It was decided that Yu Huan’s Alchemy Pavilion would be located on the sect premises, and the Soaring Feather Trading Company’s alchemists who arrived with them from the capital would be working in the same building.

During the trip Wu Long continued to help Yu Huan to improve her skills and expand her knowledge of the Alchemy Dao, so by this time she was almost ready to refine the Yang Fire Dragon Pill. With Sui Luxiao’s help, her alchemy equipment and ingredients were already here when they arrived.

Thus, when the meeting ended she departed to start practicing right away while the Crown Prince with his daughter withdrew to their new living quarters within the sect.

Sui Luxiao and Bi Rui left off with Wei Lan to see the sect while Wu Long remained alone with Lian Zhiqiu again.

“Haa~, where are my peaceful days?”

The Palace Master sighed as she reclined back to the backrest of the sofa and closed her eyes.

“You exaggerate, Palace Master. And even if I did nothing your peaceful life would have come to an end eventually, in about a year or two”

Wu Long smiled at her sigh, reclining back on his sofa as well. She opened her eyes to look at him with a slight surprise which quickly subsided. If looked from the perspective of all that she knew about him now, it was not that surprising that he knew about the looming trouble on the continent.

“You really are an interesting man, Wu Long”

“I find you much more interesting, Palace Master”

“Hah”

Lian Zhiqiu scoffed at his words said with a charming smile, unable to deny that it was effective in getting her slightly flustered as she shifted her gaze from him.

“Speaking of which, I would like to borrow 3 pairs of disciples for the Winter Forest Hunt”

“Oh my, oh my, have I been honored with a question before you do something?”

She smiled with ‘astonishment’ and ‘delight’. He chuckled at that reaction as he shook his head.

“I am not talking about regular disciples, what I want are your ‘foundlings’ that are under your supervision”

He smiled and a sharp look appeared in her eyes as he was talking about people like Hua Ziyan and Ye Ling. The two of them were more outstanding examples, but there were many more disciples brought by Lian Zhiqiu from her travels who did not show extraordinary talent or qualities, eventually overshadowed by the exceptional ones and fading into the background, melting into the sect.

It was considered that they were not any different from normal disciples of the sect, and were not given any special attention, but it was apparent from the demeanor of both Wu Long and Lian Zhiqiu that this was not exactly the case.

“How did you figure it out?”

She asked after a long pause during which she looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“By observing the sect a little, but the biggest giveaway was Elder Hai who was responsible for me when my memories were sealed”

Wu Long replied with a light smile and an expression saying ‘makes sense’ started to appear on the Sect Leader’s face.

“You noticed his real cultivation level?”

“That and the fact that his standing in the sect was relatively low and yet he is your trusted subordinate.

It caught my attention, so after a closer look I found several Elders who matched this description, and each of them had a group of ‘normal’ disciples from the couples side of the sect under their wings, all of whom were ‘coincidentally’ people brought into the sect by you over the years”

He nodded, confirming her words as she sighed.

“I was hoping to keep this under wraps for a little longer”

“Haha, keeping a low profile while amassing strength is a good strategy, but that could create problems as well”

“Secret dagger can help you out in a fight you would normally lose” .

“And yet to keep that dagger secret you would have to tolerate being suppressed by opponents you would normally be able to squash”

“True, but I believe that minute losses mean nothing in the face of overall victory”

“It could be true, just not the method I prefer. I believe it is those minute losses that prevent you from acting freely, and thus limiting your growth.

If a hidden dagger would help you deal with the enemy you would normally lose to, then a sword that is sharpened by open combat can help you become strong enough to defeat that enemy”

Wu Long and Lian Zhiqiu looked each other in the eyes as the back and forth continued in a rather leisurely manner.

Neither of them was persuading the other in being right, but sharing their thoughts on the topic, that helped them understand each other’s thinking.

It was undoubtedly a valid tactic to conceal one’s strength which would allow dulling the alertness of the enemy, but in Wu Long’s view, the cost that tactic placed made it equivalent to a more straightforward approach.

And since both tactics were valid, he preferred the less tedious and convoluted one, granted, not in all situations.

“Are you going to bring that couple you have been nurturing as well?”

Lian Zhiqiu finally asked, tacitly agreeing to give Wu Long what he asked.

“Yes, even if they now have the status of Elders they still fall under the younger generation category due to how young they are”

“Hmm, you were told to bring 10 people though, I can give you one more couple from my disciples”

“No need, I am a disciple myself, and who if not Ziyan as the Prime Disciple would represent the younger generation of our sect, so we would make the final two participants”

He shook his head with a smile.

“Hah, with you there would you even need the others?”

She chuckled.

“I do not plan to actively move unless necessary, and this trip is more of an excuse to train the couple. More than that though, I will train your hidden dagger as well” .𝒎

“Sounds so enticing that I am even tempted to send out all of my people”

Lian Zhiqiu’s eyes sparkled with a light of interest, since combat training from Wu Long was something she could only hope for in case of her trusted people.

“Hmm, I am not that good at teaching you know, and much less efficient with large number of people…”

He smiled, and the Sect Leader sighed, nodding to his words as it required a special talent to organize and command large groups of people.

“… but I do know a lady who excels in that. I am just not yet certain if she would join me”

He then finished and a surprised expression appeared on Lian Zhiqiu’s face, which then turned into a wry smile.

“Hah, you didn’t have to try and look humble by adding the last part”

They both chuckled as Wu Long stood up to follow Yu Huan.

“Say, are you willing to become the Vice Palace Master after…”

Lian Zhiqiu started but saw him shaking his head in response.

“Believe me, the enemies I would bring in if I were put in the limelight in this sect would be the ruin of it. I am much more satisfied with having your cooperation as the Sect Master”

He smiled and she smiled back, after which he left the room while she stood up and approached the window, looking at the snowy sect with a pondering gaze.

After some time, she summoned Elder Hai.

This content is taken from 𝘳𝑎.𝗇t