Zhang Deming didn’t answer, merely watching the other man. Only when he saw Ji Ming’s expression return to normal did he relax his own serious look.

Ji Ming looked surprised for a moment, then continued, "Senior Brother, if Master gives you a hard time later, just endure it for now. You can’t have the same temper as Senior Sister!

"Anyway, Master is a total homebody and completely unmotivated. Even if he does decide to make things difficult, he’ll probably only keep it up for two or three days. After that, he’ll go right back to his old self.

"Senior Brother Song Huidong is the one who actually runs our peak, and he’s terrified of Senior Sister, so I have a bit of influence now.

"Once Master’s initial burst of energy fades, his laziness will kick in again.

"When that happens, I’ll get you out of whatever trouble you’re in, and we can go back to living our reclusive—or rather, lazy—lives. How does that sound?"

Zhang Deming looked at Ji Ming. There were still things from the Great Hall he hadn’t figured out, so it wasn’t wise for him to say much.

Besides, he really wasn’t sure if that old man, Yue Mengsheng, would actually give him a hard time.

So he nodded, agreeing to Ji Ming’s plan.

’So what if they give him a hard time? It wasn’t like he hadn’t dealt with it back on Little Qing Mountain. Back then, he’d gotten so used to the "small shoes" they might as well have been comfortable slippers.’

...

The Celestial Spirit Sect was enormous. Including its numerous mountain ranges, its territory alone was much larger than a first-tier city from his past life.

But the Immortal Crane flew swiftly, and Spirit Nurturing Peak wasn’t far from the Main Peak.

So, in the short time they had been chatting, Spirit Nurturing Peak had already come into view.

"Remember, Senior Brother, we have to endure it!" Ji Ming said, looking toward Spirit Nurturing Peak and turning back to give one last, worried reminder.

Zhang Deming nodded and gave him a reassuring look.

At Ji Ming’s request, the Immortal Crane flew toward a small plaza on Spirit Nurturing Peak. Before they had even landed, they saw a dense crowd of people standing on the modest Feiquan Plaza.

Both of them were stunned for a moment. Ji Ming’s expression turned stern and serious, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread. ’Looks like today is going to be a tough one.’

"Welcome to Spirit Nurturing Peak!"

The two had just landed when the crowd, led by Song Huidong, offered their welcome.

Still on the crane’s back, the two of them looked at each other in bewilderment.

Zhang Deming looked at Ji Ming, his eyes asking, ’What’s going on? Is this what you people on Spirit Nurturing Peak call giving someone a hard time?’

’Are you pulling my leg?’

’Or am I just so out of touch that I don’t understand the hidden protocol here?’

Ji Ming was equally dumbfounded. Looking at the grand scale of the reception, he thought, ’Why does this feel like the reception we put on for the Sect Leader’s perfunctory visit every fifty years?’

’The only difference is the venue has been moved from the Spirit Nurturing Grand Plaza to the Feiquan Small Plaza.’

Seeing Ji Ming’s expression, Zhang Deming shook his head. ’Well, looks like he’s clueless too.’

’So, is this happening for the same reason as whatever happened back in the Great Hall?’

’What in the world could make everyone in the Celestial Spirit Sect suddenly act this way?’

’Could I really be the illegitimate son of some bigwig?’

As their thoughts raced, the two of them jumped down from the Immortal Crane. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Senior Brother Song, what is all this?" Ji Ming asked with a puzzled look as Song Huidong stepped forward.

As the supervisor of Spirit Nurturing Peak, Song Huidong’s role was something akin to a chief steward.

With his Duality Peak Cultivation, he was one of the Celestial Spirit Sect’s most promising candidates to advance to the Three Talents realm. It was only because Ji Ming was a disciple of Yue Mengsheng that he could address Song Huidong as a peer.

In the Celestial Spirit Sect, seniority was determined by one’s cultivation level, with only two exceptions.

Direct Disciples and Inner Disciples. For both, seniority was based on that of their master.

Direct Disciple is a rank within the Sect. After Core Disciple comes Direct Disciple. The Sect assigns them a dedicated master, though of course the wishes of both parties are taken into account.

Inner Disciples are those taken on by Sect Elders according to their own personal preference.

It was a privilege granted to high-ranking members, allowing them to directly promote disciples they favored, because besides the difference in title, the treatment an Inner Disciple received was mostly on par with that of a Direct Disciple.

Song Huidong smiled. "What’s wrong? We’re welcoming the arrival of another Core Disciple to Spirit Nurturing Peak, of course."

Ji Ming gave the crowd behind him a skeptical look. ’Are you sure this is how you welcome a Core Disciple?’

’Why has every single person of any consequence on Spirit Nurturing Peak turned out for this?’

Ji Ming suddenly had a thought and sent a voice transmission to Song Huidong. "Senior Brother Song, I’m sure you’re familiar with who this is.

"Whatever instructions Master gave you, if you’re really going to put this much effort into giving this guy a hard time, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to keep my mouth shut the next time Senior Sister sends a message."

Song Huidong glanced at Ji Ming and said aloud,

"Junior Brother Ji, what are you talking about? Do I seem like that kind of person?

"Besides, Junior Brother Zhang is such a fine person. How could I possibly do something like that?"

Ji Ming: ??? ...

Song Huidong’s sudden outburst stopped Ji Ming’s threat in its tracks. He had no idea what game Song Huidong was playing.

Song Huidong walked past Ji Ming and up to Zhang Deming, smiling. "You must be Junior Brother Zhang Deming, correct?"

Zhang Deming smiled faintly. "Supervisor Song, you have our seniority mistaken. I am only at the Tai Chi realm."

Song Huidong smiled. "No matter, no matter. I imagine you and Junior Brother Ji address each other as martial brothers, yes? Since Junior Brother Ji and I are martial brothers, it naturally follows that you and I are as well."

Zhang Deming looked at him. ’He seems sincere. In any case, I’m already a "martial brother" to a Three Talents Great Cultivator; what’s one more?’

’Perfect. The entire Celestial Spirit Sect is my "peer" now...’

Therefore, he stopped arguing and simply smiled. "Then I’ll be in your care from now on, Senior Brother Song."

"It’s no trouble at all. It’s my duty."

Zhang Deming glanced around and asked, "Senior Brother Song, what is all this?"