"Bei Bei." Bai Lan's voice came from behind him.
Bei Bei came to his senses and looked at him.
Bai Lan closed the Contract Book, stood up, and walked over.
"Thank you for coming today," he said.
Bei Bei paused, then smiled. "What are you thanking us for? We didn't do anything."
"We were just here to watch."
"It's not about doing anything." Bai Lan shook his head. "It's about bearing witness."
He looked at Bei Bei, his gaze serious.
"Mu En wanted you to come so you could see this with your own eyes."
"And then help me keep this secret."
Bei Bei was silent for a second.
Then he nodded solemnly.
"Don't worry."
Tang Ya leaned over. "Exactly! We absolutely won't tell anyone!"
Xu Sanshi turned his head away. "...I'm not the kind of person who can't keep his mouth shut, either."
Bai Lan looked at the three of them and suddenly smiled.
"Thank you."
Tang Ya waved a hand, about to say something, when her eyes suddenly lit up.
"By the way, Bai Lan, would you be interested in joining the Tang Sect?"
The question came out of nowhere.
Bai Lan was slightly taken aback.
Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were also surprised, turning to look at Tang Ya.
Tang Ya, however, looked completely serious, her eyes shining as she gazed at Bai Lan.
"Think about it. Your Martial Soul is a Contract Book, and you can make contracts with all kinds of Soul Beasts. Our Tang Sect has a complete guide to Hidden Weapons, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and all sorts of secret techniques. If you joined, you'd definitely become even stronger!"
"And also—and also—" She counted on her fingers. "Bei Bei is the senior disciple, I'm the sect master, and Xu Sanshi is... Uh, he's an outside associate. If you joined, you'd be an official disciple! We'd be family from then on!"
Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes. "What do you mean, 'outside associate'?"
Tang Ya ignored him and continued gazing at Bai Lan with eager eyes.
"Well? Think about it?"
Bai Lan was silent for a second.
The Tang Sect.
Those two words weighed heavily on him.
When he'd read novels in his previous life, of course he'd known what the Tang Sect was.
The sect founded by Tang San, with a legacy stretching back ten thousand years, famous throughout the world for its Hidden Weapons.
It sounded impressive.
But there was something else he knew even better.
The founder of the Tang Sect was Tang San.
The Endless Fire Domain had Yao Lao, but the Divine Realm had no Yu Xiaogang.
And with all the repulsive things that had happened in the original story, along with the unfinished mess from the first series,
he really didn't have much of a favorable impression of it.
He might even end up opposing them once he rose to power in the future.
Bai Lan looked into Tang Ya's expectant eyes and suddenly felt a little dazed.
The girl still didn't know.
She didn't know what the Tang Sect would face in the future.
She didn't know what would happen to her parents.
She didn't know what she herself would go through.
But sooner or later, she would find out.
And he...
He didn't want to become one of Tang San's pieces.
Nor did he want to be tied to any faction.
He only wanted to walk his own path.
"Sorry."
Bai Lan spoke, his voice calm.
Tang Ya's eyes dimmed for a moment.
"Not right now?" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Bai Lan shook his head, his tone gentle but firm.
"Tang Ya, I'm not rejecting the Tang Sect."
"I just... won't consider joining any faction for now."
He paused, his gaze turning serious.
"I'm only six years old, and I've just reached level thirty."
"Being a Soul Elder sounds impressive, but across the whole continent, it doesn't amount to much."
"What I need is to improve myself, grow stronger, and reach higher levels as quickly as I can."
"Joining a faction means responsibility. It means restrictions. It means there are many things I can't do as I please."
He looked at Tang Ya and spoke, each word clear.
"So, I'm sorry."
"At least for now, I won't join any faction."
Tang Ya was stunned.
She opened her mouth to say something, but found she couldn't get the words out.
She understood what Bai Lan meant.
He wasn't rejecting the Tang Sect.
He was rejecting all factions.
He wanted to walk his own path.
Bei Bei watched from the side, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.
Could a six-year-old really think like that?
Looking at Bai Lan's calm face, he suddenly felt that the boy was more thoughtful than he'd imagined.
Xu Sanshi surprisingly didn't say a word. He just folded his arms and pondered.
The silence lasted a few seconds.
Then Tang Ya took a deep breath and forced a smile.
"Fine, fine. I won't pressure you!"
She patted Bai Lan on the shoulder and said, pretending to be casual,
"But remember, the Tang Sect's doors will always be open to you! Whenever you feel like joining, just come find me!"
Bai Lan looked at her eyes, still tinged with disappointment despite her efforts to smile, and felt a warmth rise in his heart.
"Okay." He nodded. "I'll remember."
Tang Ya smiled, this time sincerely.
"Then it's a deal!"
She turned and pulled Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi toward the door.
"Come on, let him get some rest. He's heading out tomorrow!"
Bei Bei let her pull him along, glancing back at Bai Lan.
There was a hint of meaning in his eyes.
As if to say: You're more clearheaded than I thought.
Bai Lan met his gaze and gave a slight nod.
Bei Bei looked away and followed Tang Ya out.
Xu Sanshi brought up the rear. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped.
He turned around and looked at Bai Lan.
"Hey."
Bai Lan looked at him.
Xu Sanshi, for once, didn't wear his usual haughty expression. Instead, he said seriously,
"I'll remember what you said just now."
"If you ever decide to build your own faction, make sure to call me."
Bai Lan was taken aback.
How did this guy know?
He hadn't even said anything about that.
Xu Sanshi had already turned and walked out, leaving only his parting words behind.
"That girl Tang Ya is naive, but I'm not."
"I can tell you've got ambition."
"People with ambition are worth following."
The door closed.
Bai Lan stood where he was, looking at it.
After a long while, he smiled.
"Xu Sanshi..." he murmured. "That guy's not as dumb as he looks."
He turned and walked back to the window.
Outside, the lake was as still as a mirror.
Yinxing was still sitting by the lakeshore, gazing up at the stars.
Looking at her back, Bai Lan suddenly remembered what Xu Sanshi had said.
"People with ambition are worth following."
He did have ambition.
But not the ambition to rule the continent.
Nor the ambition to become a god and be revered as an ancestor.
He just wanted to—
Walk his own path.
Not be controlled by anyone.
Not become anyone's pawn.
Not repeat anyone else's fate.
That was all.
"The Tang Sect..." he murmured.
When he'd read novels in his previous life, he'd been moved by the Tang Sect's passion.
He'd marveled at the intricacy of its Hidden Weapons.
He'd been awed by Tang San's legend.
But that was his previous life.
In this life, he was Bai Lan.
Not a follower of Tang San.
Not anyone's subordinate.
He was just himself.
Moonlight spilled in through the window.
Yinxing seemed to sense something. She turned and looked toward his window.
Their gazes met once again.
Looking at her, Bai Lan suddenly asked,
"Yinxing, do you think I should join the Tang Sect?"
Yinxing was silent for a second.
Then she spoke.
"Does Master want to join?"
Bai Lan shook his head.
Yinxing nodded. "Then don't."
Bai Lan was taken aback, then smiled.
"It's that simple?"
Yinxing looked at him, her gaze calm.
"Master should walk his own path."
"I'm only Master's Contract Beast."
"Not Master's master."
Bai Lan was stunned.
Looking into Yinxing's deep eyes, he suddenly felt like he'd just been lectured by a Soul Beast.
"You're right." He smiled. "I'll walk my own path."
Yinxing nodded, turned back around, and gazed out at the lake.
Bai Lan also looked away and turned back toward the bed.
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
He continued cultivating.
Before you continue