Chapter 4: A Faint Light in the Darkness

"Come to the temple."

When Li Xiangyun saw Zhang Song's aged and terrifying face again, he instinctively took a step back, fear flashing in his eyes.

"Little one, are you afraid of me?"

"No... it's not that." Li Xiangyun tried to suppress his fear.

Zhang Song chuckled. "Haha, don't worry. I am an immortal—I will not harm you." His tone softened as he stepped forward, extending a pill toward Li Xiangyun. "Take this. If you can endure it, you may step onto the path of immortality."

"Really?" Li Xiangyun's face lit up with excitement at the thought of cultivation.

"Of course, I never lie to children." Zhang Song handed over the elixir.

Li Xiangyun hesitated for a moment before reaching out, grasping the pill in his small hands. After a brief pause, he threw it into his mouth.

The moment he swallowed, his face twisted in agony. His small body convulsed violently as he collapsed to the ground, twitching uncontrollably. Within moments, his limbs stiffened—his young life extinguished.

Fan Zhengping hesitated. "Master..."

Zhang Song's expression darkened. "Enough! Dispose of him. I am heading down the mountain to continue searching for the elixir. You will guard the temple in my absence. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you responsible."

"Yes, Master."

Zhang Song flicked his sleeves and disappeared into his quarters. Moments later, he emerged with a packed bundle and gave Fan Zhengping a knowing look. "Zhengping, I know you have a kind heart, but remember—you are a cultivator. Compassion will not lead you to greatness. When I return, I hope you will have changed."

"Yes, Master."

After Zhang Song's departure, Fan Zhengping sighed, lifting Li Xiangyun's lifeless body. He carried him through a small door on the left side of the courtyard. Before him lay a massive pit, filled with decay and the stench of death. Flies buzzed around the countless corpses piled within—some newly deceased, others reduced to bones.

With one last glance at the boy, Fan Zhengping tossed him into the abyss. The once lively child was now mere sustenance for insects.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

"Mud Monkey, the Fatty said Xiangyun has been too quiet. He's not in the room, is he?"

In Room 1, Lu Li leaned against the partition wall, listening through a small hole no larger than a fist. Qin Shouren's voice carried from the adjacent room, filled with unease.

After days of confinement, their initial panic had dulled into numb acceptance. The three of them had managed to create a tiny hole in the wall. Chen Zhong's room was next to Li Xiangyun's, yet no response had come despite his repeated calls.

"I understand." Lu Li's response was calm, yet he offered no further explanation. The walls surrounding them were composed of thick stone, leaving no room for escape. No matter how much he thought, no solution came to mind.

"Are we going to die?" Qin Shouren's voice trembled.

"I don't know." Lu Li's tone was emotionless. If his suspicions were correct, Li Xiangyun was already dead, and it wouldn't be long before their turn came.

Under the dim light, Lu Li raised his left hand, staring at the intricate tower pattern in his palm. He murmured, "What exactly are you?"

Upon closer inspection, he noticed words engraved on the small tower. The base bore the inscription "Three Treasures Glaze," while the three floors above it were marked with the words "Lie," "Kong," and "Shi."

"Three Treasures Glazed Pagoda?" Lu Li whispered, a flicker of hope igniting in his heart. Could this be some kind of treasure?

Creak...

The door suddenly swung open. A young Taoist, around seventeen or eighteen, stood at the entrance. He scanned the room before settling his gaze on Lu Li.

"Master is not here. Step outside for some air."

It was Fan Zhengping.

Fresh air rushed into the room. Lu Li bolted upright, stepping out quickly and inhaling deeply. Moments later, Qin Shouren and Chen Zhong followed suit, eager to escape the suffocating confines of their prison.

Without warning, Chen Zhong let out a furious roar and lunged at Fan Zhengping.

Fan Zhengping frowned. The moment Chen Zhong reached him, he swiftly raised his foot and struck his chest with a brutal kick. Chen Zhong was sent flying, crashing against the wall before spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Lu Li and Qin Shouren hurried forward, helping their friend up.

Fan Zhengping shook his head. "I have already defied my master's orders by letting you out. If you continue acting recklessly, I will have no choice but to lock you up again."

"Where is Xiangyun? What did you do to him?!" Chen Zhong roared, struggling to his feet.

"If you're referring to that child, then you should know—he's dead."

"What?!"

Qin Shouren and Lu Li stood frozen. Though they had expected this outcome, the confirmation still sent a wave of dread crashing over them.

Qin Shouren clenched his fists, prepared to charge forward, but Lu Li grabbed his arm and shook his head. "Go back."

Reluctantly, Qin Shouren stormed back to his room, slamming the door behind him.

Chen Zhong glanced at Lu Li, disappointment evident in his eyes, before following suit.

Fan Zhengping sighed. "You're smart. Even though I am only at the first level of Qi Training, I am far beyond what you mortals can handle." He walked to a stone chair in the courtyard, motioning for Lu Li to follow. "Let's talk."

Lu Li took a deep breath and cautiously approached.

Fan Zhengping patted the seat beside him. "Sit."

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Li complied.

Fan Zhengping spoke first. "Like you, I was once captured and used for medicine testing. But I was lucky—Master gave me an Awakening Pill, and it turned out I had five spiritual roots. So, he accepted me as his apprentice." His voice carried a hint of conflict. "He has taught me much over the years, and I owe him greatly. But I don't want him to continue killing. I feel... torn."

Lu Li was surprised. He hadn't expected this revelation. Hope flickered in his heart. "Master Immortal, in that case, could you secretly let us go?"

Fan Zhengping shook his head. "It's not that simple. Not only do I owe Master a great debt, but if I release you, I will not survive his wrath."

"Can't we escape together?" Lu Li pressed.

Fan Zhengping shot him a strange look. "Why would I leave? Master is refining an elixir. If he succeeds, my cultivation will advance immensely. Perhaps he is right—mortals should serve as stepping stones for cultivators."

Self-interest. That was the truth behind his supposed kindness.

Lu Li understood now. Even these so-called immortals were no different from mortals—only greedier.

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Fan Zhengping spoke again. "I cannot let you go. But I can give you... hope."