Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao was at a loss for words.

Afterwards, Chen Chao was not good at dealing with women to begin with, and even less so with women of this age.

Aunt Gan circled around Chen Chao, gestured with her hand to measure him, and nodded in satisfaction. ”Not bad, not bad, compared to the last time we met, you’ve grown a bit taller.”

Facing this Lord Warden Commander who had long since become famous across the world, the others all appeared somewhat cautious. Only this Aunt Gan treated him as if she were looking at a junior from her own family.

Chen Chao glanced at Aunt Gan somewhat helplessly.

Aunt Gan lowered her voice and softly said, ”So, how is it now? Have you won over that Miss Xie?”

Chen Chao kept a straight face and did not want to talk about this matter. Instead, he said, ”Aunt Gan, won’t you introduce these fellow daoists?”

Aunt Gan was a perceptive person after all. Naturally, she knew why Chen Chao avoided the topic. After shooting him a look, she then pointed to the red-robed woman at the center of the group and said, ”This is the next mountain lord of our Blue Moon Mountain, Li Tang.”

Chen Chao looked at Li Tang and only felt that this new mountain lord of Blue Moon Mountain was indeed just like in the portrait, graceful and poised, though in certain places, somewhat too ordinary and flat.

”Li Tang pays respect to Lord Warden Commander.”

The red-robed woman cupped her fists, carrying a hint of heroic bearing.

Chen Chao smiled and returned the greeting. ”Fairy Li Tang truly has outstanding bearing, not an ordinary woman.”

”That is Chief Enforcer Xie Changyu, and over there is Chief Retainer Xu Qingling...”

Aunt Gan introduced them one by one, and Chen Chao returned greetings to each.

However, aside from Li Tang, the rest were not young, all appearing middle-aged.

”Lord Warden Commander, please come up the mountain.”

Li Tang glanced at Chen Chao and stepped aside, intending to let him walk in front.

Chen Chao waved his hand and refused. ”This official has come to the mountain this time as a guest. How can a guest walk ahead of the host? Fairy Li Tang, please.”

Originally, several of them had been somewhat nervous. After all, Blue Moon Mountain was a sect supported by the imperial court. Although it was now the number one itinerant cultivator sect in the north, Chen Chao was still the Lord Warden Commander, and it was widely rumored that he was forceful in his methods. They had always been somewhat worried. But seeing Chen Chao act this way now instead reassured them quite a bit.

Li Tang glanced at Aunt Gan.

Aunt Gan waved her hand and laughed. ”Since he says so, then it’s fine. I already said, our Lord Warden Commander doesn’t have such a bad temper.”

Only then did Li Tang take the lead and walk ahead, though her pace was slightly slower. After that, Chen Chao walked side by side with Aunt Gan, and He Liang followed behind his master.

Only then did the group begin to ascend the mountain.

Along the way up, Li Tang was the first to speak. ”I didn’t expect that Lord Warden Commander would truly come in person this time. Blue Moon Mountain is truly honored by your presence.”

Chen Chao smiled. ”This official is rather curious, why is it that as soon as this official reached the foot of the mountain, all of you already knew?”

Aunt Gan laughed. “Does Lord Warden Commander really think that no one in the world could recognize you? There are Blue Moon Mountain disciples in that little town. Once they saw you, they reported it immediately. Early this morning, we were already waiting here, standing in the cold wind for quite a while.”

Chen Chao could only laugh quietly. By now, whenever he went out, he was far more relaxed, no longer bothering to hide his identity. Those who recognized him naturally did so.

He thought for a moment and said, “Back when this official was still in Southridge, I already knew about Blue Moon Mountain’s grand ceremony. But at that time, there were too many things to handle, and I couldn’t guarantee I could make it, so I replied as I did. I never expected that after handling all those trivial matters, I would just happen to be in Xinliu Prefecture, and the grand ceremony at Blue Moon Mountain had not yet taken place.”

Aunt Gan laughed. “The trivial matters Lord Warden Commander refers to... is that about wiping out the entire Purple Leaf Grotto alone?”

Hearing this, Li Tang, who was walking ahead, paused. She waited until Chen Chao reached her side before continuing up the mountain slowly. Fortunately, the mountain path was wide enough for the three to walk side by side.

Chen Chao noticed Li Tang’s reaction and smiled wryly. “Aunt Gan, if you keep talking like this, Fairy Li Tang might not even know how to get back up the mountain.”

Aunt Gan glanced at Li Tang and opened her mouth, wanting to say she need not be so reserved, but after thinking for a moment, she let it go.

Some things, even she realized belatedly. Chen Chao’s words were casual, but he was the Lord Warden Commander, if he truly didn’t take something seriously, that would be a huge problem.

“The Purple Leaf Grotto brought it upon themselves. They bullied the Great Liang’s in-laws. When I went to claim what was owed, they were plotting to kill me, so I had no choice but to kill them all.”

Chen Chao spoke slowly, but those behind him listened in awe and fear.

“Though I said many things in the Mountains and Rivers Sect, much of it also applies to Blue Moon Mountain. But I’ve seen that Blue Moon Mountain has always acted with discretion these years, so I shouldn’t have to say more. Still, from today onward, I hope Blue Moon Mountain will continue as it was before today, and not change everything just because the mountain rules are revised.”

Even though Chen Chao was familiar with Aunt Gan and Blue Moon Mountain had done many things under his guidance, some things still had to be said. Otherwise, if issues arose later, it would be troublesome.

Li Tang nodded lightly. “What the Lord Warden Commander says, Li Tang will remember. We won’t make things difficult for the imperial court, nor for the Lord Warden Commander.”

Aunt Gan asked, “Lord Warden Commander, do you have any objections to Blue Moon Mountain revising the mountain rules?”

She was straightforward. Sending the invitation to Chen Chao had actually been a way to gauge his opinion.

Chen Chao shook his head. Now that Blue Moon Mountain was accepting disciples regardless of gender, this was the correct approach. If it were only women, the sect would never grow large enough in the future.

Li Tang suddenly spoke. “During a previous meeting on the mountain, it was decided that Blue Moon Mountain should change its name. The name ‘Blue Moon’ works when there are only female disciples, but once the sect has both men and women, it becomes somewhat biased. I just wonder, would Lord Warden Commander be willing to give the name?”

Chen Chao shook his head. “That is Blue Moon Mountain’s private matter. I don’t wish to interfere. Fairy Li Tang should decide for herself.”

Aunt Gan cast Chen Chao a somewhat aggrieved look. “I heard that when Feng Liu established Morning Dew Sect in Ying Prefecture, the name was given by Lord Warden Commander. Why is it that when it comes to Blue Moon Mountain, you’re playing favorites?”

Some things were not convenient for Li Tang, as mountain lord, to say, but Aunt Gan could say them without issue.

Chen Chao was a bit helpless. He had long known Feng Liu would make that matter public, but he had not expected it to spread so quickly.

“Daoist Feng came up with quite a few names herself. I only helped choose one. But you all are trying to get something for free?”

Chen Chao glanced at Aunt Gan. He also knew what Blue Moon Mountain was planning. Wasn’t it the same idea as Feng Liu’s? If he named it, it would further show that Blue Moon Mountain was closely tied to Great Liang and to him, the Lord Warden Commander. If others wanted to act against Blue Moon Mountain, they would have to think twice.

So it seemed like just naming, but there was a lot hidden beneath it.

Chen Chao thought for a moment, but did not refuse. After all, Blue Moon Mountain had truly put in real effort against the demon threat in the north. That was beyond doubt. If he refused outright, it would chill people’s hearts.

“Then change ‘Qing’ to ‘Qing’ as in ‘invite.’ Blue Moon Mountain - Inviting Moon Mountain. That should remove the previous implication, right?”

Chen Chao looked at Li Tang and asked with a smile, “What does Fairy Li Tang think?”

Li Tang nodded and made the decision. “Then it will be called Inviting Moon Mountain.”

For a matter like this, she could decide it with a single word, without needing a meeting on the mountain.

Aunt Gan pushed further. “Then how about Lord Warden Commander leaves behind a piece of calligraphy later? We can make a plaque.”

Chen Chao smiled wryly. “Aunt Gan, I’m just a martial artist. My handwriting isn’t worth looking at.”

In truth, Chen Chao’s handwriting was not terrible. Naming was one thing, but writing a plaque would go too far.

It would inevitably lead to the sect relying on its connection with him to do excessive things in the future.

After all, many things might not seem like much to him, but in the eyes of others, they were different.

People in this world often liked to think themselves clever.

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