CHAPTER 84: 84. MOUNTAIN DOG HAHA

Although saying once in a millennium is a bit exaggerated, indeed no Branch President has ever done this before.

When he turned to look at the bed, his eyes fell on the old master who was asleep under the blue gauze canopy, and he couldn’t help but feel a wave of bitterness in his heart.

Perhaps the old master, who has been busy all his life, may not wake up again after this nap. Biting his teeth, Mo Lin decisively said, "It seems I can only go personally."

"President!"

A few stewards of the Hundred Sects Alliance exclaimed in surprise, quickly opening their mouths to stop Mo Lin’s actions. Because for a Branch President to personally invite Wenping was too humiliating, and it tarnished the reputation of the entire Hundred Sects Alliance branch.

Mo Lin raised his hand, instructing the branch stewards beside him to keep their mouths shut, "If you have any other suggestions, speak up. If not, then keep your mouths closed."

Roar!

The black panther next to Mo Lin immediately roared, glaring at the stewards with eyes full of coldness, as if to say: Whoever has opinions, feel free to voice them, and afterward, come fight me one-on-one.

The stewards were startled, scared back a few steps by the roar, no longer daring to speak. Of course, they wished to prevent Mo Lin from doing this, but they couldn’t respond to Mo Lin’s words, and they couldn’t defeat this panther either.

Mo Lin continued, "Yueye, come with me to Yunlan Mountain."

"Understood."

Jiang Yueye nodded.

Mo Lin was not one to dawdle. Once he decided, he moved, and within fifteen minutes, he was already on the way to Yunlan Mountain. Huaikong and Yang Zongxian, seemingly uneasy, also followed, remaining silent throughout the journey.

When the carriage axle ceased rotating, they stood at the foot of Yunlan Mountain, simultaneously lifting their gaze to the thousand-layer stone steps disappearing into the white clouds.

Mo Lin patted the back of the panther beside him, and then it, as if receiving some command, dashed upward, resembling a black lightning bolt, disappearing from everyone’s sight instantly.

Mo Lin followed closely, striding upward.

During the journey, Mo Lin did not speak, but there was much on his mind.

He recalled Wenping’s past demeanor, either being idle in Cangwu City or muddling through life at the Immortal Sect, only achieving a modicum of cultivation because his parents forced him to cultivate.

Aside from mixing with the offspring of the wealthy, he had never seen Wenping express any other interest.

Yet, it hadn’t been long since Wenping transformed from a carefree mediocrity into a Medicinal Cuisine Master, earning such high praise from the Demon Chef Huaikong.

Thinking about this, he couldn’t help but mutter, "At just 18, his skills in medicinal cuisine rival Su Li’s; it seems Wenping’s usual pretence of being unlearned and incompetent was all a disguise. If not for the sudden catastrophe that befell the Immortal Sect, he might have continued to hide his abilities, perhaps still unknown when."

After speaking, Mo Lin glanced at Jiang Yueye beside him.

Jiang Yueye smiled faintly and followed the topic, "Having talent yet pretending to be an ignorant fool indeed makes one hard to fathom."

Huaikong and the others listening nearby forced some smiles, feeling rather helpless; at present, they had no idea how to face Wenping because Wenping did not want others to know he understood medicinal cuisine.

As they neared the mountaintop, Huaikong and the group exchanged glances, shrugging their shoulders together.

Just then, barking was heard from above.

Woof!

Woof!

Accompanied by the barking, after a few more steps, Mo Lin suddenly stopped moving upward.

Huaikong and the others also paused, preparing to ask what happened, only to see Mo Lin looking ahead with shock and vigilance.

Even the black panther, which appeared imposing even while sleeping, now resembled a defeated stray dog, cowering stealthily in the grass, emitting soft whimpering upon seeing Mo Lin.

All the majestic presence akin to the Human Race Body Refining Thirteenth Layer was gone.

Mo Lin was stunned, quickly scanning around but found nothing unusual except for a Mountain Dog lounging on the steps.

However, its peculiarity lay solely in its size; otherwise, it was just like the dogs commonly seen in farm courtyards.

"Amor, come here," Mo Lin shouted at the panther lying in the grass. The black panther, which usually came and went at the call, did not move this time, continuing to curl as if not hearing.

Mo Lin called again, this time with a hint of anger in his expression, "Amor!"

The panther, seeing Mo Lin angry, finally stood up but moved very slowly.

It felt like someone walking carefully past a sleeping Giant Ape, afraid to make the slightest noise that could awaken the terrifying beast capable of killing with one slap.

Huaikong’s voice suddenly came, "Haha, they’re not bad people."

After Huaikong’s words, Mo Lin and Jiang Yueye simultaneously turned to look at him, puzzled, and upon turning back, they saw the Mountain Dog slowly stand and then meander aimlessly on the stone steps.

Sniffing left and right like an ordinary farmhouse dog.

Yet this relieved the black panther, hastily running behind Mo Lin.

The scene was quite baffling, and Mo Lin couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Huai, what is this?"

"Perhaps Haha mistook the panther for an enemy." Knowing Haha’s strength but never having been stared at by Haha, Huaikong made a bold guess but did not explain thoroughly to Mo Lin.

He had already revealed that Wenping understood medicinal cuisine, and if he said more, the Immortal Sect might treat him as a stranger.

Yet, even such a vague phrase caused Mo Lin to be surprised internally. He glanced at the panther and then at the ordinary farm guard dog, an immature idea arose — could the dog’s appearance be mere camouflage, and in reality, it’s an unknown fierce beast?

Otherwise, it couldn’t have intimidated the panther into cowering in the grass.

...

After a minor incident, Mo Lin climbed the mountain to find Wenping in the kitchen, who seemed to have expected his arrival, already waiting outside the kitchen.

Mo Lin walked over, seeing Wenping smile and say, "President Mo, forgive my lack of hospitality."

Mo Lin smirked slightly at the words, lacking any extra expression.

Initially, upon arriving, Mo Lin intended to give Wenping a stern warning, letting Wenping not be so arrogantly confident due to his talents. However, the scene on the steps dispelled this thought, as they were essentially strangers.

If any unpleasant incident happened, the trip to the Immortal Sect would likely turn disastrous.

Seeing Wenping not offer him a seat nor seem concerned about tea, Mo Lin also skipped wasted words, speaking directly, "Sect Leader Wen, it has come to my attention that your skills in medicinal cuisine rival those of Su Li, thus I boldly ask Sect Leader Wen to help me in saving a person in critical condition; as for the star promotion request you desire, I can immediately arrange it."

Upon hearing this, Wenping’s gaze fell upon Huaikong and the others, then coldly asked, "President Mo, I am but a novice, and I wonder who told you I know about medicinal cuisine?"

Hearing this, Huaikong, seeing no way to conceal, had to respond, giving Wenping an awkward apologetic smile, "Sect Leader Wen, this concerns a life, so I had to..."