That Was Far Too Cautious

It was good that he hadn't come for him.

"So it was Fellow Daoist Lin. I thought an evil cultivator was attacking."

After confirming that it was Lin Cong and sensing no killing intent from him, He Song cupped his hands in greeting.

After speaking, He Song glanced at the earthen-yellow barrier shrouding his body. Though there was relief in his voice, he did not regret using this Thick Earth Talisman, worth five Spirit Stones, in the slightest.

No matter how many Spirit Stones one had, one needed to be alive to spend them.

Besides, wasn't carrying Spirit Talismans on one's person precisely to preserve one's life?

Though this time had ended without danger, He Song did not think he would be so lucky every time.

It was only a Spirit Talisman. It had been used, so be it.

His life was far more precious.

From now on, he needed to remain vigilant at all times.

If he died, that would truly be a tremendous loss.

"I have given Fellow Daoist a fright. Lin returned wounded and merely wished to get inside quickly to tend to my injuries. I did not expect to disturb Fellow Daoist." Lin Cong looked at the bloodstains on himself, then at the earthen-yellow barrier around He Song, his expression awkward.

Who would have thought that merely walking a little faster would frighten his neighbor into using a Thick Earth Talisman?

Were cultivators these days all this cautious?

But the awkwardness on Lin Cong's face soon vanished. He then took five Spirit Stones from his sleeve and placed them in He Song's hand.

"Lin has five Spirit Stones here. Consider them payment for Fellow Daoist's Thick Earth Talisman. I hope Fellow Daoist will not take offense."

After saying that, Lin Cong's face suddenly flushed red.

Only after coughing heavily twice did he cup his hands to He Song again, turn, and enter his own room.

"Lin will go inside and tend to my injuries first. Fellow Daoist, please make yourself at ease."

Holding the five Spirit Stones Lin Cong had handed over, He Song had been about to decline politely.

But he discovered that Lin Cong's injuries seemed to be worsening, and he was at a critical juncture where he needed to begin treatment immediately.

Stopping him now would likely make Lin Cong unhappy.

So He Song said nothing more and opened his door, entering his own room.

He shut the door.

He locked it.

Inside the dim room.

He Song lit a lamp, illuminating his surroundings, then quietly sat beside the table.

Only at this moment.

Did He Song's mind settle somewhat.

Even while speaking with Lin Cong just now, He Song had never relaxed his vigilance.

As he recalled every detail of what had just happened, He Song sank into thought.

From first hearing Lin Cong's footsteps.

To catching the scent of blood, Lin Cong's verbal warning, his own activation of the Thick Earth Talisman, and his face-to-face conversation with Lin Cong.

After sorting through nearly every detail.

He Song let out a breath.

This incident truly seemed to have been nothing more than a coincidence.

The severely injured Lin Cong had no motive to attack him at all.

At the same time, the clothes he wore were enough to make ordinary Rogue Cultivators hesitate like rats afraid to break a vase.

It seemed he really had been overly cautious.

Still, it was not a loss.

He Song glanced at the five Spirit Stones on the table, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes.

Though he had used up one Thick Earth Talisman, he had gained another five Spirit Stones.

All things considered, there was neither profit nor loss.

"Lin Cong is fairly principled. Still, he probably compensated me with these five Spirit Stones because of the clothes I'm wearing, right?"

Five Spirit Stones were no small sum for a Rogue Cultivator at the early Qi Refining stage.

Yet the other party had handed them over so readily.

He Song felt that had a great deal to do with the clothes he wore.

Had it been someone else, Lin Cong might not have been so quick to hand over Spirit Stones.

Shaking his head, He Song cast aside those thoughts.

His gaze soon became profound.

A few days earlier.

When he had first seen Lin Cong, Lin Cong had possessed a sturdy frame, fierce energy in his eyes, knotted muscles all over his body. He had looked like a humanoid demon beast, and one glance was enough to tell that he was exceedingly formidable.

Back then, Lin Cong had said he had urgent business outside.

Yet only a few days had passed, and he had returned severely wounded.

Though He Song did not know what Lin Cong had encountered, he guessed that it could not have been anything good.

Lin Cong was merely a Rogue Cultivator at Qi Refining Layer 3. Though he appeared extremely capable in combat.

Any mishap outside the Immortal Market could result in death and the dissipation of one's Dao.

Never mind Lin Cong returning severely injured.

Even if Lin Cong had perished and never returned, He Song would not have found it surprising.

But the sight of Lin Cong returning gravely wounded made He Song even more certain that his own method of hiding away in the Immortal Market and cultivating slowly was the right one.

Rogue Cultivators.

Especially Rogue Cultivators like this, who licked blood from the edge of a blade.

Their mortality rate had always remained high.

Even if they earned much for a time, the vast majority would meet unnatural deaths.

In the end, very few could break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage, let alone Foundation Establishment.

That was an achievement requiring extraordinarily powerful fortune.

Yet he only needed to stay in the Immortal Market and cultivate slowly, and one day he would break through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage, the Qi Refining Late Stage, and the Foundation Establishment Realm.

As an Immortal.

He merely needed a safe environment to continue growing stronger.

Even if it took a long time.

But did he, already eternal and ageless, lack time?

Thoughts surged through his mind.

Encountering the severely injured Lin Cong today made He Song even firmer in the path he would take going forward.

After pondering for a moment.

He Song extinguished the lamp and began meditating in cultivation.

However, though he was cultivating, He Song continued paying attention to the movements coming from Lin Cong next door, keeping his guard up.

During the first half of the night, He Song vaguely heard waves of coughing and pained groans from next door.

During the latter half of the night, the movements next door weakened, and no more sounds came through.

From then until dawn, He Song heard nothing further from next door.

When golden sunlight fell from the high sky.

And He Song's body was warmed pleasantly by its rays, he opened his eyes at the proper moment.

He gave the room where Lin Cong was staying next door a thoughtful glance.

Then He Song rose and left his room.

He first went to the Spirit Field under his care and cast the Spirit Rain Technique.

Then he made a round of the Spirit Field. After finding nothing unusual, He Song once more headed to the Stall Area within the Immortal Market.

He had used a Thick Earth Talisman yesterday, leaving him with only one remaining.

But Lin Cong had compensated him with five Spirit Stones.

Naturally, He Song needed to exchange those five Spirit Stones for a new Thick Earth Talisman.

With only one Thick Earth Talisman on him, He Song never felt entirely secure.

At the Stall Area.

He Song haggled with the stall owner selling Spirit Talismans for a long while.

In the end, he still failed to bargain the price down and could only spend five Spirit Stones at the original price to buy a new Thick Earth Talisman.

There was no helping it.

Spirit Talisman business was difficult too.

The price of five Spirit Stones per talisman had remained steady for a long time.

Holding the new Thick Earth Talisman, along with the wrinkled Thick Earth Talisman he already possessed, He Song carefully placed them in the most easily accessible spot within his sleeve.

From now on, he could not let something like last night happen again, where the enemy had already reached his side and he still had no time to activate his Spirit Talisman.