CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 78: THE HEART OF EMPTINESS [SUPPLEMENTARY UPDATE]

"You, have you still not realized?"

Lin Qi listened to these words, staring blankly at the scene before him.

What’s going on?

Why did the figure of Wu Wangzi, the Demonic Sect Master he saw, now emanate a gentle radiance, his young face so full of compassion and benevolence?

Realize what? What do I need to realize?

He was the holder of the Yan Emperor’s Mandate, the leader of the younger generation of the Human race for nearly a century—he was!

"If you peel away your Dao heart, you may find inside nothing but emptiness and vanity. Yesterday you lost your Dao name, and today you’ve lost. I’ll give you a new Dao name. Let’s call it Void Sword."

This was what the man had said a few nights ago, a hint of pity in his eyes.

Pity? Did he, Lin Qi, need the pity of others? He was the son of the Lin Family, the son of the great General Lin Nuhao, the future head of the Lin Family. Did he need pity from a minor Sect Master of the Demonic Sect?

"You..."

"Hmm?"

Wu Wang’s gaze fell upon Lin Qi.

Lin Qi’s Dao heart suddenly trembled; he looked at the figure before him, his body shivering involuntarily.

It was as if a sense of fear toward this man had been etched into both his Divine Soul and body.

In a trance, Wu Wang’s form seemed to change before Lin Qi’s eyes.

He transformed into a middle-aged man clad in Battle Armor, gazing at him with eyes full of disappointment, sighing as he said, "Lin Qi, I am so disappointed in you."

Lin Qi’s hands trembled slightly as if he wanted to say something in defense, but his throat seemed blocked, making it difficult to even breathe.

"Sending the younger generation to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion for the banquet was meant to be a trial. If you cannot come out on top, just stay there."

"Lin Qi, Ji Mo’s reputation is already ruined. You just need to focus on advancing in your cultivation and ignore others."

"Lin Qi, my son, in the military competition among the offspring of the families, you need to take first place."

"Lin Qi, do you know, if I had been born in such an era, I would have suppressed all the talented people in the Human Domain and become a candidate for the next Human Emperor."

"Unable to become a True Immortal in a hundred years? I invested so many treasures in him, and you tell me he can’t become a True Immortal in a hundred years?"

"Hahaha, my son Lin Qi, you have the makings of a Human Emperor!"

"Lin Qi, I am so disappointed in you."

In the round-topped military camp, before Wu Wang.

Lin Qi seemed to lose all his strength and collapsed to the ground, his lifeless eyes reflecting Wu Wang’s figure that emitted a faint Immortal Light. He muttered, "Father..."

Father!? Wu Wang internally exclaimed.

Wu Wang took slow steps forward, coming to stand quietly in front of Lin Qi, internally debating whether to respond.

Forget it, forget it, he thought. It’s better not to take advantage of this situation; the poor guy already looks quite miserable. Young people really don’t have it easy.

In the ’not-so-fierce fight’ before, Wu Wang had found shadows hidden deep within Lin Qi’s Dao heart. He had initially thought Lin Qi might be involved with the Ten Evils Hall, similar to the previous ’Wang Lin.’

Little did he expect it would also involve family drama.

A moment later, Lin Qi’s eyes trembled gently, and two tears slid down his cheeks. Despondent and defeated, he lowered his head to gaze at the Yan Emperor’s Mandate, staring blankly.

He murmured, "Why isn’t the Yan Emperor’s Mandate the only one? Why are there three? Why..."

Wu Wang spoke in a gentle voice, "You still haven’t realized?"

Lin Qi paused slightly. "What do I need to realize...? I’ve learned all the Spells... I’ve even memorized the entire Formation catalogue..."

"You are ultimately too deeply lost."

Wu Wang’s voice pierced Lin Qi’s ears, entered his Spirit Platform, accompanied by the sound of chanting, ensnaring Lin Qi within.

"What is obsession? And why is there resentment?"

"The obsessions imposed on you by others are ultimately theirs; how can what others want you to do be what you truly wish to undertake?"

"Lin Qi, all these years, have you ever had a desire you pursued and accomplished?"

"Desire... to pursue and to accomplish..."

Lin Qi’s lips trembled. Visions, scroll after scroll, scene after scene, appeared before his eyes, only to find that the vast majority of his memories were of that attic’s training room.

He thought of that beautiful maiden from his youth, but the vision ended with the maiden being led away while he was locked in his room, continuing his secluded cultivation.

And whenever he wanted to go out, several maidens he didn’t recognize would appear before him.

"What do I want..."

"What do you want?"

Lin Qi was dazed for a moment, as if he were standing within a black and white scroll, the world vast and silent around him.

His gaze grew vacant, his Dao heart hazy and confused. At that moment, he could not find a single answer that sprang readily to mind, leaving only those frail memories to replay themselves.

"I—I don’t know. I don’t know what I want."

"Even your obsessions are given by others," Wu Wang said gently. "Then for whom, exactly, do you live?"

For whom do I live? For... for Father... For Father’s satisfied smile, for his ’not bad’ praise, for the path Father had mapped out for me.

"I live for myself!"

Lin Qi’s eyes suddenly burst with light as he roared emphatically, "I live for myself! I am living for myself!"

THUD.

A palm gently rested on Lin Qi’s forehead, rubbing it lightly a few times.

Lin Qi’s lips quivered. Suddenly, he squeezed his eyes shut as bean-sized tears welled up. He clenched his jaw to stop himself from crying out loud, but ended up sobbing uncontrollably.

The breakdown of an adult Cultivator often happens in an instant.

Around the army camp, figures hovered in mid-air or stood on rooftops, watching the scene unfold.

Most people were clueless about the situation, but when they looked at Wu Wang, their eyes held a trace of reverential fear.

Killing is no more than a nod of the head, yet this Sect Master of the Demonic Sect has shattered the Dao heart of a Yan Emperor’s Mandate bearer. Truly...

"AH—"

Lin Qi suddenly threw his head back and roared, "Father! I am truly, deeply disappointed in you!"

Wu Wang chuckled softly, turned, and slowly walked towards his wooden hut, leaving behind a single encouraging phrase, "Ah, you are free."

「...」

「Half a day later, at noon.」

Sunshine filtered through the treetops, casting dapples on a few loungers. A gentle breeze rustled by, causing the spots of light to sway.

Xu Mu, Wu Wang, and Ji Mo were lined up, each wearing dark crystal spectacles and sipping vigorously through jade straws until their cups made a gurgling sound. They all burped in unison and exhaled deeply.

"Refreshing!"

Xu Mu exclaimed with a raised cup, "The two of you here are really having a good time, aren’t you?"

But Ji Mo’s face showed conflict. He turned his head to glance at an unperturbed Wu Wang, muttering, "Brother Wuwang, we are on good terms, right? Don’t mess with my Dao heart like you did with Lin Qi for no reason."

Xu Mu also wondered, "What did you do, Wuwang?"

"What did I do?"

Wu Wang’s lips curled slightly as he spoke frankly, "That guy’s Dao heart had cracks. It couldn’t bear the pressure and broke down. What’s there to talk about?"

"A crack in the Dao heart?" Xu Mu pondered thoughtfully.

Wu Wang turned to look at Ji Mo, who involuntarily shivered.

"What, what’s wrong?"

"How was your childhood, Brother Ji?"

"It was nice," Ji Mo’s voice became tense. "As a child, I played with several female cousins without any pressure, cultivating as I wished... I was very free, Wang!"

"That’s good."

Wu Wang narrowed his eyes with a smile, saying, "The Human Domain seems prosperous, and its favored sons appear glorious and bright, but in reality, there are all sorts of dissatisfactions. However, Brother Ji, there’s something you need to be aware of."

"What?"

Wu Wang communicated via voice transmission, "The person who framed you in the Women’s country might not be Lin Qi. Lin Qi’s father, General Lin Nuhao, whom you mentioned before, is someone your family should be wary of."

Ji Mo looked puzzled, replying telepathically, "I have met General Lin Nuhao. He is an upright and magnanimous man."

Wu Wang sent a telepathic message: "Not necessarily. If he were truly such a person, would he push his own son to this extent? Seeing Lin Qi’s performance today, it’s possible that the one who wanted to smear your reputation back then was this Lin Nuhao. He wants to pave the way for Lin Qi, nurturing him as a candidate for Human Emperor. Since the Lin Family is secretly training devoted soldiers, Lin Nuhao himself must have ambitions. In any case, it’s always good to be cautious."

"Okay," Ji Mo decisively nodded in agreement. "I’ll write a letter home right away."

"Better to go back in person and speak directly," Wu Wang said. "It’s always safer."

Xu Mu suddenly sent a voice transmission: "Lin Qi is coming over. Cut the secret talk for now."

Wu Wang: ...

I need to think about encrypting our communications, Wu Wang mused.

At the edge of the woods, Lin Qi, now in fresh robes, hesitated and paced for a moment. Finally, he clenched his teeth, stomped his foot, and walked resolutely towards Wu Wang and the others, stopping a few yards away.

Wu Wang spoke first, "Let’s call off that bet I won from you earlier."

"No! A loss is a loss! I, Lin Qi, can afford to lose!" Lin Qi declared loudly. He then stepped forward, walked up to Wu Wang, and made a deep Daoist bow.

"Thank you, Sect Master Wuwang, for your guidance. My Dao heart is now clear and unobstructed! If Sect Master Wuwang doesn’t mind, Lin Qi wishes to acknowledge you as his teacher!"

Wu Wang smiled and said, "I don’t have any plans to take disciples yet."

"Teacher," Lin Qi said in a low voice, "you may see me as an enemy, a peer, or a stranger. But in this disciple’s eyes, Teacher is one who guides me on the Great Dao, and I will observe the etiquette of a disciple. This disciple is free!"

Wu Wang: ...

Ji Mo turned his head to stifle his laughter, his shoulders shaking.

Unexpectedly, Lin Qi turned to look at Ji Mo and sighed, "Brother Ji, what happened in the Women’s country wasn’t my doing; you must be mistaken."

Ji Mo blinked, puzzled. "Then why did you admit to it when I confronted you?"

"Simply because, at that moment, I didn’t want to show any weakness in front of you..."

Lin Qi clenched his fists slightly. He had intended to huff and turn away, but he swallowed the sound back down before it escaped.

He said with emotion, "I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf. Starting today, I won’t be bound by my past self, so I will face my Dao heart frankly. Brother Ji! To tell you the truth, I’ve been paying attention to you for a long time."

Ji Mo abruptly stood up.

Nearby, Wu Wang and Xu Mu simultaneously let their sunglasses slide down their noses, their eyes wide with shock as they stared at the two handsome young men before them.

Ji Mo leaped behind his lounger, exclaiming, "Lin Qi, what do you mean by that?"

"Don’t you understand, Brother Ji?"

Lin Qi sighed lightly, a touch of dejection on his face. He then looked up at Ji Mo and smiled. "Actually, I’ve always wanted to get close to you. I’ve always envied you. You didn’t have to be locked up for cultivation; you could play with women freely. When we first met, I was over ten, and you were just two or three. When you fell, so many people rushed to comfort you. I’ve been targeting you because I envy you. I heard about your misfortune in the Women’s country, and I admit, it felt quite satisfying. But I truly didn’t arrange for that to happen. I hope you don’t resent me so much for it."

"Alright, alright, I get it," Ji Mo waved his hands dismissively. "Lin Qi, don’t say any more. I won’t hold a grudge about all the times you’ve targeted me since we were young; it’s not like it’s some deep-seated hatred. But between us... yes, there are certain... obstacles."

Wu Wang and Xu Mu exchanged glances, barely suppressing their laughter.

Lin Qi’s face clouded over, and he said with a bitter smile, "Indeed, a person like me certainly deserves to be despised."

"It’s not about despising or not," Ji Mo sighed. "I just can’t accept this kind of... relationship. You know me—I love the company of women, especially so. I frequently visit brothels."

"I like the company of women too! I also want to go to brothels!"

Lin Qi’s eyes shone brightly. "We have common interests. Can’t we be friends?"

"Friends?"

Ji Mo blinked. "Just friends? Friends who drink, chat, brag, and visit brothels together?"

"Yes!" Lin Qi nodded vigorously, his face filled with hope.

"Phew, you..." Ji Mo visibly relaxed and stepped out from behind the lounger. "You really startled me! If it’s friends you want, then friends we shall be. We’ve practically known each other since we were kids, haven’t we? I’m set on being your friend! Next time I go to the brothel, I’ll take you along!"

"Great!" Lin Qi said softly. "When exactly? I need to make some preparations."

"What preparations do you need for going to a brothel?"

Ji Mo laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "When the time comes, just follow me. I’ll show you the ropes! Hahaha! Hahahaha! By the way, Teacher, can we sneak out? Can you return our Storage magic treasures to us? We’ll be back by tomorrow morning!"

Xu Mu’s face darkened, and he flicked his sleeve.

CLANG! CLANG!

Two iron-barred Magic treasures fell from the sky, instantly caging Ji Mo and Lin Qi.

"Guards!" Xu Mu barked. "Take these two, suspend their cages in front of the main camp, and watch them closely! Don’t let them leave those cages by even half a step!"

Immediately, a squad of Cultivators ran over from the woods, followed by another burst of commotion.

Wu Wang calmly poured himself another drink, adding a few ice cubes. Listening to Ji Mo’s cries for help and Lin Qi’s increasingly cheerful laughter, he couldn’t help but crack a slight smile.

He said, "Brother Xu, why not invite some Songstresses over to dance and help our brothers and sisters relax? I’ll cover the expenses."

"Sure!"

Xu Mu readily agreed. "There’s no war in sight; it’s fine to indulge occasionally."

"Remember to drape cloths over their cages, lest the sights and sounds disturb their Dao hearts."

"Good."

The two clinked their cups lightly, each chuckling. As news of this spread, the military camp filled with cheerful laughter.

「...」

「Meanwhile, in a brightly lit underground palace somewhere.」

More than a dozen cloaked figures were gathered, murmuring to each other via voice transmission.

"Have you confirmed it? One of the bearers of the Yan Emperor’s Mandate is currently at the ’Wuchen Dome’ in the northwest?"

"Yes, it’s that Lin Qi, who obtained the Yan Emperor’s Mandate and then voluntarily appeared at the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion. According to our informant within the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, the dome he went to is designated Wuchen."

"That’s just bait. There must be a multitude of masters hidden near that dome."

"How can you be sure it’s bait?"

"Firstly, why would Lin Qi’s whereabouts be revealed only to us? Secondly, Lin Qi is a son of the Lin Family, known for his aloof personality and exceptional talent. However, as far as we know, more than ten Yan Emperor’s Mandates were already hidden throughout the Human Domain. Lin Qi doesn’t have that kind of luck. Conversely, that Xu Zhan, who supposedly received the Human Emperor’s legacy just by lying on the ground, is more likely to be someone with great fortune. He’s the one we should be wary of."

"So, we ignore this Lin Qi?"

"First, find Xu Zhan’s whereabouts. It’s better to kill an innocent by mistake than to let a target escape."

The figure in the center tilted their head back slightly, revealing a chin covered in blue-green stubble and black scales, and said coldly, "If we can’t find Xu Zhan within a month, then kill this Lin Qi. We need to diminish Shen Nong’s prestige quickly. Shen Nong’s arrogant words have already angered our fathers. If we have a sufficiently ingenious plan, our fathers might even act personally. Also, the spy who relayed this information about Lin Qi’s location—eliminate them immediately. Leave no loose ends."

"Yes, sir!"