The ruins of the forgotten valley
The days passed slowly in the Forgotten Ruin Valley.
About 7 months has passed since Li yuan tian entered the ruins of the forgotten valley
Having made decent progress in cultivation and gathered enough resources, Zhao Qilin suggested they leave.
"We've basically achieved what we needed," he said, stretching under the rising sun. "We won't gain much more unless we grow stronger first."
Li Yuan Tian nodded silently. And so, they set off—leaving behind the eerie silence of the valley that had tested their minds and wills.
---
TheDying Forest
On a dirt road winding through a dying forest, they saw movement ahead—figures chasing someone.
The fugitive stumbled over roots and rocks, blood smearing the ground behind him. His robes were torn, his breath ragged. The pursuers wore matching uniforms, moving like wolves circling prey.
Zhao Qilin tensed. "He's hurt badly. We should help him."
He stepped forward, but Li Yuan Tian's arm blocked him.
"Wait."
"What is it?"
Li Yuan Tian narrowed his eyes. "Look closely. They're wearing the crest of a local sect. And they're not going all out."
Zhao blinked. "What do you mean?"
"If they were serious, they would've caught him by now."
Still cautious, they approached. As they got closer, the pursuers stopped and turned.
"This has nothing to do with you," one of them growled. "Walk away, outsiders."
"Yeah,"another sneered. "That bastard stole from our sect. He's getting what he deserves."
Zhao frowned. "He looks barely alive. Something feels off."
Li Yuan Tian said nothing.
Then, like a whisper of wind through the trees, he struck.
The men barely had time to react. Within moments, they were fleeing into the forest.
The injured man collapsed to his knees, gasping. "T-Thank you... you saved my—"
(Shhk)
Li Yuan Tian's sword flashed. In one clean motion, he beheaded the man.
The Lesson for Zhao qilin
Zhao Qilin froze. "W-What the hell are you doing?!"
His voice cracked with disbelief. "Just when I thought you were starting to change—Why, Li Yuan Tian? He was helpless!"
Li Yuan Tian didn't respond right away. He walked calmly back to the body, reached into the man's sleeve, and pulled out a small dart coated in black poison.
He held it up silently.
Zhao staggered back."That's... that's not possible. Those men were chasing him. They wanted to kill him!"
Li Yuan Tian finally spoke—his voice calm, almost quiet. "No. They weren't."
He tossed the dart onto the dirt. "Two of them were Blood Opening cultivators. If they really wanted, they could've crushed him—or us. But they didn't. Because they were waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For us to step in. For you to show kindness. For him—" he glanced at the corpse— "to get close. This dart would've killed me instantly. He was meant to strike when our backs were turned, and they'd follow a second later."
Zhao's hands clenched. "So it was... a setup?"
"A classic tactic among bandits," Li Yuan Tian said. "Feign weakness. Create urgency. Exploit sympathy."
He turned to Zhao with a rare, serious tone.
"You were willing to risk yourself for someone you didn't understand. That's not bravery, Zhao qilin. That's blindness."
Zhao qilin looked away"I just thought..."
"Idon't blame you," Li Yuan Tian interrupted, softer now. "Compassion is strength—but it has to be tempered. Otherwise, it turns into a weapon against you."
He began walking again, sword sheathed.
"Reason isn't about being heartless. It's about seeing clearly—especially when your heart wants to shut your eyes."
After a moment, he added quietly, "I trust you, Zhao Qilin. You're a good man. That's rare. But don't let it blind you."
He glanced at the woods where the bandits had disappeared. "Not everyone deserves to be saved. And not everyone who looks helpless truly is."
Zhao was silent for a long moment, then gave a slow nod. "I'll remember this."
Li Yuan Tian nodded once.
"One day, it might save your life."
Epilogue: The Bandits' Retreat
Deeper in the forest...
Two of the bandits reappeared from the underbrush, faces pale.
One of them turned to their leader. "Boss, why didn't we attack? We could've taken them. That one guy was just a half-step into Blood Opening, right?"
The bandit leader spat into the dirt. "This mission isn't about killing. We're here to loot, rob, and disappear. Unless the target's carrying something valuable enough, there's no need for casualties on our side."
He glanced back toward the path. "That disposable idiot was just bait. He served his purpose. Doesn't matter."
Another bandit muttered, "Young master won't be happy about this..."
The leader gave him a sharp look. "Then he should've sent stronger bait."