Two big families and several small families made up the Drifting Cloud Hall. The master and patriarchs were a.s.sumed by people from the two big families. The capable ones would take charge. A system like this could make sure that the power of the Drifting Cloud Hall always befell on the capable and powerful to avoid a good-for-nothing master leading the Drifting Cloud Hall to destruction.
The palace of Drifting Cloud Hall palace was divided into the front, middle and back areas, the last of which was where senior level warriors lived. Disciples like Lady Seven had to live in their own families. They were not qualified to live in the palace.
Lady Seven got off the carriage with Lu Li. She asked him to follow her, acting as her guard. There were Eternal Realm warriors guarding at the gate of the front area.
Lady Seven was famous at the Drifting Cloud City for her loose behaviors. All the warriors at the gate knew her.
That being said, it didn"t mean she could walk in at will. Two warriors stopped her. Lady Seven held the whip in her hand and shouted coldly, "Get lost~"
"Lady Seven, we are sorry!"
A scout cupped his fists and said, "Fourth Patriarch has said that no average warrior is allowed in unless for important matters!"
"I am average warrior? Are you blind?" Lady Seven was foaming at her mouth. She swung her whip, ready to smash someone. But the two warriors didn"t step back. They were still in a bow position.
Lu Li winked at Lady Seven who put away her whip and said, "I have something I need to tell Fourth Patriarch about. The man with me is an excellent scout and he has gathered some information. But it is not convenient for him to tell the leader of the scout corps. So, he has come to Fourth Patriarch. This is crucial. If it is delayed because of you, you will have to answer for it."
Lu Li handed over the talisman. The two warriors inspected and confirmed that he was from the scout corps. They let Lu Li and Lady Seven in.
Lady Seven was known at the Drifting Cloud City for her bad temper. If the two warriors didn"t let her in and she made a scene, they would be punished in the end even if it was her fault to begin with.
Master of the Drifting Cloud Hall was Lady Seven"s grandpa who resided at the back halls. The two warriors believed that she wouldn"t dare to make a scene there.
Lady Seven walked in with Lu Li, holding her head up high. They walked past the front and middle areas toward the back. On the way, they ran into many other warriors who all knew Lady Seven so they didn"t intercept Lady Seven and Lu Li.
Lu Li didn"t use his psychic power to check the surroundings. But he could sense clearly that there were at least more than a dozen hidden scouts were observing him with psychic power along the 500 yard route. There must be more where the back halls were.
"Do you see that castle? That is where the Saintess lives in!"
Lady seven looked at a towering palace at the front-left and whispered to Lu Li. Then she added, "I am on the bad side of the Saintess so more people will be suspicious of us if I go in. I will bring you to an area close to her and then you will have to take over. You have to remember one thing. Whether you are successful or not, when you are surrounded, kneel right away and admit your wrongs. Don"t fight back. The warriors will not kill you. You will be fine as long as you are not sentenced to death."
Lu Li nodded. Even though he didn"t show any emotions, he was nervous. His heart was pounding fast. Saintess was in the castle at the front. Whether he could make his way in quietly and meet her was critical.
Should he lose the chance to meet Saintess and be taken down after alerting hidden scouts nearby, then it could be quite troublesome. He could come to the end of his life here.
Lady Seven walked on with Lu Li. He sensed that there were at least seven or eight hidden scouts nearby with more than two of them at the n.o.ble Lord Realm.
Lu Li began to think quickly. Lady Seven slowed down. When they were going to arrive at the palace where Saintess lived in, Lady Seven looked back at Lu Li. Then she quickened her steps and walked on by herself. Soon, she disappeared into a small lane.
Lu Li stood in front of the castle. He stopped there for the time for two breaths. More than 10 warriors had locked their psychic power on him.
Lu Li had thought of a few ways to move on but after he sensed the psychic powers, he knew none of the ways could work. He knew, however, that he could not stand here forever or he would be captured right away.
Therefore, he made up his mind. Lu Li got on one knee and said, "Meng Ji from the scout corps have important message for the Saintess. Please let me in!"
"Whoosh~"
Lu Li felt a gentle breeze. Then a warrior showed up next to him. The warrior put a saber over Lu Li"s neck and said in a cold voice, "How dare you? Are you seeking death? How can you disturb the Saintess so late?"
Big families had strict rules. Not everyone could meet the important people. Those who dared to come to people of senior levels without orders would be condemned right away regardless whether there were special reasons or not.
Lu Li stayed calm and showed no signs of resistance even though the warrior was only at the peak of the Eternal Realm who could be killed by Lu Li easily.
Lu Li continued, "I have important matter to report. There is a mole in the Drifting Cloud Hall so I have no other choice but to come at this late hour to report to Saintess. After this, I will have no further regret even if the Saintess sentenced me to death."
"A mole?"
The warrior was hesitating. A mole would make it reasonable that Lu Li wanted to report, bypa.s.sing his immediate leaders.h.i.+p. Also, once a mole appeared in the Drifting Cloud Hall, it could exert great influence on the upcoming war.
Lu Li was afraid that the hesitating warrior could attract more senior leaders to come to hear the report. In that case, Lu Li would not be able to meet the Saintess. He made a decision and shouted again, "Saintess, I really do have something to say. If I lied, Saintess you could kill me on the spot!"
"How dare you!"
Lu Li"s rising voice stood out in the quiet night. Normally, for him to request an audience with the Saintess, he would have to kneel outside while someone else went into to report and wait for the Saintess" approval.
By shouting like this, Lu Li had violated the rules. He had angered the warrior who swung his saber, planning to cut at Lu Li right away.
"Stop. The Saintess allows him in!"
The doors were open. An old maid walked out and said in an indifferent voice. She looked at Lu Li and continued in a cold voice, "Don"t you lie to us. Or else…you might not be able to walk out of here tonight."
"How dare I lie to the Saintess?"
Lu Li stood up, gingerly. He walked in with respect. The warrior followed. He had the saber ready in his hand so he could kill Lu Li right away if there were any signs of misbehavior.
"Phew, phew…"
Lu Li was panting. He was going to meet the Saintess, finally. If she really was Lu Ling, they could be reunited. Lu Ling must be able to make sure Lu Li could be unharmed, being a smart girl as she was. Then they could discuss secretly and it would be easy to run away.
Entering the hall, the old maid led Lu Li into a side chamber. There were candles in there, lighting up the hall. A curtain separated the outside and the inside. Lu Li could see through the thin curtain. There was a fair lady inside.
The old maid threw Lu Li a glance. He picked up the signal. Getting down on one knee, Lu Li said, "I am Meng Ji from the scout corps and I am here to report to you, Saintess."
There was no movement inside the curtain. After a while, a chilly voice came through, "Rise. State your matter."
"Boom~"
It was as if a thunder appeared in Lu Li"s mind. He trembled at the voice. Tears glared in his eyes. He almost cried out.
The voice was so familiar to him. The Saintess sitting inside was Lu Ling. He finally found Lu Ling after more than two years!