Chapter 97

This matter cannot be known by too many people, but to deal with the ship, it would be best if the sect leader took action. Lu Yaohxiang didn't have the qualifications to see the sect leader directly, and it wouldn't be good to pass the message through the ranks, making the entire sect aware.

After some thought, she decided to find Bai Zhen. He had been in the Black Line Hall for so many years and surely had a way to report to the sect leader. Moreover, he was relatively familiar, much more reliable than others.

Thus, she condensed the matter into a sound-transmitting talisman, threw it into the air, and it transformed into a beam of light, flying toward the Cloud Sword Sect.

While waiting for Bai Zhen's reply, Lu Yaohxiang began to break into the sleeves of the people to search for items. She chose Teng Tai's sleeve. The highest cultivation level among the Void Sect's dispatched people was his, so the good things should be there. The others were all Foundation Establishment disciples, and there wouldn't be many impressive items. It would be better to leave them for Bai Zhen and the others, giving them some benefits for their efforts.

As Lu Yaohxiang used the Sorrowful Sword to break into the sleeve, Lu Xiaodeng sat on the boat watching Lu Dan. After a long time, she finally saw him win, but his expression was not good, as if someone owed him a lot of crystal fruits and hadn't paid back.

He flew down and looked at Lu Xiaodeng, forcing a somewhat helpless smile, "Xiaodeng, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Your face looks so bad, did you get injured internally?" Lu Xiaodeng asked curiously. From the outside, she didn't see any serious injuries. Could it be that his spiritual meridians were damaged?

Lu Dan shook his head, glanced at Lu Yaohxiang, who was enthusiastically collecting the loot, and then turned to sit next to Lu Xiaodeng. After a moment of silence, he said, "Xiaodeng, do you think I'm useless? I bring trouble to the sect, I'm not strong, and my will is not firm. Taking someone's life always makes me feel conflicted and sad."

"If that's the case, why didn't you agree when I suggested getting a courtyard, marrying a wife, and living a simple life? You usually work hard in cultivation, and even when we first met, you were reading cultivation books for free in the bookshop. Now, saying these things, do you think it's normal?" Lu Xiaodeng asked, puzzled. She had always thought that Lu Dan was particularly fond of cultivation and wanted to become a powerful cultivator.

"I want to become strong, to take revenge." Lu Dan suddenly frowned and said, "Every time I think of the tragic scene of my family being exterminated, I remind myself to become strong and find the enemies to take revenge, making them taste the pain of losing their families. But whenever I have the urge to kill, I remember my mother's last words, grabbing my hand and telling me to run far away and live a simple life, not to think about revenge. Her greatest wish was for me to live."

"I always thought that having power could protect myself and those I want to protect. Except for my enemies, I don't want to kill anyone. Killing them would make someone sad. Hatred would continue, never stopping."

Lu Dan covered his face and said painfully, "But now, I don't even want to kill my enemies."

"You've truly inherited the master's teachings of kindness. Does this mean you've given up on hatred and are on the path of universal love? No wonder you let the evil cultivators go. In your eyes, they are also lives and shouldn't be killed at will." Lu Xiaodeng understood, Lu Dan had a great enlightenment.

"No, I'm not that great. If they don't receive punishment, I'll feel guilty and can't rest. But if I kill them all, I can't do it. With blood-stained hands, I wouldn't have the face to meet my mother even in death." Lu Dan was extremely conflicted, not knowing what to do. He had never talked to anyone about this. Today was the last time he would see Lu Xiaodeng, so he dared to speak his mind.

Lu Dan didn't expect to get an answer from Xiaodeng. This was an unsolvable problem, one that would always accompany him. Just like now, after killing the Void Sect disciples, he started to feel guilty. The next time he had to kill, he would feel even more guilty until he went mad.

It was truly a dilemma. He himself felt the pain. If he could live without hatred, just peacefully managing affairs in the sect, it would be much better. Without enemies, life would be much more beautiful.

Lu Xiaodeng blinked, thinking Lu Dan was really stupid. She smiled and said, "This is easy. If you don't want to kill, you can destroy their cultivation and take their possessions. Making them lose everything they care about can also cause them pain."

Lu Dan was stunned. Would that be too cruel? Destroying everything someone cares about but leaving them alive. Isn't life the most precious? As long as one is alive, there is hope.

"Why are you so distressed now? It's because you lost your family, a happy life, and beloved family members. Losing everything that could make you happy, you've been struggling in the world before meeting me. You've been surviving in hardship, barely living just to take revenge on your enemies, how painful and tragic." Lu Xiaodeng's eyes were fixed on him, saying things she herself didn't fully understand.

She twirled her hair with her finger and smiled, "Do you think death is more painful than these things?"

This time, Lu Dan didn't hesitate. He said resolutely, "No, these things are harder than death. They will haunt you, even in your dreams. They will make you suffer, be confused, and angry, maybe even regretful."

"So what's there to worry about? If you don't want to kill, don't kill. After all, it's not a good thing. Didn't the master say we should do good deeds? Saving a life might also be a good deed." Lu Xiaodeng's words made sense. Lu Dan felt enlightened. Even without killing, he could make his enemies suffer, as long as he had the strength.

When you have more power than your enemies, you can look down on them with pity, humiliate them, and let them live in pain every day, which would be more effective than killing them directly.

"I understand. I know what to do from now on." Lu Dan finally figured it out. He could take revenge on his enemies without forcing himself to kill. He could make his clan rest in peace and fulfill his mother's last wish. Seeing her son no longer suffer for revenge, she would be at peace.

Lu Yaohxiang was still searching for valuable items. Lu Xiaodeng's voice wasn't low, and she heard the conversation between her and Lu Dan. After hearing Xiaodeng's words, she stopped and looked up at them.

Although these words were said without much thought, they were exceptionally cruel. Using one's so-called kindness to make others lose hope of living but not letting them die was a desperate act. For Lu Dan, it was not a release; he would be forever lost in revenge, living only for that purpose.

At this moment, Lu Xiaodeng tilted her head and said, "Lu Dan, then you will live your whole life for revenge. What is hatred? It makes people remember forever, never giving up, truly intriguing."

"Xiaodeng, you are too innocent, so you don't have hatred. That's a good thing. As long as you stay in the Cloud Sword Sect, you will never have hatred." Lu Dan knew she was the most carefree. It wasn't just because of the environment; the most important reason was that she lacked certain souls.

With only joy and sorrow, the most she could feel was happiness and unhappiness, not love or hate. She lived freely. Without the soul of desire, she had no strong wishes to fulfill, making her life simple and beautiful.

If she never obtained the other souls, she would never change, even until death. The passage of time would not alter her personality.

Lu Xiaodeng smiled and said, "Lu Dan, why don't you give up on hatred and be happy like me? Being obsessed with such trivial things can't make you happy. What's the point of living then?"

Lu Dan looked at her speechless and muttered, "I want to, but I can't. Only those who have experienced it can understand. You don't understand, and you never will."

"Is that so? It sounds interesting. Can hatred bring happiness?" Lu Xiaodeng shook her head, half-understanding.

Lu Dan didn't know if hatred could bring happiness. Perhaps only after taking revenge would he know if he would be happy. The two finally ended their complicated and inexplicable conversation, and Lu Yaohxiang, who was almost unable to bear it, finally waited for Bai Zhen.

He came alone, without bringing any elders or the sect leader. Seeing the fallen spirit ship, he was indeed surprised. After looking at Lu Yaohxiang for a while, Bai Zhen said, "You are quite capable, killing everyone on the ship. If we were to fight, I might lose to you."

Lu Yaohxiang didn't like this comment, as if he was sure he could beat her. She coldly replied, "I remember someone who almost got killed by a small beast and still acted so smug."

"Oh, that incident? Just a slip-up." Bai Zhen smiled slightly, then changed the subject, smacking his lips. "The Void Sect is our ally and in the same state. Although they appear to cooperate and intermarry, they secretly wish each other would be exterminated. Our strength is not yet sufficient, and such an incident could give them an opportunity to attack. You were quite bold."

"Get to the point. Now that everyone is dead, what should we do?" Lu Yaohxiang coldly demanded. They had only killed four, and the rest were done by the greedy Golden Core cultivator from the Void Sect. It was impossible to save anyone.

Bai Zhen told her not to worry, as long as no one from the Void Sect escaped. Even if someone did escape, they could deny it. Without evidence, it would be hard to pin such a big blame on them.

"I was sent to confirm. It seems the spirit ship must be dealt with immediately. I'll report back." Bai Zhen took out a golden sound-transmitting talisman, gave a few instructions, and sent it back to the sect. Then he turned to Lu Yaohxiang and smiled, "Sister Lu, think about how to explain this. You need a good reason; personal grudges won't do."

"Senior Bai, rest assured, I have it covered." Lu Yaohxiang replied.