"Still no sign of him?" Liao Changping frowned, looking at the disciples beside him.
"Elder, we've searched the entire sect from top to bottom." The disciples looked worried.
Just then, a humming sound drifted through the mountains.
"Oh, what a wonderful day..."
Liao Changping followed the sound and saw a young man ascending the steps. His face was like white jade, his eyes dark, bright, and profound. He was dressed in a clean white robe.
The young man was none other than Lin Yun.
Seeing Liao Changping, he walked over and cupped his hands in a salute. "Elder Liao."
Wang Shuang, who was standing nearby, stared at Lin Yun in utter astonishment.
Hey handsome, who the hell are you?
Liao Changping had a strong impression of Lin Yun, but he still kept a stern face. "Where have you been these past few days?"
"Reporting to the Elder, this disciple went down the mountain after turning in his mission at the Mission Hall." Lin Yun had already prepared his excuse. "I calculated the time and returned to the sect accordingly."
The rules of the Flowing Cloud Sect weren't overly strict. As long as you reported in periodically, the sect generally didn't care where you went.
Liao Changping snorted coldly. "Come with me to see the Sect Master."
Lin Yun glanced at Wang Shuang. He knew exactly what this was about.
The group soon arrived at Cloudsoar Pavilion. The moment they arrived, Lin Yun began looking all around.
Liao Changping frowned, suppressing his anger. "What are you looking at?"
Lin Yun didn't see any sign of Xiao Pingtian and clicked his tongue. Sigh, it seems I won't be seeing that fat sheep today.
"Disciple has never been here before and was a bit curious."
Up in the pavilion, Lin Yun finally saw the elusive Sect Master. Gu Xiande was standing by a window. Hearing the noise, he slowly turned around.
"Is this the little fellow?"
Liao Changping nodded. "Sect Master, seven days ago, it was Lin Yun and Wang Shuang who were guarding the mine cave."
Gu Xiande looked at Lin Yun, his gaze as sharp as a torch.
Lin Yun lowered his head, feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Hiss. He hasn't seen through me, has he?
"Lin Yun, when you and Wang Shuang were on duty that day, were you attacked?"
Wang Shuang was frantically making faces at him.
Lin Yun replied, "Sect Master, it was too dark at the time, and this disciple was cultivating. I was seriously injured before I could even see the enemy's shadow. I don't know what happened after that."
Liao Changping snorted from the side.
"Is that really so?" Gu Xiande's aura suddenly became sharp, pressing down like a great mountain.
If Lin Yun hadn't had his fortuitous encounter in Lizhu Cave Heaven, he would have been terrified.
"Disciple dares not hide anything," Lin Yun said in a firm tone.
The pressure from Gu Xiande's aura eased considerably. Wang Shuang also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, you should go report to the Mission Hall."
Just as Lin Yun turned to leave, he suddenly heard Gu Xiande say, "The Inner Sect Grand Competition is in three days. When the time comes, don't let me down."
Oh no. Did the old fox see through me?
Lin Yun felt his entire body break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, Gu Xiande didn't say anything more, and Lin Yun quickly left.
After Lin Yun had gone, Gu Xiande dismissed Wang Shuang as well, then turned to Liao Changping. "Elder Liao, do you think what that little fellow said was the truth?"
Liao Changping shook his head. "Wang Shuang has never been honest. There was likely more to the story that day. Sect Master, you just told Lin Yun to participate in the Inner Sect Grand Competition? As far as I know, he only entered the outer sect a few days ago. Now..."
Gu Xiande smiled and waved his hand. "Elder Liao, that child... is already at the eighth level of the Nascent Yuan Realm."
A look of utter shock appeared on Liao Changping's face.
...
Lin Yun had just left Cloudsoar Pavilion and hadn't gone far when he saw Wang Shuang catch up to him.
"Junior Brother Lin."
"Senior Brother Wang."
Wang Shuang looked at Lin Yun with an arrogant expression and nodded with a smile. "A promising youth indeed."
"If anyone in the sect bullies you in the future, just mention my name."
Lin Yun forced a smile. "Many thanks, Senior Brother."
Wang Shuang patted his shoulder and left smugly.
Lin Yun watched Wang Shuang's retreating back as his panel appeared.
[Name]: Wang Shuang
[Realm]: Sixth Level of the Yuan Sea Realm
[Destiny]: Treacherous and Vile (Blue)
[Fate]: Does All Kinds of Evil (White), Evil Reaps What It Sows (Gray)
[Does All Kinds of Evil]: Feels itchy all over if a day goes by without doing something bad.
[Evil Reaps What It Sows]: The Heavenly Dao rewards the diligent. Good and evil will be repaid. A wicked person will surely suffer backlash.
[Outcome]: Due to his usual cunning and wickedness, he eventually gets his just deserts and his corpse is left exposed in the wilderness.
[Recent Turning Point]: Seven days later, he will go to Five Yang Mountain, be ambushed, and die.
He dies?
Lin Yun looked at Wang Shuang's panel and shivered. He had wanted to intercept an opportunity, but he hadn't expected to accidentally find out Wang Shuang's date of death. Of course, Lin Yun wasn't stupid enough to actually warn him. He just made a mental note to stay away from Five Yang Mountain.
Just then, someone patted his shoulder. He turned around to see a somewhat familiar face.
"Senior Brother Duan? What are you doing here?"
Duan Heng smiled and said, "I've been recovering from my injuries for the past few days. I asked the Sect Master afterward and learned that it was Junior Brother who found me that day."
Lin Yun smiled. "I merely found the unconscious Senior Brother Duan. It was Senior Brother Wang who was experienced and called for help in time."
Duan Heng stared at Lin Yun for a long time, then gave a sheepish smile. "I see."
"Junior Brother Lin, if you ever need any help in the future, feel free to come find me at Boundless Peak. Lastly, I wish you the best of luck in the Inner Sect Grand Competition in a few days."
Huh? The Inner Sect Grand Competition? How do you know about that?
Lin Yun, who had just been feeling some goodwill toward Duan Heng, immediately became serious. It was one thing for Gu Xiande to see through him, but how did Duan Heng know? Could it be that he was also listening in the main hall just now?
Lin Yun grew wary but didn't show it. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Duan Heng, he quickly departed.
Duan Heng watched Lin Yun's retreating back with a smile on his face.
Leaving Cloudsoar Pavilion, Lin Yun was a little dejected. He hadn't seen his fat sheep. It seemed he would have to see if there was anyone else in the Flowing Cloud Sect he could leech off of.
With this thought in mind, Lin Yun began to wander aimlessly around the sect. Half a day passed like this, and Lin Yun was about to head back.
Just then, an old man's voice sounded in his ear. "Kid, come over here."
He looked all around but didn't see anyone.
"Over here, by the river." The old man's voice sounded again.
Lin Yun followed the voice and soon arrived at a stream. An old man was sitting on the bank. He was dressed in coarse clothes and cloth shoes, lacking any of the airs of a Flowing Cloud Sect cultivator.
"Old sir, were you calling me?"
"Don't you recognize me?" the old man laughed. "You took the 'Cloud-Probing Hand' from the Internal Affairs Pavilion the other day."
Lin Yun chuckled and quickly calmed down. "Senior, is there something I can help you with?"
The old man smiled and waved his hand. "You were just passing by, and I saw that the yuan qi in your body is stagnant."
"Here, this is a mortal sword technique. Take it back and give it a try. It will be good for you."
Lin Yun looked at the "Seven Mystic Sword Art" manual in his hand and then at the old man with some surprise.
"No need to thank me. I'm always at the Internal Affairs Pavilion. If you have time, come find me. An old man like me is getting on in years and likes to chat with young people like you."