Chapter 60: Unfathomable Depths

Wen Nan cast a glance at the cushion inside the teahouse where the blonde youth had been sitting before he vanished. The disciple smiled and said, "Please rest assured, sir. Any guest we invite into the teahouse will be treated with the utmost respect." Wen Nan wasn't afraid—he simply had other intentions. Still, since the other party had come out personally to invite him, and with so many players watching, it would be impolite to refuse. With a gentle nod, Wen Nan stepped into the teahouse under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Yu Shujun followed closely behind, accompanying him into the hall. The disciple looked at Yu Shujun, a hint of confusion flickering in his eyes. Wen Nan noticed and said, "This is my companion. May she come in as well?" The disciple didn't question the meaning of "my companion," simply nodded with a smile, and said, "Of course, I'll fetch another cushion." "No need," Yu Shujun replied coldly. The disciple glanced at her, nodded, and did not insist. Instead, he walked to the entrance, raised his hand, and closed the wooden door, thus refusing further guests.

The players left outside were momentarily stunned—

So, he really was the Purple Star? Was this teahouse truly a temporary branch built by the Feng Shui Current Guild, meant solely to host this supernova? Just how extraordinary was he, that even a prestigious guild like Feng Shui Current would go to such lengths?

...

Inside the teahouse, Wen Nan sat cross-legged on a cushion. The disciple served him tea with the same ceremony as before, presenting the cup to Wen Nan with both hands. Wen Nan lowered his eyes to the tea; the delicate, even foam upon the surface resembled fresh-fallen snow, a pleasing sight. Yet he made no move to accept it, instead offering a polite smile, "Thank you, but I don't drink tea."

The disciple withdrew the cup with a smile. "If not tea, would you like something else? We have iced cola, sour plum juice, orange juice, coffee, milk tea—which would you prefer?" For a moment, Wen Nan felt as though he'd entered a modern hotpot restaurant rather than a traditional teahouse. He chuckled softly, but still declined, "No, thank you. I'm not thirsty."

The disciple assumed Wen Nan was wary because of the earlier incident with the blonde youth. He smiled, chose not to press the matter, and directly drew a palm-sized invitation from his sleeve, handing it to Wen Nan. "The reason we've invited you here today is for a single matter."

Wen Nan took the invitation and saw a line of golden characters embossed upon it—

Feng Shui Current Guild, Invitation to Join.

"You're inviting me to join your guild?"

"Yes."

Wen Nan laughed. "You haven't even asked my name, my level, what equipment or skills I possess, or anything about my background—and yet you're inviting me to join?"

The disciple shook his head with a smile. "There's no need. Sir, fate has brought you to Feng Shui Current. That is enough."

"Is that so?" Wen Nan's smile broadened. "But I've never even heard of your guild."

At these words, the disciple's expression faltered, the smile stiffening at the corners of his mouth. He clearly hadn't expected someone not to recognize one of the six great guilds, and the sincerity in Wen Nan’s eyes suggested he truly was an ignorant newcomer.

The disciple couldn't help but scrutinize Wen Nan from head to toe once more. Although Wen Nan hadn't revealed his level, the disciple's experience told him this man couldn't be more than a low-ranking Bronze player. Why, then, would his master wish to make such an exception for him? Could it be… he had mistaken someone else for the intended invitee?

"A tracksuit, a physique so powerful the fabric seems about to burst, and a face so handsome that at first sight you might wish to change your orientation for him."

He remembered clearly—that was how his master described this man.

Surely he couldn't have made a mistake? Such a distinctive appearance—could there possibly be another matching person in this small gaming hall?

While the disciple was sizing up Wen Nan, Wen Nan was holding the invitation, reading it with utmost seriousness. When opened, the invitation revealed an embedded electronic screen, detailing the Feng Shui Current Guild's background, mission, the privileges of joining, and the basic obligations of membership.

Most players who received such booklets would simply skip over them. Upon seeing the words "We sincerely invite you to join," they would close the invitation at once, begin shaking hands, hugging, and expressing gratitude—never bothering with the fine print. Yet this man, brow furrowed, was reading every detail with grave attention. For the disciple, this was a first.

It was just a promotional pamphlet, not a college entrance exam—was it really necessary to read it so carefully?

Patiently waiting for a response, the disciple's thoughts turned. Perhaps now was the perfect moment to test whether this really was the person his master had described. With that, the disciple picked up the bamboo tea whisk from the table and, without warning, thrust it directly at Wen Nan's head.

As a level 10 Silver player who specialized in agility, his hand moved faster than the eye could follow. No low-level player could possibly evade such a strike.

Yet, just as his hand moved, a sharp pain shot through his wrist; the tea whisk flew from his grip, and a powerful force struck his chest, sending him tumbling from his cushion.

"Ugh, cough, cough—"

Clutching his chest, the disciple coughed, tasting blood in his throat. Who was it? Such speed…

He looked up at Yu Shujun, who stood as still as a statue behind Wen Nan. How could she be so fast? He hadn't even seen her move before he was already on the floor. Even if she, like him, had invested everything in agility, her level must be far above his—perhaps even Gold rank.

Why would someone of such a high tier willingly serve as a follower to this novice player?

"Hey, brother—how did you manage to fall over just sitting there? Are you alright?"

The commotion finally drew Wen Nan's attention from the invitation. He hurried to his feet and moved to help the disciple up.

The disciple looked up, and his gaze fell upon Wen Nan's outstretched hand—on which a golden sigil shimmered. His pupils contracted in shock.

That was… a Command Sigil? And the highest grade, Level 3 Gold?

No wonder the woman behind him was so willing to follow—it turned out she was his commanded spirit!

A spirit capable of leaving the map required at least ten stars. Even with their abilities suppressed within Feng Shui Current’s territory, for her to so easily neutralize his attack and counterstrike, her rank must be at least fifteen stars.

Such a powerful spirit, and this man had successfully taken command?

This man… he must have been feigning ignorance before him, probing him in return.

His true player level was likely unfathomable!