Xin Ma watched as young Liu Feng walked away, finally allowing the old librarian to reveal the wince he had been concealing. "This is quite a mess."
That was the understatement of the century.
"Tell me about it," the old man sighed, devoid of his usual quips. "I thought there was a chance he might uncover the truth. The kid is usually very sharp. But it looks like he trusts us too much to hold suspicions."
They were offering to fix problems they had started. The old janitor had inadvertently left the Turtle Shell Body technique on the shelves, sparking this chain of events.
While the main culprit was the old guy, without a doubt. However, Xin Ma acknowledged his own role in the debacle. He could have prevented Liu Feng from accessing or reading the book. Had he stuck to the rules, Liu Feng wouldn't have been outside the sect when the incident occurred, and this whole mess could have been avoided.
"Are you certain it was wise to guarantee Liu Feng that you would handle any trouble that came his way? What if Elder Rong decides to become said trouble?" Shan Sha questioned. "Despite your reassurances to the kid, the likelihood of that old bastard causing problems isn't exactly zero."
"I'll take my chances," Xin Ma declared resolutely. He had caused the situation and was determined to resolve it. Leaving Liu Feng to fend for himself for a problem they had instigated didn't sit well with Xin Ma. This situation left a bad taste in his mouth and reminded him of how he had suffered a similar betrayal. "Elder Rong is already on his last legs, having indulged excessively in pills and elixirs to reach an eight-star Foundation Establishment. He stands no chance of reaching Core Formation. The sect will support those who offer greater long-term benefits, and that's clearly me."
Moreover, despite the sect boasting an abundance of Array Conjurers, Xin Ma was a valuable Level 4 Array Conjurer who single-handedly managed inscriptions in the library and numerous barriers within the outer sect.
If it weren't for others passing their burdens onto him, Xin Ma might have ascended to the rank of an inner elder. He would sooner break both his own arms than subject someone to the treatment he had endured.
Despite the potential risks involved, Xin Ma was unwavering in his commitment to treating others with the respect he had never gotten. Just contemplating what Liu Feng had endured—the battles outside the sect, the imprisonment, and all the hardships—made Xin Ma feel like he had burdened the young disciple excessively for his own mistakes.
"You have a look in your eyes like someone kicked your dog," Shan Sha remarked.
"Well, now I have a lot of responsibility to shoulder and certain things to deal with." Xin Ma acknowledged.
"Did you ever think about why I suggested you take Liu Feng as your personal disciple in the first place? You know, before all of this mess came to light," Shan Sha's guilt was palpable in his tone.
Despite how the old goat acted, he had little going on for him. The two people he even talked to in the sect were Xin Ma and the kid.
"Yes, despite everything. Liu Feng is the only disciple I trust to have my promotion in his hands, so the plan remains unchanged," Xin Ma reasoned, confident that what he had in mind for Liu Feng posed no danger to someone at the eight-star Body Tempering stage.
"I still believe you owe him something for this whole mess," Shan Sha persisted.
"You're the one who handed him that technique," Xin Ma narrowed his eyes at the old man.
"Well, I don't have anything to repay him with," the old man gestured to himself, emphasizing his point. "Also, tried to help the kid. You think I would have done that if I had known he would end up in danger like that?"
Xin Ma sighed and rubbed his eyes, removing his glasses to clean the lenses for what felt like the hundredth time that day. "I'll find a way to make it right with him."
*******
Free from the stress of constant surveillance or the presence of arrogant young masters looking to assert dominance, life felt serene. Even the air seemed sweeter.
Entering the dining hall, I savored my meal while chatting with my chubby friend. Our conversation drifted to mundane topics like the weather and the upcoming acceptance ceremony.
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"Do you think we'll see any arrogant newcomers getting put in their place this year?" he queried.
"Probably," I replied with a nonchalant shrug.
There were always a few newcomers who arrived boasting about being the most exceptional talent their clan had produced in a century, only to discover they were average at best among us.
"The acceptance exams were delayed this year because of that incident outside. You know that incident. Anyway, everything should be back on track by now. Do you think they've finished the preliminaries? I still remember the preliminaries like it was yesterday. They were nerve-wracking!" The chubby guy sighed, his eyes betraying a sense of nostalgia.
As he reminisced, I couldn't help but recall Liu Feng's attitude during the preliminary exams. He was unfazed, convinced of his destined greatness.
"I heard the outer disciples who serve as obstacles for the newcomers during the acceptance exam get paid handsomely. I'm tempted to apply, but I fear my cultivation is too low," he lamented.
"You should give it a shot. If you need help, I'll be there to help you sign up," I offered, partly because I genuinely wanted to learn the guy's name.
"You're a true friend, Liu Feng," he said, placing a hand on my shoulder and nodding. For a moment, I thought I saw tears welling in his eyes.
Man, I was a lousy friend. It was too late for him to gain anything by attacking me and stealing my spirit stones. Now, I knew he genuinely treasured our friendship.
…
After finishing my meal, I considered training. But the fight with the inner disciple left me needing time to heal. Though the talisman the librarian had given me seemed to be doing a good job of speeding up the process, I decided to be cautious, planning to spend most of my days studying arrays for now.
Though sleeping was also an option to hasten the healing process. I wasn't feeling drowsy, and a few sleepless nights wouldn't affect a cultivator much.
Instead of returning to the library, I opted to explore the sect. Opportunities like this didn't come every day.
The stone pathways stretched uniformly throughout the sect, and as I walked through them, I found myself at the arena where Liu Feng had suffered defeat.
It was more like a Colosseum, with a central stone ring where people fought and a high wall where Liu Feng had slammed into it.
Now that I had experience with arrays. It was easy to suppose how there was an invisible barrier separating the arena and the stands. The place appeared deserted, unlike my previous memories.
Settling onto one of the empty stone seats, I basked in the warmth of the sun rays hitting my face. The nearest structure to the arena was this world's equivalent of a hospital known as the Healing Hall.
Choosing not to linger until any rivals arrived to settle disputes in the arena, I departed and wandered along random routes. Some paths led to places like the Outer Herb Garden, where spirit herbs grew. However, access to this place was restricted, and I could only observe from behind the wooden fence guarded by sentinels.
Though these guards weren't inner disciples, it was evident that outer disciples would inevitably attempt herb theft sooner or later.
Occasionally, disciples smelling of ash and flames passed by and talked to the guards about specific herbs they needed.
Wary of arousing suspicion, I decided against lingering near the garden lest I be mistaken for a potential herb thief scouting the area. I had just dealt with a problem and didn't need another one anytime soon.
After exploring various parts of the outer sect, such as the Alchemy Tower, I found it smaller than expected, though perhaps it had underground levels. The tower resembled a lighthouse, its apex adorned with a glass cube containing a trapped flame.
Disciples bustled in and out of the tower, sparing me passing glances but showing no inclination to inquire about my presence. They seemed absorbed in their own tasks, reminiscent of college hallways.
The tower, constructed of pristine white marble, presented a striking sight, yet the air carried a faint scent of ash. Each passing alchemist emitted a unique medicinal aroma, indicative of their distinct pill-making endeavors.
After looking around for a bit, I left the Alchemy Tower behind.
...
Conversely, the Mission Hall exuded an ambiance akin to an adventurer guild from an isekai anime. Upon entering, the atmosphere shifted, resembling a bank with receptionists stationed behind counters and a mission board drawing my attention.
The mission board featured a myriad of tasks, from procuring exotic beast parts to retrieving herbs beyond the sect's cultivation capabilities. Most missions appeared dangerous, none of which piqued my interest until I noticed a request for library assistance tucked in a corner. The offered pay of one spirit stone per year.
The disciples within the hall wore stern expressions, clad in sect uniforms. They exuded an aura of readiness and efficiency unmatched by any I had encountered.
Some bore scars on their faces, chests, and arms, while one even sported a missing limb, though he carried a sword at his hip. These injuries served as a testament to the dangers inherent in missions outside the sect. They looked more like veteran warriors of a middle-ages war than cultivators.
...
Afterward, I visited numerous other sites, but many were left unexplored within the land of the outer sect grounds. I took my time traversing the terrain until midday. Which was when I eventually returned to the library.