The old man staggered back nearly ten meters before finally arresting his momentum. He stood still for a beat, absorbing the last tremor of the Ninth Fold Fist Force. Then, he casually shook his wrists. Astonishingly, he appeared completely unharmed!
Instead of pressing the attack, he suddenly raised a hand, palm outwards. "Wait! Hold on! No more fighting! I..."
His words were cut short as two flashes of cold steel sliced through the air, reaching him in the blink of an eye!
The old man's eyes widened slightly. He swatted them aside with a casual flick of his hand, catching both daggers effortlessly. He stared at Bai Yunfei, who stood ready with two more blades already poised to throw, his gaze locked onto the old man like a hawk.
"Quite the ruthless youngster!" the old man exclaimed, a note of genuine surprise in his voice. "I just said I'm stopping, and you attack again?"
Bai Yunfei didn't relax an iota. His expression remained stony, the daggers in his hands steady, his body poised for action even as he began to retreat slowly, putting distance between them. Only when he was about twenty meters away did he speak, his voice low and guarded.
"Who are you, really? Why attack me without reason?"
The old man seemed momentarily abashed at the question. He waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, young man, don't take offense. This old master merely wished to confirm something. I bear you no ill will."
Bai Yunfei's brow furrowed slightly. "Confirm what?"
"Hmm, just to confirm the two Soul Skills you used earlier," the old man replied, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "And I am now certain. They are indeed the Rippling Steps and the Cascade Wave Art..."
"You know these Soul Skills?" Bai Yunfei was taken aback, then realization dawned. "You know Senior Ge Yiyun?"
"Oh? My senior brother even told you his name?" This time, it was the old man's turn for a small jolt of surprise.
"You are Senior Ge Yiyun's junior brother?"
"Indeed, that is correct."
Bai Yunfei fell silent. He couldn't be sure if the man spoke the truth, but at the very least, hostility seemed absent. The sheer ease with which the old man had absorbed his Ninth Fold Fist Force was proof enough that his strength far surpassed Bai Yunfei's own. The fact that Bai Yunfei had even detected his presence earlier was likely part of the deliberate 'test'. After a moment's consideration, Bai Yunfei lowered the daggers, though his wariness didn't vanish entirely.
"What business does Senior have with me?" he asked.
"Business?" The old man blinked, then looked slightly sheepish as he thought for a second. "Ah... well, to be honest, not much specific business. I happened to witness your... encounter... with those Loong family members in the city this evening. The footwork you used strongly resembled the Rippling Steps. I came to confirm if it truly was, and also..." He paused, his expression turning more serious. "To inquire about my senior brother's whereabouts."
"If you are Senior Ge Yiyun's junior brother," Bai Yunfei questioned, puzzled, "how is it you don't know where he is?"
"Senior Brother dislikes keeping in touch," the man sighed, a touch of helplessness in his voice. "And I lack the ability to divine his location..."
Bai Yunfei frowned slightly. "I do not know Senior Ge's current destination. However, he should still be within the Azure Cloud Province. I encountered him just a few days ago on a mountain south of Cui Liu City."
Seeing the old man fall into thought, Bai Yunfei had no desire to linger. He clasped his hands respectfully. "If Senior has no further matters, this junior will take his leave."
...
Watching Bai Yunfei's figure recede into the distance, the old man wore an expression of mild astonishment, which soon softened into a slow shake of his head.
"That boy... it seems he still doesn't quite believe me," he muttered to himself. "Is such caution truly necessary? Would I, a dignified Elder of the Tianyun Sect, stoop to deceiving you? Honestly..." A thoughtful look replaced his annoyance. "Though... it does suggest he possesses something distinctive. At the very least, caution in all matters is rarely a fault."
His gaze grew distant, contemplative. "Senior Brother has been wandering the mortal world for over two years now... I wonder how many individuals he has found who hold the potential to avert our Sect's tribulation... A few months ago, our secular disciples reported he had entered Azure Cloud Province, but since then... silence. According to that youngster, he should still be here. But why? Lingering in one place for months... what could he be searching for? What requires so much of Senior Brother's time?"
The deeper he pondered, the more perplexed the old man's expression became. Finally, he let out a soft sigh, turned, and melted into the enveloping darkness of the night.
...
Under the starry canopy, a tall, straight-backed figure stood atop a relatively high rooftop. His gaze was fixed intently on an alleyway easily a thousand meters distant – the very alley where Bai Yunfei and the old man had just met.
The man appeared to be under thirty. He wore silver robes, his long hair tied back. His features weren't classically handsome, but possessed a sharp, resolute air. Perched motionless on his shoulder was a small, white creature, no larger than a man's palm, resembling a mouse.
He stared at the far-off scene for a long while. Just as he began to turn away, his body suddenly tensed. He spun around with lightning speed.
On the rooftop behind him, appearing as if from thin air, stood another figure. It was the old man who had just spoken with Bai Yunfei!
"Young man," the old man's voice was low and steady, his face impassive. "You've been watching quite attentively. What is your purpose? Is it me you seek... or that other youngster?" He seemed completely unsurprised by the younger man's presence and reaction.
The silver-robed man had started violently at the sudden appearance, but recovered almost instantly. He took two respectful steps backward and bowed deeply, hands clasped formally.
"Your junior, Hongyin, pays his respects to Senior Qin Zheng."
"Hmm? You know me?" Qin Zheng (the old man) raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised this time.
"Twenty years ago, my honored father brought me to pay a visit to the Tianyun Sect," the young man named Hongyin explained, his posture still respectful. "I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of Senior then." He added a subtle compliment: "It is remarkable that after two decades, Senior retains his distinguished bearing."
Qin Zheng's stern expression softened considerably. "Twenty years ago... your honored father is...?"
"Blood Howl."
The name landed like a physical blow. Qin Zheng visibly stiffened, his eyes widening fractionally before his brows drew together in a sharp frown. "The Adopted Son of the Blood Howl Wolf King? So the rumors are true? The one they speak of is you?" Skepticism edged his voice. "Do you have proof?"
Before Hongyin could respond, the small white creature on his shoulder seemed to bristle at Qin Zheng's doubtful tone. It arched its back slightly and emitted a sharp, indignant "Squeak! Squeak!"
"Huh? This is... a Riverflip Rat!" Qin Zheng exclaimed, his gaze snapping to the creature he had previously disregarded. He focused his senses momentarily, and his surprise deepened. "And... Mid Fifth Tier! Remarkable!"
Hongyin smiled faintly, reaching up to gently stroke the creature, calming it instantly. "Senior has excellent discernment. His name is Xiao Tang. He is my companion."
His hand then moved swiftly. In it appeared a white dagger – though 'dagger' wasn't quite accurate. A closer look would reveal it resembled a long, polished fang or tusk more than forged metal.
"I believe this item should suffice to verify my identity, Senior?"
Qin Zheng, still processing the young man referring to a Soul Beast as a 'companion', focused on the object. Seeing the white tusk, his eyebrows shot up again. "The Blood Howl Fang! Indeed... this confirms the truth of your words." He nodded slowly, accepting the evidence.
He paused, his expression turning thoughtful once more. "So then... why are you here? Could it be for that youngster? I must warn you, he may prove crucial to the future of my Tianyun Sect. You cannot touch him."
Hongyin looked startled, then quickly shook his head. "Senior misunderstands! I have no acquaintance with that young brother. My observation here... was solely because I saw you present."
"Oh? For me?" Qin Zheng's confusion returned. "What business do you have with me?"
"Actually, junior wished to inquire about the whereabouts of Senior Ge Yiyun," Hongyin replied after a brief moment of consideration. "I recently learned, quite by chance, that Senior Ge was in the Azure Cloud Province. I came seeking him, hoping to beg his esteemed assistance..."
"It is for that matter again, is it not?" Qin Zheng interrupted, his voice carrying a heavy weight of understanding before Hongyin could finish. He sighed deeply, a sound filled with weariness. "Sigh... Your honored father must have told you, that task borders on the impossible?"
A flicker of profound disappointment crossed Hongyin's face, but it was quickly replaced by an unshakeable determination. "Regardless, I must try! Perhaps... if Senior Ge Yiyun would consent to attempt it once more... maybe a way could be found..."
"Sigh... Since your resolve is firm, I will say no more against it," Qin Zheng conceded, though his tone remained heavy with doubt. "Proceed as you will. Perhaps, with your... unique heritage... you can alter the 'Fate' that our Soul Beast kin have been unable to shift for over a thousand years..." He shook his head slowly, a gesture of resignation.
"Now," Qin Zheng straightened, his demeanor shifting back to that of a senior with pressing matters. "This old master also has affairs to attend to. I shall not linger." He turned as if to leave, then paused, his voice carrying clearly back to Hongyin across the rooftop. "My senior brother... I know not his location. If you seek him, you must find him yourself!"
His figure blurred, beginning to fade into the night. Yet, his final words drifted back, imbued with a cryptic finality.
"Your 'Fate' here in Cui Liu City... it manifests as a 'Forked Fate'. This old master can divine little more, nor can I reveal more. You must navigate it yourself... Choose wisely..."