Su Wen walked up to Du Yue. He lightly held her hand and gently patted her head, her stone-cold expression softening slightly.
'What a fierce wife… knocking down a Golden Core cultivator with a few slaps.' he murmured.
His gaze drifted to Young Master Rush, who lay sprawled on the floor, looking as though he were enjoying a peaceful nap.
Crouching beside him, Su Wen used the good old method to wake him up… splashing a bit of water onto Rush's face.
Rush's horse-like ears twitched. A faint murmur escaped his lips as his body stirred.
Pushing himself up weakly, he blinked through the sting in his cheeks.
His half-opened eyes slowly focused, and landed on Su Wen and then drifted towards Du Yue.
Instantly, as if jolted awake, he scrambled backward on his butt, panic flooding his face.
"W-Who… who are you?" he stammered.
Du Yue didn't even glance at him. She completely ignored his existence, as if he might as well not exist.
"Young Master Rush…" Su Wen said calmly, "you ask who she is?"
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Are you even worthy of knowing?"
Rush instinctively touched his swollen cheeks.
"I-I…"
"Since you're so eager," Su Wen cut in, his tone sharpening, "I'll tell you."
He straightened slightly, his voice turning proud.
"She is an Immortal Fairy. To her, even minor Golden Core cultivators like you are no more than ants."
Rush's face turned deathly pale.
He hadn't expected, nor had he ever imagined, encountering and offending such a figure in this remote place.
After being slapped unconscious by her, he didn't dare question her identity.
Behind Su Wen, Du Yue's expression shifted slightly.
'Impossible… how does he know I'm an Immortal?' she thought, a trace of shock flashing across her eyes.
Even the previously silent crowd gasped, glancing at one another.
Unaware of Du Yue's reaction, Su Wen continued his bragging as he pointed towards the old man, who stood with his hands behind his back, chin slightly raised, already wearing a smug, expectant expression, as if waiting for his turn.
"And… do you know who he is?"
The crowd's attention snapped toward the old man.
Su Wen let the silence linger, allowing anticipation to build before he spoke again.
"He is no ordinary elder, but a wandering immortal... living among mortals while spreading the Dao across the Eastern Continent."
A brief pause.
Then, more heavily:
"He… is a Sage."
The words fell like a hammer.
"A single thought from him could shake even the Central Continent. And yet you..." Su Wen pointed at Rush, his voice slowing with deliberate emphasis, "...still dared to act so recklessly in front of him."
He clasped his hands behind his back, looking down at Rush as though passing judgment.
"Can you even afford the price for offending him? Even your so-called background wouldn't be enough."
The crowd erupted into murmurs, some shocked, some in awe, others doubtful.
Rush felt the blood drain from his face, his cowardly nature completely taking over.
He dropped to his knees, his courage shattered. "I-I'm sorry… I-" But before he could finish, Su Wen cut him off once more.
"You're just a spoiled young master. Go ask around-"
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"Even the Treasure Tower wouldn't dare offend him."
That single sentence crushed whatever doubts remained.
The murmurs died instantly.
No one questioned it anymore.
And Rush… didn't dare to, either.
Suddenly, a surge of uncontrollable emotion overtook Rush.
His body began to convulse violently as he collapsed onto the ground.
"I'm sorry… I won't do it again… please forgive me… please don't hurt me… I-I didn't mean it… please… spare me…"
Su Wen's expression shifted slightly.
'What's with this sudden emotional reaction? Did I scare him too much…? This…? Is this some kind of trauma?'
He quickly took out five spirit needles from his ring.
With a flick of his hand, one pierced an acupuncture point near Rush's heart, another from the back. One needle sank into his forehead, while the remaining two landed on points atop his head.
Su Wen knelt down slightly, his voice lowering to a calming tone.
"Young Master Rush… now that you understand your mistake, you should calm down and apologize properly."
Su Wen glanced at the old man, who met his gaze and gave a slight nod before stepping forward.
The old man's calm voice rang out, "A man's knees should only bend before his parents, elders, his master… or an angry wife."
His voice carried an invisible force, and Rush stiffened as if struck by the power of the words.
His trembling ceased, and he stood up unconsciously, his fear evaporating, replaced by a strange sense of clarity.
He regained control over himself and looked at the old man, his eyes filled with shock... but this time, instead of fear, there was a trace of reverence.
Su Wen quietly retrieved the spirit needles, his gaze turning slightly suspicious.'Wait... Did he just regain control of himself from a single sentence from the old man?'
The old man stroked his long beard slowly, his gaze fixed on Rush, who felt as if his entire existence had been laid bare.
With a flick of his wrist, two copper coins appeared between his fingers.
He rolled them lightly, the coins spinning and clinking softly against each other, as if probing the very threads of fate.
"Your fate lines are darkened… you've suffered greatly, and your forehead is clouded with an impending calamity. But..." The old man paused, his eyes narrowing as fear flickered across Rush's face, mingled with a faint trace of hope.
"Your stars are bright, young man. This calamity may even become a turning point in your life."
Rush stammered, his breath coming in uneven gasps, his body trembling.
"Senior… I-I apologize for my earlier behavior," he gasped, his voice thick with desperation. "I… I don't care about encounters or turning points. Please… just let me stay safe. I can't face this... I don't want to. I'll do anything. Please, just..."
The old man let out a soft chuckle at the desperation in Rush's tone.
"Hah... Even if you hide in the deepest corner of the earth, the calamity will find its way to you. This is the working of the heavens." he said calmly, shaking his head
Rush's expression fell instantly, the last trace of hope draining from his face.
"Senior, I... I just-"
The old man raised his hand lightly, cutting him off. "Being afraid is not a crime, but letting that fear control your every step is."
His tone remained calm, yet each word pressed down like an invisible weight.
"You are a cultivator, yet your Dao heart is already fractured. You seek to run rather than face it. That cowardice has already seeped deep into your heart."
"Forget about calamities and other things, before anything else..." The old man paused briefly, his gaze shifting toward Su Wen, steady and profound.
Su Wen stiffened slightly, feeling as if those eyes were staring straight into his soul.
After a brief moment, the old man turned back to Rush and spoke slowly, each word like a silent weight pressing down on him.
"…ask yourself... why do you cultivate, young man?"
"Why do I cultivate?"
Both Su Wen and Young Master Rush repeated the question in their minds, their expressions slowly turning thoughtful.
"I-I…" Rush opened his mouth after a moment, trying to answer, but the old man gently raised his hand and stopped him.
"That is not something that needs to be answered to me," the old man said calmly. "It is something only you should know… and something you must figure out yourself."
He continued, his tone steady and unhurried:
"Don't be hasty. Cultivation follows the heart. If your will is unclear, your path will always waver. If your reason is shallow, your Dao will never stand firm."
Su Wen fell silent, his brows knitting slightly as he sank into thought. 'Does the old man intend this for me as well?'
His gaze shifted slightly, and a question lingered at the back of his mind: 'Why do I cultivate? Have I ever truly asked myself that?'
Rush, however, remained quiet for a long moment, the old man's words echoing in his mind. 'Do I really want to cultivate... I-I am not sure.'
After a while, Rush finally raised his head. He met the old man's calm, knowing gaze, and something inside him clicked.
His posture shifted, and his voice, once filled with arrogance, now carried a faint but noticeable trace of determination.
"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance today. I will reflect on this… properly."
The old man said nothing more. He simply nodded, slowly stroking his long beard, looking rather satisfied.
Rush then turned towards Su Wen and Du Yue.
This time, all traces of arrogance and condescension had disappeared. His posture had shifted, and his expression was one of humility.
He clasped his hands and bowed deeply once again, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of sincerity.
"I apologise for my earlier rudeness. I acted out of ignorance and arrogance. I failed to recognize my place... Please forgive me, and allow me the chance to make amends."
Du Yue gave a slight nod before slowly turning away.
Su Wen looked at Rush, his expression thoughtful. 'This young master doesn't seem that bad after all…'
His expression turned a little strange before he nodded as well.
"It's fine, as long as you understand. Just don't look down on others or pick trouble without reason."
Rush clasped his hands respectfully, his posture more humble than before.
"Thank you for showing mercy and sparing my life," Rush said, his voice soft with sincerity. "I deeply regret my earlier actions. I will always remember this kindness. If you ever need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."
He then turned to the attendant.
"Please, allow me to cover all the travel expenses as a token of apology."
Su Wen's eyes lit up for a brief moment, though he quickly hid it. He gave a light smile.
"It's fine. A few spirit stones mean nothing to us," he said lightly. "But since you insist on settling this karma, I'm sure my wife and the senior immortal won't mind."
Rush let out a breath of relief.
"Thank you so much. Being able to encounter you all today is truly my fortune."
"Alright, that's enough for now," Su Wen said calmly. "We shouldn't keep the senior immortal waiting."
At once, the attendant hurried forward and respectfully guided each of them toward their respective rooms.
With a final nod, Su Wen, along with Suzume and Du Yue, followed an attendant toward their Silver Class accommodations, while the old man was led to the Gold Class by another.
Rush and the crowd silently watched their backs, their emotions mixed.
The old man looked towards the sky, his eyes flickering slightly as he murmured under his breath, 'A strange destiny indeed… young man, it seems that with you, things will become far more interesting in the future.'