Chapter 164: I've Walked on Thin Ice My Whole Life—Can I Reach the Other Shore?

【——Today is auspicious for gaining wealth, promotion, making friends, moving house.

——Today is inauspicious for going out, long journeys, burial, haircuts.

To test other fortunes, reply 1; if not needed, reply "TD" to unsubscribe.】

Feng Mu finished his morning cultivation, eating breakfast while casually deleting junk text messages on his phone.

However, behind these seemingly ordinary text messages, Ma Bin had carefully arranged hidden messages to be transmitted, using this method to send secret messages to "Upper Line Mask."

In this text message, Feng Mu accurately translated two key pieces of content:

One was that the plan to make friends with Li Shang was progressing tightly and orderly, currently going quite smoothly; the other was that Chen Ya and others had successfully transferred from No. 4 Prison to No. 2 Prison this morning.

Although Feng Mu and Ma Bin currently faced no risk of exposure and did not need to use such meticulous methods, they knew that perfecting details was not achieved overnight, but required persistent accumulation and cultivation.

Only in this way, if someone were exposed in the future and communications were monitored, could a life-saving message transmission channel be left behind, and precisely because it had long been hidden in daily advertisement text messages, it would not seem abrupt and arouse suspicion when it truly saved a life one day.

"Little Junior Brother, did you get up early to cultivate again this morning?" At mealtime, Zhao Zhixin's gaze fell on Feng Mu's slightly damp hair, and he couldn't help but sigh softly as he asked.

Feng Mu nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Mm, I'm just a bit lacking in awareness."

Zhao Zhixin's mood seemed somewhat heavy, and even the food in his bowl no longer seemed so tempting.

He pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly in a deep tone: "Little Junior Brother, has the Master already transmitted the 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 to you?"

Feng Mu felt slightly confused, but still answered with an "Mm."

Zhao Zhixin continued: "The Master once mentioned that you are extremely compatible with the 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】, and that shortly after entering the gate, you actually reached the Second Solution State?"

At this moment, the gazes of the other Senior Brothers also turned toward Feng Mu; although there was some astonishment in their eyes, there was not too intense a shock.

Apparently they had more or less learned something from Master Li Guishe's mouth and had made full psychological preparations.

Feng Mu's gaze lightly swept over Li Guishe's hand gripping the pipe, and he secretly thought in his heart that the Master was probably worried about frightening the Senior Brothers, so he had not revealed the fact that Feng Mu had reached the Second Solution State within a single day.

Feng Mu thus maintained a humble attitude and replied softly: "By sheer luck, I managed to reach the Second Solution State."

However, Feng Mu did not notice that Li Guishe, while appearing to casually smoke his pipe with a distracted expression, was actually inwardly shaken by tremendous waves.

"My goodness, Ancestral Masters, Eighth Junior Brother hasn't been seen for a night and has secretly reached the Third Solution State—how long did it take me back then, was it two months or three?... Heh heh heh, and Eighth Junior Brother, how long has it been since he joined the sect..."

Li Guishe exhaled smoke rings while painstakingly doing mental arithmetic; because one hand had to hold the pipe bowl, only one hand remained, making counting somewhat difficult, so much so that his toes unconsciously flexed and stretched inside his cloth shoes, as if also aiding this astonishing mental calculation speed.

Feng Mu thought for a moment, then humbly and sincerely praised: "It's not that I progress quickly; it's truly that the 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 is a supreme divine art."

Zhao Zhixin's mouth corner twitched: "Little Junior Brother, our 【Guizai Sect】 doesn't go for that orthodox empty-headed nonsense; we're our own people, we all know the 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】 is a very dangerous evil art."

A flicker of confusion crossed Feng Mu's eyes; he clearly did not understand Zhao Zhixin's words.

Seeing this, Zhao Zhixin patiently explained: "We cultivate this risky evil art, daring to risk life and limb, isn't it all to advance a thousand li a day in the Martial Dao and rapidly increase our strength? Since we can already advance a thousand li a day, why be too harsh on ourselves?"

In the manner of one who has seen a thousand sails, he lightly patted Feng Mu's shoulder, his tone gentle and profound: "Little Junior Brother, what we cultivate this evil art for is precisely that exhilarating satisfaction."

"Just like being addicted to a game, pursuing fast completion, skipping tedious leveling up, directly enjoying the thrill of battle, experiencing the glory of becoming strong, freely spending youth, enjoying an unrestrained life."

Zhao Zhixin paused, giving Feng Mu time to slowly comprehend his words, then continued:

"Little Junior Brother, why do you push yourself so hard, even sacrificing sleep? If this continues, how are you different from those diligent orthodox disciples? Then where is the original intention of your cultivating the evil art?"

He took a deep breath and summarized earnestly: "The original intention of cultivating the evil art is to make life more wonderful, not to let cultivation itself occupy the time for enjoying life—wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse? Little Junior Brother, you're muddled!"

After hearing this, a flash of sudden realization crossed Feng Mu's eyes; he had to admit that Zhao Zhixin's words did make sense.

If this were said in his previous life, it would probably win a large following; after all, the meaning translated is—money is earned for living, especially after obtaining wealth by unlawful means, one should of course revel in wine and women, otherwise why continue to be addicted to making money?

Feng Mu nodded and responded sincerely: "Senior Brother's teachings, I keep in my heart."

A satisfied smile appeared on Zhao Zhixin's face, a flicker of pride in his eyes; he glanced lightly at the other Senior Brothers and Sisters, only to see they had also breathed a sigh of relief, as if the burden on their shoulders had lightened considerably.

Especially Hong Ya, her mouth corner almost split to her ears, she had already picked up her phone and began browsing recently popular dramas, excitedly adding one desired work after another to the playlist, clearly unable to wait to enjoy a TV drama feast at night.

Feng Mu quickly finished his meal, put down his chopsticks, stood up and invited Yuan Xidi: "Fourth Senior Brother, want to spar a bit, stretch our tendons and bones?"

Yuan Xidi looked at his fists, wrapped in gauze this morning; although he indeed liked challenging the "Iron Man Stake," it didn't mean he was willing to undergo such high-intensity training day after day.

However, as a Senior Brother, he could not show weakness in front of his Junior Brother, so he bared his teeth in a fierce and solemn expression and stood up to follow Feng Mu.

Zhao Zhixin's face stiffened slightly; he looked at Feng Mu and hesitated: "Little Junior Brother, you just put down your bowl and chopsticks, what is this?"

Feng Mu paused slightly, turned around, thought for a moment, and said seriously:

"Senior Brothers and Sisters, you started earlier than me, have greater talent than me, have cultivated longer than me; now each of your strength levels is far stronger than mine."

"And all of you Senior Brothers and Sisters view life and death far more openly than I do, so you can naturally indulge in enjoying life; I cannot, I have been afraid of death since childhood."

"Since cultivating the 【Blood Flesh Initial Solution True Art】, I always feel as if I'm standing on a countdown of life, afraid that upon waking one day, life will bloom like a flower, blossoming into a potted plant of our Martial Arts Hall."

"This fear forces me to seize every minute and second to cultivate; only then can my heart find a trace of peace and security."

Feng Mu sighed softly, while not forgetting to express his respect and admiration to his Senior Brothers and Sisters:

"I truly envy you Senior Brothers and Sisters; you not only possess great strength, but also an unyielding mindset. Watching you enjoy life to the fullest, indulging in wine and women, that ease and nonchalance is what I long for..."

He shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a touch of helplessness and self-mockery:

"Sigh, but I'm different; I'm both dull and weak, my future is bleak and dim, so I can only trudge forward with a burden, temper my cultivation, tremble with fear, and lie awake at night."

"Senior Brothers and Sisters, you tell me, I cultivate like this, treading on thin ice; one day, can I escape the shadow of death and reach the other shore?"

(End of Chapter)