Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 419 - 92: Entanglement (1/2)

Having spoken, Lin Zizai did not say much else and directly pushed the door open and entered.

The wooden door closed.

The overwhelming pressure, akin to that of an entire world, dissipated instantly. Li Sheng’s suppressed Inner Qi inside his body resumed its normal state; he straightened up slightly, and his muscles and bones emitted a series of crisp cracking sounds.

The eyes that had been smiling widely were now fully opened.

His eyes were stark white, reflecting the room in front of him. Li Sheng slowly exhaled the impure air, realizing that his spirit had weakened and, under the pressure of the Qi Mechanism, he was no longer able to face Lin Zizai’s questioning.

He would not trust this person’s words.

For he knew that the elder in this room had lived a life in such a way that he would never be at a disadvantage.

Yet even so, he was alerted by Lin Zizai’s remark and only now realized, perhaps because he was not in the Imperial Capital, he had, in his joy, lost his usual caution and wariness.

He had never considered the crisis behind this matter or thought about the Former Emperor, who reveled in wine and pleasure daily in the Imperial Palace, along with the many courtiers who were once in favor of the Crown Prince’s lineage.

They had no choice but to lie dormant under the majesty of the current Emperor.

But facing Wang Anfeng, whose powers had yet to fully unfold, confronting the progeny of the man who had killed his master and his child, they had many means to suppress Wang Anfeng, to shatter his spirit. Even if they refrained from taking his life out of respect for His Majesty, there were many fates worse than death in this world.

Watching the enemy’s child suffer in the mortal world, unable to escape, gave them much more pleasure than killing him.

’Death’ had many forms.

Li Sheng’s mind was teeming with thoughts, and then something else suddenly struck him.

Given Lin Zizai’s temper, it was unlikely he would directly suppress Wang Anfeng, a junior, so what was he doing before?

Why was he acting so out of character?

The so-called repaid favor.

Was it suppression of the Great Marshal’s lineage, or was it the words he had just spoken to him?

Had he anticipated that I would come?

At this thought, he unwittingly broke into a cold sweat.

He looked again at the wooden hut; there was an invisible Qi binding Heaven and Earth, forming a whole—different from the earlier ’world’ that embraced everything, this ’world’ now subtly exuded a rejecting feel towards him.

Li Sheng knew that, unless he exerted his Full Strength, he would have no chance of taking even a step forward.

This courtyard was beautifully maintained, containing pavilions, flowing water, and cold plum trees; although small, the scenery was pleasant and quite appealing, but in his eyes, it was far more distant than Thousand Mountains and waters.

Grandmaster...

Li Sheng slowly exhaled, seemingly with anticipation and desire, but in the instant when the plum blossoms fell, he reined it all in again and his expression returned to a smiling one. He gave the courtyard one final look, turned around and walked away without any reluctance, taking big strides.

........................…

Inside Fufeng Academy.

The Master, dressed in a white cotton robe, stepped forward and immediately appeared inside the Wind Character Tower.

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Ren Changge was originally sitting in front of the desk when he sensed a change in the atmosphere behind him. His Inner Strength stirred and his outer form altered. Although many students were browsing through the books in the Wind Character Tower, none noticed this anomaly.

Ren Changge did not turn his head or speak.

But a voice had already sounded in the ears of the elderly man behind him, asking,

"How did it go?"

The corners of the Master’s mouth twitched, but he pursed his lips again, casually picked up a scroll and adopted an air of nonchalance. Glancing up, he saw the familiar text of a book that Ren Changge had read dozens of times, so familiar it almost made him nauseous. He smirked, tossed the scroll aside, and said,

"That old coot got a taste of his own medicine."

"Hmm, the old man showed him a trick or two."

The old man’s face looked quite content.

Upon hearing this, Ren Changge raised his gaze from the scroll in his hands and slightly raised an eyebrow, speaking indifferently,

"But you know, since you went there, you have already fallen into an inferior position."

The smile on the Master’s face froze for a moment, then turned into a somewhat helpless expression.

At this moment, he was sitting on top of the Bagua Formation Map, his left leg bent as if he were sitting cross-legged, his right leg stretched out straight, his right hand propped by his side, his posture relaxed, his white hair slightly disheveled, not at all like a Master of the Academy well-versed in rites and poetry. If forced to say, he might be compared to an old rascal from the streets of Fufeng, now shaking his head and sighing,

"Even if you see through it, why point it out?"

"Can’t the old man enjoy a moment of satisfaction? Tsk, you were like this back then, too; otherwise, none of those events would have happened."

"Really, I told you to change, but dozens of years and still no movement."

Such absurd statements, yet spoken with conviction as if everything were Ren Changge’s fault, and he was even becoming more animated as he spoke.

Ren Changge’s expression remained unchanged.

Serene and calm, like a still lake, mirroring the demeanor of a Confucian School Master who truly understood the path of cultivation.

But inside, he already felt the urge to grab the substantial scroll in his hands and, with a swift motion, smash it against the forehead of the Master, flipping over the increasingly disrespectful old coot.

This scene kept repeating in his mind, even considering how he would strike so that the old rascal couldn’t dodge, how much inner strength to use, and where to hit so that it would hurt but not disfigure—the details constantly occupied his thoughts.

The Master’s body stiffened slightly, his speech halted, he raised his eyes to look at Ren Changge and awkwardly smiled,

"Did you just think about something dangerous?"

Ren Changge’s expression remained calm and indifferent. He said,

"No."

It was now.

The Master awkwardly laughed again, and imperceptibly shifted back a little distance.

Having confirmed this distance, unless the other was willing to sacrifice his dignity and intend to let the students witness, he surely wouldn’t mess around. Only then did he slightly relax and complain,

"You don’t know, that old undying man is still as sinister as ever."

"He had already calculated beforehand; once he appeared, you and I would pay attention to his whereabouts. Wang Anfeng was merely a bait, used at his convenience to draw me into seeing him."

"If I didn’t go, the facade might truly become reality. Wang Anfeng’s mindset might really be affected."

Ren Changge’s brows slightly furrowed as he said,

"You follow the teaching of no discrimination among students, which will cause you to feel guilt."

The Master sighed and said,

"Indeed."

His voice paused and then with added emphasis, he stressed,

"It will also affect Wang Anfeng’s state of mind."

"The sharp essence he had gained from ascending the tower was mostly lost. Subsequent cultivation will hardly progress swiftly and profoundly."

"So, Lin Zizai, that old undying, had also calculated this consequence. That I would inevitably not stand idly by, I would definitely meet him. Wang Anfeng was just bait, his true purpose lies with me, with you."

"More than a decade since I last saw him, unexpectedly, he hasn’t repented at all."

"Heh, if it weren’t for many concerns, I would truly want to keep him here in Fufeng."

"A person of ’Only I Am Free’ would best stay quietly within the Academy to reflect on his mistakes."

Only I Am Free.

Hearing these familiar four words, a ripple surfaced in Ren Changge’s pool of calm, quickly suppressed, he indifferently said,

"Can you keep him here alone?"

The Master laughed out loud, casually saying,

"If I can’t keep him entirely, at least I must keep his right hand."

A crippled body cannot evolve freely within Heaven and Earth.

Keeping his hand means keeping Lin Zizai’s name, which is to keep his ’Way’.

To make him no longer free.

Ren Changge understood this point but was even more aware of the danger of this matter. Since the elder by his side had spoken it out, it proved he indeed had this thought. Thinking of Lin Zizai, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time, his brows slightly furrowed.

A slight intent to kill arose in his previously still heart.

Just as this intent to kill arose, the clouds above the sky grew heavier and pressed lower, as if a violent thunderstorm unique to autumn was approaching. The elder behind seemed to have been prepared, casually tossing the document in his hand, lifting his palm to rest on Ren Changge’s right shoulder.

It was as if clear reading voices rang in Ren Changge’s ears.

Just as the thick clouds above Wind Character Tower had gathered, they paused for a moment and then disappeared in an instant, returning to clear skies. This somewhat strange change in the sky aroused curiosity in the students below, who discussed among themselves.

Inside Wind Character Tower.

Ren Changge exhaled a long breath of turbid air, and a slight cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The yin and yang Bagua map around him that had displayed hints of bloodiness moments ago retracted and returned to its original formation map, the desk, and numerous scrolls. While the students inside Wind Character Tower detected nothing unusual, at the same time, the overwhelming intent to kill like the Blood Sea instantly contracted back into Ren Changge’s heart.

Like spring rain into water, leaving no trace behind.

That was close...

The elder felt a stroke of luck in his heart.

Just about to turn and thank the Master, he felt the palm on his shoulder which hadn’t been removed but had instead pressed harder, causing pain in his shoulder bones and a numbness spreading down his arm. Ren Changge, sensing the smug smile on the elder’s lips behind him, was slightly taken aback.

In that moment, the smile on the Master’s face had completely dispersed, returning to its proper appearance.

Having known the Master for many decades, Ren Changge instantly understood; the crafty old man was retaliating for the earlier thought of attacking him. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, the remaining intent to kill dispersed in an instant, as he gritted his teeth and said,

"Let go, hand!"

PS: The first update today...