But his master, Lin Mo, was still hidden among the crowd.
"Damn... I have to get back now. He can't find out I came here... damn it!"
Without another thought, Lin Mo turned and hurried toward the forest.
Every step sent waves of pain through his body. His meridians burned, his ribs ached as though they had been shattered, and even breathing felt difficult.
Yet he didn't slow down.
Instead, he gritted his teeth and forced his exhausted body forward.
I have to get there before he does...
The elder who had presided over the tournament was also preparing to leave when the communication talisman hanging from his waist suddenly lit up.
"But he is only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Isn't it inappropriate to secretly follow him? According to our family's rules—"
Before he could finish, a deep, authoritative voice interrupted him through the talisman.
"I said, follow him."
"I want to know who his master is."
"At the very moment that boy's life was in danger, his sword moved on its own and saved him. It was definitely not a magical sword."
"Which means... someone intervened."
"Impossible!" the elder blurted out without hesitation.
Even Golden Core cultivators were incapable of controlling an ordinary sword from such a distance. As for a magical sword...
There was no way a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Lin Yu could possess such a treasure.
Still, an order from the higher-ups was not something he could question.
He immediately called over two members of the Huo Family.
"You two. Follow him from a distance. Do not let him notice your presence."
"Yes, Elder."
The two cultivators, one at the Third Stage and the other at the Second Stage of Foundation Establishment, quietly disappeared into the crowd.
Like shadows, they tailed Lin Yu into the forest without making the slightest sound.
Since Lin Yu had only recently entered the Early Foundation Establishment Realm, he failed to notice that he was being followed.
A short while later...
He arrived at a simple wooden house standing quietly in the heart of the forest.
As Lin Yu stepped into the wooden house, he respectfully bowed.
"Master, your disciple has returned."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I lived up to Master's expectations and won the Huo Family's tournament."
Taking out a finely crafted wooden box, he held it out with both hands.
"Master, I personally present this hundred-year-old ginseng to you."
Sitting calmly on a worn wooden chair was a tall man with black hair and dark eyes. His appearance was ordinary, especially when compared to Lin Yu's handsome features.
He was none other than Lin Mo.
Lin Mo glanced at the wooden box before calmly shaking his head.
"You did well, Lin Yu."
"But keep the ginseng. You'll need it more than I do."
"But, Master..." Lin Yu frowned, unwilling to take it back. "You're injured. You should use the ginseng to recover."
Lin Mo's expression remained unchanged.
"Enough."
"You don't need to worry about me."
Damn it...
I barely made it back in time. Just a few more seconds and everything would've been exposed.
Keeping those thoughts buried deep inside, Lin Mo maintained the calm expression of an unfathomable master.
Lin Yu hesitated for a moment.
It looked as though he wanted to ask something but couldn't bring himself to speak.
Seeing the hesitation in his disciple's eyes, Lin Mo already knew what was on his mind.
"What is it?" he asked calmly, looking at Lin Yu.
"Master... back in the arena, I encountered a sneak attack. For a moment, I truly thought I was going to be seriously injured."
As he recalled the scene, a trace of fear lingered in Lin Yu's eyes.
"Then?" Lin Mo asked calmly.
"I pushed my spiritual energy to its limit and tried to move my sword. But... I wasn't even sure I could block the attack."
Lin Yu paused for a moment before continuing.
"Then I felt it..."
"A strange force guided my sword."
"It was as if an invisible hand had taken control of it at the last moment and saved my life."
As he spoke, Lin Yu slowly raised his head and looked straight at his master.
"Master..."
"There is only one person capable of such a thing."
"Was it... the Flying Sword Technique you've always spoken about?"
Although it sounded like a question...
His eyes already held the answer.
"Yes."
Lin Mo answered without the slightest hesitation.
I have to keep up the act...
He remained seated calmly, as though such a feat was nothing worth mentioning.
"I sensed that your life was in danger, so I gave you a little help."
"It is only natural."
"You are my disciple."
"As long as you are under my care, I will not allow anyone to harm you."
Lin Yu's heart trembled upon hearing those words.
He lowered his head respectfully.
"Thank you, Master."
Lin Mo simply nodded, maintaining the dignified bearing of an unfathomable expert.
That should be enough...
Too much bragging will only make it sound suspicious.
Besides... revealing everything at once would spoil the fun.
Lin Yu was still unable to calm his heart.
His master had sensed that he was in mortal danger...
...from kilometers away.
Not only that, he had even controlled his sword and saved him in the nick of time.
Master... is truly remarkable.
A trace of guilt surfaced in Lin Yu's eyes.
I hope it didn't worsen Master's injuries...
Master's meridians are already damaged. He shouldn't have to burden himself because of me.
Quietly, Lin Yu looked toward Lin Mo.
His master sat there with a calm and composed expression, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
There wasn't the slightest trace of pain on his face.
Seeing that, the worry in Lin Yu's heart gradually faded.
As expected of Master...
At that moment, a translucent blue screen suddenly appeared before Lin Mo's eyes.
This damn system...
Is it trying to annoy me again?
He glanced at it impatiently.
However, the words displayed on the screen caused his expression to freeze for a brief moment.
[Side Quest Detected]
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed.
A side quest...?
It's been a hundred years since this broken system gave me one...
His curiosity quickly turned into bewilderment as he read the quest.
Choose one of the following:
1. Kill the Huo Family cultivators waiting outside your house.
Reward: Unknown.
2. Scare away the Huo Family cultivators waiting outside your house.
Reward: Unknown.
Lin Mo blinked.
"...Huh?"
His relaxed expression instantly disappeared.
Wait...
There are people outside my house?