Chapter 545: Chapter 535: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes and His Fate

"During my conversation with those three people, I accidentally overheard their dialogue."

"It seems, behind them, there’s a ’second master.’ Besides the figure we just fought, there’s a second one."

Fang Yuan’s face showed a reminiscent expression as he spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Su Mu furrowed his brows tightly.

If what Fang Yuan said is true, then there’s more than one mastermind behind the scenes.

The figure that just fought with me, even as just an avatar, had such immense power. If there’s a second person, Su Mu would have to reassess his situation.

Because with Su Mu’s current strength, he is confident against one person, but fighting two would definitely stretch him thin.

This would lead to a situation where he is holding one back, and the other can easily target the people behind him.

This intelligence from Fang Yuan is very important, giving Su Mu a rough understanding of the enemy’s scale.

.....

"It’s already dark, and it’s getting late."

"Let’s move and have a seat at my residence."

Su Mu said to Fang Yuan.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan was momentarily stunned, then shook his head, saying, "Elder, it’s not possible."

"I cannot go to your house, Elder."

After speaking, Su Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, "Why?"

"Elder, I have already had contact with the enemy. I’m not sure if they have left anything on me as a backup plan."

"If I rashly went to your residence, I’m afraid it would expose your living place, which would... be very unfavorable to you, Elder."

Fang Yuan’s words made Su Mu pause; he didn’t expect Fang Yuan to think of this.

"Elder, although I haven’t had in-depth contact with the enemy, I can feel that they have been watching your movements."

"Also, I don’t know if you live alone, Elder; please don’t tell me either."

"If there are important relatives or family in your home, be cautious and hide them well. Don’t let others know."

Fang Yuan is very meticulous; he refused Su Mu’s invitation because he worried whether the enemy had left some kind of ’monitoring’ mark on him. Considering the enemy’s strength, it was entirely possible.

Therefore, to be foolproof, he couldn’t go to the elder’s residence and expose the elder’s home.

He was so cautious that he didn’t even ask, wouldn’t ask where the elder lived or if there were others in his house. These are very important pieces of information he couldn’t know, as his ability did not allow him to know them, nor could he protect these memories.

So, the best result is to know nothing, which is the best way not to affect Elder Su because of himself.

After listening, Su Mu was silent for a while and said, "Come with me."

.....

Soon, Su Mu led Fang Yuan into a tributary water region.

This tributary water region is relatively broad, and the environment is beautiful, with many Treasure Fish in the river, and the water quality is clean and unpolluted.

Above the water region, there is a Small Floating Island. Although the island is not very large, it is a few thousand square meters, enough for residence.

"Elder, what is this place?"

Fang Yuan looked at the island in front of him and hesitated to step onto it, worried it might be the elder’s home.

"Come on up; this is not where I live."

Hearing this, Fang Yuan stepped onto the island.

On the island, various strange-shaped Treasure Trees greeted his eyes, fluorescent vines intertwined among the forests, and clusters of bamboo forests were decorated with fireflies, creating a beautiful, serene, and pleasant environment.

Seeing this scene, Fang Yuan was stunned.

Every flower and herb here is extraordinary, all top-tier Great Medicine.

Su Mu led Fang Yuan to the center of the island, selected a suitable spot, waved his big hand, and bamboo and wood flew from the forest, and in an instant, a small bamboo courtyard was built.

After finishing all this, "This courtyard, I’ve just created a basic form for you; later, you can refine it according to your preferences."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan was stunned, pointing at himself, "Elder, is this for me?"

Su Mu nodded, "This water region’s environment is fairly good, without any ferocious beasts, suitable for quiet cultivation."

Su Mu’s actions meant he formally accepted Fang Yuan, treating him as one of his people.

Because he understood, Fang Yuan took such a big risk to deliver important information to him, and if he left here, he would surely face fierce retaliation from the enemy.

Su Mu is not one to burn bridges once they’ve crossed a river; he wouldn’t place him in a dangerous situation. Plus, he appreciated Fang Yuan, keeping him by the river was the best choice, ensuring his safety.

Once he could leave here, he would take Fang Yuan as well and would focus on cultivating him.

...

"Elder, I..." For a moment, Fang Yuan was speechless and choked; he didn’t expect the elder would create a residence for him in the River of Time, allowing him to stay.

"What’s wrong?"

"You don’t want to follow me?" Su Mu asked with a smile, his hands behind his back.

"No, I am willing to follow you to the death, Elder, no doubt about that!" Fang Yuan expressed his firm attitude.

"It’s just..." Fang Yuan had decided from the start to follow Elder Su to the death; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.

His worry was, with his weak strength, staying on the River of Time, not to mention whether he could reside there long-term, his presence would not help the elder in any way and might even be a burden.

"Just what?"

"Staying here, it seems I can’t help the elder with anything..."

Upon hearing this, Su Mu was momentarily stunned and then said with a smile, "You’ve already helped me a lot, and who can say what the future holds?"

"As long as you diligently cultivate, you might become my right-hand man in the future."

Although Fang Yuan was not the most talented young man Su Mu had seen, he was the smartest, most meticulous, and with the best mindset.

Sometimes, talent isn’t the most important thing.

Therefore, Su Mu was very optimistic about Fang Yuan, and since he was already at the end of the refining process, if everything went smoothly, he could leave here in a year or two.

After leaving, Fang Yuan would be the first cultivator he officially recruited.

....

"The Spiritual Power traces on you, your cultivation methods, seem different from other cultivators?" Su Mu asked.

Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan smiled wryly, "I come from a small place, and the cultivation methods there are very singular."

"We practice ’Refining Gu.’"

After speaking, Su Mu raised an eyebrow, "Refining Gu?"