Chapter 513: The Prodigal Returns (Second Update)

Mo Yushuang was somewhat surprised.

She had originally thought Ren Yidao would find an excuse to decline, or propose some excessive demands, but she had not expected him to agree so easily.

This... there wouldn't be a trap, would there?

Sensing Mo Yushuang's hesitation, Ren Yidao stopped in his tracks, turned his head to smile at her, and chuckled: "Rest assured, since I have promised you, I will naturally fulfill it."

Strictly speaking, there was actually a transaction between them.

Ren Yidao needed that victory, while she needed Ren Yidao to help her rescue that Dao companion trapped within the sword.

Although it could be said that Mo Yushuang did not completely throw the match, she was merely disrupted in her state of mind by him, causing some hesitation in her actions, and did not truly engage in a fake match.

But in terms of the result, it was the same; both meant Ren Yidao obtained the victory, so he also acknowledged this transaction.

Since the other party had already paid the price, he had no reason to go back on his word.

After hearing Ren Yidao's reasoning, although Mo Yushuang still felt some suspicion in her heart, she still nodded slowly and hugged the sword in her arms tighter, "Then I will come to find you tomorrow."

She was doing this to back him up, and at the same time, she was making her stance clear to Ying Tengjiao.

Although Mo Yushuang said she would go to meet them tomorrow, she was not in a hurry to leave now; instead, she took the initiative to stand by Ren Yidao's side, facing the awkward-looking Ying Tengjiao together with him.

If one does not endure small things, one will spoil great plans.

For Mo Yushuang at this moment, Ren Yidao's safety was more important than anything else, as he represented the last remaining hope for her Dao companion.

This posture of Sect Leader Ying made Ren Yidao somewhat surprised; he had not expected that he could actually endure it at this time, and he felt a bit more serious, looking at him in a new light.

Especially Ren Yidao; he not only shone brightly at the Immortal Sect Grand Competition, but he had also completely become a famous figure in the Sword Casting Hut over these past half a month.

Oh ho?

He looked smilingly at the opposite Ying Tengjiao, whose expression was uncertain, sized him up from head to toe, and teased:

"Sect Leader Ying, why are you not saying a word? It has been a few days since we last met, why have you become so shy?"

Do not have any bad intentions.

After all, not just anyone is qualified to jump in the faces of a group of Heaven Realm Elders, and have the Elders only be able to grit their teeth and endure it...

"Or is it that waiting for me here for so long is actually to rob me?"

Ying Tengjiao had almost completely become a classic case study in the Beiming Divine Continent for teaching disciples not to be arrogant and domineering.

At this moment, upon hearing Ren Yidao's teasing of Ying Tengjiao, a few people could not help but reveal smiles, looking at the grim-faced Sect Leader Ying with some mischief.

He was just silent, like a volcano about to erupt, silently harboring his anger in his chest.

Similar to Ren Yidao, this Ying Tengjiao was also a famous figure in the Sword Casting Hut at this moment, or rather, he had become a famous figure in the cultivation world of the Beiming Divine Continent.

Ying Tengjiao felt the surrounding gazes, his back molars clenched tightly, but he did not speak, nor did he use his gaze to warn those people.

"..."

"Fine."

Failing to make a name for oneself, only to become a laughingstock.

The three were still in the Sword Casting Hut, and there were some passing deacons and disciples; upon seeing this rare trio, they could not help but take a few extra looks.

Although Ren Yidao was also somewhat surprised by her stance at this time, and did not need her to back him up, he did not deliberately refuse.

Enduring what ordinary people cannot endure, achieving what ordinary people cannot achieve.

That Ying Tengjiao could endure like this, he must be plotting something significant.

What was he enduring for?

Ren Yidao thought for a moment, but could not think of a suitable reason, so he simply asked directly: "What exactly does Sect Leader Ying want to say? If you keep being silent like this, then I'm going to leave, okay?"

In terms of strength, Ren Yidao did not fear him.

In terms of influence, the Divine Path Sect would certainly not hold the Purple Shadow Sect in high regard.

If Ying Tengjiao wanted to retaliate or drop some harsh words, then Ren Yidao was actually a bit curious.

No matter what moves he prepared, whether on the surface or in the dark, Ren Yidao was prepared to accept them gladly, just as if he were finding some amusement for himself.

But who knew, after a long silence, Ying Tengjiao let out a long breath, his shoulders slumped a bit, and he spoke slowly:

"... Daoist Ren, Ying has come here this time for only one thing."

Ying Tengjiao looked at the youth who looked exaggeratedly young with a serious face, and said in a deep voice: "Ying has come to thank the Daoist."

"Oh, sure, I'll take on any move... hmm?" Ren Yidao was stunned, blinked his eyes rapidly, and doubted his own ears.

What did he say?

"Eh? Did you say something just now?"

"I said..."

Seeming to have taken the most difficult step, the current Ying Tengjiao completely relaxed; his whole person was no longer tense, much more at ease, and there was even a smile on the corners of his mouth, "I have come to thank Daoist Ren for the lesson you gave Ying during the competition."

Many times, the hardest step to take is always the first one.

And after the first step is taken, the countless steps that follow are no longer a problem.

But this abnormal behavior of Ying Tengjiao clearly startled Ren Yidao a bit, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

"You... wait, I don't quite understand, have you suddenly seen the light?"

He understood things like suddenly seeing the light, but he really did not expect it to happen to a sect leader who had been famous for many years.

Is this possible?

"That is exactly the case."

Ignoring the surprised gazes of the people around him, Ying Tengjiao bowed to Ren Yidao and said loudly: "Many thanks to Daoist Ren for waking Ying up; if it weren't for the Daoist's help, Ying would probably continue to be obsessed and unawakened."

"It was the Daoist who made Ying understand that there are people above people, and heavens beyond heavens, and one must not underestimate the people of the world."

He sighed long and said with some emotion: "Clearly I understood this point when I was young, but when I reached this age and became a sect leader, I forgot the heart of awe completely."

Ying Tengjiao spoke with genuine feelings, a sincere attitude, and abundant emotion, making everyone around who had originally held the mentality of watching the fun feel a bit dazed.

Some older deacons even sighed with emotion, feeling a sense of empathy.

When young, people always think they are the most special one, feeling that they will surely be able to create a great career in the future.

But eventually, under the weight of setbacks, they see reality clearly, understand that they are not special Children of Destiny, experience powerlessness, feel the gap between talents, and learn to hold a heart of awe for the world.

As age increases, with the slow accumulation of experience and the gradual rise in status, they begin a new round of trance.

They start to feel that perhaps they are indeed special, that they can calmly enjoy the awe others hold for them, and feel that all of this is only natural.

But in reality, at this time they are no different from the past; they should still hold the world in awe and always keep a humble Heart Star.

Otherwise, they will suffer setbacks once again.

And because they have already flown high enough, the price they must pay may be too heavy for them to bear; a single blow could potentially cause them to fall to their deaths.

"Sigh, that Sect Leader Ying can know shame and then be brave is truly commendable."

"Perhaps he can use this experience to transform his state of mind, and his strength might even improve once more."

"It is never too late to correct one's mistakes."

However, just as the crowd was sighing with emotion, thinking that Ying Tengjiao had turned over a new leaf, Ren Yidao also saw it clearly.

After the initial confusion, he reacted to the thoughts Ying Tengjiao was harboring.

This guy intended to use this opportunity to whitewash himself.

To put it bluntly, this was purely another performance by Ying Tengjiao, and it was essentially no different from the high-profile stance he had struck at the Immortal Sect Grand Competition.

It was all acting; it was just that one was arrogant and domineering, while the other was low-key and humble.

Although Ying Tengjiao was arrogant and conceited, he was not an idiot.

At the very beginning, he only felt that Ren Yidao had taken advantage of a sneak attack, causing him to lose all face, and he thought about finding an opportunity to get back at him.

But later on, the intrusion of the Butian Alliance made Ying Tengjiao wake up.

As a bystander, Ying Tengjiao saw it very clearly and experienced the unfathomable and powerful strength of the Divine Path Sect.

The moment he saw Sikong Yu, Ying Tengjiao understood that the information was wrong; the Divine Path Sect was not someone his Purple Shadow Sect could afford to provoke.

Ren Yidao's future achievements would also be limitless; continuing to be his enemy at this time would bring no benefits to himself or the Purple Shadow Sect.

Therefore, what he needed to do was simple: turn hostility into friendship.

Even if he couldn't achieve "making friends through fighting," he had to strive to "let it pass at that."

After thinking through Ying Tengjiao's mental journey, Ren Yidao also looked at him with some emotion and nodded.

"To do as one says, he is also a ruthless person."

Some things are easy to say but extremely difficult to do.

Many people simply cannot cross the hurdle in their own hearts; even if they understand that doing so is the optimal choice, they cannot bring themselves to lower their heads.

Except for some issues of principle, lowering one's head is not a shameful thing.

However, admiration aside, Ren Yidao did not have such a deep friendship with Ying Tengjiao; it was already good enough that he didn't tear down his stage, and he did not intend to accompany "Best Actor Ying" to finish this play.

"Are you done talking? If you're done, then I'm leaving." Ren Yidao looked at Ying Tengjiao performing over there with a smile and said casually: "You don't need to thank me; it was just a small effort."

As he spoke, Ren Yidao even raised his right hand and gestured with a wave, the same motion as when he had slapped Ying Tengjiao in the face.

A true small effort. JPG

Raise hand, slap, done.

"... Cough!" Ren Yidao's act of not giving face made Ying Tengjiao cough in embarrassment; the emotions he had worked so hard to brew almost couldn't be held back.

Why is this person so unwilling to give face?

However, Ren Yidao not refuting him had already allowed Ying Tengjiao to achieve his goal. At this moment, looking at the young man's smiling eyes, he understood that his trick had been seen through.

Ying Tengjiao hesitated, but still did not stop him. Instead, he cupped his hands in a salute, then took a small bag from his bosom, held it up to Ren Yidao with both hands, and said respectfully: "Many thanks to the Daoist for the guidance. This is a token of my sincerity, please accept it, Daoist, and do not refuse... uh."

He had originally wanted to say more, waiting for Ren Yidao to come over and haggle for a while to bring their relationship closer.

But unexpectedly, before he could finish speaking, the Brocade Pouch in his hand was directly pulled by a surge of Dharma Power and flew straight into the young man's hand.

Ren Yidao held the Brocade Pouch, weighed it, and without checking it, stuffed it directly into his bosom, turned around without hesitation, and waved his hand casually toward the back.

"Then that's it. Farewell, we shall meet again if fate allows."

Haggle?

Am I that familiar with you?

The departing Ren Yidao curled his lips, not appreciating it at all.

A thank-you gift?

Wrong.

This is the acting fee for me accompanying you in this performance.

Do you understand what an appearance fee is?