Chapter 265
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Lin Feng exited the house, strolling under the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree . Kang Nanhua walked three steps after him, wandering together aimlessly .
"Nanhua, aren't you going to invite me to your abode?" Lin Feng turned to him, smiling .
Kang Nanhua gave a slight nod . "My pleasure . My Lord, please . "
The two seated themselves in Kang Nanhua's quarters . Lin Feng gazed at Kang Nanhua in silence . "I have no intentions of intruding in others' privacy, but you give me the feeling that you need a listener . "
Kang Nanhua has a forlorn expression on his face . "Sorry, my Lord . "
He spoke softly . "Seeing those kids, I was reminded of some past happenings and my mental state is rather volatile now . "
Hearing this, Lin Feng's features became graver .
Kang Nanhua was already a supreme cultivator who had formed his Soul, having overcomed life and death, even the Heavens and the Earth themselves . His mental state was exceptionally solid .
But now, he himself admitted that his mental state was no longer unwavering . You can tell that his mental knot was exceedingly serious, having became an inner demon and undermining the heart of his Tao .
"It was a long while ago, three scores and eleven years ago . " Kang Nanhua said slowly .
"To be precise, three scores and eleven years, three months, and fifteen days . "
"At that time, I have just attained Advanced Foundation Establishment, forming my Class Two Crucible . That was when I was at the peak of boldness and confidence . " Kang Nanhua reminisced .
Lin Feng glanced at him . Kang Nanhua's Aurous Core was of the highest quality – Purple Pill, which was possible only for those with Class One or Two Crucibles . It was by no means a certainty even for them; the slightest error would result in the inferior Red Pill instead .
Kang Nanhua did not hail from a major Sect – he inherited the Tao of the ancient independent cultivator, the Taoist Liusha, by chance . He did not have the guidance of a Master, nor the resources of a Sect; he could only depend on himself to cultivate through experimentation and exploration .
Furthermore, his first mantra, the Secret Mantra of the Flowing Sand, was only a fragment of the Ancient Mantra of the Flowing Sand of Ganges .
Even in those circumstances, he was able to form a Class Two Crucible . This was definitely an exceedingly improbable event that would put the vast majority of prodigies and geniuses to shame .
It was absolutely impossible solely through his own talent, unless both his Innate Ability and Intelligence were the maximum ten points .
Sensing Lin Feng's look, Kang Nanhua seemed to preempt his question . "When I was erecting my Spiritual Altar, I managed to get lucky . Or else, I might very well have ended up with a Class Four Spiritual Altar . "
"As expected, Fortune is needed as well . " Lin Feng nodded, silent . Blessed by Lady Fortune and having overcame an immense obstacle in his cultivation; Kang Nanhua then must be most daring and exuberant .
The pain surfaced in Kang Nanhua's gaze once again as he stared at the ceiling of the cave, but without focus . "Although I have formed a Class Two Crucible, my cultivation has encountered a bottleneck, and I was just unable to form my Aurous Core . The Tao of the Aurous Core seemed so distant from me…"
To an independent cultivator without a Master's instruction or the support of a Sect, major stage advancements were the most difficult, having to depend on your own foraging and understanding .
"I felt that mediation and reclusion were not bearing fruit, so I decided to go out and travel as I tried to overcome the barrier of Life and Death . " Kang Nanhua spoke slowly . "When I was walking in the mountains, I came across a small village . "
"Although life was hard there, the villagers were warm and welcoming, and they received me enthusiastically . There, everyone, young or old, had to scale the rocks and crevices everyday . They collect a type of spiritual herb, which they sell to outsiders in exchange for basic necessities . "
Through Kang Nanhua's descriptions, Lin Feng understood that those cliffs were exceedingly precipitous and steep .
Of course, they were nothing to cultivators . Even Qi Disciples, as long as they were Level Three or Four, can walk on them like it was flat ground, not to mention Aurous Core or Foundation Establishment cultivators .
But to ordinary humans, those cliffs were the most dangerous places . No matter how adequate your preparations or how long your experience, it was still like dancing on the edge of a knife every single time .
Villagers frequently fall from those cliffs while collecting herbs, never to see their loved ones again . Still, to the villagers, those herbs were their most precious source of revenue .
"It's not that they do not fear death, but rather, the pressures and desire to survive overcame the fear of death and danger . " Kang Nanhua shook his head . "Or maybe there's some belief of luck in there as well?"
"That is how humanity has survived and thrived to this day . " Lin Feng said dispassionately . "You and I, we cultivate, we search for the Tao – isn't that the same thing?"
"Yes . Watching them toe the line between life and death had a huge impact on me . " Kang Nanhua nodded . "It's somewhat embarrassing, but before that, although I was devoted to cultivation and the Tao, I had little exposure to this sort of things . This is probably the primary reason I encountered my bottleneck when attempting to form the Aurous Core . "
His gaze became overcome by nostalgia . The pain dissipated as warmth and joy emerged – a rare sight .
"I wanted to experience up close the fear and courage of the villagers as they walk life and death, and so settled down there . In addition, I tried to teach them some Qi cultivation techniques and mantras; although most do not have the talent to cultivate, but they could at least serve to strengthen their physique and help them survive in the wilderness . "
"I, instead, gave up my Mana and powers completely and learned to scale the cliffs and collect the herbs from the villagers . There were quite a few times when I really thought I was going to die . " Kang Nanhua said .
Lin Feng smiled as Kang Nanhua's lips curved upwards as well . "Almost everyone in the village lack the talent to learn mantras or cultivate . The Qi cultivation ways that I taught them could only be used to nourish the body and the blood . "
"Except for one seven-year-old girl . Girls in little villages don't have proper names – the villagers all called her Mao Ya . Mao Ya was really quick to understand mantras, and she was pretty talented naturally . "
In his subconscious, Lin Feng understood as he sighed . "Looks like this little girl is the source of Kang Nanhua's mental knot . "
As he thought, at this point, Kang Nanhua became downcast once again . "While I was in the village, I lived in Mao Ya's house . Mao Ya's parents both passed away a few years back, but she still lives on, with determination and resolve – it was her who taught me, first-hand, collecting herbs from the cliffs as well . "
"We were teacher and pupil, but we were also friends . I teach her mantras and the Tao, while she instructs me on ascending those steep cliffs without using Mana . We enjoyed each other's company, for about a year . "
Lin Feng was going to tease that Kang Nanhua has lolicon, but seeing his current mood, decided against the idea .
Besides, he could also tell that the relationship between Kang Nanhua and that little girl was simply friendship, without considerations of age; or even just a man's avuncular love and care for a child .
"What happened afterwards?" Lin Feng asked quietly .
"Afterwards?" Kang Nanhua's face turned an even darker shade as he uttered the words . "One day, Mao Ya and I returned from collecting herbs, only to see the village in shambles – a raid by bandits . "
"The leader of those bandits was a Qi Disciple cultivator . They left word that any herbs that the village collects must be offered to them unconditionally; if anyone dared object, they will massacre the entire village . "
"After I heard that, I was going to go off in search of the bandits' lair immediately . " Kang Nanhua said .
The pain in his gaze was intensifying . "At that time, Mao Ya asked me if anything would happen to the village . She said she's scared . Very scared . "
"I told her that it's okay, that nothing would happen to them . That I would protect them, absolutely . "
Lin Feng's pupils contracted as he stared at Kang Nanhua . Knowing Kang Nanhua, this, for him, was equivalent to a promise made to Mao Ya .
To Kang Nanhua, honoring his promises and pledges was his principle . A red line that would never be compromised or crossed .
And that, was often the source of his pain and suffering as well .
As he thought, Kang Nanhua continued . "I found those bandits and discovered that that was far from the entirety of their crimes – to them, murder and plunder were mundane events . So, I sent them to where they should go . "
"Concerned that they would later take revenge on the villagers, I took care to examine the place thoroughly to ensure that there was none who slipped through the net before returning to the village . "
As he said this, Kang Nanhua abruptly fell into a silence .
Lin Feng did not speak either; seated, they faced each other silently . After a long lull, Kang Nanhua's faint voice reverberated in the cave, detached and impassive, without the slightest hint of emotion – just a numbness that betrayed the deepest sorrow .
"The village was destroyed . Everyone was dead . Mao Ya was also dead . I looked into her open eyes – I could even see hope in those eyes . I knew, I was that hope . But in the end, I disappointed her . "
The cave fell into a spell of silence once more, with not even the sound of breathing being heard .
Lin Feng was quiet for a while before he said, "This should be an accident . Those who massacred the village are not part of the bandits you sought out – probably, they are completely unrelated parties . "
Kang Nanhua's body, which had resembled an inanimate statue, finally twitched as he nodded . "Yes, that was what I thought as well . "
Despite the movement, Lin Feng could feel no life in Kang Nanhua, with only his hollow voice in the cave . "But regardless of whether they were related, the end result was still the same . Mao Ya was dead . Everyone in the village was dead . "
"And I did not even know who he was . I could not even avenge them . " Kang Nanhua's eyes closed once more . "This person, and Zhang Lie – they are both my inner demon . "
Lin Feng, staring at Kang Nanhua, sighed . He knew that the murder of Mao Yao and the rest, and when Zhang Lie used the Covenant of Liefeng as human sacrifices – those were possibly the only two times in Kang Nanhua's life that he made a promise to someone else, but ultimately failed to honor it .
No wonder when he met Kang Nanhua again at the Hundred Herbs Sect, he found him depressed and despondent .
Presumably, after what happened to Mao Ya and the rest, he vowed that that was the first time, and the last time . The only time .
But the Covenant of Liefeng human sacrifice incident – not only did it rub salt into his wound, it even undermined Kang Nanhua's faith and convictions .
What's fortunate was that this time, the target, Zhang Lie, had a clear identity and background . Rage and hatred gave Kang Nanhua a psychological rock – or else Lin Feng suspects that not only would he fail to form his Soul, but even regress in his cultivation .
From some people's perspective, Kang Nanhua was making a mountain out of a molehill, shouldering a burden that did not belong to him .
But people differ . Every person has his own path, his own convictions, his own principles – we all have beliefs that others would not understand .
Lin Feng stood up, walked over to Kang Nanhua and patted his shoulder lightly . "I will not tell you rubbish like 'Never look back' . There is nothing wrong with looking back – but don't restrain yourself or stop in your tracks because of that . "
"Even if you walk backwards, your eyes on the past, your feet must move forward, always . This is to not let the regrets of the past repeat themselves; I believe you understand this simple maxim . "
Kang Nanhua was silent for a moment . He nodded and stood up . "I understand . Sorry to disturb you today, my Lord . "
Lin Feng shook his head, smiling . He smiled in a self-deprecating manner as a thought came across him . "What's wrong today? Having mental problems one after another – did you guys form a group or something?"
Having said his farewells to Kang Nanhua, Lin Feng left the cave and re-entered the Heavenly Cosmic Ray world . There, Zhu Yi was gazing at the void above vacantly .
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