However, just then, Li Chonglou's phone suddenly rang.
Picking it up, he saw it was Old Tie.
"Hello?"
"Come out, I'm at the entrance of your branch."
Li Chonglou frowned, sensing the gravity in Old Tie's tone.
The Executive Division's base didn't completely restrict the freedom of students to come and go, but every outing required strict approval. Li Chonglou had spent over an hour getting the necessary pass.
After greeting the security guard, Old Wang, at the entrance, Li Chonglou walked towards a car.
Inside sat Old Tie.
"Is there something that can't be said here?"
According to the Executive Division's regulations, if one wanted to leave the base, they had to report their itinerary in detail, which would then be reviewed by designated personnel.
In short, it was a hassle.
But Old Tie only said two words: get in the car.
Well, he was sort of his superior, so Li Chonglou could only comply.
The driver was a middle-aged man with a square face. The three of them remained silent the entire journey until they arrived at a private room in a quiet tea house.
Inside the tea house room, there were only Li Chonglou and Old Tie. As they entered, Li Chonglou noticed that the soundproofing in the room was exceptionally good.
"Did something happen?"
On the way, Li Chonglou had adjusted his mindset. No matter what unexpected situation arose, the best approach when he didn't know anything was to remain calm.
Old Tie then began to speak, "Xiao Li, there's something I need to tell you first."
Getting straight to the point, Li Chonglou's attention immediately sharpened.
"Please, go ahead."
"You should know my identity by now, right?"
Li Chonglou hadn't expected Old Tie to suddenly shift the topic, but he nodded, "Yes, I learned it when we were in the underground world."
The previous leader of the General Bureau; only with that identity could he find Old Tie to discuss a backup plan even if a mission failed.
"Then do you know why I sought you out?"
This question implied more than just seeking cooperation; it also encompassed the subsequent favoritism.
In fact, Li Chonglou had also harbored doubts about this.
The General Bureau surely had no shortage of talented individuals, and many were undoubtedly stronger than him. If Old Tie were simply an employee of a decentralized organization, then everything that followed would be understandable.
But he wasn't. With his status, who couldn't he contact?
Why show so much special attention to him, a newcomer who had been in Shangjing for less than half a year? He even directly intervened in the Yuan Bei incident in the underground world to support him.
Li Chonglou stated frankly, "I'm curious too."
However, Old Tie changed the subject again.
"Do you know Ya Hao?"
Li Chonglou's expression immediately changed.
"So you do know him. When you went abroad to Tielin last time, you probably recognized him as your master, right?"
This time, Li Chonglou was truly surprised. He had never expected Old Tie to know his senior brother.
However, instead of refuting Old Tie's statement about being his master, he quickly controlled his emotions and waited quietly for Old Tie to continue.
Old Tie then slowly revealed the purpose of this meeting.
"Ya Hao is Old Master Mo's only disciple, and arguably his sole successor. Before Old Master Mo's death, his cultivation technique was successful. You must have learned this technique from Ya Hao."
Old Master Mo? So this was the master he had never met and would never have the chance to meet?
Li Chonglou pondered for a moment, then nodded, "I learned Qian Mai from Ya Hao."
Old Tie's expression suddenly shifted slightly, showing a hint of displeasure. "You directly addressed your master by name?"
Li Chonglou calmly replied, "Who said Ya Hao is my master?"
Old Tie's expression froze.
"He was willing to teach you even if you didn't formally become his disciple?"
"He's my senior brother."
Old Tie froze on the spot.
"Ah, ah?"
Li Chonglou asked curiously, "Your reaction... is there a problem?"
Old Tie's expression was visibly complex.
Bewilderment, confusion, and even a touch of uncertainty.
However, Li Chonglou explained, "Originally, I wanted to become Ya Hao's disciple, but my senior brother said my talent was too… formidable. He felt he wasn't worthy to teach me, so he directly recognized me as his junior brother."
The word "formidable" wasn't him boasting; it was the most understated word he could think of after consideration.
He couldn't possibly say his talent was monstrous, could he?
Using "good" would lack credibility.
However, Old Tie's focus wasn't on this.
"No, no, it's fine. I'm just a bit surprised that you are considered Old Master Mo's disciple. This Ya Hao is really acting recklessly. Old Master Mo is already gone; who knows if he would have agreed."
"Uh, Old Tie, I don't appreciate those words. What do you mean 'whether he would agree'? Senior Brother Ya Hao specifically said that if his master… Right, what is my master's name?"
Old Tie was speechless. "You don't even know your master's name?"
Li Chonglou felt a bit awkward. Ya Hao really hadn't mentioned it. He had asked at the time, but for some reason, Ya Hao hadn't directly answered, only saying he would know eventually.
At that time, he hadn't realized how monstrous Qian Mai truly was. In his heart, he hadn't taken it too seriously, thinking of it as just another useful trump card technique, so he hadn't pressed the issue.
If he had known then how truly monstrous Qian Mai was, he would have absolutely pursued the matter relentlessly!
Old Tie, seeing his expression, knew he genuinely didn't know and became even more speechless. "You, my boy, if Old Master Mo knew, he might crawl out of his coffin."
However, he still provided the answer. "Remember, your master, Old Master Mo, his full name is Mo Yuxia. Yu for universe, Xia for China."
"What a great name! Just by hearing it, you can tell he's no ordinary person!"
Old Tie directly rolled his eyes. "If I were Old Master Mo, I would be ashamed to have a disciple like you."
Li Chonglou ignored him and continued his unfinished sentence, "Senior Brother Ya Hao said back then that if his master had encountered me in those years, then he wouldn't have had a claim."
A flicker of regret crossed Old Tie's eyes.
Back then, if not for Ya Hao, he would have had the best chance of becoming Old Master Mo's disciple.
Despite that, he still considered himself Old Master Mo's semi-disciple, which was precisely why he had shown Li Chonglou such special attention upon learning that Li Chonglou had learned Old Master Mo's cultivation technique!
However, he had never imagined that this person, who could potentially be his semi-disciple, would ultimately turn out to be a junior brother!
No, strictly speaking, he was already his semi-senior brother! After all, he hadn't formally entered the sect back then!
This was also why he had hesitated to reveal this earlier.
Afterward, Old Tie filtered out this point and briefly explained the greatness of Old Master Mo.
Finally, his expression turned serious as he said, "Although I've only just learned that Old Master Mo's cultivation technique is called Qian Mai, I've known for a long time that it is related to the Heavenly Dao!"