This wasn't a beauty pageant!

Jie Fu Lian happily chatted with Fan Xue for half a day and although at first, it started with an interrogation about Bai BaoShi and Bai LiuXian, eventually, the two shifted to more comfortable and casual topics.

They got along quite well and when Duan Luoyang saw them, he almost felt as if the two were old friends that had been reunited after a long time.

When the sun went down, Fan Xue went back home and was accompanied by the two men who had surprisingly become his friends in a single day.

Fan GuiYing stood in the courtyard, seeming to be waiting for Fan Xue to return. He was wearing simple blue garments that were a perfect fit for him and showed off his good proportions and height. His hair was neatly tied up in a bun and he exuded the aura of an immortal.

When they saw him from afar, it felt as if they were looking at an immortal that was bothered by neither heaven nor hell, but as soon as they got close enough and Fan GuiYing turned to look at Fan Xue, there was a genuinely warm smile plastered on his face that completely shattered his previous elegant other-worldly demeanor.

When Fan GuiYing's eyes trailed over to the two guests, he was quite surprised and a bit confused.

However, his surprise and confusion couldn't even be compared to the expression of utter speechlessness on the faces of Jie Fu Lian and Duan Luoyang.

When Duan Luoyang first saw Bai YiJun today, he felt like he had seen it all and met the most good-looking man on earth, but now that he saw Fan GuiYing, he couldn't help but retrieve those words and thoughts.

This Fan GuiYing really looked a lot like Hua Tianshu. His features were a bit softer and his skin was a bit on the warmer side but the resemblance could not go unnoticed.

He thought his master was handsome but who could have known that his master's lookalike would be an otherworldly beauty?!

This wasn't even a beauty pageant but why was it that everyone was so good-looking?!

Duan Luoyang, who had always had a high self-confidence couldn't help but feel like a small frog in a large pond.

Compared to all these men... Forget it... His face wasn't even worth comparing.

Duan Luoyang complained and cried out his grievances in his heart.

Jie Fu Lian, on the other hand, was just as stunned as Duan Luoyang, although it wasn't the first time he was seeing Fan GuiYing.

He didn't know if it was because he hadn't seen him for so long or if it was because the latter had actually changed, but right now, the Fan GuiYing who stood in front of him was even more handsome than last time!

Instead of aging, it actually looked like he was growing younger as time passed!

Now, he truly looked like Hua Tianshu's long-lost immortal brother! Their features could be easily compared and if one had seen the two standing side-by-side for the first time, they would almost think that they were brothers.

The only difference would be that Hua Tianshu had a more cold demeanor while Fan GuiYing had more of a warm demeanor. Both looked like immortals but Hua Tianshu looked like an immortal that could destroy both heaven and hell without batting an eye while Fan GuiYing looked like an immortal that couldn't even hurt a fly without feeling guilty.

Afraid that a fly would fly into his mouth, Jie Fu Lian quickly collected his composure and closed his agape mouth.

Fan GuiYing politely smiled at the guests and turned to Fan Xue as he asked, "And this is?"

Duan Luoyang wanted to complain a bit more as he heard the man's voice.

The face was outstanding, it could be understood, but why did the voice also sound so good?! God was really unfair!

"This is a rogue cultivator named Fu Ming and this is Duan Luoyang, Hua Tianshu's disciple from the HuiXue sect."

Fan GuiYing nodded his head at them with a smile as he greeted them, "If I had known that there would be guests, I would have been better prepared."

"No need for preparation," Fan Xue laughed as he spoke, "They are here to join us for dinner. They are not overly pretentious so let's just all sit down and have a casual dinner."

Fan GuiYing looked at Fan Xue with an odd expression and slightly raised his eyebrows as if guessing that something was up.

Fan Xue slightly smiled and without even opening his mouth, he clearly communicated what he wanted to say, 'I'll tell you later.'

"Then, please follow me inside," Fan GuiYing sighed as he politely spoke to the two guests, "There isn't much to see at our little dwelling but we surely treat our guests with utmost respect and care. If there is anything you need, make sure to tell us."

Duan Luoyang's eyes twitched as he heard the words 'Little dwelling'. When he looked behind Fan GuiYing, what he saw was the finance minister's manor. Although Xiujiang was a poor city, there was no lack of luxury for the ones at the top, managing the city.

The finance minister's manor looked as if it was built without any care for money. There was an elaborate use of white marble tiles that had beautifully carved patterns on them and there were already two gold dragon statues placed on either side of the main gate. Just these two details were more than enough to let anyone know what type of rich person lived in such an extravagant manor.

For this manor to be described as just a 'little dwelling' was almost alike calling a phoenix a chicken.

"Old Master Fan GuiYing, it is an honor to meet you," Jie Fu Lian did not waste any time as he enthusiastically spoke up with the intention of currying favors.

"Old Master?' Fan GuiYing repeated with a bit of surprise and chuckled, "There is no need to be so polite."

"Then can I call you Uncle Fan?" Jie Fu Lian immediately beamed, almost seeming as if he had already expected that response from Fan GuiYing and deliberately planned out this conversation.

Fan GuiYing smiled as he heard this and nodded his head, "If you are comfortable then it's fine."

After having said this, Fan GuiYing turned around and headed inside the manor, leaving the other three to follow behind.

"Let's go inside," Fan Xue reminded as he walked in first, following after Fan GuiYing.

Jie Fu Lian took a few steps forward, feeling quite elated, but he was soon pulled back by Duan Luoyang who asked, "Uncle Fu, didn't you say you knew Fan GuiYing? Why did it look like it was the first time he'd seen you?"

Jie Fu Lian felt a little taken back as he heard this question.

Surprisingly, Duan Luoyang was sometimes fast to catch on to things.

However, Jie Fu Lian was a tricky man who could lie as smoothly as if he were drinking water, "When did I say that? I only talked about his appearance. I have seen him but never introduced myself to him."

Duan Luoyang frowned as he heard this but didn't bother prying any further, instead, he spoke, "I have to say, he really does have a good-looking face. It seems that your eyes are quite good."

"..." Jie Fu Lian proudly took it as a compliment.

"But is he always such a warm person?" Duan Luoyang asked with his lips pursed together, "Are you sure he isn't luring us into a trap or something?"

Jie Fu Lian chuckled as he heard this worry and confidently spoke, "I've heard that he wasn't always such a warm person but after he met Uncle Fan Xue, he became a lot gentler and kinder. You don't need to worry about walking into a trap. After all, aren't I here? Even if it is a trap, this Uncle Fu of yours is just as dependable as your master."

Duan Luoyang lightly frowned as he heard that latter sentence and looked at Jie Fu Lian with disbelief clear on his face.

Jie Fu Lian flashed the man a smile that was not a smile as he added, "Duan Luoyang, I think I need to remind you. Uncle Fan Xue and Uncle Fan GuiYing were cultivators. Even if you whisper behind their backs like this, they can still hear you so make sure not to say anything too excessive."

Duan Luoyang froze up and felt a shiver run down his spine.

Jie Fu Lian felt a little happy for having given Duan Luoyang a scare and hence, he continued to step inside the manor where Fan Xue and Fan GuiYing were already waiting for them.

While Duan Luoyang and Jie Fu Lian were talking, Fan Xue had already explained all the details to Fan GuiYing through mind transmission, and hence, now that Fan GuiYing looked at Jie Fu Lian, his gaze had slightly changed.

Jie Fu Lian, who noticed this changed gaze, suddenly felt as if there was some truth in what Duan Luoyang had said.

As soon as he stepped inside the manor, it felt as if he had entered a test arena where his every action and word was being carefully evaluated.