Luckily, Xiao Wen also bought a house in the Imperial Capital, and now they are staying at Xiao Wen’s place.

The house is quite large, a quadrangle courtyard.

It’s the kind with a front courtyard and a backyard.

Very spacious and quiet, perfect for these four old fellows to live in.

When the four elders gathered, Chu Chengfeng also came.

This courtyard was set up with a barrier, and nobody knew what they were discussing, but after coming out, Chu Chengfeng’s demeanor hadn’t changed from before. However, he later took Liu Ling to meet those elders, as Liu Ling’s status in the clan was almost equivalent to that of the elders.

What was strange was that these three elders didn’t know what had happened in the Divine Land Hall back then.

They only knew that the spiritual energy in the Divine Land Hall suddenly surged, causing a collapse that released countless malevolent energies from a sealed place. Then, the Phoenix Clan members started to slaughter each other, eventually affecting the Phoenix Clan residing in the northern part of the Divine Land.

This chaos lasted for a whole week.

Coincidentally, Sima Xiaowen, Chu Chengfeng, and Liu Ling, these three people, all have no memory of those seven days.

It’s fine if one person didn’t remember, but all these three involved individuals didn’t, which was unusual.

So the four elders planned to take action after the New Year. They wanted to send someone to find Shui Liuzi because perhaps only he could uncover the real inside story. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Even though they had reached an agreement on this matter, there was one issue they disagreed on, which was about Chief Mo Li and Liu Ling’s marriage.

They had already been betrothed at that time. Liu Ling was the future Clan Leader’s Wife and was already recorded in the Phoenix Clan’s family tree. These things were stored in the Divine Land.

So one of the four elders, an elder named Elder San Ye, proposed that Chu Chengfeng and Liu Ling should get married on the first day of the New Year.

After all, most of their future time would be spent walking among the secular world, so it should be done according to secular etiquette, which was perfectly reasonable.

Moreover, if the chaos hadn’t occurred in the Phoenix Clan, Mo Li and Liu Ling would have held their wedding in the following month.

And the first day of the New Year was deemed an auspicious day for the Phoenix Clan, the beginning of heaven and earth, the origin of all things, and the foremost among birds. It was the best day.

Anyway, there was already a wedding house available, so there was nothing much to prepare.

But this proposal was not agreed upon by Chu Chengfeng and Elder Sima.

Chu Chengfeng didn’t know why he hesitated, as, logically, he shouldn’t have hesitated.

He had already wronged Sima Xiaowen and couldn’t wrong Liu Ling again.

Yet, he hesitated.

And he knew that once married to Liu Ling, there was no turning back.

But he didn’t want to go back either.

Such emotions troubled him, so when Elder San Ye suggested it, he was the first to oppose, "Elder San Ye, I know you mean well, but this matter cannot be rushed. My identity is very complicated now, and Liu Ling’s is equally so."

"She can’t integrate into my circle yet. I can’t let her be alone here, and in any case, we can’t just return to the Divine Land for now. We need to adapt to all of this before making a decision."

"I also disagree. I don’t have any other thoughts; it’s just unfair to my daughter."

"Isn’t this too fast? Breaking up one moment and then getting married the next?"

Elder Sima continued angrily, "Even though we all know what’s going on, in reason and in principle, it doesn’t look like that under everyone’s gaze."

"Elder San Ye, your daughter is not involved here. It’s easy for you to speak lightly. It seems easy to talk when you’re not the one directly involved, but I disagree!" Elder Sima bluntly vetoed it.

Elder San Ye didn’t really think about it that much, but over the years, he had interacted with people the most. As society has progressed better and better, many high-tech conveniences are available, and only a fool would hide in the mountains and not enjoy them.

However, he had indeed forgotten about Elder Sima’s involvement.

But Elder Sima’s merciless words made his face turn red, and he stood up angrily, "Old Man Sima, speak more kindly. This is something that would happen sooner or later, what’s the difference?"

"Of course, there’s a difference. You have to let this matter slowly fade away, disappearing bit by bit under everyone’s noses. When no one brings it up anymore, the Clan Leader and Liu Ling can do whatever they want without anyone noticing or caring. But now, especially on the New Year’s Day, it’s impossible!"

Elder Tian Liang quickly waved his hand, said kindly, "Ah, we’ve been old partners for how many years? No need to argue, let’s discuss nicely. Elder San Ye made a proposal, and Elder Sima’s points are valid. We watched Xiao Wen grow up. The kid is a good child. It’s just that fate plays tricks, leading to such things happening, which we don’t want to see them being embarrassed over, so there’s no rush for the wedding."

"... By the way, a few days ago, an elder from the Phoenix Clan called me, saying they would return with members of the Phoenix Clan after the fifteenth of the first month."

Elder Sima coldly snorted, and the topic was diverted by Elder Tian Liang to discuss the return of the Phoenix Clan.

This was something that Elder Sima had strongly promoted and was most concerned about.

With one week left before the New Year, it was too late to buy a house, so he asked, "Did the elder from the Phoenix Clan say how many people they are returning with?"

"About a dozen people, though the Phoenix Clan elder mentioned they have businesses here, so we don’t need to worry about their accommodations and food, and will contact after arrival."

"Are they relocating their whole family here?"

Seeing the two elders stop arguing, Chu Chengfeng also breathed a sigh of relief and asked eagerly.

"More or less, except for those who can’t return, all who can will come back."

After all, fallen leaves return to their roots. The elder of the Phoenix Clan had this intention the earliest when contacting Elder Sima, even though the Red Phoenix had not been found yet back then.

Now with the new Clan Leader back, and the Red Phoenix found, naturally, they want to return to their roots.

"They have properties in the Imperial Capital? How come I didn’t know?" Elder Sima asked.

Logically, they shouldn’t have had properties since they had been away for so long.

Elder Tian Liang quickly explained, "Apparently, a descendant is of mixed blood, and their Phoenix Clan’s bloodline isn’t very pure anymore. However, even so, the offspring married into local nobility; Xino is one of them."

"In recent years, Xino has frequently come to Huaxia Xingguo, and he has investments here."

Then he looked at Elder Sima, "You should remember Xino, right? Xiao Wen and Qiaoqiao both know him."

Over the years, Elder Sima had stayed in the Imperial Capital not too much while looking for the new Clan Leader, only meeting his daughter a few times in total.