Supreme Emperor of Mist

"This young master, have we met before?" Huo Zunjie paid all his attention to Qin Lan as they made their way over to his broken shack. His concern now is mainly towards Qin Lan's intention to suggest speaking inside his place, and not in the open.

"Huo Zunjie, Huo Zunjie, you're the one that told me your name on your own." Qin Lan smiled. Both of his hand was placed on his back as he walks without worry and concern. In between his fingers is a folded fan he used to bring along as his personal accessory, which seems familiar to Huo Zunjie.

"Where did I see that fan before?" he tried to remember but failed to do so as his memory about it is as hazy as fog in the early morning.

"This is my humble abode. I hope it would not be a turnoff to our three fellow cultivators as it's been too long since this place has its first guest." Huo Zunjie used his clothing as a rag to wipe the dust and filth away as he prepared the table and chairs for Qin Lan, Lu Yi, and Lu Qing Yun.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed. A cultivator like us can even stay in a forest for days without a shower. So what is there to be mindful about regarding some dust?" Qin Lan moves a chair to his side using his thick spiritual energy and removes the filth without touching the chair personally.

"Fellow cultivator's control of spiritual energy surprises this junior. May I know the answer to the question I asked a while ago?" Huo Zunjie cupped his hands together as he speaks.

"Not Dying Because You Dare To Die," Qin Lan repeated the sentence he once used to enlighten Huo Zunjie.

"It seems that you've found the answer. Congratulations." Qin Lan added.

**Hah???**

Those hazy memories regarding Qin Lan as his Lord Benefactor came into his mind instantly. The way he speaks, his demeanor, the folded fan in his hand with a wooden crate, and that mask...

"Lord Benefactor," Huo Zunjie kneeled down right in front of Qin Lan with a thump on the ground, shattering two pieces of tiles that have already been cracked a long time ago. This show's how durable is his second-level Flesh Refining body.

"Why are you kneeling when you're before me? Did you not heard before that [Gold Piling Around a Man's Knee's Since Birth] idiom? A man shall only kneel to heaven, parents, teacher, and savior." Qin Lan extends his hand out to give him a tug up.

But Huo Zunjie remained stubborn.

"Lord Benefactor is my savior, so that's normal that I've pledged whatever lifespan I have to serve you. I'm willing to be your horse or donkey to repay your kindness," Huo Zunjie added.

"Then stand up." Qin Lan's single sentence is as firm as standing mountain showered with spiritual energy.

"Yes!" Huo Zunjie quickly returned to his feet. And at the same time, an unwanted visitor came into the house without knocking, which turned out to be Ma Ling, Huo Zunjie's neighbor.

Looking at how dirty is Huo Zunjie's clothing, especially on his knees. Ma Ling quickly appeared and pointed at Qin Lan as she screamed.

"Leave this house and leave Zunjie alone! I - I warn you, but my master is one of the elders in Cloud Plucking Sect. One word from me is all it takes to get all of you killed!" Ma Ling warned Qin Lan and his companion.

"Little sister, I thought Cloud Plucking Sect only accept those with the cultivation of above Middle-Attainment Rank as disciples. You hardly seem to be a first-level cultivator," Qin Lan said.

"Ling-Ling, you've misunderstood. He's my benefactor." Huo Zunjie held her shoulder without having the custom view of body-contact between a male and a female.

(These pair of lovebirds...)

Qin Lan wanted to chuckles, but he controlled himself.

"You're lying. This guy is about your age. How can he be your benefactor?" Ma Ling remained distrust towards all of them.

"Little sister, it's true. Shall we go out and let the men have their own conversation?" Lu Qing Yun steps forward to salvage this misunderstanding before it could get worst. She pulled the resisting Ma Ling out from the house before leaving the boys at their own once again.

"Lord Benefactor..." Huo Zunjie patiently waits for Qin Lan to start speaking.

"Just call me young master would do. I am the third of the young generation of the Qin Household, Qin Lan. These two are Lu Yi and Lu Qing Yun. I'm sure all of you have met and exchanged greetings earlier." Qin Lan smiled as he introduced himself properly this time.

"Brother Lu Yi, I've gone overboard just now. Please forgive this younger brother." Huo Zunjie cupped his hand together and asked for his forgiveness.

"Hahaha, we'll have another member from today onwards." Lu Yi made a few steps forward and patted Huo Zunjie's shoulder.

"Since you called me brother, then let us be brothers and take care of our young master together. Let's forget whatever happened just now. But I will not willingly give up before I defeat you with my own hands. Better be ready because I'll spar with you a lot!" Lu Yi said.

"Zunjie will be waiting at any time if big brother wanted to spar." Huo Zunjie labeled himself as the younger one as he was just about Qin Lan's age.

"We'll get into detail once our master came back, but the identity of Pharmacy Lu you've seen before is a secret. Remember to not expose this identity. If our master approved you, he'll bestow you with a cultivation art that would be suitable for your physique." Qin Lan quickly voices out his concern before their conversation continued.

"I'll follow all arrangement as my young master wished." Huo Zunjie agreed.

"For now, take these hundred pieces of silver coins and repair your house. It shall be our operating base in the future. Did Kun Ning came back?" Qin Lan tossed a coin bag at Huo Zunjie as he continued with his questions.

"Kun Ning seems to be missing after that day. But even if he came back, I'll be able to defeat him with my second-level Flesh Refining strength." Huo Zunjie answered.

"But from the rumors I've heard, the third young master of Qin Family has turned into a cripple... Is that rumor false?" Huo Zunjie asked with a tone similar to whispering.

"It's true. But our teacher managed to salvage this situation and strengthen my base talent. If you're willing to follow the righteous path, then it won't be a problem for me to vouch for you to become a disciple of Kuangshan Lu Sect." Qin Lan took his mysterious teacher's card out.

"I'm willing. My life belonged to the young master." Huo Zunjie said.

"Great. Take your time to cultivate. We'll get in touch again tonight." Qin Lan placed the mask covering his face and left the building using the window. Only Lu Yi and Huo Zunjie came out through the front door.

"Where's one more person?" Ma Ling asked.

"He left after he gave me some instructions in term of cultivation." Huo Zunjie answered her question as he turned his attention to Lu Qing Yun.

"Elder sister Qing Yun. I've gone overboard just now. Please forgive this young brother for his ignorance." Huo Zunjie said.

"Nevermind. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving with Lu Yi." Lu Qing Yun nodded as she let go of Ma Ling's hand. She gave her newly befriended sister a bottle of five Flesh Foundation Pills before she left as a gift as both of them left without asking for anything else.

"It's five Flesh Foundation Pills! Oh my god!" Ma Ling's jaw dropped the moment she saw the content of the bottle.

...

...

"Young master..." both of them stand before Qin Lan after they returned from the outside.

"It's alright. There's nothing to be feeling shame about because Huo Zunjie's cultivating talent is above the three of us even before we've met our teacher. But don't worry." Qin Lan turned his wheelchair around and showed them what he was doing as he continues to speak.

"Huo Zunjie's is a talent that I found. And I am somewhat attracted to his honesty. Hence, I've decided to bring his matter up with our teacher when I met with him. As for both of you, just forgive him for offending both of you just now," Qin Lan smiled.

"Is that something made from the Essence Metal, my third young master?" Lu Yi stares at the armlet decoration Qin Lan patiently mold using his spiritual energy. His action is if he's playing with a dough made from silvery-colored clay.

But although it looked easy, this task was, in fact, the most challenging part of the process to produce a Protective Treasure. If it was not because of Qin Lan's two lifetimes of experience, perhaps he would be bedridden from exhaustion for the sake of creating something of this size.

It was also why there are hardly any treasures in the common market as the process to create one takes creativity, understanding, material, and spiritual energy.

Unless it was a store established for two to three generations, no one would dare to involve themselves in the Department of Protective Treasures and Offensive Treasures.

"Qing Yun," Qin Lan called Lu Qing Yun's name after a while.

"Yes, young master." Lu Qing Yun answered.

"What are you doing? If you know that you're injured, quickly take a Flesh Mending Pill and focus on healing that wound." Qin Lan added.

"I - I understand..." Lu Qing Yun embarrassedly went to the shelf to collect a pill and left the room.