Chapter 105: Powder Has a Price, but Brotherhood is Priceless

His lies exposed, Yan Dong’s face twisted with rage. “You damned old man,” he spat, “it’s you who’s going to be struck by lightning! Look at you, so sickly and pale. You must have done too many wicked things, and now the heavens are cutting short your lifespan!”

Hearing his senior brother insulted, the fire in Qin Haoxuan’s heart, which he had been struggling to suppress, was about to erupt. But Xu Yu was faster. “Yan Dong,” she snapped, “you are utterly despicable!”

Yan Dong was about to retort, but he stopped when he realized who had spoken. He was on his home turf, and they couldn’t do anything to him here, but making a mortal enemy of an Unsurpassed Purple Seed was a foolishness even he wouldn’t commit. He shot a few more empty threats at Qin Haoxuan and Pu Hanzhong, then scurried back into the safety of the Ancient Cloud Hall.

“Let’s go, Junior Brother,” Pu Hanzhong said, turning around, his expression calm. “Don’t worry about this. I’ll handle it.” He then said to Luo Jinhua, “Junior Sister Xu’s and Junior Brother Qin’s cultivation time is precious. There’s no need to waste it here. The debt he owes Little Gold will be collected at the Minor Martial Tournament in ten days.”

Luo Jinhua was still staring at him in astonishment. It took her a moment to process his words. “Right,” she finally said. “Let’s go.”

As she walked behind them, her mind was in turmoil. In the past, it was always others who used the tournament to challenge the disciples of the Nature Hall. And the Nature Hall disciples would always accept, only to immediately surrender on the stage, knowing they were no match.

Ever since their last Hall Master had passed away and the hall had begun its decline, no one from the Nature Hall had ever initiated a challenge, no matter the insult. Their patience was legendary; they were known as the Turtle Hall.

What kind of charisma did this Qin Haoxuan possess to make the ever-placid Pu Hanzhong take such a drastic step? And against Yan Dong, who was stronger than him in every way. It was nothing short of suicide.

On the way back, Qin Haoxuan asked, “Senior Brother, what is the Minor Martial Tournament?”

“The sect strictly forbids infighting,” Pu explained. “But where there are people, there is conflict. The semi-annual tournament is a sanctioned place for disciples to resolve their disputes. Injuring someone on the tournament stage does not violate the rules.”

He added, “I knew Yan Dong would hide, so I issued a formal challenge. It’s a sect rule that a challenge, once issued, must be accepted. If you had the courage, you could issue a challenge to the Sect Master himself, and he would have to accept.”

“But isn’t that unfair if the difference in strength is too great?”

“If you feel you are outmatched, you can surrender the moment you step onto the stage. If your opponent attacks you after you’ve surrendered, they will be punished severely for it.” As he spoke, he was seized by another fit of coughing.

Looking at his senior brother’s frail state, Qin Haoxuan wanted to urge him to surrender. But he knew that beneath Pu’s gentle exterior was an unyielding spirit. He would never do it.

Back in the Spirit Field Valley, Qin Haoxuan looked at the deep wrinkles on Pu Hanzhong’s face, a growing unease in his heart. This was his fight, yet his senior brother was the one who had stepped forward. He was two leaves weaker than his opponent, and his health was clearly failing.

“Senior Brother,” he began, the words catching in his throat, “I know this may be an insult to you, but I must ask you to surrender… If anything were to happen to you, I could never live with myself.”

Pu Hanzhong was touched, but his expression was firm. “I am your Guiding Senior Brother. If I don’t stand up for you, who will? Besides,” he said, trying to ease the boy’s guilt, “this is for my own sake as well. If I, your guide, did nothing while you were being bullied, wouldn’t I become a laughingstock?”

Qin Haoxuan knew he was just saying that to make him feel better. His eyes grew moist, but he forced the tears back. “Senior Brother,” he said, “you’ve refused this powder twice already. This time, you cannot refuse.” He quickly took a handful of packets from his robes and thrust them into Pu’s hands.

“I don’t need it,” Pu said, placing the powder on a table.

“Before, I accepted your refusal because I needed it,” Qin Haoxuan insisted. “But now I have more than enough for myself and Xu Yu, even enough to sell. You, on the other hand, are facing this duel for my sake. Your body is weak, and you are two leaves below him. You must take this and try to break through in the next ten days.”

Pu Hanzhong, though moved, still shook his head. “It is my duty. As for the powder, even if you force it on me, I won’t take it. I am a man with half a foot in the grave. This precious powder would be wasted on me. You keep it. You still have a long way to go.” He sighed inwardly. If not for a severe old injury that had started a premature decline in his body, he might have taken it. But as it was, it would be a waste.

“Senior Brother, no matter what, you must take it!” Qin Haoxuan pleaded, at a loss for words. In a sect filled with cold, selfish people, this man had shown him the warmth of family.

Pu Hanzhong sighed at his junior brother’s persistence and finally accepted the powder, though he had no intention of using it. “You must cultivate diligently, Junior Brother,” he said, his voice taking on its familiar, nagging tone. “Remember, only by advancing your realm can you extend your lifespan. For us cultivators, that is the foundation of everything.”

“I will, Senior Brother, don’t worry,” Qin Haoxuan said, then added, “But you must promise me you will take the powder.”

After Pu Hanzhong left, he was about to meditate when there was another knock on his door. It was Master Guyun.

“Disciple Qin Haoxuan greets Hall Master Gu,” he said respectfully, inviting the man in. “It’s been a while. I just finished the last of the pills you gave me a few days ago.”

Guyun’s eyes flickered as he studied him. The boy’s complexion was ruddy, his breathing was steady, and he looked perfectly healthy. There was no sign of the zombification he had been expecting. Did he really take all the Corrosion Pills? he wondered. But why hasn’t he turned into a corpse soldier? Could my method be wrong?

He took out another bottle of the pills and handed it to Qin Haoxuan, who, knowing they were actually beneficial to him, happily took one on the spot and began to meditate to absorb it.

(End of Chapter)