Lin Mu couldn't even begin to imagine how Gu Yao found out that he had the Beast storage treasure on him. The plate was damaged and could not function anymore, even the spatial fluctuations on it were gone, leaving behind bare traces.
Not to mention, the beast storage treasure wasn't even on his body, but rather in the ring itself. Lin Mu and Xukong were extremely sure that no one could perceive the ring on Lin Mu's finger.
"How do you know this?" Lin Mu questioned, confusion apparent on his face.
"Oh? So you admit? As for your question… I know the person who that beast storage treasure belonged to and that it is rightfully mine." Gu Yao replied.
A new link appeared in Lin Mu's mind, and a great revelation appeared to him.
"That dead nascent soul realm cultivator… you were the one who killed him…" Lin Mu said.
"If you are talking about that merchant, then it is indeed true. But he is the one who tried to cheat me first! He got what he deserved, no one can disrespect the blood of Gu and live to tell the tale." Gu Yao said in a fierce tone.
An image formed in Lin Mu's mind as the string of events started to make sense to him. The traces of the invader on Gu Yao, him killing the 'merchant', and him doing the blood sacrifices.
'Wait, if that invader came from the Great Slumber beast who was in the Beast storage treasure then for him to get infected by it would require them to come in contact, wouldn't it? Also, it is obvious that the merchant was not from this world, then how did he appear here?' Lin Mu wondered.
"That merchant… how did he come 'here'?" Lin Mu emphasized.
Gu Yao's brows rose as he heard the intonation of Lin Mu's question.
"Usually I wouldn't bother to speak, but since I'm bored after so long and you people will forget all this anyway, so it wouldn't matter. " Gu Yao uttered in a nonchalant tone. Besides, I get to satisfy my curiosity too...' He thought.
The eyes of everyone stared at him as they were unable to move. Even the supreme elder was listening intently, wanting to know everything, hoping that there might be some hint that could help them.
"You boy," Gu Yao pointed at Lin Mu. "Who are you? You clearly know about that merchant and even seem to know his origin." He asked.
Lin Mu hesitated to answer, but then Senior Xukong spoke in his mind.
"Cooperate with him. Perhaps there might be a way out of this situation without fighting. It is clear that the invader is not him and neither it is controlling him, thus you don't have an obligation to kill him right away.
Besides, if he really tries to attack you, the ward should activate. While it wouldn't be able to harm him, it should give you long enough to escape." Xukong suggested.
"I'll try senior… But these bindings, what do I do about them? I won't be able to escape if they stay." Lin Mu replied.
"Just do what you are doing now, I'll try to figure out a solution for it till then. Just keep him busy." Xukong said.
"Alright," Lin Mu replied before focusing back on Gu Yao.
"I am Mu Lin… I found the skeleton of that merchant out in the forest a while back." Lin Mu answered.
"I see… but that doesn't explain why you know about his origin." Gu Yao replied as a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
Seeing that Gu Yao was perhaps about to act, Lin Mu hurriedly replied.
"My master told me!" Lin Mu said.
Gu Yao stared deeply into his eyes, which made Lin M shudder but soon calmed down after he withdrew it a few seconds later.
"Hmm… at least you are not lying now even if you did about your name." Gu Yao stated.
Lin Mu would have flinched had it not been for the bindings that restrained him.
'He can detect lies? How?' Lin Mu wondered with surprise.
"There are many methods to do that. But in his case, it is just pure experience. He is far too old for you to deal with directly." Xukong explained.
"Now then… tell me the name you this 'master' of yours… if he can perceive the origin of that merchant then he shouldn't be someone unknown. Who is he? Someone from the top ten sects?" Gu Yao questioned directly.
The supreme elder had an expression of shock on his face and so did the other just that it was not visible.
"Should I tell him senior?" Lin Mu asked.
"Go ahead, it does not matter in the long run. What will he do even if he knows my name?" Xukong replied.
Lin Mu internally nodded and took a breath before speaking.
"My master's name is… Xukong!" Lin Mu revealed.
~humm~
An invisible wave of aura appeared on Lin Mu's body as soon as the name was spoken. No one in the chamber sensed it, not even Lin Mu.
Gu Yao heard the name and tried to remember if he knew anyone by that name. Wu Hei was also intrigued, as this was the first time he heard the actual name of Lin Mu's master. He hadn't dared to ask it before, as they were unsure if it was appropriate.
If the master of Lin Mu wanted to stay hidden and they forced him to say the name, it would only be bad for them.
Wu Hei had his curiosity satisfied, but even he was unable to recognize who that named belonged to. All of the powerful cultivators that he knew were well known, their reputations speaking for themselves. But this was a name that was foreign to him.
'The boy is not lying, but what is this name. It doesn't seem to belong to any of the cultivators. No wait… can it be? Could it be one of those old monsters?' Gu Yao wondered.
