Chapter 4048: Fishing For The Hopeful Star Pavilion

The second reaction surprised Lin Mu considerably more as the Clarity Peak Head’s eyes widened for the briefest instant. Shock appeared first, then apprehension. But both vanished almost immediately, replaced by the composed expression she had worn since arriving.

’The Clarity Peak Head?’ Lin Mu kept his expression exactly the same.

That was unexpected. He had suspected the Grand Elder might know something because of his lineage. His great-grandfather had been Deng Siqi’s disciple, which provided a plausible connection to knowledge that had disappeared from ordinary sect records.

The Clarity Peak Head had no obvious connection from anything Lin Mu had discovered. Yet she knew the name. And judging by that momentary apprehension, she knew enough for the Hopeful Star Pavilion to matter.

The Grand Elder finally spoke. "Where did Senior hear that name?"

Lin Mu nearly smiled as it was a revealing choice of words. He could have asked what Zhenyu knew about the Hopeful Star Pavilion. He could have claimed ignorance. Instead, his first question concerned the source of Zhenyu’s knowledge.

Zhenyu gave him a strange look. "Hear it?"

The Grand Elder remained silent.

Zhenyu laughed. "Junior, you really have forgotten how old I am."

The laughter echoed across the surroundings before Zhenyu shook his head. "I didn’t hear about the Hopeful Star Pavilion from some dusty record. Those little upstarts were already running around during my time."

The Grand Elder’s gaze sharpened.

Zhenyu casually waved his hand. "They were essentially a clique."

Lin Mu deliberately chose the most dismissive description he could. "A bunch of ambitious youngsters gathering together, exchanging resources, making connections and convincing themselves that they were destined for greatness."

Zhenyu snorted. "Every few thousand years the sect produces another group like that. Give talented juniors enough praise and they’ll eventually invent a grand name for themselves."

High Elder Shatter Peak grinned. "Sounds about right."

Daoist Bone Ruler frowned. "I don’t recall any faction by that name."

"Of course you don’t." Zhenyu glanced at him. "You weren’t born."

Daoist Bone Ruler wisely chose not to respond while Lin Mu observed the two people who mattered. The Grand Elder showed no anger and that itself was useful. His expression had turned thoughtful, almost contemplative, as though Zhenyu’s description conflicted with something he knew.

The Clarity Peak Head reacted differently. A faint frown appeared on her face. Lin Mu could not determine its meaning. Perhaps she disliked hearing the Hopeful Star Pavilion insulted or perhaps she simply found Zhenyu’s attitude irritating.

Considering he had called her a child several times already, that possibility was entirely reasonable.

’Need more.’ Zhenyu looked toward the Grand Elder. "Why? Did that little gathering somehow survive all this time?"

The Grand Elder’s answer came carefully. "The Hopeful Star Pavilion hasn’t existed for a very long time."

"Oh?" Zhenyu raised his eyebrows. "That’s surprising."

"Why?"

"Because ambitious fools tend to reproduce faster than sensible ones."

High Elder Shatter Peak coughed into his fist, though his shoulders shook suspiciously while the Sword Peak Head glared at him.

Zhenyu continued, "There were quite a few promising people involved with that pavilion. I would’ve expected them to keep passing the name down."

The Grand Elder’s expression grew more guarded. "Which members did you know?"

Lin Mu mentally smiled. Instead of explaining what happened to the Hopeful Star Pavilion, the Grand Elder wanted to know what Zhenyu knew.

Lin Mu deliberately allowed Zhenyu’s expression to grow suspicious. "You’re doing it again."

The Grand Elder paused. "Doing what?"

"Answering my questions with questions." Zhenyu took a step toward him.

The enormous difference in their physiques became particularly apparent. Even though the Grand Elder carried the ancient bearing of a powerful Transcendent Immortal, Mengli Zhenyu’s three-meter-tall body towered over him like a living fortress.

"You spent half an hour testing whether I’m genuine. I entertained you because your caution was reasonable." Zhenyu’s eyes narrowed. "Now I mention an old clique and suddenly you’re interrogating me again."

The surrounding elders fell quiet.

The Grand Elder considered his response. "I merely wish to know how much Senior remembers."

"Plenty."

"Then perhaps Senior remembers its purpose?"

Zhenyu laughed. "Purpose?"

Lin Mu intentionally glanced toward the Clarity Peak Head. She was watching him closely now.

Zhenyu stroked his beard. "The purpose they claimed to have, or the purpose they actually had?"

The Grand Elder’s expression changed.

It was barely, yet Lin Mu saw it.

And so did the Clarity Peak Head as her frown deepened.

’Interesting.’ Lin Mu had no idea whether there actually had been a difference.

He had simply thrown out bait, and someone had bitten.

The Grand Elder answered cautiously. "Senior seems to imply there was a distinction."

"Wasn’t there?" Zhenyu tossed the question back immediately.

For the first time, the Grand Elder took slightly longer to answer. "I would rather hear Senior’s recollection without influencing it with my own."

’Clever.’ Lin Mu almost laughed.

The old man was refusing to reveal anything.

Zhenyu instead gave him a look of approval. "Good answer."

The Grand Elder blinked.

Zhenyu chuckled. "You’re cautious. I like that more than the loud sword child over there."

The Sword Peak Head’s face darkened further. "Stop calling me a child."

"Then stop behaving like one."

High Elder Shatter Peak immediately turned away, pretending to inspect a nearby formation pillar.

The Clarity Peak Head finally spoke. "Senior Zhenyu."

Lin Mu’s attention immediately sharpened. "Yes, child?"

Her eyebrow twitched, but she still maintained her composure. "You described the Hopeful Star Pavilion as a group of ambitious upstarts. Yet you seem to remember them quite clearly after more than a hundred thousand years."

There was a subtle challenge hidden within her words which made Lin Mu smile inwardly.

’Finally.’ Zhenyu looked at her for several breaths. "Of course I remember them."

"Why?"

Zhenyu’s smile faded.

His eyes moved from the Clarity Peak Head to the Grand Elder. "Because it looks like some of those upstarts eventually became very important people."

The Grand Elder’s gaze became solemn.

Zhenyu continued in a quieter voice. "And because Deng Siqi was among them."