When Xie Hongchen first laid eyes on Huang Rang, he realized he’d lost his composure. He quickly regained his rationality and returned her greeting with a slight bow, saying, “May I ask who this young lady is…”

Huang Rang replied with perfect propriety, “This humble woman is Huang Rang. I congratulate Sect Master Xie and wish the Sect Master abundant virtue and grace upon the immortal sect.”

“Huang Rang…” Xie Hongchen felt the name extraordinarily familiar. He searched his memory and suddenly recalled something, saying, “So it’s Miss Arang.”

The Jianzheng waiting nearby gave a cold snort and said, “It seems we guests should climb the mountain ourselves rather than trouble the Sect Master to come greet us.” The Jianzheng’s face was full of sharp sarcasm. “After all, Sect Master Xie can no longer walk properly.”

Behind him stood other guests who had come successively to observe the ceremony.

Hearing these words, everyone really couldn’t laugh out loud and could only suppress it with effort.

Xie Hongchen naturally didn’t take such cold mockery to heart. He cupped his hands toward everyone and said, “I’ve given everyone something to laugh at. Please follow me up the mountain.”

He usually had decent relationships with people—at least he wasn’t as good at offending people as the Jianzheng.

So someone spoke up for him. Mihua Sect’s Sect Master Chai Tianrong said, “Miss Huang Rang is indeed stunningly beautiful. To see beauty and feel joy is human nature.”

Once these words were spoken, quite a few people echoed them.

The Jianzheng immediately interjected, “Precisely, so it’s not strange at all that Sect Master Xie is lustful.”

“…” Everyone else stopped talking.

—Did your father Shi Wenyu send you here to deliver gifts or to pick fights?

Xie Hongchen naturally wouldn’t bicker with Di Yiqiu on such a day.

His expression unchanged, he led everyone up the mountain all the way.

Since he was leading the way at the front, he naturally couldn’t see Huang Rang behind him.

But the faint fragrance drifting to his nose made his heart race and his mind wander.

Huang Rang… Xie Hongchen silently contemplated this name. She was the daughter of Huang Shu from Immortal Tea Town. Back when He Xijin punished Huang Shu, he had brought her and her sister back to Ruyi Sword Sect to be raised.

Who would have thought she had blossomed into this…

Sect Master Xie pondered for a long time but couldn’t find an appropriate description. So he could only pull out a not-so-appropriate phrase—had blossomed into something so heart-stirring.

In Hehe Garden, Xie Lingbi was receiving guests.

When Xie Hongchen personally led the new guests in, Xie Lingbi turned his head.

For some unknown reason, he immediately spotted Huang Rang in the crowd with one glance!

Huang Rang’s beauty was shockingly striking.

Yet he only felt thoroughly uncomfortable all over, as if in an instant, even his scalp had tightened.

Xie Lingbi’s gaze paused briefly on Huang Rang, but he couldn’t recall anything about this woman.

He was indeed seeing this person for the first time.

Xie Lingbi collected himself and stepped forward, looking toward Di Yiqiu. “So it’s the Jianzheng. It’s been a long time.”

Di Yiqiu could only suppress his displeasure and exchange false pleasantries with him. Though only fourteen years old, he conversed fluently with Xie Lingbi, neither servile nor overbearing. The other senior immortal sect members couldn’t help but regard him more highly.

After a round of greetings, Di Yiqiu and Huang Rang took their seats to one side.

The guests hadn’t all arrived yet, so the banquet hadn’t begun. On the table were mint candies unique to Yuhu Xuanzong, called Biling Fruits.

These candies were green and refined with spiritual power, excellent products for nourishing qi and replenishing essence.

Huang Rang casually picked up one and said, “In all of Yuhu Xuanzong, only these Biling Fruits have any flavor.”

Di Yiqiu sneered coldly, “What, isn’t Sect Master Xie flavorful enough for you?”

“You…” Huang Rang ate the candy while sizing him up. “You’re truly a hereditary sourpuss.”

Di Yiqiu gave a cold snort. Huang Rang had already unwrapped another candy and suddenly stuffed it into his mouth.

To keep him from talking more.

Just at that moment, a disciple came over carrying a dish of red mint candies and said, “Miss Arang, our Sect Master says Biling Fruits are cooling in nature and women should eat Zhuling Fruits instead. He’s sent some over for you.”

“Sect Master Xie is so thoughtful.” When in her life had Huang Rang ever received such considerate care from Sect Master Xie? She said, “This humble woman is overwhelmed by such favor.”

The Jianzheng’s anger flared up instantly.

All his good feelings toward Xie Hongchen fell to the ground and shattered into a cold snort.

Huang Rang ate a Zhuling Fruit, and then disciples presented tea and wine.

At the entrance, more guests arrived.

This time the visitors were all familiar faces.

He Xijin, Zhang Shujiu, and Wu Zichou came together. For such an immortal sect grand event, naturally they brought their families.

They even brought their own children along.

Yuhu Xuanzong naturally didn’t mind. In fact, they hoped these young juniors would come to observe the ceremony.

Seeing this, Huang Rang immediately ran over. Sure enough, in the crowd, not only had He Cui and He Dan come, but even Huang Jun had come along.

—Qu Manying would never leave her behind.

These years Huang Rang had been “learning the craft” at the Capital Breeding Institute and rarely returned to Ruyi Sword Sect.

But she could see the changes in Huang Jun.

Huang Jun followed beside Qu Manying, her face long since free of the melancholy it bore when she lived in the Huang family.

Qu Manying always told her that if a person doesn’t like to talk, their clothes should be worn bright and colorful.

Otherwise they’d be inconspicuous in a crowd.

So Huang Jun wore bright red. Her hair was tied up high in a ponytail, a sword hung at her waist, and she walked like the wind.

She was dressed as a very capable swordswoman.

Thus she attracted many gazes along the way.

Seeing Huang Rang, Huang Jun’s face didn’t show much joy. Instead, Qu Manying said, “Oh my, you arrived first!”

Huang Rang immediately complained jealously, “Aunt is biased, bringing elder sister and brother to the banquet but not calling me!”

Qu Manying laughed so hard her waist bent. “You really dare to play the victim!” She tapped Huang Rang’s nose. “Your uncle and I specifically went to Si Tianjian to find you. But as it turns out, some people went out themselves without thinking about their uncle and aunt at all.”

“Ahem.” Huang Rang knew she was in the wrong and quickly said, “That’s because I saw no one coming for me, so I could only take the initiative to find my way here.”

“Only you could be so righteous about it.” Qu Manying held her hand and also came to Di Yiqiu’s table.

This was natural—she and He Xijin had gone to Si Tianjian to find Huang Rang. In the end, it was Li Lu who said Huang Rang had gone out with Di Yiqiu.

Though Qu Manying and He Xijin had smiles on their faces, they still harbored some worry in their hearts.

Huang Rang’s feelings—the couple could naturally see some of them.

But Di Yiqiu’s feelings… these two could also see clearly.

This matter was like their own daughter’s one-sided love affair.

Di Yiqiu came over to greet everyone. He Xijin and the others were extremely happy to see him. Everyone sat at the same table. By rights, a junior like Huang Rang should change seats.

Though Di Yiqiu was young, he represented the court, so naturally his status couldn’t be calculated by seniority. It was appropriate for him to sit as equals with He Xijin and the others.

Qu Manying simply said, “Arang, Ajun, both of you come here.”

Within the immortal sects, there weren’t so many worldly rules—only seniority mattered, not gender. But she still brought the two daughters to sit close to the female family members like Feng Zheng’er and Dai Wushuang.

Huang Jun’s eyes immediately caught the Zhuling Fruits on the table and couldn’t help sliding them in front of Huang Rang.

The Jianzheng’s side had changed from Huang Rang to He, Zhang, and Wu. He glanced over and saw Huang Rang chatting happily with several madams, so he said nothing more.

These madams all found Huang Rang’s conversation proper and pleasant to hear.

They all liked her very much.

—How could it not be proper and pleasant? Huang Rang had been the Sect Master’s wife of Yuhu Xuanzong for a hundred years. At large and small banquets, she had to socialize at every one.

Speaking of back then, these sect masters’ wives ranked below her in status.

Of course, now times had changed and the present was different from the past.

Huang Rang glanced at Di Yiqiu—now she could only hope this husband would also strive upward and rise to great heights. That way, if she wanted to gain status through her husband, there was still hope.

Huang Rang joked to herself.

The Jianzheng was quite respectful toward He Xijin and the others, and they also enjoyed talking with him.

In the current court, they could probably only count on people like him.

Zhang Shujiu said, “A while ago, I heard Si Tianjian was looking for someone to cultivate drought-resistant improved seeds. How is that matter progressing?”

Di Yiqiu said softly, “There are already signs of success.”

When he spoke this way, he wasn’t willing to publicize it. He Xijin and the others all understood. Wu Zichou also said quietly, “He agreed?”

Di Yiqiu nodded. The three couldn’t help but sigh, “This person is truly a pillar of the nation.”

Zhang Shujiu said, “If there’s a chance to meet this person, I must drink heartily with him.”

“Exactly!” Wu Zichou suddenly said, “I heard that this person is not only skilled at breeding but is also a master swordsman.”

When he said this, Di Yiqiu’s ears perked up. “How did Sect Master Wu learn of this?”

Sect Master Wu said, “It’s rumored that when he initially distributed the improved seeds, he didn’t have many people with him. When someone tried to assassinate him, they were deterred by his swordsmanship.”

“Sw-sw-sw-swordsmanship…” He Xijin sighed. “I truly truly long long to to meet meet this this great great expert.”

Everyone sighed one after another. Huang Rang felt extremely awkward.

—If this disguise were revealed, wouldn’t it be a public social death?

Just at this moment, Xie Hongchen came over.

Everyone immediately stood up.

He was different now from before. Previously he was the immortal sects’ number one sword immortal, a cultivation prodigy rarely encountered in many years. But now, he was the Sect Master of Yuhu Xuanzong.

The person who truly held the authority of the immortal sects couldn’t be judged by age or seniority.

Xie Hongchen greeted everyone in turn, and naturally everyone exchanged pleasantries. Finally, Sect Master Xie said with a smile to Qu Manying, “Madam He took in and cared for the Huang family sisters—such righteousness is unparalleled. I, Xie, shall toast Madam alone.”

These words carried a somewhat meaningful tone.

Qu Manying repeatedly said, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. The two of them and I share affinity. Heaven allowing me to add two more daughters is a blessing. How dare I claim righteousness?”

Xie Hongchen drank a cup of wine with her, then glanced at Huang Rang once more before leaving.

After he left, the atmosphere at the table immediately became somewhat subtle.

Sect Master Xie wasn’t a rash person. He had come over specially and deliberately mentioned the Huang family sisters—what deeper meaning did this carry?

He Xijin and Qu Manying exchanged glances, but neither said anything. He Xijin very naturally changed the subject. “But but I I wonder wonder, Jianzheng Jianzheng…”

Zhang Shujiu understood his meaning and picked up the conversation. “But I wonder how the Jianzheng came to meet this great sage?”

They all very tacitly didn’t mention Di Sanmeng.

Only because currently, there were far too many forces from all sides who wished to harm this person.

Di Yiqiu found it very strange. He glanced at Huang Rang—what, even He Xijin and the others didn’t know?

Huang Rang’s eyes looked left and right, pretending nothing was amiss.

The Jianzheng could only say, “Through a friend’s introduction. But the master was unwilling to show his true face, so we only spoke briefly.”

“Naturally so.” The other great masters nodded one after another.

Since the other party intended to conceal their identity, naturally everyone wouldn’t probe into someone’s privacy. So Zhang Shujiu changed the topic. He asked, “Speaking of which, Arang was also born with earth spiritual roots and has studied at the breeding institute for many years. Has she cultivated any improved seeds?”

Er… Everyone looked toward Huang Rang. Qu Manying also said, “That’s right. I remember a few years ago Arang mentioned this in a letter. She said she had cultivated two or three improved varieties. How are the results now?”

The Jianzheng, hearing these words, raised his eyebrows slightly with a half-smile.

—What kind of expression is that!

Huang Rang was like a poor student being questioned about their schoolwork by parents. She could only say vaguely, “This… it’s… it’s going okay, I suppose.”

The Jianzheng let out a scoffing laugh.

After laughing, the Jianzheng asked, “Is that so? May I ask Miss Arang, where are your improved seeds now? Could you take us to observe the trial fields?”

Huang Rang couldn’t help glaring angrily—truly, after getting a current husband, even the ex-husband started looking better!