Chapter 80: Yun Che's Thoughts
"Oh?" Qin Wuyou was taken aback once more, because Yun Che's words should not have come from the mouth of a sixteen-year-old youth. Instead, they sounded more like something uttered by a middle-aged man, even an old man, weathered by the vicissitudes of life.
"You trust me that much... no, I should say, you trust your own instincts that much?" Qin Wuyou increasingly sensed Yun Che's extraordinary nature.
"Basically, yes." Yun Che said with a smile. But aside from himself, no one could understand the true meaning behind this smile. In the past, too many people had wanted to kill him, spanning the entire continent. Apart from the girl he had wronged for a lifetime, everyone he met could potentially have appeared to kill him.
After encountering one, two, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand of them... he could tell from a single glance at someone's eyes whether they intended to kill him, whether they were genuine or false, kind or evil. This was an insight honed only after countless brushes with life and death. The depth of this experience could not be expressed in words, nor understood by others.
That was also why Xiao Luocheng, despite deciding in his heart to destroy him, ended up suffering Yun Che's most brutal retaliation on the spot... because no matter how deep his scheming, he could not deceive Yun Che's eyes that seemed to pierce straight through a person's heart.
"Besides, even if the Palace Master's character is not what I predicted, I am still a disciple of the New Moon Mystic Palace. No matter what, you wouldn't allow someone to harm your own disciple on your turf, right?" Yun Che said with a smile.
Qin Wuyou's face turned stern. "You only joined the New Moon Mystic Palace today. As a new disciple, no matter how passionate, it's impossible for you to have a strong sense of belonging to this palace. Yet from the very beginning, you repeatedly referred to yourself as a disciple of the New Moon Mystic Palace. You said it more than a dozen times and frequently mentioned that you were fighting to prevent the New Moon Mystic Palace from being bullied. I found it strange at the time. It wasn't until you repeatedly defeated the disciples of the seven sects, leaving them utterly disgraced, and constantly provoked their bottom lines with arrogance and sarcasm, sparing no effort to offend them all, that I understood. Your constant claim of being a 'disciple of the New Moon Mystic Palace' was entirely a reminder to me."
Yun Che did not deny it. He nodded frankly. "As expected of the Palace Master. I couldn't possibly hide my thoughts from you."
"Hmph, you never intended to hide them from me." Qin Wuyou's expression darkened slightly. "But I simply cannot understand why you went to such lengths. What benefit do you gain from earning their resentment? Don't tell me you were just showing off. And even that aside, you ultimately went so far as to heavily cripple Xiao Luocheng. Do you realize the magnitude of the disaster you've caused? Today, on the territory of the New Moon Mystic Palace, I can indeed protect you for now. But the retaliation from the Xiao Sect—even though it's only an external branch—is not something I can easily withstand."
"Not easily withstand" implied that he could withstand it, but it would require extra effort. This surprised Yun Che. The Xiao Sect held immense power in New Moon City, yet this newly appointed Palace Master spoke of facing the Xiao Sect in such terms. It was evident that the power behind him was far from simple.
That such a person would come to New Moon City to serve as Palace Master was somewhat intriguing.
"I do have my own goals. But the matter with Xiao Luocheng was not part of my original plan. I believe that with your keen insight, Palace Master, you should have noticed that the reason Xiao Luocheng stepped forward was to destroy me."
Qin Wuyou remained silent, his eyes indicating agreement.
Yun Che's brows furrowed. "As for someone who holds no past grievances or recent grudges against me yet still maliciously seeks to destroy me, I have absolutely no reason to show him any courtesy. If I can kill him, I will kill him. If I cannot kill him, I will cripple him. Regardless of who he is, I will not show mercy... This is one of my fundamental principles."
Yun Che's words sent a chill down Qin Wuyou's spine. He found himself utterly unable to see through this youth, and he wondered what experiences could have shaped a mere sixteen-year-old to possess such eyes and such a temperament. Taking a silent breath, he set aside the matter of Xiao Luocheng and asked, "Then why did you deliberately provoke the seven sects?"
"I need three things," Yun Che said.
"Three things?"
Yun Che enunciated each word clearly. "First, a person and a place that can help me rapidly improve my profound strength. Second, enemies and pressure sufficient to temper me. Third, a person who can allow me to have the first thing even when facing the second."
Yun Che's words made Qin Wuyou frown. He pondered for a while before questioning, "I still don't understand what you intend to do."
"It's simple," Yun Che said. "I want to reach the Earth Xuan Realm within three years."
"What!" Qin Wuyou's eyes widened. "Three years? The Earth Xuan Realm? Are you joking?"
Yun Che: "..."
"You're not serious, are you?" Looking at Yun Che's expression, Qin Wuyou's heart was filled with shock. The person standing before him was a youth who claimed he wanted to go from the Xuan Entry Realm to the Earth Xuan Realm in three years! And from his eyes and demeanor, he was clearly saying this with the utmost seriousness.
"Of course I'm serious." Yun Che nodded. "I have a reason that requires me to reach the Earth Xuan Realm within three years."
Qin Wuyou was silent for a moment. After staring at Yun Che for a while, he suddenly said, "Yun Che, do you know at what age I entered the Earth Xuan Realm?"
Yun Che: "..."
"When I was sixteen, your age, my profound strength was at the fifth level of the Xuan Entry Realm. I was considered a top-tier genius in my clan at that time. Of course, even though I was half a realm ahead of you back then, I would likely be no match for you now. Later, I reached the True Xuan Realm at nineteen, the Spirit Xuan Realm at twenty-eight, and the peak of the Spirit Xuan Realm at thirty-eight. I was stuck at that bottleneck for a full six years, finally stepping into the Earth Xuan Realm at the age of forty-four. And even so, entering the Earth Xuan Realm at forty-four, I could be called a one-in-ten-thousand genius in the entire Cang Feng Empire. It has been fifteen years since I entered the Earth Xuan Realm, and now I am at the sixth level of the Earth Xuan Realm... but in this lifetime, I probably have no hope of aspiring to the Heavenly Xuan Realm."
"Three years from the Xuan Entry Realm to the Earth Xuan Realm..." Qin Wuyou shook his head. "At least among the people I know and everything I've heard in my life, no one has ever accomplished it. No one has even dared to think of it. Not to mention the Earth Xuan Realm—going from the first level of the Xuan Entry Realm to the True Xuan Realm in three years is something only an extremely rare few can achieve."
"Just because others cannot do it does not mean I cannot. For example, today, did you ever imagine that I, at the first level of the Xuan Entry Realm, could cripple Xiao Luocheng?" Yun Che said with a carefree smile.
Qin Wuyou's expression stiffened, and he shook his head with a wry smile. "It seems you are indeed serious. Ah, youth is wonderful. No matter how grand or difficult the goals you set, they only make people like us, whose lives are already set, envious and eager to see them realized. But you've told me all this, even sharing your life goal for the next three years. Aren't you afraid I won't help you at all? After all, I have no apparent reason to help you. We only met today. What do your goals have to do with me?"
"That depends on your choice, Palace Master." Yun Che looked directly into Qin Wuyou's eyes and said, "If I had told you all this without any foundation, I believe you would have taken it as a joke. But after today's banquet, with my unreserved performance, you should have one part belief and ninety-nine parts disbelief. But even if there is only that one part of belief... wouldn't you want a peerless genius who might one day break history, shake the continent, and step into the Earth Xuan Realm before the age of twenty, to have grown under your protection and guidance?"
These words moved Qin Wuyou visibly. But immediately, he smiled and said, "You're wrong about one thing. I appreciate your goal, and I believe you have the ambition and perseverance for it. However, you are still young and only at the Xuan Entry Realm. You don't know how difficult the path of cultivation becomes later on. Many twists and bottlenecks cannot be overcome by talent, determination, hard work, and perseverance alone. I have walked the path of cultivation for nearly fifty years. I understand it ten times more thoroughly than you. So, I could believe in going from the Xuan Entry Realm to the True Xuan Realm in three years, but stepping into the Earth Xuan Realm? I completely do not believe it, and no one else will either."
"However, regarding today's events, I will still do my utmost to shield you. After all, you are a disciple of the New Moon Mystic Palace, and I am the Palace Master. It is only natural for a palace master to protect his disciples. Moreover, after today's banquet, your name will resound throughout New Moon City, even for a thousand li around. The New Moon Mystic Palace will gain great fame because of it. If you can one day step into the Earth Xuan Realm or even the Heavenly Xuan Realm, the New Moon Mystic Palace will be proud of you. It has been over a hundred years since this palace had a disciple like you. So, no matter what, I will protect you. Of course, this is also for the New Moon Mystic Palace and for myself."
"But what I can shield you from is only on the surface. The Xiao Sect's covert retaliation will definitely come, and I cannot ensure complete protection at all times. If there is a situation I cannot manage, it will be up to you."
Qin Wuyou's words left Yun Che somewhat disappointed, but it was not the worst outcome. It was still within his expectations. He politely cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your promise, Palace Master. I feel guilty for causing such a huge trouble for the palace on my first day. But rest assured, I will do my best to resolve today's matter on my own, so as not to trouble you too much."
"Heh, you don't need to be too concerned." Qin Wuyou smiled. "They came to intimidate me, but you helped slap them back. Setting aside my role as Palace Master, I indeed should protect you. I should also thank you, haha..."
——————
After concluding his conversation with Qin Wuyou, Yun Che walked out of the main hall with a somewhat weakened body, remaining silent the entire way.
"It seems you're a bit disappointed." Mo Li's cold voice sounded.
"Yes." Yun Che shook his head helplessly. "I originally wanted to use that 'grand goal' of mine to impress Qin Wuyou. Coupled with today's performance, I hoped he would be moved and take me as his personal disciple. Then, the New Moon Mystic Palace's various techniques and resources would be as accessible as possible to me. But it seems I was too naive."
"Hmph! You only met him today. He doesn't know your background at all. How could he rashly make such a decision?" Mo Li said contemptuously. "Moreover, your performance was too sharp, far exceeding your age. While it made him admire you and feel he couldn't see through you, it also instinctively created a sense of caution, even danger, in him. How could it go as you wished?"
Yun Che paused in his footsteps, a look of realization dawning on his face. "You're right. I did overdo it."
"What do you plan to do next? The fact that you crippled Xiao Luocheng—the Xiao Sect will definitely not let this go. Killing you outright would be the lightest punishment!"
"This is actually quite easy to handle." Yun Che laughed lightly, his smile carrying a hint of eeriness. "This matter was Xiao Luocheng's own doing. If I didn't have a trump card, it would have been me who was crippled, not him. If they let this go, I'll let it be. But if they really come after me... I have plenty of ways to throw their entire sect into chaos!"
"As for the 'protection' Qin Wuyou mentioned, it's best if it exists. If not, it doesn't matter either!"