Why Did You Come Back Again?

Within the sect, Waste Hall.

Steward Wang stood at the main gate with his hands on his hips, eyes bulging in fury, his tone incomparably fierce.

"Steward He, what kind of steward are you? You actually let one of your men flee the sect? I think your days as steward are numbered! This is dereliction of duty—serious dereliction of duty!"

Early that morning, Steward Wang had sent his men to keep an eye on Li Ping'an.

Though he did not yet dare to openly make things difficult for Li Ping'an, he still had to make sure Li Ping'an remained under his watch.

Yet his men had returned to report that Li Ping'an was gone.

This infuriated Steward Wang. That damned Steward He had actually let Li Ping'an slip away like that—how was he supposed to complete the task Senior Brother Zhang had given him now?

He immediately rushed over without pause and gave Steward He a brutal dressing-down, while also dispatching his men down the mountain to search for Li Ping'an.

If they found him, it would be best to kill him with a single blade.

Yet Steward He remained utterly unruffled. He let out a long sigh, putting on an extremely vexed expression as he said,

"Oh dear, I didn't know either! Yesterday, he asked me for leave, saying he wanted to go down the mountain to buy some things. Naturally, I couldn't refuse! Who would have thought he'd leave and never return? Ah, truly..."

As he spoke, he began sighing again. Yet no one noticed the corners of his mouth curling upward despite himself.

At that moment, he was secretly delighted beyond measure.

Li Ping'an, hurry and run. The farther you ran, the better. Don't ever come back to this place—this was no place for a human being to stay!

Just then, a voice suddenly sounded from outside.

"Who's looking for me?"

Then, beneath everyone's stunned gazes, Li Ping'an walked into the hall, swaying as he went, with an oil-paper parcel in his hand.

"Li Ping'an, you're back!"

The first person to be shocked was none other than Steward He. He had never imagined that Li Ping'an would actually come back.

In his mind, Li Ping'an should have already fled beyond the sect's territory by now and perhaps found a place to rest. Who would have thought he would return again?

"Y-you... why did you come back? Foolish, utterly foolish!"

Steward He trembled with rage, looking as though he hated iron for not becoming steel.

Steward Wang, meanwhile, stared fixedly at Li Ping'an. Only after a long while did he say,

"Good, good, good. It's good that you're back."

Li Ping'an gave Steward Wang a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Steward Wang, I've made you worry. This old man merely went down the mountain to buy some daily necessities. There's no need to be so nervous."

"Rest assured, the sect is my home. I was born here and raised here; I won't leave so easily. You needn't worry too much about me. Thank you for your concern, Steward Wang."

Steward Wang's mouth twitched. Who the hell is worried about you? I just want you dead!

But a sinister smile appeared on his face.

"Fine. Since Li Ping'an has returned, I won't disturb you any longer. Steward He, let me say this again: keep a close eye on your men, or you'll have a bitter fruit to swallow!"

With that, Steward Wang flicked his sleeve, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

The moment Steward Wang left, the disciples all rushed out and looked at Li Ping'an anxiously.

"Uncle Li, why did you come back again? Didn't you run away? What happened? Was someone guarding the foot of the mountain, forcing you to return?"

"I know of a hidden passage. You can leave through there!"

Someone offered a suggestion.

Li Ping'an waved his hand.

"You don't need to worry so much about me. Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

As he spoke, Li Ping'an shook the oil-paper parcel in his hand.

"I brought you some tasty food when I went down the mountain too."

Only then did everyone smell the enticing aroma wafting from the parcel, and they immediately began cheering with delight.

When the oil-paper parcel was torn open, it revealed several fragrant scallion-oil chickens.

"Uncle, you're the best!"

Then the disciples began dividing up the chicken.

Steward He, however, wore a worried expression.

"Li Ping'an, why did you come back? You let such a good opportunity slip through your fingers. From now on, Steward Wang will definitely keep a close watch on you and won't let you leave the mountain easily. What are we supposed to do now?"

"I asked around today. The one who wants your life is Senior Brother Zhang, the chief disciple of the inner sect. That man is a ruthless character. He never gives up on anything he sets out to do! Ah, what are we to do?"

Steward He's face was full of sorrow.

Li Ping'an patted his shoulder.

"It's alright, Steward He. Don't worry. I already told you—I know what I'm doing. You don't need to worry about me."

Steward He stared blankly at Li Ping'an. Suddenly, he had the strange illusion that Li Ping'an had grown younger these days.

Li Ping'an was older than he was, yet now Steward He felt as though Li Ping'an looked younger than him, and seemed far more energetic too.

What was going on?

Were his eyes playing tricks on him?

"Alright, Steward He. Look, I'm back now, so don't dwell on it. Haven't we started work yet today? Just give me the dirtiest, hardest jobs!"

As he spoke, Li Ping'an rolled his shoulders and walked straight into Waste Hall, beginning to work like a machine.

To others, this was difficult labor.

But to Li Ping'an, it was simply the process of frantically absorbing waste materials and converting them into spiritual power.

He worked until afternoon. Once all the work was finished, Li Ping'an immediately hurried back to his room.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Li Ping'an took a deep breath and sensed the incomparably abundant spiritual power within his body.

From last night until the entire day today, he had been using the Heaven-Tempering Hammer to frantically absorb waste fumes and deadly toxins. The spiritual power in his body was now nearly full, and he urgently needed to convert all of it into cultivation.

He was currently at the peak of the eighth stage of Body Tempering, only a single step away from the ninth stage.

Keep going!

Li Ping'an silently encouraged himself, closed his eyes, and began circulating the spiritual power within his body.

Who knew how much time passed? A fine layer of sweat appeared on Li Ping'an's face, and the entire room was filled with the smell of perspiration.

When he opened his eyes again, they had become even brighter and more spirited.

Huff!

Li Ping'an let out a long breath, rose from the bed, and stood up.

"Very good. I've broken through again!"

Li Ping'an clenched his fists, feeling the power flowing from his arms.

This session of cultivation had gone smoothly once more. He had now reached the ninth level of Body Tempering.

Moreover, he was at the peak of the ninth level of Body Tempering, about to enter the Qi Refining stage.

Who could have imagined that only a few days ago, he had been a decrepit old man with one foot in the grave?

Yet only days later, his cultivation had advanced at such astonishing speed that he was already close to reaching the Qi Refining stage, a realm only disciples of immortal sects possessed.

By then, he would be able to cast spells and become a true immortal.

Very good.

Li Ping'an let out a long breath.

Just then, he suddenly heard people talking outside the door.

"Oh, Zhang Meng, I heard today that your son successfully became a disciple of Elder Yu De from the outer sect! Not bad—you've got such a promising son!"

"Ah, it was just luck, just luck. That boy has worked hard enough himself; he hasn't disappointed us."

"Don't be modest about this. Yu De is the best elder in the outer sect. With your son as his disciple, his future is boundless. Perhaps he may even have a chance to enter the inner sect someday! Hehehe."

Zhang Meng laughed modestly, but the immense pride in his laughter could plainly be heard.

"Listen up, everyone. Tomorrow, I, Zhang Meng, will host a banquet for you all. You must come and honor me with your presence."

"Zhang Meng, what banquet are you holding? Is it for your son becoming a disciple?"

"That's one reason. The other is that I've moved house. I moved to the residential area on West Hill in the middle sect."