Chapter 3

Translated by boilpoil Edited by boilpoil

Despite Wen Fu being talented himself, able to face even intermediate Zhuji anked cultivators with only lower Zhuji level of cultivation amount, the shixiong who was after him was already close to Jiedan, plus there were many of them. If they were not trying to capture him alive, he would probably have already died.

Despite Wen Fu continuously used that to his advantage to fight with his life on the line, he was already highly injured when he had escaped to the area nearby the Forest of Mists. He was out of options, and could only use this short period of time to restore himself as much as possible.

When he saw the Forest of Mists which is infamous throughout the lands in front of him, he couldn’t help but also feel like stepping in to end it all. It was rumoured that the Forest of Mists not only has illusions that would mess with one’s psyche, but deep within the mist, it would even start to corrode a cultivator’s body, until not even bones remain… though he stopped his train of thought quickly. He still had people who had harmed him who he has yet to take revenge on. How could he just go and die like that?

When Wen Fu tried to avoid the mist that is emanating from the Forest as he walked unsteadily around it, while mulling over how he’ll escape after this, what terrain he might be able to use, someone suddenly appeared, forcing a pill into his mouth, then quickly dragged him into where others think is a scary place that lets no one come back out alive.

“Follow me. It’s safe inside.”

Wen Fu, too exhausted to even struggle, was forced to follow behind closely. He thought they would meet all kinds of dangers in the Forest of Mists, or descend into illusions, unable to snap back to reality, or their bodies would feel the dull pain of being corroded until there’s nothing left, but yet, nothing. They walked into the Forest of Mists as if they were walking on a flat field.

Wen Fu remembered the pill that was forced into him just before this.

They walked all the way into the centre of the Forest of Mists. Wen Fu was surprised to discover a hidden paradise here, and there seems to be an invisible barrier there that blocked the mist from entering. Not only was the scenery beautiful here, there was also a great amount of cultivable qi. Looking around, there’s even a residence that is large in size and tidied neatly.

Wen Fu looked over the other person surreptitiously. He couldn’t tell what this intermediate Zhuji cultivator is planning——While he was fine in appearance, he appeared somewhat weak and thin… there seemed to be no malice towards him.

Then it was the other person who spoke first hesitantly, “are you alright? I still have some pills for recovering your cultivation power and healing wounds. Do you want some?”

Wen Fu shook his head, asking in turn, “why did you save me?”

“I saw them pursuing you, and also overheard your conversation… I thought you didn’t deserve this.”

Wen Fu did not believe an ounce of it. He thought the cultivator standing before him sounded so silly it was laughable.

Since he’s heard a bit about him, Wen Fu did not believe that this guy is absolutely not moved by an age complementation body. Saying something like that right here, did he think he’s retarded?

And if it really was true, that he saved him because he felt pity… then truly, he’s even more stupid.

His personal experience has already shown him that the cruelty of the world of cultivation is not something taken lightly. He did not believe in goodwill without reason, nor believed there would still be someone this naïve.

Though Wen Fu bites his lips, and says nothing. He was wounded all over, and his cultivation power was completely depleted. If they were to fight, it was obvious he won’t win.

Still, when he saw the alchemical stove inside his residence, he couldn’t help but mockingly remark,

“You’re an alchemical cultivator too, would you really not be interested in me?”

According to his good master, any alchemical cultivator worth their salt would feel as if they have seen a great treasure and be unable to hold back themselves when they see an age complementation body like his.

“No.” The eyes of the guy who called himself Bai Lianhua widened, and explained to him in a bit of an exasperated manner, “don’t worry, I won’t do that to you… I disapprove of that myself, it is in contravention of natural harmony.”

Wen Fu did not take that seriously, but acted as if convinced, and retracted the spikes he put on his outer shell at least on the surface. He apologised and thanked him quietly, then changed his topic when he started talking again, “what did you just feed me?”

“That’s a pill that allows you to no longer be affected by the Forest of Mists.”

Wen Fu was actually surprised then, “I’ve never heard of something like that.” Or the Forest of Mists would not have always been a forbidden zone in the cultivation realm.

“Mmhm, it’s an exclusive recipe.”

It turned out that while Bai Lianhua did not have a good cultivation amount, nor a good cultivation base, only becoming an intermediate Zhuji cultivator after many years of cultivation, but actually he carried a great inheritance and a legendary backstory. His ancestor was a legendary elder of alchemical cultivation. He became a Dujie cultivator and ascended after wowing the whole cultivation realm. The elder knew his descendants would become deficient in talent, and eventually, his family would fall into obscurity, so he chose this place specifically, letting his descendants live in isolation here generation after generation, as a form of protection.

This alchemical recipe that allowed one to walk freely inside the Forest of Mists, and the other treasures in the residence, were all inheritance from that elder. Then, Bai Lianhua was the only descendent left. Thankfully, while Bai Lianhua was bad at cultivation, he was extremely talented at alchemical cultivation, not shaming his own ancestor.

Bai Lianhua did not leave the place often, though, and he only used to leave the Forest of Mists occasionally when searching for alchemical ingredients, and would never leave far away, returning as soon as possible.

Looking at Bai Lianhua whose eyes seem so clear, Wen Fu instinctively believed he’s telling the truth. Though Wen Fu never imagined there’d actually be someone who’d be so unaware of the world, revealing all his secrets to a stranger. Was he seriously not afraid he’d kill him and take his treasure? The good things left behind by an ascended elder, would be stuff cultivators outside would fight to the death over.

To be honest, though, outside would be a dangerous place for him. Here was instead a place that allowed him to cultivate in peace, so that he could raise his cultivation rank to Jiedan, becoming able to mask his attribute and then to enact his revenge.

To be able to survive in the Forest of Mists, he would be dependent on Bai Lianhua’s pills. Thankfully the guy… he didn’t even need to forcefully control him. The elder alchemical cultivator probably miscalculated. An artificial barrier of protection would certainly have protected his descendents well, but it would also have spoilt them until they were ignorant, becoming dumb and unaware. It did help make matters convenient, however.

With all his ulterior motives, Wen Fu ‘accepted’ Bai Lianhua’s goodwill after some back and forth, and stayed behind.

For a year, two years, three years… Yet even Wen Fu did not expect he would stay for so long in the Forest of Mists, or even have such a great change occur to him.

He was disdainful of Bai Lianhua at first, thinking about how to best utilise the value on him, but he actually did loosen his guard towards him in their daily interactions.

Bai Lianhua may be naïve and stupid, but it is relaxing to be with him. He didn’t have to worry about schemes and deceptions. He was a calm and tolerant guy, and he was by no means aggressive, and truly believed in doing good to people, and could put his words into action. He was like a ray of warm, penetrating sunlight. Even if he did not agree at first, he couldn’t help but take this ray of sunshine, and store it away in his chest, so heal the rotting, deteriorating wounds on his heart… it was an addictive feeling.

This is such pure goodness, that one would also try to protect it from anything that could sully it. Compared to the hypocritical ‘good’ outside, it seemed especially immature and cute… Wen Fu had to admit that he wanted to protect this pure kindness more and more gradually.

——When they were lazing about, because of his ‘tragic fate,’ Bai Lianhua would also worry that he felt too negative in his mind and would become unstable when cultivating in the future, so he worked hard to persuade him all the time, telling him that there was not only evil the world, but there’s also true good in the world.

Wen Fu would smile at him then, sure, why wouldn’t there be? The scary thing was that you were the only one that had it.

Then, he really did, want to act as Bai Lianhua said, to be a good person after he had his revenge, at least on the surface. Regrettably…

Wen Fu bites his lips hard, removing his consciousness from the illusion. His expression that was smiling hardening again.

Somebody seems to have suddenly appeared here, but somehow it doesn’t seem to make him alert. It’s like a reunion after a long time, both familiar and unfamiliar…

Wen Fu turns around in a blink, and with just one glance, he clearly distinguishes that the person behind him is real. He then stands quietly where he is, his expression rather dark.

——Bai Lianhua, he finally… meets him alive again, not only in an illusion.

He’s been waiting for this moment for too long. Though he didn’t expect it to be right here, right now.

The corner of Wen Fu’s lips lift up suddenly.

And Bai Lianhua, who moved his line of sight from his familiar surroundings to the person who is in front of him, Wen Fu, does not have time to appreciate how cooperative the system was to let him see his mission objective so quickly, before being greatly spooked, and shows an expression of disbelief.

Of course he knows how time is a cruel mistress, but this isn’t the kind of cruelty we’re talking about, are we? He knew with the years past, that Wen Fu would probably change greatly, whether in appearance or in disposition, but…

Though he might be inexperienced, but the system couldn’t have slapped him in the face like that!

Look at this unmitigated aura emanating from his body! How did Wen Fu end up a demonic cultivator? After he has diligently completed his white lotus mission, and was judged to be successful by the system, how did Wen Fu still walk his original path to fall to demonic cultivation and become a demonic cultivator?

Bai Lianhua is calling for his system madly in his mind, bombarding it with questions.

“Did my previous mission fail?”

“No. The host’s preceding mission in this world was successful.”

“Then why did this happen? Explain it to me, hey!”

The system decides to play dead and stay silent then.

Bai Lianhua is angry and frustrated. He hates how he seems to have been one-upped by the system. When he has nowhere to run, he looks at Wen Fu with an exasperated appearance.

Wen Fu’s smile grows bigger and bigger, going ear to ear in the end. He says lightly, “as expected, you’re still alive.”

Bai Lianhua is helplessly nervous, he does not know how to explain the fact that he’s still alive, nor know what Wen Fu meant by ‘as expected’——he’s not exaggerating when he says he feels there’s something off with how Wen Fu is speaking. It’s neither joy nor happiness. It is complicated and makes him feel cold to the bone.

Wen Fu does not seem to want an explanation from him, however. He wipes that unsettling smile off his face, and walks towards Bai Lianhua with resolute steps.

Author’s notes:

Bai Lianhua: The golden thigh in my imagination suddenly turning into a blackened thigh, can anyone tell me what happened? I don’t want to hug the thigh anymore! [Hopelessness.jpg]

Mob A: Eh, now that you say that, I suddenly want to eat Jinhua ham . What should I do →_→

Read only at Travis Translations