The Price of Candor and the Weight of the Past

Gazing into Lin Mo’s clear eyes, Qiu Jingwen felt a peculiar sensation.

Unlike the veiled hypocrisy and insidious calculations hidden beneath the feigned gentleness of certain old monsters, they held nothing but… candor.

This was an emotion so ancient it had been all but forgotten, like a seed buried deep beneath the earth, finally pushing through the frozen soil to tentatively sprout in a barren heart.

Innumerable images flashed uncontrollably before Qiu Jingwen’s eyes.

In her youth, due to her inability to cultivate diligently and her fickle nature, she was made to kneel for long hours on cold jade bricks, extending her palms to receive the cane’s lashes.

The blows would leave her flesh a bloody mess, while the skin on her knees would almost freeze to the bricks.

Her mother was nowhere to be seen; only the stern teachers of her clan would declare with frigid voices, “If you cannot cultivate diligently, what right will you have to serve the Qiu Family in the future? The Qiu Family bestows resources upon you and supports your cultivation, seeking nothing less than your utmost repayment! Do not be ungrateful and idle in your practice!”

Qiu Jingwen merely absorbed their words in silence, her only thought being the searing pain in her palms, a pain she never wished to endure again.

Time flowed onward, and the girl of yesteryear blossomed into a graceful young woman, yet no trace of the gentleness, tranquility, or fragility typically found in maidens could be discerned in Qiu Jingwen.

Her eyes were frosted with a chilling gaze, her brows etched with a fierce, murderous aura, and an aloofness that warned all to keep their distance seemed almost carved into her very being.

All of this stemmed from her entanglement in an endless cycle of challenges, where every defeat brought with it an exceedingly harsh punishment.

Her opponents, ruthless and cunning, had long cast aside any familial bonds, their eyes burning with a near-insane desire for victory—a craving that transcended mere triumph, evolving into an obsession to win at any cost, even if it meant taking a life.

Tragically, behind all this bloody struggle, the so-called reward amounted to nothing more than a casual word of praise from the elders.

Qiu Jingwen had once harbored a tender heart, but all it earned her was a scar on her chest that had nearly pierced her heart, and a hideous, jagged wound stretching across her back.

She could only kill her challengers, for it was a matter of life and death.

Compassion would only be exploited, transforming into a lethal strike against herself.

She could only kill; she had to kill her own family to survive.

Having already killed her elder brothers and sisters, who would be next? Who else remained to be slain?

The slaughter never ceased, and the elders’ gazes gradually shifted from scrutiny to fervent admiration.

They lavished praise upon her, even beginning to proclaim her “the future head of the Qiu Family” in front of everyone.

She loathed such titles—no, more accurately, she loathed such a family.

For she believed this was no home.

This was fundamentally not a home.

It was merely a beast’s den, where everyone was transformed into a bloodthirsty animal, constantly devising ways to devour and gnaw at one another.

She recalled her past hunts in the wilderness, where even wild beasts protected their young, and even their young defended their smaller kin.

But her own family…?

Each time she lowered her gaze to her blood-stained, uncontrollably trembling hands, she would quickly avert her eyes as if stung by something sharp.

That crimson expanse represented a sin she yearned to cleanse at all costs.

She felt it was wrong, sensing that such a Qiu Family was destined for ruin—she yearned to change it.

The only way was to become the family head.

To this end, she knew not when, but her resistance and numbness had subtly transformed into a cold, hard pride.

She grew accustomed to those admiring gazes, even clearly catching a fleeting flicker of grim satisfaction deep within her heart after each victory.

Finally, she raised her head, no longer shying away from her blood-stained hands.

She told herself:

‘All of this is for the Qiu Family.’

‘These blood-soaked hands are my only path.’

Indeed, she was the most outstanding member of the Qiu Family, so much so that even Old Ancestor Qiu cast approving glances at her, not stinting on her praise.

The head of the Qiu Family was never chosen; they were forged through bloodshed.

Young and ambitious, brimming with strength, she swiftly challenged the family head and ascended as the new leader.

Her methods were swift and decisive, efficient and cruel.

Even as the former family head cursed her, she remained utterly indifferent, for… she knew precisely what she was doing.

Finally donning the family head’s crown, she acted with resolute efficiency.

She yearned for change, yet the ingrained beliefs were too deep-seated; the Qiu Family no longer regarded itself as a home, but merely a means to acquire power and strength.

Each attempt at reform was met with deeper alienation from her kin, superficial smiles and perfunctory responses from the elders, and even malicious curses and rumors behind her back.

The very concept of family seemed to have faded into obscurity.

The ‘Qiu Family behemoth’ she painstakingly tried to maintain continued to navigate a quagmire composed of greed, betrayal, and the law of the jungle.

Deep within Old Ancestor Qiu’s satisfied gaze lay the cold, calculating scrutiny of one appraising a tribute.

Qiu Jingwen could not change it; she had long since been assimilated… becoming the very person she once despised most.

‘Perhaps… I was wrong.’

Qiu Jingwen thought this at the time.

‘Or perhaps… I am the anomaly within this family.’

‘What I saw in other families was merely an illusion.’

‘If the Qiu Family was truly mistaken, then how could it have survived for so long?’

‘How could it still be thriving, gradually becoming the renowned Qiu Family known far and wide?’

‘Perhaps… it truly must be the strong preying on the weak; perhaps one must indeed kick someone when they are down.’

‘One must be cruel.’

‘One must treat the weak and the defeated in this manner.’

Yet, the Lin Mo before her did not.

‘Is it weakness?’

‘Is he naive?’

Qiu Jingwen did not understand.

“Rather than being allies… wouldn’t it be better to be master and servant?” Qiu Jingwen could not suppress the doubt burgeoning within her heart.

‘Do such people truly exist in this world?’

‘Is this world not one where the strong prey on the weak?’

‘Why would there be compassion?’

‘Why would there be such a naive person?’

Her world did not operate this way.

If it were she, she would undoubtedly take the cultivators of the Trial Realm as her servants, her hounds, without a moment’s hesitation; only then would she feel at ease.

‘He wants me…’

‘Could it be—’

Qiu Jingwen suddenly recalled a ridiculous emotion, one potent enough to transcend generations of enmity, overcome all barriers, and even bridge racial divides, allowing two individuals to be together.

With this emotion, it was said that age was not an issue, appearance was not an issue, height was not an issue, cultivation was not an issue, and even beauty or ugliness held no sway.

For this emotion, one could readily relinquish power, abandon authority, and even willingly surrender one’s cultivation and soul…

‘Yet now, he had forgone such immense temptation, merely seeking an alliance with her… Could it be… that this Lin Mo was smitten with her?’

‘But…’

‘But I…’

‘No, no… Perhaps he’s merely trying to confuse me?’

As Qiu Jingwen’s thoughts swirled in disarray, Lin Mo merely found it odd.

‘Why hasn’t she gotten up yet?’

‘Were my words not compelling enough?’

‘Or could it be… that this fellow has seen through my intentions to poach her?’

‘No, that’s not right either; given her mindset and personality, that shouldn’t be the case.’

‘If Qiu Jingwen was willing to accept the condition of becoming a servant to a Foundation Establishment junior like him for Qiu Yue’s sake, then this secondary proposal of an alliance, made for Qiu Yue’s future, should be even more readily embraced by her.’

‘But…’

‘Why does she wear such an expression?’

‘Ah! I understand now!’

Lin Mo’s mind raced, and in an instant, enlightenment struck him.

‘The problem lay with him!’

‘Merely speaking without acting would naturally fail to inspire trust!’

‘She had already humbled herself to make such a grave oath, yet he hadn’t even offered the most basic gesture of support!’

‘A classic case of all talk and no action,’ he mused.

‘Wait, no, that doesn’t quite fit here, does it?’

He dismissed the thought; the sentiment was all that mattered.

Lin Mo immediately suppressed the confusion on his face, replacing it with an apologetic smile, and extended a hand to help Qiu Jingwen.

“Family Head Qiu, this junior was impolite, to have left you like this—”

“Ah!”

Before his words finished, his fingertips had barely brushed Qiu Jingwen’s arm when she let out a short, sharp cry of surprise!

Lin Mo was startled by the sound, for the cry… truly did not resemble a reaction of fright or surprise.

Her face showed neither fear nor anger; instead, a faint blush crept across her cheeks, her eyelashes fluttering, hinting at a touch of… shyness?

‘Could it be… that the sinister ghostly aura of Dry Bone Ridge is disturbing me, making me hallucinate? Or is my spiritual sense in disarray?’

Lin Mo quickly blinked his eyes, and fortunately, when he looked again, Qiu Jingwen had already risen to her feet.

It was as if her earlier shyness had truly been nothing more than his own illusion.

‘I should have my protective charm, shouldn’t I? Could it be that its power has weakened? Can it disrupt my mind even through its defense?’

“No, I don’t need your help!” Qiu Jingwen stood up, her voice reverting to its frigid tone.

“Who gave you permission to touch me?!”

“Family Head Qiu, my apologies,” Lin Mo said with a smile, though inwardly, he was already muttering.

‘Why such a strong reaction? I wasn’t going to do anything to you. We’re allies now, not master and s*ave.’

‘Had he truly misread the situation?’

While Lin Mo’s perception was unclear, Xian Chengyue, standing nearby, saw everything with perfect clarity.

‘That expression… it’s almost like a shy young girl being touched by someone she likes? No, it couldn’t be, could it?’

‘Surely… I didn’t misinterpret that?’

Qiu Jingwen herself was puzzled by her own intense reaction.

Though she had outwardly regained her composure, the tumultuous emotions churning within her were not so easily quelled.

Her breathing had unconsciously grown heavier.

Nevertheless, as a grand cultivator who had practiced for a millennium, she swiftly brought herself back to equilibrium.

She attributed it all to… Dry Bone Ridge.

‘Yes, it must be this bizarre place affecting my mind, causing me to lose my composure.’

‘It’s all Dry Bone Ridge’s fault!’

“Lin Wan’er—no, I should say… Lin Mo,” Qiu Jingwen corrected herself, her gaze regaining its sharpness as the flush on her face gradually receded.

“Since you refuse to take me as a servant, that is your loss. While I admire your courage, now that we are allies, it does not mean you can approach or get close to me at will!”

After all, hostility still lingered.

Ultimately, Lin Mo had shattered her daughter’s Dao Heart.

Even if Lin Mo had acted in self-defense.

Qiu Jingwen, however, was not so benevolent as to be forgiving; it was simply that the current circumstances… made an alliance with Lin Mo the optimal choice.

Lin Mo was not surprised by her attitude; rather, he considered it entirely normal.

‘Did she truly expect him to win her over in a few casual conversations, as written in novels? What kind of cultivation would that be?’

Nevertheless, this ally was one he absolutely had to win over.

Only with her by his side could he feel at ease.

‘Having enemies isn’t terrifying; not knowing what your enemies are doing is the most terrifying thing of all.’

It seemed he would have to continue working to win over this ally’s trust.

“This junior was presumptuous,” Lin Mo conceded, offering Qiu Jingwen a measure of respect and taking the initiative to show goodwill.

“Family Head Qiu, what kind of recording would you like me to make?”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Qiu Jingwen suddenly declared.

“Since we are allies, I want you to speak with Yue’er yourself.”

‘Testing my sincerity?’

‘Or rather, taking advantage of my goodwill.’

‘She clearly knows how much I detest Qiu Yue, yet she still makes such a demand?’

However, he was the one who proposed the alliance, and a Heavenly Dao Oath had been sworn.

This could be considered… shooting himself in the foot.

He certainly did not want to see Qiu Yue, nor did he want to help her restore her Dao Heart, let alone let her continue to cling to him.

Yet… he needed Qiu Jingwen as an external ally, and he had sworn an oath to the Heavenly Dao that Qiu Yue could not approach him without his consent.

For Qiu Jingwen, a cultivator at the Reforming Void stage, this should be easily manageable.

‘There’s an internal traitor in the Xuan Nv Sect, so there must be one in the Qiu Family as well.’

‘The Xuan Nv Sect, painstakingly built by Mother, cannot be tainted by an internal traitor.’

Lin Mo took a deep breath, his smile gone, but no anger in his expression, only a calm declaration: “I will bring Qiu Yue to the Xuan Nv Sect. Furthermore, Family Head Qiu, I cannot guarantee that my words will mend Qiu Yue’s shattered Dao Heart. You must be mentally prepared for that.”

“You needn’t worry about that; I have my own methods,” Qiu Jingwen replied, a flicker of joy in her heart, and a newfound admiration for Lin Mo.

So young, yet so composed, adept at weighing pros and cons, and skilled in winning people over.

He was… exceptional.

She found herself unable to resist glancing at him a few more times.

‘Exceptional, promising, and so handsome… how could she not believe him—’

‘No, no—’

‘Dry Bone Ridge was becoming increasingly dangerous; her thoughts were starting to become muddled, speaking of such chaotic things.’

Taking a deep breath and recomposing herself, Qiu Jingwen slowly stated:

“Since you, young man, are so sincere, I will not be stingy either.”

With a thought, she drew a storage ring, and a smooth, perfectly polished recording stone appeared before everyone.

“Moreover, I will also tell you all… no, likely everyone, a piece of news that no one knows.”

“?”

“News…”

Lin Mo and Xian Chengyue were somewhat baffled.

“Many years ago, I once crossed paths with Lin Ruoli, sustaining a hidden injury. I must say, the Bright Jade Profound Yin is exceedingly insidious; even after scouring for rare medicines and consulting numerous renowned physicians, nothing proved effective. That wisp of Profound Yin energy from Lin Ruoli remained stubbornly lodged within me, even devouring my spiritual energy to nourish itself. Forcibly dispelling it would risk a backlash, as it was deeply rooted in a sensitive location within my body, and with many enemies in the Qiu Family, I dared not risk injury by forcibly expelling it, lest others seize the opportunity to usurp my position as family head. Therefore, I have kept it contained within my body all this time.”

Lin Mo remained still, wondering what kind of news this was.

He turned to look, only to see Xian Chengyue’s face completely overcome with astonishment.

“Such methods, though not uncommon in the cultivation world, are rarely so tenacious. And the crux of it—” Qiu Jingwen’s gaze locked onto Xian Chengyue, “—I presume there’s no need for me to elaborate, Lord Yan already knows full well, doesn’t they?”

She took a deep breath, enunciating the last few words heavily, throwing them out one by one:

“As long as the caster lives! This Profound Yin energy will never dissipate!”

Like a thunderclap detonating in dead silence, these words, carrying a weight capable of encompassing the entire cultivation world, hammered heavily into the air.