Yu Xuan blinked, then carefully surveyed the several thousand Zixiao Swords lined up before him. The purple sword light flowing across them sent a chill down the old Daoist’s spine, and he could feel the sheer terror contained within that array of longswords.

“This fellow, Ye Wen, actually possesses such skill?”

The old Daoist was indeed capable; with just one glance, he discerned that these Zixiao Swords, almost indistinguishable from true blades, were formed from Ye Wen’s own concentrated power, rather than being a set of magic Flying Swords.

“Daoist Ye… you have quite a temper, eh?”

Yu Xuan chuckled, seemingly unconcerned by this hair-trigger situation ready to erupt into combat. He even used his own pair of nunchaku to scratch an itch on his back, an action that earned another look of utter disdain from Artemis, who had remained silent until now, refusing even to watch him further.

“Indeed, I have quite a temper!” Ye Wen nodded, acknowledging the assessment. “Especially towards shameless wretches like you!”

“Why speak such harsh words, Daoist friend? This old Daoist merely came to collect a few items!”

Ye Wen snorted and pointed at the Qilin behind him, asking, “Then do you know whose possession this Qilin is?”

The old Daoist froze, his eyes darting about several times before he declared plainly, “Naturally, it is the relic of the dead man behind you!” The deliberate emphasis on ‘relic of the dead man’ implied it was ownerless. The Daoist’s reaction was swift; in that single statement, he suggested that taking this item was no great matter for him.

Since the original owner was deceased, anything they left behind naturally belonged to the one destined to find it—whoever obtained it claimed it! Though the old Daoist did not explicitly state this, his words carried that very implication.

“Did this humble Daoist speak incorrectly?”

Ye Wen did not deny it: “Correct, it is indeed this person’s (relic/belongings)!” Huang Tianhua’s corpse was so mutilated that it was impossible to tell who he was, meaning the old Daoist opposite could not have recognized him immediately. Had it not been for the weapons and artifacts he carried, and Siren mentioning Huang Tianhua’s name earlier, Ye Wen wouldn't have determined the identity so quickly.

“However, this man’s family is still alive, and I naturally must return his belongings to them.”

As soon as Ye Wen said this, the expression on the old Daoist’s face immediately changed. Compared to his earlier relaxed and flippant demeanor, he now appeared far more serious. While many in the Immortal Realm managed to ascend with their families still tied to the mortal coil, they were invariably famous figures, often Celestial Officials or Divine Generals of the Heavenly Court. Yu Xuan was no novice who knew nothing; having traveled extensively, his knowledge was vast, and he instantly grasped the crux of the matter.

So that’s how it is… Realizing this, he knew that if he pressed further to seize the Qilin, he would not only have to fight this mysterious fellow before him but also risk offending the family of the Qilin’s original owner—who knew what background this fellow had? If his family was powerful and influential, and they decided to settle scores later, he, a solitary man, truly wouldn't be able to handle it.

“Oh dear, what is to be done?”

Continuously scratching his head with his staff, Yu Xuan turned to the young man with a fawning smile: “It seems the promised mount is out of the question. How about we look for another divine beast for a mount? I think that four-legged lizard with wings would be quite nice!”

The young man’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he stood there as if imagining his own imposing figure. However, after a moment, he glanced back toward the Qilin behind Ye Wen with a flicker of reluctance. After struggling internally for a moment, the young man finally nodded: “Alright, but that thing probably isn't that easy to catch, is it?”

“Leave that to me and be on your way!”

Ye Wen had listened to their conversation and grasped the general idea: the old Daoist had promised to find a mount for the young man, then heard about a Qilin here and rushed over, hoping to pick up an easy prize, only to find Ye Wen had gotten there first.

After they talked for a bit, the youth still couldn't let go and asked, “May I ask who the Qilin’s original owner was?”

Everyone present realized the youth still held affection for that Qilin. Yu Xuan, too, was puzzled, genuinely curious whose possession it truly was.

“Huang Tianhua!”

Ye Wen wasted no words and directly announced the name. Upon hearing it, Yu Xuan’s expression immediately grew solemn, and he stopped spouting nonsense about the auspicious beast being destined for the young man—that had just been casual fabrication, and Ye Wen, being an Immortal, wasn't necessarily skilled at discerning such mystical affinities.

The young man was first stunned by the name Huang Tianhua, apparently not recognizing him. But after thinking for a moment, his face cleared with sudden realization—this expression surprised Ye Wen, who hadn't expected the youth to know Huang Tianhua’s name.

Because Yu Xuan stood in front of the youth, he missed the young man’s expression, but Ye Wen saw it clearly. Feeling curious, he pressed the question: “What is this child’s name? Now that the tension had dissipated with the standoff over, the atmosphere was no longer so strained. The old Daoist paid no heed to formalities and sat cross-legged on the ground. Hearing Ye Wen’s question, he replied: “This young man has no surname; you may call him Tuo’er.”

Ye Wen nodded and then looked closely at the young man’s eyes: “Your eyes… they are quite peculiar!”

The young man called Tuo’er let out a simple, slightly proud laugh, rubbing the back of his head: “I was born with these eyes, but I never felt they were any different. They just let me see a little farther and clearer than ordinary people!”

Ye Wen paused, then pressed further: “You have never cultivated?” Generally, someone with innate special qualities only needs a bit of cultivation to turn that uniqueness into a special spell or magical artifact. Someone with eyes like this youth would almost certainly have developed some unique ability. A person showing no such anomalies, like this young man, was usually an ordinary person who had never cultivated.

“Never!” The young man answered directly and cleanly. This answer surprised Ye Wen. He had originally assumed the youth was the old Daoist’s disciple; although their conversation hadn't sounded like a typical master-disciple interaction, it was possible they were just eccentric.

Yu Xuan noticed Ye Wen’s confusion and chuckled: “This humble Daoist is accustomed to traveling alone; I have never taken, nor wished to take, a disciple. I merely received a favor from this boy once, and so I wish to repay him with an item!”

“So you wanted to gift him a Qilin as a mount?” Ye Wen felt dark lines forming across his forehead. He admired the old Daoist’s thought process: gifting a Qilin to a young man who hadn't cultivated? Did he consider whether the boy could even tame the beast, even if he obtained it?

The old Daoist was unperturbed: “He helped me obtain a treasure, so I repay him with a rare treasure. An exchange of goods; neither owes the other. As for anything else, this Daoist does not concern himself with it!”

This statement had its logic. Although Ye Wen found the old man a bit irresponsible, what he said was correct. They had no prior relationship; if you help me once, I help you once—it was only right and reasonable that neither owed the other.

Hearing the old Daoist say this, the young man also looked dejected, finally muttering: “If you won’t take me, then fine! I don’t believe I can’t find a master willing to accept me as a disciple!” Judging by his look, the young man had indeed considered asking the old Daoist to take him as a disciple. But since Yu Xuan staunchly refused, only offering a gift in return, the young man’s pride eventually kicked in. If the Daoist wouldn't accept him, he wouldn't press the issue.

“Once I have a mount that can travel a thousand li a day, I will search for a renowned master willing to take me as a disciple myself!”

It turned out the reason the youth wanted a mount was precisely this. If he searched everywhere as an ordinary person, he might not find the so-called exalted master even if he lived his whole life. Traveling to the East from the West was no simple feat—Hasna had endured immense hardship and long journeys to reach the East, and she was incredibly lucky to meet Ye Wen wandering about as soon as she arrived in that realm. Whether it was related to her being the reincarnation of Wuzhen, such fortune was rare. If the youth rushed about haphazardly, he might never meet another cultivator in his lifetime, let alone become his disciple.

Yu Xuan listened to the youth’s words and remained unwavering. He had said he wouldn't take a disciple, and he wasn't likely to easily backtrack. However, he then remembered the reason the youth wanted a mount, and with a sudden start, he turned his gaze toward Ye Wen.

“Hmm? Why are you looking at me?”

Ye Wen had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, surprised when the old Daoist abruptly turned his gaze onto him. After looking him up and down, the Daoist suddenly asked, “Does Daoist friend’s sect have any restrictions on accepting disciples?”

“None!” Ye Wen replied casually, instantly realizing what the old man was plotting. He probably suddenly recalled Ye Wen’s formidable strength, and since he was eager to be rid of the young man before him, and the young man’s sole desire was to find a good master, linking these factors together could solve the problem.

“That’s excellent then. I observe that Daoist friend possesses outstanding strength and surely wishes to pass on your accumulated knowledge. Although this young man is a bit long-winded, his aptitude is indeed extraordinary. Why not have Daoist friend take him as a disciple? This could fulfill the young man’s wish and yours!”

In a few sentences, he dragged Ye Wen into the situation, even mentioning Ye Wen’s wish—this truly left Ye Wen laughing and crying! The old Daoist likely didn't even know his own rank within his sect, let alone the fact that Ye Wen already had disciples covering an entire mountain. Still, the old Daoist was correct: after subtly activating his Divine Eye, Ye Wen had noted that the youth called Tuo’er had excellent bone structure, indicating extremely rare potential. If such a person were seen by the cultivation sects of the East, they would certainly scramble to recruit him. Ye Wen, too, would want to bring such a young man into his own sect, nurture him properly, and perhaps the Shu Mountain Sect would gain another master.

However…

“Does Ye have any obligation to solve Daoist friend’s problems?”

Daoist Yu Xuan chuckled: “Daoist friend should consider it an act of merit, a small favor to this humble Daoist! In the future, this Daoist will surely repay you…” This Daoist Yu Xuan truly left Ye Wen alternating between exasperation and amusement. He had been irritating when trying to snatch the Qilin, but later, when discussing matters, Ye Wen found the man wasn't a bad sort, just prone to irritating strangers in his conduct. Only after hearing about his situation with the young man did Ye Wen realize that although the old Daoist was somewhat unreliable, his actions were relatively upright; at least, repaying kindness was something he did better than many others.

“Don't let my appearance deceive you; I share a life-or-death friendship with the famous Gourd Immortal, Cui Jun. If Daoist friend can help me this one time, I can help you seek a precious treasure from the Gourd Immortal!”

Upon hearing this, Ye Wen was startled. After examining him for a long time, he asked in surprise, “Daoist master is an intimate friend of Senior Cui?”

“Indeed!” He nodded, then, seemingly realizing something, Yu Xuan looked closely at Ye Wen: “Does Daoist friend also know my old friend?”

“Senior Cui is currently a guest on our sect’s mountain, so naturally, Ye is acquainted!”

“Oh?” This statement surprised Yu Xuan in turn: “That old rogue, though usually slovenly and nonsensical when drunk, has remarkably sharp judgment. He would actually be a guest in this person’s sect? It seems this person has quite the background.”

After his surprise subsided, his tone became warmer: “I didn't realize we were all family!” Just as he was about to say a few more words, Ye Wen casually took out a strange device, put it over his eyes, fiddled with it for a moment, and then murmured as if to himself: “Senior Cui, I’ve met an acquaintance of yours today!”

Ye Wen had taken out the detector to contact Cui Jun upon hearing he knew him, wanting confirmation. If it truly was an acquaintance, Ye Wen had a few matters to ask for assistance with—and conveniently, Huang Tianhua’s corpse needed returning. He had originally planned for Black Tiger to do it, but now there seemed to be a more suitable candidate.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he mentioned Yu Xuan’s name, Cui Jun roared: “Where is that old bastard? Hand the communicator over to him!”

Although Ye Wen didn’t understand the situation, he confirmed the man knew Cui Jun and took off the detector, handing it to Yu Xuan and showing him how to wear it. As soon as he put it on, the communicator, which should only have transmitted sound to one person, suddenly erupted with a world-shaking roar that was clearly audible to the people standing nearby.

“Old bastard, give back everything you took!!”

Dazed and dizzy from the roar, Yu Xuan blinked to regain focus, then realized he was speaking to Cui Jun: “Aiyo, Old Gourd!”

“Old turtle! Don’t tell me you broke something again!” After that single exchange, Yu Xuan’s face looked very awkward. He chuckled dryly a few times, then said: “But I found a few other items; I can pay you back with those things and be done with it!”

“Bastard—!!”

Yu Xuan hastily took off the communicator and handed it back to Ye Wen, wiping sweat from his brow: “Oh my heavens, I never expected to speak with that old ghost from such a distance!” He then looked curiously at the object in Ye Wen’s hand: “Is this something that old fellow figured out recently? Quite interesting!”

Ye Wen put the detector back on and spoke a few more words with Cui Jun. They reached an agreement regarding Huang Tianhua’s corpse: Yu Xuan would take the body back to Shu Mountain and hand it over to Emperor Dongyue, Huang Feihu.

After ending the communication, Ye Wen explained the general situation to Yu Xuan, who wore a pained expression: “It seems I can’t escape this, can I?”

Ye Wen smiled: “Senior, you were going back anyway; consider it a convenient favor!” This convenient favor was naturally for the Huang family. Huang Feihu, as Emperor Dongyue, although his personal strength was limited, held significant authority. Even if he rarely managed affairs now, his influence remained. However, Yu Xuan didn't seem concerned about that; instead, he stated: “I can manage this small favor, but you must take this boy as your disciple!”

“With such excellent aptitude walking right up to my door, there’s no reason to miss it!”

After several rounds of conversation, it was confirmed that the old Daoist before him was also an ally. The subsequent conversation became much more relaxed. Yu Xuan called Tuo’er over after exchanging a few words with Ye Wen: “This old Daoist promised you a treasure as repayment before. You said you wanted a mount that could travel a thousand li a day. But since your ultimate goal is to find a good master, forget the mount for now; just accept this person as your teacher!”

Although Ye Wen hadn't made a big move just now, the young man had clearly seen the spectacle of the row of swords appearing with a wave of his hand. He knew that this person, who looked only a few years older than himself, was actually a master—and more importantly, this person seemed familiar with the Olympians? Someone who knew the gods couldn't be a second-rate figure, right?

The young man’s eyes darted around a few times, and finally, he knelt directly before Ye Wen: “Please accept me as your disciple, Senior!”

“Ah!” Ye Wen opened his mouth, but finally said: “Save the grand ceremony for now. I’ll accept you as a disciple first, and the formal initiation ceremony can wait until we return to Shu Mountain!”

“Shu Mountain?”

Yu Xuan didn't find it strange; after all, every sect in the Immortal Realm was established on some peak, and given the vastness of the Immortal Realm, no one knew how many mountains there were, nor could they possibly memorize all their names. Unexpectedly, the young man was greatly surprised. He scrutinized Ye Wen from head to toe, then frowned as if thinking hard about something, his gaze toward Ye Wen carrying a hint of strangeness.

Ye Wen had long noticed the young man’s peculiarities but pretended not to see them, calmly asking the young man a few questions to understand his situation. What he learned only deepened the doubts in Ye Wen’s heart.

The youth claimed he didn't know who he was or have any past memories. The moment he opened his eyes, he was standing in a stretch of ice and snow, surviving only because someone rescued him. The name Tuo’er was given to him by that rescuer—though his original name wasn't Tuo’er, but Thor!