The sage was determined to die.

The old tortoise remained silent for a long time.

He broke free of the hand's grasp, gurgling as he exhaled bubbles, saying, "This is such an unlucky omen, isn't it?"

"I cherish my life very much."

The old tortoise's inhuman face revealed a highly emotional sneer as he said, "Even if this body dies again, it won't affect my true form in the slightest."

As they spoke, the man and the turtle gradually surfaced. Ji Ying was half-wet, but his eyes were burning with desire. He stared at the old turtle for a long time, then suddenly smiled and said, "I've been thinking all along about what method I should use to make you feel pain."

Before the old tortoise could reply, he continued, "You are old, lack talent, and are extremely arrogant. You look down on this and that, and you are full of wicked schemes, only knowing how to plot against others. You are of no benefit to yourself and make no progress whatsoever..."

As Ji Ying finished speaking, the old tortoise's already ashen face darkened even further.

"You don't care about family ties, and you don't have many friends. You only do one thing with a fresh perspective..." Ji Ying chuckled. "But what if someone else beats you to it all?"

The old tortoise, who had maintained his composure, tensed up upon hearing the last sentence. He looked at Ji Ying and said in a hoarse voice, "Is this why you went to such lengths to lure me here?"

You need to know—

The old tortoise's voice was rough and shrill, as if it had been repeatedly rubbed by sandpaper. His calm tone gradually turned sharp: "You should know that if it weren't for me, you would be dead long ago."

"Ah," he chuckled slowly, his expression gentle but his words pressing, "to give away what others care about least, and then to be so proud of it and treat them as benefactors—doesn't that seem a bit excessive?"

As he spoke, the hand landed on the back of the turtle's neck again, lifting the entire turtle up in one swift motion, though the tone could be described as gentle.

"Give it a try," he chuckled. "See if you can still remain so calm after you've read it."

……

"I'm curious, what happened to you that would make you feel pain?" the girl asked Ji Bai.

"What...what thing?"

Ji Bai pretended not to understand, even picking his ear with his little finger, and slowly yawned: "I don't understand what you're saying."

The girl shrugged and said, "Everyone has something they care about. If you destroy what they care about most, they will naturally have an emotional breakdown."

"If this literary heart is a fish."

The girl laughed somewhat sarcastically: "So pain is its bait."

"You're different from us. Can't you use Wenxin?" She looked at Ji Bai with amusement and said, "That's my special hint, it's cheating."

Ji Bai waved his hand, looking like he didn't understand: "Whoever wants it can have it. I have no interest in being a masochist."

"In your words, this is like setting a flag."

The girl thought for a moment and said, "But I'm really curious, what exactly causes you pain?"

"Physical torture? Or mental abuse?" The more she spoke, the brighter her eyes became. "Or watching your friend die right before your eyes, and you can't do anything about it?"

"Or perhaps, you can't actually go home at all, and the so-called ability to go back is just a scam?"

Ji Bai stopped in his tracks.