Chapter 12: The Old Monster

Only now did Long Yin have the leisure to properly observe everyone present. It was said that anyone able to come here was not an ordinary person; ordinary children had all been sent to a different room. Long Yin truly had no idea how he had been classified as one of the "extraordinaries," but he could only accept it as fate.

Including Bai Yao, who was being held in solitary confinement, there were ten children in total, all around his age. With a cursory glance, Long Yin easily recognized several scions of prominent families, as well as the offspring of some federal dignitaries. Did De Xin truly possess such allure? Or perhaps something had appeared within De Xin that these powerful people desired?

What exactly could it be? When Long Yin saw Cassano appear before them, he understood deeply—it was because this old monster was seeking a disciple! No wonder the sons and daughters of the Federation's great families and high officials had flocked to De Xin one after another. Long Yin rolled his eyes—was this old monster sick in the head? A visiting professor from the Federal Academy of Card Arts coming to De Xin to choose a disciple? Did the abundance of talent at the Federal Academy not satisfy his quirks?

As he saw the other children gazing at Cassano with undisguised fervor and adoration, Long Yin couldn't help but sigh at the power of reputation. Though this old specter was eccentric, reclusive, and ill-tempered, there was no denying he was a renowned Saint-level Card Master. And what did Saint-level mean? Even the President of the Federation would bow in respect to such a figure. Having a Saint-level master behind you was more dazzling than riding a golden heifer—utterly awe-inspiring.

Leaving aside what might come of being his disciple, simply having such a teacher was akin to sheltering under a mighty tree—no matter the family or political background, one would gain unparalleled leverage. To be blunt, if any Saint-level figure publicly supported a candidate for the presidency, unless the choice was truly outrageous, the Federation would seriously consider the endorsement.

At this moment, the Saint-level old monster was scrutinizing them all with the same appraising eye a market vendor used when picking out poultry—yes, exactly like that.

When the old monster's gaze finally settled on Long Yin, a cold sweat instantly drenched him. The pressure Cassano exerted was overwhelming. As Cassano's eyes bored into him, Long Yin's face twisted into a grimace; his S-level spiritual power flared outward under the strain, for if he didn't release it, he feared he might be reduced to a pile of meat paste in the next second.

Suddenly, the old monster burst into laughter, clapping his hands like a mischievous seven-year-old, his mouth stretched wide as he exclaimed repeatedly, "Good, good..."

As Cassano withdrew his oppressive aura, Long Yin collapsed to the floor, soaked and exhausted. Damn you, old monster!

"This one!" A withered finger pointed directly at Long Yin, and the world seemed to darken. Could his luck truly be this bad? The very thing others dreamed of was, for him, a calamity.

"Tutor Cassano, are you sure?" Wu Rong could hardly believe it—the man had chosen a child of civilian birth. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "This child's physique is only at D level."

No sooner had he offered this kindly reminder than Wu Rong was sent hurtling into the wall like a cannonball. With a loud bang, the wall cracked like a spider’s web, and several children shrank back in terror. Even Long Yin couldn't help but twitch at the sight.

The old monster huffed, "Boy, let this be a lesson! The old man will choose whomever he likes!"

"Saint Cassano, please calm your anger—he only meant well. There's no need to be so harsh," an elderly gentleman entered at this moment. The shrewder children instantly guessed this must be Principal Li Xian of De Xin. His kindly face wore a perpetual gentle smile—a benevolent old man, and in comparison, Cassano's capriciousness stood out all the more.

"You’re just in time! Old Li, you be the judge!" Cassano grabbed Li Xian, grumbling, "Your people need more discipline! What business is it of his to meddle in the old man's affairs?" A classic case of the villain calling first.

Li Xian, having some understanding of Cassano, could only shake his head. Wu Rong had brought this upon himself.

Satisfied with Li Xian's attitude, Cassano released him and then, with a dismissive wave, sent Wu Rong flying out of the room. With a pained grunt, Cassano finally remarked lazily, "Out of sight, out of mind—much better."

Cassano's maliciousness was a lesson for all the children—there was always worse to come. Those who had initially envied Long Yin for being chosen now counted themselves lucky that it wasn't them.

Li Xian could only sigh inwardly; reasoning with a Saint-level old monster was courting death.

"May I ask which child the Saint desires?" Li Xian inquired.

"This one!" Cassano pointed at Long Yin, then declared imperiously, "I'm taking this boy with me. He's too weak—I'll personally oversee all his elementary training!" In other words, Long Yin, who hadn't even started school, would be taken away by the old monster for three years! Elementary education lasted three years, intermediate another three, and advanced four. He’d miss out on student life altogether, spending his first three years with this old monster!

"I have no objection, of course. I’ll keep his enrollment valid until he returns—then he’ll go straight into the intermediate division. But his parents..." Li Xian hadn't finished before Cassano waved him off with high-handed certainty, "His parents will be overjoyed! Why would they refuse?"

Li Xian, stymied, could only acquiesce, "True, becoming a Saint’s disciple is a rare fortune many would die for."

Cassano seized Long Yin, saying, "I’m taking this boy. I owe you a favor!"

Li Xian, hearing this, grinned with genuine delight. To receive a Saint’s favor for nothing—what a windfall. Watching Cassano carry Long Yin away, Li Xian cast another look at the boy. Pity—Dean Duolin had been looking forward to an S-level spiritual student. But after three years, perhaps Duolin would still be fond of him. The only question was whether a Saint-level Card Master would let that talent be overlooked.

"Hey—hey! I don’t want to be your disciple!" As Cassano dragged him along, Long Yin finally recovered his strength and began to struggle, shouting loudly.

"Where’s your home?" Cassano ignored the outcry, sometimes letting Long Yin shout if he was in a good mood, and sealing his mouth if not, so not a sound could escape.

Long Yin, wary, asked, "What are you trying to do, old monster? My family will never agree to let me go with you!"

Cassano laughed heartily, then said with mysterious confidence, "Boy, they’ll be more than happy to let me take you!"

"Nonsense! Let me go!" Long Yin felt he was about to lose his mind.

The more Long Yin cursed, the happier Cassano seemed, prompting Long Yin to curse him silently as a perverse old freak...

"Kid, do you think not telling me where you live means I won’t know?" Cassano’s words left Long Yin dumbfounded. "What exactly do you want? I told you, I refuse to be your disciple!"

"That’s not up to you," Cassano replied cheerfully, then sped off so quickly that Long Yin’s eyes couldn’t even stay open, only the roar of the wind in his ears.

Dangling by the collar all the way, Long Yin grew dizzy, almost ready to vomit all over Cassano.

"So you live in a place like this!" Cassano exclaimed as they arrived. Long Yin opened his eyes—wasn’t this his rented house? The distinctive long bridge was the unmistakable landmark.

With a wave of Cassano’s hand, a force blasted the wooden door off its hinges, sending it spinning high into the air. Long Yin, craning his neck to watch the door fly, felt his eyes grow hot with anger. "You old monster, you pervert! Was that really necessary for a door? Do you know how much the fine for that is? More importantly, the fine comes out of my own gold coins, do you know that? I’ve been in debt for ages, you know? I’m racking my brains to pay it back, you know? I’m broke because of you..."

He rambled on, every complaint circling around the word "gold coins," and Cassano found his new grandson unexpectedly amusing.

Meanwhile, inside the hollow tree, Long Qi trembled as she looked at her older sister, Long Qin. "Sis, how did he find us?"

Long Qin, her face wooden, shook her head. If she’d known the old monster would find them, she’d have packed up and left long ago.

"What now? How did Yin get caught by him?" Long Qi peered out, then shrank back, her delicate face full of fear.

Long Qin sighed and shook her head. She’d expected the family’s madman to come for them eventually, but not so soon.

Just then, Cassano’s voice thundered inside like a bolt of lightning, sending Long Qi diving under the bed.

"You two girls—how long are you planning to hide?"

Long Qin took a deep breath, forced a smile, and yanked Long Qi out, pushing her forward. Long Qi, on the verge of tears, turned to Long Qin, who glared at her, "If you want to get it over with, do as I say!"

Long Qi steeled herself and stepped out, her legs trembling as she forced a smile uglier than a cry. "Grandfather..."

Long Qin also stepped forward, her own smile stiff but far steadier than Long Qi’s trembling form. "Grandfather!"

Cassano snorted, tossing aside the stunned Long Yin. "So impressive, aren’t you? Disappeared with your brother for four years—grown up now, huh? If your uncle hadn’t spent ten years in cultivation to divine that De Xin held a clue to your whereabouts, were you planning to never come home?"

Long Qi shook her head, "No, Grandfather..."

Long Qin’s expression froze, then she forced a laugh, "We were just out for a bit of fun!"

"Fun? Four years without coming home? Not a word of news?" The more Cassano spoke, the angrier he became. The Long family's new generation was down to these three, and yet they’d all vanished—bold beyond belief. It was enough to make him furious.

Watching his two sisters being scolded into silence—especially his usually fearless second sister, now cowering—Long Yin was suddenly provoked. He leapt up, nearly jabbing a finger into Cassano’s nose. "Old monster, what are you yelling about? If my sisters don’t want to stay home, they don’t have to! If they want to disappear, so be it, and I’m happy to go with them!"

Cassano, in the midst of his tirade, was startled by Long Yin’s outburst. Seeing Long Yin, cheeks puffed and eyes wide with indignation, Cassano’s anger vanished. He swept Long Yin up in his arms. "Call me Grandfather, let’s hear it!" He recalled how, ever since this boy was born, he’d never even heard him call him grandfather—his heart itched with longing. The two girls had been fun when they were little, but they’d grown up and weren’t entertaining anymore.

Long Yin was stunned and, in a daze, called out, "Grandfather." Immediately, Cassano’s face erupted into a smile as broad as a chrysanthemum, sending a chill through Long Yin.

"Call me again?" Cassano coaxed, but this time, Long Yin couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Long Qin and Long Qi exchanged glances—was it really that easy?