Chapter 174
Now, the most pressing issue is to address Teacher Tian's will to live.
"I don't want to."
"Huh?"
"I've spent all my money, and treating the illness requires a hefty sum."
"…What if money wasn't a concern?"
The old man Bai glanced outside at Tang Lingwu. If he could support Zheng Fa, then taking care of Teacher Tian wouldn't be much of a burden, would it?
"Old Bai, do you know why I gave up on treatment?"
"You don't want to live?"
"…I don't want to be a burden to my mother." Teacher Tian sighed and continued, "It would be cruel for her if I die, but at her age, should she really have to take care of me for a few more years? I'm already in a wheelchair."
"…"
"Others have children and partners; I can only trouble my nearly ninety-year-old mother."
Old Bai's lips trembled slightly.
"If I'm going to die, I might as well do it cleanly."
Teacher Tian spoke softly.
"So that's why you said you don't want to live…"
"Old Bai, who doesn't want to live?" Teacher Tian replied, "I've accepted my fate. The sooner I die, the sooner my mom can be free—there's only so much I can do for her in this condition."
"…What if there was a way to save you?"
Old Bai's eyes slowly lit up; if he wanted to live, then there was hope.
"Are you starting to believe in those ridiculous things again?"
Teacher Tian shot him a sideways glance.
"This time it's real!"
"Really, really… Just remember not to send money." Teacher Tian waved his hand, a bit helplessly.
"…"
Seeing her disbelief, Old Bai suddenly said, "One month!"
His seriousness caught Teacher Tian off guard.
"Just hold on for one more month. Take your medicine and rest well! If it doesn't work out, after you're gone, I'll visit Old Lady Wu every day!"
"Old Bai, why go to such lengths…" Teacher Tian sighed.
"…I just want to find a suitable partner!" Old Bai huffed.
"…"
"Are you being stubborn? At my age, what do I have left?" Teacher Tian was a bit speechless. "If you really can save me, what’s the big deal about offering myself in return?"
"You said it!" Old Bai dashed toward the door.
"Hey? Old Bai! Don't send money!"
…
"Zheng Fa, I'm entrusting my happiness to you!"
Old Bai ran to Zheng Fa's side and whispered.
"Huh?"
"The illness is yours to treat, and the care is Lingwu's, but the partner is mine!"
"…"
(End of this chapter)
---
Chapter 171: Trust You
In the Xuanwei Realm.
"Master Uncle, have you found any leads on Sister Zhang?" In the Five Dragon Palace, Zheng Fa asked Master Uncle Pang.
Master Uncle Pang glanced at Zheng Fa, a pained expression crossing his face.
"We have a general location, but… we haven't found her yet."
Seeing his expression, Zheng Fa sensed that things might be complicated.
"Is there a problem?"
"That area is close to the secret realm of the Great Freedom Demon Sect, and there are too many disciples from the Demon Sect… Besides, I can't just rush in." Master Uncle Pang hesitated for a moment, then sighed, "I'm afraid the Great Freedom Demon Sect has a trap set."
Zheng Fa understood Master Uncle Pang's hesitation.
He was worried that the people from the Great Freedom Demon Sect would surround them.
They couldn't kill Sister Zhang.
Killing a Yuanying from the Jiushan Sect would be enough to balance the scales.
"Do they really target our Jiushan Sect like that?"
Objectively speaking:
What level is the Great Freedom Demon Sect?
What level is the Jiushan Sect?
Is it worth their effort to go after us?
"If we weren't in the same area, they wouldn't care about us at all." Master Uncle Pang didn't think Zheng Fa was belittling their sect; he spoke candidly, "But now, two tigers can't share one mountain. The Changchun Sect has already been wiped out—plus, there's the Heavenly Monument."
That made sense.
The Jiushan Sect considered Taiyang County their territory.
The Great Freedom Demon Sect believed their secret realm was here.
Naturally, there would be conflict.
Master Uncle Pang's concerns weren't unfounded.
"Only because the Thunder Pool has a unique environment, those Yuanying from the Demon Sect are also afraid of unexpected mishaps…" Master Uncle Pang shook his head, "But our Jiushan Sect is still at a disadvantage."
Zheng Fa nodded.
The current environment of the Thunder Pool greatly leveled the playing field among cultivators.
While higher-level cultivators could maintain a relative advantage with their treasures, the chances of mishaps were significantly higher compared to the outside world.
Master Uncle Pang was hesitant to enter the Thunder Pool, fearing that their less powerful disciples might end up costing them their lives.
Moreover, with the Heavenly Monument attracting many figures from various immortal sects, the Great Freedom Demon Sect had to keep a low profile.
"Even if they have no ulterior motives and are just trying to protect their secret realm, this situation is still troublesome." Master Uncle Pang thought for a moment and said, "For now, we can only rely on our Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples."
Zheng Fa fell silent.
The Thunder Pool's unique nature made it unwise for Golden Core cultivators to enter; they had to rely on sheer numbers to fight.
But that would inevitably lead to casualties.
"Zheng Shidi." Seemingly understanding his expression, Master Uncle Pang sighed, "For our Jiushan Sect, Sister Zhang is worth more than a hundred ordinary disciples."
"I understand."
Master Uncle Pang spoke softly, "Do you know why I brought so many disciples here?"
Zheng Fa was taken aback and looked outside the Five Dragon Palace.
Half of the Jiushan Sect members who came to the Thunder Pool were disciples from Master Uncle Pang's lineage.
"Master Uncle…"
"For those in power, one must never show mercy."
…
Stepping out of the Five Dragon Palace, Zheng Fa slowly walked through the Thunder Pool market.
This time, he didn't pay attention to the newly opened shops or the increasing flow of people in the market.
Instead, he focused on his fellow disciples.
The Thunder Pool market was thriving.
They seemed to be doing well.
Patrolling disciples walked in small groups, chatting and laughing softly.
When they saw Zheng Fa, many greeted him with smiles, their expressions respectful yet warm.
Zheng Fa couldn't help but feel a sense of pride—
Putting aside everything else, the situation for the Jiushan Sect had improved significantly, and the smiles on the disciples' faces had multiplied.
Zheng Fa felt he had played a part in this.
But Master Uncle Pang's words could shatter this seemingly beautiful illusion—perhaps in a few days, these people would have to enter the Thunder Pool, risking their lives against the Great Freedom Demon Sect to find Sister Zhang.
"Zheng Shidi?"
A somewhat familiar voice called out; it was Yang Shixiong, one of Sister Zhang's former subordinates.
When Zheng Fa first took charge of the Jiushan Sect's market, he had interacted with him.
Later, when they arrived at the Thunder Pool, Yang Shixiong contributed significantly to the establishment of the new market, and their relationship had grown closer.
Noticing Zheng Fa's expression, Yang Shixiong looked curious.
"Yang Shixiong."
"Any news about Sister Zhang?"
Yang Shixiong asked with concern.
Zheng Fa shook his head, hesitating for a moment before speaking, "We have a general direction, but there are too many disciples from the Great Freedom Demon Sect there."
Yang Shixiong paused.
Seemingly understanding something, his expression gradually shifted.
After a long moment, he finally spoke, "…Are we going to the Thunder Pool?"
"…"
"Actually, when Brother Sun Daoyu was selecting people, everyone understood." Seeing Zheng Fa's silence, Yang Shixiong instead smiled.
Zheng Fa nodded gently.
"If we don't rescue Sister Zhang, we might survive for now, but the Jiushan Sect will be missing her in the future… I don't think we can last long. Besides, even if we go in and fight those Demon Sect scoundrels, we might not necessarily die, right?"
Zheng Fa shook his head and smiled, "I didn't realize you were so insightful, Shixiong."
"No, Zheng Shidi." Instead, Yang Shixiong waved his hand, looking at Zheng Fa, "It's not that you don't understand; it's that you see too many people in your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Whether it's Master Uncle Pang, Sister Zhang, or even the Sect Leader, when have they ever considered us?" Yang Shixiong chuckled, "I don't know how you grew up, but you're the only one who thinks about us disciples at this time."
"I've been too sentimental."
Zheng Fa chuckled self-deprecatingly. He was just more inclined toward modern views, which sometimes seemed out of place.
"Zheng Shidi, we disciples understood this before we came." Yang Shixiong said softly:
"Some had no choice; who would dare defy the orders of a Yuanying?"
"I came because I'm a direct disciple of Sister Zhang; I had to be here."
"And there are a few others, though they are few, I know they exist." Yang Shixiong paused before speaking, "They trust you."
"Trust me?"
"They trust that you won't let us die in vain."
"They're not here for Sister Zhang; they're here because of you."
"…"
Zheng Fa was a bit stunned.
He hadn't expected that there were such people in the Jiushan Sect.
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