Elder Xu Mu of the Taiji Sect and Elder Li Yan of the Nandou Sect, upon learning that over ten elders of the Jade Void Sect had been severely injured and crippled, and that the perpetrators were actually Li Juncai and Qiao Yu from their own sects, hurriedly offered apologies to the Jade Void Sect. They repeatedly assured that they would take full responsibility for the heavily wounded elders.
It wasn't that they feared the Jade Void Sect seeking revenge later; after all, both sides were acquainted. Although the Jade Void Sect disciples had spoken arrogantly first, beating their elders over such a matter was hardly justifiable. Moreover, diplomatic relations between sects were extremely important. If you beat up members of the Jade Void Sect in Yanluo Kingdom today, would they let you off if you passed through Tianzhao Country in the future?
Young people acted impulsively without considering consequences, but Elder Xu Mu and Elder Li Yan understood clearly in their hearts that if this matter wasn't handled properly, they might as well forget about ever visiting Tianzhao Country again.
With the intervention of elders from the Taiji and Nandou Sects, the matter was finally suppressed. Although the Jade Void Sect members were still seething with anger, they had no choice but to accept it. After all, this was someone else's territory; no matter how furious they were, they could only swallow their rage.
"Well, well, our Yunyou Garden is certainly lively today."
Suddenly.
A teasing voice rang out. Everyone looked over to see a group of over ten people entering the area. These were the stewards of Yunyou Garden. Leading them was a woman dressed flamboyantly, appearing both enchanting and alluring—the chief manager of Yunyou Garden.
Her surname was Mei, her given name Miao, and she was addressed as Sister Miao.
Within Yanluo Kingdom, there were two women who were extremely well-connected and adept at socializing, getting along with everyone from the Yanluo Immortal Court and the Yanluo royal family to the Four Great Families and Seven Great Sects.
One was the mistress of Linglong Mountain Villa, Chu Jiaohong, known as Sister Hong.
The other was this chief manager of Yunyou Garden, Mei Miao, known as Sister Miao.
The backgrounds of both women were rather mysterious.
No one knew Chu Jiaohong's true identity or origins to this day, only hearing that she was once a prominent figure from the Ancient Era.
As for Sister Miao, her identity and background were equally unknown. Everyone only knew she was a reincarnated person; what she was in her previous life remained a mystery.
The two shared a common trait: not only were their identities mysterious, but their strength was also unfathomably profound. No one knew exactly how powerful they were, only that rumors spoke of their fearsome capabilities. In recent years, many outsiders who caused trouble at Linglong Mountain Villa either paid compensation—tenfold or even a hundredfold—or, if they had no money, were kept at the villa for hard labor. Some simply vanished without a trace.
Linglong Mountain Villa was like this, and Yunyou Garden was no exception. Those who caused trouble or threw their weight around here almost never met a good end. They wouldn't be kept for hard labor, nor would they vanish mysteriously, nor would they be forced to pay tenfold or hundredfold compensation. Because over the years, every single person who caused trouble in the garden emerged afterward without exception, their minds addled, acting insane as if their spirits had suffered some severe shock.
Why did they become like this?
Again, no one knew.
Just as no one knew why those who caused trouble at Linglong Mountain Villa mysteriously disappeared.
The only difference between the two was that Chu Jiaohong acted more domineeringly. If you broke the rules of Linglong Mountain Villa, regardless of whether you were from the Immortal Court, the royal family, or a great family or sect, it made no difference. You had to compensate exactly as required, not a single coin less, and be punished exactly as stipulated, not a single slap fewer.
As for Sister Miao's Yunyou Garden, there weren't many messy rules. Minor scuffles and disturbances, she wouldn't bother with, nor did she care to. But the premise was that order within the garden couldn't be disrupted. If order was disrupted, then there would be... a discussion.
What kind of discussion?
Unclear.
It was only known that those who had been 'discussed' with by Sister Miao emerged from the garden afterward, all inexplicably gone mad.
Some years ago, an elder from the Nandou Sect caused trouble at Yunyou Garden. Over thirty years had passed, and that elder remained insane to this day.
Everyone knew this Sister Miao was not to be trifled with. Moreover, behind her stood the even more formidable Old Master Black Buddha. Elders Xu Mu and Li Yan only wanted to smooth things over and quickly explain the situation.
Sister Miao munched on melon seeds, a smile on her face. "Since you've all explained it clearly, then handle it according to your intentions. However..." As she spoke, she looked toward Zhou Ting, Lü Tianze, and the others. "They merely said some inappropriate words, and you beat them to such a state. Wasn't that a bit too heavy-handed? If word gets out, people might think our Yanluo Kingdom bullies outsiders on its own turf. Who would dare come to Yanluo for leisure in the future?"
"Hmph! The Jade Void Sect said the prodigies of our Yanluo Kingdom were all unworthy of their fame. This noble scion acted to show them whether the prodigies of Yanluo are truly unworthy or not!"
Lü Tianze was an extremely arrogant person and didn't seem to hold Sister Miao in high regard either. Beside him, Bi Qiao also said disdainfully, "Exactly! Daring to run wild in our Yanluo, do they really think our Yanluo Immortal Court is made of paper? They don't know what's good for them."
"Oh ho, the tone of an Immortal Court noble scion is indeed extraordinary," Sister Miao said, looking at the two, the smile at the corner of her mouth growing even more pronounced.
The two were about to say something more when they noticed Wang Feiyu staring at them. Seeing this, they both fell silent.
"Sister Miao, both sides bear responsibility in this matter. Since it's over, let it be over," Wang Feiyu said. As an Immortal Court Cloud Lord and a bearer of the Edict of Humanity, his status and background were undeniably powerful. Yet even he had to address Mei Miao as 'Sister Miao.' This alone showed how extraordinary Sister Miao was. At the very least, one thing was certain: Wang Feiyu didn't want to provoke Sister Miao over some minor matter.
"Lord Feiyu the Cloud Lord certainly knows how to speak," Sister Miao said leisurely, cracking melon seeds. Her enchanting, captivating eyes swept over Li Juncai and the others. "Young people these days, blessed by heaven, chancing upon great fortunes, each one more imposing than the last."
When her gaze fell upon Zhou Ting, Sister Miao smiled. "So you're that Zhou Ting who obtained a Minor Mandate, grandson of Old Master Blackhearted?"
Since Old Master Black Buddha and Old Master Blackhearted were at odds, and Yunyou Garden belonged to Old Master Black Buddha, Zhou Ting, as the grandson of Old Master Blackhearted, rarely visited Yunyou Garden. Sister Miao had only heard of him by reputation but never met him in person; today was the first time.
"So what if I am?" Zhou Ting appeared even more arrogant than Lü Tianze. He stood with arms crossed in mid-air, looking down at Sister Miao.
Although rumors outside constantly spoke of how mysterious Sister Miao's identity was and how bizarre her strength was, Zhou Ting had heard them too. But he didn't care about any of that. In his view, this Sister Miao was merely a chief steward under Old Master Black Buddha. How powerful could her status and background be? Moreover, he now possessed a Minor Mandate and naturally feared no one.
"Ting'er, do not be presumptuous."
A voice came. Everyone looked over to see another group of over ten people entering the area—members of the Juexin Branch of the Chizi Head.