Bitter Realm: Have the Four Realms been united today?

Chapter 7 Lies

Just as her mind was in turmoil, a strand of long, dark hair falling across her chest suddenly caught her eye.

A thought flashed through my mind like lightning.

Perhaps, this body... wasn't originally mine?

Once this thought arises, it's like a flood bursting its banks, impossible to contain.

His hair couldn't have suddenly grown this long, and his clothes are clearly from this world.

Moreover, he was weak all over and somewhat unable to control his body, which vaguely matched the "reincarnation" legends in those strange tales!

Seeing the young man suddenly fall silent, his eyes lowered and he remained silent, none of the others urged him on.

However, in the exchange of glances, the silent questions and answers had already flowed back and forth several times.

"Is the strategist testing this boy's character?" The Soul Burial Emperor, deeply "injured," turned his crimson eyes slightly to Yue Tianji's questioning gaze.

"It can't hide from the Soul Emperor's discerning eyes!" Yue Tianji gave a confirming glance, then turned his gaze to Mu Yunzhishu at the table, his eyes carrying a faint hint of accusation.

Mu Yunzhi's expression stiffened, then she looked back, her eyes full of pleading, yet a sly provocation was cleverly hidden within.

He knew that Yue Tianji's target was Xuanming's original blood, and he also guessed that Yue Tianji's move was a test of Xuanming.

But what exactly was Yue Tianji testing, and why was he using the blood of origin to test him? As a student, he truly couldn't figure it out.

To this day, he still doesn't quite understand why Yue Tianji insisted on getting Xuanming's consent, even if it meant deceiving him.

He refused to believe that Yue Tianji hadn't realized that Xuanming had no idea what the Origin Blood was.

Therefore, by explaining the preciousness of the Origin Blood to Xuanming just now, he was essentially interfering with the plan of Yue Tianji.

If Xuanming ultimately refuses to have his blood taken, it would ruin the plan to read the secrets of the heavens.

However, he was "kindly" helping Yue Tianji test Xuanming. As a student, after guessing the teacher's intentions, it was only natural to take the initiative to help.

Although he "accidentally" misjudged the teacher's intentions, he at least tested the boy's character and wasn't entirely counterproductive.

Moreover, Yue Tianji was cooperating with him just now, which means he tacitly approved of it, doesn't it?

Besides, his teacher is known as the top strategist of the Shenyu region, who can see the entire sky at a glance.

Surely someone who has defeated all the wise men of the Shenyu region over the past decade can't even handle a student's "unintentional mistake"?

Seeing this, Yue Tianji understood. His student's respect for him was genuine, and his desire to surpass him was also genuine.

Mu Yunzhi felt a little guilty under that indifferent gaze. He felt like a child who had been caught red-handed by Yue Tianji, the parent who had been secretly causing trouble.

Just then, Ling Shuangjie's gaze intervened, inadvertently rescuing him from the predicament.

"Strategist, is what he said about his origins true?"

"It's hard to say for sure right now!" Yue Tianji returned an ambiguous look. He was testing the boy because he wasn't sure if what the boy said was true or false.

Unable to get a clear answer, Ling Shuangjie turned her question to Mu Yunzhishu, asking, "What does Ceshu think?"

Before Mu Yunzhi could respond, Xuanming's voice rang out again, each word clear and firm:

"Mr. Yue, I agree to have my blood drawn. Please begin."

"...Are you really sure?" Mu Yunzhi could hardly believe her ears. Ignoring Yue Tianji's reaction, she blurted out a series of questions.

"That's the blood of origin! Aren't you afraid there's a trap? Aren't you afraid the master has ulterior motives?"

He thought victory was assured, but the situation took a sudden turn for the worse, and he was extremely unwilling to accept that the "cooked duck" was about to fly away.

"I am not a cultivator, nor have I ever practiced. Even if I disagree with your request to take my blood, will you really refuse?"

"Do I really have the power to decide whether or not to have blood drawn?"

Xuanming looked up and stared directly at Yue Tianji. This time, he didn't avoid Yue Tianji's gaze. Suppressing his fear and instinct to flee, he asked a question that was almost offensive.

"Mr. Yue, are you trying to harm me?"

"If I said I had this intention, would you believe me?" Yue Tianji's gaze was calm and unwavering, as if he were merely asking a casual question.

"Does Mr. Yue believe my explanation of my origins?" Xuanming, still staring intently at Yue Tianji, asked an unrelated question.

"What difference does it make whether you believe or not?" Yue Tianji looked at that sincere and somewhat familiar gaze and sighed almost imperceptibly.

"Sir, just say whether you believe it or not!" Xuanming seemed unusually stubborn about this question, as if the answer was more important than his own safety.

"I...believe." Yue Tianji gave the answer.

A faint smile appeared on Xuanming's face, but his tone unconsciously carried a hint of determination, "Then, I also believe that you have no intention of harming me."

"Why?!" Mu Yunzhishu was incredulous, almost suspecting that Yue Tianji had secretly used some kind of mind-controlling technique.

"Although I don't know what Shenyu is, I don't know how big Huanchen Buwu is."

"But you are all cultivators, while I am just an ordinary person with no strength to even kill a chicken."

"Killing me would be as easy as crushing an ant for you all, so why bother with all this fuss and fabricated reasons?"

He paused, his logic so clear that it was unlike someone who had just been so timid.

"Even if you all really covet my primordial blood, wouldn't it be possible to do so while I'm unconscious without anyone noticing? Why bother with all this trouble?"

"Moreover..." His voice lowered, but remained unusually firm, "I caused the Soul Emperor's injury, and paying the price with my own blood is the price I must bear."

Mu Yunzhi was speechless for a moment. He had hinted so directly, yet Xuanming had no doubts whatsoever.

What else can he say now? Can he just tell you directly that the Soul Emperor was not injured at all, and that the Master was just testing you, and that you shouldn't be so naive as to believe whatever he says?

If he actually did that, Yue Tianji would never let him off easily.

Mu Yunzhi retreated sullenly behind the Burial Soul Emperor, his face showing undisguised frustration, but he quickly managed to suppress it.

"...What if you make a mistake this time?" he asked one last time, unwilling to give up.

"Then next time..." Xuanming's voice was calm, "I will never trust Mr. Yue again!"

Ironically, no one believed him when he told the truth before, but now a lie that concealed its origin has earned him the trust of a stranger.

However, this was the first person besides his parents who was willing to believe in him since he was twelve years old, so he was willing to take the gamble, even if it cost him his life.

These naive words made Ling Shuangjie, who was standing to the side, secretly curl her lip.

Next time? If the judgment was wrong, then there will be a next time?

Yue Tianji didn't say much, but simply pointed to the bed and said, "Come sit here, calm your mind, and I will perform the blood-drawing technique."

"Okay." Xuanming sat down cross-legged as instructed.

Looking up, one could see Yue Tianji standing two zhang away, wisps of white energy flowing from his fingertips, changing with his gestures, weaving into a complex and ancient light pattern in the air.

Immediately, Yue Tianji pushed his hands forward slightly, and the light patterns, as if guided, slowly entered Xuanming's heart.