A Visitor Arrives

Lying in the courtyard, he forced himself not to think about anything related to Calculation Skills for the time being.

Bai Ye closed his eyes to rest, emptying his mind as someone pressed him into a chair and made him listen to the sound of Spirit Heart Water dripping, nurturing his mind.

Ever since Bai Ye moved into Ling Xi's Small Courtyard, he had brought in everything he had used before.

That naturally included the Spirit Heart Water that Ying Longcheng had gone to great lengths to gather from all over the Eastern Dragon Realm.

Ling Xi seemed especially interested in this Spirit Object. Basically every day, she would force Bai Ye to listen to its sound for a while.

Perhaps thanks to that, Bai Ye felt his emotions becoming increasingly calm lately, while his mental state gradually improved by quite a lot.

At the very least, during his battle with Xu Huang, he had not lost his head.

Or, as others would call it, gone mad.

For now, his condition had improved considerably.

Back when he was in Ying Longcheng, he had only used this thing afterward to clean up the aftermath.

He had never expected it to work so well when treated as a course of therapy.

Still, although he liked listening to that "ding-dong, ding-dong" sound, no matter how much he liked it, hearing too much of it was bound to become bothersome.

He slowly opened his eyes and saw Ling Xi beside him, flipping through the Spirit Array Diagram.

"Is it really that hard to trace the origins of this spirit array?"

He felt that he had asked a pointless question. Ling Xi had been searching for so many days without finding anything—how could it possibly be easy to trace?

"Actually, I've always wanted to ask." Hearing his voice, Ling Xi looked up at the Spirit Heart Water, which had all dripped into the pool, before continuing in satisfaction.

"Where did you get this Spirit Array Diagram?"

"You know Chilling Cold Lake, right?"

Bai Ye turned over on the recliner and lay on his stomach, facing Ling Xi as he spoke.

"I do."

"At the bottom of that lake, there are a whole bunch of spirit arrays like this."

"A whole bunch?"

"Mm. A whole bunch."

Ling Xi's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

This kind of spirit array was extraordinarily ancient, and the Spiritual Seals used to construct it were immensely complicated.

Chilling Cold Lake had not existed for very long, so how could something like this exist at its bottom?

"The Cold Pool?"

"You think so too?"

As expected, Ling Xi could see the key to it all.

Back at the bottom of the lake, Bai Ye had felt that the spirit arrays all converged toward the upstream direction.

And what was upstream?

A mysterious place that had sent the two strongest forces on the Bei Cang Continent back in defeat.

That Cold Pool of unknown origin.

If those two matters were not connected, Bai Ye would refuse to believe it even if beaten to death.

"It's very dangerous."

"I'm not someone who overestimates himself. Even Northern Azure Spiritual Academy and Dragon Demon Palace nearly suffered there. I'm not going to join in the excitement."

Ling Xi watched him for a long while. Only after confirming that he was not lying did she withdraw her gaze.

Though he did sometimes do dangerous things, he could not be called someone who overestimated himself.

The fact that Bai Ye had lived safely until now was the best proof.

He knew his limits.

Ever since he was little, this fellow had always been someone who worried people, yet never worried them too much.

Knock, knock.

Just then, a light knock sounded from outside the door, interrupting their conversation.

Generally speaking, few people came to Ling Xi's place. Bai Ye had been here for so long, yet he had never seen a single visitor.

For someone to actually come calling now was rather unusual.

"Young Master, you have visitors."

"..."

Fine, they had come for him. He had been presumptuous.

Rising from his chair, Bai Ye instinctively looked toward Ling Xi, who was seated nearby.

Over the past few days, she had made him undergo mental recuperation and arranged an excessive amount of time for his injuries to heal. Would leaving now disrupt her schedule?

Sensing Bai Ye's gaze, Ling Xi did not look up. She merely set down the ancient book in her hand and waved her arm. A small white porcelain bottle appeared on the table before Bai Ye.

"Take your medicine."

Fine. He knew it.

He stored the porcelain bottle in his Mustard Seed Bracelet and smiled at Ling Xi.

"Then I'm heading out."

I'm heading out. What warm words those were.

Ling Xi said nothing, merely nodding.

Bai Ye turned and left, walking outside.

Where he could not see, the corners of Ling Xi's lips curled up slightly in a smile that was somewhat heartwarming.

After leaving the Small Courtyard, he saw Yan Meng standing there respectfully, waiting for him.

When she saw Bai Ye emerge, she raised her head and said softly, "The visitors are the two presidents of the Twin Forest Society."

Twin Forest Society?

One of the so-called Seven Great Heavens of Northern Azure Spiritual Academy, right?

He seemed to remember knowing someone from the Twin Forest Society.

Oh, right. He remembered now.

"Did they come to hold me accountable?"

That seemed to be his only connection with the Twin Forest Society.

"Probably not."

Though Yan Meng did not know why Bai Ye asked that, she continued answering.

"Their mental fluctuations are very friendly. They have no intention of causing conflict."

Very friendly?

If they were not here to hold him accountable, then they must want something from him?

Were they more people here to invite him into a society?

Forget it. He would find out when he saw them.

"Where are they?"

"In the pavilion where I live."

Yan Meng hesitated for a moment.

"However, there are not only two of them. It seems there is also a girl who knows you."

Knows me?

A girl?

Who?

"Yo, junior. Long time no see."

Only when Bai Ye arrived at Yan Meng's pavilion did he learn who this girl that knew him was.

Come to think of it, among all the Senior Students of Northern Azure Spiritual Academy he had met, aside from Yu Wenlou of the Great Wilderness Society, this girl was the most decisive one he had encountered.

Xue Li. If he remembered correctly, that was her name.

A girl whose arm he had torn off in battle, yet who had still invited him to join the Twin Forest Society with enough goodwill.

"Long time no see, Senior Sister."

Bai Ye smiled slightly at her and replied politely.

This left Xue Li somewhat stunned. After all, in her impression, Bai Ye did not seem to have this kind of personality.

How should she put it? He ought to have been a little more unpleasant, shouldn't he?

Such a polite greeting caught her a little off guard.

After returning Xue Li's greeting, Bai Ye looked at the man and woman seated in the hall.

The man was rather handsome, with a smile at the corners of his lips and a touch of frivolity—or perhaps arrogance—about him. He seemed high-spirited and proud.

The woman, meanwhile, had delicate features and a gentle temperament. She looked like someone with a very mild personality.

At first glance, the two sitting there gave one the impression of, Oh, these are a pair of siblings.

The two presidents of the Twin Forest Society, both among the top five of the Heaven Ranking.

Third on the Heaven Ranking, Lin Yu.

Fifth on the Heaven Ranking, Lin Qi.

"Freshman, this is the first time I've seen you this close."

Lin Qi sat in his chair, a teasing smile on his face.

"You don't seem like much."

At those words, the smile on Bai Ye's face did not change. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not respond.

It was not that he did not care about provocation. Rather, he trusted Yan Meng's judgment.

Since Yan Meng had said those who came meant him no harm, there was bound to be more to it.

Sure enough, only seconds after Lin Qi spoke, a hand slapped heavily against the back of his head.

"Shut up. Apologize."

"Big Sis~"

"Apologize."

Lin Yu's voice was gentle, yet incomparably firm.

Seeing Lin Qi, who had looked so high-spirited just moments ago, already puffing out his cheeks, Bai Ye understood the usual dynamic between these siblings.

Still, no matter how ordinary such an interaction was for them, they would not possibly display it so openly before an outsider like him.

They were acting so intimate. They probably had something they wanted to ask of him.

"Hello, junior. I'm Lin Yu."

After Lin Qi fell silent, Lin Yu took the initiative to speak to Bai Ye.

"I heard Xiaoli mention you before. Later, on the night at the Great Wilderness Society, Xiaoqi and I were there as well. You could say we've met before."

Many Senior Students near the top of the Heaven Ranking had come that night, so Bai Ye did have some impression of Lin Yu and Lin Qi.

Hearing Lin Yu take the initiative to speak, Bai Ye did not reply. He simply stood there with a smile, waiting for what Lin Yu would say next.

The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

Lin Yu was waiting for Bai Ye's response, but Bai Ye had no intention of speaking.

For a moment, no one said anything.

However, that awkward atmosphere did not last long.

After a brief silence, Lin Yu calmly raised her head.

"It seems Junior Brother has guessed why we came today."

"You made it so obvious, Senior Sister. Didn't you want me to guess?"

"Hmph, true enough."

Lin Yu smiled at Bai Ye's response.

"After all, it's easier to discuss things once we lay them out in the open."

Bai Ye walked straight into the hall and casually found a chair to sit in. Yan Meng followed behind him, and once he sat down, she stood behind him without uttering a word.

Yet beneath that cloak, her large purple eyes gleamed faintly as she observed the mental fluctuations of the three people opposite her.

Just as she wished to probe deeper, Bai Ye's fingers moved almost imperceptibly.

Her movements stopped abruptly, and she withdrew the probing mental energy she had released.

At that exact moment, Lin Yu's gaze shifted over as well. She discreetly studied Yan Meng beneath the cloak, though it was unclear whether she had noticed something or simply instinctively felt that something was off.

"Let's get straight to the point, Senior Sister. What is it?"

Bai Ye spoke at just the right moment, interrupting Lin Yu's scrutiny and drawing her gaze back to him.

Lin Yu folded her hands before her, smiling. "We came this time simply to ask Junior Brother for a favor."

Bai Ye raised an eyebrow.

A favor?

Most of the top five on the Heaven Ranking had already reached the Heaven Transforming Realm Middle Stage. Even Bai Ye had not reached that level of strength yet.

What could he possibly help these two with?

Then Lin Yu continued.

"Junior Brother Bai, are you interested in bounty missions?"

Bounty missions meant hunting down the names on the Bounty Rankings.

Bai Ye had personally removed four people from the Bounty Rankings before.

But for people like the Twin Forest Society to come in person, that person's identity was probably not simple, was it?

"Which one?"

Lin Yu raised her hand.

"Number five."

Fifth place?

"Bone God Hall, Bai Jingliu?"

"It seems Junior Brother Bai Ye has been paying close attention to the Bounty Rankings too. I suppose I didn't come here for nothing this time."

Lin Yu simply watched Bai Ye.

Although there was no change in Bai Ye's expression, Lin Yu could sense that, in that instant, a divine gleam seemed to flash through his eyes.

"May I ask a question?"

After a few seconds, Bai Ye suppressed the emotions in his heart and looked up at Lin Yu.

"Go ahead."

"Why did you come to me?"

For something like this, even if they were looking to recruit someone, they should have sought out the others in the top ten of the Heaven Ranking, not a freshman like him who had yet to reach the Heaven Transforming Realm.

"Heh, do you think we wanted to come find you?"

At that moment, Lin Qi, who had been silent for half the day, spoke up again. This time, however, Lin Yu did not stop him and instead allowed him to continue.

"You still owe me an apology."

Bai Ye spoke calmly, cutting off whatever Lin Qi had been about to say.

Seeing someone act so arrogantly in front of him, he suddenly did not feel like listening to him anymore.

Lin Qi choked on his words. Lin Yu had been the one to make him apologize earlier. While there had been quite a bit of acting involved, it was not something they could say outright.

But did he really have to apologize?

Forget it. Impossible.

With that thought, he coughed lightly, and his tone immediately became more even.

"Ahem, well, what I mean is, of course we have a reason for coming to find you."

This time, Bai Ye did not interrupt him again.

It was good that he had finally learned to listen.

Seeing that Bai Ye did not interrupt again, Lin Qi continued, "Although Bai Jingliu is currently only ranked fifth on the Bounty Rankings, his strength is far from weak. But if it were merely a matter of strength, we would not have come to ask for your help like this. Even without Elder Sister, I alone... Alright, alright, I'll speak properly."

Noticing Lin Yu's gaze, Lin Qi hurriedly stopped what he had been about to say.

"It's just that this man's concealment techniques are too good. After so many years on the rankings, no matter how thoroughly the Punishment Hall investigates, all we currently know is his name, Bai Jingliu, and that he comes from the Bone God Hall. We know nothing else. Even trying to track down his whereabouts has been difficult."

So what?

What did that have to do with him?

Just as Bai Ye was feeling puzzled, Lin Qi spoke again.

"However, we know something that no one else does. Bai Jingliu has quite a lot of Northern Azure Spiritual Academy students' blood on his hands. Yet because he is excessively cautious, even when hunting Northern Azure Spiritual Academy students, he never targets those who have reached the Heaven Transforming Realm. According to the records, the highest-level Northern Azure Spiritual Academy student he has ever killed was only at the Heaven Merging Realm Late Stage."

"His concealment methods are so good that even Punishment Hall squads cannot find his trail. But knowing that, we came up with a method."

Tsk.

Hearing this, Bai Ye finally understood why these people had come looking for him.

Excellent concealment methods, and he only hunted those below the Heaven Transforming Realm.

Wasn't their purpose written all over their faces already?

"Fishing."

"Smart."

Smart my ass. Anyone could figure something like this out.

Yet this guy had insisted on waiting for him to say it first. It seemed he was not an idiot after all.

"In truth, we have been planning this for a long time."

Lin Yu spoke. At that moment, her voice became incomparably serious.

"But before this, we had never found a suitable candidate. If we casually chose a Heaven Merging Realm student, the risk would be far too great, and we could not bear the consequences. We had almost decided to abandon this plan, but then we saw you at the Great Wilderness Society, and the idea resurfaced."

A Heaven Merging Realm cultivator capable of standing against Xu Huang, and one who could climb into the top twenty of the Heaven Ranking.

He was simply perfect.

"I know that treating you as bait may be disrespectful, and that this position carries immense danger. I cannot be completely certain that I can keep you safe."

"But I sincerely ask that you help us."

Lin Yu raised her head, and there was not a trace of distraction in her clear eyes.

"For this, we can pay any price. If you lose your life because of this plan, I will pay you with mine. I will accompany you to Yellow Springs."

Bai Ye could see two blazing flames burning in the depths of those crystal-clear eyes.

He had never experienced such flames before, but whether through words and teachings or the bones of those who had come before, it felt as though he had seen them somewhere.

This was hatred. This was the fire of vengeance.

Faced with such fiercely burning flames, flames that had staked everything upon themselves, Bai Ye felt that he ought to give an answer.

An answer that would satisfy everyone.

"I agree."

His gaze was equally fiery as it met Lin Yu's beautiful eyes.

"Let's hunt him down. Let's stake all our lives on it."

He had never been bait before.

But just thinking about it—

It was simply too exciting.

Hey, isn't this fun?

Damn, I'm getting excited.