So.
She didn't answer at once. Instead, she slowly lifted her head.
Her tear- and blood-streaked eyes fixed on the glaring pool of blood on the ground.
Her body trembled faintly, unable to stop.
Lin Qingfeng pressed his advantage, putting on a look of deep compassion as he prepared to persuade her further.
Just then, Su Ling'er seemed to lose all her strength and staggered backward.
If they were all putting on an awkward act, she might as well join in and take the chance to back down!
She raised a hand and pointed at the empty patch of ground in disbelief.
"He... He was just here..."
At last, her tears broke free, rolling down in fat drops and mixing with the blood and grime on her cheeks.
"Heaven is heartless, and the Great Dao is heartless... Why would it allow a devoted man to meet such an end?!"
"He... He said before he died that he had feelings for me..."
"The look in his eyes as he died... He was looking at me... He was trying to remind me..."
"I never imagined he admired me so much!"
"To think there was someone in the sect who loved me so deeply that he dared to draw his sword against such a wise and mighty, dignified, understanding Senior Disciple Brother who cared so much for his juniors!"
After praising Senior Disciple Brother once more, she seemed to sink into immense guilt and anguish. She seized her hair with both hands and crouched down in pain.
"Why?!"
"Why wasn't I the one who died?!"
"If... If I hadn't come here, if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have died!"
"I caused his death!"
"It was me!"
She raised her tear-streaked face, mingled with blood and tears.
Then she stared at Lin Qingfeng in despair.
"Wise and mighty, dignified, understanding Senior Disciple Brother who cares so much for his juniors... I..."
She choked back sobs, barely able to form a complete sentence.
"His Dao, his regrets... Now they weigh on my heart..."
"I... My heart is in turmoil... All I can think of is the way he looked at the end... I..."
She struggled to her feet and bowed deeply to Lin Qingfeng, as if she might collapse at any moment.
"Wise and mighty, dignified, understanding Senior Disciple Brother who cares so much for his juniors... Please give me three... five days..."
"Please let your junior sister... Let me calm my heart for this Senior Brother...
Right now... I can't think of anything else...
I need... to keep vigil for him... and to think carefully...
This path he paved for me with his life... How should I... walk it from here...
Wait for me...
Once I've recovered... I'll surely give Senior Disciple Brother a... satisfactory answer."
Lin Qingfeng stroked his chin, looking at Su Ling'er's heartbroken expression, and felt a little bewildered.
Seriously?
Was it really necessary?
They'd only seen each other once from a hundred or so meters away, hadn't they?
They hadn't even exchanged a word, and she was already crying?
Already asking, "Why wasn't I the one who died?"
Had Qiong Yao been involved in making this game or something?!
This was so awkward!
Wasn't this NPC's emotional response system completely absurd?
Had it generated some memories that didn't exist for her?!
When she was reacting, couldn't it check the database first to see whether she even knew the guy?!
And that blockhead Junior Disciple Brother Zhan—who told him to improvise and add extra drama?
I strongly suspect his performance corrupted Junior Sister's database!
And now with all that "I have feelings for you" stuff, look what happened.
If the only native NPC got hurt, I'd tie him to the forge and let those people at the Artifact Refining Pavilion give him a proper "Shedding Sect" treatment!
Thank goodness he hadn't started spouting something like "when the mountains are flat and heaven and earth unite, only then will I part from you." Otherwise, I'd really have suspected Qiong Yao was involved in making this game!!!
And Junior Sister, did your background dialogue generator repeat itself or what?!
I know I'm wise and mighty, dignified, understanding, and very considerate of my juniors.
You admire me so much, but you don't have to say it this many times!
Enough, enough.
Lin Qingfeng sighed inwardly.
He looked at Su Ling'er's sorrowful profile, his face once again taking on that expression of deep compassion.
"Alas... Foolish child, foolish child..."
At his words, Su Ling'er raised her tear-filled face and stared at him blankly.
Lin Qingfeng slowly walked to her side. His gaze fell on the pool of blood, as though recalling something, and he spoke in a distant voice.
"You heard what Junior Disciple Brother Zhan said before he died, didn't you?"
"With his life, he showed you a clear path.
His greatest regret was that he hadn't learned the Sword Refining Art sooner. His body was too weak, so I easily struck him down with a single counterattack."
"He doesn't want you to make the same mistake, Junior Sister!"
"If you truly grieve for him, you shouldn't just drown in your pain."
"Turn your grief into strength and walk the path he couldn't finish. That's the best way to comfort him!"
"Learn the Sword Refining Art and forge your body into a peerless divine weapon!"
"When that day comes, you'll not only be able to protect yourself, but also... see the summit of the sword path for him!
"Don't let him... die with regrets!"
His words made Su Ling'er's heart shudder.
She knew Senior Disciple Brother was pressuring her, using a "dead man's" last wish to force her hand.
But for now, she had to keep playing along.
She raised her sleeve and wiped her tears. Though her voice still choked, it held a hint of resolve.
"Senior Disciple Brother... I..."
She drew a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.
"Your junior sister understands."
"But... this concerns my Dao, and this Senior Brother's dying wish..."
"I... I must be especially careful and not decide rashly, so that I don't... betray his good intentions."
Lin Qingfeng nodded at that.
"Very well. A choice of Dao should be made with great care."
"Since you feel this way, I'll give you three to five days."
"Go back to your thatched hut and calm down. Think about what you should do so you won't betray his dying wish."
"I hope you make the right choice in the end."
"Thank you... Senior Disciple Brother."
As if pardoned, Su Ling'er bowed deeply once more. Then she turned and chose a narrow path that suited the state of mind she was supposed to be in.
She staggered away from the Sword Mound, the place that made her shudder with dread.
Against the backdrop, her departing figure looked bleak and resolute.
[Progress: 100%]
[The Sect Promotion Prerequisite Quest has been unlocked]
Watching Su Ling'er walk away, Lin Qingfeng saw that the progress bar had filled up as well.
Only then did he open the quest panel.
[Gui Xi Sect Promotion — Prerequisite Quest]
[Current Sect Level: Level 1 (Just Starting Out)]
[Requirements for Upgrade:]
1. Sect Contribution Points (Players): 0/500000
2. Sect Contribution Points (NPCs): 0/500000
(Note: During the prerequisite quest, both contribution totals must meet the requirements to unlock the official sect promotion quest — [Gui Xi Secret Realm].)
[How to Earn Contribution Points:]
Players can earn contribution points by completing sect quests, participating in sect activities, and so on.
NPCs can earn contribution points by completing their own sect quests, participating in sect activities, and so on.
(Note: Player and NPC contribution points are calculated separately.
During the prerequisite quest, NPCs must complete daily quests personally. No one else or spirit pets may do them on their behalf;
During the quest, recovery and buff pills may not be consumed;
Recovery pills may not be consumed for X hours after the quest ends (X is the average time required to recover Spiritual Power by circulating a cultivation technique).
Otherwise, only the base reward will be granted, and no sect contribution points will be awarded.)
Lin Qingfeng stared at the glaring "0/500000."
The players wouldn't be a problem. There were plenty of them in the sect, so they could surely rack up enough points.
But the NPCs...
He watched Su Ling'er's departing figure. At present, she was the only proper NPC in the sect, and there were so many restrictions...
"Alas, it seems I'll have to make Junior Sister Pal work harder from now on."
He shook his head and flew toward his luxurious cave abode on his sword.
Meanwhile, Su Ling'er, still unaware of the terrifying future awaiting her, finally returned to her shabby thatched hut.
She closed the door and leaned against the cold door panel, slowly sliding to the ground.
Only today had she truly seen how terrifying this sect was.
There was no reason here, only naked schemes and a cruelty that treated human lives as worthless as grass.
She recalled everything that had happened over the past two days.
From the evil formation that stole people's vitality, to the Food Pavilion, where people were divided into ranks and ruthlessly oppressed, one level at a time.
Then there was the alchemy room, where living people were refined into pills, and the Artifact Refining Pavilion, where blood sacrifices were used to forge artifacts...
The "Human Origin Soil" in Hundred Herbs Valley, cultivated with the flesh and blood of cultivators.
The "spirit servants" in the Spirit Beast Garden, worked to death.
The demon souls trapped in endless cycles in the Monster Locking Tower, the bizarre illusions on the Dao Seeking Ladder, and finally, the disciple who had "died" for her in the Sword Mound...
The scenes flashed through her mind one after another, and she suddenly noticed a strange detail.
Whether it was the offerings in the alchemy furnace, the figures on the forging platform, or Junior Disciple Brother Zhan, who had just died before her eyes...
She couldn't seem to remember any of their faces. Her mind held only vague outlines, as if they all had utterly ordinary, forgettable faces.
What was the name of the Senior Brother who had just died?
Forget it. It wasn't important.
She shook her head and circulated the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin True Manual within her body. Then she cast a cleansing spell, washing the blood and grime from herself.
Over the next few days, I'll gather more information. Before Senior Disciple Brother's deadline, I'll send some of it back to Qing Xu Temple and ask the Sect Master to meet and protect me when I leave.
After all, if I sent back all the information at once, I couldn't risk guessing whether the Sect Master would come to save me.
I'm a pawn that's already been abandoned. Without any intelligence value, I have no reason to be rescued.
As long as I still hold a large amount of information that Qing Xu Temple can use, the Sect Master will surely help me escape this Demon Den when I flee!
Bone cleansing, marrow washing, reshaping my roots...
When that time comes, I, Su Ling'er, can still build my foundation and embark on the path of immortality. There's no need to throw my life away here!
Then she looked at the pot of "Worry Flower" she had brought back.
What am I supposed to do with you, little monster?
She carefully set the Worry Flower down beside her thatched hut.
She looked at the desolate surroundings, overgrown with weeds.
This was clearly in the heart of the sect, yet it was deserted for some reason. It should, probably, be safe.
From then on, this strange plant became the only decoration beside her ramshackle hut.
I hope... nothing else goes wrong over the next few days.
After doing all that, she returned to the pile of musty-smelling straw and fell into a deep sleep...
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