Xie Shuci wore a stern expression, his face taut with severity.

“Nonsense! You call this a minor wound with all that blood?”

He rebuked, gripping Xie An’s wrist and forcefully pulling it towards himself.

Xie An tried to pull away, but his effort was in vain. He eventually gave in, revealing the palm of his hand to Xie Shuci.

A gash, its origin unknown, marred his palm. Fresh blood poured forth, trickling down his wrist and dropping to the ground. The sight caused a pang of pain in Xie Shuci’s heart.

“Have you become stupid? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? What if it gets infected?” Xie Shuci’s voice was a mixture of concern and reprimand.

It’s true that those on the path of cultivation possessed robust bodies with enhanced healing abilities. However, given that the Little Blind had no spiritual power, an infection could spell disaster.

Deng Fengming sat not far from them, his gaze always wary of Xie An, constantly vigilant. He overheard their conversation and couldn’t help but glance their way.

Who was Xiao Xun? A young cultivator of profound skill, yet twisted and dark in nature. He was erratic, proving his path through slaughter. A monster so fearsome, merely gazing upon him could spell one’s doom, let alone offend him. How dare a mere alchemist speak to him in such a manner?

He gripped the long sword at his waist, thinking if Xiao Xun intended to kill, he would do whatever it took to protect the alchemist. Not out of sheer kindness, but because this alchemist, bearing top-grade elixirs, should be no ordinary cultivator. Perhaps he was a disciple of a renowned alchemist family from the Floating Tower realm, who was out on training. If he could save him from Xiao Xun, he might even kill two birds with one stone: eliminating Xiao Xun and earning favor for his sect.

As he awaited Xiao Xun’s next move, the latter merely lowered his head, his demeanor calm and gentle. He opened and closed his lips as if uttering something silently.

The alchemist beside him immediately frowned, retorting, “Nonsense! You call this a minor wound with all that blood?”

Xie Shuci shot him a glare, intending to retrieve a healing pill from his robes, but Xie An stopped him.

“There’s no need for a healing pill.” Xie An’s eyes were downcast, briefly glancing at the injured ankle of Helian Jue, “Spiritual power is sufficient.”

Relief washed over Xie Shuci as he intently observed Xie An’s wound. It was as if he was solving a difficult puzzle. Carefully, he gathered his spiritual power into his palm, gently placing it over the gash. His movements were so delicate as if fearing he might cause more pain to the injured Little Blind.

“Does it hurt?” Xie Shuci asked with a furrowed brow.

Xie An pursed his lips, feeling the gentle surge of spiritual energy seeping slowly into his wound. It latched onto his flesh, drawing forth a faint tremor from his body. An odd sensation warmed him, almost as if Xie Shuci’s spiritual energy was wrapping around him, evoking an indescribable, stifling sensation.

He suddenly realized he had given Xie Shuci too much leeway.

In the past, anyone who dared to approach him with their spiritual energy would face his wrath. 

Now, he found himself wishing for the energy to penetrate even deeper.

After a moment of silence, Xie An shook his head.

Deng Fengming, having witnessed the intimate scene, could hardly believe his eyes. His gaze involuntarily drifted over Xie Shuci.

After a brief respite, the group began discussing their next moves.

Chu Guiyi and another approached the group. First glancing at Xie An, Chu Guiyi asked, “Is he alright?”

Xie Shuci replied, “He’s a bit hurt, but it should be fine.”

“That’s good to hear,” Chu Guiyi responded, nodding in acknowledgment.

Chu Wenfeng sat down next to Xie Shuci, sneering at Helian Zhu, who was sulking in the corner, “Fool, easily manipulated by others.”

Helian Zhu stiffened, lowering his head even further.

Given his natural talents, the Helian family had always pampered and praised him. He grew accustomed to this superiority, overlooking everyone else. But who could have foreseen that all his achievements were simply stolen from others? That he was nothing more than a pawn for the family patriarch, a disposable tool? What awaited him in the future, is to be forever obliterated from this world.

How could he not see it? How foolish he was!

In his younger days, his senior brother was someone he looked up to. He had been just another ordinary external disciple of the Helian family, without the qualifications to enter the inner sect. All he could do was look up to his senior brother, gazing from a distance across several halls. When his senior appeared, he’d follow like other disciples, hoping to catch his attention.

But with his mediocre talents, perhaps he could never enter the inner sect in his entire life.

Then one day, the patriarch ordered a re-evaluation of everyone’s potential. As everyone anxiously gathered at the grand hall, only accessible to the inner disciples, his senior brother was outside, sparring with a wandering cultivator named Lu.

“If you can defeat me, Helian Jue, I’ll stay.” she had declared.

Miss Lu had met his senior brother while he was out for training. Later they returned to Luofang City together, but being a free spirit, Miss Lu never stayed anywhere for long. Her cultivation was profound, on par with his senior brother.

Back then, Helian Zhu believed that this woman wasn’t worthy of his senior brother.

Helian Jue stood tall and proud, reminiscent of a towering pine tree, gripping his Cloud-Piercing Spear with a carefree and bold demeanor. “If you can defeat me,” he said to Miss Lu, “I’ll leave with you. Does that sound fair?”

Miss Lu was momentarily taken aback, at a loss for words. 

“You… you’re willing to leave with me? To become a causal cultivator?”

“Why not?”

Helian Zhu was equally stunned. Was his revered senior brother really considering leaving the sect? To abandon their sacred path for a woman?

“Senior brother… are you… abandoning us?” Helian Zhu stepped forward timidly, his eyes red and glistening with unshed tears, staring deeply into his senior brother’s.

Both turned their attention to him.

The young Helian Jue was a sight to behold, the epitome of youthful grace. Turning around, he saw the young disciple from the outer sect. Nodding to Miss Lu, he approached Helian Zhu with his spear in hand.

Kneeling down to be at eye level with Helian Zhu, he gently ruffled the boy’s hair and explained earnestly, “Your senior brother isn’t abandoning you all. No matter who I am or where I am, I will always be a disciple of the Helian family. But life offers infinite possibilities, and we shouldn’t be confined to just one path.”

With eyes brimmed with tears, Helian Zhu murmured, “Without you, what will become of the Helian family?”

With a warm and comforting hand, his senior brother wiped away his tears, smiling gently. “Without me, the Helian family still has you.”

That simple statement had a profound impact on Helian Zhu’s heart.

In the end, the senior brother lost that duel.

Having lost the wager, he resolved that after participating in the Sect’s Great Selection, he would leave the Helian family behind. He intended to become a casual cultivator, traveling the world with Miss Lu.

Perhaps the senior brother too cherished freedom, which was why he was drawn to the free-spirited Miss Lu.

However, not long after the Great Selection concluded, the results of Helian Zhu’s second talent assessment emerged— he was one in ten thousand.

Later, no one quite knew what transpired, but the senior brother sealed his Cloud-Piercing Spear and chose to stay, with Miss Lu remaining by his side in Luofang City.

Many claimed that the senior brother was envious of Helian Zhu’s extraordinary talent, and this had dealt a blow to his pride.

But would such a carefree individual as the senior brother really be so preoccupied with talent and aptitude?

Yet as time passed and the rumors persisted, Helian Zhu began to believe them.

He started to resent his senior brother, looked down upon him, and even wished for his expulsion from the sect. If that happened, the position of the sect’s top disciple would be his…

How foolish and blind he was…

Too foolish, overestimating his own worth!

Burying his face into his chest, tears of regret dampened his robes.

Seeing Helian Zhu’s emotional turmoil, Xie Shuci nudged Chu Wenfeng with his elbow, gesturing for him to hold his tongue.

In that moment, Xie Shuci only saw Helian Zhu as pitiable, a man manipulated throughout his life, oblivious to the puppetry.

“What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong? Wasn’t he always so arrogant? Thinking his superior talent gave him the right to look down on others?” Chu Wenfeng retorted, glancing back sharply.

He then cast a glance at Chu Guiyi, seated not far away in a wheelchair. His voice dwindled, “What’s talent worth? What if you don’t have it?”

Chu Guiyi shot him a brief glance, “Wenfeng, that’s enough.”

Chu Wenfeng clenched his jaw and turned his head away.

Due to the cracks that had formed on the ground, the wheelchair couldn’t get any closer. Chu Guiyi, supporting himself with the armrests, struggled to stand. While he still had sensations in his legs, they lacked strength.

Having spent some days with Chu Guiyi, Xie Shuci knew that deep down, the man was as proud as Little Blind. Hence, he refrained from offering assistance. As Chu Guiyi staggered towards them step by step, Xie Shuci couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety on his behalf.

Chu Wenfeng only spared a glance before quickly lowering his head.

Helian Jue looked on, his gaze growing increasingly complicated.

“My apologies for the sight,” Chu Guiyi said with a warm smile.

His demeanor was so outstanding that even in his difficult, slow movements, there was no trace of embarrassment.

Inwardly, Xie Shuci sighed. If only Chu Guiyi’s legs were unhindered; what a magnificent sight that would be.

Though Helian Jue was considerably injured, he had taken a reincarnation Pill. With the wound on his leg also healed by Xie Shuci’s spiritual power, he had regained much of his strength.

Perhaps he was reminded of the time when he and Chu Guiyi first met, both young and brimming with youthful exuberance, roaming the cultivation world. Meeting again after so many years, neither resembled their former selves.

Helian Jue gave a bitter smile, “Guiyi, life is so unpredictable.”

Chu Guiyi responded with a serene smile, “It’s just fate.”

“Thank you for speaking on Little Zhu’s behalf.”

Chu Guiyi’s expression grew complex, “Ah Jue, you shouldn’t have kept this from me.”

Helian Jue chuckled, “This is a matter of the Helian family. Why involve you? Moreover, even if I had told you, you couldn’t have stopped the Patriarch. It would only have endangered Little Zhu.”

“Senior Brother, did I… kill many people?” Helian Zhu, who had been silent till now, suddenly asked.

Helian Jue hesitated for a moment, remaining silent for a long while.

With a voice hoarse from suppressed emotion, Helian Zhu pressed, “Who were they?”

Taking a deep breath, Helian Jue replied, “Do you remember how long has it been since you saw that group of outer disciples, who were of your age?”

Helian Zhu shuddered, while Xie Shuci and the others looked on in disbelief with their eyes open wide.

Xie Shuci was sandwiched between Xie An on his left and Chu Wenfeng on his right. Nestling close to Xie An’s shoulder, he felt a tingling sensation run through his scalp.

Xie An, sensing his discomfort, silently shifted slightly, allowing Xie Shuci to lean against half of his shoulder. 

There was no point in hiding anything anymore.

With a heavy sigh, Helian Jue revealed, “Those 47 outer disciples, who were around your age, perished twelve years ago. Among them was a little girl. I promised to buy her a candied haw, but by the time I returned, she was nowhere to be found in Luofang City. Only later did I discover that, except for you, all the disciples from that group had mysteriously disappeared. The truth became clear after I confronted the Patriarch.”

Helian Zhu’s breathing turned ragged, his limbs cold and his eyes dilated. The very essence of his spiritual power seemed on the verge of erupting. 

The others inhaled sharply in horror.

Helian Jue continued, “Back then, you were too young. The Soul-locking formation was too risky to use on outsiders. However, it worked wonders when used on fellow disciples, with whom you shared a bloodline and spent every day. After I discovered this, the Patriarch promised me that he wouldn’t let you kill innocent people indiscriminately. Knowing you were innocent too, I kept silent, searching in secret for a way to break the Soul-Locking formation.”

How ridiculous it was! Keeping him from killing strangers but forcing him to murder forty-seven of his own sect members, the kids he grew up with, without his knowledge. They were just kids, seven years old, the same age as Helian Zhu was back then!