You Want to Die? Could You Stop Dragging Me Down with You?!

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The disciple looked at Lin Qingfeng, then began coughing violently. Blood mixed with bits of his organs spilled from the corner of his mouth as his life rapidly ebbed away.

Lin Qingfeng: "Why are you looking at me? Forget your lines? Hurry up and say them! You won't get another chance in a moment!"

Only then did Junior Disciple Brother Zhan shudder all over. Summoning all his strength, he turned his head toward Su Ling'er.

The shock and indignation in his eyes were gone. All that remained was the despair of someone whose every hope had been crushed.

He reached out toward Su Ling'er, his hand trembling violently in the air, as if he wanted to grasp something, yet could grasp nothing.

"Why... did it turn out like this...?"

With every word, more blood bubbled from the corner of his mouth, making his voice sound even hoarser and more broken.

"Lin Qingfeng, I admit defeat... to your methods..."

"But... Junior Sister..."

"Ever since you joined the sect, I... I've been in love with you..."

"Ah..."

"Heavens... why are you so unfair!"

"Earth, why give me the heart to protect her, yet not the strength to do so!"

"We were destined to be an immortal couple, asking only for a carefree life together!"

"They say all things are governed by fate. Why can't fate spare one lovesick man?!"

Su Ling'er stared at him, utterly bewildered.

Wait, we've only known each other for how long, and you're already in love with me?

I only just joined the sect, didn't I?!

What do you even like about me?!

You're already in love with me?!

What immortal couple?!

Are you remembering something that never happened?!

And what lovesick man?!

If you're going to die, could you stop dragging me down with you?

What do I have to do with you?!

The disciple struggled to raise his other hand and shakily pointed at his chest, at the Ancient Sword that was still bleeding profusely.

"This is... pfft... cough... cough, cough... what happens..."

The blood bubbling up had interrupted him just moments ago, so the disciple repeated himself.

"This is what happens... when you neglect body tempering..."

"It's all my fault... I was obsessed with external things, so fixated on that broken sword that I forgot... the body is the foundation, and one's own self is the path!"

"If only... if only I'd practiced the Sword Refining Art... how... how could this have happened to me?"

"If my flesh had been tempered until it was as hard as a magical treasure, how could... how could Senior Disciple Brother have caught me off guard?"

"How could he... have killed me?!"

"Junior Sister... see for yourself... this is what happens... when you don't practice the Sword Refining Art..."

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth like beads from a broken string, and the light in his eyes quickly dimmed.

"You must... make sure... you choose the right path..."

His hand finally fell limp.

"Don't... don't follow in my footsteps... don't let... this... tragedy... happen again..."

"I have yet to prove the Great Dao, yet to ascend and become an immortal..."

"I... hate... this..."

"Junior Sister... I don't want... you to end up like me..."

"You must... must never... be like me..."

His mournful cries abruptly ceased. His head tilted to one side, and he fell silent.

Yet his eyes remained fixed on Su Ling'er, as if he wanted to etch her image into his heart before he died.

There seemed to be a trace of love for the woman he cherished in his eyes, mingled with a warning: he didn't want her to repeat his mistakes.

His pupils went empty. Not a sound came from him.

Lin Qingfeng stepped forward and boldly pulled out the Ancient Sword.

The so-called "man in love with his junior sister" fell stiffly backward.

Blood rapidly spread beneath him, staining his disciple's robe dark red.

Even in death, the disciple continued to stare toward his junior sister.

He died with his eyes open.

As for Junior Disciple Brother Zhan himself, he had gone back to run to his corpse and revive.

Silence reigned throughout the Sword Mound.

Lin Qingfeng's eyelid twitched.

What an awkward performance...

Junior Disciple Brother Zhan had really overdone it. He wondered whether Junior Sister would be able to accept it.

Still, she'd accepted all the ridiculous things he'd said earlier, so perhaps... probably... maybe... possibly... it would be fine?

He gave a light cough and checked the unlock progress for the follow-up quest.

[Follow-up quest unlocking.]

[Progress: 73%]

Then he put away the Ancient Sword he had just named [Wait a Moment], clasped his hands behind his back, and resumed his air of a peerless master who pitied all living things.

[Ancient Sword · Wait a Moment]

[Grade: High-grade Spiritual (can grow)]

[Sharpness: Grandmaster]: The blade is exceptionally sharp, able to cleave metal and jade, with nothing it cannot cut through.

[Ward Off Evil: Grandmaster]: The sword is imbued with righteousness, which naturally restrains evil spirits and demons.

[Sword Qi Amplification: Great]: When using any sword art, the power, range, and duration of sword qi are all significantly increased.

[Durability: Spiritual]: The sword is made of extraordinary material and is extremely difficult to destroy or wear down.

[Ten Thousand Sword Shadows]: Infuse it with Spiritual Power to conjure countless sword shadows, indistinguishable from the real thing, disrupting the enemy's judgment.

[Green Lotus Sword Song]: A supreme sword art created by an ancient sword immortal. Each strike blooms like a green lotus, combining dazzling beauty with deadly force.

[Other attributes have yet to be unlocked]

[Sword Inscription · Forgotten]

The ancient tomb has lain sealed for ages unknown, dust-covered;
The rust-veiled green lotus awaits the sword's arrival.

Do not think its nameless edge has lost its luster;
Once drawn, ten thousand lotuses bloom.

Legend spoke of a peerless swordsman known as the "Green Lotus Sword Immortal."

The Green Lotus Sword Song he created could make flowers bloom with a single thought and send ten thousand swords flying at once, its dazzling beauty and deadly force unrivaled in his age.

Yet, during a calamity that overturned heaven and earth, he used this sword song to slaughter countless demons and save the people. His excessive bloodshed stained the green lotus and clouded his Dao heart.

Consumed by regret, the sword immortal took this sword to a remote place beyond the world and established the Sword Mound.

He erased the Divine Sword's name with his own hands and sealed the Green Lotus Sword Song, along with all the insights he'd gained throughout his life, within the sword's heart. Then he passed away there.

He only hoped that this divine weapon, bearing the burden of countless atrocities and glories, would be forgotten by the world along with him.

From then on, the Divine Sword gathered dust, its name lost.

It marked the end of a glorious legend, but also carried on a supreme sword path.

It awaited the day it could once again wage war across the world with a new master. It would also be up to that master to decide whether the countless green lotuses bloomed once more for the people, or fell into the abyss.

Lin Qingfeng looked at Su Ling'er's little face, spattered with blood, and sighed softly.

"Alas... you've seen it for yourself. One thought can mean the difference between life and death.

Junior Disciple Brother Zhan was exceptionally talented, and his fighting spirit was among the finest in our sect.

It's a pity he put too much faith in external things, in that greatsword of his, and neglected to temper himself.

If he'd practiced the Sword Refining Art, using his body as the scabbard and his will as the sword's soul, his flesh would have been as strong as a magical treasure. How could a slight counterattack from me have taken his life on the spot?"

"If I'd known he was in love with you, I would've let you deal with him."

"He had the courage to attack me for your sake. Alas, how pitiful... how tragic."

Then he recited that line again:

"Since ancient times, love has brought only regret, and that regret stretches on without end~"

Su Ling'er glanced sideways at him.

Senior Disciple Brother, you've already said that line before!!!

Then Lin Qingfeng changed tack, turning his gaze to Su Ling'er.

"Junior Sister, will you still hesitate now?

You heard what he had to say.

The Sword Refining Art may be painful, and it may be difficult, but at least it'll give you another way to protect yourself in this cruel world of cultivation.

Otherwise, if you get into a fight with someone and they merely counterattack, you may be powerless to resist and lose your life. How could you ever prove the Great Dao then?

And how could you let Junior Disciple Brother Zhan, who admired you so deeply, rest in peace?!"

Su Ling'er's heart sank to the bottom.

She didn't understand how this man could have fallen for her at first sight, but remembering the conspiracy she'd overheard at the foot of the Dao Seeking Ladder, she finally understood!

So that was it!

Senior Disciple Brother had brought her here to put on this excruciatingly awkward act for her!

He was willing to sacrifice a disciple's life just to make her practice the inhumane Sword Refining Art, all for the sake of this elaborate sob story!

She didn't believe a word of that "love at first sight" nonsense.

Had he been threatened?

Or, like those disciples who'd jumped into the pill furnace or onto the forging platform, had he been controlled or brainwashed?

Otherwise, she couldn't understand why, with his dying breath, the disciple hadn't hated Lin Qingfeng for killing him, but had instead looked at her with that "I'm disappointed in you" expression.

Hey, I wasn't the one who killed you!

If you're dying with your eyes open, shouldn't you be glaring at Senior Disciple Brother instead? Why glare at me?

What do I have to do with this?!

But there was one thing she understood.

That disciple had died on the spot just for playing along with a little act.

If she said even one word of refusal now, something even more terrifying would surely be waiting for her!

So she took a deep breath, suppressing her fear and panic.

How could she delay practicing the Sword Refining Art?

Her thoughts raced. At last, she remembered what Junior Disciple Brother Zhan had said about being in love with her.

Then why not go along with it and do just that?

So...