Reception

As the sect's inspection team approached, the sounds of horse hooves, rolling wheels, and clashing armor mixed together, surging forward like a tide.

Faint tremors echoed from the ground as dust kicked up behind the wheels, hanging in the air like a pale yellow mist.

Behind Li Shiyuan, the murmurs of the officials grew louder.

"That is the carriage of the Celestial Master's Mansion... Look at those cloud and thunder patterns, I've seen them in the Divine Capital..."

"I heard that the one from the Celestial Master's Mansion is personally overseeing this inspection. I've never seen a Golden Core cultivator in my entire life..."

"Never mind you, I'm nearly fifty and have only ever seen a few late-stage Foundation Establishment sect elders."

A younger voice chimed in, carrying uncontainable excitement:

"I have! I once had the honor of catching a glimpse from afar in the Divine Capital. That lady is exactly like a fairy from the heavens!"

Several envious gazes immediately turned his way.

"Wow, Manager Zhang, you are too lucky to have actually seen that lady."

The young man called Manager Zhang turned bright red, whether from excitement or shyness.

He lowered his voice, but the thrill in his tone could not be suppressed:

"Just a stroke of luck, a stroke of luck. You have no idea, ever since I saw her that one time, I came back unable to eat or sleep, feeling that all other women are nothing in comparison..."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding atmosphere became subtle.

A few people chuckled lightly, carrying a hint of teasing and revealing a tacit agreement.

An existence at the level of Lin Qingyan had indeed transcended the mere concept of beauty.

She was more like an unreachable bright moon.

The discussion grew increasingly derailed and increasingly brazen.

At first, they were only discussing Lin Qingyan's cultivation and status, but it gradually slipped toward her appearance and temperament, and even some things that should never be discussed in a public setting.

Li Shiyuan's brows furrowed slightly.

It wasn't anger, but irritation.

These fools.

Did they think this was idle chatter in a teahouse or tavern?

Did they think a Golden Core cultivator was deaf?

Stupid.

Ignorant.

Courting death.

Li Shiyuan did not turn around; instead, he cast a faint glance at the Dawn City Lord beside him, Li Tianming.

Li Tianming shuddered all over under that gaze and immediately understood what it meant.

He instantly turned around and looked at the group of whispering officials, his expression twisting into fierce severity.

He didn't speak, but swept his gaze over them one by one.

It was like a whip lashing across each of their faces.

At the same time, he committed to memory the few officials who were speaking the loudest and most recklessly.

Later, once the inspection team had left, these people would naturally get their just desserts.

Manager Zhang was the first to shut his mouth, his face turning from bright red to deathly pale as he realized he had misspoken.

The other officials were like chickens grabbed by the neck; their murmurs came to an abrupt halt.

Everyone clamped their mouths shut in an instant, their lips pressed into stiff lines, their eyes lowered to stare at their toes, not daring to utter another careless word.

The air fell quiet once more.

All that remained were the approaching sounds of hooves, wheels, and heartbeats.

The inspection team finally arrived before the city gates.

The heavy cavalry of the Golden Feather Guard halted thirty zhang away from the gates. The horses neighed, their front hooves rearing up and striking the stone slabs with crisp clacks.

The carriages behind them also slowly came to a stop.

The door of the foremost carriage opened, and two young officials wearing green robes stepped down.

Holding documents in their hands, they walked briskly toward the city gates to handle the entry procedures.

But Li Shiyuan's gaze did not linger on them.

He stared at the core carriage in the center.

The door did not open.

The curtain did not move.

The person inside showed no intention of stepping out.

Li Shiyuan's heart sank a little.

This attitude was very subtle.

Was it reserve? Arrogance? Or sheer disdain for dealing with local officials?

Just as his thoughts raced, a person walked out from the ranks of the Golden Feather Guard.

He was not riding a horse, but approached on foot.

Chen Busha.

Li Shiyuan recognized him.

A deputy general of the Golden Feather Guard, at the great perfection of Foundation Establishment, hailed as one of the strongest Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Great Luo.

Such a figure would be a top-tier bigwig no matter where he was placed.

But right now, Chen Busha was merely the deputy leader of this inspection group.

And looking at this setup, he was clearly the one running errands on the outside.

Li Shiyuan's pupils shrank slightly.

The caliber of this inspection team was even higher than he had estimated.

Chen Busha stopped five paces away from Li Shiyuan.

"Lord Li, I am the deputy leader of this sect inspection group, Chen Busha."

Li Shiyuan immediately took a step forward.

He wasn't just walking toward Chen Busha; he was welcoming him.

This subtle difference in movement expressed an attitude: I am not waiting for you to pay respects, but actively coming to welcome you.

A polite smile bloomed on Li Shiyuan's face:

"General Chen, I have long looked forward to meeting you."

"Knowing that the Ministry of Rites' inspection group would pass through this commandery, I specifically brought people here to wait and welcome you."

Li Shiyuan paused, his gaze deliberately flicking toward the carriage before returning to Chen Busha's face:

"I wonder if I could trouble General Chen to announce me?"

There was no change in expression on Chen Busha's face.

He had expected this long ago.

Wherever this inspection team went, the local officials would try every possible way to pay their respects.

Some genuinely wanted to curry favor, some wanted to gather information, some wanted to show loyalty, and some wanted to probe.

And for an official of Li Shiyuan's level to personally come out to welcome them and personally ask, it carried significant weight.

Chen Busha immediately nodded: "Lord Li, please wait a moment."

Without any superfluous words, he turned and left, his pace remaining steady, neither rushed nor slow.

Li Shiyuan watched his back, beginning to calculate in his mind.

Chen Busha went to announce him.

Then there would be three possibilities next.

First, Gu Chengyin would personally step out of the carriage.

This would be the most face-giving approach, meaning he valued Li Shiyuan, or at least was willing to give face to someone at the commandery governor level.

Second, Gu Chengyin would not step down, but would open the door or curtain and receive him from within the carriage.

This was a compromise; they would meet, but he would maintain a certain distance and majesty.

Third, he would refuse to see him.

If he refused, then there was a huge problem.

It would mean that the purpose of this inspection was not the sects, but the two capitals and thirteen commanderies.

As for Lin Qingyan, Li Shiyuan never even expected to be able to see her.

Chen Busha walked up to the carriage. He did not get on, but stood outside, cupping his hands to ask for instructions.

Then, the carriage door opened, and a person leaned out from inside.

Due to the angle, Li Shiyuan couldn't see the person's full appearance.

But it should be Gu Chengyin.

Chen Busha pointed in Li Shiyuan's direction and muttered something in a low voice.

Gu Chengyin looked over, following the direction Chen Busha pointed.

Their gazes met in the air.

Then, Gu Chengyin smiled.

He smiled very brightly and warmly, as if seeing an old friend he hadn't met in years.

After closing the carriage door, Gu Chengyin jumped down from the carriage.

He walked briskly toward Li Shiyuan's side.

Before he even got close, his voice traveled over, his tone extremely enthusiastic and high-spirited.

"So it is Lord Li, the Governor of Luoshui Commandery!"

Gu Chengyin's footsteps did not stop, that bright smile on his face as dazzling as sunlight.

As he walked, he cupped his hands from afar and exclaimed in surprise:

"Oh my!"

The chagrin and trepidation in his tone practically overflowed:

"How could I trouble you to wait here in person!"

As he spoke, Gu Chengyin had already arrived three paces away from Li Shiyuan.

He stopped, and then bowed.

This gesture of respect was far too weighty.

So much so that Li Shiyuan froze in astonishment for a moment.

In terms of rank and status, Gu Chengyin was actually his superior.

Therefore, upon meeting, he should have been the one bowing to Gu Chengyin.

Just what was Gu Chengyin trying to do?

Li Shiyuan's mind raced.

But no matter the reason, he absolutely could not accept this bow.