Chapter 148: Life and Death

The disciples of the Demon Sect drawing blood to make talismans is fine everywhere—

except that it's rather suicidal.

Though now in the Xuanwei Realm the Demon Sect is in decline, the thirteen Demon Ancestors' current states are uncertain.

But you go wielding a scythe to cut down the leeks they've painstakingly grown for a million years.

Don't the Demon Ancestors have any pride?

Stepping out of the Sect Master's thatched hut, Zheng Fa shook his head—the talisman matter is currently unfeasible, and cannot even be spread.

Otherwise, even if it saved a few spirit stones for buying spirit beast blood, it would easily attract powerful enemies.

Moreover, talismans themselves are already highly controversial within the Jiushan Sect.

The gains from doing this are wildly disproportionate to the risks.

"Younger brother, Lin Bufan still hasn't said anything these past few days—what should we do with him?"

Yuan Shijie asked suddenly, following behind him.

Zheng Fa thought for a moment, then turned to Yuan Shijie: "What do you think?"

"Kill him," Yuan Shijie said immediately.

Though Yuan Shijie always seemed lively and cute, carefree and clueless,

when she spoke the word "kill," it sounded utterly ordinary to her.

Those two simple words left Zheng Fa silent again.

After a long while, he slowly nodded: "Hmm."

Though he had received modern education, he now saw more clearly—

modern compassion cannot be applied in Xuanwei.

You cannot let your own minor discomfort put those around you at risk.

This is the safest choice.

Not to mention Lin Bufan came here to assassinate him.

Just his identity as a Demon Sect disciple makes him deserving of death in the eyes of the entire Jiushan Sect.

Lin Bufan has lived this long partly because his blood has some use.

On the other hand, Zheng Fa and the others wanted to extract secrets from him.

Clearly, this man was not very cooperative.

And though his blood held great benefit, the risk was even greater—if the sub-talisman truly corresponded to a Demon Ancestor, that Ancestor might exert strong control over him.

Keeping him within Jiushan Sect remained a persistent threat.

"Go ask him again today. If he still refuses to speak, then do it."

Zheng Fa said to Yuan Shijie, and the two headed toward the small wooden hut where Lin Bufan was imprisoned.

"What is this?"

Upon entering,

Zheng Fa saw Lin Bufan had somehow gotten out of bed himself.

He knelt on the ground, face deathly pale, blood still dripping from his mouth, gasping heavily—clearly, getting out of bed had been a great struggle.

"I wish to serve you as my master, only asking that you spare my life!" Lin Bufan whispered, his voice filled with desperate resolve.

Zheng Fa froze.

He turned to look at Yuan Shijie, who also looked bewildered: "I didn't say anything to him—I'm not an idiot!"

"This sister said nothing… but she came less and less, and the ones treating me stopped coming altogether."

Lin Bufan let out a bitter laugh.

This man… is surprisingly perceptive.

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

Lin Bufan didn't put on another show; he slowly rose, gripping the side of the bed, and looked at Zheng Fa.

Zheng Fa stared at him.

The first time he heard of Lin Bufan, the shopkeeper described him as a somewhat foolish, even gullible Demon Sect disciple.

The second time he saw him, Lin Bufan seemed utterly broken, with only a faint desire for revenge.

The third time he saw him…

There was now a hint of reckless madness on his face.

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

"You're clever," Zheng Fa said to Lin Bufan: "But I don't want to take you on…"

"Why?"

"Besides wanting to live, you're also planning to find an opportunity for revenge, aren't you?"

Lin Bufan fell silent, then slowly nodded after a long while: "My uncle spent his whole life serving Lin Yangtian—obedient in every matter, more eager than a dog—and yet he died at Lin Yangtian's hands."

"Others see us Demon Sect members and think we die and it's nothing… but he was the one who raised me…"

"I understand," Zheng Fa waved his hand: "Wanting revenge is your business, but I have no reason to help you."

"I'm useful!"

"Hmm?"

"My blood is useful! It's useful to you, and also to that Li brother!"

"... ou're really clever."

Who would have thought this man had noticed even that.

"Do you know why I don't want to accept you?"

Zheng Fa asked suddenly.

"Why?"

"Yes, you're useful…" Zheng Fa said slowly: "But your desire for revenge will drag the entire Jiushan Sect into trouble."

Lin Bufan's eyes darkened, and suddenly he gritted his teeth: "I offer my Soul Seal!"

Even Yuan Shijie's face showed a flicker of surprise.

The Soul Seal was extremely well-known in the Xuanwei Realm.

This technique was common among the Demon Sect but rarely practiced by the Immortal Sects—

in short, by offering his Soul Seal, Lin Bufan placed his life, death, and every action entirely under Zheng Fa's will.

In a sense, his control over Lin Bufan rivaled that of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor.

For many cultivators, offering a Soul Seal was no different from choosing death.

Yet Lin Bufan simply volunteered to offer his Soul Seal…

He had surrendered all control over himself to Zheng Fa.

"Tell me, what is the current state of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor?"

Zheng Fa asked suddenly.

"The Holy Ancestor… his condition is likely poor; rumors say he is not in this realm," Lin Bufan replied honestly, though unsure why Zheng Fa asked: "If the Holy Ancestor were well, I wouldn't have survived this time."

Zheng Fa nodded.

That made sense—

Given the reputation of the Demon Ancestor, Lin Yangtian's curse against Lin Bufan had failed.

That does reveal something.

"Not in this realm?" Zheng Fa slowly frowned. Could anyone else leave this world?

"I don't know. Some say the Holy Ancestor is healing, others say he's sealed away, still others say he's cultivating some divine art…"

Zheng Fa nodded.

Lin Bufan was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator; the Demon Ancestor was far beyond him.

But his next sentence made Zheng Fa's gaze turn serious.

"But if the Holy Ancestor were to descend into Xuanwei, all our clan members would sense it… which is why the clan rumors claim he is not in this realm."

"Why choose me?"

Zheng Fa fell silent for a moment, then asked.

"Even when selling yourself, you sell to someone with potential—you Jiushan Sect has only two geniuses…" Lin Bufan's tone was slightly bitter.

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

Zheng Fa suddenly understood.

"I was waiting for Zhang Wuyi to return. I told you outsiders wanted to harm her—just to make her come back, so I could then pledge allegiance to her," Lin Bufan admitted honestly.

"..." Zheng Fa thought. Zhang Shijie didn't seem to want to return at all; her letters sounded excited, as if she was having a great time.

"Now that she hasn't returned to the sect, I… can't hold on any longer."

"..."

"Do you want to accept him?"

The Sect Master asked Zheng Fa.

"Yes. He's right—he's useful."

"Explain."

The Sect Master, upon hearing his answer, remained noncommittal.

"His blood and such—I don't value it that much," Zheng Fa slowly voiced his thoughts: "But the Great Freedom Demon Sect has already moved against me and Zhang Shijie. Whether we offend them or not, conflict is inevitable."

"And then?"

"I heard him say he has some sense of connection with the Great Zizai Demon Ancestor..." Zheng Fa said slowly. "If the Demon Ancestor truly descends, we can prepare in advance."

There was another reason Zheng Fa did not mention.

He hoped to uncover some secrets of the Demon Sect through Lin BuFan—such as that sub-character.

Then they would have better means to deal with the Demon Sect in the future.

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

Zheng Fa said nothing more.

He had some ideas, but this matter carried risk—it concerned the safety of Jiushan Sect.

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

"Do as you think best."

The Sect Master spoke only after a long silence.

"Master?"

"I've killed plenty of people from the Demon Sect before."

Zheng Fa froze, staring at the Sect Master's puckered mouth—and for the first time thought:

This old man is somewhat reliable.

In the modern era, Zheng Fa sat in Tang Lingwumin's car.

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

The agricultural expert the White Elder had mentioned—the old woman from the short video—had already arrived in the provincial capital.

Tang Lingwumin's driver, who wore those baggy pants, drove Zheng Fa, Tang Lingwumin, and the White Elder to the provincial capital.

"The college entrance exam is in two days. Aren't you worried?"

Probably because they had grown familiar with each other, the baggy-pants driver chatted with them through the rearview mirror.

Zheng Fa knew he was asking him.

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

"It's fine." Zheng Fa thought for a moment—his performance in the monthly exams was consistently among the top three in the school.

Most of his deductions came from essays or subjective questions—those really depended on luck.

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

It was two days before the college entrance exam; school had given a holiday. Perfect—the man had arrived in the provincial capital.

Less than three hours.

The car arrived at the provincial capital.

"This place..." Looking at their final destination, all three of them froze.

It was the most expensive hotel in the provincial capital—a luxury five-star chain.

The cheapest room cost several thousand yuan—Zheng Fa didn't know the exact amount; in his former financial state, this was beyond his scope of understanding.

He knew of this hotel only because a classmate from a wealthy family had visited once and bragged about it to the class.

"White Teacher, is that teacher's family very rich?" he asked the White Elder curiously.

The White Elder shook his head, equally puzzled: "A normal family, I didn't know she was this wealthy?"

"Miss Tang, welcome!"

As the three reached the hotel entrance, the doorman suddenly called out.

"..."

Watching Tang Lingwumin nod lightly, as if it were routine,

the White Elder and Zheng Fa exchanged glances—they realized this was the real wealthy one.

"She said to meet her in the restaurant," the White Elder said, checking his phone. "She's treating us to dinner."

Inside the restaurant, they spotted the person they were looking for at once—

The old woman sat alone, ordering a whole table of dishes, drawing considerable attention.

"You've struck it rich?" the White Elder walked over, bewildered. "Or just giving up?"

"Isn't that exactly what I'm doing?" The old woman stood up and smiled at the three. "I've calculated it all—the doctor says I have six months left. I've figured out exactly how to spend every penny of my money in those six months... not a cent more, not a cent less."

"..."

"So, Whitey," the old woman suddenly smiled at the White Elder. "Don't bother finding me any doctors anymore. I've spent all my money—if I'm saved, I'll just be a poor beggar again!"

The White Elder fell silent.

The old woman gestured to Zheng Fa and the others: "You're Zheng Fa? And this beautiful girl must be Tang Lingwumin? Come, come, eat! I ordered all this for you!"

Her face was filled entirely with joy and freedom.