He stood quietly in a corner of this "universe," which had once again returned to its original state. Black robes and a hood concealed him from head to toe, as though they wrapped him in deep silence and nothingness.
He was like a statue forgotten by time.
But Yu Lian's greeting finally caused a subtle ripple in the stillness, as deep and dark as a black hole. Beneath his black robes, he tilted his head slightly. It was as though the light of this data universe had reached his face for the first time. At last, his features came into view: those of an utterly ordinary middle-aged man.
It really was him.
Yu Lian felt an odd sense of familiarity. "Please forgive my rudeness, Your Eminence Norddos. I truly didn't want to greet you with a sneak attack. Believe me, whatever happens next won't diminish my respect for you."
The man smiled. "What hypocritical pleasantries. We've never met. What is there to greet me for?"
It was a very genial smile, warm and tinged with humility and ingratiation. It could have belonged to an office worker, a civil servant, even a senior official in the Privy Council—but it was exactly the sort of smile one wouldn't expect from a powerful psionic.
Yu Lian said solemnly, "I've heard of your great reputation from my master."
He didn't look convinced in the slightest. "A lie. I've never fought Lan. With my abilities, if he came within a hundred light-years of me, my foresight would never fail to detect him. He'd have to flee in advance."
He sounded rather proud of himself.
"Unless the Revered One admired my ability to foresee danger and run away," he added with a sigh. "But that doesn't make sense either. I didn't even notice you. My foresight