It seed that Fang Lin noticed the Tang Emperor’s surprise and smiled self-deprecatingly: "I suffered so injuries, leading to my current state."
After expressing slight concern, the Tang Emperor clasped his hands gently towards Fang Lin: "This ti I’ve co to apologize to your esteed hall on behalf of my niece."
Saying this, the Tang Emperor presented a Nine Palace Bag with both hands.
Fang Lin, without pretense, received the Nine Palace Bag and said with a light smile: "Your words are too serious, Tang Emperor. After all, she is your niece, and we will not trouble her anymore."
The Tang Emperor felt relieved after seeing Fang Lin accept the Nine Palace Bag. Since Fang Lin received it, it indicated that the matter was indeed resolved, and there was no need to worry about the Sky Swallowing Palace harboring any resentnt towards the Tang royal family because of this incident.
"Suyun, hurry up and apologize to Master Fang!" The Tang Emperor admonished the plump woman.
Since the plump woman was a mber of the Tang royal family, she naturally bore the surna Li, and her na was Li Suyun.
Hearing this, Li Suyun respectfully bowed to Fang Lin.
Fang Lin smiled: "Let’s put this matter to rest; Miss Suyun, there’s no need for such ceremony."
After exchanging a few words with Fang Lin, the Tang Emperor withdrew with Li Suyun, leaving Fang Lin smiling as he weighed the Nine Palace Bag in his hand.
"The Tang Emperor knows how to handle matters well, no wonder the Qing Emperor and the Yuan Emperor have perished, yet he remains thriving," Fang Lin remarked.
Once the Tang Emperor and Li Suyun had gone far, Fang Lin opened the Nine Palace Bag and found many excellent items inside, a couple of remarkable treasures, and several heavenly materials and earthly treasures. Although Fang Lin wasn’t currently in dire need of such items, since they were gifted, it was only polite to accept them.
Moreover, if Fang Lin didn’t accept, the Tang Emperor would feel uneasy, thinking the Sky Swallowing Palace still held a grudge over the matter with Li Suyun and wanted to exert pressure on them.
Therefore, logically and emotionally, Fang Lin had to accept the Tang Emperor’s gift. As for the matter with Li Suyun, even if the Tang Emperor hadn’t co with this gift, neither Fang Lin nor the Sky Swallowing Palace would have taken any further action against her.
The Sky Swallowing Palace wouldn’t stoop so low as to quibble with a disrespectful royal woman, a lesson has been taught sufficiently once.
Just as Fang Lin was about to turn and enter his dwelling, he noticed an old man in black clothes running towards him while waving.
Fang Lin squinted and laughed, recognizing an old acquaintance.
The person was none other than Cheng Jinhai, the Mountain Master of Heng Long Mountain. Not long ago, when Fang Lin represented the Sky Swallowing Palace at a competition between the Pill Alliance and Alchemy Tao families, he t Cheng Jinhai. The latter, with his thick skin, managed to forge a connection with Fang Lin.
He also gifted Fang Lin a piece of Dragon Patterned Iron Leaf, which is why Fang Lin was willing to let him follow. After all, taking soone’s gift requires reciprocation.
"This guy dares to join in the fun here too, isn’t he afraid of being devoured to the bone?" Fang Lin muttered to himself.
Cheng Jinhai had already run up close, his face full of excitent.
"Master Fang, at last, I’ve found you," Cheng Jinhai said excitedly, then paused in surprise at Fang Lin’s appearance.
Fang Lin laughed and asked: "What brings you here?"
Cheng Jinhai didn’t ask much and laughed cheekily: "Our Heng Long Mountain is now considered a secondary power in the Qing Nation. The Sealing Sword Pavilion sent an invitation, so I ca to have a look."
Fang Lin nodded after assessing Cheng Jinhai and remarked: "It seems you’ve had a good ti recently; your cultivation is almost entering Minor Longevity."
Upon hearing Fang Lin ntion cultivation, Cheng Jinhai showed a proud expression but didn’t dare overdo it in front of Fang Lin: "It’s all thanks to Master Fang for helping heal the hidden ailnts in my body and providing the pills needed for a breakthrough. Otherwise, I, Old Cheng, wouldn’t know when I’d reach the Minor Longevity Realm."
Fang Lin asked: "You didn’t co alone, did you?"
Cheng Jinhai replied: "Of course not, I recently took on two new apprentices, alongside my few unaccomplished girls, to expand their experience."
At this, Cheng Jinhai showed even more pride: "To tell Master Fang the truth, my two apprentices are extraordinary—one is a great Sword Tao prodigy, and the other has an excellent natural Root Bone. They’re both fortuitous finds for , blessed indeed is Heng Long Mountain."
Pausing briefly, Cheng Jinhai continued: "My luck changing is also thanks to encountering Master Fang, whose influence certainly played a part."
Fang Lin sighed with a smile: "Your taking of apprentices has nothing to do with ."
Cheng Jinhai grinned, fully aware that he had secured a solid connection with Fang Lin and the Sky Swallowing Palace. No matter what, he must hold tight to this connection, knowing that as long as he stays close to Fang Lin, the benefits would naturally co to him.
"Whom are you talking with?" At this mont, Dugu Nian walked out, still wearing a Kylin mask. Since there were many people around, both Dugu Nian and others from the Sky Swallowing Palace still wished to keep their true identities concealed.
"Just an old friend I’ve ntioned to you, the Mountain Master of Heng Long Mountain, Cheng Jinhai." Fang Lin casually replied.
Dugu Nian looked at Cheng Jinhai, noting his face full of apprehension, eyes wide as he looked at Dugu Nian.
The next mont, Cheng Jinhai suddenly realized and hurriedly bowed respectfully to Dugu Nian.
"Mountain Master Cheng Jinhai of Heng Long Mountain, pays his reverence to the Hall Master of Sky Swallowing Palace, wishing the Hall Master eternal blessings and longevity comparable to the heavens!" Cheng Jinhai declared loudly, ensuring everyone heard.
Fang Lin was amused, thinking Cheng Jinhai’s reaction was overly dramatic, even using phrases like "eternal blessings and longevity comparable to the heavens."
Dugu Nian was also taken aback, then nodded and said: "Since you’re a friend of Fang Lin, you are a friend of our Sky Swallowing Palace as well."
Hearing this, Cheng Jinhai was veritably ecstatic. If not for maintaining his composure, he might have jumped excitedly on the spot.
Indeed, Cheng Jinhai felt both thrilled and tense; thrilled because of Dugu Nian’s words, and tense due to Dugu Nian’s identity.
The Hall Master of Sky Swallowing Palace was a figure Cheng Jinhai never dread of eting. As rely the Mountain Master of a secondary power in the Qing Nation, without Fang Lin’s connection, the most he could hope for in life was a glimpse from afar, like an ant, at the Hall Master, never such close interaction.
This mont made Cheng Jinhai cherish his past decision to shalessly acquaint himself with Fang Lin in the Tang Capital, realizing how preciously wise it was.
"Hall Master, Master Fang, my apprentices have always admired the Sky Swallowing Palace. I wonder if I might bring them over to pay their respects?" Cheng Jinhai cautiously asked, stealing glances at Fang Lin and Dugu Nian’s reactions.
ps: The second update is here; continuing to write. Rember to vote for recomndations, everyone!
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