Chapter 104: The Tale of Northern Abyss Pass

Sitting beside him, I heard my master mention my grandfather’s name and immediately realized what was happening: Master was setting the stage for me to shine.

As expected, Qi Han looked at me, then back at my master, and spoke up, "Senior, you surely don't mean..."

Master nodded, gesturing toward me as he said, "The person beside me is the twenty-sixth head of the Lin family. You surely cannot be unaware of the Lin family's influence in the supernatural realm. While your Qi family is considered a prominent clan, in the presence of the Lin family, it is truly a small matter."

Upon hearing this, Qi Han looked at me in astonishment, though he remained skeptical. He chuckled and said, "Senior, I understand what you are implying, but how can I believe this? While he carries the surname Lin, what prominent family would have a teenager as its head? If this got out, wouldn't people laugh? Right?"

Seeing that Qi Han was unconvinced, Master did not get angry. Instead, he gave a cold smile and removed the Yang-Yin Jade from my neck. Qi Han watched him with confusion, but when he saw the jade, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he frowned deeply. Master placed the jade on the table and asked, "You recognize this pendant, don't you?"

Qi Han was completely stunned. He stared at the jade and whispered, "This is... the Yang-Yin Jade, the Black and White Fish."

At this, Qi Han suddenly snapped his head up to look at me. I maintained an indifferent expression. Qi Han looked at me again and said, "How is this possible? Why would the elder Lin pass the position of family head to a child? This..."

Master smiled, took the jade back, placed it in my hand, and said, "Because... this boy is the grandson of the old master Lin."

"Boom." A thunderous explosion echoed in Qi Han’s mind. For a moment, he was too shocked to speak. However, being the head of his own family, he recognized that he was losing his composure. He smoothed his expression and addressed me, "Head of the Lin family, my apologies. I have been blind."

I shook my head and remained silent. Having heard the title "Head of the Lin family" from Lin Fang at least a hundred times, I had grown accustomed to it. Master looked at Qi Han and asked, "Well, what about now?"

Qi Han understood Master’s implication. He stood up, bowed to both me and Master, and said, "Senior, Head of the Lin family, I apologize for my previous words. I can lend you my people, but you must guarantee their safety."

Master smiled. We both stood up, and he replied, "I have said they will not be in danger. Very well, since you have agreed, I will not bother you any further. The days ahead are long; you have only sat in this position for a few years, so do not let your ego expand."

Afterward, Master patted Qi Han on the shoulder, and we walked out. Qi Han followed us with an awkward smile, seeing us all the way to the gate. At the entrance, he said, "Senior, Head of the Lin family, my men will arrive this afternoon. From then on, they are at your command."

Master nodded. I didn't say a word as we returned to the hotel. Master wore a perpetual smile. Observing his expression, I remarked, "The Qi family isn't such a big deal after all. They’re just like bootlickers."

Master chuckled, turned to me, and said, "That is because they are afraid of your Lin family."

"Afraid of our family? What do you mean, Master?" I asked, puzzled.

Master walked with his hands behind his back, smiling as he explained, "Because the Lin family, led by your grandfather in the past, was a force no one dared to provoke. They pressured other supernatural families until they could barely breathe, eventually forcing all of them to acknowledge your family as their leaders. It wasn't until your grandfather led the Lin family into seclusion that these families slowly regained their vitality. The Qi family is one of them. Their former leader, Qi Haifeng—Qi Han’s father—once refused to submit to your grandfather and challenged him. The result was that the Qi family was almost wiped out by the Lin clan. Having suffered a bitter loss, Qi Haifeng finally submitted and ordered that all Lin family members be treated with the utmost respect, forbidding his clan from ever provoking you again. In doing so, he essentially saved the Qi family’s life."

Walking down the street, I was stunned by Master's words. What shocked me most was that my grandfather had such an illustrious past, commanding the respect of the entire supernatural circle. It was incredibly imposing.

Seeing my dazed expression, Master smiled. "You don't need to be surprised. Although the Lin family is in seclusion, the influence remains. At the very least, with your current identity, you can walk through the supernatural world unimpeded. However, you must not let your ego swell like Qi Han’s. Do what is right, and keep a clear conscience. You will learn the rest in time."

I nodded. Master gave a satisfied grunt as we returned to the hotel. With nothing left to do outside and all the preliminary investigation complete, we had locked onto Ghost Mountain as the source. By following this thread, we would eventually hook the "big fish" inside the Lock-Dragon Well.

We stayed at the hotel for a day, and the men sent by the Qi family arrived, fully armed. Master gathered them to briefly explain the tasks for the next day. To my surprise, Master was not asking them to act as muscle, but to monitor the movements around Ghost Mountain.

I watched the fifty-some members of the Qi family, who were all visibly shocked by Master’s instructions. Master smiled and said, "I told you, you will not be in mortal danger. I only need you elite members of the Qi family to help me keep a close watch on Ghost Mountain. From the moment he lands at the capital airport, report his every move to me immediately. How about that? It’s an easy job, and you won't need to engage in any fighting."

The fifty-some men looked at Master, offered an awkward smile, and replied in unison that they understood. Master nodded and added, "Go find your positions and stay hidden. Do not be discovered. If he escapes, it’s a minor matter, but if you get hurt, that would be a major problem. Is that clear?"

"Clear!" the men shouted.

Master nodded, and they headed out. He slumped into a chair, sighed, and said, "Ah, it’s been a long time since I’ve had to bark orders like that. I miss it."

I paused, then asked, "Master, what were you like in the past? Where is the Beiming Pass, and why do some people tremble at the mere mention of it?"

Master glanced at me. "You aren't a child anymore; there are some things you ought to know. Let me tell you. The Beiming Pass was actually an organization dedicated to policing the supernatural realm and maintaining order across the three realms and six paths. Its leader was a truly mad man. In those days, even the Ten Kings of Hell and the great factions of the mortal world dared not provoke the Beiming Pass. It was arguably the greatest power in the supernatural world. However, one day, the leader of the Beiming Pass encountered a figure from the Demonic Path. Young and reckless, the leader fought the peace-disturber for three days and nights without a clear victor. On that day, all members of the Beiming Pass and all the factions of the Demonic Path were slaughtered, leaving the ground awash in blood. Even after days of heavy rain, the blood could not be washed away. In the end, the leader of the Beiming Pass was ambushed by the Saint of the Demonic Path. He was not only severely wounded but... his power was sealed. The Beiming Pass is now scattered, and that person from the Beiming Pass can never return."

As he spoke, his voice grew quieter until I could barely hear him, catching only fragments about the Demonic Path and the ambush. After he finished, he lowered his head and said nothing more. I looked at him, confused, and asked, "What is the Demonic Path, Master?"

Master looked up, sighed, and said, "The Demonic Path is the way of evil. Currently, there are three great evil forces lurking in the supernatural world: the Ghost Path, the Demonic Path, and the Evil Sects. We have three great righteous forces to counter them. In the past, it was the Beiming Pass, Maoshan, and Longhu Mountain. Now, it is Maoshan at the forefront, with Longhu Mountain second."

"And the third?" I interrupted.

Master looked at me and said, "The third is the White Horse Temple, led by Buddhism."

"White Horse Temple?" I asked, bewildered.

Master nodded. Having regained his composure, he continued, "The White Horse Temple is the first ancient temple in China, located in Luoyang, Henan. It has a history of nineteen hundred years. Although it is now a national-level scenic spot, the monks there are all top-tier masters of the dharma. They appear ordinary, but in reality, they are the leaders of Buddhism in the supernatural realm. Even today, no one dares to challenge the White Horse Temple."

I nodded in sudden realization, finally grasping the current landscape of the supernatural world.