125: Birthday celebration begins

Stepping out of the small courtyard, the Old Master himself was outside guarding the path.

His slightly hunched figure watched as Ling Xian emerged, a sharp glint flashing through those eyes that were as clear as water and seemingly untouched by dust.

"Have you broken through to the mid-stage Master realm?" Old Master Ling knew his grandson was a Young Grandmaster, so he assumed Ling Xian had reached the mid-stage of the Master realm.

Ling Xian didn't speak; he simply shook his head in denial.

Old Master Ling was taken aback but didn't press for reasons. He smiled and said, "It's fine. You're already a Young Grandmaster; it's only a matter of time."

But he didn't know that Ling Xian was actually aiming to break through to become a Grandmaster.

If he knew, his jaw would likely drop; after all, in his memory, Ling Xian had been practicing for less than three years.

Such a terrifying cultivation speed was simply unheard of.

"In any case, thank you, Grandfather, for personally retrieving the tongxuan flower for me." Ling Xian's relationship with Old Master Ling wasn't close; there was a slight sense of distance, which was why he spoke up to thank him.

"We're family, no need for thanks." Old Master Ling waved his hand, smiling. He seemed very happy that Ling Xian could return for the birthday celebration.

But Ling Xian always felt that the Old Master was hiding something on his mind.

The Old Master walked in front, with Ling Xian following behind.

The elder and the youth appeared warm and harmonious together.

"Little Xian, I wonder what the background of the master who taught you is?" Old Master Ling suddenly asked; this had always been a question of his.

As the head of the Ling Clan of Zhongzhou, Old Master Ling never wanted anything to be beyond his control.

He naturally felt uneasy about a master of unknown origins, unsure whether they were a good or bad influence on Ling Xian.

"Don't worry, Grandfather. My master has taught me everything without reservation; he would never do anything to harm me."

Seeing Ling Xian defend him so staunchly, Old Master Ling couldn't say much more.

"Mm. If there's a problem, come to the Ling Family. The Ling Family will always be your backer," Old Master Ling said, patting Ling Xian on the shoulder.

"Grandfather, if there's something on your mind, just say it. There's no need to beat around the bush," Ling Xian interrupted, cutting off the Old Master's words.

"Haha, I've seen countless wom—countless people in my time. You're an interesting kid." Seeing his thoughts exposed by his junior, Old Master Ling wasn't annoyed; he laughed heartily to cover his embarrassment.

"Actually, I do have a favor to ask of you," Old Master Ling said seriously.

It was clear that there was indeed something important to discuss.

"Grandfather, please feel free to speak." Ling Xian guessed all sorts of strange possibilities.

But in the end, they were all dismissed by a single sentence from Old Master Ling: "I want you to hide your cultivation and go to a sect as an undercover agent! Your new identity will still be Ling Xian!"

"As for the specific timing, you decide!"

"Undercover?" Ling Xian was stunned, then quickly realized that this sect was definitely not simple.

"I can decide the time whenever I want?" Ling Xian asked curiously.

Was this matter important or not?

If it wasn't important, why would the Old Master bring it up personally?

If it was important, why was he being so casual about it?

"Exactly!" Old Master Ling nodded and said no more... Meanwhile, on the other side.

Seeing that Ling Xian's birthday was approaching, a preoccupied Yue Cailan still made a phone call.

First, she asked her father for top chefs from the Eight Great Cuisines.

It could be said that these top chefs of the Eight Great Cuisines were the star attractions of several Wangyue Tower locations.

Once they left, Wangyue Tower's business would definitely be affected.

"Cailan, you know I dote on you, but... you know my status in the family."

"I don't have the final say in this; the Old Master has to agree." Yue Cailan's father was also helpless; despite being the Head of the Yue Family and acting with great prestige and authority outside, his word was law nowhere but there.

At home, his hands were tied, and his status was precarious.

Hearing this, Yue Cailan didn't waste any words; she hung up immediately and dialed Old Master Yue's number.

"Hello, my dear granddaughter, did you miss your grandfather?" Old Master Yue's voice was kind and gentle, with no trace of the majesty of a Half-step Grandmaster.

One must know that he was the pillar of the Yue Family.

"Grandfather, no nonsense, I need top chefs from the Eight Great Cuisines. The sooner the better!" Yue Cailan urged anxiously.

Old Master Yue was slightly taken aback. "What's wrong? What happened? Are you trying to host the King of the East Sea or something?"

"It's Ling Xian's birthday. You figure it out!" Yue Cailan responded simply.

Old Master Yue fell silent for a moment. He hadn't expected that his casual remark would actually involve this particular person.

"Fine. Where is it? I'll make the arrangements. I guarantee they'll arrive by this afternoon, and we'll use the freshest ingredients."

"Zhongzhou!" Yue Cailan replied. "And Ling Xian's grandfather and parents will also be there."

Though the speaker was casual, the listener took it to heart; the entire Yue Family began to bustle because of Yue Cailan's request for chefs.

Night fell.

Ling Xian followed the Old Master to the private room prepared by his Second Uncle.

They stepped into the room.

Several beautiful waitresses, skilled at reading people, were working there.

They had never seen Ling Xian, nor the other members of the Ling Family, but they had a vague sense that these were no ordinary people—they were VIPs.

Thus, compared to the vacations some of their colleagues were taking, they felt no envy at all.

In their eyes, this was an opportunity—one far more important than any vacation.

Furthermore, the boss had given them a substantial red envelope.

"Welcome, Mr. Ling! Welcome!"

Their voices were sweet and pleasant; one could imagine the weight of those red envelopes.

Fortunately, there weren't many of them, so they didn't disturb Ling Xian's mood.

"Little Xian, no wonder you chose this place. You have more face here than even I do, hahaha..." Old Master Ling didn't seem angry; instead, he laughed heartily, feeling that Little Xian had really made something of himself.

After all, the Ling Family had Ling Wenjie at the bottom.

Not everyone was a Young Grandmaster like Ling Xian or a military genius like Ling Wuhei.

"Grandfather, you're joking." Ling Xian had just finished speaking; he hadn't expected to encounter such a situation either.

It was clearly something Yue Cailan had arranged on purpose.

"Ling Xian, I've arranged everything. What do you think?" Yue Cailan walked over at that moment, a smile on her face and a hint of humility in her tone.

"It's good, but just keep things normal," Ling Xian said flatly.

Yue Cailan gave a simple wave to dismiss the staff and followed Ling Xian into the room.

The Old Master, meanwhile, was sizing up Yue Cailan.

He only thought that his grandson's head had finally cleared.

This was much better than the "simp" rumors he had heard before.

As for Yue Cailan, she was a bit too restrained; compared to her former self who could play around and cause a scene, she was now more respectful and humble.

This was related to the rise in Ling Xian's cultivation and status; after all, with just a word from Ling Xian, there were plenty of people willing to be his "dog."

This shift in relative status made Yue Cailan feel awkward.

Another reason was that Ling Xian's grandfather, parents, and other elders were all present.

The private room wasn't the largest in this Zhongzhou branch of Wangyue Tower, but it was the most quiet and elegant.

A dozen or so people sitting around the table wouldn't be a problem.

Before Ling Xian and Old Master Ling took their seats, Ling Wubai, Ling Wenbin, and the other juniors all stood on either side, not sitting down.

Seeing this, Old Master Ling narrowed his eyes slightly, a bit displeased. "What are you all doing? Sit down!"

"Our Ling Family isn't some rigid clan; we don't have such fussy etiquette."

Ling Wenbin and Ling Wubai glanced at each other, feeling a bit embarrassed.

They had seen other families act this way and hadn't thought much of it before, but now they realized the Old Master was right.