“Immortal elder, I have something unclear, may I boldly ask?”

“Speak.” Qingfeng was in a good mood, waving his big hand.

“Why… why did Steward Liu of the Hall of Meritorious Deeds call both of you ‘Shishu’ a few days ago?”

The moment this question came out, the smug look on Qingfeng’s face froze instantly.

His eyes darted about, and he began to stammer.

“Uh… well…”

He let out a nervous laugh, his small face turning slightly red.

“My master… yes, my master is of a high senior generation! So naturally our generation rose accordingly!”

After saying that, afraid Su Ming would press further, he immediately changed the subject.

“Okay, okay! Stop asking useless questions!”

He waved his hand, urging, “The External Affairs Hall is just ahead, hurry up! The elders don’t have time to listen to you digging for details here!”

With that, he grabbed Mingyue and quickened his pace, looking somewhat like he was fleeing in panic.

Su Ming watched their backs, thoughtful. He didn’t ask more and silently followed.

At the end of the Rainbow Bridges stood a magnificent hall.

The hall was built entirely from green jade, with upturned eaves and ornate roof beams, shrouded in immortal mist.

In front of the hall lay a huge white jade plaza. At the plaza’s center stood a stele a hundred zhang tall, its surface carved with three bold characters — External Affairs Hall.

As they drew closer, Qingfeng’s steps slowed.

The relaxed, childlike air on his face faded, replaced by the previous seriousness.

“Su Ming, I’ll warn you a few last times, listen carefully.”

His voice dropped very low.

“Our Cloud Hidden Sect has strict rules; there are two things we forbid above all.”

“First, spies with unknown origins.”

“Second, those who steal cultivation methods from other factions.”

“Your story may fool people for now, but the elders of the External Affairs Hall are all seasoned and sharp-eyed.”

He pointed at the grand hall with a hint of awe in his tone.

“When you go in, speak little and look little. Answer whatever the elder asks.”

“He can tell truth from lie in a single glance.”

“If he discovers you lied, or thinks your heart is corrupt, consequences… hmph, I can’t save you then.”

“Watch out for yourself.”

……

Inside the External Affairs Hall, the atmosphere was so solemn you could hear dust settling.

The lighting inside was somewhat dim. The tall bronze beams were carved with intricate cloud patterns, and an imposing aura swept through the hall.

Several disciples wearing the hall’s uniform—blue-gray Dao robes—were bent over jade slips on the desks, handling official paperwork.

When Qingfeng, hands behind his back, led Mingyue and Su Ming through the entrance, everyone’s movements froze for a moment.

“Disciples pay respects to Shishu Qingfeng and Shishu Mingyue!”

A young disciple nearest the door reacted first, rising quickly and bowing respectfully.

The others also stood, humility on their faces, and saluted in unison.

“Spare me.”

Qingfeng’s small face turned stern, and he waved his hand with a bit of elder-like authority.

“What business?”

A middle-aged steward who seemed to hold a slightly higher position stepped forward. He first bowed to Qingfeng and Mingyue again, then turned his gaze to Su Ming, his brows knitting barely perceptibly.

Qingfeng pointed at Su Ming, speaking plainly.

“This person was rescued by my junior sister and me at the foot of the mountain. We want to find him a menial post in the External Affairs Hall.”

When he said that, the disciples in the hall exchanged peculiarly strange looks.

Menial post?

Although the lowest-status disciples of Cloud Hidden Sect did the toughest, most exhausting work, they still needed to show some spiritual root, or at least be of clean background with recommendations from sect disciples.

This unknown, half-dead-looking fellow — why should he qualify?

Just because two little shishu picked him up?

The middle-aged steward’s expression grew troubled. “Shishu, this… isn’t according to regulations. Recruitment for menial disciples in the External Affairs Hall has rules. We must inspect bone structure, verify origin…”

“Regulations?”

Qingfeng glared, puffing up like a little adult.

“I brought him here, that’s his origin! I vouch for him. If there’s any problem with him, I’ll take full responsibility!”

He spoke with overwhelming arrogance, utterly unreasonable.

The middle-aged steward was left speechless, his face flushed, yet he dared not refute.

These two little ancestors’ master was someone even the sect leader treated with courtesy.

Don’t mention arranging a menial post; if they wanted to tear the External Affairs Hall’s roof off, others would only dare to watch.

“Yes, yes, disciple understands.” The steward nodded repeatedly, wiping cold sweat from his brow.

“However… this matter is important. We must request Elder Ma’s verdict.”

The Ma elder he mentioned was one of the three steward-elders of the External Affairs Hall, a foundation-establishment stage cultivator, in charge of recruiting and assigning menial disciples.

“Elder Ma?” Qingfeng nodded. “Fine, saves you the trouble. Lead the way.”

They passed through the main hall and entered a quiet chamber.

An old man with white hair and beard, his face gaunt, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion with eyes closed.

He wore a gray Dao robe faded from washing, his aura restrained, looking no different from an ordinary old scholar.

But Su Ming knew the seemingly ordinary body concealed a power that could crush him a hundred times over.

This was a foundation-establishment stage cultivator.

“Elder, Shishu Qingfeng and Shishu Mingyue request an audience,” the middle-aged steward respectfully reported outside the door.

“Come in.”

The old man’s voice was hoarse and plain, devoid of emotion.

Qingfeng led the two in.

Elder Ma slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes were murky yet profound, as if capable of seeing through the heart.

He scanned Qingfeng and Mingyue with a nod of acknowledgement.

Then that deep gaze fell like two invisible blades upon Su Ming.

Su Ming felt his whole body tighten, as if every part of him was being examined and exposed.

The faint spiritual energy within him was utterly revealed under that gaze.

“Backwater trick.”

Elder Ma slowly uttered three words, as a judgment.

Qingfeng stepped forward and succinctly recounted Su Ming’s origins and his and Steward Liu Jing’s assessment.

“…That’s the situation. Elder Ma, this boy, though a mortal, has some wit. Giving him a menial post is a charitable act for our Cloud Hidden Sect.”

Elder Ma listened without giving an opinion.

He did not look at Qingfeng; his eyes remained fixed on Su Ming.

“Your name is Su Ming?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep