At the table, Zhang Xiaoman also saw Ye Cang’s second grandson, who was also Ye Fei’s second uncle and the father of the three girls.
This was a man who was not very good at socializing. He, too, didn’t understand much about Transcendents, but he must have been reminded by the old man, and was extremely courteous to Zhang Xiaoman, a stranger, throughout the encounter.
However, concerning matters related to the Star Alliance and Alien Species, Ye Cang had not told anyone else, but both knew that this could not be kept secret forever—it was just a matter of time.
Zhang Xiaoman sat to the left of the old man, and he did not put on any airs, behaving very casually.
When others stood up to toast him, he would stand up in response, and after chatting for a few sentences, he gradually became familiar with the people of the Ye Family.
Everyone drank tea in place of alcohol, and the meal was harmonious.
But unbeknownst to him, even without intending to put on a show of deception, the aura that Zhang Xiaoman exuded naturally still gave off a sense of profound and unfathomable presence, along with a bit of pressure.
This was actually a change in temperament, linked to a person’s strength and confidence.
Ye Yunxiu was an expert in psychology. He had met with Zhang Xiaoman a few times, but could not see his expression clearly due to the black shadows that surrounded him.
But this time, having seen his true face, Ye Yunxiu felt that he still could not see through Zhang Xiaoman.
Zhang Xiaoman’s every action was very natural, sometimes even giving him the impression that the person in front of him was just an ordinary neighborhood young man.
However, occasionally, Ye Yunxiu could catch glimpses of strong confidence and that deep, unfathomable air unintentionally revealed by him.
He knew that the person before him was indeed an enigmatic being, feeling as if he was someone who controlled everything from behind the scenes, yet who could also maintain an air of indifference and approachability, and even sometimes inadvertently show a decisive and resolute toughness.
It was astonishing to Ye Yunxiu that so many different temperaments could exist within the same person.
"This man is truly alarming, not to be underestimated!"
Indeed, his understanding was not wrong. After all the changes over time, and growing from battles with monsters, Zhang Xiaoman had long since changed from how he was originally.
He remembered the time at Su Fu’s house when he confronted the Parasitic Spirit, where he had to pretend to be a shaman to swindle food and drink, fearing he would be exposed at any moment.
But with the increase in his strength and the trials of life-and-death fights with monsters, the somewhat introverted young man who used to stay up late playing games had grown unknowingly to an unimaginable extent.
Zhang Xiaoman was unaware that he had been secretly psychoanalyzed by a master psychologist, but even if he knew, he wouldn’t feel any bit guilty.
After all, his strength now was bona fide, the Star Alliance was truly genuine, and even the tall tales he once bragged about had all become reality!
He could say that his words were all true, and he was no longer the Big Con Man he used to be!
At most, he would just cheat them a little when fabricating his background story...
Besides, he had some understanding of psychology anyway, which was not as mystical as it was portrayed online and in movies.
When a person’s vision is limited, even if they have the most formidable psychological techniques, it is difficult to exert much effect.
While the people at the dining table were enjoying themselves, in a small grove at the Main Peak of Dragon Sleep Mountain, a man and a woman were sweeping up the accumulated leaves on the ground.
They were the two little Taoist monks who had welcomed Zhang Xiaoman at the front of the mountain gate the first time he visited.
Both were about Lin Sisi’s age, having lost their family members in their teens and subsequently raised by Manager Sun. They had always lived there, and thus even after all the Outer Disciples had been disbanded, they had remained.
"Xiao Du, do you think the person who came to our place last time was really that miraculous? Could Sect Leader Ye’s sudden decision to close off the mountain be related to him?"
The girl swept the floor while chatting with the boy beside her.
The boy, on the other hand, held a small brush, busily dusting a wall covered in dust.
"I’m telling you, Xiao Ya, you don’t really believe it, do you? The incident that happened in the mine last time was witnessed by so many senior brothers, even Young Master Fei lost an arm, how could it possibly be fake?"
At this, the girl explained, "I didn’t say I don’t believe it. I just wanted to discuss it with you again. I never thought such things could exist in this world; after all, even the Sect Leader is just an ordinary person..."
As she spoke, a smile spread across her face, and she leaned in, murmuring conspiratorially,
"Xiao Du, now that Sect Leader has found a real Transcendent, do you think we’ll ever get a chance to learn those Cultivation Techniques? I’ve heard that once you practice these techniques, you can stay young forever."
The boy rolled his eyes, his brush moving even faster.
"It seems you’ve got some pretty lovely dreams there, but don’t get ahead of yourself thinking about immortality. Even if Sect Leader really did learn some incredible Cultivation Technique from that person, it’s still uncertain whether it will be our turn to learn it or not!"
The girl pouted and said, "How could it not be our turn? Uncle Ye always treats us so well, and Grandpa Sun treats us like his own children. If there’s any benefit, they definitely won’t forget about us!"
She sounded very certain, and a look of longing appeared on the boy’s face, but his actions did not stop, and even quickened with a hint of excitement.
"Cough cough cough, what are you doing? All this dust is choking me!"
As the boy continued, dust filled the air, and the girl quickly backed away, pinching her nose.
"What can I do? I’m just dusting. Since those senior brothers have left, we all have to share the cleaning duties now. Haven’t you seen Young Master Fei start sweeping the floor too?"
"I know that! But the dust you’re making is too much!"
The boy stopped his action and then peeled a flaking piece off the wall, "I can’t help it, I just noticed that the top layer of this wall has started to peel off. I figured I might as well scrape it all off, make it look a bit nicer."
As he spoke, he continued to peel, and a puff of dust billowed around him again.
The girl quickly stepped back a few paces, looking helplessly at the patch of dust-covered ground that was now unrecognizable.
"Xiao Du, do you have OCD or something?"
But no sooner had she finished speaking than a surprised exclamation came from the dusty area—the boy seemed to have discovered something unbelievable, suddenly raising his voice.
"Xiao Ya! Come and look! Isn’t this the pattern that Master Ye has asked us to find!!"