Cloud Maple Ore Vein couldn’t be taken after prolonged attacks, the other major sects in the Immortal Alliance would surely make a big fuss over this matter. At that time, while she might be safe, her two senior mentors' situation in the alliance would become much more difficult.
What choice should she make?
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er, usually so smart and composed, was now indecisive.
However, at that moment, a clear voice echoed: "Yu'er, what’s troubling you?"
The tone was calm. The familiar inflection was unmistakable. Baroness Gongsun Yu'er almost thought she had heard wrong and turned her head sharply.
She saw another cultivator appear in the middle of the room, smiling as he looked at her.
"Ma… Master?"
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er’s face lit up with joy. She rubbed her eyes hard; yes, before her was indeed her master Lin Xuan.
Surprise and astonishment quickly turned to overwhelming happiness. The young woman threw herself into Lin Xuan's arms.
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er had been too agitated.
Indeed, she had worried so much over the years.
Lin Xuan left Cloud Conceal Sect a century ago without any news.
Everyone knew that the cultivation world was full of dangers. She truly feared her master might have perished.
Fortunately, her worries were unfounded. Reuniting with her master made her immensely happy.
After a moment, she realized how out of place she had been and quickly got up to bow: "Yu'er pays respects to Master."
"Enough, get up."
Lin Xuan’s strength was far beyond what it used to be, but he never put on airs towards his own people. He helped her up with a hand.
Then they sat down. Baroness Gongsun Yu'er personally prepared wine and fruits.
After several rounds of drinks, Lin Xuan spoke thoughtfully: "Yu'er, you looked troubled just now. Is there anything troubling you?"
"Master, it's like this…"
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er had no secrets from her master and recounted the information she had gathered.
"Ah."
Lin Xuan didn’t seem to care much.
Though he couldn't know what exactly happened at Cloud Maple Ore Vein with just that information, what did it matter?
In the cultivation world, strength decided everything. Alliances and strategies were meaningless in the face of overwhelming power.
"Don’t worry about it. Since this mine’s fate is tied to our sect's fortune, I’ll accompany you," Lin Xuan said nonchalantly.
"Thank you, Master. But that will be quite a burden on you."
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er bowed gratefully.
"Enough, I don’t like these formalities. Family members needn’t be so polite. How is Cloud Conceal Sect doing after all this time? How are your two senior mentors?"
This was what Lin Xuan was most worried about. If it were any other time, he wouldn't have cared much. With his reputation, even if he wasn’t in the sect, no one would dare provoke him.
But times had changed. The域外天魔wouldn’t hesitate to act. While Cloud Conceal Sect’s fame was a good thing, it also attracted attention. In today's world of bloodshed and chaos, even powerful entities like Immortal Monarchs could fall. Lin Xuan feared returning to the main sect headquarters only to find it in ruins.
"Ha ha, Master is most concerned about Senior Consort Ouyang, isn’t he?" Baroness Gongsun Yu'er said with a smile.
"You brat, you really have no respect! How dare you say such nonsense to your master? Do you want me to make you sit against the wall for a hundred years?"
Lin Xuan joked and pretended to hit her.
"Master, please forgive me. I won’t do it again."
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er quickly played the role of a compliant young lady.
"What else is there to say?"
Lin Xuan was slightly vexed. He often said that strict teachers produce excellent students. It seemed he couldn't be too lenient with his disciples; otherwise, they would become uncontrollable.
"Rest assured, Senior Consort Ouyang and your two senior mentors are well. Our Cloud Conceal Sect has had good fortune, so the impact of the disaster isn’t severe. Everyone is safe," Baroness Gongsun Yu'er observed her master’s mood and stopped teasing him, speaking briefly.
Lin Xuan's face brightened upon hearing this.
He had also inquired about Cloud Conceal Sect along the way, but he couldn't be complacent with just hearsay. Hearing his apprentice’s description finally put his mind at ease after days of worry.
"Good to hear."
"What about you, Master? Did you find any clues while searching for Senior Consort Ouyang?" Baroness Gongsun Yu'er asked sincerely this time.
"I found her."
"Why didn’t she come with you?"
"We lost contact again later."
Lin Xuan looked dejected.
"Oh?"
Baroness Gongsun Yu'er was speechless. Seeing that Lin Xuan wasn't in a good mood, she refrained from asking further. Her master treated his disciples kindly and they often joked around, but it didn’t mean they could be disrespectful. They respected their master deeply.
Seeing her master's displeasure, Baroness Gongsun Yu'er’s expression became cautious.
"I see, we are temporarily apart. With her strength, she shouldn’t have any issues during the disaster. There’s no need to worry too much."
(Youth Lion Book Alliance.)