Chapter 2202: Young Master
"While Grandmaster Gu Yan never explicitly stated that he accepted the man as his apprentice, he’s been in seclusion in the decades since. So, most people assumed that he had a new apprentice. Professor, you’ve changed so much since you disappeared, especially your mastery of lockbreaking. If you weren’t taught by Grandmaster Gu Yan, then I don’t know who else in the entire Perennial World could have caused you to undergo such a transformation,” Bai Weiwei explained.
Lu Yin turned back to look at Bai Weiwei. "Did you come up with this guess?"
"It’s what everyone who knows who you are believes. If I was able to figure out your real identity, then so can the Xia family," Bai Weiwei replied.
Lu Yin never admitted nor denied being Grandmaster Gu Yan’s apprentice. This rumor was actually a pretty good background for him.
"I'm curious, what methods did Grandmaster Gu Yan use to teach? How did he raise you to the Realm Array Master level so quickly?" Bai Weiwei was extremely curious about this particular detail.
Lu Yin laughed. "Does your Bai family reveal their secrets to outsiders so casually?"
"I’m sorry, that was rude," Bai Weiwei said, though she felt that Lu Yin’s response confirmed that he really was Grandmaster Gu Yan’s apprentice.
This was a very, very big deal. Grandmaster Gu Yan was the most accomplished Array Grandmaster in the Perennial World, and while his personality was a bit odd and he hated the four ruling powers, his influence was massive. If not, he would have also been forced to join Star Alliance. Since Yu Hao was Grandmaster Gu Yan's apprentice, how would the Xia family respond?
"Even if I have an Array Grandmaster behind me, I still can’t warrant the Xia family’s concern. I’m well aware of just how horrifying your four ruling powers truly are," Lu Yin said.
Bai Weiwei stared at Lu Yin. "Professor, do you want to get revenge?"
Lu Yin stared straight back at the woman. "If you had lived through what I have, would you be able to just let things go?"
Bai Weiwei thought for a while. "You're right. Not even an Array Grandmaster can cause the Xia family to hesitate, but my Bai family is different."
Lu Yin's eyes flickered, and he glanced over at Bai Weiwei. There was a hint of a smile on her face. "Your hatred may not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things, so it all depends on what you are willing to do to get revenge."
Lu Yin considered her words. Bai Weiwei said nothing more, but there were some things that did not need to be said out loud.
After all, Bai Weiwei had not actually discovered that Hao Yu was Yu Hao. Rather, she had been informed of such by the Celestial Frost Sect.
How could the appearance of such a genius Lockbreaker in Virtue Archives not arouse the four ruling powers’ interest? If the Xia family was paying attention to such a thing, then naturally the Bai family knew of it as well.
In comparison to Yu Hao's hatred and desire for revenge, the Bai family was far more concerned with Grandmaster Gu Yan’s teachings. If this situation with Yu Hao could be used to win over Grandmaster Gu Yan, then did it even matter if the Xia family was offended in the process?
While the four ruling powers appeared to be united, there were endless internal conflicts between them. This was also still relatively soon after the time when they had ousted the Lu family from the Perennial World. What would happen in another 1,000, or even 10,000 years when all traces of the Lu family’s influence had been erased from the Perennial World? Open war would likely erupt between the four ruling powers.
This was also why all four were working to strengthen their own foundations as much as possible.
Several days passed, and Lu Yin and Bai Weiwei remained in the red wasteland. The conversations between the two mostly revolved around lockbreaking, and nothing further regarding Yu Hao’s situation was mentioned.
One day, Lu Yin asked a question as he stared out across the wasteland. "People say that the most powerful person in the Perennial World aside from the Progenitors themselves is definitely your senior sister, Bai Xian’er, from the Celestial Frost Sect. Is that accurate?"
Bai Weiwei reflexively lifted her head to look towards the Higher Realm. However, doing so also left her a bit depressed, as only the soil that formed the foundation of the Higher Realm could be seen from the Middle Realm. This sight also let Bai Weiwei better understand why the four ruling powers had exiled the Lu family. Given their arrogance, how could the four ruling powers accept only looking up at the foundation of another power?
"Probably. Senior Sister is the most talented cultivator in history, which is why she’s so close to the Progenitor realm herself at such a young age. All of us are waiting for Senior Sister to become a Progenitor and elevate my Celestial Frost Sect to even greater heights," Bai Weiwei answered.
Lu Yin was very curious about something. "What kind of person is Bai Xian'er? Can you tell me about her? All I know about her are just rumors."
Bai Weiwei asked, "Why are you so curious about Senior Sister, Professor?"
Lu Yin gave a small smile. "Is there anyone who isn’t curious about Bai Xian'er?"
This was only natural to Bai Weiwei. While Bai Xian'er had never revealed herself publicly, she was still a legend in the Perennial World. Even if no one mentioned the woman, it was impossible for anyone to forget that she was the most talented individual in the entire Perennial World.
"Professor, what would you like to know about Senior Sister?" Bai Weiwei asked.
Lu Yin shrugged. "I really don't know anything at all about her. All I’ve heard is that red flowers appear wherever she goes."
Bai Weiwei replied, "I also don't know much about Senior Sister. We might refer to her as ‘senior sister,’ but in truth, we know even less about her than Sect Master Bai. I can’t tell you much about her, though I can tell you that there’s been more than one assassination attempt on her while she’s been in secluded training. Even Aeternus tried to kill her during her breakthrough to the Envoy realm. Her tribulation was so vast that it practically covered the entire Perennial World, and even a Progenitor came…"
Bai Weiwei only knew a bit more than Lu Yin. Lu Yin was mostly curious about how Bai Xian’er had cultivated during her time as an Envoy and a Semi-Progenitor while on her way to the Progenitor level. However, absolutely nothing was known about that. How did she cultivate? What was her current level?
Another two days calmly passed, when suddenly, Lu Yin felt the fluctuations of a void god level domain.
His communication crystal vibrated, and Lu Yin glanced at it. "The task has been completed. The traitor’s been caught."
Lu Yin then led Bai Weiwei towards Mr. Tang and the others from Virtue Archives.
The traitor had fled towards the northeast, which was not the area that Lu Yin had been responsible for. Rather, it was where Mr. Tang and Xia Shenguang had been sent to.
Lu Yin and Bai Weiwei arrived at about the same time as the people from the four ruling powers. There were people from Shenwu's Sky, as well as two Envoys from the Wang family, and they took the prisoner away.
Lu Yin briefly saw that the captive was an old man. He had clearly been seriously injured. The man was dragged off by an expert from Shenwu's Sky who was a three-tribulation Envoy. Lu Yin could only see the prisoner’s back, though there were obvious bloodstains on the ground.
"How boring. Just a one-tribulation Envoy," Xia Shenguang commented dismissively.
The three-tribulation Envoy from Shenwu's Sky gave Xia Shenguang a bow from the distance, and as he did so, the captive fell to the ground with a cough before rolling over.
Lu Yin’s eyes instantly narrowed when he saw the old man’s face, and he was briefly dazed. He seemed to hear a voice that addressed him in a kind, yet respectful manner, though it was also clearly full of affection. "Young Master, you’re here again? What are you doing? Didn’t it hurt the first time you fell?"
"Young Master, this- this is too much to eat! Your servant can't eat all of this!"
"Young Master, please eat slowly! Slow down!"
Lu Yin recovered quite quickly, as he was only dazed for a brief moment. He stared at the collapsed prisoner who was lying on his back. The old man looked miserable, and his entire face had been cut open.
Lu Yin’s pupils fluctuated as he looked at the old man’s face. This was someone he should know. This old man had once called Lu Yin “young master.”
In his brief daze, Lu Yin saw an island covered with food. This captive was someone from the Lu family. Lu Yin had vague memories of the old man chasing after him with a kind and doting smile on his face. When Lu Yin had fallen down, this old man would drop to the ground and act as a cushion to prevent Lu Yin from being injured. When Lu Yin had been punished, this old man had stepped forward and braved through the torrential scoldings and beatings that followed. He had stolen food for his young master when he had been hungry. This was someone whom Lu Yin knew he should remember.
Lu Yin clenched his hands into fists as he watched the other person from Shenwu’s Sky drag the old man up by his hair and then carry him away in an insulting manner. The ground where the old man had fallen was stained red from his blood.
"Prof. Hao Yu, let's go. Prof. Zheng and the others are already heading back to the academy, and the headmaster is also on his way," Mr. Tang said.
Lu Yin unclenched his hands and nodded. His voice sounded calm as he replied, "Let's go."
Soon, there were no people left in the area. The people from Shenwu's Sky and the Wang family carried the old man away, while the people from Virtue Archives returned to the academy.