Looking up at the sky, the sun was already touching the mountaintops in the west; dusk was approaching. Seeing that Zhou Tong’s injuries had improved slightly, Li Tan took the lead and started walking outward.
Halfway through.
Ming Ren clenched his fist against his chest, making up his mind. He walked beside Li Tan and said, “Brother Li, you saved my life; there are some things I won’t hide from you anymore.”
Li Tan glanced at him indifferently and said casually, “If it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to say it. I’m not really interested anyway.”
Ming Ren felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head, saying, “Actually, it’s not anything particularly secret. It doesn’t matter even if I reveal it—’Ming Ren’ is a false name.” After saying this, he observed Li Tan’s reaction somewhat anxiously.
“Hmm, anything else?”
Li Tan had already guessed this from the beginning, so he wasn’t surprised at all. Ming Ren, however, exclaimed in astonishment, “Brother Li, truly a mastermind—you even figured this out!”
Li Tan smirked slightly and said, “Judging from your reaction back then, anyone with a bit of sense would know that wasn’t your real name.”
Ming Ren still looked deeply admiring, but inwardly felt a bit disappointed. His revelation clearly hadn’t captured Li Tan’s attention at all. “Do you have more to say? Don’t tell me that’s all you were hiding?”
Li Tan added another sentence.
“Of course not!”
Ming Ren immediately denied and continued, “My real name is Ming De. I entered the Falling Immortal Realm primarily to search for those two items to cure my father’s illness. Unfortunately, some tragic events occurred at home…” When he mentioned the word “tragic,” Ming Ren’s expression visibly darkened.
Li Tan gazed ahead at the monotonous path. Perhaps because of Ming Ren—or rather, Ming De—resembling his old acquaintance, he felt a slight stirring of pity inside and said, “Water Cloud Bamboo and the core of the Cai Hu Beast are indeed effective antidotes when used separately.”
“Wow! Brother Li, you know about medicinal properties and alchemy?”
Ming De interjected, his admiration evident.
“Alchemy? I learned a bit about it when I was younger. Anyway, listen to me finish,” Li Tan replied.
“Yes,” Ming De said meekly, his head slightly drawn in. “You made it sound like you’re ancient or something…” Li Tan continued his unfinished sentence: “But when combined, they become a slow-acting deadly poison.”
Ming De was momentarily stunned, stammering, “What? Poison?
That can’t be right! That was a prescription from the most famous alchemist in Lin Jiang!”
“I already said I only learned a little about alchemy. Whether you believe me or not is up to you,” Li Tan said, slightly quickening his pace and leaving Ming De behind.
“Uncle Zhou, what do you think about what Brother Li said?”
Ming De approached Zhou Tong and whispered.
Zhou Tong furrowed his brows: “Normally, it’s not my place to comment on the affairs of your family, but since it involves our benefactor, I’ll make an exception. Although I don’t know much about alchemy or medicine, if our benefactor said it, there must be a reason.” Pausing, he pointed to his recently medicated wound: “These were just ordinary herbs, yet they had effects like alchemical medicine. He said he only learned a little—how much is ‘a little’? Perhaps he’s even more skilled than that master.”
“More skilled than that master?
That’s impossible, right? Books say alchemy is all about accumulated experience!” Ming De’s expression turned anxious as he tugged at his clothes.
Sighing, Zhou Tong said, “I used to think only people like the city lord could slay monsters.”
Ming De seemed to understand something, falling silent with a changing expression.
Li Tan was fully aware of what was happening behind him but chose not to offer any further hints. As the old saying goes, he had already done more than enough. He had no obligation to act as Ming De’s mentor, guiding him through every detail. Even if he were willing, he couldn’t afford the time. He had far too many things to do, needing to use every minute and second for cultivation.
Only a short time remained until that storm arrived.
The sun sank further west, and faint reddish evening clouds were visible.
Finally, the group emerged from the oppressive Fallen Immortal Realm, experiencing a sense of liberation akin to a death-row prisoner receiving a pardon. They stretched out their arms to embrace the vibrant air and the warm sunlight.
Ming De quickened his pace to walk beside Li Tan and gratefully asked, “Brother Li, may I ask where you’re staying now?”
“Staying” was a word usually used for travelers. Ming De clearly assumed Li Tan was a traveler from a prominent family.
Li Tan had no intention of correcting this misunderstanding nor any desire to hide his identity. Lazily stretching his body under the glow of the setting sun, he said casually, “The Lin family.”
“Ah, the Lin family you mean—the famous Lin family among the three great clans! So you’re staying with them!”
Ming De blurted out in surprise, his words somewhat disorganized.
Li Tan shook his head and denied, “Not exactly.”
“Eh? Are you perhaps their guest elder?”
“Still not.”
Ming De scratched his head in confusion and asked cautiously, “May I ask, do you have any relation to the Lin family?”
Li Tan nodded, “Indeed, there is some connection.”
He didn’t directly reveal that he was the rumored Li Tan. Not out of any particular concern, but simply to keep his peace and quiet. After all, if he revealed his identity as the “good-for-nothing Li Tan,” Ming De and Zhou Tong would surely react with exaggerated shock, like witnessing the mythical splitting of the Pangu Continent.
Ming De showed an expression of understanding and clapped his hands, saying, “My father has some connection with the Lin family. If there’s an opportunity, I will definitely come find you.”
Li Tan raised his eyebrows and asked, “Who is your father?”
Ming De replied, “Ming Chengyun, the city lord of Lin Jiang—I forgot to mention it earlier.” Ming De assumed Li Tan was the scion of some prominent family, perhaps even a noble from the imperial capital, so he didn’t think revealing his father’s identity as a city lord was particularly significant.
In reality, it wasn’t particularly significant to Li Tan either. Before his rebirth, his only memory of Ming Chengyun was that he had died of illness, after which the entire Ming family was replaced.
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