Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

"Oh dear! My grandson went to such lengths; he's confused and has no sense of proportion."

Old Master Lu was extremely troubled. He apologized to the head of Yanwu Hall with a troubled expression. He thought that the young people could just have a match, but he never expected that his own child would not show any mercy.

"Lord Lu, please, I cannot accept such a humble request. Besides, the ins and outs of this matter are still unknown. Why do you insist on doing this?"

The man, who was over fifty and of a robust build, was terrified when he saw the old man's attitude. He lowered his head in fear and quickly supported the old man with his large, fan-like hands.

Lu Xuan's expression changed slightly, and he asked with a hint of sternness in his voice:

"Jin'er, what's wrong with you? It's fine to practice martial arts, but you shouldn't hurt people. What exactly happened? Tell your father clearly."

"Father... there's nothing to say. Just consider me as someone who doesn't know manners."

Lu Jin was sincere and willing to accept punishment, and did not want to repeat Liu Deshui's words.

Especially since my martial uncle is here, if he hears this, even if he doesn't hold it against the juniors, it will still affect the relationship between the Sanyi Sect and the Yanwu Hall.

Now that the two families have formed an alliance to face the national crisis together, it's better to avoid trouble. Lu Jin would rather take on these issues himself than cause trouble for the Lu family or the Sanyi Sect.

"What are you standing there for? Quickly apologize to Brother Liu!"

Lu Xuan urged anxiously. He was a little scared when he saw the bloodstains all over the ground. He was afraid that the child had learned the power of the dragon and tiger and if he was not restrained, he might accidentally cripple the disciple of Yanwu Hall for life.

"I'll skip the apology. If you want to punish me, I'll accept it."

Lu Jin's attitude was even more resolute; he had no intention of apologizing to that arrogant scoundrel who had insulted his mentor.

Just as Lu Xuan was so angry that he couldn't back down, Liu Deshui, who was lying on the ground, raised his voice to explain:

“Uncle Lu, please don’t blame Young Master Lu. This is all my own fault. I offended Young Master Lu by speaking ill of him out of selfish desires. It has nothing to do with him. Please see this clearly and do not punish him.”

The words were like a thunderclap, causing the head of the Yanwu Hall to skip a beat. His face turned ashen, and he roared:

"You traitorous disciple, you disgraceful wretch!! You've infuriated me! Aren't you going to apologize to Young Master Lu?!"

Things turned out pretty much as he had expected. He knew his son's character very well. Most of the time, he was honest and sincere, but one thing he couldn't change was that he would occasionally get stuck on a nut and had an extremely strong competitive spirit.

Suddenly, distant memories gradually became clear in his mind. The scene of the martial arts competition ten years ago reappeared before his eyes, forming a stark contrast with the present. The head of Yanwu Hall probably understood why this child's obsession was so deep.

"Are you deaf? Liu Deshui, I'm telling you to apologize right now, or don't blame me for dealing with you!!"

"Oh, it's nothing, old friend, don't be offended."

Seeing that the head of Yanwu Hall was furious, Lu Xuan tried to persuade him instead.

"Young Master Lu, I am so sorry for what I did!"

Liu Deshui was bold and responsible, and not afraid of making a fool of himself in front of many people. He raised his voice and even used honorifics to sincerely apologize.

"Brother Liu, this is enough."

Lu Jin didn't turn around, but simply said in a low voice, "I don't want to get entangled with you anymore. Let's put the past behind us."

"As I said before, each of us has our own wonderful life, so there's no need to be fixated on anything."

After speaking, he stepped forward and bowed to the elders and guests, including Old Master Lu, Lu Xuan, and Jiang Mo.

"Grandfather, Father, Uncle, Seniors, I am ashamed. I am sorry to have made you laugh. I am a little tired and will go to rest now."

The incident ended quickly. Lu Jin returned to his room to reflect, while Liu Deshui was helped up by his master and Lu family guards and taken to a nearby clinic for treatment.

Before leaving, the head of Yanwu Hall bowed repeatedly to Jiang Mo and Old Master Lu, his face showing remorse:

"Master Jiang, Lord Lu, this rebellious disciple has caused you trouble. It is my fault for failing to discipline him properly. Please forgive me."

“Young man, bumps and bruises are normal. Go check on your little brother, lest he develop some hidden ailment.” Old Master Lu patted the tense shoulder of the Yanwu Hall Master, indicating that he was alright and should relax.

In reality, while the man felt guilty, he was also in a dilemma, unsure how to ease the conflict with Jiang Mo, the leader of the Sanyi Sect.

However, it turned out that he was overthinking things.

In response to his humble attitude, Jiang Mo simply replied:

"You're being too kind. Please forgive me. There's no need for that. Jin'er already said it's over. You, as the head of the hall, don't worry about it. It's a matter between the younger generation. Let them handle it themselves."

"Oh... thank you both for your understanding!"

The head of Yanwu Hall felt relieved to receive the forgiveness, but he couldn't help but feel regret and self-blame. After all, he had failed to discipline his disciple and caused trouble, so he, as the master, bore some responsibility.

"Go to the clinic and check on the child quickly."

......

After the birthday banquet ended, guests from all sides took their leave.

As dusk approached, Jiang Mo sat on a stone chair in the pavilion in the backyard, holding some bait in his hand, occasionally scattering it into the pond. The fish leaped lively, splashing up large sprays of water.

A flash of inspiration struck him. He had refined many natural objects using the Trinity True Method, but he had never tried to transform natural objects in a way that resembled human beings.

"It might be a good approach, and we can give it a try, but things in nature are inherently unconscious, and the 'humans' that are evolved from them are merely lifeless statues."

“But animals are different. If we transform and shape them in the direction of ‘humans’, will it change their inherent life, wisdom, and soul, turning them into ‘demons’ in ancient myths and legends?”

"Or is it just an inanimate object...?"

Since this thought took root, Jiang Mo could vaguely sense a mysterious portal standing on his path of cultivation. As for whether it contained opportunities or disasters, he had no idea.

Do you want to try it?

Or should we wait?

Just as he hesitated, footsteps sounded behind him, and a familiar figure in white sat on a stone bench beside him, calmly smiling as he asked:

"Uncle-Master, what brings you here to feed the fish?"

"I walked around for a while but couldn't find you anywhere. Later, I asked Granny Zhang, who was tending the lawn, and found out that you asked her for bait to tease the fish."

Jiang Mo didn't stop what he was doing. He put aside his guesses and chatted with Lu Jin while feeding the plump koi.

“I am not familiar with the other sect leaders, patriarchs, and family heads, and we have nothing in common. Rather than just going through the motions, I would rather find a quiet place and enjoy half a day of leisure.”

"As for you... have you sorted out your thoughts about today's conflict?"

"Give me some bait, I can't just sit here empty-handed, can I? I'll feed the fish while I talk to you."

"it is good."

Jiang Mo reached into the wooden bucket beside him with his right hand, grabbed a handful of bait, and stuffed it into Lu Jin's hand.

"Pfft!"

"Crash!"

As the sun set, the two, master and nephew, enjoyed the view and fed the fish.

As if reminiscing, Lu Jin made no attempt to hide anything, recounting to Jiang Mo everything from the previous assessment in the lower academy, the martial arts competition at the birthday banquet ten years ago, to the struggle that took place today.

"So do you think you're wrong?"

Jiang Mo reached his hand close to the water's surface to touch the koi, and immediately felt a chill.

"Uncle-Master, your disciple has done nothing wrong."

Lu Jin, with his handsome features and hair ornaments swaying gently in the evening breeze, spoke with unwavering certainty in his bright eyes:

"Brother Liu was jealous first, and then he insulted our master with his words. I have already shown him mercy, which is enough."

"it is good."

Jiang Mo chuckled softly, spread his fingers, and all the bait in his palm fell into the water, where the fish leaped with joy.

"A person who is kind needs to have some sharpness, otherwise others will think that you are easy to bully."

"Humility, kindness, and respect—when you lack the ability, do you really expect others to provide them to you?"

At this point, Jiang Mo suddenly paused and asked, "Jin'er, have you ever thought about what would happen if your master had been cultivating in the icy plains and never returned until his death?"

"What should Senior Brother Si Chong and you youngsters do? The result of going to war with Quanxing is nothing more than the decline and extinction of the lineage."

The words, as plain as water, left Lu Jin speechless.

This is an undeniable fact. It was only after he followed Jiang Mo to wipe out many Quanxing strongholds that he first caught a glimpse of the true face of this behemoth, with all sorts of experts emerging one after another.

With its meager strength, how could Sany possibly win?

Perhaps in a protracted tug-of-war, more and more disciples will die, and the sect will decline or even cease to exist.

Lu Jin lowered his head, gazing at the water surface bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun. He remained silent for a long time, lost in thought.

At this moment, Jiang Mo's voice came again:

"My strength alone does not equate to the strength of the Sanyi Sect. To uphold the title of the number one sect in the Xuanmen, we still need to rely on you young people."

"After all, my martial uncle is also human. What if he's gone one day?"

"Or what if something unexpected happens? Are you little guys really incapable of maintaining the sect?"

Lu Jin turned her head and saw Jiang Mo's serene face, which looked even more like a celestial being descended from heaven, without any emotional fluctuations.

"Uncle-Master...I understand what you mean."

"You don't need to understand me, and you certainly don't need to become me."

Jiang Mo looked up at the horizon, admiring the magnificent scenery and the splendid sunset. He felt a surge of joy and encouraged himself:

"Be yourself, and you must surpass me; the revitalization of the sect depends on all of us."

"Uncle-Master, rest assured, your disciple will certainly live up to your expectations."

Lu Jin nodded in agreement, understanding Jiang Mo's good intentions in admonishing him, which was simply because he was afraid that Jiang Mo was too soft-hearted and easily bullied.

"Speaking of which, so many years have passed, do you understand why your senior brother chose you back in the lower academy?"

Faced with his martial uncle's question, Lu Jin was slightly taken aback, but unsure of the answer, he could only reply in a low voice:

"I know some things, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm right."

"Then let me tell you."

As Jiang Mo sorted through what Lu Jin had told him, he slowly deduced: "In the test back then, from beginning to end, only Liu Deshui was eliminated."

"It's good that this child is hardworking, but he can't control himself and is reckless, which can easily deplete his energy."

"Disciples like this are absolutely forbidden from entering the sect, especially during the reverse-energy breakthrough, where advancing from one level to the next is extremely dangerous. If the Qi flows in the wrong direction through the meridians, at best they will lose their cultivation and become crippled, at worst they will die on the spot."

“His nature is hard to change, he refuses to show weakness, and he is deeply obsessed. Letting him in would be tantamount to harming him.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Jin was deeply shaken. This was similar to his guess. He hadn't expected that his martial uncle would see things more clearly than he had in just a moment.

"As for Li Muxuan, from the moment he dared to leave the lower courtyard and come into the gate, his ability to find the way and his willingness to find the way are great talents for cultivating the third level of Reverse Life."

"My senior brother kept him in the academy to train him, perhaps because he hadn't seen his true nature and couldn't make a decision."

"As for you, you are good at doing things in a reasonable manner. You will not be blinded by the practice of reversing life, be impatient for quick results, or disregard your life. Therefore, you have passed the test."

Jiang Mo briefly reviewed the trivial matters of that year, then smiled faintly:

"This is just my personal opinion, a rough guess. You can listen to it or not. After all, you are the one who experienced it firsthand, and your understanding will be more accurate than mine."

"No... Uncle-Master, you're right, that's what I think too."

Lu Jin frankly shared her true thoughts, which were largely consistent with Jiang Mo's speculation.

"Is that so? Then you can walk your cultivation path more steadily and further. I trust your senior brother's judgment."

"Alright, Uncle-Master."

.....

The two, master and apprentice, chatted like that until night fell and they ran out of bait.

Just then, Qiao Yue arrived and hurriedly reported, "Master Jiang, Lord Lu has urgent business to discuss with you. May we move over?"

"Let's go." Jiang Mo stood up.

"Uncle Qiao, what does Grandpa want with my martial uncle?" Lu Jin asked curiously, as he could clearly sense that Qiao Yue was extremely anxious.

"Sigh... let's talk about it in the future."

After a while, the group arrived at the council hall. The guests had all left, but Lord Lu and Lu Xuan were receiving a robust but disheveled man. He reeked of seawater and his face was deathly pale.

"Uncle Li?!" Lu Jin's pupils contracted sharply upon seeing this person.

This was his third uncle's loyal brother, who had been by his side for many years. However, even after the birthday banquet ended, his third uncle had not returned. A strong sense of unease, like a venomous snake, gripped his heart, and his whole body was tense.

“Young Master…” The man looked up and saw Lu Jin, his smile bitter: “It’s been so many years, you’ve grown so much.”

Jiang Mo and Lu Jin both saw the gloomy face of Old Master Lu and were filled with anxiety. Even the hand holding the cane was trembling uncontrollably.