Let Go of the Urge to Help Others, Respect Their Fate

Su Bai waited a while longer, then added another line to the sign.

Meals and lodging included!

Join the sect and begin cultivating immortal arts immediately!

He had removed all that empty, grandiose nonsense about becoming the number one sect in the world. What he valued was seeking truth from facts!

He only needed one disciple to upgrade the sect and unlock the Immortal Arts Pavilion. By then, what immortal arts would he lack?

Seeing the sky gradually darken, Su Bai could not help sighing. He prepared to pack up and leave, planning to find a bridge to sleep under for the night.

"May I ask, Immortal Master, can one really cultivate immortal arts upon joining the sect?"

At that moment, a voice came from behind him.

Su Bai turned around and saw a young man in green robes standing there, his manner somewhat reserved.

There was a faint trace of exhaustion between his brows, yet his eyes were filled with determination and longing.

"That is correct. Once you join the sect and take a master, you can immediately come into contact with immortal arts."

Su Bai straightened his expression. This was the first person to inquire today; regardless of how the other party looked, he had to answer patiently.

Yet the moment he opened his mouth, a crowd gathered around them.

"He's a swindler. How can you believe him?"

"Exactly! Such crude tricks—does he think this is still ten years ago?"

"Young man, earning thirty taels of silver isn't easy. Be careful not to get scammed!"

The crowd mocked him all at once, their gazes toward Su Bai full of contempt and disdain, as though they were looking at a piece of trash.

Zhuge Feng remained silent. He was not an idiot; he also knew there was a ninety-nine percent chance Su Bai was a fraud.

But what about that remaining one percent?

Even if there was only a one percent chance of coming into contact with immortal arts, he... did not want to give up!

It was just that thirty taels of silver...

Seeing the young man fall silent, Su Bai shook his head. It seemed that now he had been branded both a swindler and a fool. There was no way he could recruit a disciple here.

Tomorrow, he would try the Hundred Sects Assembly somewhere else and change into a different outfit!

"May I ask, Immortal Master, could I settle the thirty taels of silver at the end of the month?" Zhuge Feng gathered his courage and asked softly.

He knew this request was excessive. The chance of being refused was as high as ninety-nine percent.

Almost every sect and faction collected that month's silver at the beginning of the month. No credit was allowed, with no exceptions.

But he was penniless now, and there was nothing he could do.

"Pay at the end of the month? No problem! Don't worry, our sect absolutely never delays payment!" Su Bai patted his chest in assurance.

Before transmigrating, he had hated companies that withheld wages the most. After transmigrating, he had become a sect master. He could not guarantee anything else, but he would certainly guarantee his disciples' benefits!

Only those who had stood in the rain knew how miserable it was to be rained on.

Zhuge Feng froze. He had not expected anyone to actually be willing to let him pay later.

"Immortal Master, are you... sure?"

"Mm, of course!" Su Bai nodded.

"Immortal Master, this disciple, Zhuge Feng, wishes to join the Heavenly Dao Sect!" Zhuge Feng hurriedly saluted him.

"Zhuge Feng, right? You can take me as your master after we return to the Heavenly Dao Sect. Do you have time now?"

"Yes. This disciple has nowhere to go at present and can follow Immortal Master back to the sect."

As Su Bai led Zhuge Feng away, the crowd on the other side could no longer hold back their laughter.

"Is that young man an idiot? He couldn't even see through such a clumsy scam?" someone could not help mocking.

A person beside him chimed in, "Exactly. Looking at him, his brain probably doesn't work too well either."

Someone else cut in, "Ah, forget it. Didn't he just say he was penniless? Even if they wanted to scam him, they probably couldn't get anything out of him."

"Hehe, who says scamming someone must be for money? What if they're after his kidney? Haven't you heard that certain bigshots specifically need young, healthy kidneys like his to..." another person said.

At that moment, someone in the crowd sighed softly, shook his head, and said, "Let go of the urge to help others and respect their fate. Our own lives are already difficult enough—why bring trouble upon ourselves?"

The others nodded one after another in agreement. "If that young man dares to come out and scam people, there might be some force backing him. Ordinary folk like us can't afford to offend them!"

The crowd turned and left. Every word reached Zhuge Feng's ears. When he looked up, Su Bai's back had already vanished from sight.

Heh, there was nowhere else for him to go anyway.

If Su Bai wanted to scam him, then let him.

But what if it was real?

With that thought, he hurriedly quickened his pace and followed after Su Bai.

Seeing Zhuge Feng catch up, Su Bai smiled faintly. It seemed the mission to recruit a disciple was about to be completed!

"Stop!"

Not long after leaving the Myriad Sects Assembly, a sharp feminine cry suddenly rang out.

Su Bai looked up and saw a young girl glaring angrily at him.

The girl before him had willow-leaf brows like distant mountains brushed with dark dye, a straight and delicate nose, red lips and white teeth, skin fairer than snow, and long hair falling to her waist.

Damn, what a gorgeous girl!

Even anger could not diminish her bearing!

Xiao Lingxi

"Little girl, what do you want?"

The girl looked at Su Bai with utter disdain, then said to Zhuge Feng, "He's a swindler. Don't let him fool you!"

Su Bai laughed speechlessly. "Miss, empty words prove nothing. Do you have evidence that I'm a swindler?"

The girl snorted. "Every faction requires newcomers to serve as menial disciples for half a year before they become official disciples and can come into contact with immortal arts. You say they can cultivate immortal arts as soon as they join your sect. If that doesn't make you a swindler, what does?"

Su Bai chuckled. "Miss, what does it have to do with my sect that other factions make people wait half a year before learning immortal arts, while mine lets them learn upon joining?"

"What sect would be so kind-hearted? If you aren't a swindler, what else could you be?" The girl clearly did not believe him.

"Believe it or not." Su Bai curled his lip, too lazy to argue with her.

He looked at Zhuge Feng and said, "If you believe me, come with me. If you don't, then leave."

Though he desperately needed a disciple, he would never force anyone!

With that, Su Bai turned and left. Whether Zhuge Feng believed him was Zhuge Feng's own business.

Seeing this, Zhuge Feng gritted his teeth and finally made his decision. "This disciple believes Immortal Master!"

Hearing that, Su Bai stopped and turned back in surprise. "You still believe me?"

"Yes, this disciple believes Immortal Master!" Zhuge Feng nodded heavily.

"Then let's go!" Su Bai smiled easily and started walking.

Being trusted by someone felt pretty good.

Su Bai was feeling good, but Xiao Lingxi was nearly going mad.

She had never imagined there could be someone as stubbornly foolish as Zhuge Feng in this world!

He was obviously a swindler, yet Zhuge Feng still believed him?

"Damn it, you bastard! I'll definitely expose your true face!" Xiao Lingxi stomped her foot fiercely and chased after Su Bai.

"No, miss, why are you following me again?" Su Bai was speechless. Was this girl some kind of sticky plaster?

Xiao Lingxi snorted coldly and declared righteously, "I'm going to expose you, you swindler!"

"It's already dark. Why aren't you going home instead of pestering me, little girl?" Su Bai rolled his eyes. He truly could not understand what was in this girl's head.

"You don't need to worry about that. I can protect myself!" Xiao Lingxi raised her chin, revealing a precious sword at her waist.