"Elder Hai, please elaborate. We're all completely in the dark right now. Also, since you weren't in danger, why have you ended up in this state?" Teng Shan interjected.
Although today turned out to be a hoax, with the resources of the Mitre Auction House, paying the remuneration for the few people present wouldn't be a crippling loss, just a bit of heartache at most.
Compared to that, Teng Shan was more concerned about Hai Bo Dong's condition.
No matter how it was explained, the fact remained that Hai Bo Dong's body had problems.
As the Supreme Elder of the Mitre Family, his fate was intertwined with the family's; they would prosper or suffer together.
Hai Bo Dong's gaze swept over everyone present, then he nodded slightly.
Since he had contacted Teng Shan, he was already prepared to step back into the public eye.
These people before him had little entanglement with the Mitre Family, including Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect.
Throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, only the imperial family, while seemingly on good terms with the Mitre Family, was actually quite wary of them behind the scenes. If they learned of his news, they might secretly resort to some tactics.
Nalan Jie outwardly held the title of Empire Lionheart Marshal, but Hai Bo Dong understood him well.
He and the imperial family were not entirely of one mind.
And this was indeed the case; otherwise, Nalan Yanran wouldn't have joined the Yun Lan Sect in the original timeline.
Thinking of this, Hai Bo Dong suddenly felt that getting a little closer to Yun Yun wouldn't be a bad idea.
"These two matters are actually one."
"Back then, after I left the family and traveled around, when I arrived at the Tagor Desert, by chance I disrupted a certain opportunity of the Medusa Queen, which enraged her and caused her to attack."
"Although I was already famous in Gama at that time, compared to this Medusa Queen, I was still no match for her. After fighting her for over a thousand moves, I was finally defeated and struck by her Serpent Sealing Curse. Since then, my strength has been continuously regressing."
Hai Bo Dong was ninety-eight percent truthful, only slightly embellishing some minor details.
For example, when he said he disrupted the Medusa Queen's opportunity, he was referring to the incomplete map in his hand, an opportunity he had already obtained.
Unfortunately, he paid a huge price for it, yet it was useless.
Another example was the process of fighting the Medusa Queen; whether he was defeated after a thousand moves or was chased like a dog from beginning to end, only he himself knew.
"After luckily escaping back then, I didn't want to return and attract too much attention from the imperial family, so I concealed my identity and hid in Mo City until now."
"Just a few days ago, a young man with ice affinity came to my shop. His talent is good, and his character is also excellent. What surprised me even more was that from some subtle details, he was actually able to deduce my identity."
"I greatly admire this young man, so I proposed taking him as my disciple. However, he didn't agree directly. Instead, he proposed a bet with me: within half a year, as long as the Mitre Family ensures he enters the center of the desert to meet the Medusa Queen, he will find a way for her to remove the seal in my body."
"If he can do it, the Mitre Family will give him two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills as a reward. Conversely, he will follow all my arrangements..."
Hai Bo Dong didn't hide much about this matter.
However, he specifically mentioned that Chen Xiao had ice affinity.
This was to prevent Yun Yun from having any ideas when she met Chen Xiao.
After all, for someone without a background, the Mitre Family was a behemoth, and the Yun Lan Sect was even more so.
If Yun Yun joined the competition and offered more generous terms, the Mitre Family truly wouldn't have much competitiveness.
Hearing Hai Bo Dong's praise, Yun Yun did feel a bit curious.
The Ice Emperor, Hai Bo Dong, was known for his discerning eye.
For him to even consider taking someone as a disciple, and for that person not to agree immediately, the young man's talent was imaginable; he definitely had the potential of a Dou Huang!
However, after hearing that he had ice affinity, Yun Yun's expectations instantly dropped significantly.
It wasn't that ice affinity was bad, but this attribute didn't quite fit with the Yun Lan Sect's legacy.
"So that's how it is. In the past, Elder Hai was quite dismissive of the younger generation in the family. For this young man to be so highly regarded by Elder Hai, I can't wait to meet him." Teng Shan said with a smile.
Out of absolute trust in Hai Bo Dong, Teng Shan didn't think Hai Bo Dong's attempt to take a disciple would end in failure.
Even if that young man truly had a way to persuade the Medusa Queen to remove the seal for Hai Bo Dong, what did it matter?
They would give the promised bet, and they would continue to take him as a disciple; these things weren't in conflict.
Therefore, in Teng Shan's heart, Chen Xiao, whom he hadn't even met yet, was already half one of their own.
"I'm more curious about how he, a junior, can convince the Medusa Queen? As for talent, do you still remember the engagement I arranged for Yanran back then? I also received news a few days ago that Yanran's fiancé, Xiao Yan, at the age of eleven, has advanced to Dou Zhe. That's not bad, right? I wonder how he compares to the one mentioned by the Ice Emperor, who is stronger and who is weaker?"
Nalan Jie chuckled.
His slightly dark, aged face was full of pride.
He just didn't know if he would still be able to laugh a few months later when he heard that Xiao Yan had become a good-for-nothing.
Or, a few years later, when he was afflicted with the Brand Poison, would he still be able to maintain this demeanor?
Seeing Nalan Jie's smug look, Yun Yun and the others silently nodded in their hearts.
An eleven-year-old Dou Zhe, that was more than just not bad; it could be said to be exceptionally talented in the Jia Ma Empire!
Only Hai Bo Dong scoffed inwardly.
Little Jie, you haven't seen enough!
Although he wasn't sure of Chen Xiao's exact age, he could tell from his appearance alone that he was definitely under fifteen.
A Seven Star Da Dou Shi under fifteen years old, wasn't that stronger than your eleven-year-old Dou Zhe son-in-law?
"Can't compare, can't compare. The young man this old man fancies is likely older than the Xiao Yan you mentioned."
Hai Bo Dong scoffed inwardly but chuckled aloud.
In any case, seeing Chen Xiao would be worth more than countless arguments.
Just as he was thinking this, Hai Bo Dong suddenly grinned.
He's here!
"Gentlemen, that young man has come out of the inn. This old man will go call out to him, lest he make a wasted trip and go wait for me outside the city."
Hai Bo Dong stood up, pushed the door open, and called out to the young man standing at the inn entrance a hundred meters away, waving his hand.
Chen Xiao's steps paused, and he had a guess.
Could it be that Teng Shan has arrived?
Immediately, he quickened his pace and approached.
Although the five people inside the map shop didn't go out, they could sense the situation outside.
Including Chen Xiao's Seven Star Da Dou Shi aura.
For a moment, even Yun Yun, who had been very calm from beginning to end, now had a look of surprise on her face.
A Seven Star Da Dou Shi so young?!
No wonder, no wonder Hai Bo Dong was willing to go through so much trouble to play a betting game with him.
If it were her, she would be a hundred times willing!
What if he had ice affinity? With such talent, even setting aside the Yun Lan Sect's legacy, just by providing him with resources for growth, his future achievements would surely surpass hers, and even her teacher's.
Teng Shan was also stunned for a moment. After recovering, the smile on his face couldn't be suppressed.
In contrast, Nalan Jie on the side felt his old face burning and the tip of his nose red, as if something was about to grow out.
Yan Shi and Feng Li, the two onlookers, had now become entertained.
Looking at each other, they could see the amusement in each other's eyes.
Wonderful, wonderful!
Indeed, indeed!
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