“To meet with young friend Jiang today, warms this old heart and makes me feel young again!”

“To have the good fortune of receiving instruction from this Venerable Mother, Jiang Wang has indeed gained immeasurable benefit!”

The old and the young conversed and laughed as they exited Zheng Sheng Hall.

Upon receiving word, the Gate Master of the Five Immortals Gate, Xu Zhilan, and Elder Fan Qingqing, emerged almost immediately from Duan Xing Hall. With hurried steps, they moved to greet Venerable Mother Bi Zhu and Jiang Wang before the two had walked far.

“There is… still some time,” Venerable Mother Bi Zhu vaguely mentioned the matter of Bamboo Bi Qiong, then kindly inquired, “Where does young friend Jiang plan to stay? Why not return to Huai Island with this old one? I can then fulfill my duty as a host.”

“To be honest, there is no hiding it. Jiang Wang still has a case from the Capital Patrol Inspection Office to attend to, so I need to stay on other islands for a while longer and cannot immediately go to Huai Island.” Jiang Wang’s current lies were delivered without a flicker of hesitation.

Though the Gold Needle case was concluded, he claimed to have other tasks, and Venerable Mother Bi Zhu could not verify its falsehood.

Venerable Mother Bi Zhu shook her head, “Understood, understood. Young people, it is right to strive more. When you reach this old one’s age, if you still wish to strive, there is no time, nor energy.”

“Look at you, speaking so. I see you are within striking distance of achieving Divine Arrival within these few years!” Jiang Wang actively played the role of a polite and gentle junior. “Time and energy are both abundant!”

These words seemed to strike a chord with Venerable Mother Bi Zhu. She laughed until the wrinkles around her eyes softened considerably. “I accept your auspicious words!”

If not for the need to impact Divine Arrival, break the limit of lifespan, and lock in her cultivation, why would she bother to struggle with such a heavy heart?

To cultivate steadily, and single-mindedly pursue the Dao, who would not envy such a life?

But without resources, could it be done?

Could one achieve the Dao without striving?

Even knowing that Jiang Wang was merely flattering her, these words genuinely pleased her heart.

The Gate Master of the Five Immortals Gate, Xu Zhilan, and Elder Fan Qingqing, arrived at this moment to greet them.

“The two of you converse like old friends, truly wonderful!” Xu Zhilan began, “I have arranged a wine banquet. I invite the two honored guests to grace us with their presence. It would also be good for the disciples of my Five Immortals Gate to behold honored individuals and receive some guidance. How about it?”

“No need,” Venerable Mother Bi Zhu waved her hand, giving no quarter. “There are many matters awaiting me at the building. This old one must return now.”

She looked towards Jiang Wang, “And young friend Jiang?”

This was clearly her being still uneasy about Jiang Wang, fearing he might cause trouble if he stayed at the Five Immortals Gate, thus using her words to force him to leave.

It seemed she kept a close watch on this piece of rich meat within the Five Immortals Gate’s bowl.

Jiang Wang scoffed internally, but on his face, he remained mild. “I also wish to leave. After all, I bear heavy responsibilities and dare not neglect them.”

Venerable Mother Bi Zhu chuckled, ignoring Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing’s renewed invitation. She only cast another careful glance at Jiang Wang, her gaze lingering on his waist. “This jade pendant of yours is quite exquisite.”

The white jade pendant hanging at his waist was, of course, the New Year’s gift that Jiang Anan had bought for him.

Jiang Wang lowered his head and looked, a relaxed expression on his face, and laughed, “It is nothing valuable. It was given by an old friend and kept on my person as a memento.”

Such an ordinary jade pendant would naturally not catch the eye of cultivators.

But Venerable Mother Bi Zhu did not comment on this. She simply fumbled in her bosom for a moment and took out a sea-blue jade pendant.

With a kind expression, she handed it over. “Meeting for the first time, there is no grand gift, so I offer this. This jade is also not considered valuable. But should you have any matters, you can come to Huai Island with it to find this old one. This old one’s words still carry some weight in these near-sea islands.”

This meeting gift could have been given entirely within Zheng Sheng Hall.

Taking it out at this time was nothing more than an added layer of warning. A warning to Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing.

To admonish them that her relationship with Jiang Wang was already so close, and to tell these two to extinguish any other thoughts they might have.

Among the several people present, none did not understand.

Jiang Wang naturally accepted it with feigned “flattery.” “Elder’s bestowal, I dare not refuse. Thus, Jiang Wang will accept it with a thick face.”

Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing also maintained ordinary expressions, seemingly having no other thoughts, and remained unmoved by the scene before them.

“Seeing you makes me think of my poor disciple again… alas.”

Venerable Mother Bi Zhu sighed sadly once more, then said, “This old one shall leave now.”

She turned and stepped into the air, departing.

“I will see you off,” the Gate Master of the Five Immortals Gate, Xu Zhilan, hurriedly followed.

Jiang Wang knew in his heart that Venerable Mother Bi Zhu wouldn’t truly fly far if he didn’t leave, so he also soared into the air, just in a different direction than Venerable Mother Bi Zhu. “I am endlessly grateful for the hospitality. Jiang Wang also takes his leave!”

Fan Qingqing followed him. “I will see off young brother Jiang.”

Venerable Mother Bi Zhu headed directly east, back to Huai Island.

Jiang Wang, to avoid her, offset his direction somewhat towards the southeast.

Soon, You Xia Island was already far in the distance. The figures of Venerable Mother Bi Zhu and Xu Zhilan were even less visible.

“Seeing off a gentleman a thousand miles, one must eventually part. Elder Fan, please return!” Jiang Wang said.

Fan Qingqing bit her lips, seemingly wanting to say something, but hesitated.

After all, Venerable Mother Bi Zhu appeared to get along too well with Jiang Wang. If she were to rashly attempt to befriend him at this moment, she might be backhandedly betrayed.

“Young brother Jiang, go slowly. If you have time, you are welcome to often visit the Five Immortals Gate.” Ultimately, she only said this politely.

“Of course, Elder Fan is kind and amiable, You Xia Island’s scenery is bright and beautiful, and your esteemed sect’s five halls are unique. If I have the opportunity, I truly wish to come and listen again.” Jiang Wang chuckled, throwing out a bait. “I will bring my friends along. Jiang Wuyou and Zhong Xuan Sheng, they should all like it here!”

Jiang Wuyou, the Master of Hua Ying Palace. Zhong Xuan Sheng, the direct descendant of the Zhong Xuan family.

Fan Qingqing clearly did not expect that in this kind of situation, where Elder Bi Zhu of Fishing Sea Tower had personally stepped forward to form a connection, Jiang Wang would actually still harbor such thoughts.

Her eyes suddenly brightened, and her smile also became much more sincere. “At that time, this humble sect will certainly entertain you well! Absolutely not let young brother Jiang be disappointed!”

“We part now, but we will meet again later.”

Jiang Wang smiled and turned to fly away.

There was no need to say everything; a point was sufficient.

Fan Qingqing’s invitation for him to return to the Five Immortals Gate’s station was not entirely without ulterior motives. But it did not hinder his indeed gaining benefits from Zheng Sheng Hall, and also finding new clues from Venerable Mother Bi Zhu.

He was willing to help the Five Immortals Gate shake off Venerable Mother Bi Zhu only because of a shared enemy. But the Five Immortals Gate still needed to offer a sufficiently weighty price to secure the exchange.

The bait had been cast. The remaining matters would depend on what the Five Immortals Gate was willing to pay for this.

Life does not always have waves; it is in fact mostly uneventful.

Jiang Wang’s ultimate destination was, of course, Huai Island. But along the way, he also tried his best to experience the atmosphere of the near-sea archipelago.

He didn’t know if it was because his identity had been revealed on You Xia Island, but in the subsequent journey, there were noticeably fewer troubles. Correspondingly, there were also fewer opportunities to further understand the near-sea archipelago.

However, Jiang Wang did not mind this.

Each day, he simply cultivated, traveled, and nominally handled cases while truly gathering intelligence.

Island by island, he passed through, finally arriving at Small Crescent Island on the eleventh day of March.