Yu Fen laughed bitterly. He said, "Zhang Jingmo... is muddleheaded."

The two spoke outside for a while. When Yu Fen returned, the grief and bitterness on his face had been replaced by anger. He said, "Zhang Jingmo, the physician said if you don't rest well, your body will be ruined."

How could Zhang Jingmo not know his own condition? He said, "I know."

*You know? You know shit!* Yu Fen roared inwardly, but he revealed a comforting expression on his face. He said, "But the physician said, if you recuperate properly, you can recover in just one or two hundred years. Then you can go out traveling again, and there's still hope for a breakthrough."

Yu Fen rarely lied, and the lie he told now wasn't very good. Zhang Jingmo saw through it with one glance.

But even though he saw through it, he didn't expose it. Instead, he went along and said, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Fen. Qingyuan understands."

Yu Fen forced a smile and placed the medicine prescribed by the physician beside Zhang Jingmo before hurriedly leaving.

After Yu Fen left, Zhang Jingmo asked Ji Jinglun, who had been silently standing to the side the whole time, "What did your junior brother say in the letter? Did he mention a specific time for his return?"

Ji Jinglun thought to himself that his master indeed doted on this junior brother the most. He answered all of Zhang Jingmo's questions verbally. He said, "Junior brother only said he traveled to a dangerous place. Before going underground, he sent a letter to report that he was safe. He also said if nothing unexpected happens, he will return within a year or two."

Zhang Jingmo said, "That little brat." They had been apart for over ten years. Who knows what Lu Guijiu looks like now? Has he grown taller? Thinner? Didn't he say he could take the pill gifted to him to maintain his youthful appearance?

As Zhang Jingmo pondered, he took the medicine Yu Fen brought. Exhausted to the extreme, he soon fell into a deep slumber.

With this sleep, a month passed.

When Zhang Jingmo woke up, it was morning. He drowsily opened his eyes and paused for a good while before realizing he had awoken.

Ji Jinglun had long since left. There was only himself left in the entire room.

Zhang Jingmo sat up from the bed and casually put on some clothes before walking out. As soon as he exited the room, he discovered it had already started snowing.

In the courtyard, an unfamiliar young servant was sweeping. Seeing Zhang Jingmo awake, the servant hurriedly kneeled down.

Zhang Jingmo asked, "What's your name?"

The servant softly replied, "This one is called Hanri."

Zhang Jingmo asked, "Did Ji Jinglun send you?"

The servant said, "There were quite a few people at the estate today. Seniors Qingfeng and Mingyue were too busy, so Master Ji brought this one over from the mountain gate."

Zhang Jingmo looked at Hanri for a moment before saying, "Go on then."

Hanri acknowledged and resumed sweeping the snow. Zhang Jingmo looked at the ordinary-looking boy in front of him with a thoughtful expression, his eyes slightly narrowed. If Lu Guijiu were here and saw Zhang Jingmo's expression, he would probably immediately understand what his master was up to.

Fresh snow had just fallen, blanketing the earth in silver. Zhang Jingmo had just woken up, feeling very tired. He went to the spiritual spring to take a bath, then asked Qingfeng to warm a pot of wine. Wearing a white fox fur cloak, he sipped wine alone in the snowy field.

He didn't use spiritual power to block the snow, allowing the pure white snowflakes to drift down onto his shoulders and hair, one by one.

When Ji Jinglun heard that Zhang Jingmo was awake, he hurried over and saw this scene. With just one glance, he felt an indescribable sense of loneliness, as if the person before him was just an illusion and didn't really exist at all.

Fortunately, this feeling was only fleeting. Zhang Jingmo sensed someone's presence and turned to look. Seeing it was Ji Jinglun, he tapped the table with his finger and said, "Come here."

Ji Jinglun responded and sat down across from Zhang Jingmo.

Zhang Jingmo looked Ji Jinglun over and asked, "What plans do you have recently?" Ji Jinglun had successfully formed his foundation over ten years ago and was probably about to set out to travel.

But unexpectedly, Ji Jinglun said, "This disciple's cultivation is still a bit unstable. I was thinking of continuing to cultivate in the sect..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Jingmo interrupted him. With a half-smile, Zhang Jingmo said, "Alright, do you think I wouldn't know your cultivation level?"

Ji Jinglun smiled a bit awkwardly.

Zhang Jingmo said, "I know your good intentions, but with your foundation establishment cultivation, even if you're by my side, you can't protect me."

Ji Jinglun pursed his lips.

Zhang Jingmo laughed again, "Besides, even if I'm injured, I'm still your master. I should be the one protecting you all. How can a master hold back his disciples?"

As he spoke, he drank another cup of warm wine, the smile on his face fading. "Now the timing is just right. If you wait any longer, it will be a waste. I think you should pick a date soon and go out traveling on your own."

Ji Jinglun opened his mouth to argue, but seeing Zhang Jingmo wave his hand, his face expressionless but anyone could see his resolute intention, "If you don't listen to me, then there's no need to be my disciple anymore."

With those words, Ji Jinglun had no room for debate. But he was obviously still very worried about Zhang Jingmo's health. In a trembling voice, he said, "Master's great kindness, when Jinglun becomes stronger, I will definitely do my utmost to repay it."

A hint of a smile appeared on Zhang Jingmo's face again. He casually tossed a pouch to Ji Jinglun and said, "I don't have much to give you. I just refined quite a few elixirs before. Your journey this time will be perilous, so take them."

Ji Jinglun no longer declined. After taking the qiankun pouch, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Zhang Jingmo.

Zhang Jingmo had watched Ji Jinglun grow up and had seen countless endings for him. His eyes were a bit dazed as he softly told Ji Jinglun to get up.

Ji Jinglun stood up. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, a miserable cry came from the courtyard gate. Qingfeng ran over like he was crazy, crying out, "Master, Master, it's not good! A demon has entered our cave abode!"

Zhang Jingmo was stunned, wondering how a demon could suddenly appear here. He asked, "What demon? Explain clearly."

Qingfeng was shaking all over. He said hoarsely, "Blood, it's all blood. That demon is in the main hall, still... still gnawing on human flesh..."

Zhang Jingmo also faintly smelled the stench of blood. He knew Qingfeng wouldn't lie recklessly, so he said, "Then lead me to take a look."

Qingfeng nodded vigorously, hurrying to lead Zhang Jingmo to the main hall.

Seeing this, Ji Jinglun had no choice but to follow. Like Zhang Jingmo, he completely didn't believe a demon would appear inside the cave abode. But looking at Qingfeng's panicked expression, it didn't seem fake, so he could only go see.

As they neared the main hall, the stench of blood grew stronger. Ji Jinglun joked, "Could it be that a demon really did come knocking?"

Zhang Jingmo said expressionlessly, "Maybe."

As soon as they finished speaking, a human figure slowly walked out from the main hall entrance. That figure was covered in fresh blood from head to toe, smeared with chunks of flesh and remains, its original appearance completely unrecognizable. In its right hand, it held a long sword also covered in blood. In its left hand, it held a piece of meat, tearing at it with its mouth.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo's heart jumped. Before he could speak, he heard that figure call out in a hoarse voice, "Master."