Of course he wouldn't bow in greeting to Sun Lu.
This wasn't due to arrogance or any other reason.
It was because Chen Yan had come to this Stationed Envoy Residence in Ningling City this time to process documents, in order to go to Qingchan Peak to see Fu Qian.
How could someone who bows and greets a Martial Spring Realm cultivator possibly have the qualifications to request an audience with a Myriad Transformations Realm great power?
"So it's Fellow Daoist Shi."
Sun Lu's expression didn't change at all, he merely nodded:
"Might I ask what business Fellow Daoist Shi has visiting our Kongshan Sect's outer court?"
"To visit an old acquaintance in the inner sect."
Chen Yan stated.
"Elder Fu Qian of Qingchan Peak."
Upon hearing this, Sun Lu fell silent for a moment, then chuckled:
"Fellow Daoist, please don't jest with me. The situation of Manager Li's campaign against the Ding Bandits is quite tense right now, I am very busy."
Of course he didn't believe Chen Yan's words.
Because if someone could visit a major figure of Elder Fu Qian's level, wanting to visit Kongshan Sect wouldn't require coming to a place like the Kongshan Sect's Stationed Envoy Residence to process documents. They would only need to casually mention it to an acquainted inner sect elder.
"Stationed Envoy Sun, you don't intend to process the documents for me?"
Chen Yan said slowly.
"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist."
Sun Lu refused.
"Fine then."
Chen Yan adopted an indifferent attitude, shaking his head:
"By the way, Stationed Envoy Sun, I wonder if your esteemed teacher, Supervisor Zheng, has been well lately?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Lu's facial expression stiffened slightly.
He actually knew who his master was?
This made Sun Lu feel somewhat astonished.
"Does Fellow Daoist know my teacher?"
Sun Lu asked, feigning composure.
But the change in his expression just now had clearly been completely observed by Chen Yan.
Chen Yan merely revealed a smile, saying nothing.
Meanwhile, Sun Lu's heart was churning with turmoil.
This cultivator in gray daoist robes before him could actually mention his teacher's name with such calmness.
Who exactly was he?
"The Outer Court Cataclysm of Kongshan Sect... sixteen years ago, my teacher perished in it."
Sun Lu answered.
Chen Yan wasn't surprised by this answer.
After all, over seventy percent of the Kongshan Sect disciples in the outer court had died under the Black Flood Dragon's oppressive aura.
"So that's how it is, what a pity..."
A look of regret appeared on Chen Yan's face, and he slowly shook his head.
However, Sun Lu's focus wasn't here at all.
What he cared about was who exactly this cultivator in gray daoist robes before him, who looked very young, was.
Yet Sun Lu still didn't intend to process documents for this seemingly young cultivator before him.
Because the other party wanted to visit a certain Myriad Transformations Realm great power in the inner sect. If he easily processed the documents for him, no matter what kind of unpleasant situation arose, Sun Lu would have to bear some responsibility.
"Fellow Daoist, please return."
Sun Lu said.
"Might I ask if Stationed Envoy Sun still knows that there was once a supervisor in the outer court's Merit Hall, surnamed Song, named Song Mingde?"
Chen Yan ignored the other's request to leave, continuing.
Upon hearing this, Sun Lu's breath hitched.
So many years had passed. Although with Sun Lu's status in Kongshan Sect, he couldn't access any real secrets.
But regarding the truth behind the death of the Merit Hall supervisor Song Mingde in the Enforcement Hall, he had indeed heard some things.
Especially since he had once investigated the matter of Song Mingde.
Under the direction of Chen Yan, the personal disciple of an outer court elder at the time.
And it had implicated the Immortal Gambling Den in Taiyun City. And now, the Ding Bandits who were giving Kongshan Sect quite a headache had once been the manager of the Immortal Gambling Den in Taiyun City.
And the reason this cultivator calling himself Shi Mingxu mentioned Song Mingde was because...
"I've heard that Stationed Envoy Sun repeatedly visited the Immortal Gambling Den in Taiyun City and had dealings with Ding Qiu, who served as the gambling den's manager at the time. Is that true?"
Chen Yan said lightly.
Sun Lu's heartbeat began to accelerate, his pupils constricting.
Why did he know about such a thing?
Back then, Sun Lu had visited the gambling den a few extra times to curry favor with Chen Yan, and had become somewhat familiar with Ding Qiu then.
"Stationed Envoy Sun naturally doesn't have to help me, but I will see Elder Fu Qian sooner or later."
Chen Yan said with a smile:
"At that time, if word gets out that Stationed Envoy Sun once had private dealings with Ding Qiu..."
Three days later.
Chen Yan handed the document in his hand to the two mountain-guarding disciples standing outside the Kongshan Sect's mountain gate.
"Issued by Stationed Envoy Sun from Ningling City."
The disciple who took the document glanced at its seal, then said to the other mountain-guarding disciple beside him.
"Fellow Daoist, please proceed."
The other mountain-guarding disciple said.
Chen Yan nodded in acknowledgment, then stepped through the Kongshan Sect's mountain gate.
How many years had it been since he last returned?
He sighed inwardly like this.
Of course, Chen Yan had no evidence that Sun Lu had any private dealings with Ding Qiu; he was just scaring Sun Lu.
Moreover, even if Sun Lu ultimately didn't issue the documents for him, Chen Yan wouldn't report him.
Back when Chen Yan was still in the outer court, Sun Lu had helped him quite a bit.
Although Sun Lu had his own investment motives, at least the outcome was good.
Chen Yan couldn't bring himself to do such a backstabbing thing.
...
Qingchan Peak, Cangwu Residence.
The old man whose hair was almost completely white sat upright before a cold pool. Beside him was a small stove, with fresh tea brewing on it.
Ever since Fu Qian stepped down from the position of Martial Elder of Qingchan Peak, the speed of his external aging had noticeably accelerated.
In another twenty or so years, Fu Qian would be seven hundred years old.
Although he looked much older, given the near-thousand-year lifespan of a Myriad Transformations Realm cultivator, he could still live for at least another hundred-plus years.
"Elder Fu!"
A Martial Spring Realm disciple wearing Qingchan Peak daoist robes stood at the main gate of Cangwu Residence, bowing towards Fu Qian's direction.
"Speak."
Fu Qian picked up the teapot from the stove, poured some into a teacup, swirled it around, then poured out the tea used to warm the cup.
"The External Affairs Hall from the outer court side, coordinating with our Qingchan Peak, said there's a cultivator who wants to see you."
The Martial Spring Realm disciple wearing Qingchan Peak daoist robes, standing at the main gate of Cangwu Residence, said.
"You're reporting this kind of matter to me?"
Fu Qian's gaze turned sharp, glaring towards the Martial Spring Realm disciple.
The disciple's body stiffened, cold sweat immediately flowing down his neck:
"E-Elder Fu... please calm your anger!"
The disciple wearing Qingchan Peak daoist robes hurriedly said:
"This disciple heard that the cultivator requesting to see you brought you a message."
Brought me a message?
Fu Qian's eyebrow raised slightly:
"What message?"
The disciple's expression clearly became hesitant.
"Speak."
Fu Qian's tone was authoritative, an invisible pressure bearing down on the disciple's entire body.
"That... that cultivator who wants to request an audience with you said..."
The disciple stammered:
"He said, it's time to come back and be a chess player."