Upon arriving at the sect they immediately proceeded to greet the Sect Master, ascending the Peak of Unity and arriving at her mansion.

“It has been a while, Your Highness”

Lian Zhiqiu said with a carefree smile while Song Minfu was visibly cautious.

“It has indeed, Sect Master Lian. I will trouble you for a while this time”

He finally sighed as he had to get used to being in her presence since they would be spending some time here.

“Greetings and a pleasure to meet you, Sect Master Lian. I would like to extend my apologies for inconveniencing you for some time. We would be in your care”

Song Lingfei also extended her greetings as the Sect Master shook her head.

“No worries, Your Highnesses, it is a pleasure to be of use to you. Please feel free to tell us if there is anything inconvenient, as we would like your stay here to be as comfortable as possible”

The princess smiled in response to Lian Zhiqiu’s welcoming words while the Crown Prince sighed with relief that the response was more amicable than he expected.

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Palace Master Lian. My name is Sui Luxiao, the leader of the Soaring Feather Trading Company that would be entering under your sect’s operation”

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance for me as well. I am Yu Huan, an alchemist who would be opening the Alchemy Pavilion under the sect’s management”

Sui Luxiao spoke next, cupping her fists and Yu Huan followed her to make the same gesture. Lian Zhiqiu froze with a smile after hearing their introductions.

“Ahahaha, the pleasure is all mine, you two. I am glad to have such dependable people join this humble sect. If you would excuse me, I would like to borrow disciple Wu Long for a minute. He has a report for me that I have to hear urgently and in private”

She then made a dry laugh and with the same frozen smile looked at Wu Long.

“Palace Master, I can make that report to you once our guests-…” .𝒎

Wu Long chuckled with an innocent smile on his face. It was normally not appropriate to leave the Crown Prince and his daughter to deal with matters like a report, and the meeting just started not long ago so making a break was definitely bound to cause doubt. In fact all four people who spoke with her showed signs of catching on to something.

“Oh my, how true. However, it is an URGENT matter after all, so I would appreciate your understanding, Your Highnesses”

“…! Of course, Palace Master Lian, we understand. No one will blame you if you deal with the urgent matter first”

Lian Zhiqiu’s unchanging smile turned to the father and daughter who felt goosebumps from that tone and smile, nodding energetically as the Palace Master dragged Wu Long away from the meeting room to the study.

*Bam*

“Hahaha, disciple Wu. I seem to have been demoted without noticing it”

As soon as the door closed behind them, the formations activated and Lian Zhiqiu spoke with that same smile, but now there was a slightly pulsating vein on the side of her forehead near her temple.

“Demoted? I find that hard to believe”

Wu Long chuckled with the same innocent look as the vein on Sect Master’s temple became slightly more pronounced.

“Can you imagine? I was also shocked”

“There must have been a mix up. I’ll figure it out for you, Palace Master”

“No no, don’t overwork yourself, I think you have done enough for now”

Lian Zhiqiu’s smile gradually turned darker as she looked at him.

“No way, there is never such a thing as enough effort for the sake of the Palace Master”

“Hah! That glib tongue of yours is truly a wonder.

Bringing the Song father and daughter alone is a big deal, but managing a large trading company and opening an alchemy pavilion?!

I may be lenient but it does not mean that you can do however you please! I am still the Palace Master as far as I remember”

Lian Zhiqiu folded her arms, causing her alluring chest to slightly bounce above her lower arms as she snorted.

“Haha, my bad, my bad. But think about it, Palace Master, what heights can this sect achieve”

“This sect was not meant to achieve any heights”

“Maybe, but does it matter to you if it does?”

“…”

As Wu Long asked the crucial question, Lian Zhiqiu looked at him in silence for some time. The most truth was that it made absolutely no difference to her whether Wu Long brought Sui Luxiao and Yu Huan into the sect or not since the sect had a very specific purposed for her which was not in any way impeded by his actions.

“Would it not create more unnecessary work for me?”

“Not if you find appropriate people to assist you. You alone may not excel in everything, but if you find the right people to fill the right positions you will find that your life will turn even more carefree than before”

Wu Long smiled, taking a step toward the pondering Lian Zhiqiu.

“Even if that is true, I still find your way of doing things displeasing”

She sighed as she could see reason in his words. And yet there was still that feeling that was tugging at her, that the somewhat calm way of life she once had was like sand, gradually slipping through her fingers.

“Hmm, would you prefer I separate to create my own sect?”

He then stroked his chin with a pondering look as Lian Zhiqiu wryly smiled while sighing once again.

‘Hah, this damn disciple, he knows perfectly well that I can’t agree to that’

She thought as she looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“You really are hateful sometimes, you know?”

“Me?! That cannot be true”

Wu Long made an astonished face of a person wrongly accused of something he had not ever done in his entire life while she sighed with a rueful smile while shaking her head.

“Come on, let’s return to the Crown Prince and the others”

She sighed as there were some details to discuss further.

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