Proud Nalan Jie

"Old Hai, please explain in detail. We're all completely in the dark right now. Also, since you didn't run into danger, why have you ended up like this?" Teng Shan took over and asked.

Although today had been a misunderstanding, with the Mitre Auction House's resources, paying the few people beside him would not hurt them badly. At most, it would sting a little.

Compared to that, Teng Shan cared far more about Hai Bo Dong's condition.

No matter how one explained it, it was a fact that something had gone wrong with Hai Bo Dong's body.

And as the Grand Elder of the Mite'er Family, he and the family rose and fell together.

Hai Bo Dong swept his gaze around everyone present, then gave a slight nod.

Since he had contacted Teng Shan, he had already prepared himself to step back into the public eye.

The people before him did not have deep entanglements with the Mite'er Family. That included Yun Yun, who was the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect.

In the entire Jia Ma Empire, only the imperial family maintained a seemingly good relationship with the Mite'er Family while secretly being extremely wary of them. If they learned of his news, they might make some moves in the shadows.

Nalan Jie did hold the title of Empire Lionheart Marshal on the surface, but Hai Bo Dong understood him very well.

He and the imperial family were not entirely of one mind.

And that was indeed the case. Otherwise, in the original course of events, Nalan Yanran would not have joined the Misty Cloud Sect.

At that thought, Hai Bo Dong suddenly felt that it would not be bad to get a little closer to Yun Yun.

"These two matters are actually one and the same."

"Back then, I left the family and traveled the land. When I arrived at this Tagor Desert, by a twist of fate, I ruined an opportunity of Medusa Queen's, enraging her into attacking."

"Although I had already made a name for myself throughout Jia Ma by then, compared with this Medusa Queen, I was still no match for her. After exchanging over a thousand moves with her, I was ultimately defeated and struck by her Serpent Sealing Curse. From then on, my strength began to continuously regress."

Hai Bo Dong was ninety-eight percent honest, only polishing a few minor details.

For example, by ruining Medusa Queen's opportunity, he was referring to the Fragment Map in his possession. That opportunity had already been obtained by him.

Unfortunately, he had paid an enormous price, yet it had been damn useless.

Another example was the process of fighting Medusa Queen—whether he had only lost after over a thousand moves, or had been chased around like a dog from start to finish, only he himself knew.

"After luckily escaping back then, I also did not want to return and draw too much attention from the imperial family, so I concealed my identity and hid in this Mo City until now."

"Just a few days ago, a young man with the Ice Attribute came to my shop. His talent was decent, and his temperament was excellent. What surprised me even more was that from a few tiny details, he actually deduced my identity."

"I admired that boy greatly, so I proposed taking him as my disciple. However, he did not agree directly. Instead, he suggested making a bet with me. Within half a year, as long as the Mite'er Family protected him as he entered the center of the desert and met Medusa Queen once, he would think of a way to make her undo the seal inside my body."

"If he could do it, the Mite'er Family would give him two Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills as compensation. If not, then he would listen to all of my arrangements..."

Hai Bo Dong did not hide much about this matter.

However, he also deliberately emphasized that Chen Xiao possessed the Ice Attribute.

This was to prevent Yun Yun from having ideas when she met Chen Xiao.

After all, to someone without a background, the Mite'er Family was a colossal existence, and the Misty Cloud Sect even more so.

If Yun Yun joined the competition and offered even more generous conditions, the Mite'er Family truly would not have much competitiveness.

Hearing Hai Bo Dong's praise, Yun Yun was indeed somewhat curious.

Hai Bo Dong, the Ice Emperor of his generation, was famously discerning.

For him to even have the thought of taking the other party as a disciple, only for the other party not to agree, that young man's talent could be imagined. He absolutely had the makings of a Dou Emperor!

However, after hearing that he had the Ice Attribute, Yun Yun's expectations instantly dropped quite a bit.

It was not that the Ice Attribute was bad. It was just that this attribute did not quite align with the Misty Cloud Sect's inheritance.

"So that's how it is. Back when Old Hai was in the family, you were extremely disdainful of the younger generation. For this young man to be valued so highly by Old Hai, even I can hardly wait to meet him," Teng Shan said with a smile.

Out of absolute trust in Hai Bo Dong, Teng Shan did not think Hai Bo Dong taking a disciple would end in failure.

Even if that young man truly had a way to ask Medusa Queen to undo Hai Bo Dong's seal, so what?

They would pay the wager that should be paid, and continue taking the disciple that should be taken. There was no conflict.

Therefore, in Teng Shan's heart, Chen Xiao, whom he had yet to meet, was already half one of their own.

"I'm actually more curious as to how a junior like him could possibly persuade Medusa Queen. As for talent, do you still remember the marriage arrangement I set for Yanran back then? A few days ago, I also received news that Yanran's fiancé, Xiao Yan, advanced to Dou Zhe at the age of eleven. That can still be considered not bad, right? I wonder how he compares to the one the Ice Emperor mentioned?"

Nalan Jie chuckled.

His slightly dark, aged face was full of pride.

One just wondered whether, in a few more months, after hearing that Xiao Yan had become a cripple, he would still be able to laugh.

Or perhaps, in a few years, after being afflicted with Brand Poison, would he still be able to maintain such a bearing?

Seeing Nalan Jie's smug appearance, Yun Yun and the others silently nodded in their hearts.

An eleven-year-old Dou Zhe was more than merely not bad. In the Jia Ma Empire, this could be called top-tier talent!

Only Hai Bo Dong sneered inwardly.

Little Jie, your experience is too shallow!

Although he was not certain of Chen Xiao's exact age, judging from his appearance alone, he could be certain that he was definitely under fifteen.

Wasn't a Seven Star Da Dou Shi who was not even fifteen stronger than that eleven-year-old Dou Zhe son-in-law of yours?

"Can't compare, can't compare. The boy this Old Man has his eye on is most likely older than that Xiao Yan you mentioned."

Hai Bo Dong inwardly scoffed, but out loud, he merely laughed it off.

In any case, once they met Chen Xiao, that would beat countless arguments.

Just as he was thinking this, Hai Bo Dong suddenly grinned.

He was here!

"Everyone, that boy has come out of the inn. This Old Man will go call out to him, so he doesn't make a wasted trip and head outside the city to wait for me again."

Hai Bo Dong rose, pushed open the door, and went out, calling to the youth at the entrance of the inn a hundred meters away, then beckoned to him.

Chen Xiao's steps paused, and he immediately had a guess.

Could it be that Teng Shan is here?

He at once quickened his pace and approached.

As for the five people inside the Map Store, though they did not go out, they could still sense what was happening outside.

Including Chen Xiao's aura as a Seven Star Da Dou Shi.

For a moment, even Yun Yun, who had seemed very calm from beginning to end, had shock surfacing on her face.

Such a young Seven Star Da Dou Shi?!

No wonder. No wonder Hai Bo Dong was willing to go to such lengths to play this betting game with him.

If it were her, she would be more than willing too!

So what if he had an Ice Attribute? With such aptitude, even if the Misty Cloud Sect's inheritance were set aside, as long as he was given the resources to grow, his future achievements would definitely surpass hers—perhaps even her Teacher's.

Teng Shan was also stunned for an instant. After he came back to his senses, he could not suppress the smile on his face no matter what.

In contrast, Nalan Jie at the side only felt his old face grow hot and the tip of his nose turn red, as if something were about to sprout from it.

Yan Shi and Feng Li, the two melon-eating spectators, had already become people just here for the fun.

With one glance at each other, both could see the teasing look in the other's eyes.

Wonderful, wonderful!

Exactly, exactly!