Chapter 119: Friends

The Bai Clan leader took a deep breath and suppressed his fury. Despite everything, Bai Ning Bing was still the child he had personally raised, and he was willing to hear his explanation.

“Then tell me exactly what happened. What does that Gu Master named Lin Feng want with our clan’s historical records? Did he deceive you somehow?” His eyes sharpened. “Tell me everything.”

Bai Ning Bing could see that the clan leader would not let the matter go, so he casually explained, “I failed several times while refining Frost Demon Gu and eventually got tired of wasting materials. I heard there was a Gu Master in the caravan who specialized in refinement, so I went to his shop.”

He continued, “Lin Feng owns Hundred Refinements Pavilion. When I discovered that he was already Rank Three despite being around my age, I challenged him to a fight.”

The Bai Clan leader’s expression immediately changed.

“What did he ask from you?” His earlier anger was instantly joined by vigilance. “Don’t tell me he demanded our clan’s historical records as the price for accepting your challenge.”

Bai Ning Bing shook his head. “No. We had a very exciting battle. I used everything I had, including the killer move I recently created, but I still couldn’t defeat him. That bastard can actually fly! He’s already extremely skilled at controlling his flying Gu worm, almost as naturally as moving his own limbs.”

A Rank Three Gu Master who can fly? The Bai Clan leader’s expression became more serious. For some reason, perhaps because of his age or because of the story of Ren Zu’s eldest son, Verdant Great Sun, dying after flying into the sky, he had always possessed a deep fear of flight.

“To control a flying Gu so skillfully at Rank Three, that young man is indeed extraordinary.” The Bai Clan leader stroked his beard and sighed. Bai Clan possessed several flying Gu worms as well, but very few Gu Masters could truly master them. “No wonder he managed to defeat you.”

Seeing that the clan leader seemed interested, Bai Ning Bing immediately continued, “We talked quite a lot afterward. He told me about some of his experiences outside Qing Mao Mountain. Apparently, he was originally just an ordinary mountain dweller, but then he unexpectedly encountered an inheritance and became a Gu Master.”

“Enough, enough! I don’t care about his life story.” The Bai Clan leader quickly interrupted him. “I want to know why you’re helping him. What exactly does this Lin Feng want from you?”

He simply could not understand why Bai Ning Bing would risk violating clan rules for a stranger he had only met recently.

Bai Ning Bing raised an eyebrow as though the answer were obvious. “Because we get along well. I think we should be friends. Do I need some special reason to help a friend?”

“Friend?” The Bai Clan leader stared at him in astonishment. It was the first time he had ever heard Bai Ning Bing use that word. Ever since childhood, Bai Ning Bing had remained distant from everyone around him. Forget friends, there had hardly been anyone he was even willing to approach voluntarily.

“Yes, I was surprised too.” Bai Ning Bing’s expression brightened. “We’ve only met a few times, but when I talked with him, I felt that he was someone I could become friends with.”

The more Bai Ning Bing spoke, the more excited he became, almost like a child telling his father about a fascinating new playmate.

“Clan leader, you don’t understand. He’s really interesting! His village was once surrounded by a beast tide, and there was no way to save everyone. So do you know what he did? He killed the villagers himself before the beasts could get them. Hahaha! Isn’t that interesting?”

The Bai Clan leader’s expression stiffened, but Bai Ning Bing continued enthusiastically, “Afterward, he travelled with a caravan for three years and visited many places throughout Southern Border. He’s seen all kinds of strange Gu and met countless interesting people. The outside world sounds incredible. There are so many things on Qing Mao Mountain that we’ve never even heard of.”

“Enough! Stop talking!” The Bai Clan leader finally lost his patience. In his eyes, Bai Ning Bing had clearly been deceived by that suspicious brat.

Killed all the villagers to save them from a beast tide? What kind of ridiculous story is that? Would any normal person do such a thing? That brat is obviously filling Ning Bing’s head with nonsense.

And what was so wonderful about the outside world? Beyond Qing Mao Mountain were endless wilderness, dangerous beasts, wild Gu, poisonous insects, and countless unknown dangers. Without the protection of a clan and its mountain stronghold, surviving alone was extraordinarily difficult.

Yet this Lin Feng had somehow made such a dangerous world sound fascinating to Bai Ning Bing.

“Ning Bing, listen to me carefully.” The Bai Clan leader’s expression became stern. “You are Bai Clan’s young clan leader. In the future, you will carry the responsibility of strengthening Bai Clan and fulfilling our generations-long ambition of unifying Qing Mao Mountain.”

He looked directly into Bai Ning Bing’s ice-blue eyes. “Don’t let an outsider fill your head with nonsense. Our ancestors have lived on Qing Mao Mountain for generations, and this is where Bai Clan’s foundation lies. The world outside is filled with dangers you have never experienced. Even a Rank Three Gu Master could easily die after leaving the protection of the clan.”

His expression hardened. “I’ll immediately order the Dark Hall Gu Masters to pursue the departing caravan. Bai Clan’s historical records cannot be allowed to spread outside. This is Qing Mao Mountain, our territory. Even Jia Fu can’t stop me here!”

The Bai Clan leader’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “Today, I’ll have that brat’s head!”