“Yes.” Zhu nodded. “The key wasn’t in there either.”

With a heavy expression, Yuan Mo spoke. “Even then, we need to keep searching. Although we have one, we can’t afford to rest until we find other keys. Every single one is another layer of assurance. Even if us old fogies will die sooner rather than later, we definitely won’t let our children suffer. Prophesied era is upon us. Our actions decide whether it is a blessing or a calamity.”

“Is it really that serious?” The youth asked with a frown.

“It is. It affects the world as a whole, so why wouldn’t it be?” Zhu nodded. “Otherwise, why would we be exploring all sorts of ruins and restricted zones? You think we’re having fun sniffing around like rats?”

“If you say so.” The youth shrugged. “When’s the next mission?”

Zhu rubbed his chin before answering, “How about three days? Is that enough time to prepare?”

“It should be. Alright!” The youth nodded.

Looking at the excited boy, Yuan Mo sighed before asking, “Is there something you want to do before leaving again?”

The boy shook his head. “No—wait! There’s an idiot I want to beat up. Hmph!”

A wry smile played on Zhu’s face. “What happened this time? What trouble did you cause—who did what?”

The young boy explained, “I was coming over to you when an idiot bumped into me. I was walking forward and his back hit me from the side. I scolded him a little, but that idiot dared to hit me. Hmph!”

“Who did this?” Zhu asked. Worry flashed deep within his eyes. He couldn’t help but sigh inside. This boy is too bullheaded and inflexible for his own good.

The boy’s eyes brightened. “You’ll help me?”

“Of course not.” Zhu shot him down before he could finish speaking.

Looking annoyed, the youth whined to Yuan Mo, “Old man, this master isn’t even willing to help his own disciple. Just fire him already. I’m so done with him. Just wait till I get as strong as him. Then I’ll definitely beat him black and blue. Hmph!”

Zhu snorted. Raising his fist, he said, “Brat, dare say that again? I promise if you do, you won’t get off the bed for the next two days.”

“Old man, see?” The boy said, pointing at Zhu. “This master knows nothing other than beating children.”

Yuan Mo shook his head. “This is for your own good. If you can’t even handle this, what will you do when you have to face someone even stronger?”

The boy fell into thought before nodding. “You’re right. I’ll find him and teach him the meaning of social commerce… condense… conduit…”

While the boy searched for the word, Zhu shook his head. He couldn’t help but ask, “You mean conduct?”

The boy slapped his thigh. “Yeah! That’s the word!”

Shaking his head, Zhu came back on topic. “Let that be. Let’s go over the details. This time, it’s a temple ruin, with the warding barrier accepts nothing over the Step of Spring-Swelling. As for arcana, a Spell-Binder can barely enter. Considering that, Diego, you fit the bill quite nicely.”

The boy nodded. Walking closer to the table, he saw Zhu pull out another map before sprawling it atop the first one.

The discussion continued for a long while, with many details and situations discussed. At times, Yuan Mo joined in, giving his own views over the matter, whereas for the rest of the time, he sat there silently, watching Zhu’s arrangements while sipping his cup of tea.

Heaving a drawn out breath, the boy—Diego—said, “Alright! Now that the planning is finished, let’s talk about my reward and—”

Before he could finish speaking, the sound of a door opening rang out. Faint humming drifted through the air as the sound of footsteps encroached towards the room.

In an instant, the room devolved into deathly silence. Looking around, Zhu got up to take a look. But before he could walk out of the room, a boy’s voice rang out. “Teacher Mo, I’m back. I’ll be in the shower if anything comes—it’s you! What’re you doing here?!”

As Samuel crossed through the corridor, his gaze involuntarily swept through the room, landing on the young boy sitting in a chair. The boy’s head was as clean as a glass ball, with a scar running from his forehead to the crown of his head. His eyes stared back at Samuel, full of shock.

Rising to his feet, Diego asked, “What are you doing here? Wait, are you that son of Emriticia’s Leo?”

Holding back his frown, Samuel Smirked as he replied, “So what if I am? And so what if I am not? What does it matter to you? Not like he is your dad.”

Diego’s brows sank. “Did I give you too much respect? Fine, I’ll teach you public conduct. Come and get beaten!”

Zhu and Yuan Mo watched the show from the side, having no intentions to intervene in the slightest. Instead, Zhu sat back down while Yuan Mo passed him a cup of tea.

Giving the boy an odd look, Samuel shrugged. “Why do you think I fight you?”

The boy opened his mouth. But before he could speak, Samuel raised a hand to stop him as he proceeded with his tirade.

“Look at you. You don’t even know that you shouldn’t speak when someone else is talking. Just because you think I should fight you, I should do it? Do I not have my own thoughts? Such inconsideration. Tsk. Tsk. And asking someone about something without so much as even greeting them? In such a rude manner as well. And then you talk about public conduct. How shameless. Do you even know how to spell it? Hmph!

“If that’s not lacking in manners, I don’t know what is. Even then, you say you’ll teach me public conduct? Hate to break it to you, buddy, but you’re far from qualified. Maybe try again after ten reincarnations and then we’ll talk.” Finishing his words, Samuel waved his hands, turning to leave.

“You…” Diego grit his teeth.