While the two Elders had the discussion, not far from them, Yun Bei Fen was once again practicing his ability to control his flying sword under Mei Chao Bing's guidance. Or, well, Yun Bei Fen was practicing his ability. As for Mei Chao Bing's guidance … To be honest, there wasn't very much of that.
Yun Bei Fen couldn't help but steal glances at Mei Chao Bing every now and then only to find the same pensive expression on his face. It really made him worried. Mei Chao Bing had looked like this all the time since they had gone back to the stone desert. It made him wonder if there had been something he had noticed.
He wanted to ask but then again, he might not understand and he didn't want to bother Mei Chao Bing while he was thinking. What if he lost track of where he had just been in his musings and couldn't find the answer he wanted? That wouldn't do.
Yun Bei Fen looked back at the sword that seemed to be shaking even more than usual and sighed. It would be good if he knew a bit more about cultivation. Then he would be able to help Mei Chao Bing instead of just being a bother all the time. Maybe he should also do the same as Yi Ju and ask the others to help them out a bit. If he learned more, then Mei Chao Bing would probably be proud of him.
He pondered for a moment and finally shook his head. Even if he did, that also wouldn't be good. After all, he would get to spend much less time with Mei Chao Bing if he had one of the others teach him. Wasn't it much better to have Mei Chao Bing teach him? Then he could learn and still spend time with him.
Yun Bei Fen once again looked over and then finally lowered the sword. He hesitated again but then walked over, sitting down next to Mei Chao Bing. Then he just looked at him.
Mei Chao Bing glanced up at the sound of footsteps and was startled out of his thoughts. Right … He had forgotten to give advice to Yun Bei Fen. He sighed and reached out, rubbing Yun Bei Fen's head. "I'm sorry, I was … thinking about something."
Yun Bei Fen watched his expression and pursed his lips. "Can I help with that?"
Mei Chao Bing's lips curled into a smile. Most likely, Yun Bei Fen would not be able to help. But just that he was asking him was already very good. "Well, I'm just thinking about what happened today. I find it … to be too coincidental."
Yun Bei Fen blinked his eyes. "But isn't that good? We were pretty lucky, weren't we?"
"Well, if we were, then that would be good. The problem is that I'm not quite sure if it's just luck or something else."
"Fate?" Yun Bei Fen couldn't imagine anything else. And he still remembered that back then when his Master had met him for the first time, he had also talked about fate. Maybe that was once again helping them.
Mei Chao Bing almost wanted to laugh but held back at the last moment. Actually, it was very good that Yun Bei Fen was able not to assume the worst immediately. That was a gift. It was one he should never have to lose. Unfortunately, they were currently at a place where they didn't have that kind of luxury. Yun Bei Fen definitely needed to be warned or there might be trouble in the future.
"To be honest, I'm thinking of something a little worse. Like what if those traces we found were left there deliberately? Maybe after what happened with the array the other day, the demonic practitioners are trying to lay a trap? That would be one way to do it. They could make us believe something and chase the clues they leave us and then when we reach the end, all that would be waiting for us will be a trap leading to our death. That would be the worst outcome possible. It's not something I want to see."
Yun Bei Fen nodded. That seemed pretty logical. Unfortunately, he also didn't know what could be done about that. "Maybe my Master would know?" Although he had some trouble imagining that his Master would be able to come up with something if senior martial brother Mei couldn't think of anything.
Mei Chao Bing reached out and nudged his nose. "You were thinking something mean about your Master just now, weren't you?"
Yun Bei Fen shook his head. Had he been thinking something bad about his Master? Certainly not. He had been thinking something good about Mei Chao Bing!
Mei Chao Bing shook his head and sighed. By now, he was able to see when this kind of thing happened. Sometimes, Yun Bei Fen would look at him with that kind of worshiping gaze that he didn't deserve.
When they had been with Elder Baili or even if they had just been talking, that gaze would often be followed by something like praising him while denying the option that his Master might know better. So this definitely meant that he had been thinking something bad about his Master just now, didn't it? Well, anyway, he had at least still brought up the idea.
"I think it would indeed be for the best to talk with Elder Baili. I'm just afraid that I'll make it worse with that. After all, my Master is part of the other side now. What if me thinking like this was precisely what he wants? What if me talking to Elder Baili and Elder Xing will lead to something even worse? I'm just afraid that I'm unable to think as far as my Master. I really don't want to be responsible for anybody losing their life."
But he was pretty sure that if they went even one step wrong, it would certainly result in death. After all, his Master had never been one to hold back. Even before he became a traitor, his thinking had always been very black-and-white: Kill others before they can kill you, finish off a threat before it can harm you, never show mercy if you can uproot a problem once and for all.
That type of man … He had no illusions that he would do everything to kill all of them off including him as his former disciple. He just was that type of person.