The Decaying World

Relocation was what Lin Hui had in mind, and it was what he did.

A few days later, after the last farewell dinner at the Pine Wind Sword Hall, he announced that the hall was disbanded. All disciples except for the Core Disciples were free to leave.

Among the Core Disciples, everyone except Wu Anning chose to leave.

Only Wu Anning, who had no other attachments, followed Lin Hui to move the sword hall. They entered the mountain forests on the edge of the Yin Yang Pavilion’s territory, built a small courtyard next to the Mei Xin Mountain Man, and settled down.

After the Core Disciples scattered, many of them joined the rebel army. Liu Xuezhen, as the daughter of a high-ranking member of the New Revolutionary Army, was extremely reluctant to part with Lin Hui, but she couldn’t follow him into seclusion and could only bid him a tearful farewell.

All at once, the once-bustling sword hall quickly became deserted.

And, in sync with the changing times, Lin Hui’s Great Yin Yang Time Reversal Sword Technique continuously sensed the pulsing Time Strings. His cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, and in just two short years, he broke through to the Perfection of the Second Layer and began practicing the Third Layer.

In its normal state, this swordsmanship could reverse the immediate tide of battle in an instant. By using its time reversal ability, he could completely reverse his own state for an entire day.

After his cultivation reached the Perfection of the Second Layer, Lin Hui gained two chances to reverse time.

He didn’t use them, merely saving them, waiting for the right moment.

"Young friend... to choose to move into the deep mountains at such a young age, keeping this old man company... it truly is a shame..."

Inside the sword hall deep in the mountains, Lin Hui and the Mei Xin Mountain Man sat across from each other. Between them lay a board of black and white stones, the game more than halfway finished, the outcome still uncertain.

Fallen leaves fluttered around them; it was clearly late autumn.

"I’m simply waiting for something," Lin Hui said indifferently.

"It seems you still haven’t found something you care about. If this continues, I’m afraid a big problem will arise sooner or later," the Mei Xin Mountain Man sighed.

"Why would a big problem arise?" Lin Hui placed a black stone, his expression unchanged.

"Life is driven by desire. And you, young friend, are becoming ever more impassive, calm, and peaceful. It seems good on the surface, but in reality, you lack the most fundamental Source Power from the depths of your heart," the Mei Xin Mountain Man sighed.

"You’ve said that many times before," Lin Hui said with a small smile.

"It may be a tired old saying, but you must still be careful. Life and death, existence and nothingness, they are intrinsically linked." Looking at the man before him, the Mei Xin Mountain Man felt an inexplicable sense of dread, as if Lin Hui might cause some great catastrophe at any moment.

"Speaking of which, things outside should be calming down soon, right?" Lin Hui changed the subject.

"Yes, the war has mostly been decided. Zhang Yi’an and Le Sui repelled the armies of Aixin and Duoxini from two different directions. The casualties were devastating, but they were ultimately victorious. It seems good times are finally on the horizon for the common folk." Clearly, the Mei Xin Mountain Man wasn’t completely out of touch with the outside world.

"This Le Sui is quite a character." Hearing this name, Lin Hui smiled slightly and shook his head.

For this was none other than the Heavenly Immortal "seed" that The Three Greats Buddhist temples had fought over.

This person was extremely intelligent. He didn’t join any of The Three Greats Buddhist temples, but finally entered the Great Golden Yun Temple. In the end, after studying there for two years, he betrayed the sect and left, joining the rebel army. Aided by that magical flame, his cultivation soared, and in just a few short years, he became one of the strongest Cultivators in the country today.

"But we’re also approaching a critical time. Now that the foreign powers have been repelled, discord has appeared within the rebel army. Both Zhang Yi’an and Le Sui have the ambition to rejuvenate the nation, but they have major ideological differences on what to do after. I’m afraid the chaos will continue for a while longer," the Mei Xin Mountain Man sighed.

"It’ll be over soon. Internal conflicts are always easier to resolve than external crises," Lin Hui said.

"Perhaps. But you can’t go on like this, young friend. Maybe you should cultivate some hobbies you enjoy. That would be better," the Mei Xin Mountain Man suggested tentatively.

"Then how should I do that?" Lin Hui had indeed been feeling that something was wrong with him lately.

’I have no interest in anything. I’m indifferent to everything. It’s getting harder and harder for my emotions to be stirred. I still remember my original goal, but for some reason, I’m losing all motivation.’

"Life and death are not so different in essence. If living is nothing but fatigue, pain, and boredom, then a living being will inevitably choose to walk toward the opposite. That is death," said the Mei Xin Mountain Man. "So, to sustain life, one must discover the happier, more valuable, and more interesting parts of it."

He looked at Lin Hui and continued.

"From my observation, young friend, ever since you moved here, you’ve done nothing to pass the time besides your secluded cultivation. To live merely for the sake of living will inevitably lead one to ponder the meaning of life. Cultivation itself is exhausting. After a long time, you will inevitably start to consider... consider the possibility of trying life’s other side: death."

Lin Hui froze. ’He’s right. I have been having thoughts like that lately.’

’Lately, I’ve often found myself pondering the meaning of life. This Mei Xin Mountain Man is truly different from anyone I’ve ever met.’

"But life and death... is there really such a huge difference?" he asked in return.

"I do not know," the Mei Xin Mountain Man said, shaking his head and placing another stone on the board. "But I do know that since we have been given this one trip into the world, if we don’t properly experience the beauty and joy of life, wouldn’t it be an utter waste if we never get the chance again?"

"So, you mean I should actively look for some fun?" Lin Hui finally understood completely.

"Young friend, don’t underestimate this matter of ’fun.’ It is one of the cornerstones of your existence in this world. Some live for fine food, some for beautiful scenery, some for beautiful women, and still others are simply obsessed with things that seem boring. To others, it seems uninteresting, but they don’t realize that these things may be the ballast that makes their lives more meaningful and interesting..." the Mei Xin Mountain Man said seriously.

Lin Hui fell silent.

’I was already pure of heart and had few desires. Now that the sword technique has severed the burden of my flesh, many of my physical urges are fading even more.’

’Flesh and blood dictate so many basic desires. Now that I’m without them, it seems there’s even less joy in being alive...’

Seeing him lost in thought, motionless for a long time, the Mei Xin Mountain Man sighed. He glanced at the board where he was about to win by a landslide, shook his head, stood up, turned, nodded a greeting to Wu Anning, and prepared to leave.

As he reached the courtyard gate.

Wu Anning’s question suddenly came from behind him.

"Mountain Man, is Master spacing out again?"

"Mm, it’s nothing. Take good care of your master. He’ll figure it out soon. Find something interesting for him to do. Don’t let him be idle all the time. The joy of life isn’t something one can obtain just by cultivating in seclusion all day," the Mei Xin Mountain Man advised.

Wu Anning returned to the courtyard. The slanted sunlight shone on her master’s fair face, reflecting a flawless luster as clear as jade.

But this luster was completely lifeless, giving off a faint sense of death.

With a helpless expression, Wu Anning began to sweep the withered leaves that had fallen in the courtyard.

The soft, rustling sound of sweeping continued for a good while before Lin Hui emerged from his silence.

"Anning."

"Here!" Wu Anning immediately stood at attention, putting down her broom.

"What is your motivation for living in this world? Can you tell me?" Lin Hui turned to face his most loyal disciple.

"I... as long as I can follow you, Master, and live a peaceful life, I want for nothing else. Just this is enough to make me feel very happy," Wu Anning said honestly.

She had suffered since childhood and had only just settled into a stable life not long ago. The precarious fear of gaining and losing still lingered in her heart.

"Is that so... But I feel... that this life... seems truly meaningless..." Lin Hui recalled the warning the sword technique had given him.

’All who practiced the Great Yin Yang Time Reversal Sword Technique eventually became terrifying avengers, unstoppable destroyers. No one could stand against them, and no one could stop them.’

’But in the end, once invincible, their fate was to lose all meaning in life and choose self-destruction.’

’And now, I’m only at the Perfection of the Second Layer, but I can already feel something is wrong...’

’I have no interest in doing anything; everything feels meaningless. Severing the First Layer’s spiritual burden of flesh and the Second Layer’s spiritual burden of bone—just these two layers have already given me a taste of complete listlessness, of having nothing left to live for.’

"Master!" Hearing this, Wu Anning’s expression changed drastically. She dropped to her knees with a THUD, pressing her forehead to the ground. "Please don’t say such terrifying things! Look at this peaceful, gentle life! We can quietly enjoy delicious food, we have time to explore all sorts of interesting things... Isn’t that something to be happy about?"

"But now... it seems there’s nothing left for me to be happy about..." Lin Hui said indifferently.

"Then... I will go and find the best chefs for you, the most beautiful women! I’m sure I can help you feel invigorated again, Master!" Wu Anning’s body trembled more and more.

"It’s alright. The fading of life’s joys is perhaps the inevitable path to the other side," Lin Hui said with a faint smile.

"Master!!" A strong, ominous premonition rose in Wu Anning’s heart, her tone now tinged with a hint of desperation.

"Don’t worry. I still have things left to do, and reasons to stay..." Lin Hui replied.

"Please, Master, do everything you can to find something you find interesting! Even just a sliver of interest would be enough!" Tears streamed from Wu Anning’s eyes as she pleaded.

Lin Hui said no more, simply falling back into silence.

Time passed. Gradually, he stopped talking about the meaning of life, which slowly put Wu Anning at ease. She thought he had finally come to his senses.

She did as she had said, going out to hire the best chefs to prepare the most delicious meals and delicacies for Lin Hui.

Then she went and abducted a beautiful woman, who was then promptly set free by a helpless Lin Hui.

But what she didn’t know was that as time went on, the sense of weariness and fatigue in Lin Hui’s heart grew stronger and stronger.

Without the counterbalance of joy, even the faint trace of fatigue from his daily cultivation would accumulate over time, unable to dissipate, growing ever larger.

In the blink of an eye, another three years passed. Accelerated by a massive amount of medicine, the time remaining on his Blood Seal had been reduced to a mere two hundred years.

Meanwhile, Lin Hui’s sword technique cultivation began to rapidly ascend towards the Third Layer. He was about to sever the last physical things in his body—his internal organs.

Once this layer was severed, there would be advantages, but also disadvantages.

The advantage was that everything physiological would be severed, so he would no longer be troubled by things like drug resistance or poisons.

The disadvantage was... that most ordinary medicines and Treasure Medicines he consumed could no longer be digested and absorbed to produce their effects.

In other words, aside from some top-tier Treasure Medicines that could directly affect the Heart and Spirit, soul, and cultivation energy, all other medicines would become ineffective for Lin Hui.

He would no longer have to worry about any non-energy, non-Heart-and-Spirit, non-soul type of poisons, but he also wouldn’t be able to benefit from common vitality-restoring prescriptions like the Black Emperor Pill.

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