Three months had passed since Lu Yang had returned from the Five Elements Sect. One day, the Eldest Senior Sister received a Thousands-Mile Letter Pass, and she was momentarily startled.

She pondered in her abode for a moment, letting out a gentle sigh.

"It seems it’s time to send Junior Brother on a journey," she said.

Right at this moment, Lu Yang was at a critical moment in his cultivation.

With his mouth wide open, he was devouring the spiritual essence, sweating profusely. The sweat turned into mist, gathering above his head as if it were auspicious clouds.

"Whew! I finally advanced from the Seventh Heaven to the Eighth Heaven of the Golden Core Stage!" he exclaimed.

Opening his eyes, he saw the Eldest Senior Sister standing in front of him, who asked blank-faced, "Since when was the Golden Core Stage divided into Seven Heavens and Eight Heavens?"

Lu Yang immediately pointed out the behind-the-scenes mastermind: "Fairy Eternity was the one who said it. She said that the more detailed the levels, the more motivated the cultivation, and every step will provide a sense of achievement!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Are you selling me out?" Fairy Eternity, donned in a pink nightgown, seemed to have just woken up, jumped out from Lu Yang’s body, feeling unsatisfied upon hearing Lu Yang badmouthing her.

"How is this selling out? It was just Eldest Senior Sister asking a question, and I just answered truthfully."

"This is selling out."

"This is not selling out."

The Eldest Senior Sister felt that if she let the two of them continue to argue, nothing would be accomplished for the rest of the day.

She took out a letter with cursive, and cute handwriting on the envelope that read: ’to dear Senior Sister Yun Zhi’.

"What is this?"

"It’s a letter from your Third Junior Sister, Gan Tian, sent from the Demon Territory. She says she’s encountered some things related to the ancient past in the Demon Territory and wants me to find a scholar familiar with ancient history to go research with her or help her answer some questions."

This wasn’t a normal letter, but a magic artifact. It came in two designs, mother-artifact and sub-artifact. The Eldest Senior Sister owned the mother-artifact, while Third Junior Sister owned the sub-artifact. What Third Junior Sister wrote in the letter would also appear on the Eldest Senior Sister’s.

"I’ve thought it over, and the one who knows the most about ancient history is you. If you’re not busy, you could take a trip to the Demon Territory."

Lu Yang considered the suggestion. He had broken through to the Eighth Heaven realm, but he was still a long way from the Jiuchong realm. It wasn’t great to keep practicing in the sect, so he might as well get out and experience the world.

"I’ll go."

Seeing Lu Yang agree so eagerly made the Eldest Senior Sister see the presence of their master in him.

She reminded him, "You may make some new discoveries at the border of the Central Continent and the Demon Race territory. You can ask Third Junior Sister about that after you meet her."

...

A cultivator dressed in grey silk robe landed, hands tucked into his sleeves, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes almost closed.

"Halt, state your name."

The Seek Dao Sect disciple standing guard raised his hand to stop the grey-robed cultivator from entering, watching him warily.

Anticipating this, the grey-robed cultivator pulled out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to the two disciples.

"Please do me a favor. I am Xu You, the housekeeper of the Meng family, here to visit young Master Meng. Please be accommodating."

Checking the contents of the letter, the Seek Dao Sect disciples found an introduction from the Meng family, certifying Xu You’s identity. No one would dare to counterfeit this.

Usually the Meng family was the one deceiving others, not the other way around. Impersonating the Meng family meant you didn’t want to stay on the Central Continent anymore.

"So it’s Elderly Xu. May I ask why Elderly Xu is looking for Junior Brother Meng?"

Everyone in the Seek Dao Sect knew that Meng Jingzhou was the young master of the Meng family, although no one really mentioned it.

Xu You sighed. The smile on his face disappeared: "What else could it be, but to persuade the young master to return home. His parents miss him. They asked me to advise him to go home for a visit."

With these words, he pulled out two Storage Rings from his sleeve and handed them to the two Seek Dao Sect disciples.

"It’s cold here. I suppose it’s not easy for you two to guard the mountain gate. There are a few inexpensive little trinkets in these Storage Rings. Please make it convenient for me to enter."

The Seek Dao Sect disciples continuously insisted they should not accept it.

"We absolutely cannot do this. The Sect law forbids accepting bribes. Once found out, one will inevitably face severe punishment!"

"You two should take them. If you two and I, the three of us, don’t mention this, then who would know?"

The two Seek Dao Sect disciples saw they couldn’t refuse him and reluctantly accepted.

"A parent’s longing for their child is only natural. Please come in, Elderly Xu." The Seek Dao Sect disciple neatly refolded the letter, returned it to the envelope, handed it back to Xu You, and moved aside.

Upon entering the Seek Dao Sect, Xu You abandoned his sorrowful, sighing expression, letting his amiable smile resurface.

The River Spirit revealed its head, rising to the surface of the water.

Xu You respectfully bowed his head to the River Spirit, waiting until the River Spirit returned to the water before continuing on his way.

He knew beforehand that the young master was in the Abode by the Body Refinement Peak, where the old horse was grazing. He could easily identify Meng Jingzhou’s location.

He greeted the old horse, and the old horse responded with a snort, indicating that Meng Jingzhou was inside.

Xu You gently knocked on the stone door, three times, and then silently waited thirty seconds. Seeing no one answer, he knocked three more times.

Just as he prepared to knock with more urgency, Meng Jingzhou impatiently pushed open the stone door: "Who is it? I didn’t seclude myself for cultivation... if anyone wants to find me, just walk in, right?"

Raising his head to see Xu You’s face, he was surprised that it would be him knocking on the door. He cautiously queried, "Housekeeper Xu, why are you here?"

"Master Meng, may we go inside and talk? There are some things I can’t say out here."

Meng Jingzhou had no choice but to invite Housekeeper Xu inside.

Once inside the abode, Housekeeper Xu found a grass mat and sat down, explaining his purpose: "The Master has noticed that you have not returned home for two years. He wishes for you to return and visit him. He misses you very much."

"Impossible."

Without a second thought, Meng Jingzhou rejected the idea. He had left home with such determination two years ago, how could he return now?

"The Master said he knows about all the wrongs you have committed, and he forgives you."

Meng Jingzhou suspiciously eyed Xu You’s smiling face, trying to discern if the truth lay beneath his words.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Meng Jingzhou was ecstatic: "Even the incident in the brothel, where I cunningly arranged for my father and uncle to bid ostentatiously for the same courtesan, leading to the embarrassing situation of both pulling back the curtain at the same time – after learning about that, my father forgave me?"

"What about the time when I beat up Minister Li’s grandson, Minister Gong’s son, and even the prince? I thought I was discreet, but somehow my father found out. He forgave me for that too?"

"The incident when my father wished to take a concubine, and I told my mother about it, leading to her beating him up — my father has found out that it was me who did that, and he has forgiven me too?"

"And also..."

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The more Xu You heard, the more alarmed he became. When he had left, the master had only mentioned two or three incidents, not the rest.

He coughed awkwardly and toughened up: "Actually, Master Meng, you do not have to rush to return home. The master is busy with state affairs and might not even have time to see you. You should take your time to decide when to return."

"My main purpose for coming here was for another matter."

"What matter?"

Xu You smiled and said in a deep, cold voice, "I heard that you have been close with Lu Yang, the talent. The Master said this boy is very gifted and will surely become a great talent in the future. Perhaps, he could be useful to our Meng family..."