Choice

Shen Fan fell into silence after hearing Zhang San's words.

Two paths now lay before him. One was the easy way: he could completely ignore the fate of the Ox Demon Martial Arts School and leave on his own.

The man who had tried to ambush him was still kneeling at his feet; he could leave whenever he pleased.

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

However, it did not sit well with his conscience.

The other path, naturally, was to fulfill his sense of loyalty and righteousness, rush back to Laiyang City, and help the Ox Demon Martial Arts School fight. Regardless of whether he lived or died, he would be able to face his own heart without regret.

If he did this, Shen Fan would very likely fail, or even be killed. After all, he was not yet confident in his ability to deal with a Xiantian expert.

One path was selfish, the other selfless. With both laid out before him, Shen Fan found it difficult to choose for a moment.

If it had been when he first transmigrated, he probably would have chosen to flee without hesitation; after all, he didn't know a single person in this world.

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

There was Li An, who followed behind him every day calling him Senior Brother, and the other fellow disciples who, despite mocking him for practicing the Regimen Technique, had never truly tried to harm him.

And then there was Steward Zhang, who had been somewhat kind to him.

Shen Fan had originally thought that he didn't care much about these people and that his feelings for them weren't that deep.

But when he imagined these people truly dying before his eyes, and realized he had the ability to save them, Shen Fan suddenly felt that being selfish was sometimes a very difficult thing to do.

Did I really come to this world just to pursue immortality?

What is the point of living, anyway? To watch the people around me die one by one, to watch the familiar environment change bit by bit?

If I abandon everything, even if I truly achieve immortality in the end, would I still be me?

Perhaps, I would just be an immortal named Shen Fan!

Shen Fan's eyes gradually cleared, and a spark of light condensed in his pupils.

Clutching the bottle of Qi and Blood Elixir that still held a lingering warmth, Shen Fan smiled self-deprecatingly. "I really am not used to taking other people's things. I might as well go back and settle the bill."

At this moment, Shen Fan completely understood his own heart. He wanted to become an immortal, but he wanted to truly live even more—to live with feelings and righteousness, to live as a person of flesh and blood!

"Get lost. I promised to spare your life, and I won't go back on my word. But if I see you again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Zhang San was overjoyed at these words and scrambled away, completely devoid of the dignity expected of a Viscera Refining expert.

Shen Fan turned around and set off in the direction of Laiyang City.

As he ran, Zhang San, who had successfully begged for his life, muttered, "A madman, a fool. To actually go back—isn't that just asking for death?"

"Haha, it's good that he's gone. If he's dead, no one will know about today's events! I, Zhang San, will remain that high and mighty Organ Refining expert!"

Zhang San felt happier the more he thought about it, but when he remembered Shen Fan's final words, he still halted his steps. He then chose a direction and walked away without looking back.

That direction was the way out of Laiyang City.

Shen Fan quickly returned to the city gates, but his heart plummeted the moment he saw them tightly shut.

Could it be that I arrived too late?

Just as he was dazed, a figure on the city wall shouted loudly, "Who goes there? Leave at once! By order of the City Lord, a villain has infiltrated Laiyang City. The city is under lockdown for three days; no one is permitted to leave!"

Shen Fan immediately called out, "I am a resident of Laiyang. Is it possible for me to enter?"

"Hmm?" The city guard hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he opened the gate for Shen Fan.

After all, the order he received was not to let anyone leave, but it didn't say he couldn't let anyone in!

Thus, Shen Fan returned to Laiyang City once more. Looking at the streets that had suddenly become desolate and cold, Shen Fan knew that the final battle was coming!

Passing through the familiar streets to return to the martial arts hall, Shen Fan immediately found Li An, who was practicing martial arts.

Seeing Shen Fan, Li An said with immediate 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 just leave? My True Combined Strength hasn't reached Great Accomplishment yet, and you still have to teach me the martial path..."

As Li An spoke, his eyes turned red.

Shen Fan felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help but walk over and hug Li An.

Only at this moment did Shen Fan realize that he was so important in the eyes of some people—for instance, Li An, who regarded him like an older brother.

"Junior Brother, that's right, your cultivation technique hasn't reached Great Accomplishment yet, has it? Senior Brother won't leave!"

Shen Fan comforted him gently, and two lonely hearts settled down at the same time.

"Right, Junior Brother, no matter what happens later, don't go out. Just stay obediently in your room, okay?"

Li An looked at Shen Fan. He didn't ask why, only saying firmly, "I will definitely listen to what Senior Brother says. I will stay in my room and certainly won't come out!"

"Mm, that's a good Junior Brother!" Shen Fan patted Li An's head, feeling as if he were his own younger brother from his past life.

After sending Li An back to his room, Shen Fan strolled through the martial arts hall, looking at the familiar flowers, plants, and carvings around him, feeling a bit sentimental for a moment.

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

After thinking for a moment, Shen Fan still gently knocked on the door.

There was no response.

Shen Fan hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. The moment he stepped inside, he saw the Master, Zhang Longyun, with his eyes tightly shut. Threads of blood energy swirled around his body, and white steam rose from the top of his head as beads of sweat the size of peas rolled down his forehead.

Suddenly, the blood energy surrounding him dissipated, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"Master, you—" Shen Fan couldn't help but be startled. He guessed that Zhang Longyun had likely failed his breakthrough.

And that was indeed the case. Zhang Longyun opened his eyes, a trace of indescribable exhaustion visible in his gaze.

Looking at Shen Fan before him, he asked curiously, "Who are you? How did you get into my seclusion chamber?"

To be honest, Zhang Longyun did not recognize Shen Fan, as Shen Fan had never revealed his talent.

"I am a disciple of the martial arts school. My name is Shen Fan. I came here today to tell the Master something."

"What is it? Speak!"

"The City Lord of Huang Ling intends to make a move. The destruction of the Ox Demon Martial Arts School is imminent!" Shen Fan said indifferently.

But these words caused Zhang Longyun to become so agitated that he spat out another mouthful of blood. "What? How is that possible? We clearly—"

Suddenly realizing something, Zhang Longyun let out a miserable laugh. "That's right. What is a contract worth? It only has effect when parties are equal; when they are unequal, it is nothing more than a scrap of paper!"

At this moment, he no longer cared about Shen Fan's identity, because none of it mattered anymore.

"Since that is the case, why haven't you left?" Zhang Longyun looked at the young man before him, feeling somewhat puzzled.

"I'm used to it, and I can't bear to leave." There was no long-winded explanation, just those six simple words.

But Zhang Longyun seemed to understand. He took a deep look at Shen Fan and did not ask any further.

Shen Fan bowed slightly and then left.

Zhang Longyun sat cross-legged and did his utmost to recover his state. He knew that no matter what happened, the stronger his strength, the greater his chance of finding a glimmer of survival.