179 - We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 179: The Ones I Need to Kill, I Will Kill; The Blood I Need to Stain, I Will Stain. Sitting aboard a flying boat bound for the Myriad Dao Sect. A woman in a red dress, known as Xue Kui, was at the bow sipping wine. Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin sat on the other side, watching the woman warily. Just two hours ago, the Dan Yang Sect had been annihilated. And not just them—the entire Shan Gui Sect, save for their sect master, had been wiped out as well. From the few snippets of conversation between the Shan Gui Sect master and Xue Kui, Xiao Mo pieced together what had happened. Essentially, there was a grudge between the Shan Gui Sect and the Dan Yang Sect, and both sects were already on the verge of war, just waiting for the conflict to ignite. The Dan Yang Sect's leader tried to preemptively leap into Nascent Soul stage by crafting pills using the lives of ninety-nine young boys and girls with fair potential, hoping to break through. Little did they expect the Shan Gui Sect master to cross paths with Xue Kui by chance. Xue Kui needed at least three thousand cultivator souls for a blood sacrifice to refine her own pills. The Shan Gui Sect master, without hesitation, offered up his own sect as a sacrifice. He even volunteered to lead her to the Dan Yang Sect and promised that the clash would yield countless casualties, giving her plenty of souls. His goal was to join the Myriad Dao Sect as a steward. For a cultivator like Xue Kui in the realm of immortals, wiping out small sects like Dan Yang and Shan Gui was effortless—she didn’t need the Shan Gui Sect master’s submission. However, Xue Kui found it amusing and decided to agree. Then the Shan Gui Sect invaded the Dan Yang Sect, leading to events that involved Xiao Mo. An hour later, the flying boat Xue Kui was on entered the territory of the Myriad Dao Sect. The Myriad Dao Sect was one of the ten major demonic sects in the Western Region, cloaked within lofty mountains and expansive lands. Each peak was shrouded in mist, with celestial cranes flying about. On the surface, it didn’t resemble a demonic sect at all—it looked more like a revered establishment. “The Myriad Dao Sect, as the name suggests, doesn’t focus on a single path of immortality,” Xue Kui explained to Xiao Mo, leaning against the bow. “In the Myriad Dao Sect, some realize the Dao through drunkenness, others through dual cultivation, and some through killing. There are countless paths, and that is the essence of the Myriad Dao Sect. And within the sect, there are no rigid rules. Everything is dictated by power. You can do whatever you want, as long as you survive afterward. As my disciple, no one will dare touch you, so you can be as arrogant as you want. I will protect your path, but my intervention only happens if the adversary surpasses you by two major realms. If someone a single realm above you tries to kill you, I won't intervene. If you die, it simply means you’re useless! Do you understand what your master is telling you?" “I understand,” Xiao Mo responded coldly. With a smirk, Xue Kui took a swig of wine, the liquid trailing down her pale chin and neck, finally disappearing into the depths of her curves. She stepped forward and looked at Xiao Mo, “I know you're not comfortable with me, but I don’t care. I’m teaching you cultivation to preserve the legacy. If you become stronger than me, you can do whatever you wish to your master—even kill me, if you’re capable.” Xiao Mo remained silent. As they spoke, the flying boat landed atop a mountain peak. The boat shrank in size, and Xiao Mo and Jiang Xin stood atop the rocky summit. “This place is called Ye Xue Peak. Aside from me, it’s empty. Now with you two, there are three.” Xue Kui tossed a storage pouch to Xiao Mo and strode forward, her voice echoing from the mountaintop: “Go to the spiritual spring in the north and bathe. You’re reeking, and it bothers me. From now on, you’ll live in the side courtyard. Xiao Mo, you will begin training tomorrow. Remember, you are my disciple, but Jiang Xin is not. Jiang Xin lives solely because you want to protect her. Should you fail to meet my expectations, I'll kill you. And if you die, I'll also kill her.” Xue Kui spoke these words as she entered the courtyard, closing the door behind her. Facing the closed door, Xiao Mo said nothing, leading Jiang Xin to the spiritual spring. He let Jiang Xin bathe first while he waited at a distance. Once Jiang Xin finished, Xiao Mo entered the spring and washed off thoroughly. The spring had a remarkable effect. In less than half an incense stick of time, Xiao Mo felt his fatigue dissipating, and even the impurities in his body were washed away. As Xiao Mo climbed out of the spring, he felt light and refreshed. After they both finished, they returned to the courtyard. Before Xiao Mo could rest, Jiang Xin pulled him to sit on a stone bench in the yard. Jiang Xin fetched a bucket of water, using a cloth to repeatedly clean Xiao Mo’s hands. Over and over again. Jiang Xin didn’t know how many times she wiped Xiao Mo’s hands, nor how many basins of water she had changed. Initially, Xiao Mo was puzzled by what Jiang Xin was doing. Gradually, he understood her thoughts. “Ah Xin, it's useless; the blood can never be washed clean,” Xiao Mo shook his head and said, “Once you've killed, the blood on your hands can never truly be washed away.” Listening to Xiao Mo, Jiang Xin’s motions slowed, but she didn’t stop. She continued diligently tending to Xiao Mo’s hands. As she worked, Jiang Xin's tears began to fall, her small hands trembling, her soft sobs heart-wrenching. Xiao Mo reached out, gently wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes. “Ah Xin, do you hate me for killing your sister Ziyu?” At his words, Jiang Xin paused, then vigorously shook her head. “Xiao Mo, how could I hate you? You did it all for me…” “If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been captured. It’s all my fault, all because of me…” As she spoke, Jiang Xin leaned against Xiao Mo’s chest, her sobs growing louder and her tears warm as they fell. “You’re not at fault.” Xiao Mo gently patted her back. To Xiao Mo, she was just a nine-year-old girl. What can a nine-year-old truly understand? On the contrary. As a nine-year-old, she bore far too much. “Ah Xin, remember, the one at fault isn’t you, it’s the world.” Xiao Mo stroked her hair. “The ones I need to kill in the future, I will kill; the blood I need to stain, I will stain. Ah Xin, you just have to be like you were before. You don’t need any burdens, nor do you need to change anything. Because with you as you are, when I traverse far and have no direction, I’ll look back and at least find a lighthouse. Perhaps in this way, I won’t lose myself entirely in the darkness.”