People Are Ruthless and Don't Talk Much

Qin Haoxuan felt a warmth he hadn't experienced before, realizing that this was the first truly good person he'd met since joining the Taichu Sect. Most people in the cultivation world were cold and heartless, willing to disregard others' lives for their own gain. Gu Yunzi was a prime example of this, but there were still a few good people. If what Pu Hanzhong said was true, then his master was indeed one of the rare good people in the cultivation world.

"I think Senior Brother Pu is very honest and believes in treating others kindly. So why would he be confined?"

Pu Hanzhong gave a wry smile and said, "Our Natural Hall is the weakest of the five halls in the Taichu Sect. For some special reasons, my master's cultivation isn't very strong either, so people from other halls look down on us. Last time, a master from Gu Yun Hall at the Immortal Seedling Realm Thirtieth Leaf insulted my master, and I severely injured him in retaliation. I was then sentenced to confinement here. It's been half a year already, and in a few more days, my sentence will be up, and I'll be able to see my master again!"

"Immortal Seedling Realm Thirtieth Leaf?" Qin Haoxuan was taken aback. Pu Hanzhong didn't look like he was any stronger than the Immortal Seedling Realm Tenth Leaf, so how could he have injured a master at the Immortal Seedling Realm Thirtieth Leaf?

Seeing the doubt in Qin Haoxuan's eyes, Pu Hanzhong chuckled and said, "Of course, I didn't injure him with my bare hands. My master once spent a lot of spiritual power to refine a powerful Spirit Talisman for me, and I used that to severely injure the person!"

"I see. Senior Brother Pu truly respects his master. Haoxuan admires you," Qin Haoxuan said with a gentle smile. Pu Hanzhong's image in his mind grew even more admirable. To defend his master's honor, fighting against someone at the Immortal Seedling Realm Thirtieth Leaf with only the cultivation of the Immortal Seedling Realm Tenth Leaf—that showed how much he respected and loved his master to do something so reckless. Furthermore, to protect his master's reputation, he didn't hesitate to use a Spirit Talisman powerful enough to severely injure an Immortal Seedling Realm Thirtieth Leaf expert. In the eyes of the Menial Disciples in Spirit Field Valley, a Spirit Talisman equivalent to the full-power strike of an Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth or Seventh Leaf master was already sky-high priced among the new disciples of Taichu. Let alone a Spirit Talisman with at least the power of the Thirtieth Leaf, it wouldn't be cheap even in Taichu.

Thinking of this, Qin Haoxuan's interest in the Natural Hall and Xuanjizi grew even stronger. If he had the chance, he definitely wanted to see what kind of person the master whom Pu Hanzhong so highly praised and defended was like.

Over the next ten-plus days, four more waves of disciples at the Immortal Seedling Realm Sixth Leaf entered the Nine Yin Ice Cave to assassinate Qin Haoxuan. However, with Pu Hanzhong's help, they were all repelled. Protected by Pu Hanzhong, Qin Haoxuan even stole all their food and ate it himself, sleeping soundly at night. With an Immortal Seedling Realm Tenth Leaf "expert" guarding him, he had no need to worry about his safety.

On the other hand, those who came to assassinate Qin Haoxuan were dumbfounded. With the protection of an Immortal Seedling Realm Tenth Leaf cultivator like Pu Hanzhong, they had no chance to get close to Qin Haoxuan. Their lives became miserable over the next ten-plus days. They were not only starving but also couldn't sleep soundly, living in constant fear every night. Several times, Qin Haoxuan took advantage of the dead of night to launch surprise attacks, severely injuring four of the six of them.

Qin Haoxuan was known as "ruthless and few words" in Spirit Field Valley. Many disciples had only heard of it before but never witnessed it. Now... these Sixth Leaf disciples personally experienced what it meant to be ruthless and few words, albeit at the cost of being severely injured.

They also learned about Qin Haoxuan's vengeful nature. Qin Haoxuan would launch surprise attacks whenever he felt like it. Even if you were already severely injured, as long as he felt you were a threat, he would come to torment you. If you were lucky, you might break a bone; if you were unlucky... well...

The few of them, filled with suppressed anger, wanted to team up and ambush Qin Haoxuan? But they were no match for the Pu Hanzhong standing in front of him.

Of course! Now, they couldn't even deal with Qin Haoxuan. They could only burn incense and pray that this little monster wouldn't come around for no reason! He was... truly terrifying!

Time flew by. In the harsh environment of the Nine Yin Ice Cave, Qin Haoxuan was like a fish in water. With Pu Hanzhong's protection and no need to worry about sneak attacks or ambushes, he focused entirely on his cultivation. The Immortal Seed grew larger as spiritual power accumulated within him, but there were still no signs of sprouting. This puzzled Qin Haoxuan, but he didn't dare to ask. Even if he did, Pu Hanzhong probably wouldn't be able to answer his questions.

During these days and nights of cultivation, Pu Hanzhong was also full of admiration for Qin Haoxuan. He rested at most one or two hours a day, dedicating all other time to cultivation, except for eating and using the restroom. Such intense cultivation was extremely damaging to the body, especially for someone who had just rooted and was a Weak Seed. He should have been suffering immensely in a place like the Nine Yin Ice Cave, but after half a month together, not only had he not collapsed, but he had become even stronger than when he first entered.

What impressed Pu Hanzhong the most about Qin Haoxuan was that he was a new disciple who had only joined the sect a month ago, yet he had been targeted for assassination four or five times in just over ten days. He seemed to have adapted to this life of being assassinated, remaining calm and composed without a hint of panic. He also displayed extraordinary decisiveness and ruthlessness, seizing every opportunity to retaliate against his attackers. Perhaps knowing that he would be released four days earlier than them, he was already preparing.

After dinner, Pu Hanzhong looked at Qin Haoxuan, who was still wolfing down his food, and said, "Junior Brother Qin, I will be released tomorrow. Please be extra careful in the coming days!"

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Pu..." Qin Haoxuan mumbled through a mouthful of rice, his voice unclear. His ravenous appearance amused and annoyed Pu Hanzhong. Hidden in a corner, the assassins who hadn't eaten for nearly ten days were on the verge of starvation.

Pu Hanzhong looked at Qin Haoxuan with a hint of worry. "Their three meals a day have all gone into your stomach. They're only given a small bowl of rice each day. Even outside, they wouldn't be able to endure it, let alone in the harsh environment of Solitary Confinement Mountain. Perhaps you should give them a little more to eat."

"If it weren't for your benevolent heart, Senior Brother, I would wish for these people who wanted to kill me to starve to death. Giving them a small bowl of rice is already sparing their lives. If it weren't for you, would they have shown me any mercy when they came to assassinate me?"

Pu Hanzhong nodded inwardly. He had deliberately learned about Qin Haoxuan from various aspects over the past half month, and Qin Haoxuan had shown his true colors. The two of them felt a sense of camaraderie. Because of this, Pu Hanzhong had even considered introducing him to his master if he had the chance. If he could be accepted as a disciple by his master, it would be even better. Firstly, the Natural Hall could protect Qin Haoxuan, and secondly, the Natural Hall needed talented individuals like Qin Haoxuan who were decisive and ruthless. Based on his observations of Qin Haoxuan over the past half month, Pu Hanzhong had a premonition that this Qin Haoxuan would not be an ordinary person in the future!

The next day, the iron gate was opened, and an old Taoist priest in a purple robe with a goatee walked in. The old Taoist priest had white hair and beard, and his face was covered in fine wrinkles, looking like he was nearing the end of his life.

Upon seeing the old Taoist priest enter, Pu Hanzhong's eyes immediately welled up with tears. He quickly walked to the old Taoist priest, knelt down with a thud, and prostrated himself on the ground: "Your unworthy disciple Pu Hanzhong pays respects to Master!"

This old Taoist priest was none other than Xuanjizi, the Hall Master of the Natural Hall. He helped Pu Hanzhong up, his voice gentle, "Get up, quickly, get up."

"This disciple is unworthy. I have been confined in the Nine Yin Ice Cave for half a year and could not serve at Master's side or attend to you. Master still remembers this unworthy disciple and has personally come to Solitary Confinement Mountain to pick me up. This disciple... this disciple is deeply grateful. This disciple is ashamed..."

As he spoke, the fifty-something Pu Hanzhong began to cry like a child.

"Han Zhong, you've suffered. You've lost so much weight. But after only half a year, you've still cultivated diligently, and your cultivation hasn't fallen. That's truly commendable!" Xuanjizi said with a kind smile, pulling Pu Hanzhong up from the ground. After examining him, he found that Pu Hanzhong had not fallen behind in his cultivation during the past six months in the Nine Yin Ice Cave, and he was very pleased.

Praised by Xuanjizi, the tear-streaked Pu Hanzhong became shy and embarrassed. He said to Xuanjizi, "Speaking of diligent cultivation, this disciple is far inferior to this Junior Brother named Qin Haoxuan. He has been here for half a month, and every day, except for eating and about an hour of sleep, he spends all his time cultivating. Moreover, in an environment like the Nine Yin Ice Cave, to cultivate so obsessively and still be so robust, this disciple greatly admires him."

Pu Hanzhong, who wanted to introduce Qin Haoxuan to his master, seized the opportunity and brought Qin Haoxuan up. Hearing Pu Hanzhong praise him even before seeing his master, Qin Haoxuan quickly walked over and respectfully performed a junior's salute to Xuanjizi. "Disciple Qin Haoxuan greets Senior Xuanjizi."

Xuanjizi's eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, swept over Qin Haoxuan, and then he nodded with satisfaction. "No need for formalities. Han Zhong rarely praises people like this, so you must be very outstanding."

"This disciple dares not. Senior Brother Pu is too generous," Qin Haoxuan bowed again and smiled slightly.

Pu Hanzhong suddenly knelt on the ground again and said to Xuanjizi, "Master above all, this disciple has a request for you. Junior Brother Qin is humble and treats others harmoniously, with a firm Dao Heart. Unfortunately, he is merely a Weak Seed. Because of his outstanding performance, he has been envied by the Purple Seed disciples of the same year, who have repeatedly sent people to assassinate him in the Nine Yin Ice Cave. If not for my protection, Junior Brother Qin would likely have lost his life. This disciple wishes to implore Master to accept Junior Brother Qin as a disciple. Firstly, he can be protected under Master's name, and secondly, Junior Brother Qin himself is exceptionally outstanding and will surely bring glory to our Natural Hall in the future. I hope Master will grant this wish."

Hearing Pu Hanzhong pleading on his behalf, Qin Haoxuan, filled with gratitude, also knelt down with his body flat on the ground. From his observation of Xuanjizi, Xuanjizi was indeed benevolent and kind as Pu Hanzhong had said, a rare good person in the cultivation world. Although the Natural Hall was barely surviving in the cracks between the four great halls, making its existence extremely difficult, as long as Xuanjizi agreed, and considering the Natural Hall's principle of treating others kindly advocated by Xuanjizi, and the harmonious atmosphere of unity among the hundreds of people, he was willing to join the Natural Hall without hesitation.

Xuanjizi, who had lived for over a hundred years, might not have the cultivation of the other four Hall Masters, but his judgment of people was excellent. Combined with the high praise from Pu Hanzhong, who never lied to him, Xuanjizi was also very satisfied with Qin Haoxuan. If he could take in such a disciple, perhaps the Natural Hall's reputation could be carried forward by him in the future.

Because my mind was a bit hazy in the previous chapter, there were 500 words repeated. This situation is my fault, so what should I do? It's very simple! I've revised the repeated parts from the previous chapter, and at the same time! I've added an extra chapter as an apology. I hope I don't make the same mistake again... Recommendation votes, collections, come on! There will be another update before 6 PM this afternoon