Moyuan walked leisurely toward the City Lord's Mansion. It was not because he was unconcerned about the matter, but rather because he was pondering how to present it to the City Lord if he managed to secure an audience.
The reason he wanted to inform the City Lord was simple: if anyone in Hecheng did not want to see disaster strike the city, it had to be the City Lord. After all, the City Lord had an impeccably good reputation throughout Hecheng. The Demon God Cult's plan was merely an inference he had pieced together from his past life; the words of a single low-ranking Cult member were not enough to prove they had a grand scheme in Hecheng. Moyuan believed that Cult member's words because he could deduce the truth from clues left in his previous life, but the City Lord would not necessarily believe him. After all, there was not the slightest trace of evidence yet—how could anyone be convinced?
At this thought, a headache began to form.
The crucial issue was that the City Lord had a myriad of state affairs to attend to, and a mere student like him might not even be able to secure a meeting.
"This really is tricky. What should I do?"
Moyuan scratched the back of his head, momentarily at a loss.
"Moyuan."
An aged yet sonorous voice suddenly entered his ears.
"Huh?"
Moyuan had been a bit too immersed in his thoughts while walking down the street, completely failing to notice the elderly man standing right in front of him.
"Elder Cui!"
Moyuan looked up at the old man before him, his eyes filled with pleasant surprise.
The old man possessed a full head of white hair, and the marks of time were deeply etched into his face. His cloudy eyes were filled with such a profound warmth that one could not help but feel a sense of closeness.
"Haha, Moyuan, long time no see."
Looking at his student, Cui Yin smiled kindly.
"Master!"
Gazing at the master who had once sheltered him from the wind and rain, Moyuan felt his eye rims involuntarily redden, his body trembling slightly.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Moyuan suddenly react this way, Cui Yin was completely baffled. What was wrong with this child? Why did it feel as though he had suffered some monstrous grievance?
Realizing his emotional slip, Moyuan immediately reined in his feelings. Without experiencing rebirth firsthand, very few people would ever believe such a tale. Although he trusted his master implicitly, he decided it was best not to tell Cui Yin just yet.
"Teacher, why are you here?" Moyuan asked after composing himself.
"Me? I came specifically to look for you. Do you have any time right now? I have something to discuss with you," Cui Yin said with his usual kind smile.
"I do." Moyuan nodded immediately.
He had already guessed what Cui Yin wanted to talk about. Compared to his past life, it seemed he would be taking this master earlier this time around.
"Then how about we go to my place first?"
"Alright, Teacher." Moyuan nodded obediently.
He knew that Cui Yin had been protecting him from the shadows for over a dozen years, ever since he was found at the orphanage. Cui Yin had watched over him secretly without ever stepping forward, even taking a job as a teacher at No. 11 High School just for his sake. Later, when he went to higher education, Cui Yin had become a professor there as well, teaching him various knowledge meant for the Awakened.
Moyuan walked quietly behind Cui Yin, his gaze soft yet complex.
As he looked at Cui Yin's slightly stooped figure, an indescribable bitterness surged through his heart. A silent tear slipped down Moyuan's fair cheek. He remembered how Cui Yin had stopped at nothing to protect him in his past life, shielding him from every storm, and ultimately paying with his life. Those scenes played in his mind like events of yesterday, deeply branded into his soul.
*In this life, I will never let history repeat itself,* Moyuan vowed silently to himself.
His gaze hardened, and his stride grew steadier. He knew that in this life, he had to become stronger—strong enough to protect those he cherished.
Inside the villa's courtyard, Moyuan looked at the familiar surroundings, his heart in turmoil. Sunlight filtered through the eaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the courtyard. An occasional breeze rustled the leaves, weaving together with the sound of trickling water to create a harmonious and tranquil scene.
"How is it? After teaching you for so many years, this is your first time visiting Teacher's home, isn't it?" Cui Yin sat down on a stone stool in the pavilion, gesturing for Moyuan to take a seat as well.
"Indeed, this is my first time at Teacher's place. With all these lush green trees, the fresh air, and the distance from the city's hustle and bustle, this is truly a wonderful spot. When I grow old, I want to set up a place just like this," Moyuan said sincerely as he looked at the vintage decorations in the courtyard.
"Hahaha, Moyuan, you always know just what to say to please me." Hearing such high praise for his dwelling, Cui Yin beamed from ear to ear.
"How was your cultivation yesterday? Is there anything you don't understand? Feel free to ask your Teacher."
"It's going well, Teacher. Although the cultivation method issued by the school is somewhat sophisticated, it's not too difficult to comprehend."
To hide his true depth, Moyuan could only play the part of a student who had just been introduced to cultivation methods.
"That's good." Cui Yin nodded with a satisfied look.
All his years of pouring every bit of knowledge into Moyuan had not been in vain. Though he hadn't taught him profound techniques, he had instructed Moyuan in everything from astronomy and geography to alchemy, artifact forging, and general knowledge regarding the Awakened.
"Here is the thing, Moyuan. I intend to take you on as my formal disciple. I wonder what you think of this?"
The more Cui Yin looked at Moyuan, the more pleased he became, so he decided to drop the beating around the bush and state his purpose directly.
"Disciple Moyuan greets Master!"
Without a second thought, Moyuan rushed forward, dropped to his knees before Cui Yin, and kowtowed heavily.
His movements were as smooth as flowing water, startling Cui Yin right out of his seat.
"Good, good, good! Moyuan, you are my second disciple. You also have a senior martial brother; you will meet him when the opportunity arises."
Though he didn't know why Moyuan was so decisive, having the boy acknowledge him as master was a wonderful thing. Besides, hadn't he spent over a decade in Hecheng precisely for this very year? Seeing that Moyuan was about to kowtow again, Cui Yin hurriedly reached out and pulled him up.
"Get up quickly, child. Now that you have acknowledged me as your master, there is no need for such grand formalities."
"Child, you can stop practicing that cultivation method the school gave you. My Art of Heavenly Secrets is an Earth-grade technique. Since you have taken me as your master, you should cultivate with this method instead."
As he spoke, a book appeared in Cui Yin's hand out of nowhere, which he handed to Moyuan. A sense of pride laced his tone.
As everyone knew, cultivation techniques were divided into Yellow-grade, Mystic-grade, Earth-grade, and Heaven-grade. As for the highest tier—the God-tier—none had appeared for countless years. The techniques distributed by schools were merely Yellow-grade, and the absolute lowest-tier ones at that. Yet this Art of Heavenly Secrets was not only Earth-grade, but a top-tier masterpiece among Earth-grade techniques.
Moyuan accepted the Art of Heavenly Secrets. Although he had already begun practicing it, he could not let his secret slip.
"What kind of garbage technique is that? Calling it the Art of Heavenly Secrets and an Earth-grade method—to me, it's nothing more than trash."
Just as Moyuan opened his mouth to express his gratitude, Jiang Shang's voice abruptly piped up, dripping with disdain.
"You're the trash! I cultivated this very technique throughout my previous life, and it can even rival certain Heaven-grade techniques."
Moyuan retorted unceremoniously. Whenever someone belittled his cultivation method, he was always the first to stand up and object. Having practiced the Art of Heavenly Secrets for an entire lifetime, how could he not know its true worth?
"Brat, I happen to have a technique here that is definitely a hundred times stronger than the one you're practicing. Do you want it?" Jiang Shang stopped arguing and instead began to pitch it, using gentle persuasion.
"What grade is it?"
"God-tier."
"What?"
"God-tier. Even more formidable than a Heaven-grade technique."
"If you have such a good thing, why didn't you bring it out earlier?"
"Your Mystical Crystals aren't enough to buy this technique of mine."
"As expected, you were up to no good. You were waiting right here for me."
Moyuan believed Jiang Shang's words implicitly, considering he was the artifact spirit of the List of Gods.
"So you were eyeing my hundred thousand Mystical Crystals all along."
"Kid, don't talk nonsense. This is a matter of mutual consent. If you aren't willing, then go right ahead and keep practicing your trash technique."
"How much?" Moyuan asked, gritting his teeth.
"One hundred thousand Mystical Crystals. Small business, non-negotiable."
With a single thought, Moyuan tossed the hundred thousand Mystical Crystals—which he hadn't even had time to warm up—straight into the List of Gods.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
"This is the Eight-Nine Mystical Art. Both Erlang Shen and the former Heavenly Emperor cultivated this technique. Consider yourself lucky, brat."
As the voice faded, a string of obscure and profound characters flooded into Moyuan's mind.