Yang Qing decided to wait a few more minutes to see if Yu Mei would wind up her discussion before he contacted her. He used those few minutes to admire the sect as he wondered if he had joined a sect would his life have been similar to theirs or would it have played out as a perfect replica of his fears with him being suppressed by a jealous disciple who has some backing in and out of the sect.

"For the many treacherous surprises the Order gave me, at least that one wasn't one of them.." thought Yang Qing as he smiled bitterly.

A few minutes quickly passed by and the sect master did not seem to be anywhere close to being done. Yang Qing, consciously aware of how much time he had, took out the crystal luan feather which he used as a forewarning for sect master Yu Mei.

Yu Mei who had been discussing with the vice sect master about increasing the number of frost-scaled salmon in some of the ponds as feed for the lotus scorpions frowned when she sensed fluctuations coming out of her storage ring. She had assumed it was her communication talisman like always, regretting her decision to bring it with her.

However, her look soon turned to shock when she sensed the fluctuations weren't from her communication talisman but from a crystallized feather.

"Vice sect master Su Yi, please excuse me, I have urgent matters to attend to, I will talk to you later.." Yu Mei said as she hurriedly vanished from the spot at extreme speeds leaving the baffled vice sect master and the three disciples.

"What happened?"

..

Sect master chambers

Once in her chambers, Yu Mei activated all the arrays surrounding her chamber, and when she didn't feel it was enough, she took out a few talismans which she hurriedly ignited, and only then did she furtively take out the crystal feather that was pulsating with the gentle glow of the sun.

The moment she took it out, it stopped reacting. Just as she was wondering what to do next, she heard a voice transmitted to her mind.

"Sect master Yu Mei, my name is Yang Qing. I'm the new palace court judge attached to you. I am sorry for interrupting you while you were busy but I am rather short on time and a great distance to cover, I hope you don't take offense.."

"No, no, it's okay, I should be the one to apologize. I was informed you would be making contact, I should have cleared my schedule in advance.." Yu Mei nervously said as she looked around her.

"Thanks for your consideration. Where would you like to meet, we could do it at the branch of the Green Jade pavilion in town, or alternatively, we could do it here since I am already here. Which would you prefer?"Yu Mei hesitated slightly before she said,

"If you don't find it beneath you, here would be okay.."

"Thanks for your hospitality in advance.."

"Let me then.." Yu Mei had just taken out her sect master's token which controlled the arrays around the sect and her chambers, looking to dispel them and allow Yang Qing entry, however, she paused in shock when she saw someone who looked to be in his late thirties, brown hair, brown eyes, donning grey robes and had a simple but robust aura suddenly appear in front of her.

"I should have figured our array couldn't keep someone of your stature out.." she said with a rueful smile.

"Sorry for the rude entry, but dispelling the array could draw some attention to why you did it. This way is safer.." Yang Qing said as he smiled guiltily hiding his other reason for passing through the array like that.

With a polite smile on her face, Yu Mei got up, cupped her fist with a slight bow as she said,

"Yu Mei, the snow rabbit greets you.."

Yang Qing cupped his fist as he said,

"Yang Qing, the green jade hawk, greets you.."

After both had confirmed their identities to each other using a code handed to them by the Shadow Hawks, Yu Mei spoke up.

"Would you like some tea, I have snowberry tea. It's not much but we grow it ourselves, the environment here gives it a unique flavor.."

"Thank you, I would appreciate it.."

Yu Mei got up and went for the swan-shaped kettle to her right and poured Yang Qing a cup before she poured one for herself as she took a sit.

"How is it?" she asked with a nervous look.

"Great as advertised. If it's not a bother before I leave, could you spare some berries for me.."

"Gladly.." Yu Mei said, her excitement clearly showing.

Yang Qing couldn't help but rub his nose in embarrassment at Yu Mei's reactions. Despite her looks, she was already, 113 years old, going by age she was Yang Qing's senior several times over, but their interaction made Yang Qing feel like he was her parent.

Yang Qing hesitated on whether to tell her he was just a 20-

year-old youth and show his real face while he was at it, but he decided against it. He would rather bear with the awkwardness than take the risk of revealing his true face. Cultivators could have their memories and souls easily read, he would rather not put Yu Mei at risk.

Luckily Yu Mei was able to sense his awkwardness and adjusted her demeanor accordingly.

"How are you finding life as a sect master? I couldn't help but admire all you have done here.."

Yu Mei turned her gaze out the window as she smiled fondly.

"It was hard at first, with the pressures of trying not to screw up and the desperation of trying to keep the sect afloat, I nearly broke trying to carry all that by myself.

I had no idea what I was doing and had to constantly pretend that I did, but it quickly grew on me, no thanks to all the help I received from the seniors here and the Order.

You have all given me more than I can ever hope to give back. How about you?"

"Similar too in some respect. I still feel like some hatchling just starting a lot of the days constantly seeking help from my seniors, but all in all, it has grown on me. Though I wouldn't admit it to the Order, or they'll exploit me further.." said Yang Qing, his comment prompting laughter from the two.

"Well, I could always give you a post here if you want.." Yu Mei teasingly said.

"I might take you on that someday.."

The conversation flowed smoothly between the two as they familiarized themselves with each other. The relationship was something that would follow them for their entire lives. Even if Yang Qing retired from his post and took another post, he would still be Yu Mei's contact, her and the others from his network.

Toward the end, Yu Mei shared a bit of the news she had on hand which Yang Qing was surprised to find had some indirect link with the Golden Bamboo Pavilion. One of the leading clans in the Sunbirch Kingdom had a close relationship with someone from Maple Leaf Manor. The information provided suggested the merge between the two rank two organizations was almost complete. In half a year, to a year, it should be complete. The information left Yang Qing wondering what could possibly make the two powerful organizations to ally with each other.

Yang Qing after exhorting Yu Mei about not hesitating to ask for help and not exposing herself to unnecessary risks on behalf of the Order, called Bai Chen for his location. They met up a few kilometers away from the town, leaving for the next place, Five Peak Valley in the Moon Pine Kingdom which happened to border Wei Yingjie's kingdom, the Blue Oak Kingdom.