Ashamed

"Back then, Daoist, you risked your life to lure away the villains. After parting ways with you, we rushed to the island to seek help. Senior Ran Luo led a party out to rescue you, but found nothing..." Inside the quiet meditation room, Qin Sang sat across from the Wang sisters, listening to their account of what had happened back then. Qin Sang was somewhat surprised. No wonder the two had been so emotional upon seeing him. Seeing him step forward alone to intercept the enemies and urge them to flee instead of using them as bait, they had regarded him as their savior and remembered the debt of gratitude to this day. In truth, Qin Sang had not thought so highly of his actions. He had urged them to leave simply because their cultivation was too low—unable to help, they would only be a hindrance. An unintended deed had taken on extraordinary significance for someone else. Still, they were right about one thing. Qin Sang truly had never considered using them as bait to draw the enemies' attention so that he could flee on his own. "Congratulations on stepping onto the Great Dao of the Golden Core, Fellow Daoist. Your sister must not be far from a breakthrough as well? Might I ask how the other three fellow Daoists fare these days?" Qin Sang looked at the two with a smile. The elder Wang sister blushed shyly. "My ability to break through is thanks to you, Daoist. In the years we followed Senior, seeing you practice so arduously without the slightest slack despite your profound cultivation was a great inspiration to us. "The precious spirit materials Senior gave us allowed my sister and me to accumulate enough resources to purchase a high-grade Fiend Demon Pill. Furthermore, my sister yielded the pill to me, allowing me to break through in a single attempt. Right now, I am helping her gather another Fiend Demon Pill. With her aptitudes, barring any unexpected mishaps, she should successfully achieve Core Formation. "As for the other three fellow Daoists, they have already returned to the Inner Sea. "After returning, the two seniors made another attempt, but unfortunately, both failed their Core Formation. They frankly admitted they had given up and returned home with years of savings to groom their only sons. "Fellow Daoist Peng also sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough. However, his cultivation technique is peculiar and requires the protection of his elders during a breakthrough, so he had to return to his sect. He left not long ago, and I do not know if he succeeded. "Before the three departed, they all urged me repeatedly to be sure to find Senior." As they were speaking, Ran Luo walked in from outside, overjoyed upon seeing Qin Sang. When asked about his experiences over the years, Qin Sang had no choice but to offer the pretext he had prepared long ago, claiming that his opponents had been too powerful back then, chasing him deep into the Demon Sea until he lost his bearings. Afterward, fearing that those people were still lingering around Duyan Island, he had not dared to return and could only scrape by in the Demon Sea, only daring to make his way back after recently learning the war was over. The three women suspected nothing and sighed in shared sympathy. "Arduous cultivation is the same anywhere, so it is nothing worth mentioning... However, this poor Daoist had just become a guest elder of the guild and had yet to contribute anything before being gone for twenty years. I have truly let Fellow Daoist Ran down..." Qin Sang said with an apologetic expression. Ran Luo waved her hand. "The Daoist escaping unharmed is great fortune enough. Compared to your safety, what do trivial guild affairs matter? If anyone is to blame, it is those who stirred up the turmoil and those Witch Clan villains. Why don't you rest for a few days, Daoist? I will send word of this good news to Elder Zou, and in a few days, we will host a banquet to welcome you back." Qin Sang did not want such trouble and hastily dissuaded her. "Fellow Daoist Ran may not know, but when I first entered the Demon Sea, I caught wind of a spirit herb on Tianwu Island that happens to be what I need. I had intended to harvest it fifteen years ago, but unexpectedly remained stranded in the Demon Sea, wasting all this time until now. The spirit herb has long since matured; if I delay any further, I fear a demon beast will beat me to it. Time is pressing, so let us dispense with the trouble. Bring over the spirit materials, and once I fulfill my duty as guest elder by crafting the artifacts, I will set off." Ran Luo hurried to ask, "Does that spirit herb grow near a demon beast's lair? If it is dangerous, you might as well pick a few helpers from the guild to accompany you." "No matter. A decade or so ago, I indeed lacked complete confidence. But as they say, misfortune harbors blessing. Stranded in the Demon Sea, I reaped considerable gains, and my strength is no longer what it once was." Qin Sang spoke with supreme confidence, then added, "This poor Daoist also has a small matter to request your assistance with." Ran Luo's expression turned serious. "Please speak, Daoist." At this point, the Wang sisters tactfully took their leave. Stepping out of the meditation room and closing the door behind them, the elder Wang sister saw that Qin Sang had only nodded gently to them without any intention of asking them to stay. Her expression dimmed somewhat. "Sister..." The younger sister linked arms with her sister, looking into her eyes and hesitating to speak. The elder sister shook her head, as if muttering to herself or advising herself, "The Daoist is an ascetic cultivator." The younger sister sighed softly and held her sister tighter. Supporting each other, the two sisters walked away into the distance. Inside the meditation room, Ran Luo watched the Wang sisters leave and suddenly gave a soft chuckle. "Daoist, you probably do not know yet, but the Wang sisters were so won over by your character that ever since Duyan Island's seal was lifted, they have never ceased searching for you, even secretly investigating the culprits who plotted against you. They are truly rare people of deep loyalty and gratitude in this world..." "I am humbled by their regard; this poor Daoist feels truly ashamed..." Qin Sang fell silent and did not dwell on the topic, changing the subject instead. "Fellow Daoist Ran, this poor Daoist intends to venture into the Hall of Seven Killings. I would like to ask the guild to keep an eye out for which faction will take the lead when the hall opens next. The guild mainly operates in the Inner Sea, so inquiring about this news should not be difficult, right?" By his reckoning, it had been about twenty-five years since he arrived in the Canglang Sea. According to past precedent, if a faction had designs on the Hall of Seven Killings, whispers would begin circulating around now. After all, preparing the spirit formation to crack the immortal formation required an astounding fortune. No matter how deep their foundations were, even those factions struggled to bear the burden and needed to prepare decades in advance, recouping their wealth as soon as possible by selling entry spots. He had thought the turmoil between the two clans might affect the Hall of Seven Killings, but now that the unrest had settled, everything was set to return to normal. Qin Sang was determined to enter the Hall of Seven Killings; only by securing a spot early could he set his mind at ease. In fact, he was clear as day about the reality: even if he found the ancient teleportation array this time, he likely would not be able to return. While the Hall of Seven Killings could be opened by human effort, Ziwei Palace on the other side could not. If he teleported across, he would be trapped inside Ziwei Palace, facing whatever unknown dangers lurked within. He would have to wait until the Hall of Seven Killings emerged on its own before he could return to the Lesser Cold Domain. However, the ancient teleportation array was bound to be difficult to find. If he waited until the day the Hall of Seven Killings emerged naturally to enter, what if he failed to find it? Waiting for the next emergence would take over two hundred years, and by then, the chance would have long slipped away. Therefore, this journey was an absolute necessity. Hearing this, Ran Luo looked astounded and said gravely, "When did Daoist conceive the idea of going to the Hall of Seven Killings? How much do you know about it? Please, do not simply follow what others say! The treasures in the Hall of Seven Killings that were easiest to obtain have long since been looted clean; what remain are extremely perilous deathtraps where even most Nascent Soul Patriarchs are helpless. Those who enter the Hall of Seven Killings nowadays are either supremely confident in their strength, or their path of cultivation is bleak and they have nowhere else to turn, entering to make a desperate gamble. You achieved Core Formation not long ago, Daoist; you have ample lifespan and a boundless future. Why take such a risk?"