Only after watching him leave did Li Hao rein in his aura, dismiss his Heaven and Earth Dharma Form, and descend from the divine tree.
"They say the human heart is hard to fathom, and easily rots beneath the passage of time. How true that is."
The old man watched Jin Fengling leave and sighed softly, then turned his gaze to Li Hao.
Li Hao turned and cupped his hands to the old man. "Thank you for saving me, Senior."
The old man studied Li Hao's expression, his gaze seeming capable of piercing the soul. He said softly, "What he said just now was true. Has that made you harbor any misgivings about me?"
Li Hao immediately understood what he meant and shook his head. "No."
"Under the laws of this Origin City, your damaging my body first counts as an attack against me. That gives me the right to retaliate and strike at you."
Looking at Li Hao, the old man sighed softly. "But you should understand that everyone wants to hold the initiative to hurt others in their own hands. Otherwise, they become lambs awaiting slaughter."
"I understand."
Li Hao nodded. Although he had already realized there was a measure of calculation behind the old man letting him cut off a tree root, he had been the one to make the request. The old man had merely gone with the current rather than refusing.
Blaming him for that and secretly resenting his scheming would instead have gone against Li Hao's own heart.
The old man glanced at Li Hao, unsure whether he truly understood or merely claimed to, but he had no desire to probe further. He only asked:
"Do you still intend to stay here?"
"Yes."
Li Hao nodded. His carving was not yet finished. Since he