"Sect Master Shen, this time…"

Liu Qianyun handed the stack of ledgers over, her expression complicated.

The Nanhong Seven were plainly in earnest this time.

This was a matter touching the Sect Master's seat of a Dao-merging treasured site.

No talk of private friendship or any other pretext would smooth it over.

If they put out a hand again, even her father might draw the fire onto himself. Interfere without authority in the succession of a Sect Master's seat, and a White Jade Capital cultivator dies for it too.

"I understand."

Shen Yi nodded and said quietly, "My thanks to everyone at the Clear-Moon Sect for their help."

He was simply not good at dealing with people — but he was clear enough in his own mind.

Since leaving the Nanyang Sect he had received a great deal from the Clear-Moon Sect and from Senior Xuanqing.

"Thank you for understanding, Sect Master."

Liu Qianyun pressed her lips together, then smiled. "But what we agreed before — sending people over to expound the dharma — still stands… and take this, keep it safe. It's my father's doing."

"He says: if it grows too heavy, don't hold it up by force."

"So long as you're alive, everything else can come."

As she spoke, Liu Qianyun slipped a decree quietly into Shen Yi's sleeve, then cupped her hands hard. "Sect Master Shen, we take our leave!"

She turned and led the Clear-Moon stewards out of the Nanyang treasured site.

"……"

Shen Yi was silent a moment, then walked slowly back into the founding ancestor's hall. "The Clear-Moon Sect Master is a woman?"

Li Xuanqing looked up, puzzled. "How do you know that? Do you know Martial Aunt Ji?"

"Nothing, then."

Shen Yi shook his head and put the decree away safely.

He had only been curious about why there should be goodwill in this world for no reason at all. So it came down to Senior Xuanqing's connections after all.

"Er."

Li Xuanqing withdrew his gaze, with a feeling that the Sect Master had misunderstood something.

Martial Aunt Ji was famously cold. Never…