Chapter 1063: The Miserable Elder Xinran

I regret it—I thought she wouldn't dare to strike me; inside the Huang Family my position isn't low, many there side with me, they wouldn't allow this to happen, yet she still struck.

Her plan is simple: strike first, report later—kill me, confirm the matter, then no one will bother her, because her son is the Huang Family's future; for the sake of that future, the other Huang Family members won't do anything to her, at most a mild punishment.

I understand now—that vicious woman thought exactly that; she truly calculated precisely, taking advantage of my father and grandfather not being in the Huang Family, and most of the elders absent, she immediately struck me.

I hate it—I shouldn't have… let my guard down.

Huang Yan clenched his fists, gritted his teeth until they bled, still biting down.

But what's the use of regretting now? I'm already ruined, I'm a cripple, I can't cultivate anymore.

Master, I desperately want revenge, I want to restore my cultivation, to kill that vicious woman.

Plop.

Huang Yan knelt again, kowtowing.

Master, please help me, I will surely repay you well, I'll go through blades and fire for you.

I ask for nothing else, I only want to kill that despicable woman.

Qinglong Daoren lowered his gaze, looking at the disciple before him—he was still too naïve, too ready to trust others, or rather, to trust those around him; the hand that moved against him likely came from his close brothers in the Huang Family, letting him relax his guard before striking directly.

Needless to say, brothers, before profit, sometimes everything means nothing.

On the path of cultivation, how many turn from friends to enemies, how many slaughter each other.

Brothers, fathers and sons, husbands and wives, or others—no matter how close the relationship, it ultimately cannot withstand the two words 'profit'.

Before absolute gain, no one can hold to their original heart; in the end, all are polluted, tempted, and driven mad.

You, you're still too naïve; as your master I won't speak of your past, but I hope you henceforth won't overtrust others, especially those nearby—you must keep a doubt, cannot trust absolutely.

Even as your master, it's the same—when vigilance is needed, be vigilant, don't be careless.

Only with caution can you continue onward.

Huang Yan clenched his fists: 'Disciple understands.'

He stared at Qinglong Daoren, awaiting his reply.

Qinglong Daoren gazed at the disciple before him and said, 'Your condition is terrible; wanting to recover won't be easy—the process will be arduous and painful, can you endure it?'

'I can,' said the disciple. Huang Yan smiled, hearing the good news that his body could still be saved.

As long as there is hope, he fears neither hardship nor pain.

He wants to restore his cultivation, to return and take revenge, to kill those who betrayed him.

Moreover, that foolish disciple of his—Huang Yan will make him see that no matter what he does, he can never surpass him.

'Get up—I don't like people kneeling.'

'Yes, Master.'

Huang Yan rose to his feet, waiting for Qinglong Daoren's next order; Qinglong Daoren brought him up the mountain and pointed to a deep pit.

'Go in—for a long time to come you'll have to soak in there.'

'Besides cultivation, it's just soaking in the medicinal liquid.'

'Your body wants to recover quickly, but that's unlikely—take it step by step.'

Huang Yan, without suspicion, jumped in.

Sitting in the pit, Qinglong Daoren immediately began preparing the medicinal liquid; soon it was ready—a familiar formula, a familiar taste.

A pungent smell, moreover carrying a nauseating vapor that stimulates the soul.

Huang Yan frowned, with no doubt or resistance.

The medicinal liquid soaked his body; Huang Yan dared not breathe, letting the liquid cover him, his whole person sitting in it, he could no longer resist, and thus became the victim of the liquid's harm.

Xinran Zhanglao saw this scene—a familiar sight he had witnessed before.

'Still that familiar formula.'

'Still that familiar taste.'

'All these years, have you never thought of improving the prescription?'

Qinglong Daoren spread his hands: 'I'm also helpless; the original hasn't been improved, I can only use it as is—do you want to soak? I can prepare a separate batch for you.'

'No, no, I don't want to soak in the medicinal liquid again.'

Xinran Zhanglao immediately refused, not wanting to taste again the feeling of being wrapped in those liquids—it's too unpleasant.

Back then it was unavoidable; now her body is fine, so naturally she won't soak in the medicinal liquid.

Watching Huang Yan soak in the medicinal liquid, that feeling is truly great.

'Don't worry, the medicinal liquid I'll prepare specially for you will have no odd taste—I guarantee you'll like it.'

'Hehe.' Xinran Zhanglao didn't believe such talk—isn't this just a trick to pit someone? If you really believed it, you'd truly be taken in.

'How confident are you that you can cure him?' Xinran Zhanglao asked curiously.

Qinglong Daoren spread his hands: 'I don't know; his situation is quite severe—his body is depleted, that bone was dug out, the bone linked to his foundation, all his cultivation rests on that bone; without it, he's ruined.'

'For the bone to regenerate is difficult; thus he can only take the second path—start cultivation anew, begin from scratch.'

'This is his only option; what I'm doing is also to let his body recover, then gradually cultivate, step by step, to restore.'

'Any medicinal liquid is merely auxiliary; what truly matters is his heart, his resolve to seek the Dao.'

'Whether it succeeds depends on him, not on me.'

Qinglong Daoren pointed to Huang Yan covered in the pit—his future lies in his own hands.

Not in Qinglong Daoren's hands.

Xinran Zhanglao nodded thoughtfully, understanding Qinglong Daoren's approach.

Only by strengthening oneself is true strength; relying on external things is ultimately useless.

For example, Huang Yan rose by relying on the Flame Yang Bone, yet also fell because of it—a single bone nearly ruined him.

'The soaking in the medicinal liquid isn't that quick; the rest is up to you—this is the liquid's formula, afterward you'll prepare it for him.'

「As for how to cultivate, you let him do work; many places on Longshe Shan need to be cleared, and all of it is left to him to do. 」

On Longshe Shan, there's no lack of work; one can train the body, and also recover one's physique.

Qinglong Daoren casually forged a hoe, a specially made hoe, very heavy, very heavy, suitable for Huang Yan.

「Use this hoe to clear land. 」

Xinran Zhanglao took the hoe, inwardly thinking it was very heavy.

「Remember, you cannot use true qi; rely on your own strength to clear land. 」

Qinglong Daoren gave the order again, then returned to his room and continued to start cultivating.

Xinran Zhanglao gripped the hoe, speechless, saying: 「Damn it, acting as a hands-off manager, throwing disciples at me while you enjoy a carefree, flirtatious life. 」

No matter how helpless, it's useless; one can only sigh.

Who let her be born with a destiny of toil?