Chapter 67

Yue Wuhuan used Dreamweaver Incense, bundled in sets of three, designed to gradually disrupt one's mental sea, exposing vulnerabilities for manipulation and control. However, its usage had restrictions. It couldn't be used on cultivators stronger than oneself, otherwise, there'd be backlash, and it could also fail against those with an iron will.

Rong Ye had neither a strong will nor significant cultivation; he was merely at the Qi Gathering stage.

He was the easiest prey to manipulate.

Yue Wuhuan was exceptionally skilled in mental torment; he could make people self-mutilate or reduce them to imbeciles.

There was once a traitor who betrayed the Medicine King Valley. After the third Dreamweaver Incense was lit, he went utterly mad, skinning himself alive before smashing into a wall to die.

Qingluan buried the body in the medicinal garden. She vomited multiple times and had nightmares continuously.

Fortunately, Rong Ye came to his senses in time...

Yue Wuhuan gave him a chance for redemption.

Treated with calming pills and tranquility potion, Rong Ye gradually discerned reality from illusion and recovered. Seeing Qingluan caring for him at his bedside, he thought of his foolish intentions and felt ashamed, remorseful, and scared. He couldn't bear to face anyone and buried himself in his blanket, weeping.

Seeing his dispirited state, Qingluan arranged for a medical leave, allowing him to rest.

Under the covers, Rong Ye softly asked, "Sister Qingluan, when will I go to the Heavenly Craft Pavilion?"

Since coming to the cultivation world, he had never left Yan Mountain Gate or Medicine King Valley. He was fearful of going to the Heavenly Craft Pavilion and becoming a craftsman's apprentice, yet he knew he had committed a serious mistake. This was the only lifeline Sister Qingluan had fought for him, so he couldn't refuse.

"You can leave when you're feeling better; I'll inform the Sovereign on your behalf," Qing Luan contemplated for a moment before reassuring him. "Tian Gong Ge is an excellent place. The Elder Liao, who is recruiting this time, is a highly proficient female cultivator. Becoming her apprentice would be a good opportunity for you, especially since you have no interest in alchemy. There, you can better leverage your skills."

Rong Ye sobbed as he acknowledged her words.

　...

The next day, Qing Luan informed Song Qing Shi of Rong Ye's impending move to Tian Gong Ge.

Song Qing Shi had a strong impression of the jovial student, who had taken up a pile of homework just yesterday with the aim of learning from Yue Wu Huan. Now he wanted to leave Yao Wang Gu. Could it be that the workload shattered his confidence?

Qing Luan chuckled and clarified, "Rong Ye has always been interested in mechanical devices. When he heard that Elder Liao of Tian Gong Ge is recruiting mortal apprentices, he eagerly signed up. I suppose it's fate."

Knowing Rong Ye's character, Ming Hong quickly deduced the truth.

He Qing Yun was perplexed and concerned, "Why would Ah Ye become a craftsman..."

He was cut off when Ming Hong stomped hard on his foot, causing him to yelp in pain.

"Sister Qing Luan would never harm us," Ming Hong grasped He Qing Yun's arm tightly and reminded him in a low voice, "Rong Ye chose this path because he wants to be a craftsman."

He Qing Yun finally caught on and said with a downcast face, "Yes, he likes crafting."

Song Qing Shi observed their expressions and smiled, "To each their own. That's perfectly fine."

After quickly reviewing their assignments and confirming that everyone had been diligent, he excused himself from the lecture hall, stating that he needed to work on his research.

Seeing that the Sovereign wasn't overly concerned about Rong Ye's departure, Qing Luan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to face He Qing Yun and Ming Hong, who were clearly eager for the truth. Knowing that the three were friends, she delicately informed them that Rong Ye had made a mistake and needed to leave Yao Wang Gu. She suggested they bid him a proper farewell, adding that they would likely meet again if Rong Ye succeeded in his training at Tian Gong Ge.

As the eldest among the youngsters, she was deeply trusted...

Every choice Qing Luan made, every decision, was geared towards ensuring the best future for everyone.

The news of Rong Ye's departure left everyone a bit saddened.

Qing Luan was also disheartened. After offering some words of comfort, she decided to divert her mood through studying. Ever since the Sovereign took interest in her research, Yue Wu Huan had gently presented her with a plethora of information, encouraging her to study diligently. Understanding the implicit message, she gave her all, wishing she could stretch each day into 48 hours to meet the expectations barely.

Today was the day for alchemy experiments. The apprentices remained in the lecture hall, leaving the library deserted.

Qing Luan quickly located the medicinal books she needed. She then sat at the desk and, emulating the Sovereign's habit, began jotting down key points into her notes.

Immersed in her studies, she lost track of time, oblivious to the shifting light and shadow around her.

Suddenly, the chirping of insects and the calls of birds from outside the window fell silent, the wind ceased, and the library turned eerily quiet, as if it were isolated from the world. A gradual wave of scalding heat filled the air—a terrifying sensation she felt she had experienced before.

Yan Shan Gate? The death of Xie Que?

A chilling shadow descended.

Realizing something was terribly amiss, Qing Luan panicked, abandoning her research materials in her rush to flee the library.

But it was too late.

The entire library was enveloped in a fire barrier, blocking all possible escape routes.

Soft sounds of pages being turned emanated from behind Qing Luan.

Slowly, she turned her head...only to witness Red Lotus Mystical Fire and Netherworld Ghost Fire blossoming in the air. The red and black lotuses brought an aura of death, and memories of Xie Que's gruesome end flashed through her mind. She finally recognized the true master of Yao Wang Gu: the man standing in front of the desk, earnestly going through the notes she had just made.

His youthful countenance, gentle disposition, and ever-careful speech...

Although she knew well he was a fearsome tiger, she had allowed herself to be misled time and time again, sometimes to the point of hubris.

In this world, how could there be a Nascent Soul cultivator so easily fooled?

Maintaining her composure, though her face was pale, Qing Luan bowed and inquired, "Sovereign, may I ask what your instructions are?"

"Nothing much," Song Qing Shi closed the notebook and smiled. "There are some matters I've been wanting to discuss with you but haven't had the opportunity. Tonight, people from Ye Yu Pavilion are coming to audit accounts. Yue Wu Huan is busy attending to them, so I took the time to have a little chat with you."

Swallowing hard, Qing Luan looked at the lotus in Song Qing Shi's hand. She knew he came prepared to inquire into Yue Wu Huan's secrets. If she spoke, her future was compromised; if she kept silent, she faced immediate consequences. Her mind raced, searching for a way to navigate through this perilous situation.

"I don't relish the idea of prying for information," Song Qing Shi expressed his reluctance. "However, this matter is of grave importance to me. I need to get to the bottom of it. Tell me, what exactly transpired between Yue Wu Huan and Rong Ye? Why is Rong Ye heading to Tian Gong Ge?"

Qing Luan responded with a smile, "Last night...Brother Wu Huan informed Rong Ye about the apprenticeship at Tian Gong Ge and encouraged him to learn the craft."

Song Qing Shi pondered for a moment, "So, is Rong Ye so elated that he fell ill?"

Struggling to maintain her smile, Qing Luan continued, "He's sentimental about parting..."

Song Qing Shi looked at her intently for a while, as the lotus in his hand slowly rotated, reminding her, "Do you remember? I can probe the soul."

Qing Luan froze. She had personally witnessed Song Qing Shi reading Xie Que's memories within his spiritual sea, uncovering the secret instructions of the He Huan Seal.

"Don't hold back. The sensation of having one's soul searched is unpleasant, and there's a risk of damaging the spiritual sea. Self-infliction won't help either; memories can still be retrieved after death," Song Qing Shi finally unleashed the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator, coldly ordering, "Don't make foolish choices. Speak the full truth."

The tiger opened its eyes, extended its claws, tore through the lies, and would no longer be fooled.

Qing Luan collapsed to the ground, realizing the futility of deception. She recounted the full events, including Rong Ye's childish missteps and transgressions, as well as Yue Wu Huan's lessons. She framed it as Rong Ye being a child who had made a mistake, got disciplined by Yue Wu Huan, and then experienced an epiphany—all's well that ends well.

Song Qing Shi found more puzzling elements: "The dungeon? The corner in the western garden where I used to cultivate poisonous mushrooms?"

During his oversight of Yao Wang Gu, he had considered the dungeon irrelevant. Having not researched poisonous mushrooms recently, he had forgotten about that place.

Qing Luan wished she could slap herself. In other sects, Yue Wu Huan's actions could be seen as attempts at usurping power, excluding rivals, and even treason. Though his contributions in aiding the Sovereign were notable, if his obsessive and possessive tendencies were exposed... Horrifying tales from history surfaced in Qing Luan's mind, and she became paralyzed by fear, tears gathering in her eyes.

Song Qing Shi asked with consternation, "Where did you all move my poisonous mushrooms?"

Sniffling, Qing Luan replied, "Brother Wu Huan created a new cultivation chamber for the mushrooms."

Song Qing Shi finally relaxed: "That's a relief."

Qing Luan's sobbing halted: "???"

Had she misplaced the focus of her concern?

"Don't cry," Song Qing Shi, aware that he had terrified her, hurriedly withdrew the two lotus flames of fire and said sheepishly, "I apologize. I was just intimidating you. I have no intention of actually probing your soul."

Soul-searching was highly risky, yielding only fragmented memories. An exhaustive probe of many years' worth of memories was unfeasible.

He never intended to harm Qing Luan; he simply wanted to elicit the truth, hence the theatrical display.

If his threats failed to yield answers... he would have to accept it.

Fortunately, the easiest person to deceive is one who never lies.

Looking back on the scene, Qing Luan realized that Song Qing Shi hadn't even told a lie; she had fallen for the trap. Unsure whether to feel relieved about surviving the ordeal or regret for speaking the truth, she broke down in tears again.

Feeling guilty for intimidating a young woman for the first time, Song Qing Shi quickly handed her a handkerchief, awkwardly consoling, "I won't scare you again."

Accepting the handkerchief, Qing Luan compared his kindness to her own foolishness, and her sobbing intensified.

Stumbling over his words, Song Qing Shi said, "I discreetly observed Rong Ye and made my own guesses about the situation. I was pleased and wanted to confirm my thoughts with you."

Confused, Qing Luan asked, "Pleased?"

Song Qing Shi chuckled, "Before the outcome was determined, did you think Yue Wu Huan would let Rong Ye go?"

Qing Luan pondered for a long while, shaking her head, "Even I could hardly tolerate the foolish words Rong Ye spoke; they tore at the deepest wounds of Brother Wu Huan. His lack of respect for the Sovereign was an outright provocation to Wu Huan. I believe he initially intended to ignite all three Dreamweaver Incense sticks and torment Rong Ye to death. I'm not sure why he changed his mind—perhaps because of Rong Ye's youth and naivety."

"Naivety? You've grown too comfortable in Yao Wang Gu," Song Qing Shi laughed, "In the world of cultivation, danger is everywhere—people kill for treasures and vie for life in secret realms. Did Xie Que spare you for your naivety? I've killed many people I couldn't stand during my journeys. Did I argue with them?" He added regretfully, "Of course, I'd never win in a debate with them anyway."

As a lone cultivator like him, showing the slightest weakness could mean being torn apart by wild beasts.

There's no rule of law in the realm of cultivation; no one avenges your death.

Song Qing Shi didn't probe into what Yue Wu Huan had done over the years because he didn't need to. Yue Wu Huan had garnered a reputation and commanded respect, not just through wit and rhetoric but undoubtedly through innate ruthlessness and the blood on his hands.

Amidst repeated acts of killing, one's heart becomes increasingly distorted, madness escalates, and life becomes more trivialized.

How could he possibly spare Rong Ye for naivety?

Qing Luan thought about the bodies buried in the medicinal garden; her expression darkened.

"Given the aggravation that Rong Ye's actions have caused to Wu Huan's condition, he shouldn't have been spared," Song Qing Shi looked earnestly at Qing Luan, elaborating, "I can now confirm that he spared Rong Ye for your sake."

Qing Luan muttered, "Brother Wu Huan has never spared anyone because of a plea."

She was too soft-hearted for the cruel world of cultivation, committing foolish acts time and again. It was only after Yue Wu Huan's repeated corrections that she learned to turn a blind eye and clean up the mess, performing dreadful deeds.

Song Qing Shi said, "If Rong Ye had died, you would have been devastated, right?"

Qing Luan cautiously nodded. Rong Ye was a companion dear to her, almost like a brother; their shared memories were too many, too cherished. She couldn't stand idly by as he faced death. Even if the odds were slim and she faced severe penalties, she had to attempt a rescue; failure would bring her a lifetime of guilt and pain.

Song Qing Shi smiled, "He sensed your agony and retreated. That's a good thing."

Qing Luan was still somewhat puzzled.

"This proves that Wu Huan still has a heart, that he can still perceive others' emotions," Song Qing Shi's smile deepened, "His gentleness hasn't been entirely destroyed; it's merely shrouded in layers of darkness, hidden even from himself. Therefore, he stepped back in the face of your suffering, making a choice divergent from his usual course."

Qing Luan possessed a kind, selflessly sincere heart. For ten long years, she remained steadfast, asking for nothing in return, wholly committed, giving her all, bit by bit...

Finally, persistence pays off.

She planted a tiny seed of kindness in the dark recesses of Yue Wu Huan's heart.

Could this seed grow into a mighty tree?

"His madness isn't as severe as I feared," Song Qing Shi expressed his relief, "Otherwise, for safety's sake, I would have had to move you all to the estate, seal off Yao Wang Gu, and wait beside him for an inevitable failure."

Qing Luan stared at Song Qing Shi, suddenly sensing that something was off about him too.

This didn't seem like normal emotions.

She had thought Song Qing Shi was unaware of just how mad Yue Wu Huan was, but now it seemed like he knew even better than she did.

Could anyone truly accept such madness? Could anyone go to such lengths for a madman? Could it be… he was mad as well?

Qing Luan discreetly shook her head, banishing this terrifying thought from her mind. Then she asked, "What can I do for Brother Wu Huan?"

"It's not the time to cure Wu Huan's illness, and the future could be more complicated. Don't worry, and don't be afraid," Song Qing Shi handed her a pile of documents, instructing earnestly, "Just stick to your beliefs, research the medicines you want to create, and be a good physician, living up to our master's philosophy."

Yao Wang Xian Zun, the Master of Medicinal Kings, was the best physician in the celestial realm; his treatment for Yue Wu Huan would undoubtedly be the best.

Qing Luan felt a bit embarrassed, "I'll strive to learn more."

"I frightened you today, for that, I apologize," Song Qing Shi pondered and decided on a form of compensation, "I've newly crafted a batch of Qi Attraction Pills, along with Vein Expansion Powder. These can improve your constitution and help you all achieve foundation-building. I'll give them to you later. Distribute them among the young apprentices based on their spirit roots. Many of them have limited talents; they need the aid of pills. Once their foundation is built, their lifespans will be extended, freeing them from ordinary illnesses, and giving you more time for learning and research."

Observing the apprentices' constitutions in recent days, he concluded that foundation-building would be the limit for most.

Only Ming Hong had better potential and was suited for cultivation, perhaps even advancing further through swordsmanship.

At these words, Qing Luan was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.

She knew the elixirs crafted by Yao Wang Xian Zun were the most effective and precious, rarely offered even to new disciples in celestial sects. Now, listening to Song Qing Shi, it sounded like he had customized Qi Attraction Pills for each apprentice. With such effective medicine and the addition of Vein Expansion Powder to adjust their constitutions, even the ones with the poorest talents would stand a chance at foundation-building, given they had spirit roots and put in effort.

Qing Luan instantly put aside all her worries, thanking him profusely. She swore to the heavens that she would not waste the three hundred years of life after foundation-building. She would dedicate all her time to learning, also encouraging those kids to strive hard, fulfilling the master's expectations, researching medicines, being a compassionate and skillful physician, and spreading the good reputation of Yao Wang Gu far and wide.

What else could give life meaning, if not learning, if not research?!

Song Qing Shi listened, utterly satisfied.

The flame barrier had long been withdrawn; the library door was open again, and fresh air flowed in from the windows.

Qing Luan no longer wished to leave; her fists clenched in anticipation of diving into a study frenzy.

Song Qing Shi suddenly spoke, "It's truly wonderful to have met you."

Upon hearing this, Qing Luan paused momentarily.

Song Qing Shi gracefully leapt onto the windowsill and smiled at her, saying, "Thank you!"

Then, amidst Qing Luan's puzzled expression, he jumped off the windowsill and vanished from sight.

The sky was darkening, and the apprentices had left their classrooms, creating a buzz of noise.

Yue Wu Huan was anxiously searching everywhere for his master. The Blood King Vine that usually helped him track his master had suddenly lost contact. His consciousness couldn't cover the entirety of Yao Wang Gu. On top of that, the monks dispatched by Ye Lin Xian Jun were annoyingly talkative, and there was a minor issue with the pregnant lab rats. After dealing with all these matters, he realized that his master was not in the lab, not in the classroom, not in the study, and not in the Fu Ling Palace...this made him even more agitated.

Song Qing Shi appeared in front of him and happily took his hand.

His grip was firm, and he had no intention of letting go.

Yue Wu Huan finally exhaled in relief and cautiously asked, "Master, you seem quite happy?"

Song Qing Shi cheerfully responded, "Mhm."

Yue Wu Huan inquired, "Has something good happened?"

Song Qing Shi paused, looked up and glanced cautiously at the increasingly darkening sky. He grinned and whispered in an almost inaudible voice:

"Wu Huan, I see hope."