Chapter 63 Choosing one out of three, eliminating two wrong answers, and still getting it wrong is to die from stupidity.
Qingfeng Sect.
Inside the side hall for discussions.
Zheng Xiaofeng stood below with a grievous expression, facing the Sect Leader's eyes full of doubt.
The Sect Leader asked with suspicion: "You mean, they just lay by the stream today ordering you around, and did nothing else?"
Zheng Xiaofeng's gaze and tone were both very sincere: "Sect Leader, that is indeed the case!"
The Sect Leader was clearly skeptical: "They didn't say anything about evil cultivators or any other matter? They just tormented you?"
Zheng Xiaofeng's tone was both aggrieved and tragic: "Sect Leader, I have been in the Qingfeng Sect since I was a child. Don't you know me? My loyalty to the sect is truly absolute!"
This speech seemed to have moved the Sect Leader. He nodded lightly, signaling that Zheng Xiaofeng could withdraw.
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly breathed a sigh of relief. He had managed to get through it, barely.
Regarding the matter of the blood-qi spirit stone, Zheng Xiaofeng did not dare to confess at all.
Damn it, anyone involved in this matter, regardless of which elder it was, was someone he could not afford to provoke.
He had nearly lost his life to advance from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, only to obtain this position of Grandson Elder.
Moreover, this was very likely a conspiracy among the elders, perhaps even known to the Sect Leader. As someone excluded from the elders' circle of power, how could he possibly participate in such a matter?
Zheng Xiaofeng hoped to graduate from the Grandson Elder profession, but not the kind of graduation that costs him his life.
This matter could only be treated as if he knew nothing; only then could he protect himself.
A grandson must be a grandson to the end!
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly turned and walked out.
Just as he pushed open the door to the side hall, Zheng Xiaofeng saw Elder Li, who was very close to Elder Shangguan within the sect.
He stood at a distance, just like the Sect Leader, looking at him with the same eyes.
That sound—"Little Zheng."
It seemed to ring in his ears again...
Damn it, it was one thing to be tormented by outsiders, but now he had to be tormented by his own people?
Could it be that he wasn't considered a person?
Forget it, he couldn't afford to provoke any of them.
A forced smile appeared on Zheng Xiaofeng's face as he quickly walked before Elder Li and said in a humble tone:
"Elder Li, is there something you wish to instruct me?"
Elder Li's face was stern as he asked in a cold voice: "What did those disciples from the Tianyun Sect do today?"
Zheng Xiaofeng, with a face full of grievance once again, recounted the events of the day to Elder Li.
Elder Li questioned with suspicion: "You mean, for the entire day today, they did nothing besides order you around for their amusement?"
The familiar gaze, the familiar questions, only Elder Li's question was even more excessive.
What did he mean by ordering him around for their amusement?! This was too insulting!
Zheng Xiaofeng suppressed the feelings in his heart and said in his familiar aggrieved tone:
"Elder Li, that is indeed the case..."
Elder Li looked at Zheng Xiaofeng in silence for a moment before asking:
"Then did they ask you anything about evil cultivators today?"
"No... they seemed to be here just to torment me," Zheng Xiaofeng said sincerely. "From their appearance, it seems they were just here to complete a sect mission."
Hearing this, Elder Li nodded slowly in thought. He did not ask further, but simply reached out and gently patted Zheng Xiaofeng's shoulder, then turned and left.
Zheng Xiaofeng stood in place and looked around to see if anyone else was looking for him.
After a long while, a still-frightened Zheng Xiaofeng slowly returned to his room.
Inside the room, Zheng Xiaofeng tremblingly picked up the tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.
Recalling all of today's events, Zheng Xiaofeng immediately came to a conclusion—damn it, none of the three sides treated him as a human!
To vent his frustration, Zheng Xiaofeng—diligently cultivated for the entire night.
The next morning.
Fearing to be late, Zheng Xiaofeng stood early at the main entrance of Qingfeng Sect, standing guard with the group of disciples responsible for protecting the mountain gate.
As time passed, the two masters Zheng Xiaofeng was waiting for did not arrive for a long time.
This made the disciples on guard duty on both sides stand uneasily, with sweat on their backs—was this elder here to supervise the guard duty?
Why was he standing guard with them for so long?
It was not until the sun was high that Zheng Xiaofeng saw Chu Xingchen and Yaoqin strolling over slowly.
He hurried forward to greet them: "What are your arrangements for today?"
Chu Xingchen stretched, his tone lazy: "It got dark early yesterday, we didn't have enough fun. Let's go play for a while longer."
Zheng Xiaofeng forced a smile: "...As long as you are happy."
"Of course, it's all about my happiness."
After saying this, Chu Xingchen leisurely walked towards the stream.
After the three arrived at the stream, Chu Xchen took off his boots, soaked his feet, and lay down, all in one smooth motion.
Then...
"Little Zheng..."
"Yes..."
Would this voice echo in Little Zheng's ears when he woke from his dreams at midnight?
Time passed, the expressions of the two by the river remained unchanged, only a Golden Core cultivator was constantly doing strange things by the river.
For example, lifting a large rock and placing it on another large rock.
He also uprooted a tree and replanted it next to another tree, calling it— one tree is too lonely, two trees are not lonely.
The sun set in the west.
Zheng Xiaofeng, who had been tormented for another afternoon, after completing another instruction, looked at the sun and was filled with emotion— why is the sun setting so slowly today?!
Chu Xingchen noticed this scene and once again scanned Zheng Xiaofeng with his system.
[Target: Zheng Xiaofeng]
[Cultivation: Early Golden Core]
[Blue Tag: Socially adept]
[White Tag: Decent aptitude]
[White Tag: Composed]
[Black Tag: Short-sighted]
[Temporary Black Tag: Mentally unsettled]
When Chu Xingchen saw the tag "mentally unsettled," he knew the time might have come.
Chu Xingchen pulled his feet out of the stream: "Little Zheng..."
Zheng Xiaofeng quickly looked at Chu Xingchen, and at the same time responded instinctively:
"Yes... your instructions."
A light smile appeared on Chu Xingchen's face as he asked: "How was your night last night?"
Zheng Xiaofeng was stunned by these words, staring blankly at Chu Xingchen. When a person can't hold on any longer, they often can't hold on.
He took a deep breath, then asked in a low voice: "You did this on purpose?"
"Don't put it so harshly. I don't think I've done anything to make things difficult for you, have I?" Chu Xingchen denied it. "Who is really making things difficult for you, me or them?"
Hearing this, Zheng Xiaofeng suddenly lowered his head and said nothing.
Chu Xingchen didn't mind, and while putting on his boots, he said:
"A vortex doesn't care if the people swept into it are innocent. Since you've been swept into it, what you need to do is not just go with the flow, that will surely lead to drowning."
"What you need to do is to struggle with all your might to save yourself, to seek a chance of survival."
After putting on his boots, Chu Xingchen walked up to Zheng Xiaofeng and gently patted his shoulder:
"Now, none of them will trust you. Your current situation is a choice of one out of three. After eliminating two wrong answers, if you still choose the wrong one, you will have died from stupidity."
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