"G-Greetings, Lady Mei," Zhao Yunxiao forced himself to stop backing away upon recognising this newcomer, and hurriedly clasped his fists towards her.
His words seemed to have struck a bell in the minds of his companions, who quickly followed suit. "Greetings, Lady Mei."
"There's no need to be so formal," Mei Shufang casually waved off their greetings. "We look to be around the same age, so you can just address me as Sister Mei."
"I don't think that's appropriate..." Zhao Yunxiao felt the corner of his lips twitch.
"How inflexible! You won't be able to pick up girls like this, you know?" Mei Shufang chided.
"Hah, Lady Mei sure loves to jest," Zhao Yunxiao was honestly confused at the moment. This was definitely not what he had expected Mei Shufang's mannerism to be, especially after witnessing how she had put Cheng Kai down with complete indifference earlier.
"Sister Mei!" Lu Zhiying called out, causing Zhao Yunxiao's heart to pound. "May I know what brought you to us?"
"See? Sister Lu gets it," Mei Shufang replied with a smile. "Honestly, I don't have a particular reason for approaching you guys. However, I noticed that you are acquainted with Junior Martial Brother Lin. As his senior martial sister, I thought that I might as well come say hi as well. Have you known each other for long?"
"Prior to today, we have only crossed paths once, and purely by coincidence," Zhao Yunxiao answered honestly. "Is there a particular reason why Lady Mei is asking this?"
"No particular reason," Mei Shufang shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just that when I noticed the death glares that you shot towards Senior Martial Sister Quan when we entered, I thought that you had some deep animosity with our Vermilion Bird Sect. However, that is clearly not the case considering your friendliness towards Junior Martial Brother Lin. That's what got me curious. It seems like it is just my Senior Martial Sister Quan whom you have an issue with, then?"
Zhao Yunxiao had to forcibly suppress his shock from showing on his face.
It was clear that this Senior Martial Sister Quan that she spoke of referred to Infernal Claw Quan Hui.
That said, there were so many people in the Black Guardian Square, and they had even been seated in the most unimportant seats – the section for outer disciples. Yet Mei Shufang still managed to notice the look of animosity in their eyes during the entrance of the Vermilion Bird Sect members?
Was it by sheer luck? Or was her awareness just that incredible?
Regardless, what was he supposed to say here?
Would denying everything work? Or should he mix in some bits of truth?
No, the former would never work. Had she not been absolutely sure, it was unlikely that she would approach them in such a manner.
In that case...
"You have our sincerest apologies if our playful actions have caused any offence, Lady Mei," Zhao Yunxiao took a slight bow. "We were just joking around among ourselves, and you can be sure that that is not our intention whatsoever."
"Don't worry, I am not here to blame you or anything," Mei Shufang took a step back and bowed slightly herself. "Instead, I am here to apologise on my Senior Martial Sister Quan's behalf for whatever she had done to offend you in the past."
"Eh?"
Zhao Yunxiao and the rest of the group were momentarily stunned to have a core disciple of the Vermilion Bird Sect bow towards them.
"I don't know if you will believe me, but while Senior Martial Sister Quan might be a little hot-tempered, her true nature is certainly not evil," Mei Shufang explained. "She just doesn't fully understand how to handle matters in a proper and tactful manner. I hope you don't hold things against her."
"Lady Mei is being too serious! Please rise!" Zhao Yunxiao hurriedly replied.
For a core disciple of the Vermilion Bird Sect to bow to them here in public, he shuddered to think about just what kind of trouble this would bring him in the future!
"Does that mean you are willing to let the matter rest?" Mei Shufang asked cheerfully after straightening her back. "In that case, you can't hold a grudge against Senior Martial Sister Quan or the Vermilion Bird Sect anymore!"
"Of course we won't," Zhao Yunxiao said helplessly. "This has been a small matter from the beginning. We are allies first and foremost, so there's no place for any deep grudges between us."
And in the first place, what was the point of outer disciples like them bearing grudges against a core disciple like Quan Hui?
Apart from rooting for her enemies, it was not like they would ever be able to do anything against her.
"That's good to hear!" Mei Shufang beamed brightly. "Oh, since you have already mentioned that we are allies first and foremost, can I shamelessly trouble you with one more question?"
"Please feel free to ask," Zhao Yunxiao answered.
"Would you happen to know who the observer in charge of Cheng Kai during the opening of the Four Symbols Mystic Realm was?"
A simple question, but a question that stumped Zhao Yunxiao nevertheless.
Everyone knew that San Wanfan's party had successfully put a stop to Quan Hui's party back in the mystic realm.
However, those who had bothered to look a little deeper also understood that Cheng Kai's duel with Quan Hui was the true reason for that success.
On top of that, Quan Hui's party was also Mei Shufang's party.
By linking those points together, one could easily understand why Mei Shufang was asking about Cheng Kai. That said, asking about Cheng Kai was fine, but why ask about the observer?
Who asks for the observer, anyway?
What sin did the observer commit that she had to look for him?
The observer was not even in the mystic realm with them, so leave him out of this!
However, Zhao Yunxiao only paused for the slightest of moments before regaining his composure. "May I know why Lady Mei is asking about this?"
"No particular reason," Mei Shufang shrugged. "It's just that Cheng Kai acted rather differently this time as compared to past years – almost as though he had been given specific targets to go after. So, I'm just a little curious if some special instruction has been given to him. And what better way to find out than to ask his observer, the only person who could communicate with him while in the mystic realm? Am I right?"
"Well, one better way might be to just ask Senior Martial Brother Cheng himself," Zhao Yunxiao suggested.
"You saw what happened earlier – he only wants to fight when he sees me," Mei Shufang slouched her shoulders to show her exhaustion. "Anyway, this is not too important, so don't worry if you are unaware. Farewell, Brother Zhao Yunxiao! Farewell too, Sister Lu and others!"
"F-Farewell, Lady Mei..." Zhao Yunxiao replied with a forced smile.
"Farewell!" Lu Zhiying waved energetically. "She definitely seems more friendly than that darned Quan Hui!"
"Address her properly in public!" Gu Qiansi anxiously hushed.
"That might not necessarily be the case," Zhao Yunxiao cautioned in a whisper as he watched Mei Shufang skip away cheerfully. "This Mei Shufang is definitely not as simple as she looks."
"Eh? Why?" Lu Zhiying looked at him in surprise. So did Gu Qiansi, Nie Hanchang, and Huang An.
"During the conversation earlier, I have never mentioned my name, have I?" Zhao Yunxiao said seriously.
That was when the rest suddenly narrowed their eyes in alarm.
That's right. Not once had Zhao Yunxiao mentioned his name during the conversation, so how did Mei Shufang know?
Even if she had been eavesdropping in on their conversation with Lin Xiao, she still should not have known his full name!
There was only one explanation for this – she had already looked into him prior to approaching them today.
But why?
Only Zhao Yunxiao had a good guess.
After all, the rest of them neither asked him nor bothered to find out just who he had been in charge of during the opening of the Four Symbols Mystic Realm. But had they wanted to find that out, it would not be difficult at all, especially since everyone could see the names on the jade tablets placed in front of each observer during those three days.
And because he had an idea of Mei Shufang's underlying intentions, Zhao Yunxiao also understood that the way she bade farewell was unlikely to be a mere slip of the tongue.
Instead, it was probably a warning disguised as goodwill, hinting that he had best forget about taking anymore funny actions, or he would have to deal with her instead.
Damn.
Zhao Yunxiao never thought that even Cheng Kai's actions in the mystic realm could be traced back to him. He definitely had to be careful not to leave such traces in the future!
"Senior Martial Sister Lu!" Ou Fengtian walked up to them. "The other new disciple representatives are gathering up for a chat. Let's go join them as well!"
"Eh? But..." Lu Zhiying glanced at Zhao Yunxiao in concern.
"Go ahead, don't waste this opportunity to network with your peers," Zhao Yunxiao urged.
"Hmm, all right then! See you guys later!" Lu Zhiying answered before following Ou Fengtian away.
"Well then, shall we keep looking around?" Gu Qiansi asked.
"You guys go ahead as well. I just remembered that I have one more person whom I should be greeting today," Zhao Yunxiao said.
"Oh? Who would that be?" Gu Qiansi asked further.
"It's not someone whom you would want to come with me to greet," Zhao Yunxiao said while casting his gaze into the distance.
Gu Qiansi followed Zhao Yunxiao's gaze to see just who he was referring to, and she immediately felt the corner of her lips twitch.
Zhao Yunxiao was right – this was indeed not someone whom she would like to approach.
***
"Is something the matter?" Wei Yuandi broke his light meditation and opened his eyes as Zhao Yunxiao stepped before him.
Zhao Yunxiao felt a tinge of regret as he was faced with the cold glint in Wei Yuandi's eyes, but steeled his resolve to not back down.
Everyone always spoke about Wei Yuandi's ruthlessness and scheming, but it remained a fact that this core disciple whom everyone was afraid of had essentially saved them from Quan Hui back then.
After the conversations with Lin Xiao and Mei Shufang, he decided that the least he could do was to openly thank Wei Yuandi for that, so as to give this senior martial brother the recognition he deserved!
There would most probably be some unwanted repercussions resulting from this, but that alone was not a good enough reason to not do this.
"I am not sure if Senior Martial Brother Wei remembers me, but I just want to once again express my gratitude for your actions three months ago, when you saved me in the forests," Zhao Yunxiao spoke loudly enough for those in the immediate vicinity to hear him, but made sure not to overdo it and end up gathering too much attention. At the same time, he was also careful not to mention the Vermilion Bird Sect in such a public setting. "This junior martial brother does not have anything valuable to present as a gift, so please accept my bow as a show of gratitude!"
With that, Zhao Yunxiao took a deep bow towards the seated Wei Yuandi.
"Rise," Wei Yuandi said. "I don't remember that anymore, so there's no need for you to brood over the matter either."
Zhao Yunxiao had to suppress his surprise as he straightened his back.
Considering Wei Yuandi's cultivation level, how could he possibly have forgotten about something this recent?
Most probably, he said that only because he found this matter too troublesome to handle.
Well, that worked as well.
Since Wei Yuandi did not wish to talk about it, he was not nearly tactless enough to continue explaining the situation either.
"I understand. In that case, allow me to simply congratulate Senior Martial Brother Wei for qualifying for the Duyuan Martial Meet," Zhao Yunxiao changed the topic.
"Something as simple as that is nothing to be congratulated about," Wei Yuandi replied coldly.
Zhao Yunxiao let out a wry smile.
Was it that difficult to just exchange a few pleasantries?
It was no wonder that nobody liked you!
"Small things need to be celebrated as well. Otherwise, don't you think that life would be far too meaningless and dry?" Zhao Yunxiao tried to ease things over with a smile. He could not possibly just let the conversation end on such a cold note.
"People who celebrate small things instead of aiming straight for the top are just going to fall behind and waste their potential chasing small gains," Wei Yuandi answered without hesitation.
This time, Zhao Yunxiao frowned for real as Wei Yuandi's words pricked a sore spot in his heart.
He had always been a firm believer of cumulative effort and aiming for small milestones when it came to walking the path of cultivation. After all, he was not like those dazzling stars in the sky who were capable of rising straight to the top.
As one of the many rocks on the ground, every small milestone was a pain to overcome, every bit of improvement was a matter worth celebrating!
"Do you not agree?" Wei Yuandi asked, clearly having spotted Zhao Yunxiao's change in expression.
"Thank you for your insights, Senior Martial Brother Wei. However, I have a slightly different view indeed," Zhao Yunxiao answered honestly. "According to my humble opinion, it is necessary to recognise small wins, so as to ensure that one leads a meaningful life instead of blindly pursuing a higher cultivation. To give an exaggerated example, if the end goal is all that matters, what difference would there be between the orthodox and unorthodox paths since both lead to power? Isn't it also because the orthodox path celebrates the journey of cultivating an ethical heart?"
"Difference between the orthodox and unorthodox paths?" Wei Yuandi let out a slight chuckle. "I do not believe in such a thing. I only believe in the concept of friends and foes. The whole concept of orthodoxy is a mere construct, created for one group of cultivators to justify their legitimacy and label their opponents with a bad name. In the end, those in the inner circle are labelled as orthodox, while those outside will be blamed for their mere existence."
Zhao Yunxiao widened his eyes in shock upon hearing this, momentarily unable to find the right words to say in response.
To dare say something this blasphemous, especially on an occasion when elders from the Four Great Symbol Sects were present... it was no wonder that nobody wanted to be involved with the notorious Wei Yuandi!