Fairy, you call this repaying a debt of gratitude?

After finishing his business, Wen Jingxing seemed to remember that there were still important matters to be dealt with, so he did not linger any longer. He hurriedly bowed to Shen Wei and then quickly left.

Only Shen Wei remained, guarding the flower-scented hall and the jar of Moonlit Immortal Wine on the table.

Bored out of his mind, he could only drink one cup after another. In no time, he had drunk most of the immortal wine that Wen Jingxing had treasured.

Of course, he couldn't possibly get drunk. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, he could easily dispel the effects of alcohol with a single turn of his spiritual energy. But if that were the case, what would be the point of drinking?

Therefore, he deliberately restrained his spiritual power, maintaining a state of slight intoxication without being drunk.

Shen Wei held his wine cup, gazing at the blossoms swaying gently in the breeze outside the pavilion, and thought to himself,

Isn't this taking a little too long?

The meeting between the two sect elders will have to wait three days, so when will we find Ji Lingyuan?

As for Gu Lengyue, even if she waits a few more days, she will probably just be a little angry.

But what about Ye Qingci?

If we wait any longer, the pursuers from the Shangqing Sect will probably arrive in Qingyun City very soon.

Moreover, the people who have come to pursue us this time are probably not just weaklings like Pei Yan.

He was indeed worried about Ji Lingyuan's safety within the Demonic Sect, but then he thought that since he had let her stay in the Jade Dew Sect for so many years without asking any questions, why should he meddle in her affairs now?

Should we make those around us bear risks that they shouldn't have to bear in order to make up for the mistakes we made back then?

Ji Lingyuan was right; he did indeed harbor a self-righteous hypocrisy.

And then there's Qin Yunshang. The reasons he gave her earlier seemed plausible, but deep down he knew that the girl had waited for him for a full ten years.

Even if he couldn't return to the capital, surely he could send a letter? At least let her know that he was still alive, that she didn't need to worry in vain, and that she didn't need to cling to a sliver of hope and search day after day.

Thinking about it this way, I realize that I have wronged far too many people.

The carefree and nonchalant attitude I used to think I had was, in the end, nothing more than an escape.

They are trying to escape the deep-seated hatred of the past, to escape the mistakes they have made, and to escape the people and things they need to face.

As Shen Wei drank glass after glass of wine, his thoughts began to wander.

He hadn't examined himself so seriously in a long time.

Having wasted so many years, it seems that the youthful spirit of those days has been almost completely worn away.

In a daze, he even had some unrealistic fantasies.

If he truly possessed such unstoppable strength, he could simply storm into the Jade Dew Sect, step in front of the sect leader, and declare to her with conviction that he was taking Ji Lingyuan away today, and she dared to utter a single complaint.

Presumably, the Jade Dew Sect Master, due to his strength, could only watch helplessly as he took Ji Lingyuan away, not daring to stop him in the slightest.

If he truly possessed the power, he could return to the capital with his childhood sweetheart, displaying his might and proclaiming his presence to the world:

Anyone who has designs on the evil dragon within him is welcome to come and find him. Those who harbor greed, even if they covet the power of the evil dragon, can only look on in despair and dare not make any rash moves.

If he truly possessed the ability, he could directly approach the Shangqing Sect and tell them firmly and unequivocally.

Ye Qingci, I'll protect her. You dare to touch her and see what happens? That way, Ye Qingci won't have to run away anymore, and she won't have to live in fear anymore.

But these are ultimately just fantasies.

For some reason, he was suddenly stabbed in the heart. He had been having an unusually smooth time lately. Although the search for Ji Lingyuan was not as smooth as he had imagined, it was still progressing slowly. Why did he suddenly feel so powerless?

Perhaps it was Shen Wei, the young man who was about to be buried by time, who was admonishing him in his heart not to forget his original aspirations and not to completely lose himself in the process of running away.

He suddenly wanted to change, he didn't want to continue being so indifferent—or rather, numb, he didn't want to remain numb.

Just as Shen Wei was lost in thought.

A clear, melodious voice suddenly came from outside the pavilion, breaking the tranquility of the flower hall.

"Young Master Shen, why are you drinking alone like this?"

It was Wen Yutang.

Qin Yunshang went straight into the guest room. Since she had nothing to do, she had no choice but to come and find him again.

However, when Shen Wei looked up, he saw Wen Yutang lifting her skirt and walking over quietly.

She had recently been warned by Wen Jingxing, and her father also disliked her getting too close to Shen Wei, so she deliberately waited until Wen Jingxing left before daring to come over quietly.

Unfazed by being interrupted, Shen Wei put down his wine glass and said, "Your brother had to leave first. Since he won't drink with me, I'll have to drink alone."

Wen Yutang walked to the stone table, her eyes lighting up:

"Then why don't I join Young Master Shen for a drink?"

Shen Wei glanced at Wen Yutang and chuckled softly, "Forget it, what's the point of a young lady drinking alcohol?"

"Your words sound like something my father would say, so old-fashioned."

Shen Wei was speechless for a moment, and could only chuckle awkwardly, "Really?"

"If you don't want to drink, then don't."

Wen Yutang found a clean stone bench and sat down:

"Then I'll chat with you to help you relax; it's better than you being bored all by yourself."

Shen Wei nodded.

Wen Yutang was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"Young Master Shen, I don't know if my brother has told you recently, but the demonic path didn't just send the Jade Dew Sect. They also recruited disciples from other demonic sects, all of whom were used as cannon fodder."

She paused, then continued, "Perhaps the Jade Dew Sect doesn't value these cannon fodder, or perhaps these people realize they are just pawns to be sacrificed. Recently, news has come from several towns directly under the jurisdiction of Qingyun City that some demonic sect disciples are using villagers as sacrifices to improve their cultivation. They probably think that as long as their cultivation improves, they won't have to be cannon fodder anymore."

Shen Wei frowned upon hearing this. "Is nobody going to do anything about it?"

"Someone is in charge, but they can't manage it all," Wen Yutang sighed softly, her tone full of helplessness.

"Originally, every village would be guarded by outer disciples of the Fuyou Sect. This was a bounty mission of the sect. Each outer disciple had a fixed quota of missions every year, and guarding a village was considered the easiest job."

"But now, many outer disciples of the Fuyou Sect have died at the hands of those demonic cultivators." Wen Yutang's tone grew increasingly somber.

"As for the sect, you know... after hearing about this, they not only didn't send anyone to help, but they also stopped posting missions to guard the village on the bounty board, leaving the villagers to fend for themselves."

Seeing the increasingly deep look on Shen Wei's face, Wen Yutang quickly added:

"Young Master Shen, I'm just venting to you; I don't really expect you to solve anything. I know my brother must have discussed something more important with you just now, so don't worry about it."

Shen Wei put down his wine glass and waved his hand.

"Anyway, I don't have much else to do these days, so I can go and deal with those bastards now."

The words he spoke were still so calm, but Wen Yutang always felt something was off.