Choice

After hearing Zhang San's words, Shen Fan fell silent.

Two paths lay before him. One was easy: he could ignore Ox Demon Martial Arts School's fate and leave on his own.

The men who had tried to ambush him were still kneeling at his feet. He could go wherever he pleased.

Taking this path would undoubtedly save Shen Fan a great deal of trouble.

But it was not what his heart wanted.

The other path was to honor his sense of loyalty, hurry back to Laiyang City, and help Ox Demon Martial Arts School fight. Whether he lived or died, he would have a clear conscience!

If he did that, Shen Fan might well fail, or even be killed. After all, he wasn't confident he could handle a Xiantian Expert!

One path was selfishness, the other selflessness. With both laid before him, Shen Fan found himself unable to choose.

If this had happened just after he crossed over, he probably would have fled without hesitation. After all, he hadn't known a soul in this world.

But the longer he lived here, the harder it became to forget the people around him.

Li An, who followed him around every day calling him Senior Brother; the other fellow disciples, who mocked him for practicing the Regimen Technique but had never truly tried to harm him.

And Steward Zhang, who had been kind to him.

Shen Fan had once thought he didn't particularly care about these people, that the bonds between them weren't all that deep.

But when he imagined them dying before his eyes, knowing he had the power to save them, he suddenly realized that being selfish could be a difficult thing.

"Did I really come to this world only to pursue immortality?"

"What is the point of living? Watching the people around me die one by one, watching the familiar world change bit by bit?"

"If I abandon everything, then even if I truly achieve immortality, will I still be myself?"

"Maybe I'll just be an immortal called Shen Fan!"

Shen Fan's gaze gradually cleared, and tiny points of starlight gathered in his pupils.

Holding the bottle of Qi and Blood Elixirs, still warm to the touch, Shen Fan gave a self-deprecating laugh. "I really am not used to taking other people's things. I'd better go back and pay for them!"

At that moment, Shen Fan finally understood his own heart. He wanted to become immortal, but more than that, he wanted to truly live—with love and loyalty, with flesh and blood.

"Get lost. I promised to spare your life, and I won't go back on my word. But if we meet again, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Zhang San was overjoyed. He scrambled to his feet and ran off, utterly lacking the dignity expected of a Viscera Refining expert.

Shen Fan turned and headed for Laiyang City.

As he ran, Zhang San muttered to himself, "A lunatic, an idiot. He's actually going back? Isn't that just asking to die?"

"Haha, good thing he's going back. Once he's dead, no one will know what happened today! I, Zhang San, will still be the mighty Viscera Refining expert!"

The more Zhang San thought about it, the happier he became. But then he remembered Shen Fan's last words. He stopped, chose a direction, and walked away without looking back.

That direction led away from Laiyang City.

Shen Fan soon reached the city gate, but when he saw it tightly shut, his heart sank.

"Could I still be too late?"

As he stood there, stunned, a figure on the city wall shouted, "Who goes there? Leave at once! By order of Lord City Lord, a criminal has infiltrated Laiyang City. The city is under lockdown for three days. No one is allowed to leave!"

Shen Fan immediately called back, "I'm from Laiyang City. Can I come in?"

"Hm?" The guard hesitated for a moment, then opened the gate for Shen Fan.

After all, he'd been ordered not to let anyone leave, but no one had said they couldn't let people in!

And so Shen Fan returned to Laiyang City. Seeing how bleak and deserted the streets had become, he knew the final battle was coming!

He crossed the familiar streets and returned to the Martial Hall. The first person he sought out was Li An, who was practicing martial arts.

When Li An saw Shen Fan, he exclaimed in delight, "Senior Brother Shen, didn't you leave? Why are you back?

"I knew those guys were lying to me. How could Senior Brother Shen leave? My True Combined Strength isn't perfected yet. You still have to teach me the Martial Path..."

As Li An spoke, his eyes reddened.

Shen Fan's heart ached at the sight. He stepped forward and embraced Li An.

Only then did Shen Fan realize how much he meant to some people—like Li An, who saw him as an older brother.

"Junior Brother, that's right. Your technique isn't perfected yet. Your Senior Brother isn't going anywhere!"

Shen Fan comforted him gently, and the two lonely hearts found peace together.

"By the way, Junior Brother, no matter what happens later, don't go outside. Stay in your room, all right?"

Li An glanced at Shen Fan. He didn't ask why, only said firmly, "I'll do whatever you say, Senior Brother. I'll stay in my room. I definitely won't come out!"

"Good. That's my good junior brother!" Shen Fan patted Li An's head, feeling as if Li An were his younger brother from his previous life.

After seeing Li An back to his room, Shen Fan wandered around the Martial Hall. Looking at the familiar flowers, plants, and carvings, he felt a little wistful.

Without realizing it, Shen Fan had reached the place where Hall Master Zhang Longyun was in seclusion.

After a moment's thought, Shen Fan gently knocked on the door.

There was no answer.

Shen Fan hesitated, then pushed the door open. At a glance, he saw Hall Master Zhang Longyun sitting with his eyes tightly shut, streams of qi and blood circling his body. White vapor rose from his head, and beads of sweat as large as beans slid down his forehead.

Suddenly, the qi and blood swirling around him scattered, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Hall Master, you—" Shen Fan was startled. He guessed that Zhang Longyun had failed to break through.

And he was right. Zhang Longyun opened his eyes, a weariness beyond words in his gaze.

Looking at Shen Fan, he asked in confusion, "Who are you? Why have you come to my place of seclusion?"

The truth was, Zhang Longyun didn't know Shen Fan. Shen Fan had never revealed his talent.

"I'm a disciple of the Martial Hall. My name is Shen Fan. I came to tell you something."

"What is it? Go ahead."

"City Lord Huang Ling is planning to make a move. Ox Demon Martial Arts School is on the brink of destruction," Shen Fan said evenly.

The words sent Zhang Longyun into such a fit of agitation that he spat out another mouthful of blood. "What? How is that possible? We clearly—"

As if a thought had struck him, Zhang Longyun gave a bitter laugh. "Yes, what does a contract matter? It only works when both sides are equal. When they aren't, it's just a scrap of paper!"

By then, he no longer cared who Shen Fan was. It didn't matter anymore.

"If that's the case, why haven't you left?" Zhang Longyun asked, puzzled as he looked at the young man before him.

"I've grown used to it. I can't bear to leave!" Shen Fan gave no long-winded explanation, only those simple words.

Yet Zhang Longyun seemed to understand. He gave Shen Fan a long, deep look and asked nothing more.

Shen Fan bowed slightly, then left.

Zhang Longyun sat cross-legged and did everything he could to recover. He knew that no matter what happened, the stronger he was, the greater his chance of seizing that slim chance to survive.