"How could I possibly guess?" Song Changsheng said with a wry smile. ’In my past life, I couldn’t even figure out my girlfriend. The minds of these powerful figures are more complex than any woman’s heart; it would be a miracle if I could guess what they’re thinking.’
"Don’t worry," she said. "I’m sure it’s nothing bad."
As they spoke, they arrived at a great hall where several people had already gathered. Song Changsheng took a closer look. ’Well, I’ll be damned,’ he thought, ’most of them are familiar faces.’
On the far left was Zhuang Yuechan’s senior brother, Yinn Shang. Beside him sat Zhan Tianxia’s Direct Disciple, Niu Dazhuang. Next to them was a young Cultivator with a magnificent bearing; Song Changsheng didn’t recognize him but knew he was a disciple of the Celestial Vein Sect.
On the far right was the woman from the Golden Crow Sect, who was as cold as an iceberg. She sat there silently, the chill emanating from her causing the temperature in the great hall to drop noticeably.
"Fellow Daoist Song, your seat is next to Fellow Daoist Xia," Zhuang Yuechan said, pointing to the spot beside the icy woman.
’Her surna is Xia, too?’ Song Changsheng couldn’t help but think of Xia Wanyun. To think that both of the peerless beauties he had seen that day shared the sa surna.
’Everyone here is either a Direct Disciple of a City Lord or a disciple from a Major Sect,’ Song Changsheng thought with a self-deprecating smile. ’I’m like a chicken standing in a flock of cranes.’
After about the ti it takes to drink a cup of tea, Muu Guibai finally floated in, accompanied by Zhan Tianxia and an unfamiliar woman. The mont he entered, Muu Guibai addressed the crowd.
"My apologies for our tardiness. We’ve kept you young friends waiting. Please, be seated."
After taking his seat, Song Changsheng’s gaze swept past Muu Guibai and Zhan Tianxia before finally settling on the woman.
She had a delicate, oval face with features as if painted, and her skin was as fair as jade. With an air of indifference, she walked straight to the seat on the Great City Lord’s right.
In terms of looks alone, she was on par with the "iceberg" beside him, but she possessed an additional, indescribable aura that made one afraid to look at her directly.
’So this is the legendary Third City Lord?’ Song Changsheng had been in Luoxia City for so long, yet this was his first ti seeing her. She hadn’t even made an appearance at the Great City Lord’s birthday banquet, but she was here today. This only made Song Changsheng more curious.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, the woman glanced at him coolly. Her look, which seed to dismiss all existence, sent an involuntary shiver down Song Changsheng’s spine. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look again.
"Junior Sister, it’s rare for you to co out of seclusion. Why don’t you be the one to announce today’s business to them?" Muu Guibai said with a smile, looking at the woman beside him.
The woman gave a slight nod and looked at the assembled group. "The Qiantian Secret Realm is normally never opened to outsiders," she said. "However, since the Supre Elders of the two sects have personally made a request, we can make a one-ti exception."
"But let be clear: for the first three days after entering, you must follow the team leader’s arrangents. Acting on your own is strictly forbidden. Otherwise, do not bla for being rciless."
Song Changsheng was completely stunned. ’Qiantian Secret Realm?’
"Please rest assured, City Lords," the disciple from the Celestial Vein Sect said in a solemn voice.
"The leader for this trip will be Luoxia City’s head disciple, Yinn Shang. The Qiantian Secret Realm will open in three days. Assemble here at that ti. You are dismissed to make your preparations. The mber of the Song Clan will remain behind."
"Understood!"
Yinn Shang imdiately led the others, including Zhuang Yuechan, out of the hall. As the great doors closed behind them, Song Changsheng was still dazed. ’What is going on?’
Muu Guibai smiled faintly. "Young friend, you seem to have many questions."
Before Song Changsheng could reply, Muu Guibai stood up and walked over to him. "Truth be told," he said, "the main reason I summoned you here today was simply to et you."
"You may not know this, but we actually t a long, long ti ago. You were only about this big."
Muu Guibai gestured with his hand, indicating a height of about two or three feet.
Song Changsheng had no mory of it, but he knew that his parents had brought him to Luoxia City during his childhood to seek dicine from that "Aunt Xiao." ’The Great City Lord must be talking about that ti,’ he thought.
But that still didn’t explain why Muu Guibai wanted to see him now. Unsure how to respond, Song Changsheng simply remained silent.
Muu Guibai chuckled. "You will also be going to the Qiantian Secret Realm in three days. Go and make your preparations."
At that, Song Changsheng finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He stood up and asked, "My Lord City Lord, why?"
"I told you to go, so you go! What’s with all the questions? Are you afraid we’re going to harm you or sothing?" Zhan Tianxia roared, slamming his hand on the armrest and glaring.
Uncowed by the outburst, Song Changsheng said in a steady voice, "I thank the Lord City Lord for his kind intentions, but I cannot accept a reward I have not earned. Please forgive this junior’s impudence."
He wasn’t an idiot; he knew what a massive windfall this was. But he firmly believed that in this world, there was no love without reason, and certainly no hatred without cause.
Until he knew the reason, he would not—and dared not—accept this windfall.
"You brat, you truly don’t know what’s good for you." Zhan Tianxia rose to his feet. He looked like a great black bear, and his presence was incredibly oppressive.
"Junior Brother, mind your words." Muu Guibai frowned. His expression softened again as he turned to Song Changsheng. "I truly an you no harm. In truth, I am doing this to apologize to the Song Clan on my Junior Brother’s behalf."
"Apologize on behalf of the Second City Lord?" Song Changsheng was dumbfounded again. He glanced at Zhan Tianxia in the distance and saw that he had turned his face away, but offered no rebuttal.
His mind raced. He quickly made the connection to the ambush he and the Grand Elder had suffered because of the [Green Sky White Jade Pill]. That was, after all, the only interaction he’d ever had with Zhan Tianxia.
Just as he thought, Muu Guibai continued, "Regarding the matter of the [Green Sky White Jade Pill], my Junior Brother was too conspicuous. It brought an unwarranted disaster upon the Song Clan and directly led to the conflict between your clan and the Lieyang Sect. This goes against the principles of Luoxia City, so I am taking this opportunity to apologize to you, young friend."
Song Changsheng quickly replied, "The Song Clan and the Lieyang Sect already have a blood feud; conflict between us is a common occurrence. For the opportunity to obtain the [Green Sky White Jade Pill], the entire Song Clan is eternally grateful for the three City Lords’ benevolence. There is no need for this, my Lord City Lord."
Song Changsheng ant every word. He was genuinely grateful to Zhan Tianxia. Without the [Green Sky White Jade Pill], who knew how much longer it would have taken to heal Song Xianming’s internal injuries? What was a little risk compared to that?
Muu Guibai glanced at Zhan Tianxia, then patted Song Changsheng’s shoulder. "Since you put it that way, we’ll consider him forgiven. However, that does not an his actions were acceptable."
"In any case, we’re already letting two outsiders into the Qiantian Secret Realm this ti, so one more won’t make a difference. You shouldn’t refuse. Besides, when it cos down to it, you’re not really an outsider yourself. Do not decline again."
"As you command. I thank the three City Lords."
With things having co to this, for Song Changsheng to refuse again would be shalessly ungrateful. The Qiantian Secret Realm was never open to outsiders; if word of this got out, countless people would be green with envy.
"Good. You’re a good child. Go and prepare," Muu Guibai said, nodding in satisfaction.
Just as Song Changsheng was about to withdraw, the Third City Lord, who had been observing coldly all this ti, suddenly spoke. "Rember. Do not forget the ssage soone asked you to carry."
A jolt went through Song Changsheng. He gave her a long, deep look and then said solemnly, "This junior dares not forget."
After leaving the great hall, everything that had just happened still felt unreal to Song Changsheng. He felt as if he were floating as he walked.
’The Great City Lord apologized to my Song Clan and is even letting into the Qiantian Secret Realm to make up for it... If I told anyone, they’d never believe ,’ Song Changsheng thought with a wry smile. ’If soone told a story like that, I’d slap them across the face to help them sober up.’
’And the Third City Lord’s reminder... that must have co from Elder Xiao, right? But why didn’t she co herself?’ Everyone else knew the truth, while he alone was being kept in the dark. It was not a pleasant feeling.
’Whatever. First things first, I should find Fellow Daoist Zhuang and ask about any precautions for the Qiantian Secret Realm. A Secret Realm that’s never been opened to outsiders... Just thinking about it is actually a little exciting.’
——————
"You could have just told him the truth. He has a right to know," Muu Guibai said softly, watching Song Changsheng’s departing figure.
"The truth?" the woman standing beside Muu Guibai said, her expression cold. "What good would telling him do? Could it change anything?"
Muu Guibai’s expression faltered. He was right. What could it possibly change?
"It’s my fault."
"No." The woman turned away. "Our greatest mistake," she said coldly, "was being born in a place like this."
...
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