Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Do you all know of the legend, when the Confucian Saint as a child visited Mount Tai and rescued an orchid that was trampled by a horse-drawn carriage?"

As Zhu Yangzi began to speak, the disciples in the dining hall fell silent.

Those who were crowding around the window to watch the excitement obediently returned to their seats, eagerly awaiting the words of the third peak's master.

"Master, could it be that Mr. Lan has something to do with that orchid?"

Zhao Dabao placed his hand on his stomach, inquiring curiously.

"Indeed, the orchid that was saved by the Confucian Scholar later achieved success in cultivation, transformed into human form, and was by the Confucian Saint's side as he grew up, holding an extraordinary status.

Eventually, she even had her own daoist lineage and inheritance."

"And this Mr. Lan, it is said that when she first embarked on the path of cultivation, she was actively chosen by the inheritance of that orchid, which is why everyone at Qingmu Academy gives her some deference."

Without any intention to tease their curiosity, Zhu Yangzi swiftly explained to the Blazing Sun Sword Sect's disciples the inner reasons why Lan Junyan was so formidable.

"Just a daoist inheritance, I still think this person's attitude towards her peers is too much."

The young sword cultivator with red eyebrows put down his chopsticks, still holding firm to his opinion.

"The daoist inheritance is merely an internal reason. The external reason is that she has reached the top of the Divinity Transformation Realm and is close to Crossing Tribulation. She is the top expert in Qingmu Academy after Dean Qingyun. The opening of the Secret Realm this time is presided over by her. While you are in the city, be careful not to stir up trouble; otherwise, even I cannot defeat her."

Zhu Yangzi did not shy away from admitting that his strength was not on par with hers, and he even glanced at his own young disciple beside him when he said this.

His little disciple had promising cultivation talent but was somewhat stubborn and idealistic.

However, Zhu Yangzi did not wish to preach too much; that was not his way.

Young people just need to be schooled a bit, which is often more effective than a lecture.

After instructing the disciples who came to enter the Qingmu Secret Realm, Zhu Yangzi stood and left the dining hall to return to his room for cultivation.

At the dining table, the remaining disciples of the Blazing Sun Sword Sect continued their lively chatter.

Zhao Dabao sat in his original seat, exchanging pleasantries with the red-eyebrowed swordsman beside him before participating in the discussion with his fellow disciples at the table.

He remained here with the intention of bonding with everyone, after all, he would need their help in obtaining the petal of the Eternal Lotus in the Qingmu Secret Realm.

"If only the young Taoist were here in Qingmu City at this moment. No, with the strength of the young Taoist, he has probably already surpassed the Divinity Transformation Realm and wouldn't be able to enter the Secret Realm at all."

Jin Xu's visit to the Zhao family had already been relayed to him after his father returned to Gusu City.

However, when Dabao's father went to visit Jin Xu at the small platform later on, he found that the man and the Taoist temple had vanished!

All that was left were a bunch of well-fed wolves and dogs.

Although the young Taoist had left a Communication Jade Token for him, there were no urgent matters, so the Zhao family father and son did not dare to disturb Jin Xu rashly.

...

Across the courtyard, after the God of Cookery.

The young Taoist, accompanied by two women, peered through the window, secretly observing the scene unfolding in the yard.

Song Xili sincerely apologized after Mr. Lan gave him the chance to speak, saying he should not have deceived her back then, but he truly had no choice.

He then mentioned how the Taiji Bull's forebears had sacrificed themselves in the great war between immortals and demons.

In the end, he also expressed that his visit to Qingmu City was because he knew of her fondness for rare flowers and plants, and although he knew he couldn't make amends, he still wanted to buy some flowers and plants to apologize to Lan Junyan.

Through this combination of explanation and apology, Jin Xu actually watched as the word "fierce" on Elder Song's forehead turned into "auspicious!"

After listening to Song Xili's words, the frost in Mr. Lan's eyes gradually dissipated, and her facial expression slowly softened.

"Elder Song does make some sense, considering my temper back then, had he not concealed it, that Ox Demon would have had no chance of survival.

Forget it, since the past incident has been proven to be a misunderstanding, I've already hit and scolded him enough, and considering that the Taiji Bull's forebears also sacrificed themselves for the academy, I will accept the rare flowers and plants today and let this matter rest."

Lan Junyan pondered for a long moment and then made up his mind.

"Mr. Song, the matter with the Ox Demon was a misunderstanding, which I had been aware of since back then.

You deceived me once, but we have already resolved that at the academy.

Since you are so sincere, bring out the rare flowers and plants you've prepared to apologize with. If they catch my eye, let's consider the matter settled."

The words Mr. Lan spoke were slightly different from what was in his heart, but his nature had always been such. Now that he had said this much, it was essentially offering Song Xili a way to save face.

Upon hearing these words, delight uncontrollably spread across Mr. Song's face, and the Milk Cow Demon feigning unconsciousness stealthily opened an eye to peek at its master.

"I haven't had many deep conversations with my master over the decades, has he become so skilled in dealing with women!?"

The Taiji Bull was shocked.

Meanwhile, Song Xili was mulling over,

"Elder Wang is indeed the foremost suave fairy in the Nine Provinces. The lines he taught me are quite effective!"

The Mr. Song, who spent his days mingling with two other grown men, could not have uttered the words spoken earlier. If he had such eloquence, the matter would have been resolved back then.

There would have been no need for him to be hit after all these decades.

The words that Song Xili had just spoken were taught to him word for word by a Taoist he met overseas ten years ago. After Song entered Qingmu City, the teachings were transmitted via a Communication Jade Token. Mr. Song hadn't been particularly confident about this approach, akin to a drowning man clutching at a straw. He didn't quite believe that a few sentences could persuade Lan Junyan.

But, unexpectedly, they worked.

"Could it be that Elder Wang was right? That what a woman needs is just the right attitude, and that my usual 'This is a misunderstanding, Mr. Lan. You got it wrong,' was indeed problematic?"

...

Half a quarter of an hour earlier.

Not too far away, atop a brothel that happened to offer a view into the yard where the culinary god was stepping.

Mei Shouyi and Mr. Zhu were crouching sneakily on the glazed tiles, quietly observing the movements in the distance.

The two of them used the positioning talisman to determine Song Xili's location early on and came here to enjoy the spectacle.

"Chuanren, from Elder Song's intention, it seems like he is planning to send flowers to apologize to Mr. Lan," Mei Shouyi used his Spiritual Sense to overhear the conversation in the courtyard and turned to gently inform his companion.

"Impossible, Fairy Lan has never accepted such items from men," Zhu Chuanren declared with full confidence while lying in wait.

"Chuanren, you can't conclude that Mr. Lan wouldn't accept anyone's gift just because she never accepted yours. What if she accepts the ones from Boss Song?"

"Impossible, Fairy Lan she..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the two eavesdropping with their Spiritual Sense heard Mr. Lan say he would take the rare flowers and plants if they were to his liking.

Mr. Zhu felt as if a fine arrow pierced through his heart upon hearing these words. How painful!

"See, I told you I was right," Mei Shouyi said unsympathetically, twisting the knife.

"I'll fight you for this!"

Zhu Chuanren turned and gripped Mei Shouyi's throat, and the two began wrestling with just their physical strength.

"Hey, Chuanren, you're wrong for this, it wasn't me who sent flowers to Mr. Lan, it's... uh, hey!"

As they tumbled and wrestled, they accidentally rolled off the rooftop.

They fell straight toward the entrance of the brothel below.