I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 93: Chapter 81: Frightened

Jiang Yuebai was quick-witted, and after a moment’s thought, she boldly guessed.

”Could it be... your family also participated in that mission?”

Yun Shang lowered her head, a mist covering her eyes, and Jiang Yuebai knew she hadn’t guessed wrong.

”I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring it up, my mistake.”

”You’re not wrong! None of you are wrong! She, Yuu Qiuqi, returned triumphant, and everyone praised her greatness, but no one cared that the four who went with her all died at the hands of the Drought Demon. Without their sacrifice, would she have her achievements today?”

”Five years, it’s been five years since my parents died. The Sect only compensated me with an Inner Sect Disciple status and tens of thousands of Contribution Points, letting me fend for myself in the Spiritual Beast Valley. No one even went to pay respects at their grave. Back then, it was her, Yuu Qiuqi, who came to our house begging my parents to go with her, but she didn’t bring them back.”

”I asked Yuu Qiuqi for an explanation, and everyone said I was being unreasonable, said I was petty. They all sang praises for Yuu Qiuqi, telling me to graciously accept it. Yuu Qiuqi only needed to put on a show of kindness, see me a few times, give me some benefits, and a bunch of people would jump out to praise her, criticizing me for venting my anger on her unjustly. My grief and anger were wrong!”

Yun Shang hugged her knees and buried her head, the little monkey beside her tugging on her clothes trying to comfort her.

”So that’s how it is...” Jiang Yuebai sighed.

”Five years ago, I once paid respects to those who had passed on Ten Miles Slope at Yinfeng Creek.”

Yun Shang looked up at Jiang Yuebai, tear marks visible on her face.

Jiang Yuebai smiled wryly, ”Then, I was only six years old, just a servant disciple, unable to reach Meteor Valley. Otherwise, I would have gone to their grave to bow in thanks. Later, I went to the Yin Mountain Mine for some matters. Every winter on that day, I would burn some paper money I made myself. I’m telling you this not to change your view of me, but to share my perspective with you.”

Yun Shang wiped her tears, staring at Jiang Yuebai intently.

”I believe you’re not wrong. Others are not you, how could they know the pain of losing your parents? They have no right to stand on moral high ground and demand you to accept anything. You can vent your anger, you don’t have to accept Yuu Qiuqi’s apology, none of that is wrong.”

”Really?”

Yun Shang’s nose tingled. For the first time in years, someone told her she wasn’t wrong.

Jiang Yuebai chuckled and spread her arms, ”Do I seem like the type to say false words just to please you? What you lost are your parents. Compared to that, whatever others say is bullshit. They have no right to demand you to be magnanimous.”

The feeling of being recognized and understood made Yun Shang’s long-held grievances surge again, biting her lips as tears flowed.

”My grandfather once told me, I can’t make everyone like me. Others have no obligation to like me, and even if they dislike me, I am still who I am. I can’t change others, nor do I need to change myself to appease anyone. I simply need to follow my heart, accept both the good and bad in myself, and please myself.”

”The grudge between you and Yuu Qiuqi is not for an outsider like me to judge, but if you back down from this grudge, hide from it, or make yourself suffer, then that’s your own mistake, not anyone else’s fault. Bringing up your painful past today was my mistake, and I apologize for that.”

Jiang Yuebai clasped her hands, Yun Shang’s lips moved, ”You’re different from those people.”

Jiang Yuebai laughed, ”There’s no one exactly alike in this world. Enough said, I’ll go read further away.”

With that, Jiang Yuebai summoned her Flying Core Boat and leaped atop it, laying on the deck and taking out a book, following from afar to let Yun Shang calm down for a while.

Yun Shang sniffed, speaking to the little monkey in her arms: ”No one’s ever told me this kind of truth before. I always thought it was because I wasn’t generous, thought it was my fault. That’s why I hid with you unwanted spiritual beasts, avoiding people. Turns out I wasn’t wrong...”

As Jiang Yuebai traveled swiftly, she noticed Yun Shang tried several times to maneuver her Crossing Goose closer, but blushed and pulled away whenever she looked over, finding it amusing.

She didn’t make a fuss about it, simply continuing to study the Water Alchemy Method.

A few days later, the two of them reached Qingyun Ridge smoothly.

Alighting from the Flying Core Boat, Jiang Yuebai saw a bustling crowd on the square in front of the mountain gate. All were children of six or seven and some adults, queued up in front of the Spirit Testing Stele to test their Spirit Roots.

Standing at the front with a stern face was still Hong Tao. Upon seeing Jiang Yuebai from afar, he gave a faint smile and nodded in acknowledgment.

”No spirit root, please leave.”

”Waa—”

”Immortal Master, could you test again? This child has shown Spiritual Energy from a young age. How could there be no spirit root?”

”This is a restricted area of the Immortal Sect, no unreasonable disturbances allowed. Next!”

In front of the Spirit Testing Stele, some were joyful and some were upset. Every five years, the Heavenly Interence Sect selects a batch of children who have not yet entered the Dao to join the sect for training.

This year, no one knew how many would be chosen by that Supreme Elder, nor how many prodigies will rise within the sect to replace the likes of Lu Nanzhi.

”Look at that Sister Fairy, she’s so beautiful and impressive. I wish I could be as majestic as her in the future.”

”You’re just a Five Spirit Roots, what kind of dream are you having? That Senior Sister is an Inner Sect Elite Disciple.”

”What’s wrong with Five Spirit Roots? Don’t look down on people. I’ll hit you!”

A boy and a girl, two small children, stood with hands on their hips, glaring at each other. Jiang Yuebai laughed and shook her head, as if seeing her younger self and Xie Jingshan.

She couldn’t quite remember, where Lu Nanzhi stood back then; before Ascending to Immortal Level, she hadn’t paid attention.

”Um... Junior Sister Jiang...”

Yun Shang’s voice came from behind, and Jiang Yuebai turned her head.

Yun Shang twisting the corner of her clothes, ”Earlier, you said you wanted to borrow an Earthworm, does that still hold?”

Jiang Yuebai responded generously, ”Of course.”

Yun Shang breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes sparkling with joy, ”Then I’ll prepare once I get back. Find some time to visit me at the Spiritual Beast Valley, don’t forget.”

”Alright.”

Yun Shang smiled, like ice and snow melting in the cold winter, charmingly captivating.

She waved her hand and ran away, but after taking two steps, she suddenly saw Yuu Qiuqi waiting at the mountain gate with a concerned face, and stopped.

”You’re finally back. Was this trip smooth? Were you injured?”

Yun Shang furrowed her brows, pondered for a moment, then relaxed, taking a breath and calmly clasping her hands.

”Thank you for your concern, Master Yuu. I’m fine.”

Saying this, Yun Shang gracefully walked past Yuu Qiuqi.

Yuu Qiuqi watched Yun Shang leave, and suddenly smiled, ”You’ve really opened up a lot. You grew up on this trip.”

Noticing a gaze, Yuu Qiuqi turned his head and caught Jiang Yuebai’s eyes, nodding in acknowledgment, departed with sword control.

Jiang Yuebai withdrew her gaze, glanced at the children frightened to tears by Hong Tao’s intimidating look, and walked into the mountain gate, retracing the Ascension Stairs.

Without being activated, it was just an ordinary staircase. As Jiang Yuebai walked on it now, she could still recall the scene of that day, thinking of her reckless ignorance and fearless advance.

The eighty-one levels resemble the eighty-one challenges in life. Once overcome, they no longer seem difficult and terrifying. Looking back, it all feels like a blessing.

Blessing herself for not giving up, which led to today, and towards a future.

”Excuse me, Junior Sister, could you tell me the way to the Elixir Hall?”

Upon hearing a familiar voice, Jiang Yuebai’s peaceful state of mind was suddenly struck by a thunderbolt, turning her head in astonishment.

There stood Lin Suwan in a blue dress, standing not far behind her, curiously glancing around and then looking at her.

Jiang Yuebai’s heart churned with turbulent waves, her gaze falling on Lin Suwan’s neck, smooth and pale with no scars. The Heavenly Eye searched through, the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer was exactly the same as before.

”Wanwan!”

Shen Huaxi rushed over anxiously, and Jiang Yuebai instantly restrained her emotions.

Seeing Jiang Yuebai, Shen Huaxi’s eyes flashed with a barely noticeable change, and he shielded Lin Suwan.

”Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? Your Sea of Consciousness is still not healed, why are you running around?”

Lin Suwan lowered her gaze, pursing her lips without speaking.

Shen Huaxi turned to Jiang Yuebai, clasping his hands with a smile, ”So it’s Senior Sister Jiang. I am Shen Huaxi, pleased to meet you.”

”How do you know me?” Jiang Yuebai asked.

”I have a decent relationship with Senior Brother Jingshan, and I’ve often heard him mention you. That day at Heavenly Killing Peak, the three of you reunited, and I saw from a distance.”

Jiang Yuebai’s gaze fell on Lin Suwan, and Shen Huaxi subtly shifted to block her.

”Senior Sister Jiang, Junior Sister Lin was injured in her Sea of Consciousness and Divine Soul on this trip, and she can’t remember many things. She once mentioned the grievances between you. Now that she has forgotten the past, she won’t trouble you anymore, and I hope you can let go of this matter.”

Jiang Yuebai remained expressionless, letting out a cold snort, ”She really knows how to dream.”

Saying this, Jiang Yuebai departed with sword control, showing no mercy.

After Jiang Yuebai left, Lin Suwan asked worriedly, ”Did I reveal myself?”

Shen Huaxi furrowed his brows tightly, ”She shows no cracks. I don’t know, but she was indeed in the same area as us completing a task, so we can’t help but be suspicious.”

”Huaxi, why don’t we leave? It’s too dangerous here.”

Shen Huaxi’s eyes showed inner conflict, ”It’s not that easy to gain freedom and peace. Don’t worry, I’ll plan carefully. Let me escort you back first, and when you’re back, go into seclusion. If you encounter anyone, try to say as little as possible.”

Shen Huaxi escorted Lin Suwan back to the Elixir Hall. Upon returning to her side hall, she saw Lin Xiangtian sitting at the table, holding an ancient piece of paper, with a copy of the ”Basic Level Elixir Formula Collection” on the table.

”Back?” Lin Xiangtian asked.

Lin Suwan knelt and saluted, remaining silent.

Lin Xiangtian glanced at her, ”Where did this thing come from?”

Lin Suwan looked at the old paper, vaguely seeing the words ’Human Elixir.’ Before she could answer, Lin Xiangtian slammed the table in anger.

Bam!

”You haven’t even reached the Ninth Grade Alchemist level, and you’re already dabbling in these crooked ways. You must have a death wish!”

Lin Suwan lowered her head, remembering Shen Huaxi’s reminder, and said nothing.

Lin Xiangtian suppressed his anger, ”Since you don’t want to cultivate properly and don’t want to refine elixirs, then you might as well marry Shen Huaxi early, have children with Spirit Roots for the Lin Family to continue the bloodline, and earn some merit when the Lin Family becomes a Cultivation Family in the future!”

After saying this, Lin Xiangtian took the old paper and left.

As he stepped outside the hall, Lin Xiangtian glanced again at the paper’s contents, ”Human Elixir? First Grade Elixir Formation? At least you have some filial piety.”