Hong Yun's Choice

Within Wuzhuang Temple, a gentle breeze drifted through the air.

Beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun sat silently facing each other, an indescribable heaviness permeating the air.

After the teachings at Purple Cloud Palace had ended, Hongyun had not returned to Firecloud Cave. Instead, he had followed Zhen Yuanzi back to Wuzhuang Temple.

His heart was in complete turmoil, his mind a muddled mess.

That strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi lay deep within his primordial spirit, emanating an enticing aura of the Great Dao. It was the foundation for becoming a Saint, the ultimate opportunity countless Great Powers in the Primordial Wilderness dreamed of.

But whenever he thought of Kunpeng's gaze, as though he wanted to swallow him alive, Hong Yun could neither sit nor stand at ease.

Should he still refuse to give it up?

That was the question.

Giving it up meant completely abandoning a Saint Position that was within his grasp and handing over this heaven-defying opportunity to another.

Who could accept that?

Who could bear to part with it?

That was a Saint Position! In the Primordial Wilderness, who did not yearn for one?

Hong Yun searched his own heart. He could not bear to part with it—damn it, he truly could not!

But if he did not give it up...

Then the karmic entanglement between him and Kunpeng would never again be capable of resolution.

The Grudge of Blocking the Dao—until death, there would be no end!

Hong Yun understood Kunpeng's temperament to some extent. He was absolutely the sort who repaid every slight, ruthless and merciless.

Once Kunpeng set his sights on someone, that person would likely never know another peaceful day.

Zhen Yuanzi lifted his teacup, took a light sip, then slowly set it down.

Watching the ever-changing expression on Hong Yun's face, he neither urged him nor tried to persuade him.

He understood Hong Yun's feelings at this moment.

Hongmeng Purple Qi, the foundation for becoming a Saint—the weight of such a thing was simply too immense.

Had any living being in the Primordial Wilderness suddenly obtained such a supreme treasure, how could they possibly relinquish it so easily?

Even knowing that a mountain of blades and a sea of flames lay ahead, they would likely still gamble everything on one attempt.

For Hong Yun to struggle for this long was already no easy feat.

Hong Yun shut his eyes tightly, yet the scene of his conversation with Wu Ming in Pangu Hall surfaced uncontrollably in his mind.

At the time, he had not yet obtained the Hongmeng Purple Qi. He had merely been troubled by the matter of giving up his seat.

Wu Ming's words now echoed in his ears with exceptional clarity.

"After the Third Sermon, I will naturally tell you how to resolve it. I only hope that when the time comes, Daoist Friend will not be reluctant to part with it."

"Never! So long as I can settle this karmic entanglement with Daoist Friend Kunpeng, no matter how great the price, I will willingly pay it!"

"I only hope that what Daoist Friend says today is not a momentary impulse. When that time comes... do not regret it because the price is too great and become unwilling to let go."

"Rest assured, Daoist Friend Wu Ming! So long as I can settle this karmic entanglement with Daoist Friend Kunpeng, even if I must give up all my possessions, even this very life, Hong Yun will not so much as furrow his brow! I will never go back on my word!"

How resolute he had been then, how solemnly he had sworn it.

Thinking of it now, it truly was...

Hong Yun could not help revealing an exceedingly bitter, self-mocking smile.

"Heh... no wonder, no wonder Daoist Friend Wu Ming had reminded me so gravely..."

Indeed, Hongmeng Purple Qi, the foundation for becoming a Saint—how could this price merely be called "too great"?

This was practically asking for his life!

It was something a thousand, ten thousand times more important than his own life!

Looking across the entire Primordial Wilderness, how many could truly abandon such a temptation?

But...

After all, it had been his act of giving up his seat that had indirectly implicated Daoist Friend Kunpeng.

Though Daoist Friend Wu Ming had said that the Cushion had never belonged to Kunpeng in the first place, that the Heavenly Dao had long determined its course.

But Kunpeng would not believe it.

In his eyes, Hong Yun was the one who had ruined his opportunity for a Saint Position.

This irreconcilable karmic entanglement had, in truth, fallen squarely upon Hong Yun's head.

Moreover, he had already made a solemn promise before Daoist Friend Wu Ming and Daoist Friend Zhen Yuanzi.

To go back on it now?

What would that make him?

A petty man who broke his word, feared death, and had been blinded by the Saint Position?

How could he ever face Fellow Daoist Wu Ming again?

How could he ever face Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, his closest friend?

All his life, Hong Yun had acted openly and honorably, gladly helping others, with friends spread throughout the Primordial Wilderness. What had he relied on?

Was it not the word "trust," the word "loyalty"?!

If, for the sake of this Hongmeng Purple Qi, he could cast aside even the most basic trust and loyalty...

Then even if he somehow escaped Kunpeng's pursuit in the future, even if he truly became a Saint, would he still be the same Hong Yun?

How could his Dao heart find peace?

A long while passed.

Hong Yun suddenly opened his eyes. A fierce struggle flashed in their depths, but in the end, it all turned into a resolute relief, as though a crushing burden had been lifted.

Enough!

Enough!

In the end, it was I, Hong Yun, who owed Fellow Daoist Kunpeng.

This Hongmeng Purple Qi... let him have it!

At that thought, Hong Yun's state of mind strangely calmed. Though he still felt hollow, burdened by an immense sense of loss, the conflict that had weighed so heavily on him he could scarcely breathe was gone.

He looked at Zhen Yuanzi, his voice slightly hoarse yet unusually clear.

"Fellow Daoist."

Zhen Yuanzi raised his eyes to him, his gaze calm.

"Come with me and find Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."

Zhen Yuanzi paused. He stared into Hong Yun's eyes, seemingly trying to confirm something within them.

After a moment, he slowly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist, have you decided?"

"Yes." Hong Yun nodded, his tone firm. "I have decided."

Zhen Yuanzi fell silent again. Even the wind within the temple seemed to have stopped, leaving only the occasional soft rustle of the Ginseng Fruit Tree's leaves.

"Hongmeng Purple Qi..." Zhen Yuanzi slowly uttered those four words, each one as heavy as a thousand jun. "That is the foundation for becoming a Saint, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun. You..."

He did not finish, but the meaning was clear.

"I know." Hong Yun cut him off, a bleak smile appearing on his face. "I know better than anyone what it is."

"But Karma is Karma, and a promise is a promise."

"If I betray my promise merely because I cannot bear to part with this Hongmeng Purple Qi, then how am I, Hong Yun, any different from a fickle, faithless petty man?"

"Besides, if this Karma is not settled, when Fellow Daoist Kunpeng comes seeking me in the future, even you, Fellow Daoist, may be implicated by me."

Zhen Yuanzi frowned. "Kunpeng... if he obtains the Hongmeng Purple Qi, he may not necessarily appreciate your goodwill. Perhaps he will even think it only natural, and perhaps..."

Perhaps he would think that you, Hong Yun, owed him—that giving it to him was only proper. Even after taking the Hongmeng Purple Qi, he still would not spare you!

Zhen Yuanzi did not voice the rest, but Hong Yun understood.

"So what? I seek only to settle this Karma and gain peace of mind."

"As for what he thinks or does after obtaining the Hongmeng Purple Qi, that is his business."

"At the very least, on the surface, this Karma of deathless enmity will be considered settled."

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Hong Yun.

He saw the resolve in Hong Yun's eyes—the expression of pain, yet no longer any wavering.

He asked his final question.

"No regrets?"

"Never!" Hong Yun's gaze was clear, devoid of its earlier struggle and confusion.

Zhen Yuanzi slowly nodded and said no more.

"Very well. Since Fellow Daoist has made up his mind, then I shall accompany you on this journey."

"It is only... that we must trouble Fellow Daoist Wu Ming again."

Hong Yun rose as well and gave Zhen Yuanzi a deep bow. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Zhen Yuanzi reached out and supported him. "Between you and me, why speak of thanks?"

"Let us go."

With that, the two no longer lingered. They transformed into two streaks of light, shooting out of Five Village Temple and racing toward Buzhou Mountain.