Lin Yu sighed, his voice growing even heavier. “Moreover, the karmic debt and evil retribution of that ‘Wailing Woman Lantern’ hang over us like a sword suspended above our heads, a constant threat. As long as its tracking mark remains unremoved for a single day, we will not have a day of peace. To completely resolve this calamity, holing up here is not the answer. We must venture out to find methods specifically designed to counter such evil entities, or… attain a level of cultivation power far surpassing that of the mastermind behind it. If we stubbornly confine ourselves here, how is it any different from sitting and waiting for the axe to fall, willingly offering our necks to the blade?”

(Inner thoughts: “Can’t reveal everything, might scare the kid, but gotta lay on the hardship a bit, otherwise he won’t budge! If this damn array truly collapses completely, we’re both finished! That’s a solid enough reason, right? Wake up already!”)

Su Ming abruptly lifted his head. The last traces of hesitation and attachment in his eyes were completely severed, transforming into a resolute determination to charge forward. His master’s words had peeled away the mist of sentimentality, laying bare the cold, hard reality before him.

His master was right. Staying was cowardice, was shortsightedness, was drawing a circle on the ground to imprison oneself!

Only by stepping out, by venturing into the wider world, to seek opportunities, to become strong enough, could he truly sever the roots of all trouble, could he genuinely, thoroughly protect those he wished to protect!

“Master,” Su Ming took a deep breath, as if pressing all distracting thoughts deep into his heart. His voice was not loud, yet it was exceptionally firm, landing with a weighty thud. “This disciple understands.”

He raised his gaze, looking past the low earthen wall towards his own familiar three-room earthen house, from which wisps of cooking smoke curled. It was as if he could smell the steaming aroma of the rice porridge his mother was simmering, could hear the steady, dull thuds of his father chopping firewood in the corner of the yard.

All of this was so warm it made his nose tingle, yet so fragile it made his heart clench.

“What should this disciple do?” he asked, the hesitation now gone from his tone.

“Not so fast.” Lin Yu’s voice returned to its calm steadiness, as if the heavy conversation just now, touching upon life, death, and the future, had been nothing more than a routine exchange. “A long journey is no small matter. How can one simply leave without a word, causing only worry and longing for one’s parents? We need to plan carefully, have a safe and thorough strategy.”

(Inner thoughts: “Finally got it! That effort wasn’t wasted. Next is figuring out how to send you off smoothly and legitimately, and also settling your family affairs properly so you have no worries holding you back. Otherwise, you’ll be too distracted on the road, unable to cultivate in peace.”)

“First and foremost, we need a proper, convincing justification.” Lin Yu began his meticulous “planning,” his voice tinged with a flavor of shrewd calculation.

“Justification?” Su Ming was slightly puzzled.

“Correct.” Lin Yu affirmed. “A justification that makes your parents, makes the whole village feel honored, that makes them eager for you to go, even proud of you. This way, you can leave with peace of mind, and they can wait at home with reassurance.”

His tone carried a hint of understanding laughter as he pointed out, “For example… traveling to study, visiting renowned masters, seeking scholarly honors. This is the proper, glorious path that brings honor to one’s ancestors.”

“Travel to study? Seek scholarly honors?” Su Ming’s eyes suddenly brightened, as if clouds had parted to reveal the sun!

“How could you forget? You are a scholar.” Lin Yu reminded him. “You are the only scholarly seed in this Su Family Village. Think carefully. If you could advance in your studies, even if you only obtained the Xiucai degree, how much glory would that bring to your parents? How much prestige would it add to the face of Su Family Village? Even Zhao Dequan, a mere Village Chief, would have to show some respect when meeting a Xiucai who holds an official degree!”

As these words fell, Su Ming felt his vision suddenly clear, all his thoughts instantly connecting!

Right!

Studying! The Imperial Examinations!

This justification was proper, upright, and honorable! His parents had always taken pride in his studies, deeply believing that all other pursuits are inferior, only studying is supreme. If it was for the sake of advancing his education and seeking scholarly honors, no matter how reluctant they were, they would surely understand the greater principle and would definitely not forcefully stop him.

Furthermore, once he truly held an official degree, he would have an official status, protected by the laws of the court. Even Zhao Dequan would have to weigh the consequences before daring to move against the Su family again! This was not just a pass to leave home; it was a tangible, real-life protective talisman!

“Master’s foresight is profound! This disciple was foolish, failing to think of this!” Su Ming was sincerely convinced, offering heartfelt praise.

(Inner thoughts: “Of course. Even if you haven’t eaten pork, you’ve seen pigs run… Sigh, old matters from a past life, no need to mention them.”)

“The effectiveness of the plan remains to be seen.” Lin Yu’s tone returned to its usual indifference, as if he had merely mentioned it in passing. “This matter requires meticulous arrangement; it cannot be rushed. What you need to do now is to make the posture of ‘wholeheartedly devoted to study’ and ‘determined to achieve scholarly honors’ utterly convincing and deeply ingrained in people’s minds.”

“This disciple understands!” Su Ming responded heavily, the gloom in his heart completely dispelled. A clear, challenging path forward had already unfolded before his eyes.

He took one last look at the still-bustling workshop in the distance. The dust and smoke that had once felt oppressive to him now held a different meaning in his eyes. It was no longer an invisible shackle, but the starting point from which he was about to embark, a point he must surpass.

He turned and walked towards his home with steady, firm steps, his back exuding a decisiveness that belied his age.

Deep within the ring, Lin Yu watched the young man’s gradually firming and upright back and finally secretly released a breath he didn’t physically possess.

(Inner thoughts: “First step, finally dragged this stubborn mule out of the mud pit! Next, need to carefully figure out how to get a more substantial travel fund, how to leave a safe and secure allowance for the family, and also think about how to plant a soft thorn for that old fox Zhao Dequan, so he doesn’t dare to move against the Su family lightly… Sigh, being a master is like being both a father and a mother, worrying oneself sick. My dream retirement life is more tiring than going to work.”)

However, he failed to notice.

Deep within the very core of his Soul Body, in that dark corner tightly bound and sealed by layer upon layer of powerful restraints.

That violently churning, tightly bound mass of resentful soul black energy—with every unstable, tearing throb of the Spirit Gathering Array—the surface of those shimmering, ghostly light sealing runes would, imperceptibly and extremely briefly, dim by a fraction.

It was as if the loosening foundation of that old house on the verge of collapse also allowed the terrifying evil ghost imprisoned in the deepest depths beneath the earth, amidst endless resentment and darkness, to faintly glimpse a sliver of light hinting at a chance to break its cage. The cracks were quietly widening.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep