Unwanted Interest.

A couple of hours had passed when Bai Xuebing opened his eyes. He was inside a tent, and the first thing he noticed was the warm weight on his hand. Turning his head, he saw Xia Ruyen sitting beside him, asleep. Her hands rested over his, as if she had remained that way for a long time.

Momentarily ignoring the scene, he closed his eyes and focused on his body. Immediately, he felt a new connection in his origin core. Entering his inner domain, he saw it: a new star shone alongside his base star.

The connection was established, but the star had yet to be fully assimilated. His domain remained the same—an endless sea of blood beneath a gray, lightless sky. Only when the star was fully integrated would his domain change, granting him a new characteristic.

"It was a success… but what happened after?" His memory was hazy. "I collapsed and… I don't remember anything else."

A faint sound interrupted his thoughts. Xia Ruyen was breathing deeply, her face relaxed in deep sleep.

Bai watched her in silence. It wasn't normal to see her like this. In recent days, the pressure of the mission and the mental exhaustion had pushed her to the limit. Always alert, always carrying the responsibility of the group. Now, finally, her body had succumbed to sleep.

She had taken care of him all this time, even after he lost consciousness, staying by his side. Bai Xuebing had not been wrong to trust her.

—Leader…

Carefully, he slid his hands from under hers and lifted her gently, laying her down on her bed. Then he covered her with the blankets, ensuring she wouldn't feel cold.

Stepping out of the tent, the camp was calm. Half of the group slept, while the other half, along with the disciples of the White Owl Sect, kept watch around the perimeter.

The only person awake within the camp was Wei Lan, sitting beside a fire.

The silver moon hung high in the sky, and the air grew colder by the minute.

Bai Xuebing turned, ready to go back to his tent, when a raised hand in the distance stopped him. Wei Lan, with his ever-kind smile, beckoned him with a simple gesture.

"The old owl… what does he want now?"

Bai sighed. His body craved rest, but ignoring the invitation of a seventh-realm cultivator was not an option. If Wei Lan wished, he could crush him like an insect before he even had the chance to react.

With no choice, he walked over to where the old man rested by the fire.

—This junior greets the elder.

Wei Lan smiled, his narrowed eyes gleaming with an unreadable glint.

—Sit down, please.

Bai dropped himself in front of him. Only the fire separated them, casting dancing shadows across their faces.

—Does the elder need something?

—Ho, ho, calm down, boy. This old man has no interest in anything you carry… not even the new star you just obtained.

The words dropped like a stone in the air. Bai felt a chill run down his spine.

"He noticed…"

His body tensed, the fatigue forgotten in an instant.

Wei Lan let out a small chuckle, as if amused by his reaction.

—Heh, don't get so stiff. If I had wanted it, I wouldn't have helped you when you collapsed.

Bai Xuebing frowned.

—Collapse…?

Wei Lan calmly explained how he had intervened, separating the malignant energy from his origin core and stabilizing his blood before it was too late.

Bai clenched his teeth. He didn't remember any of it.

—I didn't know… Forgive me, elder.

—It's of no importance. I simply did what I thought was right.—Wei Lan waved his hand dismissively.—I called you because I wanted to talk.

Bai looked at him cautiously.

—Talk?

Wei Lan nodded slowly.

—I'm curious about you… Tell me, boy, do you come from a sect or a clan?

Direct. No detours.

Bai kept his expression impassive, but in his mind, possibilities swirled like a storm.

"What does this old man really want?"

Wei Lan observed him calmly, but his interest was evident. It wasn't common to see a young man reach the third realm at his age, much less with a second star. And above all… defeat a demonic beast capable of rivaling seventh-realm cultivators.

Xia Ruyen had already explained the anomaly of the creature—it only had one star, an unusual phenomenon for its rank. That explained how Bai had managed to defeat it… but it didn't explain who he was.

—I belong to neither,—Bai replied without hesitation.

It wasn't a lie. He belonged to no sect or clan.

Wei Lan tilted his head slightly.

—I see… Then tell me, who taught you to cultivate?

Bai kept his expression unchanged.

"I can't reveal my mother's inheritance… but I also can't lie too easily."

—My parents.

A short, but heavy silence.

Wei Lan smiled, but this time with a bit more interest.

—I see. So it was them… They must have been exceptional people to raise someone like you. Hehehe… Someone with your cultivation at your age, already with a second star… No doubt, they were great masters.

Bai lowered his gaze.

—They were…

Just two words.

But it was enough.

Wei Lan, who had been probing for more information, stopped. There was no need to keep asking.

Bai Xuebing's eyes spoke for themselves.

Empty.

There was no pride or joy in his voice when speaking of them. Only the echo of something broken.

The fire crackled between them, casting elongated shadows on the ground. Wei Lan did not insist. Not because he didn't want answers, but because he had already obtained the most important one.

Bai Xuebing had no one.

And that… made him even more interesting.

Silence stretched on. Only the crackling of the fire filled the void between them.

Wei Lan narrowed his eyes, studying him with his usual smile.

—Boy, you have a rare talent. But more than that… you have a look I've seen before.

Bai didn't respond.

—That look…—Wei Lan continued, his voice measured—doesn't belong to someone following a set path, nor to someone cultivating out of ambition. It's the look of those who have been torn from their place and thrown into chaos.

Bai Xuebing held his gaze without saying anything.

Wei Lan rested his arms on his knees and studied him more closely.

—Tell me, boy… why do you cultivate?

Bai didn't answer immediately. He knew that question, coming from a seventh-realm cultivator, was not casual.

Wei Lan smiled with some amusement before adding:

—Is it for power? For immortality? To transcend the mortal?

Bai Xuebing lifted his gaze, his expression empty.

—Revenge.

Wei Lan's smile froze for a brief moment before curving into a sharper grin.

—Revenge, huh?

There was no emotion in Bai's voice. No rage or resentment. Just the simple assertion of an unchangeable fact.

Wei Lan let out a long sigh and shook his head.

—I've heard many answers, but that… that is one of the few that never changes.

Bai Xuebing said nothing.

The old man observed him for a moment longer before smiling with his usual expression.

—If you don't belong to a sect, would you like to join the White Owl Sect?

Bai Xuebing had expected the question.

It was a tempting offer. Resources, protection, advanced techniques… any other cultivator at his level would have accepted without hesitation.

But all of that had a price.

Sect, clan… the name didn't matter. In the end, they were always the same—chains. Shackles disguised as honor and camaraderie. Joining meant submitting to rules, to orders. It meant fighting when told, killing when commanded, bowing before someone stronger.

And Bai Xuebing had not cultivated to serve anyone.

He cultivated to kill.

To take revenge.

The sweet promise of the sect was nothing more than a gilded cage.

He smiled slightly.

—No.

Wei Lan chuckled. 

—So direct. Won't you even consider it? 

—No. 

—Not even if I offer you resources, protection, and advanced techniques? 

Bai Xuebing held Wei Lan's gaze. 

—I appreciate your offer, but right now, I'm in a difficult situation. 

It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. Rejecting him outright could provoke unnecessary hostility. He wasn't afraid of Wei Lan, but he wasn't stupid either. Although the old man smiled kindly, he hadn't reached the seventh realm by being compassionate. A rejection that was too blunt could turn him into an unnecessary enemy. But if he gave the impression that he simply couldn't accept at the moment, perhaps Wei Lan would leave him alone… at least for now. 

Wei Lan observed him in silence before letting out a light chuckle. 

—Alright, alright. I won't force you. 

But another emotion gleamed in his eyes. 

"You're still young… we'll see if you still think the same after some time." 

He stood up, dusting off his robe. 

—Rest, boy. Something tells me you're going to need it. 

Bai stared at the fire, not responding. His mind revolved around the conversation. Wei Lan didn't push further, but his interest was already clear. He wouldn't stop watching him. 

Finally, Bai stood up and returned to his tent. 

Upon entering, Xia Ruyen was still asleep. 

He lay down in silence, closing his eyes. But rest didn't come immediately. 

Wei Lan… a seventh-realm man with unknown interests. 

He had avoided making him an enemy, but he had also left the door slightly open. 

Had it been the right decision? 

It didn't matter. 

Bai closed his eyes. There were more important things to think about.