Chapter 148: Life and Death

Using Mo Sect disciples' blood to make talisman seals is good in every way—

It's just rather suicidal.

Although the Mo Sects in the Xuanwei Realm are now in decline, and the status of the thirteen Mo Ancestors is questionable,

if you take a sickle to cut the leeks they have painstakingly cultivated for a million years,

do the Mo Ancestors not care about their face?

Walking out of the Sect Master's thatched hut, Zheng Fa shook his head—the matter of the talisman seals was not feasible now, and could not even be leaked.

Otherwise, even if it saved a few spirit stones used to buy beast blood, it would easily invite powerful enemies.

Moreover, this thing called talisman seals was already quite controversial within the Jiushan Sect.

Doing this would yield benefits and risks that were extremely disproportionate.

"Junior Brother, that Lin Lin Bu Fan still hasn't said anything these past few days; how should we deal with him?"

Senior Sister Yuan, following behind him, suddenly asked.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then turned to ask Senior Sister Yuan, "What do you think, Senior Sister?"

"Kill him," Senior Sister Yuan said immediately.

Despite Senior Sister Yuan always being lively, cute, and carefree,

when she spoke the word 'kill,' it was actually as if it were second nature to her.

Those two short words left Zheng Fa silent for a while longer.

After a long moment, he slowly nodded: "Mm."

Although he had received a modern education, he now saw things more clearly—

modern compassion could not be applied in Xuanwei.

One could not bring risk to those around them just because of their own slight discomfort.

This was the safest choice.

Not to mention that Lin Lin Bu Fan had come here to assassinate him.

Just his identity as a disciple of the Mo Sect meant that, in the eyes of the entire Jiushan Sect, he deserved to be killed.

The reason Lin Lin Bu Fan had survived until now was partly because his blood was somewhat useful.

On the other hand, Zheng Fa and the others wanted to pry some secrets from his mouth.

Clearly, this person was not very cooperative.

And although his blood held enormous profit, the risk was even greater—if that sub-seal truly corresponded to a Mo Ancestor, then the Mo Ancestor might possess strong control over him.

Leaving him within the Jiushan Sect would always be a hidden danger.

"Go question him again today; if he still refuses to say anything, then let it be so."

Zheng Fa said this to Senior Sister Yuan, and the two headed toward the small wooden cabin where Lin Lin Bu Fan was under house arrest.

"What is this?"

As soon as they entered the door,

Zheng Fa saw that Lin Lin Bu Fan had somehow gotten out of bed on his own.

He was kneeling on the ground, his face deathly pale, blood still dripping from his mouth, gasping heavily and looking utterly wretched—it was clearly difficult even for him to get out of bed.

"I am willing to bow and accept the Young Master as my master; I only beg you to spare my life!" Lin Lin Bu Fan said in a voice as faint as a wandering thread, filled with the determination of someone betting everything on one last throw.

Zheng Fa paused, stunned.

He turned to look at Senior Sister Yuan, whose face also showed some confusion: "I'm not stupid; I didn't tell him anything!"

"This Senior Sister said nothing; it's just... she came less and less often, and the person who treated my injuries stopped coming too."

Lin Lin Bu Fan let out a bitter laugh.

This person... was a bit sharp.

Zheng Fa frowned and said, "Get up first."

Lin Lin Bu Fan did not put on another act; he simply slowly pulled himself up by gripping the nearby couch and stood, looking at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa looked at him.

The first time he heard of Lin Lin Bu Fan, what Zheng Fa heard from the Shopkeeper was of a slightly foolish Mo Sect disciple, even somewhat easy to deceive.

The second time he saw him, he seemed as if his grief exceeded his desire for life, possessing only a slight desire for revenge.

The third time he saw him...

There was a hint of reckless madness on this person's face.

In just a few short days, this person had become two different people.

"You are very smart," Zheng Fa said, looking at Lin Lin Bu Fan. "But I do not wish to accept you..."

"Why?"

"Besides wanting to survive, you are also thinking of finding an opportunity to take revenge, aren't you?"

Lin Lin Bu Fan fell silent, and only after a long while did he slowly nod: "My uncle served Lin Yangtian his entire life, never daring to be anything but obedient, more diligent than a dog, yet in the end, he died at his hands."

"Others see us people of the Mo Sect and think that if we die, we die... but that was the person who raised me..."

"I understand," Zheng Fa said, waving his hand. "Your desire for revenge is your own affair, but I have no obligation to help you."

"I am useful!"

"Oh?"

"My blood is useful! It is useful to you, and also useful to that Senior Brother Li!"

"... You really are very smart."

Who would have expected this person to figure even that out.

"Do you know why I don't want to agree to your request?"

Zheng Fa suddenly asked.

"Why?"

"Yes, you are very useful..." Zheng Fa said slowly, "but this idea of yours to seek revenge will drag our entire Jiushan Sect down with you."

Lin Lin Bu Fan's eyes darkened; suddenly gritting his teeth, he said, "I am willing to offer my soul seal!"

At this, even Senior Sister Yuan's face showed a trace of surprise.

The soul seal was extremely famous in the Xuanwei Realm.

This technique was quite prevalent among the Mo Sects, but few people in the immortal sects cultivated it—

Simply put, if Lin Lin Bu Fan offered his soul seal, then his life, death, and even every action would depend solely on Zheng Fa's whim.

To a certain extent, his control over Lin Lin Bu Fan was comparable to that of the Mo Ancestor of the Great Zizaimo Sect.

For many cultivators, between offering their soul seal and death, they would rather choose death.

Yet Lin Lin Bu Fan directly said he wanted to offer his soul seal...

This was handing over all control of himself into Zheng Fa's hands.

"Tell me, what is the current situation of the Great Zizaimo Ancestor?"

Zheng Fa suddenly asked.

"The Holy Ancestor... the situation is probably not good; rumors say he is not in this realm." Although Lin Lin Bu Fan did not know why Zheng Fa asked this, he still answered honestly, "If the Holy Ancestor were well, I would certainly not have survived this time."

Zheng Fa nodded.

That made some sense—

With the Mo Ancestor's reputation, the fact that Lin Yangtian failed to curse Lin Lin Bu Fan to death

indeed indicated something.

"Not in this realm?" Zheng Fa slowly furrowed his brows; besides himself, was there anyone else who could leave this world?

"About that, I don't know either. Some say the Holy Ancestor is recovering from injuries, some say he has been sealed, and others say he is cultivating some divine ability..."

Zheng Fa nodded.

Lin Lin Bu Fan was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage; the Mo Ancestor was too far removed from him.

But Lin Lin Bu Fan's next sentence made his gaze turn more serious.

"However, if the Holy Ancestor descends upon Xuanwei, we clansmen will all sense it... that is why there are rumors within the clan that the Holy Ancestor is not in this realm."

"Why choose me?"

After a moment of silence, Zheng Fa opened his mouth to ask.

"Even when selling oneself, one must sell to someone with a future; your Jiushan Sect has only two geniuses..." Lin Lin Bu Fan's tone was somewhat depressed.

"Then why didn't you say anything before..."

Zheng Fa had a sudden realization.

"I was originally waiting for Zhang Wuyi to return; I told you that someone from the outside world wanted to deal with her... I just wanted her to come back so I could pledge my allegiance," Lin Lin Bu Fan said honestly.

"..." Zheng Fa thought about it; Zhang Shijie seemed not only unwilling to return but also quite excited in her reply letters, as if she was having too much fun.

"Now there is still no news of her returning to the sect, and I... can't hold on any longer."

"..."

"Do you want to agree to him?"

The Sect Master looked at Zheng Fa and asked.

"Yes, what he said is correct; he is useful."

"Explain."

Hearing his answer, the Sect Master neither affirmed nor denied it.

"I don't value his blood or anything like that that much," Zheng Fa slowly expressed his own idea, "but now the Great Zizaimo Sect has already made a move against me and Zhang Shijie; whether we offend them or not, we will come into conflict with them."

"So?"

"From what he told me, he has a certain sense of the Great Zizaimo Ancestor..." Zheng Fa said slowly, "If the Mo Ancestor truly descends upon the world, we can make preparations early."

There was another reason Zheng Fa did not mention.

He hoped to see some secrets of the Mo Sect through Lin Lin Bu Fan—such as that child talisman.

In the future, they would have more means to deal with the Mo Sect.

The Sect Master looked at him, then gazed down toward the foot of Jiushan.

Zheng Fa said nothing more.

Although he had some ideas, this matter carried some risk and concerned the safety of the Jiushan Sect.

He could not make a decision based solely on his own ideas.

"Do as you think best."

Only after a long while did the Sect Master speak.

"Master?"

"People of the Mo Sect, it's not as if I haven't killed them before."

Zheng Fa was stunned; looking at the Sect Master who was pursing his lips, for the first time he felt—

This old man was somewhat reliable.

In the modern era, Zheng Fa sat in the car at Tang Lingwu's home.

This time, they were not going to Tang Lingwu's home, but to the provincial capital.

The agricultural expert that Old Bai had mentioned earlier, which was to say the old lady from that short video, had already arrived in the provincial capital.

The driver in those big shorts from Tang Lingwu's family drove, sending him, Tang Lingwu, and Old Bai together to the provincial capital.

"The college entrance exam is the day after tomorrow; isn't that a problem?"

Probably because they had grown familiar with him, the driver in the big shorts was still chatting with them through the rearview mirror.

Zheng Fa knew he was asking himself.

Tang Lingwu didn't need to take the college entrance exam.

"It's fine." Zheng Fa thought for a moment; his scores in the monthly exams should now be stable in the top three of the entire school.

Most of the points lost were usually in the essay or some subjective questions—those indeed relied quite a bit on luck.

As for the rest, there was nothing much to review.

It was two days before the college entrance exam; the school had given a holiday, and just then, that person had also arrived in the provincial capital.

Less than three hours.

The car arrived at the provincial capital.

"This place..." Looking at the final destination, all three of Zheng Fa were a bit stunned.

This was the most expensive hotel in the provincial capital, apparently some high-end five-star chain.

The cheapest rooms cost several thousand—exactly how much, Zheng Fa didn't know; given his previous economic status, this was not a realm he was qualified to understand.

He knew of this hotel only because a boy from his class with a relatively wealthy family had visited once before, and he had overheard a bit when the boy bragged to his classmates upon returning.

"Bai Lao, is that teacher's family very wealthy?" he asked the old man Bai with some curiosity.

The old man Bai shook his head, his expression also confused: "An ordinary family, I suppose. I didn't know she was so wealthy before?"

"Miss Tang, welcome!"

As the three walked to the hotel entrance, the attendant at the door suddenly shouted.

"..."

Looking at Tang Lingwu, who nodded lightly as if it were a matter of habit.

The old man Bai and Zheng Fa exchanged a glance, realizing she was the one who was truly wealthy.

"She said to find her at the restaurant." Entering the hotel, the old man Bai looked at his phone and said: "She is treating us to a meal."

Entering the restaurant, the first person they saw was the one they were looking for—

That old lady, alone, had ordered a huge table full of dishes, quite eye-catching.

"Have you struck it rich?" The old man Bai walked over, full of incomprehension: "Or did you not pass?"

"Isn't it that I didn't pass?" That old lady stood up and smiled at the three: "I have calculated it all. The doctor said I have half a year left to live; I have calculated clearly how to spend all my money in half a year... not a penny more, not a penny less."

"..."

"So, Old Bai." That old lady suddenly smiled at the old man Bai: "Don't find me any doctors anymore; the money is all spent. If I am truly saved, I will be a pauper!"

The old man Bai fell silent.

That old lady beckoned to Zheng Fa and the other two: "You are Zheng Fa? This young lady is so beautiful, she must be Tang Lingwu, right? Come, come, eat! I ordered this all for you!"

On her face, there was nothing but joy and unconcern.