After the path was cut off

Shen Bai still met Li Wangxiang in the side hall.

Outside the window, clouds and mist drifted, while wisps of tea smoke curled from the table. It was as if no matter how fierce the wind howled outside, it would eventually slow down a bit before this Master of General Affairs.

After taking his seat, he didn't even touch the tea, and went straight to the point:

"Senior brother, whoever purchases the spiritual land of the second ring must accept the three immortal sects that retreated from the Northern Plains."

"Moreover, it was already decided which immortal sects were bound to each spiritual land; is that true?"

Shen Bai wasn't surprised; on the contrary, it was as if he had been waiting for him to ask this question.

"This was a pre-arranged plan; it's not that your senior brother is making things difficult for you."

"Moreover, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The spiritual atmosphere of the second ring is inherently unstable, making it difficult to cultivate. These immortal sects that have retreated from the Northern Plains have resources, manpower, and mountain gate formations. They can take advantage of this situation to break the deadlock and quickly gain a foothold."

Li Wangxiang said, "Senior brother, if you have something to say, you should just say it openly. There's no need to hide it."

Shen Bai said, "If you had said so earlier, it would have only emboldened those troublemakers outside the mountain gate. They're ruthless people who, once they've taken the bait, will tear off a piece of our flesh."

"But I never expected that Junior Brother would actually be referring to the spiritual land of the second ring. Is it the 'Abyss of Corrupted Water'?"

Li Wangxiang did not deny it.

"Senior brother, do you know which group of people are bound to the 'Abyss of Corruption'? I would like to go and see them."

Shen Bai: "The 'Rotten Water Abyss' is filled with water vapor. That entire area is a large lake. Therefore, the immortal sects of the 'Water Virtue' lineage have taken notice of this place: the Chenshui Sect of the [Fushui] lineage, the Dachao Sect of the [Heshui] lineage, and the Lingquan Sect of the [Pinshui] lineage."

How many Foundation Establishment cultivators are there?

Shen Bai: "Six. Two are in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and four are in the early Foundation Establishment stage. They are led by Lu Ling from the Spirit Spring Sect."

He's a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator from the [Female Water] sect.

Li Wangxiang's eyes were somewhat gloomy. Given his current state, contacting a cultivator of the same level, especially outside the sect, wasn't a very safe option.

This move requires careful consideration.

"Please give me their detailed information, senior brother."

-------------------------

Outside the Hall of General Affairs, a figure was slowly walking towards the end of the mountain path.

It was a woman.

A black cloak covered most of her body, revealing only her delicate, small face. Her jet-black hair cascaded down to her waist, adorned only by a single jade hairpin. Apart from that, she wore no other adornments.

She walked slowly and lightly, yet she exuded an indescribable neatness and cleanliness.

Li Wangxiang glanced at it once, and his heart sank.

Siam.

As a fellow disciple, he couldn't possibly admit his mistake.

Moreover, this person's aura has always been special.

Cold, steady, and clean, like winter water reflecting off a thin blade, almost without a trace of impurity. Anyone who has spent time with her can hardly ignore the almost pure cleanliness she exudes.

Li Wangxiang did not move his feet, but his breath paused for a moment.

She's back.

The two passed each other.

Siam acted as if he hadn't seen him at all, his steps didn't slow down, and he didn't even glance at him.

Li Wangxiang could not pretend that she did not exist.

"Siam".

He paused for a moment before adding another sentence.

"have not seen you for a long time."

Siam stopped walking, but did not turn around.

The two stood back to back, one in front of the other, as a mountain breeze slowly swept past the front of the General Affairs Hall, causing the Siamese cloak to flutter in the wind.

Siam spoke calmly:

"Are we that close?"

His voice was soft, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

Li Wangxiang listened, but his expression remained largely unchanged.

This has always been the case in Siam.

If she were truly emotional, she wouldn't be so indifferent now.

Li Wangxiang didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the question:

"Have you found a survivor of Beichen?"

Where is he/she?

Siam has not turned back:

"You should ask Lord Huanyou about this matter."

Li Wangxiang's gaze darkened slightly.

"I don't even have the right to know about this?"

Siam finally turned his face slightly to the side, half of his profile reflected in the wind.

"Li Wangxiang".

Cherish this time of freedom.

After speaking, she stopped and walked straight into the depths of the General Affairs Hall.

----------

When Siam stepped into the side hall, the wind was howling outside.

She did not sit down.

He simply stood at the palace entrance, his gaze fixed directly on the figure behind the desk. His gaze was cold and long, carrying an undisguised scrutiny.

Shen Bai looked up at her, but did not get up. He simply placed the teacup back on the table.

The two stood facing each other across a long table for several breaths.

In the end, it was Siam that spoke first.

Shen Bai.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a natural, condescending indifference.

"Aren't you going to bow to me?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Bai's brows twitched almost imperceptibly, and a faint hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

"Do you have a decree from Lord Huanyou?"

Siam said calmly:

"no."

Shen Bai nodded, his expression becoming calmer.

"Then please don't blame this humble Taoist for being rude."

The Siamese man's eyes were deep and unfathomable.

"Even without a decree, I am still the master of Duoling Peak. You, Shen Bai, came from Duoling Peak in the past. According to seniority, you should show me respect."

Shen Bai finally raised his eyes, looking directly at her. His voice was not loud, but extremely steady:

"This is the General Affairs Hall, not the Duoling Peak."

"The one standing here right now is the head of the General Affairs Hall, not a disciple of Duoling Peak."

"Now that you have arrived, please be careful with your words."

The air in the side hall suddenly turned cold.

Siam looked at him, a faint smile slowly curving his lips.

"It's been many years, you've grown quite a bit, you don't even call me 'Senior Sister' anymore."

Shen Bai's expression remained unchanged.

Siam lowered his gaze slightly, glancing indifferently at the unopened teacups and several scrolls of maps on the table, his tone carrying an undisguised contempt:

"You've willingly fallen into the mundane world, burying yourself in mundane affairs every day... You really are quite patient."

After hearing this, Shen Bai simply said:

"If you've come here specifically to amuse me, please leave."

Siam ignored the suggestion to dismiss him and simply stood there, as if he had suddenly changed the subject.

"Now that all the true disciples have left the sect, aren't you curious about what Lord Huanyou has ordered us to do?"

Shen Bai's expression finally turned cold.

"Siam, watch your words."

"I don't want to know about what happens in your Hall of Merit, and it's not my place to know."

Upon hearing this, Siam's gaze grew even colder.

"If you didn't want to know, why did you bother with Li Wangxiang?"

"They even pushed him into the bidding for sacred land and sent him to the Yunmeng Marshland."

"Shen Bai—"

Her voice finally lowered a bit.

"You have some nerve."

Upon hearing this, Shen Bai laughed instead.

"How dare you!"

He raised his hand to straighten his cuffs, his tone still composed.

"I have no idea which sect rule or decree forbids true disciples from bidding for sacred lands."

"I'm merely doing my duty; do I really need to ask for permission from Duoling Peak first?"

A cold glint flashed in Siamese eyes.

Shen Bai had no intention of explaining the misunderstanding.

Do you think everyone should be like you, severing all emotions and desires, and staying away from the world?

"Do you think that in the end, the path of cultivation is just a cold and desolate one?"

You're wrong.

The side hall was so quiet that only the occasional soft chime of the wind chimes on the eaves could be heard.

Shen Bai looked at her, his voice not loud, but every word was spoken with utmost deliberation:

"The mortal world may not be a bad place to return to."

"The mundane world is not necessarily not a place of spiritual practice."

"If a person truly wants to establish a place of refuge for his relatives and leave a spark of tradition for future generations, this path is not necessarily lower than that of you high-ranking disciples."

Upon hearing this, the cold smile that had been lurking in Siam's eyes finally surfaced.

"Since you yourself have no hope, you push someone else out."

"Okay, Shen Bai."

"Over the years, they have become increasingly stubborn and unenlightened."

Shen Bai, however, did not get angry.

He simply looked at her quietly, his expression even calmer than before.

"Whether I have any hope or not is none of your concern, fellow Daoist."

"As for whether I pushed anyone out—"

He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Just watch and see."

"It is still unknown who will attain enlightenment first."

Upon hearing this, even Siam fell silent for a moment.

The wind outside the side hall picked up a bit more, making the copper bells under the eaves ring softly.

After a long silence, she spoke again, her tone colder and more direct than before:

"I don't care whether you follow the trend or make a move."

"I'll only ask you one question."

"What exactly did you and Li Wangxiang talk about?"

Shen Bai smiled this time, a truly happy smile.

"I will say what needs to be said."

"What shouldn't be said, even if you ask, you won't get an answer."

Siam looked at him without saying a word for a long time.

Shen Bai didn't look up, but sat quietly behind the desk, like an old stone that had fallen into the depths of the mortal world and no longer wanted to go up to the sky.

After a long pause, Siam finally withdrew his gaze coldly and turned to leave.

She didn't leave another word.

But as her robes brushed across the threshold, the air in the side hall, which had been calm and still, finally trembled slightly.

Only after she had completely left did Shen Bai slowly put down his teacup.

The tea in the cup was still warm, reflecting a rare hint of fatigue in his eyes.

He looked up at the depths of the clouds outside the door and gently exhaled.

"They refuse to descend from the clouds, they refuse to be buried in the mud... yet they all seem to be crashing into my office of general affairs."