[As you are walking, you notice a pleasant feeling, and you recognize it as the feeling of spiritual energy. You know that you have finally come across the pond and the harvest tree.

You turn around, and notice an odd expression on Master Brightflame’s face. The martial elder begins making threats, and you grow confused.]

“What is the problem?” Lem’s simulated self whispered.

The martial elder turned around abruptly, before looking directly ahead.

“Master Brightflame?”

“What are you playing at?” The martial elder repeated himself, his voice cold.

“I don’t understand.”

“Where did you go?”

Suddenly, Lem’s simulated self felt a wonderful feeling spread through his body. It came from a realization.

Lem recognized what was happening at the same moment.

For some reason, the martial elder could no longer see him!

Perhaps the spiritual region around the pond had some strange warding effect that only affected those in higher realms.

In any case, he was free!

He no longer had to wait nervously, hoping that Master Brightflame did not kill him on a whim. All he had to do was sneak off into the forest, and the martial elder would be none the wiser.

Afterward, he would find a quiet place to cultivate in peace.

Lem could already imagine it.

The martial elder’s next words cut into his excitement like a knife.

“If I do not hear your voice in the next few seconds, I will burn down everything within a kilometer of here.”

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Lem’s simulated self was filled with a sense of crisis.

Lem doubted whether Master Brightflame would be able to carry out his threat, but the fear of the martial elder was ingrained in his simulated self.

For a split second his simulated self was torn.

What were the chances that he would actually be able to escape?

Then, his fear of Master Brightflame overrode the thought of freedom.

Lem’s simulated self cleared his throat.

“I did not wander off or do anything,” he quickly said, moving towards the martial elder. “I’m only standing a few meters away.”

He smiled, trying to play off his momentary intention to leave.

[After a moment, you realize from Master Brightflame’s words that he can no longer see you. You consider abandoning him. For a moment, you are prepared to run away, but then he threatens to burn down the nearby forest, and your fear restrains you.]

Master Brightflame finally saw Lem’s simulated self, and he narrowed his eyes. “Where should I walk?”

“Here,” Lem’s simulated self pointed, and walked forward again.

He waited for the martial elder to come up beside him.

“It didn’t work. Explain what is going on.”

Lem’s simulated self turned around in confusion. He quickly saw that the martial elder had taken a few steps in the wrong direction. Somehow, he had been led astray.

“You did not, ahem, you did not walk in the correct…”

He stopped speaking when he saw a puzzled look on Master Brightflame’s face. The martial elder closed his eyes.

“Tell me the direction again. To my left or to my right?”

“Left and forward,” Lem’s simulated self said promptly.

Master Brightflame slowly lifted his foot and put it down…in the wrong place.

“Ah, that step was not right. And that was wrong too. Those are all wrong.”

Master Brightflame stopped again.

“Hold my hand.”

Lem’s simulated self stepped forward hesitantly. He saw the extended arm and felt some fear.

“Go on,” the martial elder barked.

Lem’s simulated self quickly grabbed ahold of the hand. It felt strangely normal, as though he was escorting an old villager through the field.

“Now move.”

Lem’s simulated self slowly took steps in the direction of the spiritual energy.

All of a sudden, his arm was jerked back. The moment he had pulled Master Brightflame’s hand, the martial elder had not cooperated.

It felt as though he had tried to uproot a tree.

“What are you doing?” Master Brightflame asked. “Did I tell you to stop?”