Because they were taking care of Yang Lingrui’s condition, the two individuals did not walk quickly. By the time they reached Moon Watching City, there was only one day left before the Golden Scales Ceremony began.

The entrances for mortals and practitioners in Moon Watching City were separate. Mortals used the south and north city gates, while practitioners used the eastern and western high platforms.

When they arrived at the eastern high platform, a Daoist in a white robe was already waiting.

“Mayor Gao, long time no see! I hope you have been well,” the white-robed Daoist said.

“Cheng Yi! It’s you!”

Gao Hui stepped forward warmly to greet and converse with him.

“Since we parted in Qiulu, it’s been quite a few years since we last saw each other.”

“Indeed, I still miss those days even now.”

The two were contemporaries among dynasty cultivators and had once worked together at the Immortal Patrol Office in Qiulu City.

Later, due to internal transfers within the dynasty, Cheng Yi was sent to the western side, and soon after a year, Gao Hui was transferred to Moon Watching City.

Afterward, the monster tide struck, Baishi Town was destroyed, and he was sent there to take charge.

Surprisingly, after all these years, Cheng Yi was also transferred to Moon Watching City and was now serving at the Immortal Patrol Office in this city.

“You really have good timing; you arrived just in time for such a grand event!”

“Of course! You know my luck is always good.”

As they spoke, Cheng Yi’s gaze drifted over Gao Hui to the young man standing behind him—Yang Lingrui.

“This is…”

At first sight, he was attracted by Yang Lingrui’s outstanding appearance, but upon closer inspection, he noticed that the young man looked weak, with a waxen complexion, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce! This is Yang Lingrui, a friend from the Songshan Yang Family, who is also here to attend the ceremonial gathering,” Gao Hui said, stepping aside.

Yang Lingrui took a step forward: “Yang Lingrui, greetings to Fellow Daoist Cheng Yi.”

“From the Songshan Yang Family? Oh! I remember now, you were recommended by the second young master of the Li Family!”

Since the Yang Family was the last to secure a spot, Cheng Yi had a memory of this.

“Nice to meet you, Fellow Daoist Lingrui. You both may enter the city with me.”

He did not ask about Yang Lingrui’s condition directly, as it was their first meeting.

As an invited practitioner, Yang Lingrui did not reside with the dynasty cultivators; instead, he had a separate courtyard.

The courtyard was equipped with servants and maids, available if the practitioner needed them; if not, they would take their leave.

Yang Lingrui preferred to be alone and thus let them leave.

After settling Yang Lingrui, Cheng Yi finally asked the question he had been holding in during their return to the Immortal Patrol Office.

“What’s wrong with this child from the Yang Family? He looks like he has encountered a serious problem in his cultivation.”

Gao Hui sighed softly, “This child has exceptional talent. He achieved the third level in just over three years of cultivation.”

Cheng Yi was a bit surprised to hear this: “Is he that impressive? Then it doesn’t make sense. With such talent, how could his cultivation go wrong? Could it be that he was ambushed?”

“Not quite.”

Gao Hui then recounted Yang Lingrui’s situation over the past year, and Cheng Yi couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret. It was such a shame for such a promising talent to have been mishandled due to impatience.

“Perhaps the second young master of the Li Family thought highly of him before, but now it seems that such an impatient personality has put him at a disadvantage.”

Cheng Yi didn’t speak these words out loud but kept them to himself.

Not long after Yang Lingrui moved into Moon Watching City, the Li Family received the news.

Yu Fenghuo and Liu Cheshui were sent by Li Cheng to pay a visit. These two were loyal aides who had accompanied Li Cheng on the previous expedition to the ancient tomb.

“Please, come in.”

Yang Lingrui called out, his voice a bit weak, which the two initially did not notice.

However, once they walked into the room and saw Yang Lingrui leaning against the bed, both of them were taken aback.

“What… Fellow Daoist Lingrui, what happened to you?”

“Were you attacked by some bandits?”

Because of the suddenness of the event, they hadn’t noticed the change in Yang Lingrui’s realm while speaking.

It was not until they voiced their concerns that they realized Yang Lingrui had already reached the Fourth Level of Gathering Qi!

“Cough, cough… There were no external bandits; this situation all stems from internal struggles.”

Yang Lingrui coughed a couple of times and slowly got off the bed to sit on a meditation cushion.

“Please take a seat and let’s talk. Did Young Master Li have any plans?”

Yu Fenghuo and Liu Cheshui exchanged glances, both displaying looks of difficulty.

They had never anticipated such an unexpected situation upon their arrival.

After a moment of silence, Yu Fenghuo finally spoke up.

“Fellow Daoist Lingrui… um, Senior! The young master sent us to invite you to our Spring Welcoming Courtyard to meet…”

At this point, Yu Fenghuo stopped speaking.

Originally, Li Cheng wanted Yang Lingrui to meet his sister before the ceremonial gathering started.

But given Yang Lingrui’s current condition…

“You want me to meet Young Miss Li, right?”

Seeing their awkward demeanor, Yang Lingrui could guess the reason behind it.

“Yes, the young master and young miss are currently waiting for you at the separate courtyard,” Yu Fenghuo replied, and Liu Cheshui added, “If there is any inconvenience, you can let us know directly. We can inform the young master later.”

“There’s no need for that; I have no inconvenience. Lead the way.”

Yang Lingrui’s series of actions had been intended to avoid any entanglement with the two families.

Now, it was better to meet early and wrap things up so he could participate in the ceremonial gathering without worry.

Seeing that Yang Lingrui had already stated his position, they felt there was no reason to delay further, so they took him to the separate courtyard.

This area in the city was designated for receiving guests. As a prestigious family under the rule of Moon Watching City, the Li Family owned a separate courtyard here, named Spring Welcoming.

Li Cheng had been waiting here for several days but had not seen Yang Lingrui arrive. He worried whether something had happened to Yang Lingrui on the road. Today, after receiving news from the Immortal Patrol Office, he immediately sent someone to check, and then he brought his sister from the City Lord’s mansion to the courtyard. Calculating the time, Yang Lingrui should be about to arrive.

“Young Master!”

Yu Fenghuo brought Yang Lingrui by a longer route, while Liu Cheshui rushed ahead to return to the inner courtyard of the Spring Welcoming Courtyard, citing the need to report.

“What’s with the urgency?”

“Young Master…”

Liu Cheshui glanced at the woman sitting by the pond, admiring the flowers, and leaned closer to Li Cheng’s ear to share Yang Lingrui’s situation.

Li Cheng was initially surprised, then frowned.

“Did you investigate?” Li Cheng asked.

“I inquired through the records. An elder from the Yang Family sold some talismans in the marketplace two months ago and bought a batch of elixirs suitable for early-stage Gathering Qi training, likely meant as cultivation resources for Yang Lingrui’s breakthrough,” Liu Cheshui replied.

Li Cheng fell into deep thought.

He had always been good at reading people. Although he hadn’t known Yang Lingrui for long, he had a basic understanding of his character. Was it possible that Fengling and the others were indeed a disguise, and he had misjudged the situation?

He initially did not believe it, but now, with the evidence laid out before him, he began to waver.

Turning back to look at his sister, he lowered his voice and said, “Come with me outside.”

The two of them moved to the outer courtyard, preparing to meet Yang Lingrui there.

In Li Cheng’s view, it was inappropriate for Yang Lingrui to meet his sister in his current physical condition, whether intentional or not. It would be better to wait until Yang Lingrui had fully recovered.

Before long, Yang Lingrui was brought in by Yu Fenghuo. If it hadn’t been for Yang Lingrui hinting at the situation earlier, Yu Fenghuo might still have been leading him around in circles.

“Greetings, Young Master Li. I apologize for my disheveled appearance,” Yang Lingrui said, bowing respectfully.

Li Cheng did not reply. He stepped forward and rested his fingers on Yang Lingrui’s wrist.

Yang Lingrui remained calm; his chaotic energy and damaged meridians were part of the Spirit Stone Immortal’s careful plan, and Li Cheng would not detect anything amiss.

“Indeed, it is true.”

Li Cheng looked at Lingrui, a hint of guilt in his eyes, and said, “It is indeed my fault for acting on my own. If Lingrui had been able to cultivate safely, he would have had the revival fruit for protection, and he wouldn’t have ended up like this. Sigh… Please return and take good care of yourself, and we will discuss the meeting later.”

Before setting out, Yang Lingqing had anticipated such a situation and had taught Yang Lingrui how to respond.

However, no one expected that just as Yang Lingrui was about to speak, a bright and melodious voice suddenly rang out from the inner courtyard.

“Brother, please let me meet him.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep