Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3371: Exchanging Questions Over A Meal

The day slipped by quickly within the walls of Outpost Thirteen’s command compound.

Word of Lin Mu’s release had already spread like wildfire, carried by both nervous guards and excited clerks. Some whispered of the White Tiger Immortal Guards storming the jail, others spoke of the Elder descending personally, and a few even repeated exaggerated tales of Lin Mu eating poison like candy.

By evening, Elder Dong Bo had prepared a small feast inside one of the private halls of the command palace. He had originally wished to organize a grand banquet in Lin Mu’s honor.

Given who Lin Mu now was to the Immortal Court, the elder felt an outpost wide celebration would be appropriate. But Lin Mu had politely declined earlier, saying there was no need to involve the entire world, no matter how small, in something that was supposed to be simple.

Elder Dong Bo accepted only because Lin Mu himself said it.

If anyone else had told him not to hold a banquet, he would have sent them out of the room with a glance. But when Lin Mu refused, the elder changed the entire scale of the arrangement with almost comical speed, turning it from a festival level feast to an intimate dinner.

Now the hall glowed softly under lantern light, filled with floating cloud lamps that reflected the White Tiger Court’s iconic geometric patterns.

Several long tables were lined with food from the outpost’s best culinary departments. Fragrant spirit rice steamed gently. Arrays kept roasted immortal beast meat warm. Bowls of Immortal lotus broth emitted a gentle golden mist. And a large tray held fruit that could only be grown in high level Immortal orchards.

Lin Mu and his companions sat together at the central table.

Daoist Chu sipped his tea with a thoughtful expression. Meng Bai already reached for the third plate of roasted meat. Cattaleya tapped her spoon against the rim of a dish, pleased that the food smelled rich and savory.

Little Shrubby sat curled beside Lin Mu’s feet, munching on Immortal fruit slices and grilled steaks placed just for him.

Elder Dong Bo took the seat of honor opposite Lin Mu. Even then, he looked nervous.

He cleared his throat and bowed slightly. "Honored Sir Lin Mu, forgive me for asking this. But if I do not ask today, I fear it will haunt my heart. I truly wish to understand something."

Lin Mu gestured for him to speak.

The elder hesitated a moment. "When High Elder Liu Bei referred to you as his Great Grand Uncle Master, it suggested you were many generations senior. Yet you appear younger than even some junior elders. I hope I am not being disrespectful, but the relationship does not match what I see."

Daoist Chu smirked softly. Cattaleya raised an eyebrow. Meng Bai almost choked on a dumpling, curious to hear how Lin Mu would explain this. Even Little Shrubby’s ears perked.

Lin Mu chuckled lightly. "It is a misunderstanding. I am not their Great Grandmaster. I am their Great Grand Uncle Master. It is a small but important difference. I am the disciple of someone who was companions with their Ancestral Grandmaster."

Elder Dong Bo’s brows lifted a little higher. His spoon almost fell out of his fingers.

Daoist Chu added, "Lin Mu is technically part of the Ancestral lineage through a side branch, not a direct master or senior within the lineage of Spatial Masters. That is why High Elder Liu Bei used such a term."

Elder Dong Bo leaned back slowly, processing this. "So the one who taught you, the one you call your master... is the same person who once walked alongside the founding figures of our court."

Lin Mu nodded even though the Elder had mistaken the ranks a bit. Though he didn’t wish to explain the entire seniority which was even farther up than just Great Grand Uncle Master.

The elder looked around with wide eyes. "Then they must be no longer within this realm. They must be in a higher realm."

Lin Mu gave a simple nod. "They are beyond the Immortal Realm."

Elder Dong Bo immediately lowered his gaze. He folded his hands and bowed his head. "Forgive me for prying. Matters of the Celestial Realm are beyond my qualifications and far above my authority. I shall refrain from further questions."

Lin Mu waved dismissively. "It is not an issue. You asked respectfully."

The elder sighed with relief and accepted another cup of tea offered by a servant. A short silence passed before Lin Mu spoke again.

"Elder Dong Bo, I have a question of my own. About the goblins."

Daoist Chu leaned in slightly, clearly curious about the same topic. "We were taught that goblins were restricted from moving freely within Immortal Court territory. They were always listed as a race to be watched for unpredictable behavior. Why are they here?"

Elder Dong Bo sighed deeply. "It is a long story, but I shall summarize."

He placed his cup down and intertwined his fingers as he spoke.

"A few tribes of goblins were discovered in the last few hundred years to possess unique resistance to diseases that even affect immortals. They carry ancient immunities from living in toxic environments since the early eras."

Lin Mu blinked. "Toxic environments?"

"Yes. Goblins originally thrived in lands where the air itself was poisonous, where miasma grew like mist, and where plants dripped corrosive sap. Their bodies developed independent immunity. Their tribes treated poisons, diseases, and strange afflictions as naturally as breathing."

Daoist Chu frowned slightly. "But goblins are not known for being scholarly or scientific."

"True. They do not cultivate knowledge the way other races do. But their survival instincts led them to create crude but effective medicinal brews and antidotes. The Immortal Court investigated them and discovered they held knowledge on obscure diseases that even our official healers had never encountered."

Lin Mu was genuinely surprised. "Goblins can cure diseases of immortals?"

Elder Dong Bo nodded. "Not always. But they are often resistant enough that they can identify the essence of a sickness. They can also produce unusual remedies. Many of their toxins and antidotes are strange but potent."