Chapter 403: So What If I Turn to the Dark Side?

All men have lustful thoughts.

Shui Miao was physiologically normal, so naturally, he was no exception.

“Crack!”

Suddenly, a sharp sound shattered the atmosphere, startling everyone. On the other side of the table, a red wine glass had fallen to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Perhaps someone had bumped the table.

Shui Miao’s heart jolted, instantly sobering up a bit.

“Hmph!”

Shui Miao abruptly stood up, suddenly feeling as if he had been struck by a thunderclap. The feeling came suddenly, inexplicably, yet very timely. Although on the surface it seemed like nothing more than a broken glass, for Shui Miao, who deeply understood the Dao of nature, it was an ominous premonition.

When one’s mastery of Feng Shui reaches a certain level, one begins to perceive the mysteries of nature.

For example, in ancient times, when an army raised its banners to set out on a campaign, if suddenly a strong wind arose and broke the banners, a master well-versed in the Dao of nature would know that this was an ill omen. If the campaign proceeded without resolution, disaster would surely follow—defeat, or even total annihilation.

Nature is profoundly mysterious; to go against it will always bring warnings.

If one ignores these warnings and persists stubbornly, calamity will inevitably strike, and one must bear the bitter consequences alone.

Shui Miao, having received this warning, was immediately alarmed.

Before anyone else could react, Shui Miao said, “Take good care of yourselves. I think I need to find a quiet place to retreat for a few days. Don’t bother me—I’ll return when I’m ready.”

Shui Miao wanted to find a quiet place to meditate, to reflect on his mistakes.

Lin Zhiling and Xiao Shuang were both stunned, unsure what had happened to prompt Shui Miao to make such a sudden decision.

Lin Xue rushed out after him.

Shui Miao headed straight for the pickup truck. As he opened the door and climbed in, Lin Xue caught up.

“Shui Miao, what’s wrong with you?”

“I just made myself clear. You take care of them. This place will be your main responsibility from now on. I have some things I can’t figure out—I need to leave for a while to think them through.”

Lin Xue grabbed his hand. “Shui Miao, you must have something on your mind. Explain before you go.”

“Lin Xue, what happened today was my fault. I shouldn’t have done that. Just now, when you all surrounded me, I suddenly realized I had done something wrong. I can’t drag you all down with me. If I get the chance, I’ll make it up to you. Right now, I just want to be alone for a while—to think clearly about what I should and shouldn’t do.”

“Fine, go then.”

Lin Xue suddenly let go of his hand. “Shui Miao, remember this: today wasn’t your fault. It was my impatience, my lack of restraint. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.”

Lin Xue was indeed a strong woman—bold enough to act and bold enough to take responsibility.

Shui Miao fell silent, gazing at Lin Xue, suddenly feeling a pang of guilt. Yielding to his feelings, he said softly, “Lin Xue, please don’t say that. I just have some things I can’t understand right now. Give me some time to calm down. Don’t worry about me—I’ll definitely be back in two or three days.”

“Take care…”

Every man has impure thoughts.

Shui Miao’s physiological functions were perfectly normal, so naturally, he was no exception.

*Smash!*

Suddenly, a crisp sound shattered the atmosphere, jolting everyone to alertness. On the other side of the table, a red wine glass had fallen to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Perhaps someone had bumped the table.

Shui Miao’s heart skipped a beat, and he sobered up almost instantly.

*Whoosh!*

Shui Miao abruptly stood up, feeling as though he had been struck by a sudden, sobering blow. The feeling was sudden, inexplicable, but incredibly timely. On the surface, it was just a broken glass, but to Shui Miao, who had a deep understanding of the natural order, it felt like an ominous premonition.

When one’s mastery of feng shui reaches a certain level, they begin to perceive the mysteries of nature.

For example, in ancient times, when an army offered sacrifices to their banners before heading into battle, if a strong wind suddenly arose and snapped the banner, any sage well-versed in the ways of nature would recognize it as an extremely ill omen. If the army proceeded without resolving this sign, they would surely face defeat, possibly even annihilation.

Nature is profoundly mysterious. Those who defy heaven’s will are bound to receive warnings.

If one ignores these warnings, refuses to awaken, and stubbornly forges ahead, they will inevitably face heaven’s retribution and reap the bitter consequences.

Shui Miao, having received this warning, was instantly alarmed.

Before anyone could react, Shui Miao declared, “Take care of yourselves. I need to find a quiet place to go into seclusion for a few days. Don’t worry about me—I’ll return when the time is right.”

What Shui Miao really wanted was to find a tranquil spot to meditate deeply and repent for his mistakes.

Lin Zhiling and Xiao Shuang were both stunned, unsure what had happened or why Shui Miao had suddenly made such a decision.

Lin Xue hurried after him.

Shui Miao headed straight for the pickup truck. As he opened the door to get in, Lin Xue caught up to him. “Shui Miao, what’s wrong?”

“I’ve already made myself clear. Take care of them—from now on, you’ll be in charge here. There are some things I need to figure out, so I have to leave for a while to think things through.” Shui Miao pushed the door open and got into the vehicle.

But Lin Xue grabbed his hand. “Shui Miao, something’s definitely wrong. Explain yourself before you go.”

“Lin Xue, what happened today was my fault. I shouldn’t have acted that way. When all of you surrounded me just now, I suddenly felt like I’d done something wrong. I can’t drag you all down with me. If I get the chance, I’ll make it up to you. But right now, I just need some time alone to calm down and think about what I should and shouldn’t do.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Lin Xue suddenly withdrew her hand. “Shui Miao, remember this—what happened today wasn’t your fault. It was my impulsiveness that got the better of me. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.”

True to her tough nature, Lin Xue was willing to take responsibility for her actions.

Shui Miao fell silent, gazing at Lin Xue with a sudden surge of guilt. In a gentle tone, he said, “Lin Xue, please don’t say that. There are just some things I need to sort out. Please give me some time to calm down. Don’t worry about me—I’ll definitely be back in two or three days at the most.”

“Take care…”

Lin Xue nodded, pulling out a gun and handing it to Shui Miao. “You’ve lost your immortal powers, and there are many wolves on the grassland. Take this for protection.”

“No need. I’ll stay in the car—the wolves won’t be able to get me.”

Shui Miao refused the gun for a simple reason: Lin Xue and the others were women, and they needed protection more than he did.

Shui Miao drove off.

Lin Zhiling and Xiao Shuang both came out and stood beside Lin Xue.

Hearing their footsteps, Lin Xue took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and turned around. “It’s nothing. He’s a cultivator, and cultivators are like this—always acting mysteriously. He’ll be fine in a few days. Let’s not bother about him. Not long ago, he suddenly disappeared into the mountains for over half a year. From now on, the dairy group is ours to manage.”

Truth be told, Lin Xue hadn’t yet developed deep feelings for Shui Miao. In her own words, she found him decent enough, and she had her own physical needs—so she acted on them.

Thus, Lin Xue wasn’t particularly heartbroken.

But at that moment, a female ghost flickered briefly behind the three of them before vanishing.

※※※

Fifteen miles away

Beside a meandering stream, Shui Miao plunged into the water and sat down cross-legged.

“I shouldn’t have treated Lin Xue that way… How could I have become like this? If I can’t even control my own emotions, how can I continue cultivating?”

“I even thought about possessing all of them…”

“Am I falling into depravity?”

“Why? Why do I feel so guilty? Isn’t it natural for men and women to desire each other? Why can’t I do it?”

“No! I’m not wrong. I’m following nature’s way—the union of yin and yang. What’s wrong with that?”

“But no, that’s not right. If it weren’t wrong, why would I be so conflicted…”

Under the night sky, the stream flowed quietly, but Shui Miao roared with frustration in the water, his heart torn by contradiction. The clash between his traditional upbringing and reality left him unable to find his bearings. He was in agony. He wanted to cast aside all messy, outdated thoughts, to act on his desires, to do whatever he pleased. What did it matter if he claimed all beauties for himself? Yet reason desperately warned him that yielding to his desires would lead him astray.

His dual cultivation with Lin Xue had given Shui Miao a taste of rapidly increasing his power.

This temptation, like an inner demon, silently influenced Shui Miao’s thoughts.

Shui Miao was no saint—he made mistakes, lost his way, struggled with conflicts, and harbored desires.

He knew life’s journey wouldn’t be smooth sailing, but deciding what kind of person to become and how to exact revenge weighed heavily on him. Originally, he had intended to live peacefully for decades, honoring his parents and maintaining good relationships with friends, resolving his earthly ties before devoting himself to cultivation. But in just a short time, his heart had grown restless again. He was growing impatient.

This impatience stemmed from having found a way to rapidly enhance his cultivation.

Now, with no one to help him decide, he had to make his own choice.

On one side was a vendetta spanning lifetimes; on the other were emotional entanglements in the mortal world.

Shui Miao knew all too well which was more important.

Suddenly, Shui Miao made his decision. Under the cover of night, he declared, word by word, “These mortal attachments—I might as well abandon them. Their lives will go on with or without me. How can I let generations-old vengeance go unavenged for the sake of fleeting love and hatred? Yes! It’s time to risk everything. The hatred is etched in my heart—how can I turn a blind eye? Escaping won’t solve anything. I must face it, deal with it. Once I’ve taken my revenge, I can return and take care of everyone. Isn’t that just the same?”

Shui Miao had made his choice: he would set aside worldly concerns. So what if he descended into demonhood?

“Haha, well said!”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out.

In front of Shui Miao, emerging from the water, was the faint, shimmering figure of a naked female ghost. From the navel up, her upper body was exposed to the air. Her figure was incredibly alluring—pale and delicate, with full, firm breasts like a pair of ripening peaches.

“It’s you, Bai Erma!?”

Shui Miao could hardly believe his eyes, but her appearance was unmistakably that of Bai Erma.

“Of course, it’s me!”

Bai Erma smiled. “You must be wondering why my soul is still here. To be honest, I’m confused too. I thought you had utterly destroyed my soul, but one thing’s for sure—it was our dual cultivation that caused my soul to reassemble, and it’s even stronger now.”

Dual cultivation was indeed miraculous. Shui Miao felt a stir in his heart. “Hmph, Bai Erma, you’ve got some nerve. I destroyed your physical body, yet you dare seek me out? Aren’t you afraid I’ll annihilate your ghost form as well?”

“You won’t, because you still need me, and I need you.” Bai Erma floated closer to Shui Miao, smiling seductively. “Actually, I’m well-versed in dual cultivation too. I know exactly what state you’re in. Those women of yours can’t satisfy you. They’re not cultivators—they just have strong yin energy, which might boost your cultivation a little, but that’s all. They can’t help you beyond that. If you force dual cultivation with them, the consequences will be dire. You’ll drain them dry—they’ll grow old and haggard, and end up like me, with their physical bodies utterly consumed.”

Hearing this, Shui Miao was shaken. “If that’s the case, why would you come looking for me?”

“Hehehe…”

Bai Erma chuckled. “It’s different with me. I know how to practice dual cultivation properly, how to achieve mutual benefit. We can enhance each other’s cultivation, but they can’t. Most importantly, I genuinely like you, and I want to help you seek revenge… I heard everything you said earlier.”

“In that case, what are we waiting for?”

Shui Miao reached out to grab Bai Erma’s soul but grasped only empty air. Bai Erma smiled coquettishly. “So impatient, are we?”

“Of course…”

Shui Miao wasn’t sure what Bai Erma was up to, but he wasn’t afraid of any tricks a mere ghost could play.

Bai Erma smiled, raising a finger and wagging it gently. “It won’t work. I need to possess a woman’s body to dual cultivate with you. Right now, I’m just a soul. How about we go back and find that girl Lin Xue?”

“…”

At these words, Shui Miao felt a jolt. It occurred to him: earlier that day, when Lin Xue had acted out of character, could it have been because Bai Erma’s spirit had possessed her? If so, this Bai Erma was truly despicable.

“No! I don’t want to do that. If there’s no other way, then forget it.” Shui Miao shook his head indifferently. “Cultivation isn’t the only path for me. I can become strong even without dual cultivation.”

Seeing Shui Miao’s refusal, Bai Erma’s eyes darted craftily. “Don’t be like that. There is another method, but it requires you to project your soul out of your body.”

“Project my soul?”

Shui Miao was taken aback and hesitated.

In the past, with five stone tablets protecting him, he would have acted without hesitation.

But now, with nothing to rely on, if Bai Erma were to play tricks and seize his physical body, the consequences would be disastrous.

“Mhmm. If you don’t know how, I can teach you.”

Bai Erma’s spirit floated upward, standing naked before Shui Miao. The dark, delicate patch between her legs and the subtle crevice beneath were enough to stir anyone’s blood and ignite irresistible desire.

“No need. I won’t be getting out of the car. Wolves can’t get me.”

Shui Miao refused the gun for a simple reason: Lin Xue and the others were all women, and they needed the gun more than he did.

Shui Miao drove off.

Lin Zhiling and Xiao Shuang came out and stood beside Lin Xue.

Hearing their footsteps, Lin Xue took a deep breath, calming herself slightly before turning and saying, “It’s nothing. He’s a cultivator—cultivators are always like this, neurotic and strange. He’ll be fine in a few days. Don’t worry about him. Not long ago, he even disappeared into the mountains for over half a year. From now on, the dairy group will belong to us.”

Actually, up to this point, Lin Xue hadn’t developed deep feelings for Shui Miao. In her own words, she thought he was just a decent guy, and she had her own physical needs, so she acted on them.

Therefore, Lin Xue wasn’t particularly sad.

But at this moment, a female ghost silently flickered behind the three women and vanished.

※※※

Fifteen miles away

Beside a winding little river, Shui Miao plunged into the water and sat cross-legged in it.

“I shouldn’t have treated Lin Xue like that… How did I become like this? I can’t even control my emotions anymore—how can I continue cultivating in the future?”

“I even wanted to possess all of them…”

“Am I falling?”

“Why? Why do I feel so guilty? Isn’t it normal for men and women to love each other? Why can’t I do it?”

“No! I did nothing wrong. I followed nature, embraced the union of Yin and Yang. What’s wrong with that?”

“But no, that’s not right. If I did nothing wrong, why am I still so conflicted…”

Under the night sky, the river flowed silently, while Shui Miao ranted and raved at himself in the water. His heart was full of contradictions. The clash between traditional education and reality left him unable to grasp the right direction in life. He was in great pain. He wanted to cast away all these outdated ideas, to do as he pleased, to possess every beautiful woman he desired—what harm would that do? But reason kept reminding him that he mustn’t act recklessly, or he would lose himself completely.

The dual cultivation with Lin Xue had given Shui Miao a taste of the quick path to power.

This sweet temptation, like a heart demon, silently influenced Shui Miao’s thoughts.

Shui Miao was no saint. He could make mistakes, could lose his way, could feel conflict, could be driven by desire.

He knew life’s journey would never be smooth, and deciding what kind of person he wanted to be, and how to seek revenge, was a major headache. Originally, he had wanted to live peacefully for a few decades, take care of his parents, get along with his friends, settle all worldly ties before resuming cultivation. But in just a short time, his heart had become restless again—he couldn’t wait anymore.

This was precisely because he had found a way to rapidly improve his cultivation.

Now, no one could make this decision for him—he had to choose for himself.

On one side were his ancient grudges across lifetimes; on the other, his worldly attachments and emotions.

He knew clearly which was more important.

Suddenly, Shui Miao made his decision. In the night, he spoke slowly and firmly, “Let these worldly emotions go. Whether I’m there or not, it makes no difference to them. How can I let love and hate distract me from my ancient vengeance? Yes! It’s time to take action. The hatred is etched in my heart—how can I pretend not to see it? Escaping won’t solve anything. I must face it, deal with it. After I’ve taken revenge, I can return, and then I can take care of everyone just the same.”

Shui Miao had made his decision—to cast aside worldly thoughts. Even if it meant falling into the path of darkness, so be it.

“Haha, you spoke so well!”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out.

In front of Shui Miao, emerging from the river water, a faintly visible naked female ghost appeared. From her navel upward, her upper body was exposed. Her figure was extremely seductive—pale and tender, her full, firm breasts like ripe peaches.

“It’s you, Bai Erma!?”

Shui Miao couldn’t quite believe his eyes, but her appearance was unmistakably hers.

“Of course it’s me!”

Bai Erma smiled. “You must be wondering why my soul still exists. Frankly, I’m not sure either. I thought I had been completely destroyed by you, but I’m certain that it was because of our dual cultivation that my soul reformed—and even became stronger.”

Dual cultivation was indeed miraculous. Shui Miao’s heart stirred slightly. “Hmph. Bai Erma, you’ve got some nerve. Your physical body was destroyed by me, yet you dare to come back? Don’t you fear I’ll destroy your ghost soul as well?”

“You won’t, because you need me, and I need you.” Bai Erma approached Shui Miao with a seductive smile. “In fact, I’m also an expert in dual cultivation. I know exactly what state you’re in. Those women of yours can’t satisfy you—they’re not cultivators, just women with strong Yin energy. At most, they can help you gain a little power, but after that, they can’t help you anymore. If you continue to cultivate with them, the consequences will be terrible—they’ll be drained dry, aging rapidly, ending up just like me, their bodies withered away by you.”

Hearing this, Shui Miao’s heart trembled. “If that’s the case, then why would you come back to me?”

“Hehehe…”

Bai Erma chuckled. “That’s different. I know how to cultivate together, how to complement each other. We can both improve. But they can’t. Most importantly, I truly like you, and I want to help you take revenge… I heard everything you said just now.”

“If that’s the case, then what are we waiting for?”

Shui Miao reached out to grab Bai Erma’s soul, but his hand passed through nothing. Bai Erma smiled seductively. “So eager?”

“Of course…”

Shui Miao wasn’t sure what Bai Erma was up to, but he wasn’t afraid of her now that she was only a ghost.

Bai Erma smiled sweetly, raised one slender finger, and gently shook her head. “No, I must possess a woman’s body to cultivate with you. Since I’m just a soul now, let’s go back and find that girl Lin Xue.”

“…”

At this, Shui Miao’s heart suddenly jolted. He thought back to Lin Xue’s unusual behavior earlier in the day—could it have been because Bai Erma’s soul had possessed her? If so, Bai Erma was truly despicable.

“No! I don’t want to do that. If there’s no other way, then forget it.” Shui Miao shrugged indifferently. “After all, dual cultivation isn’t the only way I cultivate. I can still grow strong without it.”

Seeing Shui Miao’s refusal, Bai Erma’s eyes twinkled, and she quickly said, “Don’t be like that. I have another method—but it requires your soul to leave your body.”

“My soul leave my body?”

Shui Miao was taken aback, feeling somewhat hesitant.

In the past, he had the five stone tablets for protection, so he had nothing to fear.

Now, he had nothing. If Bai Erma played a trick and took over his physical body, it would be a huge problem.

“Well, if you don’t know how, I can teach you how to project your soul.”

Bai Erma floated upward, standing naked before Shui Miao. The dark patch between her legs, a delicate crevice, stirred a surge of blood in his body, making it hard to resist.