In Monica’s eyes, James was but a clown. A very successful one, at that, to have fooled even the Young Master of the Elixir
Pavilion.
At the same exact moment, the Great Elder of the World Pavilion was already on his way to the Master’s closed-door meditation
sanctuary. There were extremely steep stone walls at the back of the mountain. When he reached a stone wall, he held up his
hand. Then, some mysterious prints and symbols appeared and enmeshed themselves within the wall in front of him.
A loud roar came from the wall, followed by a crack, into which Grasberg walked. He entered a cave that extended inwards and
arrived at a stone house located within its depths.
Within the stone house, a middle-aged man was sitting cross-legged. A man with long hair who looked to be in his forties had
mysterious symbols floating around his body in a circular motion.
“Master.” Grasberg walked towards him. As this world operated based on the law of the jungle, he referred to Wollongong as
‘Master’ even though he was his son.
Wollongong raised his head and glanced at Grasberg. One could vaguely see mysterious forces circulating within the veins that
surfaced on his skin. His expression was in slight pain.
“Is something the matter?” Wollongong spoke with a hoarse, shaking voice.
With a respectful tone, Grasberg said, “Master, a youngster came from the outside world to the World Pavilion. He knows about
your injury and has brought with him a healing elixir. He also said that he has questions for you.”
“Who is this man?” Wollongong was shocked. He was injured in Mount Baidi. Not many people knew what took place there. How
did an outsider find out?
Grasberg shook his head, “I don’t know who he is. What I do know is that even the Young Master of the Elixir Pavilion is treating
him with courtesy. This youngster has explicitly stated that he is here to meet you.”
Wollongong fell into deep thought. After a long while, his expression returned to normal as he stood up and said, “Since he’s
here, let’s go see him.”
“Okay.”
......
After a rather long wait in the main hall, the Great Elder reappeared, with a middle-aged man behind him. Seeing this, Monica
stood up hurriedly and respectfully called out, “Master.”
Wollongong walked towards James and looked at him. After sensing his rank, he could not help but raise his eyebrow, yet he
could not slight James when standing beside him was an Alchemist whose badge stated, ‘Elixir Pavilion’s Highest Ranking
Alchemist’.
With a smile, he asked, “I am the Master of the World Pavilion. May I know how I can be of help?”
Wollongong was reluctant to bow down and speak in such a humble tone. However, he could not do otherwise when Grasberg
had already told him that the Elixir Pavilion’s Young Master respected this youngster.
James responded without hesitation, “I’ve come to the World Pavilion for one purpose only, which is to go to Mount Baidi.
Wollongong’s expression changed obviously when James mentioned Mount Baidi. However, he reigned in his shock and reacted
quickly. Feigning ignorance, he said, “Mount Baidi? Where’s that?”
He asked the Grasberg who was standing beside him, “Have you heard of that place?”
The Great Elder shook his head and said, “No, I haven’t.”
Wollongong turned towards James again and said with an apologetic expression, “James, you must be mistaken. I don’t know
where Mount Baidi is.”
Suddenly, Jules erupted with fury. “Wollongong, don’t mess around with us. If James says you know, then you must know. Tell
him what you know about Mount Baidi. If you anger James, with one strike from him even ten World Pavilions would turn into
ashes, let alone this measly one.”