Dual Cultivation God Returns

Chapter 757: Peeking behind a veil



A relatively inconspicuous complex of buildings, closed off by walls from the surroundings, located in the depths of the seedy areas of the Silver Wing City entered Wu Long's sight.

The sense of tension and danger of the streets they passed to get here, the shifty and scrutinizing eyes of the people, and the constant noise were all gone.

The street looked and felt almost like a quaint residential area, except for the fact there were not even occasional passers

Wu Long's eyes shifted to an artistic mosaic made with excellent craftsmanship from mother-of-pearl and dark wood above the perpetually open gates, which depicted a black moon hiding behind the clouds above a palace.

Such a piece of striking and luxurious artistry would've felt out of place, were it not for the fact it had a weathered, untended look that made it blend in with the run-down surroundings. However, this mosaic still caught Wu Long's attention despite its state. What stood out to him was that the moon was made of the dark wood part that was used for contours of the world around the moon, not the iridescent nacre that naturally attracted the eyes.

Zhao Xieren was the one in front, and Wu Long was lost in a small group behind him as they approached the gates.

A servant appeared from the side of the gate arc, his appearance felt sudden against the backdrop of the unpopulated scenery, even though he might have been hidden by the wall, standing right by the gate on the other side all along.

However, even Zhao Xieren could tell that was not the case, and that the man before them only arrived to meet them.

The servant silently bowed, and made a gesture to follow him.

Zhao Xieren's demeanor didn't show any surprise, as he was instructed more or less on how this visit would proceed.

However, as they were led to the central building and not one of the annexes, the likely scenario he was told about by Wu Long began to deviate.

Wu Long was also inwardly surprised, but quickly adjusted, 'It seems the Obsidian Moon are also interested in playing mind games... how straightforward'

They were led through the completely empty courtyards and passages, until they reached the main building which was also empty wherever they passed.

Wu Long knew that many people could appear at any moment, but at the moment, the building and premises were truly empty.

Eventually, the servant who led them stopped at a door with the exact same image as the mosaic outside carved on its halves, only this time the parts which were made with nacre were replaced with simpler light-colored wood.

The servant turned to them, bowed, and quickly retreating disappeared behind a smaller door to the side, shortly after which his aura disappeared as well.

Both halves of the door before them slid to the sides, and what greeted their eyes was a plain- looking middle-aged man, one that would not stand out of a crowd of passers by if he were walking the street, standing in the center of a circular, well-maintained, but mostly empty

room.

However, what was striking was that the man didn't look at Zhao Xieren, but at the masked Wu Long in the group behind him.

After a moment of silence, Wu Long came forward not seeing any meaning in continuing the charade, and Zhao Xieren, understanding the situation, stood to the side.

"I greet the honorable **Yaoxing**", the middle-aged man spoke with a slightly raspy voice, the last word spoken in a language Zhao Xieren and those with him did not understand.

"I don't remember holding such a title or name", Wu Long who did understand chuckled, taking off the wooden mask.

"This humble one does not dare address Yaoxing any other way", the man spoke without missing a beat. His voice and demeanor contained respect that could even be seen as reverence.

"...", a slightly puzzled silence fell as Wu Long was mystified, intrigued and alert all at the same time.

He knew for sure one thing, whatever this man called him, he knew him somehow, in some kind of capacity.

'That does put me in a bit of a pickle', he thought as this was basically the first time in this life he was put on the other end of not knowing who his opponent was while the other side knew who he was, although it was not certain which identity it was, and if it was even really his.

It wasn't a comfortable position to be in, but then again, while his identity wasn't as sensitive and sensational as it is now, in the past life it was far from a rare situation.

But before Wu Long could clarify, the man opened his mouth to speak.

"This humble one is not qualified, but will relay the words. The Obsidian Moon will sit in the sky, but its reflections in the waters of the earth will be all that could be touched. It appeared in this pond so that Yaoxing would know that", the man proceeded to have a humbled expression and tone of voice throughout, deeply bowing his head at the end.

Wu Long's eyebrows went up, and then as a smirk appeared on his face, he nodded, turned, and moved to leave the place, followed closely by Zhao Xieren and the others.

Old Man Zhao was constantly turning his head to give a puzzled look to the middle-aged man who was still bowing, not moving a single muscle, toward their receding figures, until the two halves of the door with the image slid back into place, as did several sliding doors of the corridor they passed.

"They'll not interfere, not to oppose, but neither to help, continuing to just observe as bystanders, might not be what we initially hoped for, but better than becoming outright enemies", Wu Long briefly explained.

"But... why didn't you..."

"That was the end of the discussion, that man was not authorized to do anything but relay that message, asking anything beyond that would only meet silence in return", Wu Long shook his head, knowing what words trailed off of Zhao Xieren's speech.

While Wu Long didn't fully trust that statement, he didn't have any basis to assume it was definitely false either.

There were many concerns with this situation, including how exactly his identity was seen through, whether he was mistaken for someone else, and if he was indeed recognized for who he was, what if the information already spread to someone else as well.

But rather than antagonizing someone who would've at least not been his enemy, he decided to accept this promise of non-interference at least for now. It was never late to retaliate and try to gain information from the Obsidian Moon if they broke that promise.

"Yaoxing, huh?", he muttered with a light smile, 'A malevolent star... well that's something

new'

The part that most intrigued him, however, was that the man's words implied that the Obsidian Moon Palace only got into conflict with the Palace of Secrets over this Stellar Region, and appeared here to relay this one message to him.

But if that was true, not only was it a rather grand gesture for such a tiny purpose, but 'they would have had to know I would be appearing here long before this body was even born'

A light of doubt and curiosity appeared in his eyes, as the feeling he got from this meeting was strangely not ominous, rather, it felt like he briefly peeked behind some kind of veil that he failed to even recognize for the most part of his past life.