"I was wrong. It’s just that Junior Sister Miao is a secular Martial Artist, so I thought she could communicate with the children more easily. I was so focused on the Sect’s affairs that I failed to consider her position. I know I was wrong!"

Gu Fei said with a look of "apology," admitting only to a moment of carelessness.

He was framing the issue as a failure to respect a Grandmaster’s dignity.

"Junior Sister? From now on, you will address her as Uncle Master!"

Master Qingshan rebuked with a frown.

"Uncle Master?"

Peng Fei’s eyes flew wide. Even with his Divine Void Realm cultivation, his mind reeled in astonishment.

"Your Master Qingyang has accepted a disciple on his master’s behalf. From now on, your Jing generation has a new, young Uncle Master."

After he finished speaking, Master Qingshan himself found the situation somewhat comical and couldn’t help but give a helpless smile.

"This..."

Peng Fei’s mind worked fast. He immediately bowed to Miao Miaomiao and said, "Disciple Jingxiu pays his respects to Uncle Master!"

She hadn’t thought much of it, but hearing Peng Fei call her "Uncle Master" made Miao Miaomiao freeze up. Her face flushed red, and she was suddenly at a loss for what to do.

After all, she wasn’t even twenty yet—still just a young woman. Yet in the blink of an eye, she’d become someone’s Uncle Master.

And this was the same person who had been so high and mighty before, ordering her around.

"You’re the elder here. What’s there to be nervous about?"

"Hurry up and tell your martial nephew to rise!"

Zhao Rui found her predicament incredibly amusing.

Miao Miaomiao was sharp enough to know this was all because of Zhao Rui’s arrival.

She immediately composed herself, cleared her throat, and said, "Martial nephew, you may rise."

Peng Fei’s expression was the picture of awkwardness. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind.

’On one side is my master’s direct grandson, and on the other, my new Uncle Master. I’m caught right in the middle. What am I supposed to do?’

Lost in thought, he naturally hesitated for a moment.

Seeing this, Miao Miaomiao couldn’t help but raise her voice a notch. "Martial nephew, I said you may rise! What’s the matter, can’t you hear your Uncle Master?"

"Ah? Oh. Oh!"

"Thank you, Uncle Master."

Peng Fei scrambled to his feet, retreated a few steps in embarrassment, and stood behind the masters.

At the same time, his eyes couldn’t help but dart over to Zhao Rui, and a question formed in his mind.

’Who is this man?’

’Master Qingyang suddenly took on a disciple for his own master. Could it have something to do with him?’

"Alright, we’ll deal with your matter later. For now, go and make the arrangements. I will preside over the investiture ceremony in the main hall tomorrow."

Since Master Qingshan had already dealt with the matter, Master Qingyang said no more. Instead, he sent Peng Fei off to organize the next day’s ceremony.

After all, no matter how much he wanted to curry favor with Zhao Rui, the man was still an outsider. It was best not to air the Sect’s dirty laundry in front of him.

He had his own dignity to maintain.

"Yes, Senior Master!"

Peng Fei immediately agreed and left without a moment’s delay to gather people and prepare for the next day’s events.

"Zhao Zhenren, I never expected you to have such a fateful connection with our Taishan Sect," Master Qingyang said with a laugh. "And you, Junior Sister... why didn’t you tell me sooner?"

"The Taishan Sect has always been the leader of the Dongqi Martial Dao. It was Miaomiao’s own wish to come here and learn, and it is her good fortune," Zhao Rui said, half-joking. "We didn’t intentionally hide anything. The truth is, she just didn’t think my name carried any weight."

"Haha, I suspect you’re the one who didn’t mention it, my friend. By the way, in a little while, I’ll take you both to see our Uncle Master Mu Hua Zi. If he isn’t in seclusion, I’m sure we’ll be able to see him."

"It would be my honor to meet Senior Mu Hua Zi," Zhao Rui replied politely.

He’d heard the name Mu Hua Zi before, from the Saint Lotus Sect Leader.

He knew the man was a venerable expert, but he was now advanced in years and spent most of his time in secluded cultivation, rarely making an appearance.

"In that case, allow me to ask."

After speaking, Master Qingyang reached out and crushed a Sound Transmission Talisman. It was a communication method that used True Qi vibrations, working on a principle remarkably similar to electromagnetic waves.

The message was sent and received in moments. A pleased look appeared on Master Qingyang’s face as he turned to the others. "Our Uncle Master just finished his seclusion and is available now. Let’s go see him."

"Um, Grand... Senior Brother," Miao Miaomiao stammered, looking down at the children who were craning their necks, waiting quietly and expectantly. "I need to get these children settled first."

"There’s no need for you to handle that."

With that, Master Qingyang beckoned, ordering an accompanying disciple to go and arrange for the new disciples below.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Miao Miaomiao said quickly.

Master Qingyang gave a slight wave of his hand. After making a gesture of invitation toward Zhao Rui, he led the group to the tranquil cultivation grounds of Daoist Mu Hua Zi on the rear mountain.