Zheng Zhaoling's brow furrowed slightly as she looked up at Bai Xuanling, who hovered in the air.
Yunmeng Pavilion was still her sect. As the core disciple selected and nurtured by the sect with its full efforts, Zheng Zhaoling did possess a sense of belonging.
Bai Xuanling's posture and those words showed a certain lack of respect toward Yunmeng Pavilion.
At the very least, she should have followed proper procedure—reported at the main gate first before entering.
Not long after that command to "open the gate," once Bai Xuanling's identity was confirmed, Yunmeng Pavilion did open a small gap in its mountain-protecting grand formation, allowing Bai Xuanling to fly straight in from above.
This was an unprecedented precedent, and a clear sign that Yunmeng Pavilion had already lost a round in the contest of presence.
Zheng Zhaoling sighed inwardly at the sight.
Though all were among the Eighteen Immortal Sects, sometimes one could only swallow one's pride.
Zheng Zhaoling turned her gaze to Cui Hao:
"Bai Xuanling has arrived. Aren't you going to greet her?"
Cui Hao shook his head gently:
"If Senior Bai is looking for me, she'll naturally call me over. Senior Bai doesn't much care for idle pleasantries."
Zheng Zhaoling muttered under her breath: "What a bunch of oddballs."
Though Bai Xuanling's manner was brusque, Zheng Zhaoling wouldn't blame Cui Hao for it.
Only the incompetent took their frustration out on others.
Such low-class behavior was beneath Zheng Zhaoling.
She set down the sunflower seeds in her hand and rose, heading toward Yunmeng Pavilion's main hall.
Cui Hao spoke up: "Where are you going?"
Zheng Zhaoling stopped, thought for a moment, then answered honestly:
"You have your reasons for not going, but I am Yunmeng Pavilion's core disciple, and I've taken on your assignment. You can skip it when Bai Xuanling arrives, but I cannot."
Cui Hao sighed softly: "Sometimes I really can't tell if you're playing dumb or not. Isn't Senior Bai's hostile attitude obvious enough? If you go, all you'll do is stand there like a lackey and take the heat. What's the use?"
"Once Senior Bai has finished her opening gambit, she'll come find us herself. She's here because something truly important has happened, and to make sure you don't refuse to cooperate—she's here to back me up."
Zheng Zhaoling's expression wavered.
She could certainly tell this was the truth. But not going… would also come with a cost.
"You've helped so many people. Why not help me this once?" Cui Hao smoothed his sleeves and said calmly, "Senior Bai's attitude as she arrives sets the tone for everything I do next. If you don't go now, and they ask later, tell them I firmly refused to let you go. If you do go, I'll consider you unreliable."
Zheng Zhaoling heard this neither agree nor refuse, her expression still hesitant.
Cui Hao was entirely unconcerned by the hesitation on her face. He sat back down, picked up his sunflower seeds, and resumed cracking them:
"You're a people-pleaser. But people-pleasers make it easy for others to lose their respect. Learning to say no is part of standing on your own."
Zheng Zhaoling sat back down as well: "You make it sound like I agree to everything like some fool."
"There's a difference between a people-pleaser and a fool," Cui Hao answered with a smile.
Zheng Zhaoling settled her mind, reached for the sunflower seeds, and began cracking them too.
The two made idle chat every now and then.
Time passed, and neither knew how long.
Bai Xuanling's voice drifted in from outside the courtyard:
"You lazy brat—I ask you to come do some work, and you're over here relaxing instead?"
As the words fell, Cui Hao scrambled to his feet, his gaze sweeping toward a group of Yunmeng Pavilion elders and Supreme Elders clustered around Bai Xuanling.
It was as though the entire core leadership of Yunmeng Pavilion had followed in Bai Xuanling's wake.
Before Cui Hao could respond, Bai Xuanling strode closer and continued without pause:
"Could it be that Yunmeng Pavilion agreed verbally but has been sabotaging you behind the scenes?"
Zheng Zhaoling stood as well, her gaze first seeking out the Pavilion Master. He gave a slight shake of his head. Only after seeing this did she bow to Bai Xuanling.
The pressure of the world's only living True Immortal was simply overwhelming.
Bai Xuanling appeared even more at ease than the crowd of Yunmeng Pavilion elders around her. She sat down without ceremony in the chair beside Cui Hao, her gaze lifting slightly toward him—as if silently telling him to keep pressing, to give Yunmeng Pavilion another nudge.
A trace of amusement crossed Cui Hao's face: "Not exactly sabotage. Yunmeng Pavilion has even sent its core disciple—Zheng Zhaoling here—to assist me. It's just that the intelligence is insufficient for the moment, and no concrete arrangements can be made yet."
Bai Xuanling's gaze flicked to Zheng Zhaoling, whose expression remained unchanged, and said casually:
"She does have some notable talent."
Zheng Zhaoling cupped her fists: "Senior Bai flatters me."
"No flattery—I think Fellow Daoist Zheng is quite impressive." Cui Hao quickly jumped in with a smile, then deftly sat down in the chair beside Bai Xuanling. "You must have come with something urgent, Senior?"
Bai Xuanling produced a jade token from her spatial ring and handed it personally to Cui Hao:
"All the information you need is inside. Do what needs to be done. If you can't handle it, come find me and I'll handle it myself."
Cui Hao accepted the jade token with a solemn expression:
"Cui Hao understands."
Bai Xuanling nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to the Yunmeng Pavilion Master standing nearby:
"Don't say that Bai Xuanling doesn't reason with people. Let bygones be bygones."
"We won't repeat the great truths we all understand. We all have our difficulties—do what you can, and that will suffice."
"The Eighteen Immortal Sects have received Heaven and Earth's blessings. Naturally, they must also bear Heaven and Earth's burdens."
"Cui Hao may only be a Gold—"
Bai Xuanling paused mid-sentence, glanced at Cui Hao once more, then continued with a smile:
"Though he is only at the Nascent Soul realm, he represents my will and Chu Xingchen's."
"If he makes a mistake, I, Bai Xuanling, will personally come to apologize."
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master looked at Cui Hao, whose expression was humble and composed, and replied with a slight smile:
"Fellow Daoist Bai need not worry. The current matter was already settled in the covenant long ago."
"Within our capacity, Yunmeng Pavilion will certainly not refuse."
Bai Xuanling nodded gently, then reached out and patted Cui Hao's shoulder:
"I'll leave everything here to you. If there's anything you can't decide, send me a message."
Cui Hao cupped his fists: "Understood."
Bai Xuanling nodded with satisfaction, then stood and gave the Yunmeng Pavilion Master a slight bow:
"I have much to attend to. With the Pavilion Master's assurance, I am at ease and will trouble you no longer."
"Please, don't see me off."
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master exchanged the customary pleasantries, then still sent two elders to escort Bai Xuanling out.
The rest remained where they were, their gazes settling on Cui Hao and Zheng Zhaoling.
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master looked at Cui Hao, deliberated for a moment, then spoke directly:
"Fellow Daoist Bai said that only after the Great Calamity subsides and the Heavenly Dao returns to normal will we have the opportunity to achieve immortality."
Cui Hao was taken aback, then replied:
"I am only a Nascent Soul cultivator…"
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master smiled knowingly and looked at Cui Hao:
"I understand."
Cui Hao also smiled knowingly, then cupped his fists:
"I understand as well."
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master nodded with satisfaction.
The one who had come was a clever man.