"You?!"
As Mu Jinyu was contemplating whether to fully support Zhu Yeqing's rise to power, he heard Master Yu's words and couldn't help but turn to look at him, seeing his serious expression, he immediately furrowed his brows, showing a hint of difficulty.
Seeing Mu Jinyu's expression, Master Yu knew that Mu Jinyu had misunderstood, thinking that he wanted to take back Slaughter Redemption?
With a slight laugh, Master Yu said, "Rest assured, Dragon Master, Slaughter Redemption still belongs to your Dragon King Hall; I'm just safeguarding it for you."
"Hmm?" Mu Jinyu, upon hearing this, raised his eyebrows and looked at Master Yu with a somewhat incredulous gaze, tentatively asking, "What do you mean?"
"Well, I want to join Dragon King Hall," Master Yu said decisively, not hesitating and speaking straightforwardly.
"This..."
Mu Jinyu, taken aback, said, "Why would Master Yu have such a thought?"
Mu Jinyu had indeed considered letting Master Yu join Dragon King Hall, but he didn't think that Dragon King Hall was worthy of Master Yu's membership, especially since Master Yu, at his peak, was the master of Slaughter Redemption, how could he now serve under him? It would indeed lower his status for no reason.
Thus, Mu Jinyu hadn't brought up the matter, merely hoping to use Qiu Bai's connection to make Master Yu stay, thinking it fortunate enough if he could lend a hand occasionally.
Unexpectedly, he himself took the initiative to propose joining Dragon King Hall!
"Is that so strange?" Master Yu replied calmly, "Rather than saying I want to join Dragon King Hall, it's more accurate to say that I wish to remain in Yinlong Mountain.
Mu Jinyu frowned and said, "But I haven't asked you to leave?"
Master Yu responded, "Indeed, but is there such a thing as a free lunch in this world? Staying in Yinlong Mountain without contributing, I would feel uneasy. Wouldn't it be better to have an official identity and peacefully cultivate here?"
As he spoke, Master Yu looked at Mu Jinyu and with a slight smile, said, "Could it be that you think Master Yu has grown too old and useless, therefore not wanting me to join?"
"Not at all, I welcome you wholeheartedly," Mu Jinyu quickly shook his head in denial, then hesitated, "It's just that, with your senior status, joining my Dragon King Hall might really be beneath your dignity..."
"What of it? The landscape changes with each new generation, and within the Martial Arts World, strength is respected above all. Besides, this life of mine was saved by you, Dragon Master; as for what others think, I do not care," Master Yu said, shaking his head.
"Ha…" Hearing Master Yu say this, Mu Jinyu let out a wry smile, then straightened up and gladly said, "Since senior has said so, what reason do I have to refuse?"
Upon hearing this, Master Yu's expression remained unchanged, but he internally exhaled a sigh of relief.
In truth, he had been genuinely afraid that Mu Jinyu would reject him, not wanting this 'old bone.'
Mu Jinyu had never been to Kunlun Ruins and was unaware that Yinlong Mountain could now be considered a Holy Land for cultivation. If he didn't join Dragon King Hall quickly, he might truly miss out on the opportunity forever.
Mu Jinyu was unaware of Master Yu's thoughts, and even if he knew, he would just laugh it off. As long as someone was talented, why would he ever refuse?
After welcoming Master Yu into Dragon King Hall, he thought for a moment and then said, "Senior, how about this: Slaughter Redemption can now be considered a subsidiary of Dragon King Hall, though few know this. You don't have to go around announcing you've joined Dragon King Hall. Just take charge of Slaughter Redemption. On usual days, aside from major matters, just handle the trivial issues yourself. If someone ever wants you to lead Slaughter Redemption against my Dragon King Hall, well..."
"You can bring them over and give them a stab in the back!"
Mu Jinyu laughed.
This move could be said to grant Master Yu a great deal of freedom, and his position would similarly rival that of Mu Hongchen and Jian Ruyan.
Master Yu took over the Slaughter Redemption, solely being accountable to him, which didn't undermine his second rank on the Divine Rankings.
"The Dragon Master has considered everything thoroughly; your subordinate knows what to do now," said Master Yu, nodding after hearing Mu Jinyu's words.
He had positioned himself very lowly, identifying himself as a subordinate.
"Senior need not refer to himself in such a manner; it's too formally distanced, and I don't like it," Mu Jinyu frowned slightly when he heard Master Yu call himself a subordinate.
He didn't like such titles, which is why others like Mu Hongchen, Xiang Mantang, and Jian Ruyan eventually didn't refer to themselves as subordinates either. He didn't want Master Yu to address himself this way either, resulting in a diminishment of his spirit!
"Since you have joined the Dragon King Hall, if we don't maintain a hierarchy, what would be left of our dignity? Would there be any rules to speak of?" Master Yu said seriously, shaking his head.
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu tried to persuade him further, but seeing that Master Yu remained adamant, he could only say at last, "If so, I won't insist on how the senior should conduct himself, but when it's just the two of us in private, you may address me however you wish, but not so in the presence of others."
"This..." Upon hearing this, Master Yu furrowed his brow tightly, feeling it even more against the rules.
"Senior, you are an assassin who operates from the shadows. If people were to know about your association with our Dragon King Hall, wouldn't that be problematic? It would be better to just directly enter Dragon King Hall instead of going to Slaughter Redemption," Mu Jinyu stated.
"Alright..." Considering the arrangements Mu Jinyu had made for him, directing him to lead the Slaughter Redemption as an invisible arrow for the Dragon King Hall, he could only agree.
At this time, the Spiritual Energy vortex caused by the breakthrough to God Realm was also gradually dissipating. Mu Jinyu knew this meant Zhu Yeqing had stabilized his cultivation in the God Realm and he spoke briefly to Master Yu before falling silent.
Soon, the Spiritual Energy vortex completely dissolved, and the room echoed with Zhu Yeqing's voice, "The Dragon Master? Please come in."
Upon hearing this, Mu Jinyu responded and then pushed open the door to Zhu Yeqing's residence.
Zhu Yeqing's face bore a joyful smile from his breakthrough to the God Realm. When he saw Master Yu following behind Mu Jinyu into the room, he took a few extra glances and his expression paused, then with a mix of surprise and disbelief, he said, "You, you, you… You are the former Realm Master of the Killing Realm, Senior Master Yu?!"
"I didn't expect the younger generation still remembered me," seeing Zhu Yeqing getting it wrong about him, Master Yu gave a faint smile, nodding in acknowledgment.
Zhu Yeqing, struck dumb, hadn't imagined Mu Jinyu, after taking down the former Realm Master, could still converse jovially with the Realm Master before last and even bring him to meet her.
Master Yu sized up Zhu Yeqing a few times and said, "You have a good Root Bone, and your temperament is also well-suited to being an assassin, though it seems you have always been on a wild path? How about this, I..."
"Thump!"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Yeqing immediately dropped to her knees without hesitation, respectfully knocked her head on the ground three times, "This disciple is willing, this disciple, Zhu Yeqing, pays respect to the master."
Master Yu: "???"
Mu Jinyu: "…"
Master Yu, watching Zhu Yeqing's actions, felt somewhat speechless.
Although he indeed planned to take Zhu Yeqing as a disciple given he wasn't sure of her relationship with Mu Jinyu, he was only planning to teach her the Slaughter Technique, without intending to create a formal master-disciple relationship.
But before he could even begin speaking, Zhu Yeqing had already proposed discipleship.
Master Yu, having no choice, looked helplessly towards Mu Jinyu.
Seeing Master Yu's helpless expression, Mu Jinyu thought for a moment, guessing his reservation, and then nodded, "Since Sister Qing is willing and the senior seems inclined to take a disciple, why not let it be a joyous occasion for all?"