Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Why is this old fellow here?"

The already narrow street bustled with crowds.

The moment the Old Dean saw the other party, he stopped in his tracks, feeling slightly heavy-hearted; a bad premonition flashed through his mind.

"Could it be that Kunlun Immortal Palace has also received a revelation from the Upper Realm?"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The ancestor from Kunlun Immortal Palace, who was carrying his junior and an apology gift—a tangerine-colored cat, also noticed the scholar with a pale complexion in front of him.

"This Capital of Great Xia really harbors hidden dragons and crouching tigers. A mere scholar on the street actually has a faint aura of the Mahayana Realm. Eh, wait, there's something off about this person's aura...

He's not human!"

These two top cultivators from the Nine Provinces Realm were thus at an impasse on the spot.

One was pondering why the other would appear here, while the other was contemplating the true identity of the former.

A quarter of an hour passed.

Both remained where they were, neither making further moves.

Being two of the top cultivators, they certainly had the cultivation to compose themselves.

However, sufficient as their composure might be, it was Uncle Sugar Man on the street corner, speaking with an accent, who couldn't hold back first.

"You two, I've been watching you for quite a while. If you want to play 'Statues', go play by the roadside, and don't block the traffic in the middle of the street.

Didn't you see several men carrying loads just now? They turned down another street because they saw you two standing here.

And that elder, taking a kid and a 'Little Tiger' out for a stroll, what kind of trend is this?"

The sudden accent took the two top cultivators from the Nine Provinces Realm by surprise.

After a moment of astonishment, the ancestor of Kunlun Immortal Palace casually released the tangerine cat from his palm, letting it land on the ground, then raised his hand to point at himself, speaking with a hint of uncertainty, "Are you talking to me?"

"Not just you, I mean both of you. And that lad over there who looks like a refined scholar turned demon, are you listening? I'm not only talking about this elder here."

Uncle Sugar Man, worried that the Old Dean might not realize he was also referring to him, emphasized his point.

The scholarly-looking man: "..."

"Do you know who my ancestor is! He, he... wuu wuu wuu."

Before the ancestor from Immortal Palace could react, the chubby kid that he was holding by the ankle became disgruntled first.

Feeling his elder being insulted, he struggled and shouted the words just mentioned.

However, before the chubby kid could finish, his mouth was sealed by his elder's spiritual power.

"That chubby little kid, you wanted to say that your elder is a cultivator, right? But cultivators can't block traffic on the street either. Don't you see that this street is not wide and is quite crowded?

You two must be from out of town. Let me tell you, in Great Xia, we emphasize equality. Cultivators certainly contribute a lot to protecting civilians, and we respect you for that.

But blocking everyone's path in the street is wrong.

We have to separate these issues."

Uncle Sugar Man seemed to become addicted to the lecture, finishing his piece in one breath and looking as if he wanted to continue preaching.

However, the scholarly-looking man and the ancestor from Immortal Palace obviously weren't about to be lectured like naive children. They exchanged a slightly helpless glance and, in a synchronized motion, their figures flashed and vanished from the spot.

Uncle Sugar Man, seeing the space suddenly clear, paused for a second, smacked his lips, and showed a face that seemed to say he hadn't finished speaking. He muttered softly.

"Hey, don't go! If you're that receptive, Uncle will give you both a sugar figurine."

And then...

He saw the white-bearded old man reappear, pick up the tangerine cat from the ground, and then disappear again.

——————

In an unnamed alley somewhere in Shangjing City.

The scholarly-looking man and the ancestor from Kunlun Immortal Palace, who had returned after picking up the cat, stood facing each other, exchanging embarrassed looks.

Then, one of them took the lead in breaking the awkward silence of the alley.

"Hehe, the ethos within the boundaries of Great Xia is indeed different from our Miao State."

The ancestor from Immortal Palace chuckled dryly, feeling an unfathomable emotion rise within him.

He hadn't been lectured about not blocking traffic in who knows how many years, no, in fact, he had never been lectured about blocking traffic at all!

Apart from Great Xia, where else in the Nine Provinces Realm would common mortals dare to talk to cultivators like that?

Although their Kunlun Immortal Palace was a reputable sect, and they wouldn't wantonly kill commoners, the civilians would always act meek and respectful upon seeing them.

Today's incident had truly provided this elder of the Immortal Sect with a somewhat different life experience.

But to stoop to petty squabbles over a minor incident with a mortal, and to possibly do something against that person, would be below his dignity.

After all, he couldn't just kill the man, for he was not a demon cultivator.

Moreover, that person was a citizen of Great Xia, and Jin Xu, the Taoist, was also the uncle-in-law of Great Xia.

So, the ancestor from Kunlun Immortal Palace decisively chose to disappear.

If I can't cope with it, I can still avoid it, can't I?

On the other hand.

The thoughts of the Old Dean from Qingmu Academy weren't too different from the others.

"Hehehe, indeed, indeed, you must find it amusing; our customs in Great Xia are indeed somewhat different. By the way, I detect from your speech that you might hail from Miao State. May I ask what brings you to Shangjing City from so far away?"

"It's fate that we encountered this amusing little incident together. If there's anything I can assist you with, please don't hesitate to ask."

The scholar in white gave a dry laugh, concealing his own background while casually probing the other's purpose for coming here.

"Alas, my unworthy grandson has offended a certain official in Shangjing City.

Pitifully, at my age, I still have to travel such a great distance to offer an apology. I'm not sure if that official will forgive my grandson. If you are acquainted with any significant personages in Shangjing City, perhaps you could introduce me? It might make it easier for me to speak when facing that official."

The Ancestor of Kunlun Immortal Palace specifically mentioned his origin from Miao State a moment ago to try to glean where this seemingly Mahayana-cultivated and unearthly pale scholar hailed from.

Now, hearing the other claim he is a person of Great Xia, without delving into whether it's true or false, he seized the opportunity to put forth a request.

After all, with the other's cultivation level, if he indeed belonged to the Emperor Xia's court, it would serve well to form a connection.

If the other party was hiding something and had sneaked into Shangjing City, then it was all the better for him to take action and detain them.

Perhaps by doing so, he could curry favor with the emperor's brother-in-law and subsequently become successful in acquiring a new disciple.

However, upon hearing this, the pale scholar in front of him could almost confirm that the old fox before him was speaking nonsense.

Inwardly, he cursed the old fox twice and muttered to himself.

"The great Ancestor of Kunlun Immortal Palace, aside from Brother Jin in Great Xia, who is worthy of your apology? Moreover, you claim it was your grandson who caused the offense. Your grandson is older than Qingyun, whom I've seen before. Don't think that just because you're holding a chubby child as a prop, I'll be fooled into believing it's genuine."

But as much as he cursed internally, he still went along with it on the surface, intending to see what kind of medicine the other party was selling in his gourd.

"Oh, my dear sir, I wonder which official your grandson has offended in Shangjing City. I only know a few watchmen; I'm uncertain if I can be of any help?"

"Yes, yes, my grandson has not offended any person of significance. If you have connections, please introduce me to the officials among the watchmen."

The Ancestor continued to go with the flow, attempting to test the mettle of the other.

"... Uh, alright. If that's the case, then please come with me."

The pale scholar hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

He might not be a native of Great Xia, but there were many from his academy who held positions there.

The Old Dean was curious to see what medicine the Ancestor of Kunlun Immortal Palace was really selling.

—————

Let's not dwell on the two old foxes who were playing mind games on completely different wavelengths.

The scene shifts back to above the East Sea.

Youren Island, at the mountain's peak.

The young Taoist stepped forward and greeted the two with a cupped fist salute.

The two returned the gesture with expressions slightly odd, "Fellow Taoist, we were worried about Elder Wu's safety earlier and, in our haste to save a friend, may have caused offense."

"It's all right; there's no harm done since we didn't come to blows. Besides, you didn't actually attack me.

By the way, you are also elders of Little Yu, aren't you? Little Yu and I are already good friends. May I have the honor of your names?"

If he intended to put a stop to the rumors, he had to steer the conversation toward Yu Yaoer.

Otherwise, an abrupt declaration that he wasn't her master might lead to even those without such thoughts to start getting the wrong idea.

And this is precisely what Jin Xu was attempting to do at the moment.

Their two counterparts, upon hearing this, were about to introduce themselves but were somewhat puzzled because his introduction differed from what Wu Youren had said.

However, before they could speak,

Yu Yaoer, having finished her private conversation with the husky, hopped over and cheerfully called out, "Uncle Bei, Uncle Lin, long time no see."

"My lord, these two are renowned cultivators of the Shui Clan, each managing their own island.

Uncles, this is my lord Jin Xu, the master I acknowledge.

Oh, that's not right – just a quarter of an hour ago, my lord refused to acknowledge being my master, opting instead to be friends."

Halfway through the introductions, the Little Fish Demon remembered Jin Xu's reminder and quickly corrected herself. After speaking, she gave the young Taoist a look as if to say, look how well I listened!

"That makes it sound like I've jilted you after leading you on!"

As Yu Yaoer spoke, Jin Xu's heart sank with foreboding, instantly regretting not having covered her mouth earlier.

The two new arrivals, upon hearing the Little Fish Demon's words, their expressions changed dramatically, not once but thrice, leaving them with nothing but forced smiles.

"Elder Wu, didn't you say that this mysterious young Taoist was destined to take over our Shui Clan? How come he's now abandoned our little princess?"

"Indeed, what would the Great Elder say if he learned about this?"

One side, the Water Monkey Uncle scratched his white fur on his head in confusion and communicated mentally.

"I don't understand either; just now at the foot of the mountain, their relationship seemed fine."

Having listened to the three's conversation as one would to ordinary speech,

Jin Xu stood there with an expression of utter fatigue.

"Great, the rumor about being a master is dispelled, but now there's a rumor of me leading on and abandoning someone.

This is even worse than the previous one!

How am I to face Little Yu's grandmother now!"