Chapter 23: Long Xingyu, the Unshakeable Shadow

Upon hearing the shopkeeper’s report that Li Xin had arrived and was specifically looking for her, Lin Jialu went to meet her. Seeing Li Xin accompanied by two strangers, Lin Jialu looked at Long Haochen and Bai Yue with curiosity.

"Xin’er, aren't you going to introduce them to me? You’ve never brought anyone here personally before."

"Of course not," Li Xin said with a grin. "Not just anyone can become my friend and earn my approval." Her implication was clear: by bringing them here, she was endorsing them as her friends, and Jialu had better give them a discount.

"This is Bai Qian, and beside her is her younger brother, Long Haochen. They are new knights studying at the Haoyue Branch of the Knight Temple," Li Xin said, emphasizing the word "knights."

Lin Jialu was startled. Observing that Bai Qian and Long Haochen looked to be only seven or eight years old, she realized that becoming knights at such an age indicated extraordinary talent.

"Haochen, Qianqian, would you mind revealing your innate internal spiritual power?" Lin Jialu asked, her eyes burning with curiosity.

Long Haochen and Bai Yue exchanged a glance. Bai Yue smiled and replied, "That is confidential information of the Haoyue Branch of the Knight Temple."

Hearing the word "confidential," Lin Jialu’s pupils contracted; she realized their innate internal spiritual power must be exceptionally high.

The identity of Bai Qian—the puppet avatar of Bai Yue—had been established during a Sacred Awakening presided over by Nalan Shu, the head of the Haoyue Branch. Her innate internal spiritual power had reached eighty-three points. As for Long Haochen, his true power was kept hidden from others; Nalan Shu had tested him at the time, and the results showed an internal spiritual power of two hundred and seventy-eight points. Combined with his external spiritual power, Long Haochen’s strength at that moment even surpassed that of Li Xin, who was several years his senior.

When Nalan Shu had curiously asked who had performed Long Haochen’s Sacred Awakening, Bai Yue simply invoked the name of Long Xingyu. Upon learning that Long Haochen was the son of Lord Xingyu, Nalan Shu’s doubts vanished instantly. It was no surprise that the child of a Divine Throne Knight would possess such high talent and spiritual power at a young age; after all, the second generation of such a lineage was destined to receive prioritized resources.

Bai Qian’s innate internal spiritual power, however, was classified as a secret of the Haoyue Branch. Nalan Shu believed that Long Haochen would likely be taken away by Lord Xingyu for specialized training, but Bai Qian was a talent discovered by his own branch. He knew that when the time came for the Demon Hunt Squad selections, she was destined to reach the finals, perhaps even win first place—all of which would count toward his own merit.

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Li Xin patted Lin Jialu on the shoulder to smooth things over. "Jialu, Qian’er and her brother are in need of some suitable weapons. I know you have a great selection here, so I brought them to take a look. For my sake, you must give them the best possible discount. I’ll treat you to a meal later."

Lin Jialu, also interested in befriending Long Haochen and Bai Yue, agreed readily. "Whatever they pick, I’ll give them thirty percent off. That’s at cost price." She stuck out her tongue playfully. "Xin’er, you know that thirty percent is the absolute limit of my authority. Any lower and I’d be losing money just for the sake of it."

Bai Yue mentally noted this favor. She and Long Haochen each chose a piece of magical equipment. Light-attribute weapons were generally more expensive and scarcer than those of common attributes. Even with the discount, the total came to thirteen hundred gold coins. Privately, Long Haochen asked Bai Yue, "Mother, we have the money, so why did we need to buy them at a discount? Doesn't this force Sister Xin to use up a favor?"

"While we saved money, won't this put Sister Xin in a difficult position?"

Bai Yue stroked her son’s head and explained, "Relationships are built through interaction. We keep this favor in our hearts so that we can have a give-and-take relationship in the future."

"Your Sister Xin bringing us here to buy gear today is, in fact, a way of introducing us to Lin Jialu. Think about it: to be able to run such a large magical equipment shop in Haoyue City, could Lin Jialu’s family background be simple?"

"Don't forget, the first and second-in-command of Haoyue City are surnamed Li and Lin, respectively."

Long Haochen lowered his eyes, thoughtfully considering his mother’s words.

After purchasing the equipment, Li Xin suggested that there was no time like the present and that she would fulfill her promise to treat them to a meal immediately. Thus, Li Xin, Bai Yue, Lin Jialu, and Long Haochen went to the largest restaurant in Haoyue City.

Li Xin booked a private room, and the four of them sat down, ordered several signature dishes, and began to eat.

Li Xin asked casually, "Haochen, why are you and Qian’er out studying at such a young age? Aren't your relatives worried?"

Long Haochen glanced at Bai Yue beside him. He could hardly say that his mother was right there with him, so there was no need to worry about his safety.

Bai Yue smiled slightly. "Haochen’s mother lives in Aoding Town, and we return to visit her whenever we have a break."

"As for Haochen’s father, he is rarely home. He is also a knight and has missions for the Alliance to complete, so he is very busy with his work."

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open. Everyone looked up.

Long Haochen exclaimed in surprise, "Father!" Bai Yue arched an eyebrow. They had decided on this dinner on the spur of the moment, yet Long Xingyu had managed to track them down—what a coincidence! In the events of her past life, no matter where Haochen went, he could always pinpoint his location. Was it really a coincidence every single time?

"Haochen, where is your mother?" Long Xingyu asked, his brow furrowed.

"Mother is at home!" Long Haochen said, looking blank and genuinely clueless. *If Mother’s avatar is here with me, does that mean her true body isn't in Aoding Town?*

Long Xingyu calmly surveyed the three women dining with Long Haochen and said, "I just came from Aoding Town. Your mother is not at home, and the neighbors say she hasn't been seen for seven days."

Long Haochen was shocked. "Father, do you mean Mother is missing?"

"Father, can you find her? Aren't you a Divine Throne Knight? You must have a way, right?"

Watching Long Haochen’s reaction, Long Xingyu tentatively believed that he was truly unaware of Bai Yue’s disappearance. Perhaps, just as it had been years ago, Bai Yue had been taken by that demon. If so, then his own interception by Anan and being trapped in a maze must have been orchestrated by the Demon God Emperor. But why would the Demon God Emperor take Bai Yue and leave Long Haochen in the Temple Alliance?

Long Xingyu suddenly smiled. "Haochen, don't worry yet. Perhaps your mother has gone out to attend to some business. You should stay in Haoyue City and focus on your training. Since you are with your friends today, I won't disturb you. I will wait for you tonight at the Haoyue Branch of the Knight Temple."

Long Haochen wanted to say more, but Bai Yue, keeping her hand hidden under the table, tugged on her son’s sleeve.

Long Haochen looked at Bai Yue, nodded, and replied, "I understand, Father."

Because they had suddenly learned that Long Haochen’s mother had been missing for seven days, both Lin Jialu and Li Xin looked at Long Haochen with concern.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Bai Yue smiled and said, "Uncle, you must be the Uncle Long that my godmother mentioned. When Haochen and I went back to visit her during our last break, she mentioned that she planned to return to Zhennan Pass to visit some old friends. She might be gone for a month or two."