Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Superstar

The Lord of the Night was an unresolved issue for Ye Yan, something that had weighed on his heart ever since he crossed over to this world. If he couldn’t awaken the Lord of the Night, his strength would likely remain stagnant, unable to go any further. To advance, he had to overcome that barrier. Yet, he had no clue where to begin.

Life was truly difficult. Ye Yan sighed, restless and wishing to light a cigarette. He had just pulled out a cigarette and lighter, but when he turned his head and saw the no-smoking sign nearby, he had to suppress his craving and put them away.

This damned place... Even something as simple as having a smoke was strictly regulated. It was unbearable.

Ye Yan shoved the cigarette and lighter back into his pocket and turned to see Xu Si deep in thought, his face unusually solemn.

Ye Yan walked over and patted his shoulder. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, curious.

Xu Si glanced at him. “I was just wondering, what do you suppose the Old Grandmaster and Zhang Chulan are discussing in that room for so long?”

“I have no idea, but it’s definitely not about going to the docks for some fries.”

Xu Si: “...”

Having known Ye Yan for so long, Xu Si was accustomed to his unpredictable remarks and peculiar logic. He had learned to accept it.

Xu Si shook his head, speechless. “I’m being serious here. Can’t you be a little more earnest?”

“I am earnest,” Ye Yan sighed. “What could they be talking about? Probably old stories, reflections on their past.”

“That makes sense,” Xu Si mused, agreeing with the reasoning. Considering Zhang Chulan’s character, Xu Si could guess that his questions would revolve around matters concerning his grandfather.

Still, Xu Si’s anxiety was simply the result of his concern. He was mainly worried whether the Old Grandmaster would act against Zhang Chulan.

Ever since Zhang Chulan’s father passed away, he had fully aligned himself with the Xu family. There was no doubt about it.

Seeing Xu Si still looking troubled, Ye Yan chose not to interfere. “Alright... if you want to wait here, be my guest. I need to go take care of something.”

Originally, Ye Yan intended to pay his respects to the Old Grandmaster first, hoping for a brief conversation, or perhaps to obtain a technique that could generate darkness.

But the moment he arrived, the Old Grandmaster whisked Zhang Chulan away, leaving him no opportunity.

Ye Yan couldn’t waste his time here.

So, he decided to take care of other matters.

Seeing Ye Yan about to leave, Wang Ye hurriedly asked, “Do you want me to come with you? The situation on Dragon Tiger Mountain is pretty complicated, but I know my way around.”

“No need. I’m just going to buy a few things,” Ye Yan replied without hesitation.

What he was about to do might affect his personal reputation; it was better to keep things discreet.

He found an excuse: “You still have some senior brothers you haven’t visited, right? Take this chance to go see them. We'll all be participating in the Heavenly Gathering, so let’s meet later at the back mountain.”

Wang Ye hesitated. He did have quite a few senior brothers on Dragon Tiger Mountain, and it was rare for him to come by. Not visiting them would be impolite; relationships needed tending.

“Alright, I’ll see you at the back mountain later.”

Just as Ye Yan was about to leave, the closed door of the reception room suddenly swung open, and Zhang Chulan walked out with his head lowered, looking dejected.

“Are you alright?” Xu Si quickly moved to greet him.

“I’m fine, Brother Si,” Zhang Chulan forced himself to perk up. Then he turned to Ye Yan. “By the way, Brother Yan, my master said he’d like you to come in as well.”

“He wants to see me?!” Ye Yan was caught off guard, pulling back his step.

“Alright, I understand.”

Although he didn’t know why the Old Grandmaster wanted to see him, Ye Yan quickly turned around and headed toward the open door of the reception room.

After all, he had intended to meet the Old Grandmaster anyway.

...

...

“You’re here?!”

Before Ye Yan could step fully into the reception room, the Old Grandmaster’s voice echoed in his ears.

Ye Yan looked up. In the dimly lit room, the Old Grandmaster, dressed in a brown-blue Daoist robe, was seated on a meditation cushion beneath a portrait, smiling warmly at him.

“Come, sit!” the Old Grandmaster gestured to the empty cushion opposite him, smiling.

Although invited, Ye Yan did not immediately approach. Instead, he stood at the door and respectfully bowed to the Old Grandmaster from afar.

“Ye Yan pays his respects to the Old Grandmaster.”

Unlike Wang Ye, whose ritual was elaborate, Ye Yan’s gesture was the simple courtesy of a younger man. He did not announce his lineage, for he was unaffiliated and solitary.

“Be at ease,” the Old Grandmaster said gently. He did not emanate an overwhelming aura, though his every movement still carried the dignity of authority.

Ye Yan took his seat on the cushion opposite, facing the Old Grandmaster. Both sized each other up.

“I’ve heard much about you, Ye Yan, but you’re even younger than I imagined. May I ask which sect you hail from, if you don’t mind sharing?”

Young, mysterious, and possessing power far beyond his peers. He had risen to prominence in just a few short years, without any apparent background, as if he had appeared out of thin air.

Such a figure would arouse anyone’s curiosity, and the Old Grandmaster was no exception.

“Certainly...” Ye Yan smiled. “We Night Watchers aren’t much of a secret. It’s an ancient lineage, with some connection to the corpse herders of old.”

“But unlike the emergence of the corpse herders, the Night Watchers have always lived in seclusion, passing the legacy to only one disciple per generation. The elders guarded the great tombs, but in my generation, I grew restless and ventured out.”

“With only a little inherited knowledge from my ancestors, I managed to make a small name for myself—hardly anything remarkable.”

...

Ye Yan used this well-rehearsed explanation to divert the Old Grandmaster’s inquiry, masking his true identity as a traveler from another world.

He had used this story to fool Xu Si, Feng Zhenghao, and now the Old Grandmaster as well.

No one could trace his origins; lies came easily, and he had no fear of being exposed.

“So that’s how it is...” The Old Grandmaster found nothing suspicious in Ye Yan’s words.

There were many hidden masters and all sorts of extraordinary people in this world. The sudden appearance of a Night Watcher might be abrupt, but not unbelievable.

“Your skills are hardly insignificant, young friend. Though your energy arts are weak, your methods are enough to rank among the best. Given a few decades, even I may not be your match.”

The Old Grandmaster’s expression was tinged with emotion. Looking at Ye Yan, he felt as though he was seeing his younger self—already at the top at such a young age.