Chapter 104: Feigning Compliance While Secretly Defying

“Master Li, do you know who that person outside is?”

In a courtyard, two figures sat calmly in a pavilion surrounded by water on all sides. One was a young man dressed in a black robe, who frowned slightly as he looked at the middle-aged man before him, a trace of puzzlement on his face.

“The only son of Lord Chu Tianlong of the Chu Mansion, Chu Yun!” The middle-aged man, known as Master Li, replied with a somewhat displeased expression.

“Oh? I heard that Chu Yun and your Ye Mansion are related by marriage. Why is he now coming to cause trouble for you himself?”

Hearing this, the young man in black looked on with confusion and continued to ask.

Master Li’s face showed a complex mixture of emotions as he sighed deeply. “Brother Xie, you don’t know the whole story. Chu Yun was once hopeless—he couldn’t cultivate at all. My daughter marrying him was just to give Lord Chu some face...”

“But unexpectedly, on the very day of the wedding celebration, the boy ran away. And now, he returns with such power. I don’t know what kind of incredible luck he’s had on his journey.”

After speaking, Master Li shook his head with a hint of envy.

“So, Master Li, you only just discovered his strength?” The black-robed youth pondered for a moment, then nodded in analysis.

“Exactly.”

Master Li thought it over carefully but could not figure out whether Chu Yun had been enduring all along. His expression grew serious, and with some reluctance, he nodded to the young man in black.

“Interesting... perhaps this person can be of use to me!”

Turning his gaze outside the mansion, the black-robed youth murmured to himself.

Boom!

Just as the youth fell into thought, a thunderous roar shattered the silence, accompanied by a powerful surge of energy that rippled from outside the mansion. When it reached the pavilion in the middle of the pool, it passed through it as if it were transparent.

The rare and beautiful trees surrounding the pavilion bent under the force, strange flowers blossomed and scattered petals into the air, and a clear stream shot like an arrow from the depths of the rockery, breaking into fragments as it reflected off the water’s surface and pavilion.

“It seems... the outcome has been decided!” Awakened by the commotion, the youth in black glanced meaningfully at the scarred middle-aged man. Then he added, “However, Master Chu, your steward is quite shrewd. Even suppressing him on the realm level wasn’t enough to defeat that boy.”

“Heh! A servant is always a servant—how could I possibly be worthy of Brother Xie’s notice?”

Master Li chuckled with a good-natured expression, not at all offended, and looked at the youth in black with a flattering smile.

“By the way, should we bring that Chu Yun here...”

“No need. I have already arrived!”

Before Master Li could finish, atop the nearby rockery, a youth in fine but slightly disheveled robes stood holding a withered body, looking up at the two figures in the pavilion.

“Consider this person my greeting gift.”

With that, the youth tossed the withered figure into the pavilion. It was unclear if the frail old man had been feigning death, but the moment he hit the ground, he got back up on his own.

Hmph!

Master Li’s face darkened at the sight of the bedraggled old man and he coldly snorted before turning away.

“Master, forgive me, I underestimated Chu Yun. Please spare my life!” The old man trembled and immediately knelt, pounding his head on the ground.

“Useless! Go, reflect on yourself thoroughly. If there is a next time, no mercy will be granted.”

Due to the presence of the black-robed youth, Master Li restrained his anger, merely reprimanding the old man before dismissing him. The old man, expecting harsh punishment, was instead overjoyed at the relatively mild outcome and was eager to leave.

“You must be Chu Yun?”

Ignoring the noise behind him, the youth in black turned expressionlessly to the young man on the rockery.

It was him!

Originally, Tianming had intended to go down and meet with Master Li, but upon seeing the black-robed figure, he was startled. Why was Xie Xin here in the small Black Water Town? What was his purpose? Had he been discovered?

“Yes, that’s me. And may I ask who you are?” Tianming nodded respectfully, feigning politeness.

Though Tianming had many questions swirling in his mind, he chose to trust the former Celestial Star Lord. Even if he had been discovered, with his cultivation at the sixth grade of the Void Realm, Black Water Town could not contain him.

“The wind is strong up here. Would you, Young Master Chu, come down for a talk?”

Smiling, the black-robed youth shook his head without answering Tianming’s question, instead motioning to a nearby stone bench.

“Very well, then I shall graciously accept,” Tianming said, quietly relieved. Without hesitation, he stepped across the water’s surface, which reflected the sky perfectly, and sat down on the southern seat.

He sat between Master Li and Xie Xin, as if he were the guest of honor.

“Young Master Chu, this is Xie Xin, one of the one hundred and eight protectors of the Dark Heaven Immortal,” Master Li suddenly stood and gestured toward the youth in black, then looked at Tianming.

“Haha! So you are a protector of the Immortal. I apologize for my earlier rudeness,” Tianming said with a smile, masking his embarrassment as he stood and bowed.

Though he didn’t understand what the Dark Heaven Immortal was, Tianming knew that any title with “Immortal” was significant. Despite his reluctance, he chose to endure, mindful of Xie Xin’s uncertain power.

“Heh, Brother Chu flatters me. The Dark Heaven Immortal is very low-key and does not want others using his name for their own purposes. Just call me Brother Xie,” Xie Xin said dismissively, a forced smile on his face.

“Oh? Then this Dark Heaven Immortal must be a remarkable figure. Serving under such a person, Brother Xie, you must be quite formidable yourself. It’s an honor to associate with you.”

Tianming’s words gave him goosebumps, but the effect was good—Xie Xin’s previously stern expression softened into one of enjoyment, clearly pleased by the compliment.

“When did Chu Yun get so smooth-talking?”

Though Xie Xin failed to detect any strangeness, Master Li, who knew Chu Yun well, looked at Tianming suspiciously. He glanced at Tianming once more but could find no clue and gave up, smiling alongside Xie Xin.

“Haha! Brother Xie, I’m just a messenger. I rarely even see this great figure, so Brother Chu need not be curious about me. If you work hard, you’ll surely find your place in the future,” Xie Xin said with a smile, though he was already inwardly delighted.

“Thank you, Brother Xie.”

Tianming nodded, pretending to be deeply impressed.

Li Xuansu