Master, This Poor Disciple Died Again Today

Chapter 473: Catch and Release

What do you mean? Shen Aiguo asked, confused.

Hui shook his head. How do I explain this?

In his third eye, Shen Aiguos body pulsed slowly, almost a sick beat. All her gold threads hung shredded, interspersed with scraps of black. Even the ones that remained gold, the tiny confetti-like pieces, faded in and out, darkening almost to black before the glimmer of gold returned.

Her threads are in absolute tatters. Its amazing that shes standing before me, let alone able to cultivate. I already asked it, but I must repeat myself: how is she alive?

Senior, youre scaring me, Shen Aiguo said, pulling away.

Hui released her. My my apologies, Elder Sister.

No, no. Its fine, Shen Aiguo said, frowning at him. A reassessing expression appeared on her face.

Fine, decide Im not a perfect husband. Youll cause me less trouble that way. Hui nodded at Shen Aiguo. Elder Sister, what method are you cultivating? Is someone giving you special treatment?

Were all being given special treatment. Were cultivating under Liu Guangs care, Shen Aiguo explained.

Hui blinked. He looked around. All all of you? He gestured Lao Ning toward him.

Lao Ning approached cautiously. Im not injured, Senior.

Please can I examine you anyways? Hui said, offering his hand.

Lao Ning hesitated, then gave Hui his hand.

Hui inserted a strand of life qi into Lao Nings arm, quickly inspecting it. He withdrew, his expression more grave than ever. He, too All of them? Are all of their threads shredded?

Taking a risk, Hui momentarily stepped out of his body and swept his eyes over the cultivators. Although he couldnt see clearly in the mere moment he dared to take, they all appeared shattered, their threads pulsing the same as Lao Ning and Shen Aiguos.

Hui furrowed his brows. What on earth is Liu Guang doing?

Initially initially, I was going to sabotage their cultivation and consider it as soldiers defeated before the war. But I dont need to do anything. Liu Guang is already destroying them.

But why? Why destroy Gui Deluns own disciples? I know he has guinea pigs galore, frozen in that disgusting space of his. So why go out and sabotage earnest All-Heavens cultivators?

Whats happening? Senior, what did you see? Shen Aiguo asked, watching his face nervously.

Your Hui hesitated. How do I describe this? There are golden threads inside you uhm, if you want to continue to live and cultivate, the threads must connect, and they must be gold. Usually, a cultivator will have mostly gold threads, with maybe a handful of black threads. All of you every single one of you, have shredded threads. There isnt a single solid thread in any of you.

What? Lao Ning asked, taken aback.

Threads? What are you talking about, Senior? Ive never heard of anything like that, Shen Aiguo said, frowning.

I dont even know myself what they are. I only know that theyre vitally important, Hui said, shaking his head.

Are you talking about karmic threads, maybe? Lao Ning asked.

Uh they dont really seem to be connected to karma, Hui said honestly. Theyre connected to ones bodily wellbeing and health, not to ones fate and interactions with the world. Maybe Im fundamentally misunderstanding them, or I cant see all there is to see, but I havent seen them connecting to anything outside of the body, one way or another.

Its just Liu Guang has been trying to manipulate our karmic threads. Maybe what Seniors seeing is a result of that? Lao Ning suggested.

Huis eyes widened. Wait could that be? Is it that I am not the one with the misconception, but instead, Liu Guang is? Instead of seeing these as well, as the threads of life and death as Ive dubbed them, he assumed they must be karmic threads.

But then why be so cavalier about destroying disciples karmic threads? Even if he thought they were karmic threads, to manipulate them to this extent would mean to absolutely shred the disciples karma, and in doing so, destroy any connections they had, ruin their potential, and shatter their fate.

Or could it be that Liu Guang wanted to confirm that he had discovered karmic threads, and deliberately shredded these disciples threads to determine what effect it would have on their karma? How callous of him! Deliberately destroying their karma or at least, some intrinsic part of their cultivation, just to discover what happens how is this any better than a demonic cultivator?

Serious, Hui looked Lao Ning and Shen Aiguo in the eyes. Do not let Liu Guang touch you again. What hes doing could destroy your cultivation, assuming it doesnt outright kill you.

Shen Aiguo stepped back. What?

Lao Ning shook his head. Liu Guang said it was safe.

Safe? Hardly, Hui scoffed. He bit his lip, thinking. Hold on. Could this be the source of all the high-level death cultivators on that peak? If Liu Guang blackens their threads while theyre alive, hes essentially sowing the seeds of death cultivation into their bodies. When they inevitably die from this mistreatment, their chances of awakening as a death cultivator should be much higher.

I cant be sure, but I should ask Fang Hua when I get a chance! She wont necessarily know, but that death cultivator she supplanted that is, Tie Dingzi, ought to know, if he remembers anything about his living self.

Besides, all these cultivators... Hui quickly scanned them to be sure. No, thats right. None of them are higher than fourth realm. Until Fang Hua arrived, all the death cultivators peaked at fourth realm, too.

Ah Hui licked his lips. He gave them all a sad look. Can they even be saved anymore? I still dont know a technique to fix these threads. I can see them, and I can move them, and even cut or remove them, but I cant turn them gold again.

What? What is it? Shen Aiguo asked anxiously.

I bet its both at once. Liu Guang thinks these are karmic threads, and hes manipulating them to see what happens. But when he inevitably fails, I bet he blackens them to turn these cultivators into death cultivators. He rubbed his forehead. And I I really cant think of a way out of this for these cultivators.

He looked up at the cultivators with a heavy heart. I cant fix what has already been done to you. Stay away from Liu Guang if you wish to remain living.

What are you talking about? We were specially selected to receive Liu Guangs teachings. We cant quit now, when were so close to the end, Shen Aiguo said, shaking her head.

Hui opened his mouth, then closed it and looked away. Whats the point in arguing? Theyre enemies anyways. Might as well let Liu Guang kill them. He sighed. Remember my words. Thats all.

Shen Aiguo backed away. She looked up at Lao Ning. Senior Martial Brother, we should go.

Lao Ning frowned at Hui, but backed away. He gave Hui a polite bow. Well be going first.

Hui nodded back, waving a hand dismissively. Internally, he pressed his lips together in bitter regret. They didnt seem like bad people. I really dont want to kill them.

In the end, not everyone in All-Heavens is a villain. But everyone in All-Heavens stood aside and allowed Starbound Sect to be eradicated. Even though it will doubtlessly entangle innocents I still have to go through with my plan.

After all, Ive lived my life believing that nonviolence is the way to avoid future killings, because if I killed, there would be vengeance. If my sect is killed, and I dont get vengeance, then Im letting the villains get away more freely than even this small and inoffensive cultivator! I cant allow that.

But it doesnt mean it doesnt mean that Ill like it.

As the cultivators filed out, Hui stood. He wiped his face, tired. Raising a hand, he went to call the lotus beasts in, but ultimately dropped his hand. Let them play. They know nothing about the war to come. For now, they can stay innocent.

Husband of mine, Gui Yutong called.

Hui turned. What is it, beloved wife?

She rounded the corner. Her belly bulged a little as the baby began to show. She nodded at Hui. Someones come to visit you. Hes waiting in the main palace. She let out a cough. Bai Jingwen and I have somewhere to be, so the palace is all yours.

Ah yes? Hui said. What on earth is she doing?

Gui Yutong gave him a meaningful glance, then clapped her hands. Bai Jingwen descended from the sky and scooped her up. Together, the two fairy maidens flew off.

Right, well, that was weird. Furrowing his brows, Hui swept the fruits and elixir into his storage ring and headed toward the main palace. Who is it? Gui Delun? Is this small cultivators life finally over? But he seemed happy to leave me with Gui Yutong, as long as he could watch over me.

He shrugged. Hopping into the air, he soared in a low arc over the wall between the outer gardens palace and the main palace and landed in the main palaces gardens. He pushed aside a door and stepped inside, glancing around. Hello?

Good afternoon, Xie Hao. Did you enjoy chatting with my disciples? Liu Guang asked, turning a corner. Instantly, a brilliant golden glow filled the room.

Hui raised a hand to cover his eyes. Senior, were you hiding around the corner there specifically to pop out dramatically? Dont tell me you werentyou were even suppressing your glow, or else I could have seen you from miles away!

A second later, he realized. Ah. Thats right. When I was brought here, Liu Guang whispered all those misleading things in my ear. No wonder Elder Sister left us alone. He shook his head. Oh well. It could be worse. After all, now I dont have to worry about Liu Guang holding Elder Sister hostage.

Hui bowed to Liu Guang. What a welcome surprise! Small cultivator is truly honoroed. Welcome to my humble abode, Senior.