Yun Hao walked along the small path, tightly clutching the bundle of pills in his hand.
Before he left, Elder Lin had repeatedly reminded him to deliver the twenty pills to a certain senior brother without losing a single one.
This was the first time Elder Lin had asked him for a favor, and it was a sign of trust.
I must deliver these pills properly to that senior brother.
Thinking this, Yun Hao quickened his steps.
After delivering the pills, he still needed to return to Elder Lin’s cave residence to say goodbye.
He could not simply leave after handing them over—that would be improper.
Calculating the time, there were not many hours left in the day.
Senior Sister had reminded him a few days ago that the immortal path had no end.
He must cultivate diligently and not become lazy if he hoped to reach the end of the immortal path.
If he returned too late today, Senior Sister might think he was indulging in play, which would be bad.
Oh right!
Yun Hao suddenly remembered that Elder Lin had told him to find a bottle to store the pills in.
He had almost forgotten.
He looked around and frowned.
Where could he find a bottle?
Go back to Elder Lin’s cave?
But if Elder Lin had one nearby he would not have asked him to find one.
Return to the Sect Master Peak?
That was too far.
By the time he found a bottle there and delivered it to the senior brother, it would be too late.
After thinking it over, Yun Hao decided to go to the miscellaneous service hall again.
The western peak was not too far from there.
Taking a small detour should still be within time.
Having decided where to go, Yun Hao circulated his spiritual power and ran at full speed to save time.
If any cultivator saw him rushing forward at full strength now, they would surely be shocked.
His speed far exceeded that of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator—it was comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
And this was just ordinary running without any movement technique.
It was quite terrifying.
Under his full power, he soon arrived at the miscellaneous service hall.
The two outer sect disciples saw Yun Hao coming again.
Having learned from last time, they put on smiling faces and hurried to welcome him from afar before he even got close.
Yun Hao was in a hurry this time and did not bother with too much courtesy.
He simply greeted them with a quick salute, called them Senior Brothers, and explained his purpose.
The two outer sect disciples welcomed him into their residence.
One went to pour tea while the other searched for a bottle suitable for storing pills.
Before long, that disciple returned with an ordinary-sized porcelain bottle decorated with green patterns.
Yun Hao quietly glanced at the two of them and decided they probably would not try to steal the pills.
After all, these belonged to Elder Lin.
Even if they wanted them, they would need to have the life to take them.
He was not foolish.
After making this judgment, Yun Hao gently took out the bundle from his chest and slowly opened it.
The first sensation upon opening the bundle was a refreshing fragrance that washed over him, followed by a wave of dizziness.
Suddenly, a strong sense of craving spread from the depths of his heart.
His eyes stared fixedly at the pills, and his tongue unconsciously licked his lips.
Although he did not know what effects these pills had, he instinctively desired them.
These pills are definitely not ordinary. They are immortal pills! If I could eat just one…
No! I can’t think like that! These are the pills Elder Lin asked me to deliver to that senior brother. How could I keep them for myself!
Yun Hao shook his head and regained his clarity.
He looked at the pills on the table with some lingering fear.
Fear… That’s right. What about those two senior brothers…?
Yun Hao quickly looked to the side.
The two outer sect disciples had already collapsed unconscious on the ground at some point.
He jumped in fright and hurriedly checked their breathing with his slender fingers.
Whew! Thank goodness. They’re still breathing.
After helping the two disciples onto the bed, he hurriedly left.
He had thought about waking them but felt it would be hard to explain, so he simply let them sleep it off.
……….
Yun Hao held the blue-and-white porcelain bottle and squatted on the ground.
He tried hard to calm his mind, constantly reminding himself that these pills belonged to another senior brother.
He could not harbor greedy thoughts.
That would be wrong.
As he reminded himself, he counted the pills one by one and placed them into the bottle.
Gradually, his expression became strange.
Elder Lin had told him there were twenty pills, but no matter how he counted, there were three extra.
Pills could not suddenly increase in number.
The only possibility was that Elder Lin had made a mistake and put in three extra.
A thought suddenly flashed through Yun Hao’s mind.
Since Elder Lin made a mistake and doesn’t know there are actually twenty-three pills, why don’t I just… take them?
The three remaining pills in front of him suddenly seemed even more fragrant, as if urging him, Come taste one. Come on, come on.
Yun Hao’s eyes gradually turned greedy.
His once slightly handsome face began to twist.
He really could not resist the temptation.
He slowly reached out his hand.
His fingertips touched the pills.
The moment his fingers made contact, Luo Shuiling’s face suddenly appeared in Yun Hao’s mind.
That snow-white beautiful face seemed to be right before his eyes.
In his ears echoed the words Elder Lin had said to him.
“Good child, you have put your heart into this.”
Boom!
Yun Hao’s eyes regained their clarity.
His twisted expression slowly returned to normal.
Senior Sister had guided him onto the immortal path not so he could do such petty things.
Elder Lin had entrusted him with such valuable pills because he trusted him.
How could he have such dirty thoughts!
He looked at the three pills before him, suddenly jumped to the side, and a drop of cold sweat slid down his abnormally flushed cheek.
So terrifying!
Yun Hao stared at the three pills.
Although their fragrance remained, he no longer felt even the slightest trace of greed.
He hurriedly put the three extra pills back into the bundle.
He would return them to Elder Lin later.
………..
Lin Xian paced anxiously back and forth beside the bamboo house.
Yun Hao had already been gone for an hour and a half.
Including travel time, he should be back soon.
During the first hour he had still been able to sit calmly on the bamboo chair to rest and think of ways to persuade Yun Hao to agree to the engagement.
But as time passed, half an hour ago he had started frequently looking toward the door, hoping to hear a knock.
Fifteen minutes ago, Lin Xian could no longer sit still.
He stood up and began pacing back and forth at the entrance, his eyes fixed intently on the door, willing it to be knocked on.
He was very afraid that Yun Hao had not been able to resist the temptation.
If that were truly the case, even someone as strong as him might not be able to stop himself from falling into despair.
He did not have much time left—at most two months before he passed away.
If he failed to find a good husband for Lin Shengyu by then, what would become of his granddaughter?
He truly did not dare imagine the scene of Yun Hao failing to resist the temptation.
That boy was his last hope.
Lin Xian suddenly felt some regret.
Why had he set up such a powerful spell?
Yun Hao was only sixteen years old.
He lacked life experience and his heart was not yet firm.
Resisting the temptation of that spell was truly difficult for him.
Just as Lin Xian was lost in anxious thoughts, the door of the cave residence was knocked on.
Lin Xian reached the door almost instantly.
Sensing Yun Hao’s aura outside, he opened the door before the youth could even speak.
Then, suppressing his urgent feelings, he waved at Yun Hao and motioned for him to come in.
Yun Hao hesitated for a moment before entering the cave residence.
Lin Xian forced himself to sit calmly on the bamboo chair but could no longer hold back.
He asked Yun Hao,
“Child, did you deliver the pills?”
Yun Hao nodded.
Then, somewhat hesitantly, he brought out the three wrapped pills and held them before Lin Xian.
“Elder Lin, you may have miscounted the pills.
When this disciple was putting them into the porcelain bottle, I discovered there were not twenty but twenty-three pills.
After thinking it over, I only gave that senior brother twenty pills and brought the remaining three back.”
The moment Yun Hao took out the pills, Lin Xian’s body went limp.
Immediately after, a surge of relief and joy flooded his heart.
He had not misjudged Yun Hao.
This child had resisted the temptation.
He had succeeded!
Suppressing his wild joy, Lin Xian quietly listened to Yun Hao’s words.
Only after Yun Hao finished speaking did he stand up with a slight tremble in his voice.
He pulled Yun Hao into his arms and hugged him tightly, saying three times in a row,
“Good! Good! Good!”
However, Yun Hao who was being embraced felt deeply ashamed.
He gently broke free from Lin Xian’s hug and honestly recounted everything that had happened while delivering the pills.
Then he looked at Lin Xian with shame and begged for punishment.
“This disciple’s greed ran deep and I have failed to live up to Elder Lin’s trust.
I am deeply ashamed.
Please punish me, Elder Lin.”
Lin Xian looked at the youth begging for punishment and heard how he had faced temptation twice without making a mistake.
The more he looked the more he liked Yun Hao.
Waves of appreciation surged in his heart.
He gently helped Yun Hao up and shook his head.
“No, child.
You did very well.
I am very satisfied.”
Yun Hao still felt ashamed.
He felt he had let Lin Xian down.
Lin Xian thought for a moment and slightly altered the truth about what he had done before telling Yun Hao.
He said it was not Yun Hao’s fault.
These pills originally had the effect of confusing the mind.
Being able to resist the temptation was already very impressive.
Lin Xian did not plan to tell Yun Hao the full truth.
He had already decided to arrange the engagement between Yun Hao and Lin Shengyu.
He would now use every method possible to make Yun Hao agree, even if it was slightly underhanded.
He was willing.
Yun Hao’s guilt toward him was an excellent point to make use of.
In a place where Yun Hao could not see, Lin Xian silently apologized to him in his heart.
He was taking advantage of the youth’s respect and affection for him.
If he had even a little more time he would not do this.
But his time was almost up.
For Lin Shengyu’s sake, he had no other choice.
Yun Hao chatted idly with Lin Xian for a while longer.
Just as he was about to take his leave, Lin Xian suddenly grabbed his sleeve and told him he wanted to introduce someone to him.
Then he led Yun Hao to the front of the bamboo house and said softly,
“Yu’er, may I come in?”
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