Xu Lin claimed to have been placed under a restriction by Xi Ranchen, though it didn’t come with too many constraints.
This made Xu Lin look like an idle drifter within the sect, appearing utterly carefree.
“I’m deeply grateful for Sect Master Xi’s favor.”
Xu Lin flashed a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“But if you could release me and let me go, that would be even better.”
“Is my Sunset Sect not comfortable enough for you?”
Xi Ranchen replied.
“Isn’t it better than staying at the Vast Dao Sect, bound by those hypocritical rules? I was beginning to think you’d already developed a sincere desire to pledge yourself to me.”
She hadn’t personally been present at the Elixir Workshop that day, but she’d still caught word of what happened.
A dignified Peak Master appointed by the Vast Dao Sect had actually struck out like some common street thug.
On that alone, Xi Ranchen felt Xu Lin suited her tastes quite well, and fit right in with the Sunset Sect’s atmosphere. Carefree and unrestrained, unbound by convention.
“Sect Master Xi truly loves to joke.”
Xu Lin finished his tea at his own leisure and moved to refill his cup.
After all, being chased by Yang Yao for quite a while had left him somewhat parched.
But just as he was about to pour for himself, he noticed Xi Ranchen’s cold gaze fixed on him.
Xu Lin felt helpless and could only change course, pouring a cup for Xi Ranchen first.
“I’ve already told you my intention to keep you at the Sunset Sect. Although only Yao’er and you know that the Saint business holds hidden circumstances, if you show sincerity, your position as Saint can be real.”
Xi Ranchen stared intently at Xu Lin.
“When that time comes, the Righteous and Demonic Paths will only think that you saw through the hypocrisy of the Righteous Path and abandoned light for darkness.”
‘Abandon light for darkness?’
Xu Lin tilted his head.
‘That phrase sounds a bit odd.’
“Come on, Sect Master Xi. Stop testing me, and stop throwing those strange trials at me.”
Xu Lin felt that if it were anyone else, they might genuinely be swayed by Xi Ranchen’s repeated remarks.
But if he couldn’t break away from the storyline, when the Great Righteous-Demonic War came in the future, what difference would it make whether he was at the Vast Dao Sect or the Sunset Sect?
The only difference was where he’d end up as cannon fodder.
“I know you have a grudge with Sect Master Wang. But keeping me held here on purpose just to spite the old man, don’t you think that’s rather childish?”
Xi Ranchen didn’t know whether to be angry or how to respond, so she simply shook her head with a smile.
She never expected that one day she’d be called childish by a junior.
“So you’re saying my Sunset Sect can’t compare to the Vast Dao Sect? Is that why no matter what, you refuse to sincerely pledge yourself?”
“Hey, hold on.”
Xu Lin quickly raised his hand to stop Xi Ranchen.
With such black-and-white questions, he knew neither answer would win him any favor.
“Sect Master Xi, you need to understand first. Me leaving the Vast Dao Sect to live as a mortal in the mundane world already shows I don’t care about the rights and wrongs between you.”
Xu Lin feigned a helpless sigh.
“If you’re worried that I’ll return to the Vast Dao Sect once you let me go, rest assured. Whether it’s the Vast Dao Sect or your Sunset Sect, I’ll avoid them as far as I can.”
Xi Ranchen didn’t respond immediately.
She took a light sip of her tea, brows furrowing slightly as her thoughts churned.
Not becoming a lackey of the Righteous Path, nor a warlord of the Demonic Path, he wanted to sever ties with both sides.
Does this brat really think he’s some transcendent hermit, watching the countless fish pass him by?
Or is there actually something more to it?
“Young Master Xu, your behavior truly makes me curious.”
Xi Ranchen paused, her oppressive aura faintly seeping out.
“Have you learned some secret that no one in the world knows? Or have you sensed something that’s about to happen?”
The moment those words left her mouth, Xu Lin’s heart jolted.
Alarm flickered in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
‘What’s going on? It’s as if she can tell that I know the story from here on.’
Xu Lin even suspected that if he told Xi Ranchen right now that he had transmigrated from a book, she wouldn’t find it strange at all.
Silently cursing her as an old monster, Xu Lin suppressed his emotions and casually waved a hand.
“I’m just tired and want to start my idle life early. If I really had that kind of ability, I wouldn’t have mistakenly saved your beloved disciple back then, nor would I be held here by you, Sect Master Xi.”
This was something Xu Lin still deeply regretted to this day.
“How can you call it being held? I was generous enough to give you freedom.”
Xi Ranchen teased.
Xu Lin suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at Xi Ranchen, but still pointed at his abdomen.
“Then do you dare to undo the restriction on me?”
“Fine.”
Such a simple, straightforward answer caught Xu Lin completely off guard.
“Really?”
“Yao’er mentioned this matter to me before.”
Xi Ranchen nodded.
“In recognition of your contribution in helping Yao’er dispel the poison, I’ll undo it for you.”
Xi Ranchen raised her hand and made a brushing gesture toward Xu Lin’s abdomen.
A wisp of Demonic Aura dispersed from Xu Lin’s midsection.
Xu Lin blinked, unable to believe it.
He hadn’t expected Xi Ranchen to be so decisive.
Not caring what Xi Ranchen thought, he pulled open his clothes to check.
But upon closer look, he froze.
“Wait, this is still here?”
The Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern still remained on his abdomen, just with fewer markings.
“I said I’d undo it for you, but I never agreed to undo all of it.”
Xi Ranchen smiled with amusement.
Since he enjoyed teasing Yang Yao so much, she might as well tease this kid Xu Lin in return.
“You… I… ah…”
Xu Lin’s words got stuck in his throat.
In the end, he was left speechless.
Wasn’t this just pure cheating?
“The Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern has three locks in total. I’ve undone the first one for you. Two remain. If you perform well from here on, I can undo another for you.”
Xu Lin narrowed his eyes and asked tentatively, “And what if I don’t perform well?”
“Don’t perform well? That’s a rather good question.”
Xi Ranchen truly enjoyed this kind of direct, no-holds-barred conversation.
“You should know that even with just one lock of the Demon Curse Forbidden Pattern, I can still control you. And if necessary, I wouldn’t mind using that single lock to refine you into a puppet.”
“You really…”
Just as Xu Lin was about to voice his opinion, he noticed Xi Ranchen’s gaze darkening and promptly shut his mouth.
With Yang Yao, he could still maneuver around.
But against Xi Ranchen, Xu Lin truly had no way out.
He simply stood up.
After all this talking, he hadn’t gained a single advantage.
“I’m done talking with you. The more we talk, the more I lose. I’m going back to sleep.”
This time, he wanted to return straight to his previous residence.
Otherwise, he was genuinely afraid that Yang Yao would use the influence of the Demonic Pattern Forbidden Curse as an excuse to run him through with a sword in the middle of the night.
“Oh, right. This is for you.”
Xi Ranchen tossed something to Xu Lin.
Xu Lin caught it instinctively and found it to be a very ancient-looking manual.
“See through chaos to clarity, trace to the root, and perceive the origin.”
Xi Ranchen leaned sideways, propping her cheek on her hand, a smile curling at the corner of her lips as she stared intently at Xu Lin’s eyes.
“The Spirit Void True Eyes, truly a fine pair of eyes.”
“……”
Already on high alert against Xi Ranchen, Xu Lin felt genuine fear toward her for the first time at those words.