Chapter 45
Chapter 45: Breaking the Deadlock and Staying Alive
Before, Rong Shu had felt that if she kept a low profile, fought for nothing and vied with no one, and simply behaved, she would not stir up trouble. But since Feng Lin had fixed his eye on her, remaining transparent would no longer help.
As for fleeing—fleeing the sect, fleeing back to her clan? Other sects and powers in the cultivation world would not offend Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s Golden Core head disciple for the sake of one little Qi Refining Stage junior disciple. Her clan was not a great house and could not protect her. If she left the sect without a plan, never mind whether Feng Lin would come after her; as a Qi Refining Stage cultivator cut off from sect support and resources, surviving in the cultivation world would be a hundred times harder.
Right now, Rong Shu could only rely on herself.
First, she had to keep cultivating, striving to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible. With Foundation Establishment strength, she would at least not be so passive. If Feng Lin wanted to kill a Qi Refining Stage disciple, the sect might turn a blind eye; but if he tried to kill a Foundation Establishment Stage disciple, it would not only be troublesome, it would draw the sect’s displeasure. Under scrutiny and public opinion within the sect, if Feng Lin did not want to be ruined, he would have to hold back. After all, even in a great sect like Heaven’s Evolution Sect, Foundation Establishment disciples were the backbone; gaining one was joy, losing one was pain.
Second, since being transparent could no longer ensure her safety, she would change that honest, see-through way of dealing with people, expand her network, and increase her presence in the sect; if she could stir up some name recognition, so much the better. As for how to gain recognition, her eyes turned slightly and she suddenly chuckled.
For the time being, she could not unveil her abnormal cultivation method or her too-fast pace of advancement to raise her profile. On one hand, she feared being locked up and dissected by the sect; on the other, if Feng Lin came to regard her as too great a threat and wanted to pull weeds by the roots, he might ignore sect rules and simply snap her neck now. But fame was fame, whether red or black. She already had a black mark—the charge that her virtue did not match her station when she became Immortal Venerable Ze Yu’s personal disciple, a position others envied.
Over the past few months, the talk about her in the sect had dwindled; cultivators spent their days cultivating and taking missions, with no time to chase gossip forever. Right now would be perfect for throwing fuel on her own reputation and pulling herself back into everyone’s line of sight.
Lastly, she needed to find herself a real backer—one who could hold Feng Lin in check. But where would she find such a person?
Rong Shu scrunched her white, doughy little face. Outsiders would not do; she stayed in the sect every day, and if her backer lived outside, when something happened, the whip would be too short to reach. This backer would need at least Golden Core cultivation, could not be too weak, and could not be cowed by Feng Lin’s identity.
[Hmm.] Her eyes lit up. “Got it.”
Elsewhere, Qin Yuan stopped Feng Lin, who was heading for Joyous Hall, and called out: “First Senior Brother.”
Feng Lin paused, swept Qin Yuan with a cold glance, and asked flatly: “What is it?”
Ordinarily, Feng Lin and Qin Yuan’s relationship was middling; only after Yu Ruan Ruan came to Limitless Peak and played mediator had their bonds as senior brothers warmed a little.
Qin Yuan sighed: “Why bother with Rong Shu? I’ve been watching her these past few months. She doesn’t linger around Ruan Ruan when there’s nothing to do; she just cultivates honestly and takes sect missions.”
When Feng Lin called Rong Shu away earlier, Qin Yuan had guessed his intent. He had hesitated then, and with Yu Ruan Ruan present, he did not speak up to stop him.
“Becoming Master’s personal disciple wasn’t something she demanded from the start. If she can just stay quietly at Limitless Peak—”
“Qin Yuan.” Feng Lin’s expression cooled as he cut him off and countered: “What now? Has Rong Shu given you some benefit so you’ll speak up for her?”
“It seems I underestimated that woman’s ability to bewitch people. Master is like this; now you too.” His tone sharpened. “Where does that put Ruan Ruan? Keep spending time with Rong Shu and one day you’ll forget Ruan Ruan and put Rong Shu first in everything.”
Qin Yuan’s face changed slightly: “First Senior Brother.”
“What? Am I wrong?” Feng Lin gave a cold snort. “Rong Shu had better keep to herself and stay out of my and Ruan Ruan’s sight, otherwise—”
He did not finish the last sentence, but the icy killing intent in his words was something Qin Yuan felt clearly.
Qin Yuan’s heart jerked. [First Senior Brother wants to kill Rong Shu? Has he gone mad?] At first he had not liked Rong Shu either, but at most he had thought of driving her off Limitless Peak or out of Heaven’s Evolution Sect. During this time, Rong Shu had been well-behaved and obedient; he had never considered killing her. In fact, if he had met Rong Shu before meeting Ruan Ruan, he might well have accepted her sincerely.
“First Senior Brother, the sect has rules. Fellow disciples cannot kill each other without cause; violators will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled from the sect,” Qin Yuan reminded him, adding: “And if Ruan Ruan has a senior brother who wantonly kills fellow disciples, what will the rest of the sect think of her? Where would Master’s face be?”
Feng Lin drew back his killing intent and said coldly: “I’ve considered this, otherwise do you think Rong Shu would still be alive and kicking?”
Qin Yuan let out a small breath: “In any case, Rong Shu is only first-layer Qi Refining right now. Ruan Ruan has already reached eighth-layer Qi Refining. A few months from now, when the sect secret realm opens, Ruan Ruan may break through to ninth layer, even tenth. Ruan Ruan has high talent and good resources. Rong Shu’s aptitude is ordinary; even if she cultivates day and night, she won’t catch up to Ruan Ruan in this lifetime. There’s no need for you to spend thought on Rong Shu, First Senior Brother.”
At the mention of Yu Ruan Ruan, the edge in Feng Lin’s eyes softened a little and his tone carried a touch of pride: “Naturally. Ruan Ruan is the best.”
Seeing this, Qin Yuan said no more. After some time, perhaps Feng Lin would forget Rong Shu altogether.
An hour later, in the Inner Peaks, Lin Dao returned to his residence from an outing and saw a somewhat familiar figure waiting at his door.
“Rong Shu?” he said in mild surprise.
Hearing someone call her, Rong Shu turned; seeing that Lin Dao had returned, her eyes brightened slightly as she greeted him: “Senior Brother.”
“Why are you here?” Lin Dao had not expected to find Rong Shu waiting specifically outside his place.
Rong Shu gave a cheeky little grin, looking faintly proud of herself: “I asked around for directions and walked up.”
Lin Dao fell silent for a beat, then said: “You’re not cultivating properly on Limitless Peak, and you’ve run over here?”
Rong Shu blinked and offered an explanation: “There are some points in cultivation I don’t quite understand, so I hoped to consult Senior Brother.”
As for her true purpose—seeking a backer—she naturally would not say that now. She needed to first solidify her rapport with Senior Brother Lin Dao, then bring it up slowly. If Senior Brother Lin Dao agreed to continue instructing her, then within the sect she could often remain at his side; that would be protection of a sort.
Lin Dao did not much believe such talk. Back in Scarlet Sun City, when he had tossed out a few casual pointers, Rong Shu had usually pondered them quietly; only when she ran into something she truly could not grasp would she drum up her courage to ask him.
He dispelled the courtyard formation and let Rong Shu in, asking with an even voice: “What about Immortal Venerable Ze Yu? He’s a Divine Transformation cultivator; could he really be unable to teach you?”
Rong Shu’s heart gave a small stir. Everyone in Heaven’s Evolution Sect treated her nominal Master with deep awe and reverence; even their words and gestures showed it. But Senior Brother Lin Dao did not seem particularly respectful; more like he took it in stride. The sect’s number one expert, Immortal Venerable Ze Yu, appeared in Lin Dao’s eyes no different from a Qi Refining junior disciple like her.
Rong Shu casually made up a reason: “Master is very busy, and First Senior Brother just came out of seclusion; these days Master’s attention is on him.”
Feng Lin refused to acknowledge her; in turn, Rong Shu had no desire to treat him as First Senior Brother in her heart. Still, she had to be cautious in what she said; she could not let others hear and seize on it as a handle. After all, it was only a form of address; she lost nothing by calling him First Senior Brother, and it even mildly annoyed Feng Lin.
A tree in the courtyard bore small green fruit, and beneath its shade stood a wooden table and chairs.
“Sit,” Lin Dao said as he gestured to the chair opposite, then added with his usual calm: “Tell me.”
Delighted, Rong Shu hurried over, sat across from him, and began asking the questions she had prepared in advance.