"Eh?"

Lu Zheng was just about to leave when he paused with a gentle exclamation.

"What's wrong?" Liu Qingyan asked.

Lu Zheng shook his head and looked at Du Yueyao, "Either none come or all come."

Du Yueyao blinked in confusion, then immediately realized, "Priest Fan has come?"

"Saintess Zhilan has also come."

As the words fell, Liu Qingyan sensed their presence too, so she stood up to brew tea, and Du Yueyao went forward to kindle the fire.

Before long, Saintess Zhilan personally brought Fan Boyu, arriving at Renxin Hall.

"Mr. Liu! Young Master Lu! Miss Liu!"

"Junior Sister Yueyao!"

"Greetings, Senior Sister Zilan, Priest Fan!"

After they exchanged greetings, Liu Qingyan invited the two into the quiet room at the back hall due to the presence of patients at Renxin Hall.

Liu Qingyan brewed tea, Du Yueyao served them, while Lu Zheng laughed and said, "I thought you two would come right after New Year."

"Primordial Saint Sect had some matters after New Year which delayed us for a while," Saintess Zhilan said, "and with your guidance to Junior Sister Yueyao, we are at ease."

"The main issue was the water disaster this year; we feared the Anomaly Suppression Bureau might misunderstand us," Fan Boyu earnestly added.

Saintess Zhilan couldn't help but cast a sideways glance at Fan Boyu.

No one knew how such an honest person like Fan Boyu cultivated to this extent.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but laugh, raising his cup in invitation, as they all drank tea together.

"The new sect lineage of the Primordial Saint Sect didn't cause any trouble after Saintess Mingyi's death, right?" Lu Zheng asked.

"How could there be none? Others might not know, but the new sect lineage knows exactly why Saintess Mingyi left," Saintess Zhilan sneered coldly, "I returned, but Mingyi was not found, how could the new sect lineage remain calm?"

"Unfortunately, they can't speak openly, and with our elder sister suppressing the sect, they can only make trouble in small matters, not daring to provoke openly," Saintess Zhilan said coldly.

At this point, Saintess Zhilan looked at Du Yueyao with even greater expectancy.

"There's another situation," Saintess Zhilan stated.

"What situation?" Du Yueyao asked.

"The new sect lineage has another saintess," Fan Boyu said.

Lu Zheng smacked his lips, "What about the original sect lineage?"

Fan Boyu didn't speak, only glanced at Du Yueyao, which made Du Yueyao feel immense pressure.

"Yueyao has only been on the path for two years! How old is the new sect's new saintess?" Lu Zheng asked helplessly.

"Over fifty," Fan Boyu replied, "She's been cultivating for over forty years and is quite gifted."

No matter how much time it takes, as long as she enters the threshold of a saintess, it's definitely extraordinary talent. You know how many disciples are in the Primordial Saint Sect; not even one per generation may become a saintess.

However...

"Because of the cultivation technique, the new sect's saintess has limited lifespan. Shouldn't she also be looking for a furnace to perform the 'Holy Goddess Descent Technique'?" Lu Zheng sneered.

Fan Boyu shook his head and said, "It's not that urgent. Despite the issues with the new sect's cultivation technique, life for a hundred years is still assured."

Lu Zheng nodded, skipping this topic, and turned to smile, "So, are you here to oversee?"

Fan Boyu smiled bitterly, "Not at all, with you here and your relationship with Miss Liu and Saintess Yueyao closer than ours, we don't need to supervise, we haven't seen Saintess Yueyao for more than a year, we're here to check on her."

As Fan Boyu spoke, Saintess Zhilan pulled Du Yueyao aside, handing her two bottles of elixir, not avoiding Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan.

They knew Du Yueyao didn't lack elixirs, but this represented the Primordial Saint Sect's stance.

"Do the other two saintesses know about Yueyao's situation too?" Lu Zheng asked.

Saintess Zhilan nodded, "I've informed them, as I must explain the new 'Su Nu's Prayer Method' to them, Elder Sister promised that as soon as Yueyao returns, she will be the Primordial Saint Sect Leader."

"No, no, no!" Du Yueyao hurriedly waved her hand in refusal, "I can't become the Primordial Saint Sect Leader."

Saintess Zhilan laughed, "That's not up to you, besides you, who else dares to be the sect leader with the Su Girl's Dream Transmission Method?"

Du Yueyao, "..."

"Ahem!"

Lu Zheng cleared his throat twice, attracting everyone's attention, including Du Yueyao's hopeful gaze.

"Don't think too much, who knows how long it'll take you to cultivate to the 'Five Hundred Years of Dao Practice,' not even a spoonful of vinegar yet, but you're already thinking of what filling to put in dumplings?"

Du Yueyao, "..."

Liu Qingyan couldn't help but laugh, lightly tapping Lu Zheng.

Du Yueyao pouted in grievance, took a deep breath, and decided to ignore Lu Zheng.

"I've heard that Saintess Yu Kun's Dao practice is profound; now that she's cultivated the new 'Su Nu's Prayer Method,' doesn't she have any new insights?" Lu Zheng asked.

Upon hearing Lu Zheng's question, Saintess Zhilan fell silent and shook her head.

"Thanks to Young Master Lu's blessing, Elder Sister did have some insights, but there's no aid to lifespan. Elder Sister's age is over three hundred; such minor insights and progress can't prolong her life," Saintess Zhilan explained.

Lu Zheng nodded, understanding, though he couldn't help in this area either.

"Then, Yueyao, you should take Saintess Zhilan and Mr. Fan home for a bit," Lu Zheng said, "Let Aunt Liu prepare a table of dishes tonight to welcome the saintess and Mr. Fan."

"Alright." Du Yueyao nodded, "Shall we invite Xiaowan and Master Shouyi?"

Lu Zheng glanced at Saintess Zhilan and shook his head, "No need, I'll go pay a visit later."

Given the Primordial Saint Sect's reputation, a meeting between Master Shouyi and Saintess Zhilan would likely be awkward; seeing them is better than not seeing.

So Du Yueyao took Saintess Zhilan and Fan Boyu with her, chatting about Wang Xiaowan and Master Shouyi along the way.

Upon hearing that a true man from Qingwei Palace was present in Tonglin County, Saintess Zhilan said she would try not to cross paths, though Master Shouyi's cultivation wasn't impressive in her eyes, Qingwei Palace was no force to be underestimated.

"Didn't expect this small Tonglin County to truly hide dragons and crouching tigers," Saintess Zhilan couldn't help but sigh, she still remembered the siege on Saintess Mingyi.

Aside from Lu Zheng's family, other formidable figures settling in Tonglin County, albeit temporarily...

Du Yueyao's eyes shifted, she still told the two, "By the way, Brother Lu has another lady companion, you might meet her tonight, Senior Sister Zilan and Mr. Fan should be mindful not to be disrespectful."

Du Yueyao wasn't worried about Fan Boyu, but Saintess Zhilan had a slightly high spirit, Du Yueyao worried she might upset Si Lingxi, so she decided to forewarn them.

"Young Master Lu's not satisfied with Miss Liu and Miss Shen, found another one?" Saintess Zhilan blinked, somewhat displeased.

However, Fan Boyu caught Du Yueyao's hint and asked, "Who is this lady companion? Is she a royal lady from Zhongjing, or a direct disciple of a grand sect?"

In Fan Boyu's mind, someone who warranted Du Yueyao urging them to pay attention must have a distinguished identity.

"Neither..."

Du Yueyao shook her head, saying under their curious gaze, "Without Brother Lu's word, I can't reveal her identity. Just be mindful, and do not be disrespectful."