The elderly man was only about five feet tall, hunched over with a back that bulged like it was growing tumors, and his face too was covered with lumps, making him look like an unsightly toad.
Anyone seeing him would surely turn pale with fright.
"Yes, I have divined the Heavenly Mechanism all my life and have suffered punishment for it. Three months ago, I secluded myself and tried to predict Lin Tanyu's origin using the Star Sky Technique, but I could not deduce anything." As the elderly man spoke, he erupted into a fierce cough.
"Teacher, your illness..." Lu Xing looked at the man, his eyes reddening involuntarily.
"Don't worry about my illness. You go and find him for me, I wish to meet him in person," the elderly man said slowly.
"Yes, Teacher."
Lu Xing wiped away his tears, bowed deeply, and turned to walk toward the doorway.
...
In the morning, White Fog rose from the lake, snowflakes fell from the sky, and snowflakes accumulated between Lin Mo's brows, turning them into what seemed like two white eyebrows.
"Master, I would like to venture out into the world," Yingzi suddenly approached him from behind, with her belongings already packed.
Lin Mo finally showed a hint of emotion and asked, "Where do you plan to go?"
"I met Sister Zhuang Ziruo in Han Country last time. She told me to visit her at Emei when I had time," Yingzi said with eyes red.
"Go then," Lin Mo uttered those two words.
Standing behind Lin Mo, Yingzi bowed deeply and immediately, holding her Longsword and carrying her bag, stepped onto the snowy ground with a crunching sound. "I will definitely find Sister Ye Zi, and then I will come back to you, Master."
Lin Mo stood tall while the snow had been falling all day.
By evening, a glimmer of light appeared in Lin Mo's somewhat dim eyes. He moved his brows and brushed away the accumulated snow.
All at once, Lin Mo's Divine Sense spread out, but strangely, as he scanned the area, he could not detect Xia Mengdie's aura. It might have been due to a Secret Treasure she used to conceal her presence or some other reason.
However, Lin Mo was certain of one thing: Xia Mengdie should be safe.
"I should also set out to search now!" Lin Mo murmured to himself and finally took a step forward. He walked atop the water surface, sending out ripples, gradually moving toward the misty center of the lake.
Lin Mo walked on air and stopped over a city.
Bin Hai, passing by a certain place, Lin Mo overheard a vile noise. Lin Mo did not intend to meddle in worldly affairs.
But since he encountered it, Lin Mo slightly furrowed his brows and walked forward.
Ahead, a Bald Man, with a few followers, was about to dishonor a young girl.
Lin Mo glanced at the Bald Man and said indifferently, "Bullying a woman is no skill. Get lost."
"Hey, lad, quite the tone you have there. Who are you, some official's son or some bigshot young master?" Bald Xie squinted his eyes, a cold gleam flickering within them.
He wasn't a fool. If the other party dared to speak like this, he was either out of his mind, or he was indeed confident in his own strength.
The young girl looked at Lin Mo, seeing his face, which showed neither sadness nor joy, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter. She couldn't help but clench her fists, her palms now sweaty with fine beads of perspiration.
"You still haven't apologized to Brother Scorpion; otherwise, nobody can save you today," a few gangsters said loudly, frowning as they saw Lin Mo remaining unflappable.
Bald Xie sneered, "No, please don't apologize to me. I'd like to see just how tough this kid's bones are. To actually say he'll kill me on Bin Hai's turf, truly thinking I am..."
As Bald Xie spoke, his face suddenly changed dramatically, his pupils dilated, and his body abruptly fell backward.
The others noticed something was wrong with Bald Xie and turned their heads to look at Lin Mo, all turning pale and trembling uncontrollably.
"What did you just say?" Lin Mo lifted his head, his eyes indifferently watching Bald Xie.
Bald Xie and the other punks were so frightened they had difficulty breathing, lacking even the courage to run away.
"I... I didn't say..." Bald Xie swallowed hard.
"Still not scramming?" Lin Mo looked dispassionately at Bald.
"Expert, may I ask... may I ask where I can find you?" Bald Xie mustered his courage and suddenly asked.
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes, "What, you want to seek revenge?"
"No... no, that's not it..." Bald Xie shook his head like a rattle-drum and hastily said, "Our Second Young Master Chu has always been looking for strange people. I can't speak of the particulars, but the Chu Family is the number one family in Bin Hai. As long as the master is willing to help, the Chu Family will certainly not mistreat the master."
Now Bald Xie finally understood that the seemingly ordinary young man in front of him might be some hidden expert. If he could introduce such a master to Second Young Master Chu, he could win favor from both sides.
Lin Mo frowned, suddenly remembering some matters, and nodded, "Take me to see this so-called Second Young Master."
"Second Young Master Chu happens to be in the club today. Please follow me!"
Bald Xie respectfully said.
Afterward, Lin Mo followed Bald Xie to a club.
Inside the club, it was splendid with grand architecture, imitating the Gothic style of Western Countries, with murals and oil paintings filled with a fantasy flavor. Those who could afford to come here for consumption must have significant status and wealth.
Bald Xie led the way, only half a step ahead of Lin Mo, but his sidelong glances sized up Lin Mo as if expecting the usual signs of nervousness or discomfort that first-timers might have entering such a high-end club.
However, he observed that Lin Mo remained calm throughout, with no sign of any emotional change, and couldn't help thinking, "He really must be an expert, someone used to grand scenes."
Had he known that Lin Mo had previously suppressed an entire era, who knows what Bald Xie would have thought.
But Lin Mo didn't care about Bald Xie's thoughts or about meeting Second Young Master Chu soon; his mind was still on Xia Mengdie. The Chu Family was recruiting magic users and strange individuals; perhaps they had some news about Xia Mengdie.
However, that wasn't certain, and only after meeting someone from the Chu Family would he know.
"Master, please come inside." They quickly arrived at a luxurious palatial private room.
Bald Xie stood at the door, made a welcoming gesture, and immediately said, "Master, rest here for now. I will go and invite Second Young Master Chu right away."
Lin Mo nodded, sat down on the carved rosewood chair, and was served fragrant tea by a maid.
Looking at the maid who was quite pretty and youthful, Lin Mo couldn't help but become pensive, thinking of Yingzi. Yingzi had gone to Emei Mountain, and he wasn't sure of her recent situation. Once this matter was settled, it would be good to go see her.
After a short wait, Bald Xie finally returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man. The man had a square face, roughly forty years old, dressed in a treasure-blue Louis Vuitton suit, with a Patek Philippe watch worth two hundred thousand on his wrist, looking every inch the successful business man.