Chapter 99

"Defeating the feudal lords and defeating the bandits, I admit," Guangxiao said, his face expressionless as he glanced at Guangren, then slowly walked towards the spot where Guan Wuming had fallen. As he walked, he continued, "We have been master and disciple for hundreds of years, and have been competing openly and secretly for hundreds of years. From the first day you bowed to the master, you were destined to inherit the position of Dafangshi. What about me? I can hardly even hold the position of fangshi. What do you mean by 'sooner or later I will have to join another sect?'"

As he spoke, Guangxiao had already reached Guan Wuming's side. Seeing that his disciple was unharmed, he continued, "Even if Guangyi and Guangti cannot become Dafangshi, they will still become renowned figures in the fangshi sect. If you get tired of being Dafangshi, you can pass the position to Huoshan. What about me? I can only join another sect."

At this point, Guangxiao paused, then reached out and wiped Guan Wuming's face. His disciple slowly opened his eyes, regained consciousness, and got up from the ground. Standing beside Guangxiao, he looked at the opposite side where Guangren and Huoshan were.

"Don't be so tense, you just lost. It's not a big deal," Guangxiao glanced at the pale-faced Guan Wuming and then continued to the opposite Dafangshi and his disciple, "I am the mastermind, and the one who killed your disciple Qiongrong is Deshuan. He has already entered the cycle of rebirth, paying the price for Qiongrong's life. Guan Wuming was just following my orders. The blame for today's events lies with me. I hope Dafangshi, considering our past relationship under the previous Dafangshi, will spare Guan Wuming."

"The events of today would not have implicated others," Guangren met Guangxiao's gaze, and after a moment of eye contact, he continued, "But Guangxiao, you must come back with me. Considering we were both disciples of the previous Dafangshi, I will not be harsh on you. If you reflect on your actions for a hundred years, I will still let you leave the mountain after a hundred years."

"I don't ask for much," Guangxiao laughed bitterly and continued, "If Dafangshi does not send me into the cycle of rebirth, then let the world see the example of someone who betrayed the Dafangshi. Do you also plan to eliminate the effects of the immortality elixir in my body?"

Guangren smiled slightly and said, "I just said, you need to reflect for a hundred years. Without the effects of the immortality elixir, how can you endure a hundred years? After a hundred years, if you can truly repent, you can still leave the mountain, but you will no longer have the title of fangshi. Although the effects of the immortality elixir cannot be eliminated, I will seal your magical arts. After a hundred years, if you truly repent, I will return these arts to you."

"Wait a moment, what did you just say?" As Dafangshi finished speaking, Gui Bu Gui suddenly looked surprised and shouted at Guangren, "What do you mean by eliminating the effects of the immortality elixir? I have been imprisoned for a hundred years, and you can already eliminate the effects of the immortality elixir?"

"Every cause has its effect, what's so strange about that?" Guangren glanced at Gui Bu Gui and continued, "Before the previous Dafangshi crossed the sea, he had already found a way to eliminate the effects of the immortality elixir. It just hadn't been verified at the time. It was the second year after the previous Dafangshi crossed the sea that I verified this method. Those who have had the effects of the immortality elixir eliminated will live out their remaining years like ordinary people."

"Xu Fu had only been gone for two years when you verified the method to eliminate the effects of the immortality elixir," Gui Bu Gui smiled strangely at Guangren, glanced at Guangxiao and Guan Wuming, and continued, "Isn't that a bit hasty? You hurriedly found a way to eliminate the effects of the immortality elixir, no wonder the other white-haired ones are afraid. If I were still in the fangshi sect, I might have been the first to rebel."

"It was just a coincidence," Guangren smiled slightly and immediately changed the subject, preparing to take Guangxiao away. He turned to the lazy Wu Mian and bowed slightly, saying, "It's not early anymore, I dare not disturb the ancestor. I will take Guangxiao back to reflect on his actions. If the ancestor needs to send a message, I will come at once."

After saying this, Guangren exchanged a few polite words with Gui Bu Gui and then left with Huoshan, escorting Guangxiao away. As they left, Guan Wuming had intended to follow and accompany Guangxiao in his reflection. However, he was dissuaded by a few words from Guangxiao: "What good will it do for you to follow me? Do what you should do. When we meet again after a hundred years, I hope you will give me a sect as a gift."

The last sentence finally stopped Guan Wuming. Just as Guangren and the others were about to leave, Wu Mian, who had been silent, finally couldn't hold back and shouted at Guangren's back, "What about the Duanzheng sword? You don't need it anymore?"

"I don't need it. The previous Dafangshi originally wanted me to give it up," Guangren turned around and smiled at Wu Mian, then continued, "I was too rigid and indecisive before. With the Duanzheng sword, I am Dafangshi; without it, am I not? If someone comes to ask for the Duanzheng sword, the ancestor can just give it to them. A commoner with a precious treasure is not necessarily a good thing."

By the time Guangren finished speaking, Wu Mian finally understood the subtleties. After a moment of silence, Wu Mian said to the group about to leave, "From beginning to end, you never intended to have the Duanzheng sword. I was puzzled why you only sent a minor figure like Qiongrong to deliver the letter. It turns out your intentions were never on the Duanzheng sword. The death of one or two insignificant disciples is nothing. You just wanted to use the sword to lure out those who were plotting against your position as Dafangshi, right?"

As Wu Mian spoke, Guangxiao smiled bitterly and turned to Guangren, saying, "In the end, you lured out such a fool. Dafangshi, you are truly cunning. But what do you plan to do with Guangyi and Guangti? You won't let them off, will you?"

"The path is one you choose yourself; no one forces you," Guangren smiled slightly and then ignored Wu Mian and Gui Bu Gui, turning to leave with Huoshan, taking Guangxiao away. Guan Wuming hesitated for a moment but did not follow. Instead, he watched the three of them disappear and then left by another path.

After watching the group disappear, Gui Bu Gui said to Wu Mian, "He is truly Xu Fu's disciple. His master's skills in manipulating people, Guangren has learned about eighty percent. Did you hear what he said just now? The path is one you choose yourself; no one forces you. Xu Fu said the same to me, and then I spent over a hundred years in Miaojiang. This master and disciple are truly the same."

Wu Mian watched the old man with a cold eye, waiting for him to finish before saying coldly, "You saw through Guangren's plan long ago, didn't you? Are you really planning to go back and be his senior disciple again?"

"Being his senior disciple for hundreds of years, I'm tired of it, and he's tired of me," the old man grinned at Wu Mian and continued, "But Guangyi and Guangti are truly patient. If things had gone as Guangxiao planned, and Guangyi and Guangti had blocked Guangren, the outcome would have been uncertain."

Wu Mian ignored Gui Bu Gui, glanced at the old man, and then turned to walk up the mountain. Gui Bu Gui sighed in frustration and followed closely behind Wu Mian, and the two returned to the cave.

Two months later, one noon, two adults and a naked little child walked down the mountain. The two adults were Wu Mian and Gui Bu Gui, and the child was the ginseng spirit, Xiao Ren San. The expressions on all three faces were not pleasant, especially Gui Bu Gui, who, as they descended the mountain, said to Xiao Ren San, "I told you to drink less, look, you drank too much again. If you drink too much, just drink too much, but don't go on a drunken rampage. Did you really have to set the cave on fire?"

Xiao Ren San, who had been walking with his head down, finally spoke in a childish voice to Gui Bu Gui, "Which eye did you see the fire on the mountain was set by us ginseng?"

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