Seeing the sly look in Ye Han's eyes, Zhang Qingshan said helplessly, "How are we supposed to trick them? Besides, we belong to the same sect."
Ye Han immediately said, "Senior Brother Zhang, I think they keep bullying you not because your cultivation is weaker than theirs, but because you're too honest and keep too low a profile. You focus on cultivating, always thinking one less problem is better than one more, and you care about your bonds as fellow disciples. If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll take an inch and demand a mile."
Indeed, Ye Han was young but cunning beyond his years. He could tell that Zhang Qingshan was looked down upon in the sect not because his cultivation was lacking, but because he was honest and kept a low profile. Even when fighting, he still cared about his bonds with his fellow disciples.
Most of the time, he never got to unleash his full strength.
Just judging from his return this time, that fellow Jin Feng had said Zhang Qingshan would never make it back, yet Zhang Qingshan had returned despite those circumstances.
That meant Zhang Qingshan's cultivation was certainly not as weak as Ye Han had imagined.
Yet Zhang Qingshan was hardly known in the Seven Profound Sect. Clearly, he simply kept a low profile.
There were a few honest men like that in Green Ox Village too-so painfully honest they couldn't even find wives.
Clearly, Zhang Qingshan was the same sort of person, except that he had a talent for immortal cultivation.
Ye Han was different. Deep down, he was someone who could not bear being bullied. He could swallow humiliation and shoulder a burden for the sake of certain things, but he could not let people bully him forever.
Back in Green Ox Village, Wang Laocai, his son, and the village chief's son had all bullied him, and he had secretly gotten back at every one of them. No one had ever found out who was behind it.
Zhang Sanlei, Li Zhongqing, and Wang Fulai had actually dared to trouble him, even treating him like some fool who was easy to bully. Ye Han could not stomach that.
Before this, however, he had simply lacked the strength to deal with those three, so he had planned to return and cultivate diligently in seclusion, staying inside so they would not see him again.
Fortunately, he had taken precautions and had not told them his true identity or origins. Once his cultivation improved or an opportunity arose, he would deal with them.
But now that Zhang Qingshan had returned, Ye Han felt he had a little more confidence in dealing with them with his help.
Moreover, from what Zhang Qingshan had said, he suspected that Zhang Sanlei and the other two were the ones who had betrayed him. Since they had disregarded their bonds as fellow disciples, they could not blame him for doing the same.
That was why Ye Han wanted to help Zhang Qingshan vent his pent-up anger.
Zhang Qingshan's gaze turned cold, anger showing in his eyes, but he said to Ye Han, "Junior Brother Ye, you'd better stay out of this. This is a personal grudge between me and those three, and it didn't develop overnight. There's no need for you to get involved, much less risk yourself to avenge me."
Hearing this, Ye Han immediately said, "Senior Brother Zhang, this isn't just about avenging you. Aren't they going to kill some Demon Beast? If we got that Demon Beast instead, wouldn't we gain a great deal?"
He really did have that in mind. Zhang Sanlei and the other two were after that Demon Beast. All three were joining forces, and they still needed him as bait. That Demon Beast certainly could not be ordinary.
If they could snatch the Demon Beast from those three, they could both teach them a lesson and earn something for themselves. What was wrong with that?
On top of that, Ye Han understood their circumstances very well. Senior Brother Zhang Qingshan was gravely injured. If he had Spirit Stones to buy Healing Pills or find somewhere to recover, he would not have needed to come here.
Ye Han himself was in an even worse situation. The Purple Cauldron was something he could not reveal, and apart from it, he had nothing else of value.
After making a circuit of Seven Mysteries Peak, he had discovered that everything had to be bought as needed. Before much longer, he would not even have money to buy food...
Cultivators emphasized the Four Essentials of Cultivation: methods, companions, wealth, and a place to cultivate. Wealth meant cultivation resources. With his current cultivation, he could not obtain many resources at all. He could not even undertake the most basic assignments and could only cultivate painstakingly in his Cave Abode within the sect.
At this rate, who knew how long it would take him to reach Zhang Qingshan's level? Without money, he couldn't take a single step...
Hearing Ye Han's words, Zhang Qingshan looked tempted. Their situation was indeed delicate, but he still felt that attacking fellow disciples might be wrong. Besides, victory was far from assured.
His current condition, in particular, was far more complicated than what Ye Han could see.
So Zhang Qingshan said, "Junior Brother Ye, I've already told you that staying alive is the most important thing for cultivators like us. Don't become too attached to worldly possessions. Let's focus on cultivating and recovering first, and discuss it later."
Seeing Zhang Qingshan's attitude, Ye Han did not know what else to say. He kept feeling that this mindset was not quite right for a cultivator.
Since immortal cultivation meant defying Heaven, how could someone make much progress by meekly following the rules?
On one hand, he admired Zhang Qingshan for holding to his principles no matter what and felt that he truly was someone worth befriending. On the other hand, he thought Zhang Qingshan was a little too rigid and unable to adapt.
Forget it, forget it. Everyone has their own ambitions. Why should I force him?
Still, he had only been making a casual suggestion. After all, there were three of them, while his own cultivation was low enough that he posed no threat to them at all. Zhang Qingshan had also lost an arm, and Ye Han could not tell how serious his injuries were. Against three opponents, one crippled man and one weakling plotting against them did seem to be overestimating themselves.
So Ye Han said, "All right, Senior Brother Zhang. I was only saying it because I was angry. Don't take it to heart."
After a pause, he changed the subject. "By the way, Senior Brother Zhang, my cultivation has already reached the peak of the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm. Are there any spells I can learn?"
Seeing that Ye Han was no longer dwelling on the subject, Zhang Qingshan moved on as well. "It's best that you can think that way. We cultivators must guard against greed, and fighting with others out of spite is a grave taboo. We don't just cultivate our strength, but our state of mind as well. Understand?"
Ye Han nodded and said, "I understand, Senior Brother."
Seeing that he was no longer taking it to heart, Zhang Qingshan did not lecture him further. He rarely argued with others anyway, even when their cultivation was far beneath his.
After considering it, Zhang Qingshan said to Ye Han, "Since your cultivation has already reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm, you can start learning basic incantations and hand seals!"
Ye Han frowned when he heard this. "Incantations and hand seals? What are those?"
Zhang Qingshan explained, "When we cultivators cast spells, besides using our own Spell Power, we can recite incantations to connect with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, then use hand seals to control its arrangement and form spells. At this stage, you need to start with the basics: some simple hand seals and the proper way to recite basic incantations!"
Ye Han said in disappointment, "Huh? So I still can't cast spells?"
Seeing Ye Han's disappointed expression, Zhang Qingshan said, "How about this? On this trip, I obtained a Wood Element Spell that suits you. Once you've learned the incantations and hand seals I teach you, I'll pass it on to you!"
Hearing this, Ye Han exclaimed in delighted surprise, "What spell?!"
Before you continue