"It is truly delightful to see the two of you return safely!" Xu Ping smiled broadly, bowing slightly.
He was sincere in his words, as he certainly did not wish to see old friends perish far from home, given their decades of friendship.
Duan Shuang slightly bowed in return, smiling brightly, "Fellow Daoist Xu, it's been a long time."
Gong Yang sighed helplessly, intentionally playing the victim:
"Our journey to Feng Country, though a favorable battle, was extremely perilous for us Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Several times we nearly met our demise, and it was thanks to Fellow Daoist Xu's talismans that we narrowly escaped danger!"
"You two have fortune on your side; the talismans merely provided assistance."
Upon hearing this, Xu Ping smiled subtly and offered, "You two must be weary from your long journey. How about we move to the pavilion and chat at leisure?"
Duan Shuang and Gong Yang naturally had no objections.
