“Hm?”
Lu Zheng halted his flying swords, as Fan Boyu’s words sounded too genuine.
But…
Seeing Lu Zheng seemed poised to act again, Fan Boyu hurriedly said, “Miss Du is an ideal candidate for our sect’s techniques. Let alone a mere New Sect sorcerer, even if you killed another priest, we wouldn’t become enemies.”
“Driven to the southern borderlands, yet still so divided within, that’s practically a death wish,” Shen Ying said coldly, though she stopped urging the peach blossom miasma.
Fan Boyu sighed, seeing everyone pause. To gain trust, he gently shook his porcelain bottle, releasing streams of peach blossom miasma back to Shen Ying.
“No choice, neither side can convince the other, so we just drag on,” Fan Boyu frowned, sighing deeply, “Now, hiding in the southern borderlands, our Original Sect is already waning. If the New Sect produces a few more powerful Saintesses and we delay another few centuries, the Merit Original Sect might truly vanish.”
Shen Ying collected the miasma, joining Yuanjing and others in looking at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng considered Fan Boyu’s methods, which indeed differed from the previous southern border sorcerer. The talk of the Original and New Sects didn’t seem like something concocted on the spot.
Even if there were omissions, they were likely minor details; the general direction seemed credible.
Nodding, Yuanjing sheathed his sword, Shen Ying withdrew her spell, and the eighteen celestial maidens descended from the clouds under Lu Zheng’s control.
The next moment, lights flickered on in the Liu family’s main house and front courtyard wing, as Old Man Liu, Liu San, and Liu Wu, seeing the fight was over, came out to join the excitement.
Fan Boyu glanced around, then turned to Lu Zheng, clasping his hands, “Fan Boyu, Wind Priest of the Yuansheng Cult, greets the young master.”
Lu Zheng returned a bow, “Lu Zheng, outer disciple of White Cloud Temple, greets Mr. Fan.”
Fan Boyu glanced at Yuanjing, “So, a distinguished disciple of White Cloud Temple, I’ve long admired your name.”
Old Man Liu chuckled, “Since we’re not mortal enemies, why not have tea in the front hall and talk things over, no need to fight.”
Lu Zheng and the others didn’t mind, and Fan Boyu was eager to comply, so they all agreed and moved to the front hall.
Seated, Liu San and Liu Wu served tea at the side.
Fan Boyu sipped his tea, making conversation, “I never expected a small place like Tonglin County to be a den of dragons and tigers, with White Cloud Temple’s direct disciples, divine immortals, an extraordinary family running a clinic, and a great master like Young Master Lu holding the fort.”
“Greetings, Daoist,” Fan Boyu first saluted Yuanjing, then turned to Shen Ying, “This must be the renowned Peach Blossom Fairy of the south city?”
“I am Shen Ying, greetings, sir,” Shen Ying nodded slightly, neither servile nor overbearing.
“Fairy, well met!” Fan Boyu returned the courtesy, then looked at Liu Qingyan, “I was truly blind, please forgive me, Miss Liu.”
He referred to inviting Liu Qingyan to join the sect and practice other witchcraft, as her ability to conceal her true strength showed her own inheritance was not inferior.
“No matter,” Liu Qingyan returned a courteous nod, graceful and proper.
After introductions, hostility dissipated. Fan Boyu continued, “The New Sect’s Saintess Xueyi is nearing her end. They’ve found two women with merit in the southern borderlands, but their merit is weak, their looks plain, and their talents crude, not to Xueyi’s liking, hence the earlier sorcerer’s venture into the Central Plains.
But at the time, other sects were stirring trouble in the southern circuits, and with the Anomaly Suppression Bureau and major Central Plains sects in place, the New Sect lost several sorcerers without success.
Recently, the southern circuits of the Great Jing Dynasty have been calm, so the New Sect sent more people to find vessels.
Our Original Sect also hopes to find women in the Central Plains’ blessed lands who can inherit the ancient witchcraft of the Yuansheng Cult, so priests like me have come.
But since the Yuansheng Cult retreated to the southern borderlands’ mountains, and the New Sect has tarnished our name, I couldn’t openly reveal my identity. With no rush, I’ve been wandering, sightseeing, and seeking fated individuals.”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, “That’s why you’re so familiar with Linling County in Rongzhou?”
Fan Boyu smiled smugly, “I stayed two months in Linling County, and neither you nor Old Master Wang saw through me, did you?”
Lu Zheng nodded helplessly. Indeed, if Fan Boyu hadn’t slipped up with *The Tale of Two Beauties*, he might not have grown suspicious.
After all, Fan knew Linling County too well, down to the signature dishes of its restaurants and the popular brothel from a decade ago, making it hard to doubt he was from there.
At this, Fan Boyu looked seriously at Du Yueyao, “Miss Du, I see everyone here is extraordinary, yet you’re the weakest. It’s not that Young Master Lu and Miss Liu are stingy, but your aptitude truly isn’t suited for ordinary cultivation paths.
As they say, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Though you can’t practice common techniques, in my view, you’re perfectly suited for our Yuansheng Cult’s ancient witchcraft.
Your kind heart, abundant merit, and suitable disposition make you the ideal candidate for our Merit Original Sect’s Saintess.
I wish to take you as my disciple, to guide you as you enter the sect. Though you’re an ordinary person now, I believe within twenty years, your cultivation could surpass mine.”
Du Yueyao couldn’t help swallowing hard. Honestly, she was tempted.
Fan Boyu was right. Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan weren’t stingy, but after examining her aptitude, they found it lacking. Even with merit improving her physique, she could only barely start refining qi for basic health, with no hope of mastering great techniques or roaming the seas.
Now, a technique suited for her was before her; how could she not be tempted?
But…
No matter how tempted, Du Yueyao didn’t agree immediately, instead looking at Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng smiled, asking, “What do you think?”
Du Yueyao said earnestly, “I’ll follow Big Brother Lu’s decision!”
From an official family, Du Yueyao was naive but not foolish. New to the cultivation world, rather than trusting her own judgment or a stranger she’d just met, she preferred to leave it to Lu Zheng.
She trusted Lu Zheng would never harm her.
Lu Zheng nodded with a smile, and both Liu Qingyan and Shen Ying’s eyes flashed with approval.
Fan Boyu couldn’t help looking at Lu Zheng, surprised by his influence over Du Yueyao. Wait, isn’t Lu Zheng paired with Liu Qingyan?
Lu Zheng looked at Fan Boyu, “What are your thoughts, Mr. Fan?”
Fan Boyu blinked, “My thoughts? Naturally, to take Miss Du as my disciple, bring her back to the Yuansheng Cult for careful teaching, with the Original Sect’s Saintess guiding her path. Within ten years, she could likely inherit the Saintess position.”
“I see…”
Lu Zheng nodded understandingly, then decisively said, “Then, of course… that’s not possible!”
