Lin Xiao glanced at the people of Xiushui Village, still lost in their dreams on the Heart-Testing Path. After thinking for a moment, he turned to Liu Yunian and asked, "Baldy, what do you think we should do?"
Since Lin Xiao had been in seclusion for some time, he wasn't fully aware of the current situation in the village. He thought it best to seek Liu Yunian's opinion.
After a brief pause, Liu Yunian responded, "Recently, more tourists have been visiting our village, and many of them are planning to settle here. They've hired locals from nearby villages to help build houses. Since it's just dawn, I think we can let them in."
He quickly updated Lin Xiao on the village's recent developments. However, in front of the royal family's Nascent Soul ancestor, Liu Yunian refrained from mentioning the matters related to Lingxian Food Court. Such internal sect affairs were better kept private.
Hearing this, Lin Xiao nodded slightly and then turned to Li Zhanying, saying, "Senior, please remove the barrier and allow those travelers to pass through."
Once they had made their decision, Li Zhanying nodded and, with a wave of his hand, withdrew the barrier he had placed outside the village. He then addressed Lin Xiao, "I am Li Zhanying from the capital. I have no particular purpose in coming here, other than to relax after being in seclusion for too long. Now that I've arrived in this beautiful Xiushui Village, I'm quite fond of it. I would like to stay for a while, if Sect Master Lin permits?"
Though Xiushui Village was within the Pusi Kingdom, and as a royal ancestor, Li Zhanying could have stayed without Lin Xiao's approval, he still chose to ask. Li Zhanying recognized that the sect had control over the village and that the sect's management and protection of the village were thorough. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he believed it was proper to show respect and seek permission from the host, especially given the sect's strength in defeating a Nascent Soul cultivator who had recently conquered Shanyang Sect, a long-established sect in the kingdom.
Lin Xiao understood that if this royal ancestor truly wanted to stay, he had little authority to refuse. He also realized that Li Zhanying's request was a gesture of goodwill. So, Lin Xiao responded courteously, "Xiushui Village would be honored to host Senior Li. How could I refuse? Once the village head awakens, I will inform him and ask him to arrange suitable accommodations for you."
Though Li Zhanying hadn't directly aided the sect, Lin Xiao understood the reasoning behind it. As a royal ancestor, Li Zhanying had his own principles and obligations to maintain national stability, and he couldn't afford to make enemies lightly. Lin Xiao acknowledged this.
The future relationship between the sect and the royal family remained uncertain, but since Li Zhanying had shown goodwill, Lin Xiao wasn't going to reject it. Everyone had their scales to balance.
Li Zhanying had prioritized national stability over the sect's safety because he couldn't risk destabilizing the balance between the sects and the royal family. His intervention was limited to protecting the village and preventing outsiders from entering. Now that the sect had resolved the crisis on its own, Li Zhanying's gesture of goodwill reflected his position.
For someone like Li Zhanying, who had lived for over 700 years, every decision was made from the perspective of the nation's interests. Lin Xiao, too, had his own scales to balance.
Had Li Zhanying directly helped them, Lin Xiao might have invited him into the sect as a guest. But since that wasn't the case, Lin Xiao's words indicated that while Li Zhanying was welcome in the village, he wasn't yet considered a guest of the sect.
Li Zhanying, experienced and wise, understood the subtle message in Lin Xiao's response. Yet, he felt no resentment, knowing that both he and Lin Xiao were simply adhering to their respective positions.
With a nod and a smile, Li Zhanying replied, "Thank you, Sect Master Lin, for making arrangements for me. I will indeed impose on you all for a while."
Jiang Youfu, sensing the conversation was winding down and about to hit an awkward lull, chimed in, "Brother Xiao, since we're all idle right now and you've returned, how about I whip up a few dishes to help everyone calm down?"
At this suggestion, the eyes of the Lingxian Sect disciples lit up. Jiang Youfu cooking for them first thing in the morning was a rare treat!
Lin Xiao smiled and nodded, "That sounds great. And since Senior Li is here, make sure to show him your culinary skills!"
However, while he spoke, Lin Xiao sent Jiang Youfu a private message: "But don't make it too good. Keep it subtle. We don't want the royal family to take too much interest in your cooking."
Not only Lin Xiao but also Liu Yunian and Liao Pantou sent Jiang Youfu similar messages, urging him to be cautious. Receiving these messages simultaneously, Jiang Youfu felt momentarily overwhelmed. He nodded at them with a dazed expression, then hurried up the mountain to his special kitchen to prepare the meal.
Seeing that it wasn't ideal for everyone to remain standing around, Sun Yigao led the group to a nearby private school for a brief rest.
Lin Xiao instructed the others to return to the sect and resume their morning cultivation, leaving only himself, Liao Pantou, and Sun Yigao, who had a class later, to keep Li Zhanying company while they awaited the villagers' awakening on the Heart-Testing Path.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. After about fifteen minutes, Lin Xiao and the others noticed two figures slowly emerging from the path. The two men were none other than the village head, Du Liushui, and the clan leader, Hu Deli.
Seeing them, Lin Xiao felt a surge of joy. Finally, he could escape this somewhat awkward situation of playing host!
Excusing himself from the group, Lin Xiao quickly approached the two elders, who were still somewhat disoriented from waking up from the vivid dream state. They didn't notice him until he was right in front of them.