Ye Renxin opened his hand. In his palm rested a mass of dark red energy, like a flame frozen solid, or a drop of concentrated blood.
"Brother Dugu, take a look. What is this?"
Dugu Bo leaned closer, his brows knotting as he stared at the energy for a long while.
"I don't know either, but I suspect it has something to do with the young master."
Ye Renxin paused, his frown deepening.
"Why do you say that?"
Ah Yin stood nearby, her gaze also fixed on the energy. After a long silence, she spoke.
"When our benefactor left, he warned Ah Rou and me not to trust anyone surnamed Tang, Ning, or Yu."
Ye Renxin's expression changed at once. Shock filled his eyes.
"The Upper Three Sects?"
Ah Yin nodded.
"I believe so."
Ye Renxin drew a sharp breath and looked back at the energy in his palm.
He might not have been a combat-type Soul Master, but he had lived nearly a hundred years. He knew the Soul Master World as well as anyone.
The Upper Three Sects were the three foremost sects in the Soul Master World: the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
And the young master had told Ah Yin to be wary of their people?
How deep did that grudge run?
Dugu Bo patted him on the shoulder, his voice carrying unshakable certainty.
"Enough worrying. Once the young master returns, one herb will be enough to lift your Nine-Heart Begonia curse for good. And if those herbs don't work, he'll have another way."
Ye Renxin nodded. The Nine-Heart Begonia curse was the only reason he had agreed to help Dugu Bo set up that academy.
Otherwise, wouldn't it have been nicer for an old