Chapter 85: The Protagonist’s Cautious Ways

Yan Shu looked reluctant, as if even if she stretched out her hand dramatically and sang, "Please come back," it wouldn't make the supporting character turn around. Xiao Jihan followed her gaze and saw Gun Gun, who was trotting after Qiao Yuru as she left. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Master, do you like that iron-eating beast?"

Yan Shu answered honestly, "Yes, I do."

Xiao Jihan glanced at Gun Gun, then withdrew his gaze thoughtfully and said quietly, "Let's go. Only six days remain before the secret realm closes."

Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan headed toward the place Qiao Yuru had mentioned. They hadn't walked far before they unexpectedly encountered others: Pang Feiyan, Qiu Shuoran, Sun Changfeng, and Meng Yu from the Xuantian Sect.

The four were a little surprised to see Yan Shu and Xiao Jihan. Meng Yu's face showed a hint of delight, but upon seeing Xiao Jihan, that joy faded. Qiu Shuoran snorted coldly, "Pretty boys have it easy—he just barely stepped into the Foundation Establishment stage, and yet he gets to enter the heart of the realm!"

His voice wasn't loud, yet everyone present heard it clearly. Sun Changfeng immediately scolded him, "Shuoran!"

Qiu Shuoran snorted again and turned his head away.

Sun Changfeng smiled apologetically, "Master Yan, forgive me. I haven't disciplined my disciple well."

Truth be told, Yan Shu had never liked Qiu Shuoran, but he was still a disciple of the Xuantian Sect. Once inside the secret realm, personal grudges had to be set aside; however much she disliked him, now was not the time to act on it. Besides, Sun Changfeng had already apologized, and she and Xiao Jihan had never contributed much to the sect. Strictly speaking, they were the ones at fault.

Therefore, Yan Shu didn't take offense, pretending she hadn't heard anything.

Still, she was curious about how Xiao Jihan would respond—would he endure humiliation as before, or would he, like when facing Yuwen Che, respond with cutting remarks that left others wounded inside?

In the past, Xiao Jihan had always concealed his true strength and tolerated the Xuantian Sect's insults because he harbored thoughts of killing her. He never fought back or spoke in his own defense.

But ever since his affection for her had increased into the positive, his attitude changed. Most noticeably, he no longer behaved as humbly as before. Yet that was only towards outsiders; she wondered how he would act in front of Xuantian Sect members.

Xiao Jihan soon gave her the answer. He merely glanced at Qiu Shuoran, then lowered his eyes as if he had been humiliated.

Yan Shu: … Is that it?

She felt disappointed. Was the protagonist still so meek because she hadn't shown him enough care?

She waved her hand at Sun Changfeng, saying, "It's nothing. I'm sure he didn't mean it. After all, without your help, he wouldn't have made it to the heart of the realm either."

As soon as she spoke, Qiu Shuoran's face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. He turned to Yan Shu and said, "Master Yan, that's not quite right. I've already reached the Golden Core stage. Though I've had my master's help along the way, it was mostly through my own strength that I entered the heart of the realm. As for Sister Pang, there's even less need to mention her."

His meaning was clear: while they had assistance, they relied on their own abilities to enter the heart of the realm. Only Xiao Jihan had gotten in thanks to his looks.

Yet Qiu Shuoran's sarcasm only earned a cold laugh from Xiao Jihan, "Heh."

"You little pretty—"

"Enough!"

Meng Yu, who hadn't spoken yet, interrupted Qiu Shuoran. Turning to Yan Shu, he asked, "Master Yan, what plans do you and Brother Xiao have next? Since we've met, why not join forces? All the major sects have sent their elite disciples into the secret realm, and the Xuantian Sect's ranking is in jeopardy."

The ranking within the Brahma Sky Secret Realm affected the sect's overall ranking, which in turn influenced future recruitment of disciples. And recruiting disciples was directly tied to the Xuantian Sect's income, which was already meager enough.

Yan Shu hesitated, turning to Xiao Jihan, "Should I…"

"We've discovered a clue," Xiao Jihan interrupted her and looked at Meng Yu. "Inside the Brahma Sky Secret Realm, there's a hidden teleportation array that can send people into a forbidden area. There should be an unknown opportunity there."

At his words, everyone's eyes lit up.

They all understood what opportunity meant—even Qiu Shuoran, who loathed Xiao Jihan so much he wished to see him gone, was tempted.

Yan Shu sent a secret message to Xiao Jihan, "What are you thinking? Why tell them about the forbidden area? The opportunity there may depend on fate, but that doesn't mean others can't seize it first."

Xiao Jihan remained calm, "If an opportunity can be taken by others, then it wasn't mine to begin with."

Yan Shu couldn't quite grasp his confidence. In the original story, the Medicine King's inheritance ended up with him, not just because of his own fate, but mostly because only Qiao Yuru knew about the forbidden area.

She was uncertain: if everyone knew about that forbidden area, would the inheritance still fall to Xiao Jihan?

Just as she had acquired the Karma Fire Red Lotus, she wondered—if she and Xiao Jihan hadn't gone to the mountain top that night, and if Yuwen Che hadn't sought them out and instead the disciples of the Primordial Sect had been forced up there, would Yu Yun have handed the red lotus to someone else?

Now that Xiao Jihan had spoken, if she tried to stop Qiu Shuoran and the others from going, even if they didn't say anything out of respect for her status, they'd surely resent it. Opportunities were rare and more tempting than treasures of heaven and earth.

Yan Shu sighed inwardly, hoping that if Xiao Jihan lost the inheritance, Heaven wouldn't blame her for it.

Everyone was eager, except Meng Yu, who hesitated, "Opportunities are rare and unpredictable. Even if they exist, not everyone can obtain them. If we all go, what about the sect's ranking?"

At his words, silence fell.

Qiu Shuoran scoffed inwardly—what did the sect's ranking matter to him? Besides, the Xuantian Sect's leader had fallen, and the sect was already on the path to decline. Was he supposed to give up his opportunity for a dying sect?

Pang Feiyan and Sun Changfeng, though not as dismissive, couldn't bring themselves to abandon the chance for the sake of rankings either. Moreover, Yan Shu, as one of the four peak masters, and Meng Yu, soon to become a peak master, weren't giving up—why should they?

"I'll stay," Yan Shu said, looking at them. "I'll search for treasures and gather some demon cores. The rest of you can follow Xiao Jihan."

"I'll stay with Master Yan," Meng Yu added. "The master has fallen, and the whole cultivation world is watching the Xuantian Sect. No matter what, we can't let them underestimate us."

With Yan Shu and Meng Yu so righteous, Sun Changfeng couldn't show his selfishness and reluctantly said, "I'll stay as well."

Xiao Jihan looked at Yan Shu, about to speak, when she sent a message, "The opportunity in the forbidden area is the Medicine King's inheritance. I know nothing about alchemy; even if I go, it would be useless. You take them and go. I'll look for treasures first, then come find you."