In an instant, the schoolmaster thought of many things.
A moment later, he took a deep breath and said to Chu Qing, "In all my life, other than skinning people, I haven't done anything bad!"
"I never cursed you either!"
"I have always been kind and charitable. Most of the time, I guarded this Great Tomb and protected my master."
"I don't want to die!"
Chu Qing shook his head. "You must die!"
"The Twelve Thousand Path Creators cursed me. I don't know whether you were among them."
"But whether you were or not, you still have to be killed."
"It is not only because you cursed me. It is also because—you joined forces with Heaven to scheme against me, and joined forces with the restricted zones to scheme against me!"
"Tell me, can I let you go?"
The schoolmaster fell silent.
At the brink of life and death, his memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
As a child, he had stumbled into the Great Tomb and obtained part of its master's inheritance.
In his youth, high-spirited and full of vigor, he had been like the present Chu Qing, suppressing an entire continent with countless beauties at his side.
Every one of those beauties had been peerlessly elegant, youthful prodigies.
In middle age, he traveled the world and carved out an enormous reputation.
In old age, he feared death. Like the other Path Pioneers, he chose to use human skin to cling to life.
Was he going to die now?
He was unwilling.
"I still have so many secrets."
"I know of so many fortuitous encounters."
"I don't want to die!"
Chu Qing sighed. "If you do not die, my heart cannot be at peace."
The schoolmaster looked at the ashes drifting from his body and suddenly