"Senior Brother Mo."
Hong Tianbao stepped forward and turned to introduce the man to Li Xiang, Ye Qingyao, and Qin Zhong. "This is Mo Wen, Seventh Elder of the Five Sacred Mountains Sword Alliance and head of the Hengshan Sword Sect. He's also my senior brother, which makes him your martial uncle."
At that introduction, everything became clear to Li Xiang.
"Martial Uncle Mo." Li Xiang cupped his fists without hesitation, his manner neither humble nor arrogant.
Beside him, Ye Qingyao and Qin Zhong immediately dropped their casual manner and cupped their fists together. "Greetings, Martial Uncle Mo."
Mo Wen's sword-sharp gaze swept over the three of them. Those greetings did nothing to soften his stern face. If anything, they brought out an aloofness that kept others a thousand miles away.
"I wouldn't presume to be the Divine Dragon's foremost disciple's senior brother. I'm not worthy of the title."
Mo Wen looked back at Hong Tianbao. His voice carried emotions buried for years—something like resentment, yet also something like a man who had long since seen through it all.
"They're good children. In the end, the great banner of the future will fall to this younger generation to carry."
At those words, the stone hanging over Li Xiang's heart quietly dropped.
Mo Wen's words made it clear that he bore them no ill will, much less that he had come looking for trouble.
And yet... Li Xiang's gaze flicked discreetly between Hong Tianbao and Mo Wen. There was an unusual tension in the air.
Thinking of his master's illustrious history of roaming among the Eight Gates Association and other factions to steal their teachings, he pieced together a story that was probably close to the truth.
*Looks like Master didn't just steal teachings from the Eight Gates Association. He went