Chapter 1532: Just Like That?

After hearing Cai Shu's expectations, Qing Chen responded, "I will report this matter to the commander. Those two are a part of our organization now, and we look after our own. Bai Shaohong's death has nothing to do with them, as the two of them could not have possibly dealt with Bai Shaohong given his strength. The only possibility is that he died to someone at the Envoy level. He most likely died to the other three Junior Progenitors, and the Celestial Frost Sect will eventually figure this out. Until then, do not allow anyone to take Shang Qing or Liu Tianmu away."

"Yes, Master."

At the same moment, Lu Yin received a message from Shang Qing, though it was straight to the point. ‘The Celestial Frost Sect plans on simply capturing you.’

Qing Chen did not see this simple text message.

Lu Yin closed the message. Before visiting the Crimson Garden, he had shared the information regarding the jade butterfly hidden within Huaiyuan Gate with Shang Qing, and that was how Shang Qing had learned about the Celestial Frost Sect’s plans just now.

The jade butterfly had been sent a message stating that Long Qi was to be captured, and it seemed that Yu Chen was behind this.

At this thought, Lu Yin turned to Qing Chen. "Supervisor, can you take me to Huaiyuan Gate first?"

"We are already pressed for time as it is—we need to arrive at Dragon Mountain before the Celestial Frost Sect can set anything up."

Lu Yin lamented, "I'm afraid that it's already too late. If the Celestial Frost Sect decides to insist on arresting this subordinate, then all they have to do is send someone to wait at the other end of the Bifrost."

Qing Chen fell silent.

"Supervisor, the jade pendant that this subordinate uses to contact Realmless is still at Huaiyuan Gate. This subordinate may not be able to leave Dragon Mountain for a while, but that cannot mean that Redbacks are able to go free,” Lu Yin stated.

Qing Chen thought for a while. "Alright, we’ll change our route then."

Even as he spoke, he stared at Lu Yin. "Remember, from this point forward, don't share your location with anyone, and do your best to not let anyone know where you are after we get to Huaiyuan Gate."

Lu Yin nodded.

Shortly after that exchange, Lu Yin sent Shang Qing a message, asking him and Liu Tianmu to wait in Lu Yin’s quarters, find the old man, and have him hide himself from Qing Chen.

After a few days, Qing Chen and Lu Yin arrived at Huaiyuan Gate.

As he stared at the rings of water flowing in the distance, Lu Yin knew that it would be difficult for him to return to this place again in the future.

With Bai Shaohong's death being revealed, it would not be long before the Junior Progenitors were rescued. To be fair, they had already been trapped for more than a year.

Lu Yin needed to leave, but rather than go to Dragon Mountain, he needed to return to the Fifth Mainland.

Lu Yin stepped into his quarters while Qing Chen waited outside, both to prevent anyone else from discovering Lu Yin's location and also meet with Cai Shu.

Inside Lu Yin’s quarters, Shang Qing, Liu Tianmu, Luo Shen, and the old man were all waiting for him. The only friend that Lu Yin had in Huaiyuan Gate whom he had no intentions of taking back to the Fifth Mainland was Wang Dashuai.

As soon as Lu Yin arrived, the old man isolated Shang Qing and the other two in another space and stared at Lu Yin. "Did you find him?"

Lu Yin shook his head.

The old man’s gaze grew sharp, "What did the person in the stream say?"

“‘You dare trespass on this master’s property! I will eradicate your entire family!’” Lu Yin replied.

The old man continued, "There’s an old woman who uses her arm as a knife. What did she say?"

“‘Don't worry, it's almost ready! What else do you want to eat? Fried iced fruit? Grilled fish? I’ll make them all for you! Haha.'” Lu Yin knew the answer once again.

The old man appeared shocked, and he continued asking more questions regarding all of the crazy people incarcerated in the Crimson Garden. Lu Yin answered each question in turn, not making a single mistake even once.

The old man closed his eyes and bitterly asked, "Are you really not there?"

Lu Yin looked at the old man. "Is that person really that important? Didn't you say that you would be able to confirm the identity of a Redback if you could confirm that that person was there? But you don’t seem particularly concerned about Redbacks, do you?"

The old man did not pay even the slightest bit of attention to Lu Yin. Instead, he looked up and stared outside. "It seems like you're in big trouble."

Lu Yin said, "I want to go back."

The old man sneered. "I can temporarily block Qing Chen's perception of us, but it’s impossible for you to escape from under his nose."

"You can attack and keep him occupied," Lu Yin said.

The old man laughed. "Kid, why do you think that this old man will help you at all?"

Lu Yin replied, "I know that getting into the Crimson Garden is your ultimate goal and that you want to find that person. However, you think that I’m useless to you if that person isn’t in the Crimson Garden.

"However, have you considered this matter carefully? I’m on my way to Dragon Mountain to become the commander’s disciple. He’s a Progenitor, which means that my future is limitless."

"You’re just going to escape to the Fifth Mainland, so why would you accept a master?" The old man rolled his eyes.

Lu Yin answered in a low voice, "I will return in the future."

"Then we’ll talk then." The old man’s mood had been ruined. "Alright, it’s time to go. Later, kid."

Lu Yin looked up at the old man. "What if I know where he is?"

The old man was startled, and he turned back to stare at Lu Yin. "What did you just say?"

Lu Yin solemnly repeated himself, "I know where that person is."

The old man stared at Lu Yin, and his eyes slowly filled with an unprecedented killing intent. "Kid, you’re just asking to die now."

Lu Yin’s gaze grew more focused. "You don't believe me?"

"I've been searching for that old man for so many years, but there’s been absolutely no news at all. And now you’re telling me that you know where he is after seeing his picture just once? You must think that this old man is a fool! You must think that because of the information I gave you about the traitors and Yun Mubai being a Redback that this old man is also a Redback. I told you before, and I’ll give you one last warning—don’t try to play smart with me!" the old man said sharply.

"He gave me the Arcane Art, Fatal Revival and forced me to memorize a series of numbers," Lu Yin said.

The old man had been just about to leave, but he instantly froze. He suddenly whirled around, seized Lu Yin, and anxiously demanded, "What did you just say? He made you memorize a series of numbers?"

Lu Yin replied, "Not just numbers, but also words that were engraved on a wall. I fainted after memorizing just a few words."

The old man started trembling, and he stared at Lu Yin with excited eyes. "Repeat it to me!"

Lu Yin calmly replied, "If you can't handle it, you’ll pass out from hearing it."

"A few words are enough!" the old man eagerly retorted.

Lu Yin thought for a moment. "It starts with, ‘To be good at communicating.’”

The old man's pupils shrank to pinpoints; this was wrong. It doesn’t start with “To be good at communicating.” That’s actually in the middle. Still, even though he messed up the order, he still knows the words. He’s right, it is him! It’s him! It’s him! He’s the only one who knows!

"Where is he?" the old man nervously asked.

"He was in the Forsaken Land."

The old man frowned, clearly not believing Lu Yin at all.

Lu Yin said, "You know where I’m from, and you’ve been searching through the Perennial World for so many years. If he was here, then how could you have not found him by now? Also, how could I know those words? He was in the Forsaken Land. In that place, there was an abandoned region with a planet with many beasts living on it. On that planet, there was a cave, and on the wall was everything that he wrote down.”

"Where is he now?" the old man hastily asked.

"Dead," Lu Yin said.

"Impossible!" The old man refused to believe it.

Lu Yin felt helpless. "He really died. When I saw him, he wasn’t even able to defeat an Explorer, and since his grandson wasn’t able to protect him, he died."

The old man's eyes flickered and he lowered his hand while muttering to himself, "Grandson? Grandson? Does he even have a grandson?"

Lu Yin glanced outside his quarters, nervous that Qing Chen would return. He quickly said, "Listen, when we get attacked at the Cloud Shuttle, I’ll find a way to escape to the rendezvous point. You need to find a way to get there with me in order to go to the Forsaken Land. You’ll never find that man on your own."

At that moment, Lu Yin pulled out Zenith Mountain. Without a single word, he sent Shang Qing, Liu Tianmu, and Luo Shen into the mountain.

The old man stared at Lu Yin. "Alright, we’ll go to the Forsaken Land together, but you have to take me to that old man and help me find him. If you don’t, there is no one who can save you! There are no Progenitors in the Forsaken Land, which means that this old man is invincible there."

"Alright, I get it." Lu Yin was ready to agree to anything at this moment.

The old man left to avoid Qing Chen.

Soon after, Qing Chen arrived and waited just outside Lu Yin’s quarters.

Lu Yin took a deep breath and stared at the jade pendant in a daze.

Qing Chen found this to be a bit strange, but he did not enter Lu Yin’s quarters.

After a while, Lu Yin’s communication crystal vibrated, and he answered the call. Liu Shaoge was the one who appeared.

"Long time no see, old friend," Lu Yin said with a faint smile.

Liu Shaoge stared at Lu Yin. He held the information about jade butterflies in his hand. Hidden within the information was a message that read, ‘After parting at East San Dios, I hoped to get in touch, please contact me.' Lu Yin had sent this message to Liu Shaoge via Shang Qing, and it was Lu Yin’s only means of reaching out to Liu Shaoge. Lu Yin just hoped that Liu Shaoge would be able to see it, though it did not matter if someone else found the message, as it would mean nothing to anyone other than Liu Shaoge.

When he saw this message, Liu Shaoge felt as if he had just seen a ghost. He had thought that he was hiding in the dark and holding the initiative, able to betray Lu Yin at any moment and even in control of Lu Yin’s life.

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

No matter how brilliantly Lu Yin shone, or even if he took a Progenitor as his master, the moment that Liu Shaoge opened his mouth, Lu Yin would be completely finished. From the very beginning and all along, Liu Shaoge had felt a strong sense of superiority.

However, finding this message drove Liu Shaoge into the abyss; Lu Yin actually knew about Liu Shaoge’s existence here! When had he been exposed? How did Lu Yin discover that Liu Shaoge was in the Jade Valley? Liu Shaoge had no answers, but he felt chilled the moment he saw the message. He recalled the chaos that Lu Yin had incited in the Fifth Mainland, and the chills grew even worse.

"It really has been a long time," Liu Shaoge exclaimed, "How did you find me?"

Lu Yin’s lips curled up into a smile. “If I want to find something, then naturally, I’ll be able to. I’ve been able to uncover Redbacks, so there’s no need to even mention you."

Liu Shaoge laughed. "I’m much harder to find than a Redback."

"Not necessarily. You must remember, the two of us have known each other for many years," Lu Yin retorted.

Liu Shaoge appeared to be calm. "Since you sought me out, I that assume you want to know the movements of the Celestial Frost Sect?"

Lu Yin nodded. "I’ll give you up first if I’m caught."

Liu Shaoge arched a brow. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." Lu Yin smiled.

Liu Shaoge was anything but happy, though he did not show it. "The Celestial Frost Sect sent out a Semi-Progenitor as well as two Envoys who’ve passed their fifth tribulation. They’re waiting for you on the path to Dragon Mountain. What’s more, they have a Fay Blossom with them."

Lu Yin clenched his fists. He knew of Fay Blossoms, as he had heard of them before. "I need you to take some intel and let them know that I’ve returned to Huaiyuan Gate."

Liu Shaoge's eyes flickered. "I know what to do. Are you sure that you want to go to Dragon Mountain?"

"Of course. Gaining a Progenitor as a master is worth the risk," Lu Yin replied.

Liu Shaoge smiled and ended the call.

Lu Yin lowered his hand. Go to Dragon Mountain? No one would be able to betray his location in the future, as not even Liu Shaoge would know where he was going. The reason why Lu Yin had reached out to Liu Shaoge had been a precaution, but Lu Yin was not overly concerned, as he still had his final resort: Mister Mu.

Mister Mu should be able to take Lu Yin out of the Perennial World, though Lu Yin also remembered what Mister Mu had said. He needed to find his own way back. Surely Master did not abandon me!