After the host left.
“Lord… Lord Lin, I offended you earlier. I deserve death!” The flat-headed man from the Lin family dropped to his knees, trembling with fear.
His terror was understandable, given he’d mocked an Immortal like Lin Yun.
To them, a single word from an Immortal could spell doom for their family.
The Lin elder and Lin Qing also moved to kneel in respect.
“No need to kneel.”
Lin Yun waved lightly, an energy enveloping them, preventing them from kneeling.
“It’s a trivial matter. I didn’t take it to heart, so no need for this,” Lin Yun said calmly.
Turning to the flat-headed man, he added, “Get up. I’m not one to hold grudges over this.”
If Lin Yun cared, he’d have dealt with the flat-headed man’s mockery earlier.
He’d brushed off the man’s jabs with a smile, unbothered.
“Thank you, Lord Lin!” the flat-headed man said gratefully.
At that moment, the master of Xiaoyao Tower’s Tianqian Empire branch hurried in.
“Lord Han Zhen, this is…?” The branch master glanced at Lin Yun.
“This is Immortal Lord Lin Yun,” Han Zhen introduced.
“Lord Lin?”
The branch master froze, then quickly bowed. “Greetings, Lord Lin.”
He’d just received information from Xiaoyao Tower’s main master, instructing him that Lin Yun would collect something.
By now, the host had packed Lin Yun’s items into a storage ring.
“Lord Han.” The host handed the ring to Han Zhen.
“Why give it to me? Present it to Honoured Lin Yun!” Han Zhen shot him a glare.
“Yes, yes, my oversight!”
The host hurriedly offered the ring to Lin Yun with both hands.
“Relax, no need to be so tense,” Lin Yun said with a chuckle, accepting the ring.
He noticed the host’s hands trembling as he handed it over.
Being an Immortal was lonely, Lin Yun sighed inwardly. Everywhere he went, people feared or revered him, keeping their distance.
Often, he preferred not to flaunt his Immortal status or aura unless necessary.
“Honoured Lin Yun, I’ll cover the costs. If you have time, visit my estate,” Han Zhen offered with a smile.
“I’m a bit busy next, so I’ll pass,” Lin Yun replied.
He turned to the branch master. “Master, has the item I requested arrived?”
“It has! It has!” The branch master nodded eagerly.
He didn’t know what it was, as it was meant for Lin Yun, and he had no right to inspect it.
The branch master produced a scroll and handed it to Lin Yun with both hands.
Lin Yun took it.
With the information in hand, it was time to leave.
“Gentlemen, I’ll take my leave,” Lin Yun said to Han Zhen and the branch master.
“I’ll escort Honoured Lin Yun,” Han Zhen said respectfully.
He followed Lin Yun out of the hall.
The crowd stood silent, barely daring to breathe.
The Lin family trio watched Lin Yun depart with awe.
Once Lin Yun left the hall, the place erupted in chatter.
Many cultivators buzzed with excitement at seeing two Immortals.
The Lin elder sighed, “Lord Lin Yun is remarkably humble, queuing with us, chatting. This was a golden chance to connect with him.”
He knew that even a slight bond with Lin Yun could propel their family to new heights.
He glared at the flat-headed man. “It’s your fault, always mouthing off, or this could’ve been our opportunity!”
“I… I…” The flat-headed man’s face turned liver-red, speechless with regret.
…
Elsewhere.
After leaving the hall, Lin Yun parted ways with Han Zhen and left the city.
With the information secured, there was no reason to linger.
A hundred miles out, atop a mountain peak.
Lin Yun landed, producing the Mysterious Phoenix Lotus.
“Getting this lotus at the auction was quite a boon,” he said, smiling with satisfaction.
For Lin Yun, it was just a side trip while awaiting the information, yet he’d secured such a resource—a fine outcome.
If a loved one needed to face tribulation later, this lotus would aid them significantly.
Plus, he’d gained several holy spirit-grade items for free, which was a great haul.
While useless to other Immortals, these items held unique value for Lin Yun.
He then opened the scroll and reviewed it.
The information on Si Hongyi was fairly comprehensive.
It detailed Si Hongyi’s deeds before becoming an Immortal, including how, during his Tribulation Realm days, he’d elevated his Si family into a renowned clan in the Tianqian Empire.
After achieving immortality, his protection made the Si family even stronger.
“The records don’t reveal much issue,” Lin Yun murmured, studying the scroll.
It noted some personal grudges Si Hongyi held.
But these were minor, at least on paper. Si Hongyi didn’t seem like a heinous villain, with no record of egregious crimes, only personal disputes, including wiping out a rival family over a feud.
“What to do now?” Lin Yun stowed the scroll, gazing skyward.
If Si Hongyi were a notorious evildoer, killing him would be justified.
But without clear misdeeds, slaying him in the current tense climate, with the demon clan poised for war, would be ill-received, likely angering the Tianqian Emperor.
Lin Yun had no wish to spark internal strife.
Yet, his master Xuyun Ancestor’s vendetta demanded justice.
This left Lin Yun torn, feeling no choice was right.
“I’ll visit Si Hongyi’s family and probe further,” Lin Yun decided.
Since he was already in the Tianqian Empire, he might as well investigate in person.
Intelligence reports had their limits.
The report included the Si family’s exact address, making it easy to find.
