Chapter 410: Meeting Bing Lao Again, The Swordsmith Master
Mo Yu's sudden call caught everyone by surprise. He recognized Lan Yingying?
At the entrance of the Alliance of Artificers' headquarters, many passersby stopped in their tracks, curious about what was happening. Lan Yingying, being not only a member of the Alliance but also a disciple of Bing Lao, one of the five great elders, was also incredibly popular in Ten Thousand Weapons City. Her reputation was on par with that of Lü Qing'er, whom the crowd had seen earlier.
Because of her beauty and standing, anything related to Lan Yingying immediately attracted attention.
"You are?" Lan Yingying stopped in her tracks when she heard someone calling her name. She turned around, her beautiful eyes showing a trace of confusion as she didn't recognize the person.
As a skilled artificer, Lan Yingying had an excellent memory, but the face before her stirred no recollection at all. Even though the person was unfamiliar and radiated a cold aura, for some reason, Lan Yingying felt an odd sense of familiarity.
"Hehe, Miss Lan Yingying, I am Xiao Huohuo. We met once before. I wonder if you remember?" Mo Yu smiled faintly as he spoke.
"Xiao Huohuo?" Lan Yingying blinked, her confusion deepening. She clearly had no recollection of this name. However, it did remind her of someone—Xiao Yan, Mo Yu's cousin.
As this thought crossed her mind, Lan Yingying looked more closely at Mo Yu. Could this person be related to the Xiao clan?
Just as her mind was racing, she heard a familiar voice in her ear through a sound transmission: "Senior Sister Lan, it's me."
"Mo…" Lan Yingying's expression changed immediately upon hearing that voice. She almost blurted out Mo Yu's name but quickly realized this was not a safe place. Considering the current bounty from the Myriad Sword Pavilion and the Swordsmith Master, it was clear that Mo Yu was hiding his identity.
Understanding the situation, Lan Yingying calmed herself and, after taking another look at Mo Yu, gave a sudden smile of realization.
"Oh, now I remember! You're Xiao Huohuo, the nephew of my father's close friend. I didn't expect you to come all the way to Ten Thousand Weapons City. I must show you some hospitality."
With that, she waved to the guards, signaling them to let Mo Yu in, and took his hand to lead him through the entrance.
Seeing this, the guards exchanged glances but didn't interfere. Given Lan Yingying's high standing within the Alliance, there was no reason for them to stop her from bringing a friend inside.
As Mo Yu entered with Lan Yingying, the onlookers quickly dispersed. No one questioned his identity—after all, he was introduced as Xiao Huohuo, a cold-looking young man. Satisfied with a quick glance, they moved on with their day.
…
"Hehe, Xiao Huohuo, I didn't expect to see you here. I assume you've come for the Artificers' Tournament?" Lan Yingying asked casually as they walked down the corridor of the Alliance headquarters. Deep down, she was thrilled to see Mo Yu again.
Since Mo Yu had fled Xihuang City and was being hunted by the Myriad Sword Pavilion and the Swordsmith Master, the entire Lan family had been worried about his safety. After all, Mo Yu had only gotten into this situation because of his efforts to help the Lan family, and for that, they were deeply indebted to him.
However, since his pursuers were powerful figures—one from the Four Great Pavilions and an eight-star artificer, even if the Lan family wanted to help, they had no means to do so. They had been relieved when they heard Mo Yu had found refuge with the Golden Stallion Clan after becoming their son-in-law. The power of the Golden Stallion Clan was such that even the Myriad Sword Pavilion had to think twice before acting. With this news, Lan Yingying and her sister, Lan Bingbing, had finally been able to rest easy.
But now, seeing Mo Yu had left the safety of the Golden Stallion Clan to come to Ten Thousand Weapons City, Lan Yingying could easily guess that he had done so for the Artificers' Tournament.
She couldn't help but feel worried. After all, this was the headquarters of the Alliance of Artificers, and the Swordsmith Master resided here. If Mo Yu were discovered, her teacher, Bing Lao, might be able to protect him, but if the Myriad Sword Pavilion got involved, things could get very dangerous.
However, Mo Yu had clearly considered all this, and he had disguised himself using the Thousand Faces Mask to change his appearance and aura. Lan Yingying was amazed at how convincing the disguise was—it had even fooled her for a moment. Perhaps it would be enough to deceive the Swordsmith Master as well.
To maintain Mo Yu's cover and avoid suspicion, she continued to refer to him as "Xiao Huohuo."
"Yeah, I heard the rewards for the tournament are excellent, so I thought I'd give it a shot," Mo Yu replied with a small smile.
Although he had changed his appearance, Lan Yingying could still sense his usual confidence in his words. Reflecting on Mo Yu's incredible rise over time, she couldn't help but wonder to herself: Could Mo Yu really have a shot at winning the tournament?
Shaking off her thoughts, Lan Yingying led Mo Yu through a few more turns before they arrived at a grand office.
Seeing the lavishly furnished office, Mo Yu raised an eyebrow—this must be Bing Lao's office.
Lan Yingying, sensing Mo Yu's thoughts, knocked on the door and said with a smile, "Teacher, your disciple has come."
"Hehe, come in," came an elderly, cheerful voice from within.
Lan Yingying smiled, pushing open the door and leading Mo Yu inside.
Upon entering, Mo Yu saw two figures. The one on the left was an elderly man with a kind face and an aura that felt deep and powerful. Mo Yu immediately recognized him as Bing Lao, whom he had briefly met back in the Mulan Empire.
However, Mo Yu's current strength far surpassed what it had been back then, and as he assessed Bing Lao again, he realized something—Bing Lao was a Dou Zun!
This revelation surprised Mo Yu slightly, but he quickly understood. After all, Bing Lao was one of the leaders of the Alliance of Artificers and a top-tier artificer on the continent, so his strength wasn't all that surprising.
The second person in the room was a middle-aged man with a solid, square face. The badge on his chest marked him as a six-star artificer.
Recognizing him as Lan Yingying's senior brother, Feng Mu, Mo Yu greeted him with a polite smile.
While Mo Yu was observing the two men, Bing Lao and Feng Mu were also examining him. Though curious about the stranger Lan Yingying had brought, they didn't show any hostility.
Mo Yu smiled faintly, deciding not to drag things out. With a swipe of his hand over his face, he removed his disguise and revealed his true identity, smiling at the old man in front of him. "Elder Bing, it's been a long time. Do you remember the young man you met in the Mulan Empire?"
"The Mulan Empire?" Bing Lao murmured, his eyes showing a trace of nostalgia. It seemed that Mo Yu's words had stirred memories of his travels across the continent.
As Bing Lao took a closer look at the handsome young man in front of him, his eyes suddenly brightened. "You are…" he began, but then stopped, as if considering something.
The next moment, a small, glowing green orb appeared in Bing Lao's hand. With a quick infusion of Dou Qi, the orb released a strange green light that spread like a cage, enclosing the entire office.
"Hehe, this is the 'Spirit-Sealing Pearl,' a seven-star artifact I crafted recently. It isolates the space within it, preventing anyone from spying on us. Even a Dou Zun wouldn't be able to break through it without using Dou Qi."
Having explained the artifact, Bing Lao turned his gaze back to Mo Yu, smiling as he studied him. "I didn't expect the young man I met by chance in the Mulan Empire to be standing before me again here. Hehe, I must say, I wasn't wrong back then—you really are extraordinary. I've heard quite a bit about you from Yingying. To think you've made it all the way from the northwestern continent to the Central Plains on your own—what incredible talent."
Meanwhile, Feng Mu, the square-faced man, was also looking at Mo Yu in surprise. He had realized that this mysterious young man was none other than Mo Yu, the junior disciple Lan Yingying had often spoken of after returning from the northwestern continent.
Feng Mu was puzzled, though—wasn't Mo Yu being hunted by the Myriad Sword Pavilion and the Swordsmith Master? How did he dare come to Ten Thousand Weapons City, of all places? The Swordsmith Master might be just around the corner.
"It's been a while, Elder Bing. You seem as energetic as ever. I owe my connection to the Alliance of Artificers to the introduction letter you gave me back then," Mo Yu said, bowing respectfully.
Glancing at the Spirit-Sealing Pearl, Mo Yu nodded in approval. Bing Lao had been thoughtful in his precautions.
"Hehe, you don't need to thank me—it was your own abilities that brought you here. I didn't do much," Bing Lao waved his hand dismissively, then asked, "But Ten Thousand Weapons City isn't exactly a safe place for you. What brings you here?"
"Teacher, Little Brother Mo Yu has come to participate in the Artificers' Tournament," Lan Yingying interjected with a laugh before Mo Yu could respond. "I just ran into him at the entrance. He even disguised himself to avoid being recognized. I believe with his talent, he'll shine brightly in the tournament."
Bing Lao raised an eyebrow, recalling Mo Yu's disguise. He nodded approvingly. "That technique of yours is quite impressive. Without special detection methods, even I wouldn't have been able to see through it immediately. From what Yingying tells me, you've already crafted a six-star artifact, which means you're at least a six-star artificer. That qualifies you for the tournament. The registration period ended a few days ago, but as an elder of the Alliance, I can make sure your name is added to the list."
Mo Yu sighed in relief. He hadn't been sure if his Thousand Faces Mask would fool the Swordsmith Master, but hearing Bing Lao say it was hard to detect gave him confidence. It seemed likely that he could indeed avoid the Swordsmith Master's notice.
As for Bing Lao's assumption that Mo Yu was a six-star artificer, Mo Yu neither confirmed nor denied it. He knew his skills in artificing were unmatched across the continent.
"Thank you, Elder Bing," Mo Yu said gratefully.
"Hehe, no need to be so polite. Besides our brief encounter in the Mulan Empire, you helped the Lan family win their competition and ended up being hunted by the Myriad Sword Pavilion and the Swordsmith Master because of it. That means I owe you a favor. Adding your name to the list is the least I can do. If you ever find yourself in trouble, don't hesitate to come to me. Yingying thinks of you as her junior brother, and though I haven't personally taught you, consider me a half-teacher."
Mo Yu was surprised but smiled and nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Elder Bing."
Standing beside them, Feng Mu rubbed his head and smiled at Mo Yu. "You're so young and already a six-star artificer. That's truly impressive."
Mo Yu chuckled modestly and shook his head. "I've just been lucky. Senior Sister Lan speaks highly of you, Senior Brother Feng. Please, just call me by my name."
Feng Mu laughed and nodded. "Alright, Little Brother Mo Yu, let's work together more in the future."
Mo Yu agreed, and as the group chatted, the Spirit-Sealing Pearl above them suddenly flashed red, drawing their attention.
"Someone is trying to spy on us. Hmph, it's probably that old Swordsmith," Bing Lao muttered, frowning as he put the Spirit-Sealing Pearl away.
As he did, a cold, emotionless voice sounded from outside. "Bing Li, I've heard you have a guest. Mind if I meet him?"
Hearing this ominous voice, Mo Yu felt a sense of unease. He quickly wiped his face, activating the Thousand Faces Mask to revert to his disguised appearance.
Just as Mo Yu finished, the door swung open, and two figures stepped in.
The first was a young man Mo Yu recognized instantly—Bei Hao.
In front of Bei Hao was an elderly man in a purple robe. Though the old man's face was lined with deep wrinkles, giving him a frail appearance, the aura of danger he exuded was unmistakable, on par with Bing Lao's.
"The Swordsmith Master!" Mo Yu thought grimly.
(End of Chapter)
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