My Substitute CEO Bride

"Haha, that's great. Please, come in!"

The two followed Casimir and the other disciples into the inner courtyard.noveldrama

As they entered the courtyard, Nash instinctively glanced at Linden.

Linden noticed Nash's gaze but ignored it as he had long grown accustomed to such situations.

While the disciples of the same generation could not see it, anyone with a bit more advanced cultivation could easily identify Linden's difference. He possessed a congenital impaired energy physique.

In simple terms, he could sense true energy and feel its presence. However, due to certain special reasons, he could not store true energy in his body. This meant he could not practice any techniques that consumed true energy.

That was why he remained in the outer courtyard, sweeping the grounds.

Although Casimir and the others took good care of him, few taught him any techniques. They would shake their heads and sigh upon seeing Linden's condition.

There was nothing they could do; his physique simply could not support the sect's techniques. However, they could not just let him fall into despair.

Hence, they kept lying to Linden, saying he was just training his physique for now.

Even so, Linden was not naive. He could tell they were merely comforting him. Over the years, he had learned to be relatively accepting of his fate. Perhaps he was more grateful than anything.

During his years in the outer courtyard, he once witnessed a disturbance.

An elder had gone mad, causing chaos in both the inner and outer courtyards. It was only thanks to Casimir that everything stopped.

Later, he heard from his fellow disciples that the elder had practiced some ancient technique that ultimately led him to go astray. Even Casimir could not save him, and he ended up being locked away in a magical array.

Thus, Linden no longer felt an obsession with being a martial arts practitioner. To him, merely being alive felt like a victory.

He wished to stay at Hydra Hill for the rest of his life until he grew old and passed away. In this life, he wanted nothing but peace.

He understood his unfortunate fate and dared not wish for more. He just wanted to seek a peaceful life.

As Linden regained his focus, Keshawn continued to direct him from the side. Linden pretended to be playful and bantered with Keshawn.

In the inner courtyard, Casimir sent the other disciples away, leaving only Whistler.

Nash and Clint followed him into the main hall. In the hall stood the ancestral master of Hydra Hill.

After Nash and Clint respectfully paid their respects to the ancestral master, they followed Whistler's guidance deeper into the courtyard.

Nash and Clint were directed to a room facing south.

Afterward, they took their seats, and Whistler calmly said, "Master Calcraft, Mr. Clint, please wait here for a moment. My master needs to make preparations."

Nash and Clint nodded. Then, Whistler closed the door and left.

The preparations for welcoming guests were a necessary ritual among Heavenly Masters. Nash and Clint paying their respects to the ancestral master was the first step.

Next, Casimir would also pay his respects. After a series of grand ceremonies, it would be considered that they had earned the ancestors' approval, and only then could the ceremony end.

Hence, Nash and Clint could only wait around for now as they were guests.

Nash sipped tea from the side, casually looking out the door.

"Clint, you noticed, right?"

Clint nodded.

"Not bad. Master Hay indeed has a wealth of talented disciples."

"Exactly. Those around him are probably all his disciples, each with impressive abilities. The oldest-looking one, is that the one called Oakley? I've heard my master mention him. He's likely the next successor to the title of Heavenly Master of Hydra Hill."

"Mhm, his strength is nearly at the peak of the Divine Sojourn Realm..."