After Qing Ju tucked away the handover documents, Miao Yi handed her another jade archive, "I'd like to trouble you for one more thing, Little Auntie. Once I've confirmed the location of my new appointment, I'd like to have these people handed over to me. I trust that this shouldn't be a big problem for you so I won't be bothering Manor Head over this."
Qing Ju looked through the jade archive, then cast a sideways glance to the Orbs of Will on the teapoy, asking, "Is that why you're giving me this gift?"
"Please don't tease me about it, Little Auntie!"
"I'll see what I can do!" Qing Ju sighed. She then extended her arm and personally escorted Miao Yi to the exit.
At the door, Miao Yi cupped his fists and bade Qing Ju farewell. With a bitter smile, Qing Ju said, "You'll be completely offending the three major sects by doing this. Even if they don't have an excuse to come after you right now, but when they do, they surely won't let you go!"
Miao Yi originally didn't plan on saying much, but hearing Qing Ju's heartfelt concern, he couldn't help smiling as he replied, "Do you think that the three major sects would have let me go if I didn't kill these people? Perhaps you didn't know this, but the three major sects even sent their members to take my life in the Subjugation Crusade. If I don't give them some response, they might think that I'm a pushover. Even if I were to suck it up and just leave, those bastards might not necessarily give up on trying to humiliate me. To still cower in fear when my own women were almost sent to warm someone else's bed… Such mockery will continue to haunt me wherever I go. Let me ask you this, Little Auntie. When this happens, how could I face my subordinates as their leader? How would I get the authority I need to stand firm in my position? If I don't do this, how will I get them to shut up? "
"It looks like you've already thought things through. I was worried for nothing then." Qing Ju no longer wished to discuss this further. What's done has been done. What she needed to do now was to clean up the mess in Mount Calming Sea. She extended her arm and said, "Sorry I can only send you this far. Take care on the road ahead!"
"Take care, Little Auntie!" Miao Yi cupped his fists, then strode off.
After which, Miao Yi told Fan Zizhang that he was leaving. It 'just so happened' that Fan Zizhang was about to return to Suppressing Second Hall as well, so he tagged along with Miao Yi.
The School of Blue Jade disciples escorted Miao Yi and the others to the mountain gates, then watched as they departed.
"How fast indeed! It's only been around a dozen years or so since my lord was promoted to Mountain Chieftain, and now he's being promoted to Manor Head already. It's truly a futile attempt to compare ourselves to him!" Tian Qingfeng couldn't help letting out a sigh as he watched the figures slowly disappearing in the distance. He naturally felt regretful for his decision. If he hadn't changed his allegiance back then, Miao Yi would've surely brought him along as well. And as soon as Miao Yi became a Manor Head, he would've definitely become a Mountain Chieftain.
But alas, there was no medicine that could cure regret in this world. Tian Qingfeng knew deep down, that even if he were given a second chance, he would've made the same decision as back then. When faced with such a threat, he had no choice but to prioritize his own life...
South Edict Manor. At the mountaintop, a spirit eagle perched itself under a great tree. Qing Mei curiously took out the storage ring from the cylinder by the spirit eagle's feet, and almost couldn't help her surprise when she examined its contents with her transcendence energy. There were so many heads inside. She soon noticed a stack of jade archives inside as well. She took out the one at the top of the pile and realized that it was from Qing Ju.
Her expression turned grave as she read the jade archive, and she quickly rushed inside the pavilion, where Yang Qing was sitting in meditation. Qing Mei said, "Master, something big just happened in Mount Calming Sea, and it's much more serious than you initially thought. Qing Ju sent this over!"
Yang Qing's eyes immediately shot open. He received the storage ring and examined it, and in the next instant, jumped down the bed furiously. He snatched the jade archive from Qing Mei and quickly went over it.
Once he was done reading and had some understanding of the situation, he took out the other jade archives inside the storage ring and read through every single one of them. As he finished reading one, he handed it over to Qing Mei to look through as well.
Once every jade archive was handed over to Qing Mei, Yang Qing placed his hands behind his back and sighed. "Not bad indeed. He's a bold one alright. This must be the exuberance of youth!"
"His grudge against the three major sects is pretty much set in stone with this. They definitely won't let him go!" Qing Mei said.
"Since he's brave enough to go this far, then he must be able to shoulder the responsibility!" Yang Qing scoffed. He was a little displeased that Miao Yi was bringing the other half of the written testimonies to Suppressing Second Hall. This was clearly a precautionary measure against him.
With a flip of his hand, Yang Qing took out a jade archive and wrote down an official decree. He then handed it over to Qing Mei and instructed, "Send this over to Qing Ju!'
Qing Mei looked through the contents, and couldn't help feeling a little surprised. She asked, "You're appointing Tian Qingfeng as Mountain Chieftain? I don't think the members of the three major sects will agree to this!"
"Is there anyone who knows Mount Calming Sea better than Tian Qingfeng at this point? Their own three major sects' members have already exposed so many of their heinous deeds. Don't you think they would want to avoid the limelight, at least for the time being? The more complicated the power struggle between the forces within the two Manors, the better. It's not a good thing for them to be united, so just let them continue fighting against one another. Miao Yi has just sent me such a perfect excuse, how could I not use it to its maximum potential?!" Yang Qing calmly explained...
When Miao Yi and the others were about to reach South Edict City, Yan Beihong, Hong Xiu, and Hong Fu separated from the rest of them, as they still needed to rush back to the First Earthly Branch. They couldn't just continue staying in the Fifth Earthly Branch after all. Wen Fang returned to South Edict City as well.
Along the way to Suppressing Second Hall, Qian'Er and Xue'Er rode behind Miao Yi and the others atop their Black-Scaled Drake Beasts. It was truly an imposing sight to have these two spiritual beasts as mounts.
As they were about to reach Suppressing Second Hall, Zhao Fei and Sikong Wuwei broke off from the others as well. Both parties agreed to meet again in the capital city.
The remaining five people proceeded into the vast mountains, heading straight for Suppressing Second Hall.
When they reached Suppressing Second Hall, Miao Yi and the others waited in front of the lofty palace while Fan Zizhang went in to announce their arrival. As it was their first time visiting, Yan Xiu, Qian'Er, and Xue'Er couldn't contain their astonishment at the rolling clouds, the precipitous cliffs, and the overall beautiful scenery around them. It would be no exaggeration to call this place heaven on earth. Mount Calming Sea was nothing compared to this.
On the other hand, Miao Yi was staring in deep thought towards the inside of the tall palace gates.
"Mountain Chieftain Miao, the Hall Master has permitted you all to ride in on your mounts. This is a great honor indeed!"
After he made his report, Fan Zizhang came back out bearing good news. However, his expression didn't seem too good. After all, he had failed to complete the task the Hall Master assigned to him. Even though he managed to sabotage Shen Fenghua and placed all the blame on him, he didn't expect that Huo Lingxiao would also scold him for being useless.
What did it mean to be called useless? Fan Zizhang felt terribly vexed deep down.
Miao Yi cupped his fists as a show of thanks for the Hall Master's kind consideration. He didn't reject the offer and led Yan Xiu and the others straight in on their mounts.
They then made their way across the wide plaza and came before the main entrance of the harem. After noticing that Tian Yu and Liu Xing were already waiting by the entrance, Miao Yi hurriedly waved his hand and signaled for Yan Xiu and the others to dismount.
Just as they were getting ready to bow, Tian Yu and Liu Xing had already curtsied and greeted, "We respectfully greet Lord Miao!"
Despite already knowing the truth deep down, Miao Yi feigned a look of surprise and quickly stepped forward to bow back. "Aunties, this won't do. It is I who should be respectfully greeting you instead!"
To the side, Fan Zizhang, Yan Xiu, Qian'Er, and Xue'Er were absolutely dumbfounded. To think the two Aunties of Suppressing Second Hall would actually call Miao Yi 'Lord Miao'. Even if it was a show of respect, this was simply too great of an honor.
Tian Yu and Liu Xing's lips curled into a smile as they pretended to be mysterious. They turned their bodies to the side and extended their arms as they said, "Lord Miao, please come inside!"
Miao Yi immediately followed them in timidly. He didn't dare put on any airs and left his mount outside.
They entered the tranquil garden and eventually made their way to the center of the harem, where they saw Huo Lingxiao standing at the top of the steps leading to the main hall—he was looking at them with a face full of smiles.
"Big Brother Xiao?" Miao Yi asked in confusion.
Yan Xiu, Qian'Er, and Xue'Er had seen Huo Lingxiao before back in East Arrival Cave, so they were naturally surprised as well.
'What Big Brother Xiao?' Fan Zizhang was absolutely puzzled.
Tian Yu and Liu Xing stepped forward and reported, "Hall Master, Lord Miao has arrived."
"Hall Master?!" Miao Yi exclaimed, his face in apparent shock.
Yan Xiu and the others were obviously even more startled!
"Haha!" It seemed as though Huo Lingxiao was quite pleased with Miao Yi's and the others' reactions. He let out a hearty guffaw and quickly walked down the steps, then grabbed Miao Yi's arm in a very familiar manner and said, "My dear Little Brother, I have waited for you for a long time. Come! Have a seat inside!"
Tian Yu couldn't help smiling as she followed them in, whereas Liu Xing tried to stifle her laughter as she invited Yan Xiu and the others into the side hall.
Fan Zizhang was so shocked that he kept turning to look back with every step he took.
As Miao Yi entered the main hall, he seemed to still have trouble believing the situation before him. He asked slowly, "Big Brother Xiao is the Hall Master of Suppressing Second Hall?"
"Huo Lingxiao, Suppressing Second (Yi) Hall's master (Zhu). Hence, Xiao Yizhu. Is there something wrong with that?" Huo Lingxiao spread his arms out and teased, "Have you still not figured it out yet, my dear Little Brother?"
Miao Yi hastily bowed, "This subordinate respectfully greets the Hall Master!"
Huo Lingxiao reached out and pulled him up, saying, "There's no need for such formalities between us brothers. Relax. Show me that courage of yours back when you threatened me in the plum garden."
"Pfft!" Tian Yu stifled her laughter as she served some scented tea.
"Let's sit down and talk. Today, there shall be no difference in status between us. Just two brothers meeting together." Huo Lingxiao pulled Miao Yi down to his seat. The two of them were separated by a teapoy.
Miao Yi said sheepishly, "Hall Master, surely you jest. This subordinate cannot handle such jokes."
"I just said there isn't going to be any difference in status between us here. Why are you still calling me Hall Master?" Huo Lingxiao feigned an angry look and said, "Little Brother, if you continue to be so polite, your Big Brother here is going to be angry."
"Since Big Brother has put it that way, then your Little Brother will speak freely then!" Miao Yi revealed an expression of relief and added, "Truth be told, I'm at fault for being too dumb not to have realized this sooner. I should've pieced everything together back when I saw Hall Master Wu in charge of the fleet heading to the Sea of Constellations.
Speaking of this matter, Huo Lingxiao sighed and said, "Little Brother, I'm deeply sorry for the matter with the Sea of Constellations. I didn't think about it too much at the time and left everything to Tian Yu's discretion." He pointed a finger to Tian Yu, then added, "Who would've guessed that my subordinates had drafted you in as well. It's my fault for being too concerned for my own status that I didn't reveal that you and I are actually sworn brothers. Tian Yu didn't know about this either, and as a result, she blindly approved your participation and put you through such perilous dangers. I only realized that I'd almost made a big mistake when I saw the list of returnees from the Sea of Constellations. It was most fortunate that you were able to return safely, dear Little Brother. Otherwise, your Big Brother would be racked with guilt for the rest of his life!"
Miao Yi laughed bitterly. "Big Brother, you really had me fooled. If I'd known you were the Hall Master of Suppressing Second Hall, I would have definitely come looking for you back then."
"Aii! I hope you will not take this matter to heart, Little Brother. Please forgive your Big Brother for his moment of carelessness." Huo Lingxiao put on an embarrassed face. He believed that Miao Yi was speaking the truth. If the latter had known about his identity, he would've surely come looking for him back then.
Miao Yi replied earnestly, "You didn't mean to do it either. There's no need to blame yourself, Big Brother. I never thought that the brother I swore an oath with in the heat of the moment would turn out to be a Hall Master. I'm a lucky one indeed."
In Huo Lingxiao's eyes, Miao Yi had indeed made an acquaintance with someone of a higher standing. As such, Huo Lingxiao fully believed that Miao Yi was speaking the truth. He chuckled and said, "Since I have no way to take back the mistake that I've made, it's obvious that I should make up for it somehow. To that end, I've sought the Palace Lord's help specifically, and the Palace Lord has also agreed that if you choose to stay within the Traversing Moon Palace, you would be placed in charge of the area with the only crystal coin mine within the Palace Lord's domain. My dear Little Brother, this is a truly rewarding, yet cushy job to have!"