Chapter 377: The Dynamics of the Pavilion

Solomon lowered his fist and looked in the direction the talisman had come from.

A woman stood near the top of the stone stairs. She possessed thick, wavy brown hair that cascaded over her shoulders.

She wore traditional Eastern Realm martial robes, but the fabric was tailored perfectly to accentuate her mature, incredibly attractive figure. The robes were a deep, mesmerizing shade of violet with gold embroidery. Delicate, silver bells were tied around her wrists and her slender waist, chiming softly with every subtle movement she made.

The chat interface immediately spiraled into degeneracy.

[GoonLord: BARK BARK BARK BARK!]

[TallicaStew: MOMMY?!]

[Foodball: WE ARE EATING GOOD TODAY!]

[James_hayes: respectfully looking.]

[trenthany: Solo Man please introduce us!]

[Frendscham: the attire choices in this sect are top tier.]

The woman offered a warm, mature smile. "Please forgive him. He truly did not know what he was doing, and he meant no actual ill intent. All the Pavilion Masters have recently issued strict, overriding orders to all guards, instructors, and staff to be wary and suspicious of any new faces or unusual actions within the sect borders."

Solomon let go of the trembling instructor’s collar. He pointed a finger directly at his own face. "How do I look suspicious?"

The woman elegantly covered her mouth with her silk sleeve, her eyes crinkling in amusement. "You do not look suspicious at all, darling. But the way you act is incredibly suspicious."

[LazyCat: she read him like a book.]

[Mezz_3863: ’darling’ oh my god.]

[Ferald: she is so pretty!]

Solomon refused to ask what she meant by that. "Who are you? You look entirely too old to be a student here, and you are not wearing the standard instructor’s uniform."

The woman gasped, a sharp, genuinely shocked sound escaping her lips. She placed a hand over her heart, looking deeply offended. "I do not look old! I will graciously forgive you for that terrible insult this one time, but I suggest you rephrase yourself immediately."

Solomon didn’t say a single word. He just stood there, staring at her with a completely blank, deadpan expression.

She pouted slightly, clearly unused to her charm failing. She stepped down the stairs, the silver bells chiming melodically as she gracefully circled around him. "I am the Vice Pavilion Master of this pavilion. My name is Yin Hua."

Solomon didn’t bow or offer any polite gestures. He simply stated, "I am Solomon."

[1Fizzy: bro has zero rizz with older women.]

[GoonLord: APOLOGIZE TO HER RIGHT NOW!]

[M00N: Solo Man does not care.]

"I already know who you are," Yin Hua smiled, turning her back to him. "Please, follow me. I will take you directly to the Pavilion Master."

They walked together through the breathtaking pavilion grounds. They passed through serene rock gardens, crossed over crystal-clear streams filled with glowing fish, and navigated through groves of ancient, blooming cherry blossom trees. The environment was designed to evoke absolute peace and spiritual tranquility.

Eventually, Yin Hua stopped and pointed her delicate finger toward a grand, elegant building nestled at the base of a cascading waterfall. "You will find her inside."

"Thank you," Solomon replied in his usual, blunt manner.

He walked up the stone path and entered the building, as the huge wooden doors were already wide open. The interior was just as calm and serene as the gardens outside, but it also carried a heavy, imposing atmosphere of authority.

Instructors of various ranks and several high-level senior disciples were moving about the halls, quietly discussing cultivation theories.

[James_hayes: looks like a faculty lounge.]

[Vaelen: very official vibe in here.]

[Nick: do not punch anyone else Solo Man.]

’This is basically just a fancy administrative hallway or a giant staff room,’ Solomon thought to himself. He bypassed the whispering instructors, walked straight down the main corridor, and stopped in front of a closed wooden door at the very end.

Solomon raised his hand to knock. But before his knuckles could even touch the wood, the door violently swung open from the inside.

An elderly man stormed out of the room, practically running directly into Solomon.

Instead of apologizing for the collision, the old man scowled. He immediately released a sharp burst of highly condensed qi, physically shoving Solomon backward. "You should watch where you are standing, boy! Do not get in my way!"

The old man didn’t even wait for a response. He simply turned and stormed down the hallway.

[Dakota_Smith: AGAIN?!]

[Name_Not_Listed: everyone in this pavilion is so rude!]

1

[Fatal_Beauty: Solo Man is going to crash out.]

[Joshua_Swofford: BEAT HIS OLD ASS!]

Solomon glared daggers at the retreating back of the old man. He forced himself to calm down and stepped inside the office.

The room was absolutely stunning. It was a massive, open-air hall featuring a beautiful, blooming peach tree growing directly in the center of the floor. Low, polished wooden ground tables were scattered around the room, covered in scrolls and tea sets, perfectly matching the traditional, serene theme of the pavilion.

Yue was sitting at the central table, deeply engrossed in reading a thick, ancient-looking book.

Instead of offering a polite greeting, Solomon immediately pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Who the hell was that old man?"

Yue looked up from her book. Her face instantly lit up with genuine joy. "Solomon! When did you return to the Eastern Realms?"

"I arrived today," Solomon responded flatly. "I will ask again. Who was that old man?"

Yue closed her book and sighed. "That was the Pavilion Leader, Jin Shi."

[GamerGuy: Jin Shi? That literally translates to Golden Shit LMAO!]

[Brerell: Golden Shit AHAHAHA!]

[Mezz_3863: fitting name for a rude old guy.]

[sgtcwby: bro is named after shiny poop.]

Solomon raised a brow in profound confusion. "Is he a relative of your father?"

"He is my father’s uncle," Yue explained. "They are both from the main branch of the Jin clan."

Solomon was even more confused now. "Then why is your last name Alfoy? Is your father’s name not Jin Alfoy?"

Yue realized the cultural confusion. "My father’s given name is Tian. Our family name is actually Jin. However, Marco and I both chose to legally adopt our mother’s maiden name, Alfoy, when we enrolled in the academy to distance ourselves from the Jin clan politics after my little sister’s death."

[Ferald: lore drop!]

[Naturic: family drama!]

[DaoistAlexkg: eastern naming conventions can be tricky.]

"Why do you ask?" Yue inquired, tilting her head.

"Because ever since I stepped foot inside this pavilion today, every single person I have met has been an incredibly arrogant prick who does not know how to hold a basic conversation without throwing an insult or an attack," Solomon stated bluntly.

Yue offered an apologetic smile. "They are just being overly cautious because of the recent cultist infiltrations. You really should not take their behavior too seriously."

"There is a fundamental difference between being cautious and being an arrogant asshole," Solomon countered, his voice turning cold. "I can easily tell which is which. A cautious guard asks for identification from a safe distance. An arrogant fool shoves you and throws a talisman at your face just because he does not like your uniform. If it is genuinely the case that your staff does not know the difference between the two, then I will gladly teach them."

[1Fizzy: Solo Man speaking facts.]

[James_hayes: bro is ready to educate the whole pavilion.]

[sgtcwby: the ’manners’ lessons are coming back.]

Yue sighed, rubbing her temples. "I will have a strict talk with all of them regarding their conduct."

"You better," Solomon warned, his silver eyes flashing. "Because while I will not kill them since they are not trying to kill me, but I cannot promise that I will be able to hold my punches back the next time someone shoves me. I am trying my absolute best to be civilized and control my anger management issues right now. They really should not try to test my patience so soon, because I am absolutely certain I will fail miserably at it."

[GoonLord: LET THE INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS WIN!]

[Mezz_3863: Solo Man self-aware era.]

[Foodball: bro is holding on by a thread.]

[Nick: Yue better fix her staff before Solo Man fixes their faces.]