Luckily, Xiao Wen also bought a house in the Imperial Capital, and now they are staying at Xiao Wenâs place.
The house is quite large, a quadrangle courtyard.
Itâs the kind with a front courtyard and a backyard.
Very spacious and quiet, perfect for these four old fellows to live in.
When the four elders gathered, Chu Chengfeng also came.
This courtyard was set up with a barrier, and nobody knew what they were discussing, but after coming out, Chu Chengfengâs demeanor hadnât changed from before. However, he later took Liu Ling to meet those elders, as Liu Lingâs status in the clan was almost equivalent to that of the elders.
What was strange was that these three elders didnât know what had happened in the Divine Land Hall back then.
They only knew that the spiritual energy in the Divine Land Hall suddenly surged, causing a collapse that released countless malevolent energies from a sealed place. Then, the Phoenix Clan members started to slaughter each other, eventually affecting the Phoenix Clan residing in the northern part of the Divine Land.
This chaos lasted for a whole week.
Coincidentally, Sima Xiaowen, Chu Chengfeng, and Liu Ling, these three people, all have no memory of those seven days.
Itâs fine if one person didnât remember, but all these three involved individuals didnât, which was unusual.
So the four elders planned to take action after the New Year. They wanted to send someone to find Shui Liuzi because perhaps only he could uncover the real inside story.
Even though they had reached an agreement on this matter, there was one issue they disagreed on, which was about Chief Mo Li and Liu Lingâs marriage.
They had already been betrothed at that time. Liu Ling was the future Clan Leaderâs Wife and was already recorded in the Phoenix Clanâs family tree. These things were stored in the Divine Land.
So one of the four elders, an elder named Elder San Ye, proposed that Chu Chengfeng and Liu Ling should get married on the first day of the New Year.
After all, most of their future time would be spent walking among the secular world, so it should be done according to secular etiquette, which was perfectly reasonable.
Moreover, if the chaos hadnât occurred in the Phoenix Clan, Mo Li and Liu Ling would have held their wedding in the following month.
And the first day of the New Year was deemed an auspicious day for the Phoenix Clan, the beginning of heaven and earth, the origin of all things, and the foremost among birds. It was the best day.
Anyway, there was already a wedding house available, so there was nothing much to prepare.
But this proposal was not agreed upon by Chu Chengfeng and Elder Sima.
Chu Chengfeng didnât know why he hesitated, as, logically, he shouldnât have hesitated.
He had already wronged Sima Xiaowen and couldnât wrong Liu Ling again.
Yet, he hesitated.
And he knew that once married to Liu Ling, there was no turning back.
But he didnât want to go back either.
Such emotions troubled him, so when Elder San Ye suggested it, he was the first to oppose, "Elder San Ye, I know you mean well, but this matter cannot be rushed. My identity is very complicated now, and Liu Lingâs is equally so."
"She canât integrate into my circle yet. I canât let her be alone here, and in any case, we canât just return to the Divine Land for now. We need to adapt to all of this before making a decision."
"I also disagree. I donât have any other thoughts; itâs just unfair to my daughter."
"Isnât this too fast? Breaking up one moment and then getting married the next?"
Elder Sima continued angrily, "Even though we all know whatâs going on, in reason and in principle, it doesnât look like that under everyoneâs gaze."
"Elder San Ye, your daughter is not involved here. Itâs easy for you to speak lightly. It seems easy to talk when youâre not the one directly involved, but I disagree!" Elder Sima bluntly vetoed it.
Elder San Ye didnât really think about it that much, but over the years, he had interacted with people the most. As society has progressed better and better, many high-tech conveniences are available, and only a fool would hide in the mountains and not enjoy them.
However, he had indeed forgotten about Elder Simaâs involvement.
But Elder Simaâs merciless words made his face turn red, and he stood up angrily, "Old Man Sima, speak more kindly. This is something that would happen sooner or later, whatâs the difference?"
"Of course, thereâs a difference. You have to let this matter slowly fade away, disappearing bit by bit under everyoneâs noses. When no one brings it up anymore, the Clan Leader and Liu Ling can do whatever they want without anyone noticing or caring. But now, especially on the New Yearâs Day, itâs impossible!"
Elder Tian Liang quickly waved his hand, said kindly, "Ah, weâve been old partners for how many years? No need to argue, letâs discuss nicely. Elder San Ye made a proposal, and Elder Simaâs points are valid. We watched Xiao Wen grow up. The kid is a good child. Itâs just that fate plays tricks, leading to such things happening, which we donât want to see them being embarrassed over, so thereâs no rush for the wedding."
"... By the way, a few days ago, an elder from the Phoenix Clan called me, saying they would return with members of the Phoenix Clan after the fifteenth of the first month."
Elder Sima coldly snorted, and the topic was diverted by Elder Tian Liang to discuss the return of the Phoenix Clan.
This was something that Elder Sima had strongly promoted and was most concerned about.
With one week left before the New Year, it was too late to buy a house, so he asked, "Did the elder from the Phoenix Clan say how many people they are returning with?"
"About a dozen people, though the Phoenix Clan elder mentioned they have businesses here, so we donât need to worry about their accommodations and food, and will contact after arrival."
"Are they relocating their whole family here?"
Seeing the two elders stop arguing, Chu Chengfeng also breathed a sigh of relief and asked eagerly.
"More or less, except for those who canât return, all who can will come back."
After all, fallen leaves return to their roots. The elder of the Phoenix Clan had this intention the earliest when contacting Elder Sima, even though the Red Phoenix had not been found yet back then.
Now with the new Clan Leader back, and the Red Phoenix found, naturally, they want to return to their roots.
"They have properties in the Imperial Capital? How come I didnât know?" Elder Sima asked.
Logically, they shouldnât have had properties since they had been away for so long.
Elder Tian Liang quickly explained, "Apparently, a descendant is of mixed blood, and their Phoenix Clanâs bloodline isnât very pure anymore. However, even so, the offspring married into local nobility; Xino is one of them."
"In recent years, Xino has frequently come to Huaxia Xingguo, and he has investments here."
Then he looked at Elder Sima, "You should remember Xino, right? Xiao Wen and Qiaoqiao both know him."
Over the years, Elder Sima had stayed in the Imperial Capital not too much while looking for the new Clan Leader, only meeting his daughter a few times in total.