Strange Voice in My Heart

In the kitchen, two spirit fish swam leisurely inside a water tank.

Suddenly, a hand reached into the water, sending them darting away in a panic; however, the tank was only so large, and one of them was quickly caught.

The golden scales were coated in a layer of slime, feeling somewhat slippery to the touch.

Yet, Chi Jiuyu held it firmly as she pulled it out.

The spirit fish struggled incessantly with considerable strength, and during the process, its tail accidentally slapped the side of the tank, causing the half-full container to slide a distance across the counter.

"Good thing this tank is custom-made."

Otherwise, it might have been shattered by that single blow.

She held the thrashing spirit fish in one hand and gently tapped its head with the other.

Slap!

A trace of mana was injected, instantly extinguishing the fish's life force. She then skillfully scaled and gutted it, removed the internal organs, cut off the head, and set the prepared fish body aside.

Chi Jiuyu took out her phone, opened the camera function, and used a telekinetic technique to make it hover behind her.

With everything ready, she walked over to the fish body and gave it a sharp tap.

A burst of mana launched the entire fish into the air. Chi Jiuyu kept her eyes locked on it, her kitchen knife flashing out!

Swish!

Dozens of tiny Sword Qi strands crisscrossed through the air, slicing the airborne fish body into uniform pieces. She grabbed a porcelain plate with her other hand, and the paper-thin fish slices landed inside, arranged perfectly.

Chi Jiuyu set down the knife with delight, looking at the neatly arranged slices on the plate.

I'm so awesome!

In truth, one slice had fallen slightly crooked, but she had secretly adjusted it.

After admiring her work for a moment, she waved her hand to summon her phone, trimmed the unimportant parts from the video she had just recorded, and sent it to 'My Most Respected Master'.

Future Sect Master of Sword Sect: "How is it, Master? Uncle-Master and I are preparing to eat fish today."

My Most Respected Master: "/hanging"

My Most Respected Master: "/whip-wielding-rubber-duck"

Tch~

Chi Jiuyu tossed her phone into her storage ring and carried the fish slices out of the kitchen.

"Uncle-Master! Look at how beautifully I sliced this fish!"

Xu Xing was sitting on the sofa, holding his phone in one hand, from which a familiar, sweet voice was emanating.

"I've arrived at the hotel~ The environment here is quite nice, and the hotel has even installed Spirit Gathering Arrays. The spiritual energy is abundant, so when everyone comes to visit Mystic Sword City, you can choose to stay at this hotel too."

You must have been paid to shill like this.

No, that wasn't the important part.

"Uncle-Master, you're watching a Joyous Union Sect livestream!"

Surely he wasn't just curious about the Joyous Union Sect's cultivation methods this time.

Xu Xing looked up at her: "That's right, what about it?"

What about it...

Chi Jiuyu was momentarily speechless. Indeed, there didn't seem to be any rule stating that an Uncle-Master couldn't watch a Joyous Union Sect livestream.

Hmm...

She set down the fish slices and turned back into the kitchen.

Xu Xing looked back at his phone. On the screen was Jiang Yujiu, the Joyous Union Sect charm cultivator he had met earlier. She was no longer wearing her palace gown; instead, she had changed into a white tight-fitting tank top and denim shorts, kneeling on the bed. Her long, slender legs were blindingly fair, and a stream of comments scrolled by.

[Exploring the Ancient Cultivator who emerged from seclusion in Mystic Sword City]

It seemed the disciples of the other Immortal Sects shouldn't be far behind.

Xu Xing closed the livestream and set his phone down.

Inside the kitchen, Chi Jiuyu took out the phone she had just tossed into her storage ring.

Future Sect Master of Sword Sect: "Master, Uncle-Master is watching a Joyous Union Sect livestream!"

This time, the other side didn't reply immediately as she had before.

Hm?

Is the network lagging?

After a long while.

My Most Respected Master: "Junior Brother is not that kind of person."

Chi Jiuyu raised an eyebrow.

I am your disciple, yet you don't believe me!

At the hospital, Xiao Fan walked into a patient room.

On the bed by the window lay a tall, robust man, his eyes tightly shut and his aura withered.

Sitting beside him was a middle-aged woman.

"Mom."

The middle-aged woman paused, and upon turning to see Xiao Fan, a trace of a smile appeared on her face: "Oh, it's Xiao Fan."

"How is Big Brother?" Xiao Fan walked forward and stood at the foot of the bed. "Is he any better?"

"Mm, I asked today; he could wake up at any moment in the next few days."

After Xiao Fan's mother finished speaking, she noticed her son standing motionless, seemingly lost in thought about something.

She looked worried: "Are you alright, Xiao Fan? Do you want to go get checked out?"

Xiao Fan started, suddenly snapping back to reality, and then offered a somewhat forced smile: "Don't worry, Mom, I'm fine."

"Why don't you go back and rest first? Your brother's condition has stabilized, so you don't need to worry."

Xiao Fan did not refuse, nodding: "Alright, Mom, then I'll head back first."

With that, he turned around and quickened his pace as he left the room.

Xiao Fan's mother watched her son's retreating back, feeling increasingly guilty.

Xiao Fan really sacrificed too much this time.

She did not overthink it, assuming her son was simply in a bad mood because of the Pseudo Foundation Establishment matter.

As for Xiao Fan, after walking out of the ward, he kept his head down, his eyes filled with a trace of panic.

A terrifying voice, illusory and hazy, sounding both real and unreal, echoed in his ears—a voice only he could hear.

No!

It was as if it were ringing from the depths of his heart.

Why sacrifice your own future to fulfill your brother?

Do they really not know you bought the Barrier-Breaking Spirit Liquid?

No, it's all a lie!

They knew from the very beginning, but they wanted to save the more outstanding son, and you—you were merely the one to be abandoned.

Human nature is inherently flawed; those spirit coins were left for you to find on purpose. Compared to you, they wanted to save your brother more.

You have been abandoned!

You have been abandoned!

You have been abandoned!

As the voice grew faster and faster, Xiao Fan felt increasingly agitated.

"Hey! Watch where you're going! This is a hospital."

"Shut up!" Xiao Fan turned back and let out a roar.

The sound was so loud that people in the hallway all looked over.

The person who had reminded Xiao Fan was a patient in a hospital gown, pale and gaunt; being shouted at like that, he felt quite embarrassed.

However, before he could lash out, Xiao Fan bowed deeply.

"I am truly sorry, I'm in a bad mood and didn't mean it just now. My sincerest apologies!"

His apology came so quickly that the patient was left stunned.

"N-no problem, just be more careful next time."

After bowing once more, Xiao Fan turned and walked quickly toward the hospital exit.

The onlookers dispersed, disappointed that there was no drama to watch.

Once outside, Xiao Fan looked back, his heart still racing with lingering fear.

Hoo, hoo...

Only after taking several deep breaths did he feel a little better.

What was wrong with him?

He pressed a hand against his chest.

And what was that voice all about?

After a long while, Xiao Fan looked up.

He saw an endless stream of people, and among the passing crowd, a figure standing quietly stood out remarkably, yet the people around him seemed completely unable to see him.

He was stunned: "Senior Huo?"

"Opportunity was right before you, yet you failed to grasp it."

Huo's voice was calm as he stepped toward him; with every step he took, Xiao Fan felt the distance between himself and the surrounding world growing ever further.

When he arrived at the front, there was nothing left around him; as far as the eye could see, there was only a vast, white expanse.

A method beyond all comprehension.

Just how high was the realm of Senior Huo?

"Only this once."

Huo raised a hand and pointed, causing a storage ring to land in Xiao Fan's palm.

An opportunity?

Xiao Fan quickly reacted.

Could it be that what Senior Huo was referring to was the cup he had picked up earlier?

Was that actually a treasure?

Huo looked at Xiao Fan, feeling a rare sense of speechlessness.

He had bestowed fortune upon many people in the past, but never before had he encountered someone like Xiao Fan, who would give up a major opportunity about to fall into his hands over a mere two spirit coins.

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