Chapter 489

"Senior brother, go ahead and say it."

Wang Yuping nodded at Lin Bai.

"Go find me the list of participants for this competition."

"Especially the other four sects—I need to study each of them."

Lin Bai stared solemnly at Wang Yuping.

"Senior brother, leave this to me."

Wang Yuping nodded; he knew well that though he had been unwilling to participate, he had already made his decision and could not change it now.

Seeing Lin Bai so confident, for some inexplicable reason, he too felt a flicker of confidence, and hurried off to gather the contestants' information for Lin Bai.

"You heard? The major sects' Bishi Assembly is about to begin—me, you, and Wang Yuping are all going."

By noon, Wei Xiang had gotten word and hurried over to Lin Bai's side, his face beaming with excitement; he had not been pleased at first upon hearing he was included.

After all, he knew better than anyone what the Zong Sect Bishi Assembly was like—every year he went, he only ended up humiliated.

But when he learned Lin Bai would be going this year, he realized his worries were unnecessary.

With Lin Bai there, for some reason, he felt inexplicably at ease.

He simply trusted that Lin Bai could do it.

Even if they didn't take first place, at least they wouldn't remain the eternal fourth-place finishers.

"I heard. Early this morning, the Sect Master summoned me and my master; by timing, I should've known before you did."

Lin Bai's lips curled slightly upward as he smiled at the other.

"Oh, so you knew? I thought you didn't, so I came over specially."

"But where's Wang Yuping? Why haven't I seen him?"

Wei Xiang felt a pang of disappointment, but quickly realized that since arriving at Qingluan Peak, he hadn't seen Wang Yuping at all—this kid usually either socialized with junior disciples or stuck to Lin Bai's side; not seeing him for once made him curious.

"Wang Yuping went to gather the participants' information for me—I didn't know much about the Bishi Assembly, so I wanted to see what the other sects' disciples are like."

"Anyway, it's good to understand them."

Lin Bai spoke calmly.

"That explains why I couldn't find him."

"So he went out on an errand."

Hearing Lin Bai's words, Wei Xiang looked suddenly enlightened and nodded quickly.

"By the way, has your senior brother sent back any news?"

Lin Bai nodded, then suddenly remembered Xiao Hua's message, and turned his gaze to Wei Xiang.

After all, both Xiao Hua and Wei Xiang were disciples of Elder Lu.

He'd surely hear any news right away,

Asking him was sure to work—especially since he was so gossipy.

"No, since he left, no news has come back—only thing we can confirm is that he's still alive."

Hearing Lin Bai's words, Wei Xiang's previously excited face instantly turned serious.

His tone, however, sounded casual.

"Wei Xiang, I've been curious for a while—what's going on between you and Xiao Hua?"

"Why do I always feel something happened between you two?"

Lin Bai, watching Wei Xiang's expression, asked the question he'd long wondered about.

Though Lin Bai had previously thought it none of his business, Wei Xiang's recent behavior had grown increasingly puzzling to him.

After all, when Wei Xiang used to be at odds with him, he'd even asked Xiao Hua to stand up for him.

Could it be he thought Xiao Hua was inferior to him, so he no longer recognized him as senior brother?

But Lin Bai felt this reason didn't quite hold up, so he still wanted to ask Wei Xiang what was really going on.

"Senior brother, I'm telling you this—but you can't tell anyone else, because I'm not even sure myself."

Wei Xiang glanced around, confirmed no one was nearby, then looked at Lin Bai with a mysterious expression.

"Mm, go ahead. Don't worry—I won't tell anyone."

Seeing his expression, Lin Bai nodded. He vaguely wondered if Wei Xiang had discovered the same thing he had.

"It's just..."

"Senior brother, I'm back."

Just as Wei Xiang was about to speak, Wang Yuping's voice came in—and Wei Xiang instantly swallowed his words and sat upright in his chair.

Seeing this, Lin Bai realized Wei Xiang didn't want Wang Yuping to know, so he didn't press further.

Soon after, Wang Yuping appeared inside Lin Bai's cave dwelling.

"Wei Xiang, what are you doing here? When did you arrive?"

Seeing Wei Xiang, Wang Yuping blinked.

21)