The Fool

"Many thanks, Senior Jin, for escorting me all the way. This is a small token of the junior's appreciation; please graciously accept it. With Senior Jin's cultivation level, you naturally have no use for it, but the juniors in your household can always find a use for it."

At the entrance of his residence on Sincere Tea Street, Wu Tao held a Small Spirit Shield Robe in his hand and handed it to Jin Ke.

Jin Ke looked at Wu Tao, thinking in his heart that this Artifact Master Li was different from other artifact refiners—he was worldly and adept in human relations. Even though he had been dispatched to assist Shopkeeper Yu, and Shopkeeper Yu had asked him to occasionally protect others, it was not out of the question; yet protection was a favor, while non-protection was a duty, and many people failed to figure that out.

The artifact refiner standing before him named Li Mo had figured it out, which made Jin Ke feel quite comfortable. In fact, he was quite willing to escort Li Mo all the way. He took the magic robe and laughed, "Just a small matter, then I'll be off. Take care, Artifact Master Li. The next time you deliver goods to the spirit material shop, I'll see you off again."

"Walk slowly, Senior Jin."

Watching Jin Ke depart, Wu Tao turned back into the house, activated the Soundproof Anti-Peeping Formation, poured a cup of tea, and sat in the grandmaster chair he had crafted himself. As he sipped his tea, he recalled what had just happened.

In truth, the moment he politely declined the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association, he had anticipated that the other party might cause trouble for him. Therefore, he had been exceedingly cautious this entire time.

He had not expected that they would actually come to intercept and kill him today.

The aura fluctuations of those two rogue cultivators clearly pointed to the fifth level of Qi refining.

Had it not been for Jin Ke's escort, he truly might have had to run for his life.

Against a single cultivator at the fifth level of Qi refining, he figured he could still put up a fight; against two, it wouldn't be safe enough, and using a Godly Travel Talisman to escape would be the superior strategy.

Maintaining a cautious mindset allowed one to live longer.

Recalling the attitude of Fang Ming back at the Delightful Immortal Restaurant, he knew that these so-called artifact refiners' associations were certainly no benevolent entities. And naturally so; what organization could possibly be kind? If they were kind, they could never have established a foothold in this environment.

The other party dared to make a move in the outer city—they must be looking to take advantage of this chaotic situation.

Furthermore, that Wu Zhongxing...

Wu Tao had interacted with this fellow clansman Wu Zhongxing for a month, and he had roughly grasped the man's character: he was terribly naive. Yet, he was also a decent person. He had wanted to persuade Wu Tao to join purely by reasoning and appealing to his emotions, and in his words, he had never been overbearing.

Moreover, from a month of conversations, Wu Zhongxing had also shared with him the original aspiration of their association: to allow loose cultivator artifact refiners to advance and retreat together, to watch over and assist one another, and to live more comfortably in this world.

Advance and retreat together, watch over and assist one another—if an organization could maintain such an original aspiration at its inception, I would believe it. But any original aspiration, once a hierarchy of presidents, vice presidents, and members is established, makes advancing and retreating together impossible.

Wu Tao had seen through such things long ago.

It wasn't that he thought it was wrong; hierarchy was an inherent, inevitable, and indelible thing born within any group of living beings or races. However, joining the association truly did not align with his interests.

Over this past month, Wu Zhongxing has indeed been a decent person. For him to come and notify me that Fang Ming was going to make a move against me—that sounds like something he would actually do.

Thinking of Wu Zhongxing, Wu Tao inevitably felt a trace of worry. Of course, he wasn't worried about Wu Zhongxing; rather, he worried: Xie Tao and Fang Ming—if these two do not die, they truly pose a threat to me.

During this period, aside from delivering goods, I will focus on cultivation to elevate my strength. Once I complete the flesh-refining stage, we can settle this score later.

Though Wu Tao intended to keep a low profile, since others were intent on killing him, he could not remain indifferent.

Burying this matter deep in his heart, Wu Tao began his cultivation.

The next day, past noon.

Wu Tao had just prepared to practice the Dragon Spear Technique when the prompt tone of the Soundproof Anti-Peeping Formation rang out. He hurried over, thinking to himself, Could it be the people from the Demon Slaying Hall and the patrol squad coming to inspect again?

Habitually glancing through the peephole, he saw that it was Wu Zhongxing.

Wu Zhongxing had long known his address, but he had never once come to his home to disturb him. Even when urging him to join the association, he had only appeared and persuaded him when Wu Tao went out to set up his stall.

This showed him to be a person of formidable principles.

For him to call upon his door this time was undoubtedly because of yesterday's events.

With a clear mind, Wu Tao opened the door, cupped his fists, and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu!"

"Fellow Daoist Li, I've come regarding yesterday's matter..." When Wu Zhongxing spoke, his expression was quite embarrassed, and guilt filled his heart.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, please come in and speak!"

"Many thanks!"

After inviting Wu Zhongxing inside, Wu Tao poured him a cup of tea. Naturally, it wasn't spirit tea, but ordinary tea leaves: "Fellow Daoist Wu, please have some tea!"

He then quietly waited for Wu Zhongxing to recount yesterday's events.

Wu Zhongxing did not drink the tea. Instead, he produced two books and pushed them across the table toward Wu Tao, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li, these are the two most precious artifact refining manuals in our association. Please, Fellow Daoist Li, accept them."

Wu Tao looked at the titles on the covers: Manual for Refining the First-Rank Level 5 Spirit Wandering Boots and Manual for Refining the First-Rank Level 6 Magic Tool Light-Splitting Sword. A trace of surprise stirred in his heart; for a rogue cultivator, these two artifact-refining manuals were exceedingly precious.

Wu Tao naturally understood the intent behind this gesture from Wu Zhongxing, but didn't he fear punishment from Xie Tao and Fang Ming for giving away such important items of the association to an outsider?

"Fellow Daoist Wu, I understand your meaning, but this is far too precious. Aren't you afraid that President Xie and that Vice President Fang will punish you for this?"

Hearing this, Wu Zhongxing sighed and said, "President Xie and Vice President Fang tragically lost their lives at the hands of a devilish cultivator when one broke into the association."

Wu Tao was startled. These two great enemies were just dead like that? He had even been preparing for the saying that the river flows thirty years to the east and thirty years to the west. Yet, in his heart, he somehow felt that something was amiss with this matter, but... he ultimately chose to believe Wu Zhongxing's words.

"Please accept my condolences..." Hahahaha.

Rather than answering, Wu Zhongxing stood up, bowed at a right angle, and said sincerely, "Fellow Daoist Li, Wu offers you his apologies here. Had I not recommended you to the association, you would not have suffered this undeserved disaster."

"These two artifact refining manuals are the restitution for my apology this time. Please accept them, Fellow Daoist Li, or else Wu's heart will find no peace."

Wu Tao looked at Wu Zhongxing, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Very well, Fellow Daoist Wu, I accept them. Fellow Daoist Wu, can you tell me the details of Fang Ming's attempt to intercept and kill me?"

Wu Zhongxing slowly recounted the events, stating that Xie Tao had harbored murderous intent the moment Wu Tao refused at the Delightful Immortal Restaurant. The subsequent events were all explained as well, except that he claimed when he arrived, Xie Tao and Fang Ming were still perfectly fine, but upon his return, both men were already dead.

After listening to Wu Zhongxing's narration, Wu Tao said expressionlessly, "If they couldn't have it, they would destroy it, and they even spread rumors that I wanted to join some Nine Bright Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association out of thin air... Fabricating something from nothing—is this the philosophy with which Xie Tao founded the association?"

"Advance and retreat together, watch over and assist one another... Heh..."

Wu Zhongxing's expression turned gloomy; clearly, this matter had dealt him a heavy blow. He had always believed that what he was doing was right, never imagining that he would be backstabbed by the person he trusted most.

He said, "I have already dissolved the association."

With that said, seeing that Wu Tao offered no further opinions, he couldn't help asking, "Fellow Daoist Li, tell me, our lives as rogue cultivators are already so bitter, being squeezed of our living space by major cultivation sects like Five Spring Mountain. Why must we rogue cultivators persecute one another?"

"I've always believed that we rogue cultivators should unite to jointly resist the squeeze from the major cultivation sects, but it seems I was wrong... Fellow Daoist Li, do you think someone like me is a fool?"

Wu Tao looked at Wu Zhongxing, ripples stirring in his heart. After a moment of thought, he spoke earnestly, "Not a fool. In fact, Fellow Daoist Wu, there are still many people like you; it's simply that you haven't discovered them yet."

"Really?"

Wu Zhongxing's eyes lit up.

Then, he stood up, solemnly cupped his fists toward Wu Tao, and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, I won't disturb you any longer. Take care. I don't know if we will ever have the chance to meet again in the future."

Wu Tao returned the salute: "Is Fellow Daoist Wu leaving?"

Wu Zhongxing replied, "Having gone through this matter, I have also figured it out. This Five Spring Mountain is simply too powerful, and rogue cultivators have no chance here. I am going to other cultivation cities—ones where the strength isn't so overwhelming. Perhaps there, we rogue cultivators will still have a chance to fight back."

"Fellow Daoist Li, I am going to search for fools—fools just like me!"

"Goodbye, Fellow Daoist Li!"

Wu Tao watched as Wu Zhongxing's face no longer held its gloom, replaced instead by a look of high-spirited vigor. As he walked out the door, the accumulated snow outside was melting, and sunlight spilled across the great earth, falling upon Wu Zhongxing's body. Whether it was an illusion or not, Wu Tao felt that Wu Zhongxing at this moment appeared somewhat dazzling.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, I wish you success!"

Wu Tao raised his hands in a distant salute, offering his blessings to Wu Zhongxing's brisk footsteps.