Chapter 21: Cellmates of Fate

Two weeks later, Xu Mo remained in the same place, but today felt different. He heard the sound of someone descending the stairs. This wasn’t unusual, as the guards often came to deliver his food. However, this time, there was an additional person accompanying them.

Xu Mo assumed it might be someone sent by Elder Long or the sect master to take him away. But then, he noticed the distinct clinking of chains echoing from the corridor, where the flickering lanterns cast dim light.

He waited, and soon, the silhouettes of two people emerged, walking toward him. One wore the uniform of the Disciplinary Hall, while the other was covered in blood—not excessively, but enough to suggest a brutal fight had taken place.

Xu Mo leaned closer to the iron bars, trying to get a better look. The person in question had long hair obscuring their face, but from their height, physique, and hair, it was unmistakably a girl.

"Stay here and wait for your execution date," the guard said coldly, shoving her into the cell to Xu Mo’s left.

Execution?! Xu Mo was stunned. What kind of crime warrants an immediate death sentence? It couldn’t be murder, could it?

A shiver ran down his spine at the thought of being confined near a killer, even if they were separated by a thick wall of stone.

"Your food will be delivered shortly," the guard added, though Xu Mo wasn’t sure if the remark was directed at him or the new prisoner.

He retreated to his bed and sat down. He no longer felt as weak as he had initially, thanks to dissipating Qi once a week. While it didn’t aid his physical recovery, it helped him regain mental strength and perseverance. There was still some Qi lingering in parts of his body. As stated in the Mortal's Primer of Cultivation, everything in the world was made of Qi, and it resided within everyone, though invisible to most. Xu Mo could see and interact with Qi, but after the last time—when he experienced an unbearable headache—he had avoided even approaching the Qi floating in his cell.

Soon, the guard’s footsteps faded into the distance, and Xu Mo attempted to gather information from the new prisoner. He had no idea what was happening outside.

He slid to the left side of his bed, sitting upright.

"Excuse me," Xu Mo said softly, directing his voice toward the occupied cell.

Silence.

"What did you do? Why are they going to execute you?" he pressed.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Still, no response came, except for faint murmurs from the girl.

I killed her. I’m a killer. I deserve punishment.

Xu Mo pressed his ear against the thick wall to hear her words and immediately regretted it.

Oh no, she sounds like a psycho. Xu Mo knew he’d have nightmares tonight. Being alone in this place was already torturous, with his mind conjuring illusions of ghosts lurking in the shadows. Now, a real killer was here too.

What if she loses her mind and breaks out of her cell to kill me? Xu Mo, who had never harmed anyone, was terrified. He was weaker than a mortal, existing somewhere between a ghost and a human. Worse, he hadn’t seen the guard seal her Qi, meaning she still had enough strength to commit another violent act.

Suddenly, Xu Mo felt an overwhelming urge to find something to cover himself with, seeking a sense of security.

[Ancestor's POV]

I had claimed to be entering seclusion, but in reality, I was busy spying on disciples, elders, and even my junior, the sect master.

Hahah…

It was a source of entertainment in my otherwise dull life. After the deaths of my friends, the thrill of adventure no longer stirred my heart as it once did. Or perhaps the feeling was still there, but the companions I once shared those adventures with were gone.

I also kept an eye on Xu Mo. I was satisfied with this true successor. Though he seemed to be hiding something, I sensed no ill intentions toward the sect or its people.

"He’s holding up well. Oh, and now he has a companion—a girl, no less."

Hohoho…

I chuckled darkly, imitating the mannerisms of one of my deceased friends.

I had expected Xu Mo to break down the moment he wasn’t released on the same day he was accused of theft. I understood the fantasies young people harbored at this stage. I, too, had been there once. When things go according to plan, it’s easy to remain confident. But when they deviate, one either loses self-assurance or resorts to extreme measures to achieve their dreams—even if it means consorting with demons.

Xu Mo must have imagined slapping those who framed him in the face by being released immediately. But I prevented that. Even the foolish sect master—my junior—wanted to free Xu Mo the same day, but I stopped him.

Moreover, Xu Mo hadn’t fully expelled the Qi within him. Releasing him now would have been unwise.

I cringed at the memory of my own youthful impulsiveness, when my master had indulged my whims. Turning my attention elsewhere, I observed an outer sect disciple named Long Chen. Once deemed untalented, he had now broken through to the Qi Condensation Stage and reached its third level.

Perhaps it was due to that sudden blessing from the Grand Dao. Even an untalented disciple could rise to such heights. This newfound talent might rival Xu Mo’s, but Xu Mo hadn’t even begun cultivating yet. There was no way to compare them. Xu Mo had his own path to follow.

It was good that Xu Mo stopped us from announcing his ascendence to the status of True Successor, otherwise people would have surely compared Xu Mo and Long Chen. It is better to hide Xu Mo's real identity until he becomes strong enough to overthrow any obstacle that stands in his path.

Once again, I could not help but praise and admire Xu Mo's farsightedness and calmness. Even when not getting him out from the prison for more than two weeks now, he has not blamed anyone, but thinks that because we are occupied with something important are unable to direct our attention to him.

I loving smile like a grandfather looking at his grandson appeared on my face as my heart calmed down that in the future the sect would be in the good hands and with Xu Mo's talent and instincts he might take this sect far above the level me and my ancestors might have ever dreamed of.