Top Grade Pure Beauty CEO

In the reception room, the old Monk Gui Hai and Yi Kong sat upright, with a cup of clear tea sitting still on the round table beside them. Footsteps sounded from outside, and Yi Kong looked over as Gui Hai had already risen from his chair, smiling to greet the newcomer, "Patriarch Li, it has been a long time since we last met, I hope you've been well." Yi Kong immediately stood up and followed behind. This was the first meeting between the Li Family of the Eight Great Sects of Xuan Country and Da Lin Temple in decades; the necessary formalities could not be omitted. "Monk Gui Hai has come rather abruptly, and I wasn't quite prepared. If there are any shortcomings, please forgive me," said Li Chengfeng as he shook hands with him, smiling. "Patriarch Li is too kind," replied Monk Gui Hai with a smile on his face. "This humble monk and his disciple were returning from our training journey in the mountains and happened to pass by the Taihang Mountain range, so I thought I would visit Patriarch Li. I hope I have not disturbed you." After saying a few words, Gui Hai turned toward Li Yiming and said, "Third Elder, this humble monk pays his respects." Li Yiming responded indifferently, "Monk Gui Hai is too courteous." "Please, take a seat," Li Chengfeng led Gui Hai to be seated, and the servants brought fresh hot tea. Li Chengfeng disliked beating around the bush and went straight to the point, "Monk Gui Hai, may I inquire the purpose of your visit?" Gui Hai smiled slightly, a trace of helplessness appeared on his weathered face, and he said, "Patriarch Li is truly concerned. Very well, very well…" Seeing Li Chengfeng's face lose its smile, Gui Hai waved his hand and said, "In another half-month, it will be the day when the Human Realm opens. My visit today, actually, is to seek cooperation with Patriarch Li." "Cooperation," Li Chengfeng nodded, as this motive was roughly what he had guessed. People gravitate where there is benefit. Within the Eight Great Sects of Xuan Country, no influential person was simple. Or one could say, none was an easy opponent. "Regarding cooperation, does Monk Gui Hai have any propositions?" ... In the backyard, Xie Nan and her son sat in the pavilion by the lake in the garden. "Are you the one leading the expedition to the Human Realm this time?" Just after sitting down, Xie Nan couldn't help but ask. As soon as this topic was brought up, anger surged in Li Pengcheng's heart. "I am." "But at first, it was Li Xiaoyao." Xie Nan furrowed her brow and asked, "What do you mean?" "Initially, dad wanted Li Xiaoyao to be the team leader." "Then how did it change to you?" Xie Nan knew Li Chengfeng well and realized that his decisions were rarely ever altered. "Li Xiaoyao gave it up." "He gave it up?" Xie Nan was somewhat surprised. She found herself increasingly unable to understand this young man. Ever since Li Xiaoyao had entered the Li Family, she had been observing him in secret, and from these observations, it was evident that Li Xiaoyao was not a foolish person. If so, surely he understood what being the leader of the Human Realm expedition meant? To abandon such a prestigious and recognized position, he must have been kicked in the head by a mule or simply averse to trouble. Xie Nan felt that it was probably the latter. "Because of me, he agreed to represent the Xuan Sect in the Human Realm." "Xuan Sect of Zhongnan Mountain?" Xie Nan wore a strange expression. Li Xiaoyao, for the sake of a minor sect, had given up the status of team leader for the Li Family. To put it positively, this was considered keeping promises and being responsible; to put it negatively, it was stubbornness. The corners of Xie Nan's mouth curled up in a slight arc, showing her disdain. "About the dangers of the Human Realm, has Li Yiming told you all about it?" "Mhm, the Third Elder told me," replied Li Pengcheng. "This time, you just need to do one thing," said Xie Nan with her enchanting eyes curving into crescents, each word laced with a chilling intent, "Kill Li Xiaoyao!" Li Pengcheng's face was also full of murderous intent as he said, "I will." "No matter how strong he is, without the ability to use Spiritual Power, he is just a lamb to the slaughter!" "Thud thud thud~" A clansman rushed over from the direction of the lake. Xie Nan, dissatisfied, asked, "What's the rush?" The clansman wiped his sweat, bowing his head and said, "Second Madam, the Patriarch has arranged a midday banquet." "Oh?" Xie Nan let out a cold laugh and said, "He really does dote on that bastard, doesn't he? Ever since he returned, it's as if he is treated to a banquet three times a day." The clansman beside her explained, "Second Madam, the midday banquet arranged by the Patriarch is to entertain the guests from Da Lin Temple." "People from Da Lin Temple have arrived?" Xie Nan exclaimed in surprise, "What are they doing at the Li Family?" The clansman shook his head: "I don't know." An ordinary clansman, of course, couldn't possibly know. Xie Nan gently set down her teacup, her movements elegant, her demeanor noble, showing no signs that she was already in her forties. That captivating charm of hers could in minutes kindle a fire of desire in young men in their prime. ... "Knock knock, Young Master, are you in your room?" the clansman knocked and asked. "Hmm, come in," Li Xiaoyao got down from the bed with a resigned look on his face. Ever since he arrived at the Li Family, he had only had time for cultivation during the late night. During the daytime, he could forget about it as he was always caught up in all kinds of affairs. The clansman entered and said, "Young Master, the Patriarch has invited the visitors from Da Lin Temple for a midday feast and requests your presence." "Da Lin Temple? What's that?" Although Li Xiaoyao only knew of the Li Family among the Eight Great Sects of Xuan Country and had never even heard of the other seven familial sects, he naturally didn't know about Da Lin Temple. "Er..." The clansman's eye twitched, wondering how this Young Master with such a strong Cultivation Level could be unaware of even Da Lin Temple. That was simply unscientific. "Da Lin Temple is one of the Eight Great Sects of Xuan Country." Interest flickered in Li Xiaoyao's eyes as he said, "Oh, the Eight Great Sects of Xuan Country? Good, I understand now, thank you." "No... no need to thank me." The clansman was very surprised and flustered, waving his hands and backing out of the room. At noon, in the banquet hall, an ancient Eight Immortals table was topped with exquisitely arranged dishes. The number of guests today was not many, since it was just a single monk and not the Abbot of Da Lin Temple who had arrived. It was already a great honor for Li Chengfeng to personally attend the banquet. Xie Nan and Li Pengcheng entered the banquet hall, greeted Monk Gui Hai consecutively, and then took their seats. Monk Gui Hai, seeing an empty seat, felt somewhat puzzled. Prior to his arrival at the Li Family, he had already gained a general understanding of the family members. The Li Family Elders with significant authority were all away from home. Those able to sit at today's banquet table seemed to be only these few individuals. So, the question arose, for whom was the empty seat prepared? They were aware of the possibility that Li Xiaoyao could be a member of the Li Family, but they did not know that he was Li Chengfeng's son. Li Chengfeng, seeming to sense the confusion in Monk Gui Hai's eyes, smiled faintly and said, "I have already sent someone to inform my son, he should arrive soon." "Isn't Patriarch Li's son already here?" Gui Hai was somewhat confused by the statement. Li Chengfeng glanced at Li Pengcheng and said, "This is my younger son; I also have an older son." "Heh, it seems this humble monk is rather uninformed," Gui Hai shook his head and chuckled at himself, not dwelling on it too much. Xie Nan maintained a superficial smile, while Li Pengcheng felt indignant in his heart: Hmph, you always arrive last during important moments, making everyone wait for you, what are you playing at? "Thud thud thud..." The sound of footsteps came from outside. Yi Kong subconsciously looked out, and with just that one glance, his gaze became fixed and he couldn't look away. "Sorry for being late," still with that casual and familiar tone, under Yi Kong's astonished gaze, Li Xiaoyao took his seat.