Hidden Moth-Chapter 558 - 318: Peony—Whose Words Are With Pure Yang

Chapter 558: Chapter 318: Peony—Whose Words Are With Pure Yang

The two immediately rushed back to the Ancestral Hall, unloading everything onto the tricycle before entering. It was still the same Qi Wu Studio from before, and He Kao finally met Zhao Ci, a young man with quite a handsome appearance.

The Ancestral Hall had two punishments for Zhao Ci. The first was to indefinitely seal his cultivation to observe whether he sincerely repents; the second was that a Pure Yang Pill from the second batch originally due for him would be compensated to He Kao if it was successfully produced.

After announcing the decision in front of everyone, Elder Zong asked Zhao Ci if he had any objections.

Zhao Ci remained silent, his expression cold.

Zheng Yisi was at a loss for words; even though Zhao Ci usually had a proud temperament, he shouldn’t be so unaware of the situation, showing attitude at such a moment. Doesn’t he want to restore his cultivation?

An indefinite sealing of cultivation can be considered a very severe punishment, but from an ordinary person’s perspective, it’s like there is no punishment at all, as it neither restricts personal freedom nor harms health, and doesn’t confiscate property.

Only a Sorcerer would understand what they have lost, akin to being knocked off a cloud, a kind of disparity ordinary people cannot fathom.

However, this punishment still left a glimmer of hope, as it didn’t abolish his cultivation nor expel him from the Sect, preserving the possibility of restoration... like being sentenced to life imprisonment but with the potential for early release.

As for compensating He Kao with the Pure Yang Pill that Zhao Ci was supposed to receive, it was even more a profound blow, yet it was an indispensable solace.

Zhao Ci’s small scheme out of momentary resentment was due to not receiving the Pure Yang Pill. If the Ancestral Hall managed to produce the second batch, Zhao Ci would originally have received one.

Now it’s settled; even if there is a second batch of Pure Yang Pills, one has to be compensated to He Kao, precisely hitting Zhao Ci’s sore spot, ensuring he never forgets the lesson.

However, Zhao Ci’s reaction was clearly unsatisfactory; was it perhaps too overwhelming for him to accept all at once? It seemed he needed a good reprimand once back.

Zheng Yisi guessed wrong. Zhao Ci indeed felt a bit stimulated, but not in the way he thought.

Jiang Daozhen had already privately approached Zhao Ci, offering him an opportunity to redeem himself by cooperating with the Ancestral Hall to uncover the holder of the Bone-Penetrating Treasure Mirror to prove his sincere repentance through concrete actions.

This arrangement was absolutely in line with Zhao Ci’s temperament!

Zhao Ci was Zhao Sanjin’s direct great-grandson, taken as a disciple by Zheng Yisi when he was very young. From a young age, he enjoyed a wealthy family background, camaraderie among his peers, plenty of care from elders, and plentiful resources, leading a smooth and successful life.

He broke through to Tier Four cultivation before turning thirty, considered an outstanding junior in the Magic Sect, becoming the direct branch master of the Huailin Lineage at a young age... The biggest flaw in such a person’s mentality is a tendency to be somewhat self-important.

Elder Jiang’s diagnosis was accurate, and his prescription targeted, making Zhao Ci feel as if he was rectifying the regrets of ancestors over a thousand years with his own hands, as if holding up the sky with both hands!

Before Zheng Yisi came to lead him away, Zhao Ci had already imagined himself as many protagonist templates from short plays, such as a returning crooked-mouth king, pondering which type he should emulate...

As for that one possibly achievable Pure Yang Pill, let it be compensated, since it was supposed to be. If he completes this task, let alone a Pure Yang Pill, more significant honor and rewards are necessary.

From now on, all of his reactions are according to a script to establish his character, and Elder Li cast spells to assist him in self-hypnosis, carefully explaining how not to reveal any flaws.

Jiang Daozhen accompanied them out, as he would return with He Kao to the Flower Shocking Grotto Heaven. Standing outside the ancestral hall’s entrance, the elder gazed at the bustling town ahead, inexplicably asking, "How is this place?"

He Kao sighed, "Heaven and earth have shared destiny, dust and smoke landscape one Phoenix village. Truly a good place, a rare sanctuary in the world!"

Jiang Daozhen remarked, "You even got poetic, it seems you indeed have a good impression of this place... Now, let me ask you, can you tolerate deceitful elements causing trouble here?"

Everyone answered in unison, "No, absolutely not!" Surprisingly, Zhao Ci’s voice was the loudest, startling a few villagers not far away.

Just as they were about to take their leave, He Kao suddenly remembered something and gestured, "Elder Zheng, may I have a word with you?"

Zheng Yisi found it odd, silently thinking that He Kao might have something private to ask. The two stepped aside a few paces, standing behind the tricycle.

He Kao whispered with Spiritual Sense Gathering Sound, "Someone asked me to inquire if you still remember the phrase - ’Keep practicing without end, with Yisi as the aspiration’?"

Zheng Yisi was shocked, instinctively stepping forward and grabbing He Kao’s sleeve, "Who was it, what else did they say?"

He Kao replied, "They asked me to ask you this question but didn’t have me say more."

Realizing his blunder, Zheng Yisi released his hand, stepped back, bowed, and said, "Thank you!"

Beyond gratitude, he didn’t know what else to say. His name was given by his master ancestor Zhao Sanjin, and those words were originally spoken by the master ancestor, and were the reason for the name "Yisi."

When the master ancestor retired, he left him a means of contact but advised that unless it was urgent, not to disturb his secluded cultivation. Over the years, Zheng Yisi actually never knew if the master ancestor was still in the world or if that contact was still valid.

After Zhao Ci was detained by the Ancestral Hall, Zheng Yisi sent a message to the master ancestor with that contact, uncertain if there would be a response, not holding much hope after the Ancestral Hall made their punitive decision.

In his heart, he also hoped that through Zhao Ci’s incident, he could ascertain the master ancestor’s situation. Of course, he wished Zhao Sanjin was still alive as rumored, even breaking through to Tier Eight cultivation, but he knew it was likely wishful thinking.

But the turn of events came so unexpectedly, as they stepped out of the Ancestral Hall, this unexpected person, He Kao, brought such an unexpected message—a message only he could possibly understand.

The Grandmaster is still alive and has received his message, so he asked He Kao to greet him.

The Grandmaster might have many reasons for not appearing in person. Firstly, Zhao Ci’s actions are not honorable, and given the Grandmaster’s status, it would be inappropriate for him to speak out.

Secondly, and more importantly, Ancestor Zhao is over a hundred and forty years old, and his friends and relatives from those days are likely all gone. He resigned from the position of Magic Gate Elders many years ago, almost cutting off worldly ties, and doesn’t want more karmic entanglements.

Yet, he still sent a message through someone to bring a touch of warmth to Zheng Yisi.

But why did he specifically choose He Kao to deliver it? It might be because He Kao is precisely the victim in this matter. The Grandmaster’s actions indicate that the Huailin Lineage shouldn’t harbor resentment towards He Kao; rather, they should trust and support him.

When Zheng Yisi looked up, Jiang Daozhen and He Kao had already left, and the silhouette of the tricycle was faint amidst the alleys. Zhao Ci, the disciple, asked concernedly by his side, "Master, why are you crying?"

Zheng Yisi wiped his cheek: "It’s nothing, just a bit emotional."

...

Jiang Daozhen rode the tricycle away from Fengwei Town, surrounded by a pile of various items with He Kao on board, making the carriage a bit cramped. On the mountain road, various vehicles occasionally passed by, and there were pedestrians by the roadside.

The distant green hills looked picturesque, with seemingly light rain on the peaks, yet the air carried the fragrance of wheat flowers under the sunshine.

After passing through the tunnel, Jiang Daozhen suddenly used Divine Thought to say, "If Ancestor Zhao has anything to tell Zheng Yisi, it should be to encourage you to ask for help when needed; this is also considered compensation for you."

He Kao: "You knew about this?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Jiang Daozhen: "I didn’t know, but seeing you suddenly pull Zheng Yisi aside for a quiet word and then observing his reaction, I could pretty much guess."

He Kao had to admire Jiang Daozhen; not only did he deduce that Ancestor Zhao had entrusted words to him for Zheng Yisi, but he also grasped the most critical detail—Ancestor Zhao wanted He Kao to choose the timing he deemed appropriate.

He Kao hadn’t fully understood why Ancestor Zhao had instructed him that way until now, when he suddenly realized.

Seeing He Kao silent, Jiang Daozhen added, "Do you know what it means when Ancestor Zhao entrusts you to deliver a message?"

He Kao pondered: "It means when I speak, I’m like Ancestor Zhao’s spokesperson. If I want to make requests, as long as they’re reasonable, Zheng Yisi likely wouldn’t refuse."

Jiang Daozhen: "But I didn’t see you request anything."

He Kao didn’t ask how Jiang Daozhen judged this, merely replied, "Since he entrusted me with a message, it’s just a message."

Jiang Daozhen: "But that’s Ancestor Zhao’s compensation for you."

He Kao: "No need, I’ve already received a Pure Yang Pill."

This was his sincere truth.

Zhao Ci merely played a trick by deliberately exposing He Kao’s route, but someone else truly intended to harm He Kao. The assassin had been slain by He Kao, and he also acquired a Shadow Mirror.

The Shadow Mirror was borrowed by Guo Qianhuai, but Grandmaster Guo gave him a Four Seasons Flower Screen instead. Especially the second batch of Pure Yang Pills, one of which was supposed to belong to Zhao Ci, was compensated to him by the Ancestral Hall.

The gains were already far beyond expectations!

Jiang Daozhen: "That’s a punishment from the Ancestral Hall to him, what does it have to do with Ancestor Zhao?"

He Kao: "The one who erred was Zhao Ci, what does that have to do with Ancestor Zhao?"

Jiang Daozhen laughed and hummed a tune as the tricycle accelerated, not fearing the wind blowing into his mouth. He Kao puzzled, "Why are you so happy?"

Jiang Daozhen chuckled, "Ancestor Zhao intended to repay you a favor but turns out to owe you another."

He Kao wasn’t keen on calculating these things, but couldn’t resist asking another question: "Theoretically, multiple Pure Yang Pills can be consumed, but what will the effects truly be?

I’ve heard about diminishing marginal effects; what is the Ancestral Hall’s opinion?"

He asked this because he knew he might consume multiple Pure Yang Pills, and such precious items are bound to draw criticism.

But given his contributions, if the second batch is successfully refined, according to fair distribution principles, there ought to be more than one Pure Yang Pill for him, so he needed to know the Ancestral Hall’s attitude.

Jiang Daozhen responded with a Divine Thought: "You’ve read books, right? The maximum score for a certain subject in the college entrance exam is 100. Zhang San’s score increased from 40 to 60, while Li Si’s score rose from 90 to 95.

From each individual’s perspective, of course, it’s significant. But from the school leadership’s point of view, which is more important? Ultimately, scores are earned by oneself..."

**