Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

"Let's go back to our lodgings first, treat our injuries, and recover our strength," Lin Feng said in a hoarse voice. "Junior Brother Qin must have already been taken to a safe place by the steward; we'll go find him later."

Everyone nodded silently, no one spoke, only the heavy footsteps followed Lin Feng through the bustling crowd towards Chuming Garden.

Lu Ming pushed open the wooden gate to the courtyard, and the moment he closed the door, he shut out all the noise from the outside world.

With Qin Feiyu's fate unknown, Lu Ming had no interest in anything else.

Lu Ming walked to the old tree in the courtyard, pressed himself against the rough, mottled trunk, and slowly slid down to sit on the ground.

He slowly closed his eyes, and in a daze, the lonely dream of a thousand years in the Trial of the Heart surged up, and the taste of life and death separation became more and more real at this moment.

Deep within his mind, the wisp of Qingping sword intent seemed to sense the tremor in its master's heart, and quivered slightly, but he forcibly suppressed it, along with the surging emotions in his heart, and held them firmly in place.

Deeper within his spiritual realm, the hidden seed of demonic cultivation stirred restlessly, as if sensing an opportunity, amplifying the pain in his heart.

"If you were stronger... if you could have protected him... it's all your fault, you weren't capable enough..."

"ah--"

Lu Ming suddenly opened his eyes and dug his hands into the soil beneath him.

Lu Ming instantly snapped out of his daze; he couldn't give in to despair! The chance to survive that Fei Yu had gained by withdrawing from the trial wasn't for him to wallow in self-pity here!

Lu Ming gasped for breath, the cold wind rushing into his chest, which made him slightly more awake.

He began frantically circulating the "Qi-Inducing Technique".

The spiritual energy around him was drawn by the cultivation technique and surged wildly into his body. Ignoring the faint stinging pain deep in his meridians, he forcibly absorbed every wisp of spiritual energy.

The more tormented he became, the more obsessive Lu Ming's will grew.

He must become stronger, much stronger! Strong enough to protect everyone around him, strong enough to prevent anyone from having to suffer separation or make sacrifices because of him!

Outside, Lin Feng frowned slightly as he watched Lu Ming's almost self-destructive cultivation posture in the courtyard, but ultimately did not speak up to stop him.

Some things, no one can comfort you with; you have to bear them yourself.

Lin Feng turned to look at Li Yun and Zhou Ming sitting in the room. Their faces were still pale, and although their injuries were not serious, they were still severely depleted.

"Junior Sister Li, Junior Brother Zhou, your injuries are quite serious. Take some medicine and rest. I'll go and inquire about Junior Brother Qin's whereabouts."

Lin Feng walked quickly, returning with the news that everyone was most concerned about.

Qin Feiyu had indeed been escorted out of the secret realm by the sect. Due to the severity of his chest injury, he was not allowed to linger and was directly sent to the Hundred Herbs Hall in Hundred Herbs Peak for treatment.

His life is not in danger, but he needs to rest and recuperate for a long time. Because he voluntarily crushed the jade talisman to withdraw, all his scores in this inner sect assessment are invalidated. He will have to wait until he recovers from his injuries before the sect makes other arrangements.

Upon learning that Qin Feiyu was out of danger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. However, the words "the assessment is invalid" plunged them into silence.

They all knew how much blood, sweat, and tears Qin Feiyu had poured into this assessment.

Five years of arduous training, all for nothing in one day—this regret is even greater than the physical pain.

After a short rest, once everyone had regained some strength, Lu Ming took the lead and got up, followed closely by the others. The group, carrying the prepared pills, immediately headed to the Hundred Herbs Hall.

Even though they knew that Baicaotang had countless medicinal herbs and was not lacking in these things, this was the only thing that could offer them some solace.

The aroma of herbs in Baicaotang is rich and refreshing, instantly dispelling fatigue.

In a quiet side room, they met Qin Feiyu lying on his sickbed.

His chest was wrapped in thick bandages, with faint traces of medicine visible through the edges. Qin Feiyu's face was still as pale as paper, but at least he was no longer unconscious.

Upon seeing everyone, Qin Feiyu's face lit up with joy.

He tried to force a cheerful smile like he used to, but as soon as he moved his lips, it aggravated the injury in his chest, making him wince in pain and gasp for breath.

"You've come," he said weakly, but with genuine joy in his voice. "It's good that...you're all alright."

"Feiyu!" Hu Zhen rushed to the bedside, tightly grasped his uninjured left hand, her voice choked with sobs, her eyes reddening.

Lu Ming walked slowly to the bedside and looked at his former brothers who had fought side by side and laughed and scolded each other, now lying weakly.

A thousand words stuck in his throat, churning repeatedly, finally culminating in a low, nasal whisper: "Feiyu..."

Qin Feiyu chuckled twice, his breath weak, yet he still maintained his carefree demeanor:

"I...I call this a strategic retreat...cough cough...we can't really drag you all down and let all our efforts be in vain..."

He coughed twice, calmed down slightly, looked at Lu Ming, then glanced at Lin Feng and Hu Zhen, and laughed heartily:

"Lu Ming, Senior Brother Lin, and everyone else... don't look like that. Seeing you all make it through safely makes me happier than anything else."

A pang of sadness gripped everyone's hearts.

Hu Zhen turned her head away, raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and Lin Feng nodded and said, "Junior Brother Qin, focus on recovering and getting better. We'll be waiting for you to come back from the inner sect."

Lu Ming looked at Qin Feiyu and nodded emphatically. A thousand words were condensed in this one nod. No more words were needed; they both understood.

Visits to Baicaotang follow a set schedule, and although everyone was reluctant to part, they could only get up and say goodbye.

Before leaving, Lu Ming took one last deep look at Qin Feiyu, etching that weak yet still smiling face into his heart.

Stepping out of Baicaotang, the aroma of herbs lingered in the air, and the sunlight shone on my body, yet I felt no warmth whatsoever.

Lu Ming began to feel afraid. He didn't want to go back to the Advisor's Heart Trial, where everyone around him was leaving one by one. He was afraid that in the end, he would be all alone.

Lu Ming's obsession with becoming stronger grew stronger.