I Was Still Too Kindhearted

Ren Qing stood in the shadows of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, sensing one veiled consciousness after another flicker past.

"Boundless Heavenly Venerable."

"If the prefect has come for the Immortal Ascension Assembly, what does that have to do with me?"

"Yin Immortals, True Immortals, and Profound Immortals are merely the tip of the iceberg. This world is indeed deep and unfathomable."

Ren Qing's strength could not be summed up simply. But since he had comprehended his immortal arts from the Immortal Ascension Method, he would still have to remain in contact with the Immortal Ascension Sect after becoming a Yin Immortal.

"Daoist Beisu's ascension method has a hint of an escape art to it. Heh, it's like oil on the soles of your feet. If I get the chance, I could certainly study it."

Ren Qing slipped past the prying consciousnesses one by one and returned to the rear courtyard of Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.

In just one night, Wish-Fulfillment Abbey had descended into chaos. The Daoists were all in a panic, and many of them, seeing the writing on the wall, simply took the opportunity to steal the incense money.

Several side halls had even been set ablaze by someone, and flames shot into the sky.

Ren Qing returned to the courtyard, which, by contrast, had been left alone.

He looked toward Su Huo's grave. The old man had successfully seized the sliver of life Ren Qing had given him, and his first Mortal Shedding was nearly complete. There was no need to water him with blood anymore.

"The old man certainly has some talent, but the Rebirth Ascension Method is somewhat incomplete. He still has to shed his skin seven times. Reaching the level of a Yin Immortal will be a path strewn with hardships."

Ren Qing looked away. Twelve Black Rat Dao Children hurried over, carrying a coffin.

Rune patterns resembling blood vessels had grown across the coffin's surface, turning it entirely blood-red.

The yellow mud collected by the Black Rat Dao Children had been piled beside it.

Ren Qing took some of the mud and spread it evenly over the runes inside and outside the coffin. Under normal circumstances, the yellow mud should have been replaced with grave soil, but as things stood, the killing intent in the yellow mud was even more potent.

"Coffin Dissolution requires deep burial on a battlefield or in a mass grave. This place doesn't have a similar environment, but Wish-Fulfillment Abbey is even worse."

"During Song Baizhou's decades as abbot, who knows how many skeletons have been buried underground."

Ren Qing glanced at the sky. Even though the commotion had spread throughout the city, not a single unorthodox cultivator had come to Wish-Fulfillment Abbey.

"Mouse Divine General, take the blood coffin back to the cave abode and put it somewhere safe. Leave it with Frog Immortal Lord."

The cave abode had already begun its third expansion. The alchemy and artifact-forging rooms were nearly finished, and, barring any surprises, the disciples' cultivation room should be done by now too.

The Black Rat Dao Children nodded repeatedly and carried the blood coffin into the tunnel.

"To be safe, let's wait until Song Baizhou is dead before performing Coffin Dissolution."

As Ren Qing turned to leave the courtyard, he heard the sound of a cocoon of human skin splitting from the grave atop the slope. Su Huo was about to complete his Mortal Shedding.

He paid it no mind and went to the main hall.

Sun Zu was kneeling before the immortal statue. Five Daoists who had died not long ago had been laid out on the altar, but the statue had shown no response to the offerings from beginning to end.

Only half the immortal statue remained. Ren Qing couldn't imagine any chance of Song Baizhou regaining consciousness.

"Master, you were harmed by wicked men. Please don't mistake your disciple for one of them."

Sun Zu muttered, "I'll go find you blood offerings right away, as many as you want..."

Ren Qing sensed several consciousnesses watching the main hall, so he didn't enter.

He checked repeatedly and confirmed that runes covered Sun Zu's body.

The runes on the coffin were for Coffin Dissolution. The ones on Sun Zu came from that lining and were for Garment Dissolution.

Garment Dissolution required someone to die in his place.

In terms of requirements, Garment Dissolution was actually the easiest to achieve. Alas, I was still too kindhearted.

"Being my scapegoat will count as a good deed, at least."

Ren Qing's only concern was that Sun Zu's cultivation was still shallow. After his death, he might not be enough to support Ren Qing's Garment Dissolution. It would be best if Sun Zu could advance a little further first.

Or should he find a few more people for Garment Dissolution?

Though I'm kindhearted, the Dao Path is full of peril. I need to know how to adapt.

Sun Zu muttered for a while. When he saw that the immortal statue remained motionless, he stood and headed for the door.

After just a few steps, his expression began to change.

First came panic, then hesitation, and finally... naked greed.

Sun Zu returned to the altar and stared fixedly at the battered immortal statue. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Master, you really are about to die."

"Your immortal flesh was what allowed your disciple to enter the Immortal Ascension Method. I've always remembered your kindness."

Sun Zu picked up a small lump of yellow mud beside the altar and shoved it into his mouth without hesitation.

After he swallowed it, the surface of his skin soon developed a few more cracks like those on a clay statue, a sign that he was one step closer to becoming a Yellow Mud Immortal.

He looked ecstatic. "It really works! Hahahaha!"

"Since you can't wake up, I'll help you keep Wish-Fulfillment Abbey going."

"If I eat you, I can inherit your legacy and attain immortality just like you."

Sun Zu fetched a piece of white cloth and covered the immortal statue. Then he carefully closed the doors and windows before hurrying to a side hall, presumably to deal with the unrest.

If nobody was left to run Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, how could he keep the immortal statue all to himself?

Watching Sun Zu's retreating figure, Ren Qing couldn't help clicking his tongue in wonder. "With a disposition like that, he really is a rare talent in a mental asylum."

"Sun Zu can't digest Song Baizhou's remains. Sooner or later, the backlash will kill him. That way, I can still be a little kindhearted."

"And after all this, there's no way Song Baizhou will survive either."

"One stone, two birds. Garment Dissolution and Coffin Dissolution will happen one after the other, saving me quite a bit of trouble."

"Still..."

Ren Qing narrowed his eyes. It was good that he wouldn't have to act personally and risk exposing himself, but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to take the remains of the immortal statue with him. Unorthodox cultivators would certainly covet them.

"Every gain comes with a loss. This plan is already about as perfect as it gets."

Ren Qing left two Black Rat Dao Children hidden outside Wish-Fulfillment Abbey, giving up on the immortal statue for good.

Then he went straight back to the cave abode beneath the well.

After such a long absence, the cave abode looked like the residence of a wealthy household.

A small ornamental rockery stood at the entrance. A few green plants stubbornly sprouted from its crevices, but with no sunlight for so long, their leaves had taken on a sickly yellow-green hue.

A winding path paved with smooth pebbles led onward, tying the scenery together.

At the end was a somewhat spacious stone chamber: Frog Immortal Lord's disciples' cultivation room. Inside, a shallow pool had been dug into the floor.

Smooth bluestone covered its bottom, and hundreds of frogs crouched along the edge.

Frog Immortal Lord lay in the middle. When he saw Ren Qing, he hurriedly brought his forelimbs together in a respectful salute.

"Frog Immortal Lord, you... have no desire to pursue the Dao at all, do you?"

Ren Qing found that the pool was full of female frogs. Then he remembered that frogs didn't need to be similar in size to reproduce. In other words, they were all Frog Immortal Lord's harem.

Frog Immortal Lord gave him an honest smile. Fine, pointed teeth had now grown in his mouth.

"Mouse Divine General, escort me to the temporary cave abode so I can go into seclusion."

Ren Qing lifted the coffin lid and lay down inside.

More than thirty Black Rat Dao Children picked up the coffin and entered a hidden passage. After traveling for a long while, they arrived at a cavern deep beneath the outskirts of the city.

Hidden passages crisscrossed the area around the temporary cave abode. If anything went wrong, they could move at once.

They could even leave Water Mouth City in a short time.