The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

Chapter 353: Chapter 347: Mr. Yuan

In a daze, Fang E kowtowed and accepted him as her master.

Everything had happened too suddenly.

Her life improved greatly after that.

The Fang Family didn’t move out of their little courtyard, and Fang Jie didn’t have to go back to his academy because his tutor was summoned to teach him there directly.

She also finally learned her new master’s name: Bai Yuan.

The attitude of the Officials guarding the gate toward her family improved drastically.

She learned from those Officials that her master was a high-ranking dignitary, some kind of General, though she had no idea if he outranked the Lord Prefect.

But none of that mattered.

All of her wishes had come true.

The only problem was the two books her master had given her. She couldn’t understand them at all.

She recognized all the words, but trying to practice what they described made them feel like gibberish.

Her assessment was in two days, which was terribly frustrating.

Fang E’s worries piled up.

However, these were not concerns for Bai Yuan.

His approach to teaching disciples had always followed a simple principle: provide ample resources, then let nature take its course. That was why a student’s disposition was especially important.

Once Fang E had a basic grasp of the Four-Nine Technique, he planned to take her to the Fang Family.

Lu Yu’s wife, Fang Wan, was the most brilliant practitioner of the Divination Technique he had ever met.

By a stroke of coincidence, both women were surnamed Fang. Perhaps Fang E would have a chance to receive Fang Wan’s legacy.

Bai Yuan glanced at the sky. By his calculations, the old Daoist should be arriving soon.

...

...

"That old Daoist is gone?"

"Gone."

A figure built like an iron pagoda appeared in the dense forest on the slopes of Dan Mountain.

Standing beside him was an incredibly frail, hunched-over old man. Their figures were a study in contrasts, yet in terms of sheer presence, the little old man held the upper hand.

If Bai Yuan had been there, he would have recognized the tower-like, weather-beaten man at a glance. It was the barbarian expert, Kuaidong.

Kuaidong had actually left Dingzhou and appeared in Ling Province!

"Mr. Yuan, what do we do next?"

Kuaidong’s attitude was extremely deferential.

In the entire Demon Sect, or even the whole of the Northern Plains, there were few who could command such respect from him. The old man before him happened to be one of them.

This old man was largely credited for the Demon Sect’s rise to its current prominence in the Northern Plains.

The surname Yuan was taboo in Xuan Yang. The Grand Ancestor Emperor had once decreed that all reign titles must begin with the character ’Yuan’. As a result, not only was the Emperor’s personal name to be avoided, but the character ’Yuan’ itself was forbidden in common use.

Therefore, families who were once surnamed Yuan had changed their names to similar-sounding surnames that used different written characters.

As far as Kuaidong knew, the old man beside him had once been one of the Profound People. For reasons unknown, he had come to the Northern Plains.

No one knew the old man’s real name; he was known only as Mr. Yuan.

No one in the Demon Sect dared to question Mr. Yuan’s methods.

It was by following Mr. Yuan’s instructions that he had been able to lure that terrifying old Daoist away.

Mr. Yuan’s voice was clear and measured, like that of a formal tutor. "Time waits for no one. Enter the city at once. The Holy Master and I will have to meet ahead of schedule."

"As you command."

Kuaidong said in a low voice.

The old Daoist was too strong. If he was discovered and joined forces with Yan Shao’an, they might not be able to escape Ling Province alive.

Therefore, the plan had to be moved forward.

The only thing that could make Mr. Yuan and him take such a great risk could only be the Demon Seed.

...

Night fell.

The moon hung high in the sky.

Bai Yuan waited all day, but there was still no news from Elder Pei. Not just him—Wu Ma and Ugly Ox had also vanished without a trace.

His brows knitted together, forming deep lines on his forehead.

’Something’s wrong. Very wrong!’

He knew something must have happened outside the city, something he wasn’t aware of.

’But what could it be?’

Bai Yuan hesitated.

’Should I leave the city? Or should I stay put?’

It was a dilemma.

Suddenly, a great wind began to howl outside—a prelude to a coming storm. Despite the paper covering the window, the candlelight in the room flickered ceaselessly.

Sure enough, a moment later, the patter of rain began to sound against the window.

Bai Yuan remained seated in the room, lost in thought.

In the next instant—

He whipped his head around.

Somehow, another person had appeared in the room.

His eyes narrowed to a slit, his right hand already resting on Blood-Fiend.

A long silence fell.

Bai Yuan broke the silence. "Who are you?"

The old man chuckled. "My surname is Yuan. I’ve long since forgotten my given name. Everyone calls me Mr. Yuan."

’Yuan...’

Bai Yuan repeated the name to himself.

’That’s not a good name to have. In Xuan Yang, it would be enough to get your entire clan executed.’

Mr. Yuan’s smile remained. "I know you have many questions. Feel free to ask. I will answer anything I can."

Bai Yuan stared intently at the man calling himself Mr. Yuan.

’Teaching the Fox Demon the Shadow Kill technique, Elder Pei’s delay... it might all be connected to this man.’

He took a deep breath.

"Why have you come looking for me?"

Unexpectedly, Mr. Yuan answered with a question of his own. "You don’t remember?"

"Hm?"

"Then again, it’s entirely possible you wouldn’t remember."

Mr. Yuan gave a self-deprecating smile.

Bai Yuan’s eyes flickered. The rain outside was still heavy, completely masking any sounds from within the room, but it couldn’t block the probing of his Awareness.

’But why hasn’t Yue Xiaobai shown up yet?’

’If Yue Xiaobai and I teamed up, we might stand a fighting chance.’

’Clearly, Yue Xiaobai must be in some kind of trouble, too.’

Mr. Yuan’s expression remained nonchalant. "You are the reincarnation of the Holy Master... or, as the Profound People would call it, the Demon Seed."

A bolt of lightning split the dark night sky.

Bai Yuan’s grip on his saber tightened.

Mr. Yuan chuckled again. "No matter. The time is simply not yet right."

Bai Yuan suddenly lowered his right hand.

’He was certain the man calling himself Mr. Yuan wouldn’t make a move. At least, not tonight...’

"What makes you so certain I’m the Demon Seed?"

Bai Yuan asked.

Mr. Yuan said, "Two hundred years ago, I journeyed through the Northern Plains and made a deal with a wisp of the Demon God’s divine soul."

"A deal?"

Bai Yuan’s interest was piqued.

’He was certain he had absolutely nothing to do with this so-called Demon Seed.’

’Because he was a Transmigrator...’

However, he was very interested in the deal Mr. Yuan mentioned. And he’d keenly latched onto three words: "two hundred years!"

’Two hundred years... That proved this Mr. Yuan was at least a Mingxin Grandmaster, perhaps even stronger. Since the man was mistaking him for the Demon Seed, he might as well use the opportunity to pry more information from him.’

"Yes, a deal," Mr. Yuan paused. "That wisp of divine soul asked me to find someone capable of cultivating the Holy Technique."

"The Holy Technique?"

"Or, perhaps you know it by another name... the Divine Mansion Technique."

The moment he heard the words "Divine Mansion Technique," it was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through Bai Yuan’s mind.

He had never told anyone that he cultivated the Divine Mansion Technique.

’How could Mr. Yuan possibly know?!’

Mr. Yuan continued, speaking as if to himself, "You don’t need to hide it. I have my own ways of sensing such things. I only wish to tell you that we are not enemies..."

Just as Mr. Yuan was about to say more, his words cut off abruptly.

His figure vanished into thin air.

At the same time, an old Daoist appeared at the door.

...

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