The outer hall disciples of Dan Ding Peak looked at each other in confusion. They had no idea what exactly had happened. Li Shun had harbored such hatred toward Master Lin, yet Master Lin had forgiven him unconditionally. But now, what were the two of them entering the room for?
Could it be… could it be…?
The disciples hurriedly shook their heads. How could they even think of such indecent things? If Master Lin found out, he’d flay them alive.
Just as everyone anxiously waited, suddenly an earth-shattering scream pierced the heavens.
Had something happened?
Everyone turned pale with shock and was about to rush forward when Lin Fan stepped out from the room.
“Ahh, what a pity—you’re not it,” Lin Fan sighed with regret.
It turned out to be a complete misunderstanding. How often do those rags-to-riches success stories actually happen in this world?
Poor Junior Li had suffered again. After two consecutive blows, both his body and spirit had been severely damaged.
The disciples looked at Master Lin, heard the screams from inside the room, turned pale, and instinctively stepped back in fear, terrified of being targeted next.
Lin Fan slightly shook his head and then walked away.
After Lin Fan left, the disciples cautiously approached. When they saw Li Shun lying on the floor, trembling violently, they all inhaled sharply.
Brother Li had been struck again.
At this moment, Li Shun felt as if the sky had collapsed upon him. His world had fallen into darkness, all hope lost. This pain—he had experienced it once before, but this time felt even more unbearable.
“Master Lin, Junior Li will never dare again…” Li Shun, overwhelmed with grief, had completely lost his nerve. He would never dare to act out again. When he had just entered the room, Master Lin had seemed fine, speaking some strange and confusing words to him. But in an instant—
A foot flew toward him like the splitting of the heavens, and he knew his fate was sealed. And indeed, just as he had feared, he had truly become a tragedy.
…
Lin Fan collected a large quantity of herbs from Dan Ding Peak, including quite a few of high grade. Seeing the pained expressions on the disciples’ faces as they watched him gather the herbs, Lin Fan smiled. After all, it was their Supreme Elder who had sent him here; there was no point in them feeling心疼 (heartache or心疼, literally “heart pain”).
Finally satisfied, Lin Fan returned.
Tomorrow was the day they would depart with the sect’s main force on a long journey. He needed to prepare some special pills in advance, just in case he needed them for self-defense.
On this trip, Lin Fan had set himself a small goal—to break through to the middle stage of the先天 (Pre-natal) realm.
If he could advance even further, that would be even better.
…
At night, the Nameless Peak was brightly lit, with lamps glowing in one house after another. Though no one lived in these houses, the lights illuminated the entire Nameless Peak, keeping loneliness at bay.
Inside his room, Lin Fan was diligently studying alchemy, refining the pills he needed.
Zhang Erdog and Feng Bu Jue carried dishes and wine into Tianyu’s room.
Tianyu had been training day and night to regain his former strength. Naturally, upon the arrival of his senior and junior brothers, he paused his cultivation to warmly welcome them.
“Brother Tianyu, let’s have a good drink tonight,” Zhang Erdog laughed, setting down the food and filling the cups with wine. “This wine is freshly brewed by a junior brother from the outer sect. It’s really good.”
“Alright, let’s not stop until we’re completely drunk,” Tianyu replied. He had become quite familiar with Zhang Erdog and spoke with genuine enthusiasm.
The three laughed and drank together, sharing many stories. Cup after cup of strong liquor flowed down their throats, and soon their faces flushed red, showing signs of intoxication.
“You see, nowadays the Nameless Peak is getting better and better. All our efforts these past months weren’t in vain,” Zhang Erdog slightly slurred as he spoke.
“Yeah,” Feng Bu Jue nodded.
Tianyu didn’t feel much, but he did acknowledge that reaching this point hadn’t been easy.
“Brother, sometimes I wonder… wouldn’t it be nice to return to the outer sect?” Feng Bu Jue subtly shifted the topic.
“Want to go back?” At that moment, Zhang Erdog’s previously cheerful expression suddenly turned cold, his tone gradually becoming sharp.
But Feng Bu Jue didn’t notice and continued speaking.
Tianyu, though tipsy, sensed the shift in atmosphere and wanted to change the subject—but it was already too late.
“Yeah, it’s so lively back there with so many people…” Feng Bu Jue said with a faint smile.
“Silence!” Zhang Erdog suddenly erupted, displaying the authority of the Nameless Peak’s senior disciple. “Brother, are you drunk? How could you say such things? If the Sect Leader hears this, he’ll be heartbroken.”
“Brother Zhang, don’t be angry. Brother Feng must have had too much to drink. He didn’t mean it,” Tianyu quickly intervened.
Just moments ago, everything had been fine—how had they suddenly started arguing?
“Brother, you’re wrong. I was just saying it casually. Besides, the Nameless Peak and the Holy Sect are one family. What difference does it make where I go?” Feng Bu Jue blocked Tianyu and retorted toward Zhang Erdog.
“Crash!”
Zhang Erdog slammed his wine cup onto the floor, wine splashing everywhere. His voice was filled with anger. “Yes, the Nameless Peak and the Holy Sect are one family, but you still shouldn’t say this. The Sect Leader has done so much for us. Do you remember how he restored your dignity when you were humiliated? He brought you into the Nameless Peak, and now you want to leave? Do you think you’ve become too big for this place?”
Zhang Erdog grew angrier and angrier, nearly coming to blows.
“What’s going on with you two? Why are you suddenly arguing? Brother Zhang, you’re overreacting too. Brother Feng was just speaking casually. Brother Feng, why would you say something like that? Are you trying to provoke your senior brother?” Tianyu tried to separate them, worried they’d come to blows. These two, who had always been inseparable, suddenly turned hostile.
“Yeah, Brother, I was just saying it casually. I’m not heartless. How could I ever leave?” Feng Bu Jue said.
“Hmph,” Zhang Erdog snorted. “Brother Tianyu, you tell me—how can he say this? The Sect Leader has given us a second life. Even if we returned to the Holy Sect, we’d just be one among thousands, forgotten. But here, the Sect Leader treats us like family. Now he thinks he’s grown strong enough and wants to leave? That’s despicable!”
“Brother, I was just saying it casually. I would never leave. The Sect Leader has done so much for me, and the Holy Sect and Nameless Peak are one. It doesn’t matter where I stay, but I’d rather stay where I’m happy. Here, I have my senior brothers with me. Why would I leave and hurt the Sect Leader’s heart? Besides, the Nameless Peak is developing now. I won’t leave,” Feng Bu Jue replied, his neck flushed red.
“Hmph,” Zhang Erdog snorted again. “No more drinking. Brother Tianyu, I’ll take my leave now.”
Seeing his senior brother’s anger, Feng Bu Jue panicked and hurried after him. “Senior Brother, let me explain…” As he exited the room, Feng Bu Jue turned back to Tianyu. “Senior Brother, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Alright, don’t argue. Go explain properly to your senior brother,” Tianyu replied absentmindedly. The intense argument between the two had stirred something deep inside him.
Tianyu sat at the table, looking at the remaining dishes and wine, drinking alone. Perhaps they were right—returning would mean becoming just another among thousands. Now that Master Lin had given him a second chance, how could he leave once his strength was restored?
…
In Zhang Erdog’s room.
The two weren’t arguing anymore. They exchanged glances, raised their eyebrows, and whispered softly, “How was it?”
“Good job. You’ve improved a lot,” Zhang Erdog nodded with a grin.
Their heated argument at the dinner table had all been an act, carefully orchestrated to convince Brother Tianyu to stay.
“Hehe, it’s all thanks to the detailed script from the Sect Leader. Senior Brother, let’s check the next step. I need to practice alone sometime to avoid any mistakes,” Feng Bu Jue said proudly. He thought his performance had been spot-on, especially his facial expressions. His voice still needed work—it hadn’t been intense or moving enough.
But even so, he had made significant progress.
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