The Card Apprentice

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Tan Xiaoyi's scholarly knowledge was extraordinary. Of the three of them she was most alike in temperament with Caesar and the two of them became close friends. They were lucky and they found some ruins. Who would have thought that this site would turn out to be a laboratory established by Rosenberg's student? This student of Rosenberg's specialized in Aurora Beam and left behind a lot of techniques related to it. After they left Tan Xiaoyi had five notebooks about Aurora Beam techniques. Not long after, Caesar drifted away. Tan Xiaoyi simply established her own laboratory and began to study Aurora Beam, but she never disclosed this."

Qiu Shanyu's chilling voice sounded like she was mocking them, but the others were fascinated.

"Meiji had actually already began to secretly have feelings for Tan Xiaoyi, and at this point had already completed his affairs at the Star Court. He went to find Tan Xiaoyi by himself. One of them was the daughter of the Master of the Western Temple of Bitter Solitude Temple, and the other was the most outstanding young talent of the Star Court of his generation. The Star Court and Bitter Solitude Temple originally thought that this would make for an excellent marriage alliance, and so naturally they facilitated it. The two of them married six months later. Two years later, not long after Tan Yumin was born, Tan Xiaoyi, who was addicted to her research, unintentionally let slip the origin of her techniques. This was found out by the Star Court and the Temple of Bitter Solitude at the same time."

Hearing this, everyone had an ominous premonition about Tan Xiaoyi's fate.

"The Star Court began to put pressure on Meiji, and the Temple of Bitter Solitude made Tan Xiaoyi's father go into action. It didn't take long for Tan Xiaoyi to die in the struggle between the Star Court and the Temple of Bitter Solitude. The two sides were evenly matched. The Master of the Western Temple of the Temple of Bitter Solitude was saddened by the death of his daughter, and for the first time Meiji defied the Star Court. So the Star Court and Bitter Solitude Temple agreed that the five notebooks would be inherited by Tan Yumin and that she would decide who to give them to. Both sides sent strong card artisans to protect her, but strangely Meiji disappeared not long after, until a few years ago when he suddenly sought out Tan Yumin."

Qiu Shanyu snorted. "Tan Yumin had been alone since she was young, with only the card artisans who protected her in secret and never revealed themselves. When she was a child her life was extremely difficult up until she was seen by an acting company. Once she became an artist her life got a bit better."

"Who are you? Why do you know this?" Jie Yanbai stared at her as he asked this quietly. Even he did not know this behind the scenes information, and the mysterious woman before him knew it in such specific detail. How could he not be shocked?

Qiu Shanyu did not look up at him. She bowed her head to eat as if she had not heard him.

"She is a member of Faya," said Chen Mu.

"Faya?" Jie Yanbai couldn't help but look at her again. "Lady Faya?" His reaction could be described as extremely fast. This mysterious woman's features matched those of Lady Faya who had been kidnapped some time ago.

His mouth hung open as he stammered at Chen Mu, "Could the White Commander be Qiao Yuan?"

Jie Yanbai's reaction time took even Chen Mu by surprise. He just nodded, "Mhm."

Jie Yanbai looked relieved. He laughed, "Ha ha, then the Black Line Star Listing is still guessing at Qiao Yuan's origin. Poor guys, they have been put together all this time." From his voice you could hear that he did not have much affection for the Black Line Star Listing.

However, he was still a little bit astonished. After learning about Lady Faya's identity, he also had to reassess Chen Mu's power. That night when he had seen Fang Shi he had discovered that his opponent's wound had still not healed. It seemed that the outside world's rumors were not wrong. Fang Shi had been wounded when Lady Faya was kidnapped. But he would never have thought Chen Mu had the power to hurt Fang Shi.

If Fang Shi had not been wounded, Jie Yanbai would not have been able to grasp victory when he faced him. However, Fang Shi's injury was an absolute fact, meaning that Chen Mu was a master who could wound him!

His first thought was that Caesar had gotten involved personally, but he quickly rejected this. He remembered the rumor that there was a mysterious cardless sect master around Qiao Yuan, and he suddenly thought of someone.

The man who was expressionless and indifferent all the time! He had rarely appeared in Jie Yanbai's field of vision, and had stayed with the teenager who wore a monkey mask.

In fact, the first time he saw him he had felt how dangerous he was! His breakthrough was in the jungle, and he had experienced many life or death battles, so he was much more sensitive to danger than ordinary people.

Jie Yanbai suddenly realized the people around the White Commander all seemed to be mysterious. However, this thought disappeared as soon as it flashed into his mind. He was somewhat curious as to these people's identities, but he didn't want to cross the White Commander due to this.

Who had no secrets?

He felt relieved when he thought this, and suddenly thought of a question. He frowned, "Then why did Miss Tan try to seek out the White Commander?"

As soon as he said that everyone frowned together. This was truly a question that made their heads hurt.

Tan Yumin was astonishingly powerful. The super master Meiji had taken personal charge of her, and she had personally formed the Yuzi Military Force, and she had the card artisans from Bitter Solitude Temple protecting her in secret. It could be said that they were the most powerful force in Dongrui city. And her sounding out Chen Mu was obviously not due to her good intentions.

Chen Mu smiled bitterly on the inside. They still didn't know that Tan Yumin needed the gold-mottled liquid-soft fungus. He didn't know why Tan Yumin needed it, but after he had finished speaking with Tai-shu Yong she had sent him an invitation. This move was enough to prove that she was determined to get it.

Chen Mu had in fact noticed that Tan Yumin had paid great attention to him from the start, far beyond ordinary curiosity. However, her sounding him out that night far exceeded her usual level of attention.

What had happened there? What was it that had made Tan Yumin increase her attention towards him?

No, this was no longer just attention, it could be called purposeful action!

What was her goal?

Everyone finished their dinner in this imposing atmosphere, which made the chef who was watching from afar jittery. Could it be that the dinner tonight was not to their taste?

After eating Chen Mu did not immediately continue with the One Breath Perception Training Method. Instead he sought out steward of Tai family castle. The steward was an old man of about 60 years old. His hair was completely white and he dressed very elegantly, and he always maintained a good demeanor.

Tai-shu Yong had told him that this man's importance was very clear, so once he knew that Chen Mu was looking for him, the steward appeared before him.

"Is there something I can assist you with?" the steward asked respectfully.

"I need some materials, here is the list." Chen Mu handed over a list of materials that he had written beforehand.

The steward felt a bit uncertain. Materials? What materials? But he did not say anything, he just carefully and respectfully accepted the list that Chen Mu handed him. He glanced over it and then relaxed. They were just some of the most basic and common materials, and not very costly.

"When do you need it?"

"Immediately?"

"Alright, I'll bring all the materials to you within ten minutes. Please wait," the steward answered respectfully.

Ten minutes later the materials arrived and the steward left tactfully. Chen Mu could skillfully recited the performance effectiveness of each of the materials. When he had made card players with Copper, he had worked with these materials countless times. He could not be more familiar with them.

With his current card-making proficiency making one-star fantasy cards was a simple matter. He didn't even need any auxiliary equipment, and using the simplest cold collection method he could easily formulate the ink cartridges that he needed.

In just five minutes he had finished the card.

This card could release the image of a verdant, glistening flower. Other than that it did nothing. He had already decided to use Qiu Shanyu's plan because he couldn't think of a better one. As long as that she-devil was in the Heavenly Federation, there was a great chance that she'd be able to see this advertisement and use it to find him. He had to say that Qiu Shanyu's insights were incomparable.

However, for reasons of safety Chen Mu had made Qiu Shanyu's plan into a fantasy card, and even her signature was made into a card. Adding someone else's signature into a fantasy card was not something that a regular card master could do. But for Chen Mu it was only a small problem.

Taking advantage of the darkness, he quietly sent an envelope with the two fantasy cards to the address that Qiu Shanyu had written down. This was one of Faya's top-secret places. If Qiu Shanyu hadn't actively revealed it, Chen Mu would never have thought of it. Even the city administration building of mighty Dongrui City could become a secret residence for Faya.

Rong Ping had been tired these days. Over the past few days they had had a lot of work. In this age of rival warlords setting up separatist regimes, real power was in the hands of the noble families. The powers that city hall could actually exercise were quite pitiful. Aside from the usual welfare issues, city surveys and other activities, their workload was quite light.

As far as common people were concerned, although you wouldn't have much advancement opportunity if you went to work for city hall, the work was leisurely and the salary was good, so it was a good job.

Rong Ping was tired, but not because of his work. They had not had any news of the lady in a long time. He had worked under the lady, and had always admired her wisdom. She had none of the indecisiveness of ordinary women, and her decision-making ability was not at all inferior to men's. He even believed that the lady would be the next leader of Faya.

But she had been kidnapped! He still clearly remembered when he had heard the news. He had been so surprised!

The first thing he had thought had been: impossible!

But soon, as orders came in from above, he realized it was the truth.

So, before he received his orders, he began to use all his power to find out the truth. But up until today he had nothing. They had disappeared suddenly and left no clues.

Rest up a bit, then think of a way. He rubbed his numb forehead, cleaned up a bit, and then opened his office door as he prepared to leave.

He suddenly found a brand new envelope lying on the ground outside his door.