Chapter 51. You Mustn't Blame Yourself

Shenyang Jue turned around, feeling his heart sink, and shook his head vigorously.

“It’s not there.”

In the world of the sects, age was merely a number, so he addressed his ancestors with respect, as if they were still alive. He had been speaking informally to the elders since he was young, so it felt as natural as breathing.

“Why are you here?”

“Just….”

Shenyang Jue observed Yan Jieha’s expression.

Strangely, whenever he looked at Yan Jieha lately, he was reminded of his younger self. He, too, had lived like the master of the world at that age, acting without restraint.

However, Yan Jieha’s future would be vastly different from his current situation. His life, lived with great effort, seemed pitiful in comparison.

“Why do you live, old man?”

Caught off guard by Yan Jieha’s sudden question, Shenyang Jue replied mischievously.

“Hehe, I live for the thrill of taking, beating, and killing. Isn’t that what the Green Forest is all about?”

“So that’s why you’re called a demon.”

“Those who call the Green Forest heroes are all hypocrites.”

Yan Jieha tilted his head.

It seemed Shenyang Jue was upset that people didn’t curse him to his face.

“You don’t curse me to my face either.”

“That’s….”

Shenyang Jue tried to argue but closed his mouth, feeling it was too petty.

Perhaps it was different at first, but not anymore.

However, he didn’t feel the need to defend himself. Unlike before, he now thought, “What’s the point of doing this or that?” He didn’t know why he had become this way.

Suddenly, Yan Jieha wondered why Shenyang Jue had stayed in the mountain stronghold.

After his companions went to Red Wind Manor, he always went alone. It didn’t seem like he was plotting behind the scenes; otherwise, there would have been more people around him.

“Why didn’t you go to Red Wind Manor?”

“It would have been cold leftovers. By now, those who moved would be hitting the ground. If they knew they get three taels of silver a month here, they’d be regretting it.”

“You seem full of complaints despite thinking that way?”

“I have no complaints. Just….”

“Just?”

Yan Jieha stared intently at Shenyang Jue.

After hesitating for a moment, a sigh escaped Shenyang Jue’s lips.

“Sigh! It’s a trivial reason. Do you want to know?”

“If you don’t want to say, forget it. I won’t force you. We’re not that close, are we?”

Yan Jieha drew a line, and Shenyang Jue quickly spoke.

“No, no. I’ll tell you everything. Actually, after realizing I’ve been living like a frog in a well, everything feels dull.”

“The thrill of taking, beating, and killing has dulled?”

“A bit.”

“Gee, I don’t know whether to say it’s good or bad.”

Yan Jieha’s teasing made Shenyang Jue act indifferent.

Uncharacteristically, Yan Jieha used formal language.

“Hey, old frog. Do you, an old man, have dreams?”

“The heart doesn’t age.”

“So your heart is still young?”

“Yes, it feels like yesterday when I was in my prime. Although my body is old.”

“Huh! So what’s your dream?”

“To transcend my own limits.”

“And you know how to do it?”

“Yes.”

Yan Jieha tilted his head, surprised by the unexpected answer.

What does he mean? Most people don’t know how to do it, which is why they struggle.

“Why don’t you transcend if you know how?”

“Because it’s not something I can do alone.”

“Someone needs to help you?”

“Yes.”

Shenyang Jue stared intently at Yan Jieha.

“You can’t be serious, me?”

“Why not?”

Shenyang Jue bit his lip.

During their conversation, he realized what he truly wanted. Watching the rapid growth of the Ten Heroes of Wu Feng, he thought it might be worth a try.

The Ten Heroes of Wu Feng became Xian-level experts in just a year.

Unlike them, he had a deep understanding and rich experience in martial arts. Even if he experienced dissipation of his skills, he could quickly recover his advanced abilities.

Once he overcame that hurdle, he could reach even higher.

Of course, this was only possible if Yan Jieha allowed it.

“Hmm!”

Yan Jieha scanned Shenyang Jue with an ambiguous expression.

He didn’t dislike Shenyang Jue just because he was a famous demon. After all, the Ten Heroes of Wu Feng were no better. He couldn’t say he was better than someone who had killed ten people just because he had killed one!

At his old age, talking seriously about youth made him want to help a bit.

‘Can Shenyang Jue cultivate the White Jade Formula?’

The Ten Heroes of Wu Feng, being beginners, accepted the White Jade Formula well. However, Shenyang Jue, unlike them, was a demon who had practiced the sects’ internal arts for a long time.

Righteous and evil internal arts are like water and oil, refusing to mix. In fact, they even fight and destroy each other.

“Your internal arts and mine won’t mix, right?”

“I’m prepared for dissipation. If I learn, my internal arts will surely scatter.”

“If you want it, teaching you isn’t difficult. But if the result is bad, you mustn’t blame me. I didn’t force you to learn.”

“That’s a given. If you teach me, I’ll never forget your kindness.”

“I don’t believe the words of thieves. Besides, you’ve lived long enough, haven’t you?”

“Still….”

“Enough, I have a condition. If you agree, I’ll teach you now.”

“Tell me. I’ll do whatever you say, as long as it’s not to die.”

“It’s not hard. Just don’t stab me in the back.”

“I’ll never betray you. If I do, you can kill me. Please, kill me.”

“Wait, it seems you misunderstand. Betrayal is a death sentence, of course. Who would make that a condition?”

“Huh? Then?”

“Stabbing in the back means something else. For example, if the old man does something and people curse me for it, even though I did nothing. That’s what I mean.”

“Oh!”

Shenyang Jue finally understood what Yan Jieha meant.

In short, “Don’t do anything that will harm me.”

It seemed trivial, but for Shenyang Jue, it was the hardest thing to do. How could a Green Forest demon avoid being cursed?

Of course, he understood Yan Jieha’s feelings.

It was like a master being cursed for the disciple’s actions.

If Yan Jieha were a demon, he would have nodded without hesitation. His master had praised him every time he committed evil deeds.

The problem was Yan Jieha’s identity.

He was unpredictable but not extremely evil. He was extremely tyrannical but gentle if not provoked.

Yan Jieha, observing Shenyang Jue’s hesitation, asked:

“Are you worried you won’t be able to enjoy the three pleasures of life?”

By “three pleasures,” he meant taking, beating, and killing.

Shenyang Jue clenched his teeth and replied:

“No. I was thinking about what actions wouldn’t harm you.”

Honestly, the three pleasures Yan Jieha mentioned were now dull to him. Maybe it was because he was old, or maybe it was the sense of powerlessness after living with Yan Jieha.

“So, what’s your answer?”

“I’ll do it.”

“If you stab me in the back, I’ll take away everything you gain from the White Jade Formula.”

It was a terrifying threat, implying the closure of his internal arts.

Losing a limb could be overcome, but losing internal arts was the end. For a demon like Shenyang Jue, with many enemies, it was a death sentence.

“Yes! Teach me!”

Driven by the fear of being overtaken by the Ten Heroes of Wu Feng, Shenyang Jue made his decision. He didn’t want to be a fool like Huang Yaoming.

“Alright, sit down.”

Shenyang Jue immediately sat in a cross-legged position.

“The name of this cultivation method is ‘Nine Heavens and One Day Scripture.’ According to the Nine Heavens Immortal Lady, ‘Place your heart in one place, do not engage in any affairs, and do not try to do anything [九天玄女 曰 置心一庫, 無事不翔]’….”

Yan Jieha recited the White Jade Formula.

Surprisingly, Shenyang Jue memorized it after hearing it three times.

Compared to the Ten Heroes of Wu Feng, who struggled for half a day, he was a genius, despite his age.

Curious, Yan Jieha recited more of the White Jade Formula.

After reciting for about an hour, Shenyang Jue memorized it.

Intrigued by how far he could go, Yan Jieha continued teaching the ‘Nine Heavens and One Day Scripture.’

By the time the sun was setting, Shenyang Jue had memorized three hundred characters. However, he couldn’t memorize any more, as if something invisible was blocking him.

Frustrated, Shenyang Jue hit his head. It was no use; his mind was blank after memorizing three hundred characters.

“Old man, it seems that’s as far as you can go. Now, start practicing.”

“Yes.”

Shenyang Jue didn’t insist on trying more.

He had spent half a day memorizing on the mountain. Now, it was time to internalize it.

He closed his eyes and calmed his breathing.

Excitement filled his heart as he thought about finally cultivating a high-level cultivation method.

Shenyang Jue recited the three hundred characters and slowly entered the practice of guiding and regulating his qi.

Yan Jieha watched him with curiosity.

To him, who had little knowledge of martial arts, everything was new. He had to teach the Ten Heroes of Wu Feng in detail about guiding and regulating qi, but Shenyang Jue seemed to have entered a meditative state on his first try.

The Heavenly Merchant said, “Guiding and regulating qi has four stages: wind, sky, qi, and breath.”

When the breath moves at the tip of the nose, it’s wind; when the breath is silent but the inhalation and exhalation are continuous, it’s sky; when there’s no interruption but the breath is not fine, it’s qi; when you can’t tell if you’re breathing, it’s breath.

The Ten Heroes of Wu Feng only reached the breath stage after the long journey to the Green Forest Assembly.

Yet, Shenyang Jue achieved it on the first day of learning the ‘Nine Heavens and One Day Scripture.’ Was it because he had already practiced internal arts? He was very different from the Ten Heroes of Wu Feng.

It was a mystery how such a person could be a demon of the sects.

Yan Jieha suddenly felt the need to guard Shenyang Jue, who had entered a meditative state. However, trouble soon arose.

Shenyang Jue’s face contorted grotesquely, and his upper body trembled.

‘Tsk! His power is dissipating.’

He had expected some issues, but the pain seemed severe.

Yan Jieha thought it would be fine after some time. Shenyang Jue, with his deep knowledge of martial arts, had chosen to do this, so it shouldn’t go wrong!

But it didn’t end there.

Suddenly, dark red blood flowed from Shenyang Jue’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

Spitting blood during practice?

It was too extreme to be a side effect of dissipation.

Yan Jieha was at a loss, unable to do anything to help.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

In the end, Shenyang Jue spat blood and fell to the side.

There was only one reason for spitting blood and collapsing during qi regulation.

‘Could it be, demonic possession?’

Yan Jieha quickly carried Shenyang Jue and ran down the mountain.

***

Hajia Village

Hajia Clinic.

Three men sat with stern faces around Shenyang Jue, who lay unconscious. The clinic’s doctor, Xia Xianwu, the innkeeper Feng Yanchao, and Yan Jieha.

After diagnosing Shenyang Jue for about a quarter of an hour, Xia Xianwu spoke cautiously.

“All eight meridians are damaged. For a normal person, this would be a severe injury, making movement impossible. Given his age, recovery seems unlikely.”