Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

Zhuang Sheng smiled at the two of them and said gently.

"I don't need this book for now. Ling'er, you can take it if you want to read it. I will ask you for it back when I need it."

"The twelfth," Mu An suddenly interrupted.

"I will return this book to you in twelve days."

Zhuang Sheng was taken aback, then bowed to Mu An.

"Thank you, Lord Mu."

……

……

"That's strange, why the twelfth?"

"Because the outcome of the bet will be decided in twelve days."

"Um?"

"It would be pointless to explain it too clearly. Zhuang Sheng has made all the preparations and is determined, just as he was decades ago when he was teaching in Qing'an County, and even more so. He is now a true seeker of the Way."

Mu Ling'er pouted and rolled her eyes at Mu An, her voice filled with obvious dissatisfaction.

"How dare you become a riddle teller? That's outrageous! Don't you know the saying that riddle tellers never have a good ending?"

Mu Ling'er's sullen appearance made Mu An both amused and exasperated, so he could only gently comfort her.

"Alright, I'll kill fewer people next time, don't be angry anymore. Just stay with me these next few days and keep a close eye on things. There are quite a few important people in Pingluo County now, so it's worth staying here a while longer."

Sure enough, after Mu An gave in, Mu Ling'er's expression softened considerably, and she tugged at his sleeve as usual.

"So, Da'an, do you think Meng Yan will win, or Zhuang Sheng will win?"

"It's hard to say, but I think Zhuang Sheng has a better chance of winning."

"Why? I've seen both villages in person. 'Wen Village' is far superior to 'Zui Village' in every way. No matter how you look at it, Zhuang Sheng has already lost."

Under a sky full of stars, Mu An tilted her head slightly and gazed at the glittering starry sky.

"They were gambling on whether people's hearts could turn to good, and whether the people would accept the sinner; the difference in their resolve was far too great..."

"But this betting game looks so unfair, it's just too much of a bullying."

"No, the bet is fair. It's not just Meng Yan who's participating, but the entire Wendao. Of the Seven Sages of Wendao, five are currently in the city."

They are also seeking a future for literature and art, and they will not cheat in this matter.

However, the most crucial part of the game hasn't even started yet; what you're seeing now is just the preparation process, which is why you feel it's unfair.

The real gamble will take place twelve days from now, and everything will come to an end on that day.

In fact, regardless of the outcome of this gamble, Zhuang Sheng has already achieved most of his goal.

In the past thirty years, the Wenhua Palace, once a sacred site for literature and scholarship, has ceased to exist.

Upon suddenly hearing Mu An say that there were five terrestrial immortals in the city, Mu Ling'er's eyes widened immediately.

She instinctively ignored the deeper meaning in Mu An's words, focusing all her attention on the people involved in the gambling.

"Really?! There are five immortal beings in the city?"

"Would I lie to you? Not five, but six, plus the Xuanling Bodhisattva from Buddhism. This is a big fat sheep, with quite a few treasures in his hands."

Ignoring Mu Ling'er's shock, Mu An stroked his chin and made his own conclusion.

"Speaking of which, you're the only junior here now, so you should at least try to get some gifts from them. Come with me, and I'll take you to ask them and the senior monk for some benefits."

"Do you think you can get it? You're not on good terms with them, and they're all people you've never even met before."

"Are you kidding? They have some sense of shame! It's the first time meeting a younger person; how could an elder not give a gift?"

"Tsk—what if they bring their juniors to ask you for it back later?"

"It's alright, their younger generation won't see me!"

……

"Wait a minute, I feel like I've forgotten something?"

Ten miles away from "Sin Village", Mu Ling'er suddenly grabbed Mu An. She looked in the direction of "Sin Village" and her tone was somewhat hesitant.

"Hmm? Is there anything else important?"

"Never mind, I forgot. It probably wasn't anything important. Let's go! Let's hurry up and get our little gift!"

……

The entrance to "Sin Village".

As agreed, Qin Xiucai was waiting here, clutching his stomach and rolling around on the ground. He would sit up for a while and then lie down again, grumbling like an insect for a long time.

"Where is he... I've been waiting since noon, and there's not a single person in sight? No way, would such a powerful figure stand me up?"

"###"

"I'm so hungry... I should have known better than to give those two kids their breakfast this morning... I thought we were going to have a big meal tonight..."

……

Inside the quiet academy.

Zhuang Sheng stood at the entrance of the academy, quietly gazing at the entire village.

Wan Shu stood beside him and draped a coat over his shoulders.

"Sir, you've done enough. Please go back and rest."

Zhuang Sheng tightened his clothes, but his gaze did not leave the village.

The "Sin Village" is quiet at night, with almost no one walking around.

"Wanshu".

"What are your orders, sir?"

"Sir, it has been a long time since I tested your knowledge." Zhuang Sheng's voice was somewhat old, but mostly flat, as if devoid of any emotion.

Wan Shu paused for a moment, then pretended to be calm and said.

"It has been a long time. It has been so long since I was tested by you, sir, that I have forgotten some things."

"Then pick up what you've forgotten again, and learn it with the same dedication as before!"

When Zhuang Sheng said this, his tone became a bit harsher. Although it wasn't a reprimand, it still made Wan Shu's heart jump.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know how to begin.

"Sir... Wan Shu knows she was wrong, but..."

Zhuang Sheng did not turn around, but his voice softened slightly.

"You're my student, so you inevitably have to shoulder more responsibility. There are some things that only you can do, and I'm sorry to trouble you..."

"No, that's not it... Wanshu, I'm not wronged... On the contrary, it's you, sir..." Wanshu shook her head violently, hurriedly denying it.

Zhuang Sheng suddenly turned around and put his hand on Wan Shu's shoulder.

"Be strong. The future belongs to you. You are my most outstanding disciple. No matter whether the Great Harmony Path perishes or not, you will have a place in the future of the Literary Path."

Zhuang Sheng's voice gradually faded, his eyes dimmed, and there was a hint of regret in them.

"As for me, I've ultimately become the very thing I hated most in my youth..."