My disciples are all villains.

At this moment, Duanmu Sheng walked in. When he saw everyone kneeling, he sighed.

"Third Senior Brother, do you have a plan?" Mingshi Yin asked.

"Actually, master's right. Since the founding of the Evil Sky Pavilion until now, if master has been merciful or soft-hearted, we wouldn't be here today. Didn't master personally fend off the ten great sects when they laid siege on Golden Court Mountain back then?" 

Mingshi Yin sighed and nodded. "However, we can't just stay idle."

Zhao Yue said, "Fourth Senior Brother, think of something."

"There is a way… but it'll be difficult." Mingshi Yin looked around himself.

The others looked at Mingshi Yin.

Mingshi Yin said, "The Empress Dowager has given master a longevity pill as a gift, and the pill is in master's possession. The only thing that can save Second Senior Brother is that pill. However… master is well-advanced in age. He'll surely treasure the pill… What we're doing is forcing master to give it up. I'm already surprised enough that we weren't given a proper scolding by master. Get up, everyone. Let's go out…"

Everyone nodded upon hearing Mingshi Yin's words.

The pavilion master's great limit was near. He was also searching for a way to extend his life. Even if the longevity pill would not be of much help to him, it was not enough of a reason to simply give it away.

Outside the pavilion.

Mingshi Yin said, "If there's nothing else, we should call it a day. Little Junior Sister, come with me to the Cave of Reflection."

"Oh."

The others cooperated well. Everyone left.

Mingshi Yin and Little Yuan'er walked toward the back of the mountain along the corridor outside the northern pavilion. They reached the Cave of Reflection.

Mingshi Yin bowed and said, "Greetings, Second Senior Brother."

Little Yuan'er followed suit and said, "Greetings, Second Senior Brother."

This time, Yu Shangrong did not emerge. Instead, he said, "Come in." His voice was gentle and soft as usual.

As cultivators, Mingshi Yin and Little Yuan'er could hear his subdued tone.

The two of them entered the Cave of Reflection. When they saw their Second Senior Brother sitting cross-legged there, they bowed again.

"Fourth Junior Brother, Little Junior Sister, have a seat." Yu Shangrong smiled.

"Second Senior Brother, why do you have to go so far?" Mingshi Yin did not sit down before he spoke.

Yu Shangrong looked at Mingshi Yin and said, "We're fellow disciples. There's no need to beat around the bush. Just say what's on your mind."

Mingshi Yin took a deep breath, and mustered his courage, and said, "Second Senior Brother, listen to me. I can see that master values the bond between the two of you. He wouldn't have allowed you to remain here peacefully otherwise." He looked at the Cave of Reflection's environment. It was cold and crude. However, compared to the previous punishments, this was a very light one.

"What else do you have to say?"

"Master has one longevity pill. It'll be able to solve your problem. I don't know what happened in the past, but is it more important than your life?" Mingshi Yin asked.

Yu Shangrong fell silent.

Mingshi Yin suddenly felt that his Second Senior Brother was not against being advised. Hence, he continued earnestly, "Master is quite different from the person he was before. Not only did he grant me the Separation Hook, but he even gave Little Junior Sister the Nirvana Sash. Even Old Eighth got a set of boxing gloves."

"Yes!" Little Yuan'er flashed her Nirvana Sash. The scarlet Nirvana Sash danced before her. This was a high-quality heaven-grade weapon. Although her affinity with it was not at its peak, Yu Shangrong could sense the uniqueness of this weapon.

Yu Shangrong looked at the two of them and said, "If master wants to kill you, how would you feel?"

"The thing is, you're living peacefully now!" Mingshi Yin said.

Yu Shangrong was stumped.

Mingshi Yin said, "Second Senior Brother, forgive me for being blunt, but with master's cultivation base, if he wants to kill you, you would've been long dead! You couldn't have possibly lived until this day." He knew that these words might provoke Yu Shangrong. However, it was better to be clear about such matters. His words were on point.

Yu Shangrong's heart skipped a beat. He had been nonchalant before this. Now, a frown could be seen on his face.

"Don't you believe me, Second Senior Brother?" Mingshi Yin asked.

"I do." After a while, he only said, "Fourth Junior Brother, Little Junior Sister, you can go now."

"Alright." Mingshi Yin made no further attempts to persuade him. He looked at Little Yuan'er meaningfully.

The two of them left the Cave of Reflection and went to the southern pavilion.

Little Yuan'er asked, "Fourth Senior Brother, will Second Senior Brother die?"

"He won't."

"Why's that?"

"Second Senior Brother isn't a petty or stubborn man… I've been clear with my words. Now, it's all up to masters," Mingshi Yin said.

"Mhm."

...

Night came.

Lu Zhou felt as though he had reached a bottleneck in his cultivation. Although it was not difficult to raise his cultivation base, he needed the necessary insight to do so. He had to search his memories and the secrets of the Nine-leaf stage. He glanced at his remaining life.

Remaining life: 6,864 days.

Based on what he knew now, it was certain that attaining the Nine-leaf stage would shorten his lifespan. In that case, the 6,000 or so days would not be enough.

Merit points: 24,250

If he could obtain Ten Worlds, he would be able to enter the Nascent Divinity Tribulation realm and start sprouting leaves.

After giving it some thought, Lu Zhou made another ten consecutive draws.

His luck points were now at 20.

The feelings of men were strange. When he heard the 'thank you; messages, he always had this feeling that he would succeed on the next draw.

"Lucky draw."

"Ding! Spent 50 merit points. Spent 20 luck points. Obtained Reversal Card x 10."

'Nice. I'm not an African chieftain!' Currently, Lu Zhou felt that he could accept any other result aside from the 'thank you' message. It was good that he had more Reversal Cards. It would be helpful in his preparation to attempt to break through to the Nine-leaf stage.

'I should stop now.' After making the draws, Lu Zhou checked his items. He now had 31 Reversal Cards.

"Greetings, Master." Yu Shangrong's voice reached him. He was kneeling.

Lu Zhou's expression was apathetic. He did not go out. He remained seated, cross-legged, on the floor as he stroked his beard and said, "Have you thought things through?"

"I wish to live," Yu Shangrong replied. His tone seemed more spirited now.

"Come in."

With his master's permission. Yu Shangrong pushed the doors open and entered.

Creak!

Lu Zhou looked stern and imposing under the light. He pointed at the cushion opposite himself. "Sit."

Upon thinking about it, Yu Shangrong realized he had never had a sitdown conversation with his master before. 'Perhaps, Fourth Junior Brother is right.' He sat opposite his master and placed his Longevity Sword by his side.

Lu Zhou's gaze was deep. He looked at Yu Shangrong and said, "Did I really intend to kill you back then?"

This question immediately caused the atmosphere inside the pavilion to freeze over.

However, Yu Shangrong seemed unfazed. He nodded decisively.

"Reason?"

"You wanted to attain the Nine-leaf stage…"

Yu Shangrong felt his finger trembling. He could not seem to still them. He continued to say, "Eldest Senior Brother and I had no other choice but to leave."

Lu Zhou's expression was calm, but inwardly, she was puzzled. 'Attain the Nine-leaf stage by killing my own disciples? What kind of logic is that?'

Clearly, there were more complicated procedures involved.

Yu Shangrong met Lu Zhou's gaze and said honestly, "The people of Nobleman Nation live during the day and die by nightfall. However, we have a certain ability…" he paused slightly before continuing, "We can take lives to extend our own. Perhaps, you wanted that ability, master."

When he heard this, Lu Zhou did not find it strange at all. He had his own guesses before this. Now, his guesses were confirmed. If that was the case, what about Yu Zhenghai? "Is this the case with Yu Zhenghai as well?"

"All I know is that Eldest Senior Brother is tough… We'll have to ask him about the other details."

The master and disciple both knew what the other was thinking about. After a moment of silence, Yu Shangrong said, "Seventh Junior Brother said that you sealed your memories in a crystal… Perhaps, the answer you seek is in the crystal."

The room was extremely quiet. The silence was palpable.

'So, this is the reason for the lost memories.' Lu Zhou stroked his beard instinctively and asked, "Where's the crystal?"

"I don't know," Yu Shangrong answered, "However, previously, you traveled to many places. From Rongbei to Rongxi…"

Lu Zhou asked, "Aren't you worried that I might try to kill you again once I regain my memories?"

"Fourth Junior Brother has said that with your cultivation base, if you truly want to kill me and Eldest Senior Brother, it would be a simple task," Yu Shangrong replied, "There are many things…"

Lu Zhou nodded and said, "Continue."

"You liked to beat Eldest Senior Brother up, and you always made him man the helm… You sparred with the sword with me alone. You made Seventh Junior Brother massage your feet often, and you…" Before Yu Shangrong finished speaking, Lu Zhou raised an arm to interject him.

"There's no need to mention anything that's unrelated to the Nine-leaf stage."

"Understood." Yu Shangrong said nothing else.

'Judging by his looks, he's done talking about the Nine-leaf stage?' Lu Zhou looked at Yu Shangrong. He waited for him to continue. He kept looking until Yu Shangrong lowered his head. He appraised his own clothes and hair. He felt ill at ease.

'It makes sense… If Yu Shangrong has learned about the secrets of the Nine-leaf stage, he wouldn't still be at the Eight-leaf stage, let alone be in this state with his white hair.'

The room was silent once more.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Yu Shangrong leaned forward. He broke the silence by saying, "I wish to live…"

Strange.

The look Lu Zhou was giving him was not one of indignance but one of reassurance.

Falling sick and dying were all parts of the cycle of life. Everyone would die. However, only by living could one continue to find the reason to keep on living – hope.

"I'm glad you've thought things through." Lu Zhou waved his hand. The brocade box on the table beside him flew to Yu Shangrong's side. "I'll grant you this longevity pill. I hope that you'll live on." He emphasized the words 'live on'.

Yu Shangrong trembled slightly. When he heard those words that gave him hope, something stirred in him. He kowtowed. There were no flattering words nor dramatic gestures. There was no need for unnecessary explanations and expressions. "This disciple pays his respects," was all he said.