Chapter Eight: Escape, Part Two

Wang Li handed the packaged phonograph to Liu Wanjin.

“Please, Steward Liu, deliver this item to the Sect Master. The instructions and precautions are engraved on this artifact. You can verify its authenticity through a simple trial. I will wait here for your reply.”

Liu Wanjin glanced at the bundle without saying a word and left.

“I hope the Sect Master won’t make things too difficult for me.”

“Master Sheng, am I really doing the right thing?”

“I cannot tell you what is right or wrong. I only know that since I restored your divine soul, you no longer have a choice.”

Wang Li pondered his current situation carefully, drawing on his limited life experience.

He had no choice but to admit Sheng’s words made sense.

Even if he clarified the truth to Master Chu Xuan, what difference would it make? Setting aside whether Chu Xuan would believe he hadn’t been possessed, even if she did, the best outcome would be transitioning from a dispensable registered disciple to an ordinary one.

Would Chu Xuan believe him? From the moment he agreed to the deal with the Sect Master, the Sect Master had already assumed he had been possessed. Convincing his master might be possible, but persuading the Sect Master to believe he was still the original Wang Li would be exceedingly difficult.

Even if he succeeded, the result would not improve.

But the path Master Sheng had arranged for him was different. It might be difficult, but it could change his destiny. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to compete with thousands of Pure Yang disciples for limited cultivation resources.

Pure Yang was generous, but its numbers were vast. Where there are many people, hearts grow complicated. Cultivation resources are fought over!

Rather than compete, it would be better to step out of the disciples’ circle and negotiate directly with the Sect Master as a collaborator.

Understanding this, Wang Li felt the oppressive weight in his heart dissipate by more than half. He settled cross-legged atop the massive stone and began to cultivate.

As long as he grew strong enough, one day his master and the Sect Master would believe in him!

So he thought.

But Master Sheng in his divine soul shook his head repeatedly, muttering, “The boy is still so young. An innocent heart is admirable, but such a path is fraught with hardship!”

Recalling his own past, Master Sheng’s mood soured, and he secretly cursed a certain someone.

...

Liu Wanjin, carrying the bundle, arrived at the Sect Master’s hall, just as Chu Xuan was about to leave. When he tried to avoid her, it was already too late; she caught him squarely.

“Junior Brother Liu, how is Wang Li?”

Chu Xuan’s mood, previously calmed by Master Liuguang, became unsettled again at the sight of the bundle in Liu Wanjin’s arms.

Liu Wanjin replied stiffly, “He’s fine, currently cultivating.”

“What’s that you’re carrying? Did Wang Li give it to the Sect Master?”

“No, Senior Sister, I’m just passing by.”

Liu Wanjin could immediately see that Chu Xuan was not in a good state and didn’t want to say more. He turned to leave.

“Heh...” Chu Xuan sneered, “Junior brother, you’re not even as good at lying as the Sect Master. He at least knows how to be subtle. Do you think your senior sister is blind? You think I wouldn’t recognize Wang Li’s clothing?”

Liu Wanjin wanted to persist, but before he could speak, Master Liuguang’s voice sounded in his ear.

“Junior Brother, come in with Chu Xuan. She already knows about Wang Li.”

The two entered the hall. Master Liuguang glanced at Liu Wanjin. “You certainly have a knack for timing!”

Liu Wanjin felt awkward, wanting to speak but was stopped by Master Liuguang’s gesture, his heart full of frustration: “So I’m just a scapegoat now!”

After venting a bit, Master Liuguang turned to Chu Xuan. “Your realm is not yet stabilized. Take this Great Yuan Consolidation Pill. We’ll discuss Wang Li’s matters later.”

As he spoke, a white light shot from his sleeve toward Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan reached out and caught it—a crystal-clear, shimmering pill appeared in her hand.

She said coldly, “I’m not as frail as you think, Senior Brother!”

Her words were icy, but her actions betrayed her. She promptly swallowed the Great Yuan Consolidation Pill and began refining it cross-legged.

Liu Wanjin watched, his eyes wide.

The Great Yuan Consolidation Pill! Even Tribulation-Stage cultivators dream of possessing such a treasure! And the Sect Master simply gave it to her!

“Senior Brother, I see everything!” he transmitted, not hiding his desire for benefits.

Master Liuguang replied via transmission, “You talk too much, but have I ever left you out when there’s gain?”

“How’s Wang Li?”

“It’s in the bundle. Try it yourself and see if it’s real.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Go test it!”

“Senior Brother, I don’t think this is reliable.”

“Does unreliability prevent you from trying?”

“Uh... You’re the senior, I’ll listen to you.”

Liu Wanjin hung his head and went to the side, opened the bundle, and took out the phonograph. He studied the engraved instructions, then set up a soundproofing array. He inserted a card into the slot and began recording his cultivation technique.

His realm was far above Wang Li’s, and he understood his own technique much better. The recording process was efficient, completed in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Seeing his senior brother still guarding Chu Xuan, he didn’t disturb them and began playing back his recording.

No sooner had he heard it than he was stunned—the device called a phonograph really could be used for divine sense explanations!

With this discovery, he didn’t care whether Master Liuguang would scold him and transmitted, “Senior Brother, come take a look. We may need to reconsider Wang Li!”

“Making a fuss! Hundreds of years old, still so excitable. Where’s your usual calm?” Master Liuguang, annoyed at being interrupted in his guardianship of his junior sister, rose and entered Liu Wanjin’s soundproofing array.

The moment he stepped into the array, his face mirrored Liu Wanjin’s astonishment.

“Junior Brother, go release Wang Li. Let him set his own conditions—agree to anything that isn’t excessive. We mustn’t let him be poached!”

“Don’t let him leave the Sutra Pavilion’s defensive array for now. Inform his master and ask her to test his depth, and take Chu Xuan into the secret realm. If anything happens to her, we can’t explain it to the master.”

Liu Wanjin nodded, “Alright. You look after Senior Sister Chu Xuan.”

With that, he headed underground toward the Fire Prison.

Chu Xuan would finish refining the pill soon; everything had to be settled before she awoke... The key was to bring out her master!

When Wang Li saw Liu Wanjin again, the steward’s attitude was much improved. Though his face was still cold, the hostility had faded, and at least he didn’t rudely grab Wang Li by the collar.

“Stay here and don’t wander. What you were promised will be delivered soon.”

Liu Wanjin was in a hurry and didn’t say much, leaving Wang Li at the Sutra Pavilion with Zi Liuxiao before departing.

Wang Li noticed his hurried departure but paid it no mind. Once Liu Wanjin left, Wang Li headed for his master’s cave.

PS: Shameless as I am, I will firmly latch onto my patrons and serve as their loyal accessory.

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