Courtyard House: Starting with handing over the keys, the state helps me abuse birds.

In the backyard, under the old locust tree.

Sha Zhu sat cross-legged on a blue stone, his eyes closed, breathing deeply. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on his body.

He has been sitting here for an hour.

Since his "rebirth," he has been cultivating frantically every day. He meditates and practices breathing exercises in the morning, trains during the day, and continues meditating at night.

He used every spare moment he could to cultivate, even reciting mantras in his mind while eating.

He had only one thought in his mind—to become stronger, stronger than Xie Weihong.

He has 180 years of cultivation experience and countless memories of techniques and secret arts. He knows all the pitfalls and shortcuts on the path of cultivation. In this life, he will surely go further than in his previous life.

As for Yi Zhonghai?

Sha Zhu sneered.

That old geezer, who used to rely on him for retirement, now wants to curry favor with him? Dream on.

Who is Sha Zhu now? He's a demigod who has cultivated for 180 years! What is Yi Zhonghai? Just a decrepit old man who's about to die, not even worthy of carrying his shoes.

Sha Zhu took a deep breath and continued breathing.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him.

He didn't open his eyes and continued breathing.

The footsteps grew closer and stopped behind him.

"Cough cough."

A cough.

Sha Zhu frowned, opened his eyes, and turned his head.

Yi Zhonghai stood behind him, hands behind his back, with an expression on his face that he had never seen before.

What kind of expression is that?

Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment.

Yi Zhonghai usually acts like a highly respected person, but it's all an act; it might fool outsiders, but it won't fool him. But now, the expression on Yi Zhonghai's face doesn't seem fake.

It was a... inscrutable expression.

"Master Yi?" Sha Zhu asked, his tone filled with doubt.

Yi Zhonghai didn't speak, he just looked at him.

His gaze was so deep, it seemed to see right through his soul.

A strange feeling welled up in Sha Zhu's heart.

"Shazhu," Yi Zhonghai finally spoke, his voice lower than usual, carrying an indescribable sense of vicissitude, "Do you know who I am?"

Sha Zhu frowned: "You're Yi Zhonghai, old man. Are you suffering from dementia?"

Yi Zhonghai shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

"Do you think I'm Yi Zhonghai? Do you think I'm just some old geezer in this courtyard?"

Sha Zhu was stunned.

Yi Zhonghai took a step forward and stopped in front of him.

"Silly Zhu, I've been observing you for a long time," he said. "I've seen all the changes in you lately. You're training like crazy, ignoring everyone else, and all you can think about is getting stronger."

Sha Zhu's heart skipped a beat.

How did he know?

Yi Zhonghai looked at him with an indescribable complexity in his eyes.

"Have you ever wondered why you were reborn?"

Sha Zhu's expression changed.

Reborn?

How did he know the word "rebirth"?

"What...what did you say?"

Yi Zhonghai sighed, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked up at the sky.

"Silly Zhu, I'm not pretending anymore."

Sha Zhu stared wide-eyed.

"I am actually... a reclusive master."

Sha Zhu's mind went blank.

Yi Zhonghai continued, "Do you really think I'm just an ordinary old man? Do you think I've been holed up in this courtyard all these years just to retire?"

He lowered his head and looked at Sha Zhu, his gaze as deep as an ancient well.

"I'm here, waiting for you."

Sha Zhu opened his mouth wide, but couldn't utter a single word.

Yi Zhonghai turned around, took a few steps, and turned his back to him.

"I know everything you experienced in your past life. You stole Xie Weihong's opportunity, you cultivated for 180 years, you failed your tribulation, and you were reborn—I know it all."

Sha Zhu stopped breathing.

How could he know? Only he knows these things!

Yi Zhonghai turned around and looked at him.

"Why do you think you were able to be reborn? It's all thanks to me."

Sha Zhu's mind was completely in chaos.

Yi Zhonghai walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder.

The force was much stronger than usual. Sha Zhu felt a warm energy emanating from that hand and flowing into his body. The energy was familiar; it was exactly the same as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth he had sensed during his cultivation in his previous life!

"Can you feel it?" Yi Zhonghai asked.

Sha Zhu nodded blankly.

Yi Zhonghai withdrew his hand and stood with his hands behind his back.

Xie Weihong told him to warm his hands before coming, and he didn't know why, but he did as she said.

Now it seems to have some use.

"I kept quiet all this time to test you. To see if you were qualified to become my successor."

Sha Zhu's breathing became rapid.

"Now," Yi Zhonghai looked at him, "you've passed."

Sha Zhu jumped up and stared intently at Yi Zhonghai.

"You...you are really a reclusive master?"

Yi Zhonghai smiled slightly, a smile that was unfathomable.

What do you think?

Sha Zhu took a deep breath, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "What about Xie Weihong? Was he also someone you arranged?"

Yi Zhonghai's smile paused for a moment, then returned to normal.

"Xie Weihong..." He paused, "He is a pawn. A pawn to hone you."

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up.

That's it!

It turns out that all of this was arranged by a master! His rebirth, his cultivation, his growing strength—it was all orchestrated by a master!

He knew it! How could he have been reborn for no reason? How could he have inexplicably heard Xie Weihong's thoughts? It turns out there was a mastermind behind it all!

"Master!" Sha Zhu knelt down with a thud. "Master, please accept my bow!"

Yi Zhonghai was startled and almost gave himself away. But he quickly regained his composure and reached out to steady him.

Get up.

Sha Zhu stood up, his face full of excitement.

"Master, how should I cultivate now? What guidance do you have?"

Yi Zhonghai pondered for a moment, his mind racing through the words Xie Weihong had taught him.

"The path of cultivation," he said slowly, "is not about speed, but about stability. In your past life, you were impatient for quick success and forced your way through the heavenly tribulation, which led to your failure. In this life, you must calm down and proceed steadily."

Sha Zhu nodded repeatedly.

"Also," Yi Zhonghai continued, "your body is too weak right now, and your foundation is too thin. Don't rush to break through; focus on building a solid foundation. Once you have a strong foundation, things will naturally fall into place."

Sha Zhu nodded again.

"besides……"

As Yi Zhonghai was speaking, he suddenly couldn't think of anything else to say.

He glanced at Shazhu and saw that the man was looking at him with adoration, his eyes shining.

Yi Zhonghai secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems we succeeded.

"That's enough for today," he said. "You keep practicing, I'm going back now. Remember, don't mention me to anyone."

Sha Zhu nodded vigorously: "Master, don't worry, I've got it!"

Yi Zhonghai turned around and walked away.

He walked slowly, each step steady, like a true hermit.

Shazhu stood there, watching him leave, his eyes filled with admiration and gratitude.

Only after Yi Zhonghai's figure disappeared behind the moon gate did he sit down again and continue his breathing exercises.

But this time, his heart was beating much faster than before.

Master!

He actually has a master!

Or perhaps a reclusive master!

Sha Zhu took a deep breath, closed his eyes, but couldn't help but smile.

Xie Weihong, you wait.

I have a master to guide me, what can you use to fight me?

Yi Zhonghai walked out of the backyard and didn't let out a long sigh of relief until he returned to his room and closed the door.

He leaned against the door, feeling his legs trembling.

That was a close call.

What if Sha Zhu asks too many questions and he can't answer them? What if Sha Zhu becomes suspicious and interrogates him more closely?

He touched his back; it was covered in cold sweat.

Yet, a surge of inexplicable pride welled up inside him.

He succeeded!

He really fooled Sha Zhu!

Yi Zhonghai walked to the bedside, sat down, and couldn't help but smile.

The way Sha Zhu called him "Master" was so nice. That adoring look in his eyes, that respectful attitude, was much better than the Sha Zhu who had been so cold and indifferent before.

If things continue like this, Sha Zhu will continue to listen to him and will take care of him in his old age and see him off in his final days...

Yi Zhonghai felt increasingly pleased with himself, and his smile grew wider and wider.

Suddenly, he remembered Xie Weihong.

Why should that person help him?

Yi Zhonghai frowned, thought for a while, but couldn't figure it out.

Forget it. Anyway, he succeeded, Sha Zhu is back, and his retirement is secured.

As for what Xie Weihong wants, that's none of his business.

Yi Zhonghai lay down and closed his eyes.

He slept exceptionally soundly that night.