The second floor of Thousand Fragrance Pavilion had gained a story.

The first floor had watched the entire story happen.

Although the two floors were separated, everyone present was a cultivator. Unless one deliberately blocked perception, a small disturbance upstairs could not escape the ears and eyes of the old monsters below.

When Su Bai sealed Yan Lie with one needle, several elders on the first floor had gone quiet.

When Su Bai politely seated Yan Lie on a chair, several more had nearly laughed.

When Tang Ziyan told Yan Lie to sit properly, even the teacups on the first floor seemed to become more interesting to look at.

The elders were all experienced people.

They had seen many arrogant juniors.

They had also seen many juniors lose face.

But seeing a Golden Core Stage Three disciple of Scorching Sun Valley turned into a fire-attributed decoration in Thousand Fragrance Pavilion was still somewhat refreshing.

Most of the old cultivators were amused.

One person was not.

On the left side of the hall, an elder in crimson robes sat with a dark expression.

His name was Yan Zhaolie. He was an elder from Scorching Sun Valley, and also Yan Lie’s master.

His cultivation had already reached Nascent Soul.

Normally, such a person could sit calmly even if mountains collapsed before him.

But right now, his disciple had embarrassed him too badly.

Worst of all, he had been humiliated in front of Tang Ziyan.

And on the first floor, Yan Zhaolie had been humiliated in front of Tang Yuyan.

That was harder to endure.

Yan Zhaolie’s fingers tightened around his teacup.

He wanted to go upstairs.

He wanted to slap his disciple awake.

He also wanted to ask Lu Canghai whether Radiant Sky Sect had started raising little monsters while pretending to be harmless.

But he could not move.

The affairs of the younger generation were the affairs of the younger generation.

If he interfered now, he would lose even more face.

Finally, he laughed coldly.

"Radiant Sky Sect has truly changed."

His voice was not loud, but every elder on the first floor heard it.

"For so many years, your sect remained quiet and righteous. I had thought you were cultivating restraint. I did not expect you were merely polishing a sharper kind of arrogance."

Several old cultivators slowly lifted their teacups.

The words were directed at Lu Canghai.

Lu Canghai sat nearby, drinking tea with a face full of satisfaction.

After hearing Yan Zhaolie’s accusation, he looked genuinely surprised.

"Arrogance?"

Lu Canghai stroked his beard.

"Old Yan, are your eyes still affected by your valley’s sunfire? Where did you see arrogance?"

Yan Zhaolie’s face darkened.

Lu Canghai continued sincerely, "My disciple asked your disciple to move. Your disciple refused."

He raised one finger.

"My disciple did not curse."

He raised a second finger.

"He did not injure him."

He raised a third finger.

"He even found him a chair after your disciple became stiff."

Lu Canghai sighed.

"In this old man’s view, that is very polite."

Several elders lowered their heads.

One coughed.

Another looked toward the window.

Tang Yuyan sat not far away, her expression calm, but the corner of her mouth seemed to move slightly.

Yan Zhaolie almost crushed the teacup.

"Polite?"

Lu Canghai nodded.

"Very polite."

Yan Zhaolie sneered. "You must have given your disciple some treasure to hide his aura. Letting others underestimate him, then making them lose face when they act rashly. Is this Radiant Sky Sect’s new method of teaching juniors?"

His gaze sharpened.

"Or was this arranged only so he could humiliate those who admire Miss Tang’s younger generation?"

The first floor became quiet.

The accusation was heavier this time.

Yan Zhaolie was implying that Su Bai had deliberately concealed his strength to bait Tang Ziyan’s admirers.

Lu Canghai’s smile faded slightly.

Then he snorted.

"I was wrong."

Yan Qingshan narrowed his eyes.

Lu Canghai said, "Blind people are better than you."

Several elders nearly choked.

Yan Zhaolie’s face flushed.

Lu Canghai leaned back calmly.

"Like master, like disciple. Your disciple blocked the road and called it warning. You watched the entire matter and called it plotting."

He shook his head.

"What love rival are you talking about? Did the little Tang girl even look at your disciple as a man?"

Yan Zhaolie’s expression changed.

Lu Canghai turned his head.

"Right, Yuyan?"

The entire first floor became still.

Tang Yuyan, who had been quietly drinking tea, slowly raised her eyes.

She looked at Lu Canghai.

Then she looked at Yan Zhaolie.

Finally, she rolled her eyes.

"Do not drag me into your petty quarrels."

Her voice was cold and sharp.

But the effect was worse than if she had agreed.

Because she had not denied it.

Several old cultivators lowered their heads even further.

Their shoulders trembled faintly.

Everyone here knew something from the past.

Yan Zhaolie had once admired Tang Yuyan.

Unfortunately for him, Tang Yuyan had never cared.

And now, the situation had become strangely cruel.

Upstairs, Yan Lie had been defeated before Tang Ziyan.

Downstairs, Yan Zhaolie was losing face before Tang Yuyan.

Master and disciple.

Both from Scorching Sun Valley.

Both interested in women from the Tang Clan.

Both blocked by people from Radiant Sky Sect.

The symmetry was too neat. So neat that it felt like heaven had arranged it specifically to humiliate them.

Yan Zhaolie’s chest rose and fell.

In the past, he had said many unpleasant things about Lu Canghai. Some were mockery. Some were exaggerations. Some were close to slander.

Back then, Lu Canghai’s foundation had been damaged. His hair had been white, his path uncertain, and his future dim.

Yan Zhaolie had dared to speak freely.

But now it was different.

Lu Canghai had recovered.

Even as a Nascent Soul elder, Yan Zhaolie could no longer treat him casually.

Worse, this was Azure-Jade City.

And everyone knew City Lord Yue Cangyu owed Lu Canghai a favor from long ago.

If things truly escalated, Yan Zhaolie might not gain anything.

And the worst part was Tang Yuyan.

If Tang Yuyan chose to stand on Lu Canghai’s side, then Yan Zhaolie would not only lose face.

He would lose it thoroughly.

Seeing the woman he admired protect another man was more painful than being struck by a sword.

Yan Zhaolie forced himself to breathe slowly.

He could not explode.

Not here.

Not now.

But his silence did not feel dignified.

It felt like defeat.

Just then, an old scholar in gray robes laughed softly.

He sat near the center of the hall, holding a wooden abacus with jade beads. His eyes were old, bright, and full of amusement. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

This was Zhuge Wenqing, an elder of the Divine Abacus Zhuge Clan.

"Now, now."

The jade beads in his abacus clicked once.

"It is rare for so many old friends to gather beneath the same roof. Why spend the afternoon burning liver fire over juniors?"

Yan Zhaolie’s eyelid twitched.

Burning liver fire?

Was that supposed to comfort him?

Zhuge Wenqing smiled.

"The young have their stage. Let them fall, rise, embarrass themselves, and learn where chairs are placed. That is also cultivation."

Several elders finally could not hold back and laughed softly.

Yan Zhaolie’s face turned darker.

He wanted to retaliate.

He wanted to ask whether his face was not important.

Whether his disciple’s dignity was not important.

But he had already lost too much face.

If he continued, he might lose the rest.

So he remained silent.

Lu Canghai, on the other hand, was smiling so widely that his beard seemed brighter.

He was pleased.

Not only because Su Bai had handled Yan Lie beautifully.

But also because Tang Yuyan had not moved away from him.

Earlier, when he entered Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, he had deliberately chosen a seat near her.

At first, Tang Yuyan had glanced at him coldly.

But she had not told him to leave.

Then, little by little, Lu Canghai had moved his chair closer.

A small amount each time.

Like a thief stealing territory one inch at a time.

Tang Yuyan noticed. Of course she noticed.

But she did not move away.

To Lu Canghai, this was already a victory larger than defeating three Yan Zhaolie.

He leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "The old scholar is right. We should talk about important things."

Tang Yuyan crossed her arms.

"Then why are you still smiling like that?"

Lu Canghai stroked his beard.

"Because important things are pleasant today."

Tang Yuyan’s eyes narrowed.

"Shameless old man. You have not learned anything from the past."

Lu Canghai’s grin widened.

"I learned from you."

Tang Yuyan froze for half a breath.

Then she turned away.

"Still shameless."

Her tone was sharp. But compared to the edge she showed outsiders, something in it had softened.

Unfortunately, everyone present heard them.

Even if they whispered, how could a room full of old cultivators not hear?

Several elders looked at their cups again.

Zhuge Wenqing’s abacus clicked twice.

Yan Zhaolie nearly spat blood.

Lu Canghai had not only recovered his cultivation path. His shamelessness had grown stronger too.