Chapter 464: 464, [Cost]


    Demon Sect, the back mountain.


    Lu Xun was flying to the small study at the mountaintop, not riding the paper crane.


    He was now a Level Five Great Cultivator, with the ability to fly freely, no longer needing to rely on objects for flight.


    Of course, most of the time, he still chose to control the paper crane.


    There was no other reason than that he liked riding something.


    When Lu Xun returned to the mountaintop, he noticed that everyone was sitting outside, obviously waiting for him.


    “Did you find out anything?” The teacher asked.


    Lu Xun turned to the teacher, and began to answer in detail.


    Theoretically, the cave halfway up the mountain was not far from the small study, and everyone on the back mountain could use their Divine Sense to watch Lu Xun’s interrogation, but none of them did.


    It’s about maintaining some privacy. Who knew what methods Lu Xun would actually use in his ability to interrogate?


    As everyone listened to Lu Xun’s description, there were gasps of surprise here and there.<div>


    Lin Chan was the Little Mute, she couldn’t make a sound, but her tiny mouth was wide open, expressing her shock.


    Even the always calm Second Senior Sister couldn’t maintain herposure, her brows slightly furrowed.


    Only the teacher kept listening quietly, nodding from time to time without any change in his expression.


    After Lu Xun finished speaking, everyone else focused on their inner thoughts just like him, and could not calm down for a long time. Only the teacher lightly said, “I see.”


    Mao Nanbei stood on a chair, his hands supporting him on the table’s surface, leaning slightly forward with his butt pointed towards the back, outlining a tight curve.


    Unfortunately… there was no cat tail.


    She looked at the teacher with concern: “Teacher, will there be any problem with the [Primordial Power] inside Little Junior Brother?”


    Lu Xun didn’t go into detail when he mentioned [Primordial Power]. Since it involved the game system, his words were half true and half false.


    Hearing this, the teacher nced at Lu Xun, then quickly averted his gaze, saying: “Little Nanbei, you don’t need to worry about Little Five. I’m here, there won’t be any problems.”


    Lu Xun wasn’t worried about his own condition; after all, the game system was responsible for it. Regardless, the words of the teacher still brought a sense of security.


    Even though the teacher came across as narcissistic, loved to boast, always lifting his dainty finger, and took mincing steps when he walked… everyone on the back mountain trusted himpletely.


    Once Mao Nanbei heard the teacher say that everything was fine, she immediately dropped her butt back into the chair,zily sprawled out like a loafing cat.


    Then Lu Xun, after some thought, asked, “Teacher, what should we do with the Junior Priest next?”


    He actually hoped that the teacher would take action personally, ask more questions from the Junior Priest, while he stood by the side gathering new news, acting like a spectator.


    The teacher looked at the sky, saying,”It’s meal time. Little Five, prepare extra food tonight. We’ll invite him to supper.”


    Lu Xun was slightly stunned, he hadn’t expected this ‘disciplinary action’ from the teacher to be inviting the Junior Priest for a fine meal.


    What is this, a final meal before execution?


    …


    …<div>


    Night fell, and Lu Xun showcased his culinary skills, making a table full of delicious food.


    However, due to the presence of an unfamiliar face, the gathering wasn’t as free and easy as before.


    Apart from Mao Nanbei wolfing down her food as usual, everyone else was somewhat subdued.


    Surprisingly, the kidnapped Junior Priest did not have much sense of being a hostage. Like a long-lost guest, he praised the dishes Lu Xun had prepared while eating heartily.<div>


    He seemed to be overjoyed, his spirits high.


    The food and the tranquil scene of the back mountain bamboo grove seemed to delight him.


    When the congregated fireflies of the back mountain flew by, Lu Xun caught a glimpse of his clear eyes lighting up, vibrant and animated.


    Even the rustling sound of bamboo leaves rustling in the wind made him lose focus for a while.


    But his physical condition was just too weak. He could only have a bite or two of each dish before feeling full.


    Not because the food didn’t suit his pte, but because his body wouldn’t allow it.


    After dinner, he stood up unsteadily, then took a step back. Immediately after, he bowed to everyone as a sign of thanks.


    He was sincerely thanking their hospitality.


    The teacher raised his hand slightly, and a gentle force held up the bowing Junior Priest.


    He looked at the Junior Priest, speaking in a gentle tone: “You have merged with the Power of the Heavenly Path. Even without cultivating, you could have had a lifespan of a thousand years.”


    Hearing this, the Junior Priest smiled sheepishly, saying, “I used it up quite quickly.”


    Once Lu Xun found out that the Junior Priest was a consciousness spawned from a corpse, he became curious.


    He didn’t know whether the Junior Priest was born from an old man’s corpse, or a young man’s?<div>


    When he inquired about it while in the cave, the Junior Priest replied that he was born from a baby’s corpse.


    That is to say, he was originally intended to have at least a thousand years of lifespan, but he squandered it all away and ended up looking old and frail.


    It’s pretty clear, the things he’s done for the foreign races require a huge price to pay.


    And the price was him.


    Lu Xun understood why even as a mortal, he was able to perform such extraordinary deeds such as divination and teleportation.


    Lifespan was what he paid, and it’s very likely that he gave more than just lifespan.


    The teacher looked at him and after a moment’s thought, asked, “You seem to like the scenery of the back mountain very much.”


    The Junior Priest nodded, not denying it, and said, “This is the most beautiful mountain I’ve ever seen.”


    Hearing this, the teacherughed heartily, seeming quite pleased.


    He waved his sleeve and said,” Since you like it, Little Five, why don’t you show him around a bit more.”


    “Yes, Teacher.” A confused Lu Xun replied.


    At times, Lu Xun wondered if the teacher wanted him to continue questioning.


    …<div>


    …


    Lu Xun and the Junior Priest were walking on the back mountain path, taking a break after walking a little way.


    Partly because the Junior Priest would stop whenever he saw a beautiful view, and also because he really didn’t have the stamina for long walks.


    When they arrived at the creek behind the mountain, the Junior Priest was already coughing pretty hard.


    “Do you want to rest for a while?” Lu Xun asked.


    The Junior Priest nodded.


    The fireflies of the back mountain circled around the two of them, so even though it was night, they could still see their reflections in the stream.


    Lu Xun looked at him and spoke his mind, “You’re different from all the foreign races I’ve met.”


    “What’s the difference?” the Junior Priest asked.


    “The biggest difference is that you’re not a murderering maniac.” Lu Xun replied.


    The Junior Priestughed lightly, “In my life, I have never killed anyone.”


    After speaking, he paused for a moment, his smile slowly fading.


    Because both he and Lu Xun knew that, although he hadn’t killed anyone, a lot of people died because of him.<div>


    …


    (PS: Unbelievably, this book has broken my word count record and is now my longest work. Hurray!)