Chen Ye returned a smile and cupped his hands towards Bai Wuji:
"Taoist Friend Bai is too polite, it was just a stroke of luck. But Taoist Friend Bai, your elegance remains unchanged."
Bai Wuji couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Recently, he had been worried sick over Bai Susu’s affairs, looking haggard, how could he be said to have unchanged elegance?
Thinking of this matter, to this day Bai Wuji still has lingering fears.
Who would have thought that True Man Ye’s tribulation would drag everyone into the Grotto Heaven.
If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have let Bai Susu go to earn the favor with that True Man Ye.
What angers him the most about this is the Second Elder’s unwillingness to send people into the Grotto Heaven to save Bai Susu!
Until now, Bai Wuji still couldn’t let this matter go.
Thinking of this, he once again expressed his gratitude: "Bai is deeply thankful to Taoist Friend Chen for extending a helping hand. True Inheritor Bai is my elder brother’s only descendant, if she were to fall, I wouldn’t know how to face my brother in the afterlife. If it weren’t for Taoist Friend Chen stepping up in a time of crisis, the outcome would be uncertain."
Bai Susu was quite displeased and snorted coldly: "Bai Wuji! What do you mean? Even without him, I, Bai Susu, would have been fine!"
Wait...
She belatedly realized, could it be that back then, Chen Ye really entered the Grotto Heaven to save her?
At that time, she thought it was just Chen Ye making an excuse.
Bai Wuji’s expression turned solemn, in daily life, he indeed had trouble dealing with this niece.
But now, he was truly angry:
"Bai Susu! Do you know why Chen Ye entered the Grotto Heaven? It was because of your involvement! He went there under the orders of the Second Elder to find you!"
Even though she already realized something was wrong, how could Bai Susu admit defeat?
She sneered, "At that time, Chen Ye had only Qi Cultivation. In reason and logic, there’s no way he could have been involved with me! Could anyone have expected a Qi Cultivation Spirit Plant Cultivator to save me?"
Another Guardian from the Law Enforcement Hall, seeing the situation going awry, stepped forward to mediate:
"True Inheritor Bai. The Sect Master and various Elders are already waiting in Dubhe Hall. Please proceed with us to make your report. Guardian Chen, your status and Guardian attire have been prepared, and someone will guide you through the process."
"Understood."
Bai Susu impatiently waved her hand, glanced at Chen Ye, and then at the few young maidens who were following him closely:
"You go settle your ramshackle courtyard first. I’ll come to find you later."
Bai Wuji showed an apologetic look towards Chen Ye.
There was nothing he could do, Bai Susu’s retort had extinguished what little anger he had...
He dejectedly followed behind Bai Susu, transforming into a streak of light, flying towards Dubhe Hall on the main peak.
"Guardian Chen, please follow me." Another disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall stepped forward, respectfully gesturing to invite him.
Chen Ye nodded, leading his entourage, following that disciple towards the direction of the Ministry Hall.
As for Bai Susu...
Frankly speaking, he didn’t care whether Bai Susu felt grateful or not.
After all, back then, he did not voluntarily wish to rescue Bai Susu, but was compelled by the Wei family’s pressure.
...
Inside the Ministry Hall, people were coming and going, all wearing various colorful Taoist robes, bustling with activity.
The Law Enforcement Hall disciple leading Chen Ye directly brought him to a counter specifically handling Inner Sect affairs.
The one responsible for reception was a middle-aged steward who was focused on sorting through dossiers.
"Steward Li." The Law Enforcement Hall disciple bowed and said, "This is the newly appointed Guardian Chen Ye, here to handle his identity matters."
Upon hearing this, Steward Li immediately set down the dossiers in his hands, stood up, and politely cupped his hands towards Chen Ye: "So it’s Guardian Chen, my apologies for not recognizing you. Your Guardian Jade Pendant and attire have already been prepared, please wait a moment."
As he spoke, he turned around and took a tray from a jade cabinet behind him.
On the tray, a set of blue Taoist robes embroidered with silver cloud patterns was neatly folded, with a warm white jade token beside it.
Chen Ye took it, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and saw his name and Guardian rank inscribed within the Jade Pendant.
He stowed the items and asked, "Steward Li, I have a question. Now that I am a Guardian, according to the sect’s rules, can I officially take disciples?"
"Of course." Steward Li explained patiently, "Guardian Chen, as per the regulations, sect Guardians can accept two Inner Sect Disciples and record them in the sect’s roster. Any disciple accepted by a Guardian receives a stipend from the sect each month and enjoys Inner Sect Disciple benefits."
The taking of disciples here refers to formally enrolling them into the Lingyin Sect.
From now on, the disciples can also participate in various competitions and enjoy the benefits within the Lingyin Sect.
However,
Zhiwei, Qing Jun, plus today, he already had three disciples.
Noticing Chen Ye’s frown, Steward Li suddenly smiled, "This Guardian is quite unfamiliar... could it be the new Guardian Chen who returned from Songyang Cave Heaven and rescued the True Inheritor Bai?"
"That would be me." Chen Ye nodded.
Steward Li’s smile became more enthusiastic, he rubbed his hands together and said with a smile, "Guardian Chen’s rescue of the True Inheritor Bai is a great merit! The Sect Master has already instructed that anything Guardian Chen desires, our Ministry Hall should do our utmost to satisfy. A mere disciple quota, what’s the harm in that?"
Chen Ye was slightly stunned, he hadn’t expected that the dignified Sect Master of the Lingyin Sect would personally have a word about this.
But thinking about it, it made sense, even Bai Susu was the number one prodigy of the Lingyin Sect, and soon, probably even the sect’s Elders would want to meet him...
After Steward Li finished speaking, he truly took out a Jade Scroll, and before Chen Ye’s eyes, Spiritual Light flickered slightly as all of Chen Ye’s various benefits were increased by two ranks.
He added, "According to regulations, Guardian Chen should enjoy the tertiary Guardian benefits, but the Sect Master has ordered to upgrade it to the primary tier benefits. Tsk tsk... Guardian Chen will know the difference later on!"