Cultivation Retirement Plan (BL)

18. By the Whims of the Wind

Cultivators purified and strengthened their bodies with each level they advanced. Bones grew strong as iron, skin turned soft and flawless, and the five senses sharper and more sensitive. Two key components formed the basis of every improvement: the dantian in the abdomen that housed their golden cores and the Dao-enlightened heart that beat with their convictions.

Golden cores gave strength to a cultivator's abilities and both created and stored qi in the body. They made up the brawns. Dao hearts were an amalgamation of the memorized Way and Laws of a cultivation path. They made up the brains. Each was also considered a fatal weak point, for a cultivator with a shattered core would never be strong, while one with an unsteady heart would simply fall astray or lose his mind to cultivation insanity. Their path was a narrow one with no twists and turns; one had to reach the very end to truly attain enlightenment.

Ouyang Che felt a faint sheen of sweat break out across his brow. It didn't take an idiot to tell that Mo Yixuan was teetering on a knife's edge. With his current recovery abilities, exposing his Dao heart wouldn't take his life.

But the outburst of qi around him is too dangerous!

The energy clung to Mo Yixuan like smoke as it surged off his body in waves. If he were to exhaust all his qi reserves—the lifeblood of any cultivator—his life would be in danger. If any of those tendrils lost control and lashed out against the heart, he would be as good as dead. Ouyang Che had no idea what state of mind Mo Yixuan was in now. After speaking that single line, the man had fallen silent to stare at the organ in his hands. Blood continued to stream down from the gaping wound in his chest—at this rate, the entire left side of his robes would be dyed red.

With a thump, Nan Wuyue moved the chaise off him and crawled to his feet. He was cradling his left arm, which hung at a slightly awkward angle.

"Shizun?" he tried.

Nothing. He took a step forward and was instantly met with a sword at his throat.

"Stay back," Ouyang Che warned. He didn't even bother looking at Nan Wuyue, but his threat was real.

Nan Wuyue froze in place but didn't stop staring at his master with a conflicted expression. "If we don't do something..."

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Ouyang Che shot back.

"I..." Nan Wuyue trailed off, suddenly unsure. If this was his Mo Yixuan, then he would be gloating to the high heavens by now. But the man he had tortured was someone completely different, a cultivator with a backbone whose convictions glittered blindingly in plain sight. He had difficulty connecting him to the sham master who had abused him in the past.

"In any case, you're too weak to make a difference," Ouyang Che went on. "But if he dies, I'll make sure you aren't far behind."

Nan Wuyue stiffened. His first reaction was to bolt, but his stubborn pride kept him here instead of fleeing like a stray dog. Still, his hands clenched into fists. Useless! All I can do is watch.

Dammit, it's all because I lost control of my temper.

Nan Wuyue's head bowed, hiding the doubts in his eyes.

How did I...make a mistake?

—

Another trickle of sweat flowed down Ouyang Che's head. By his calculations, the sect leader never took more than an hour to treat Jun Zhen, but it seemed he'd only sealed himself in recently. Meanwhile, Mu Yelian had gone out today to lead her core disciples in training, leaving Mt. Luojia devoid of its peak lord.