Chapter 69: The Heartless Path

She always ate very slowly, chewing carefully as if cherishing every bite. In her original world, she had been the same—though there, it was more like eating without tasting, chewing indifferently just to replenish her life force.

While Zora ate, he watched. Aside from serving her food, he didn't move his chopsticks once. By the time she finished, she felt slightly full—a sensation cultivators didn't usually experience unless they overate. Vane seemed determined to showcase every dish he had learned; the food just barely fit on the entire table.

"Mhm..." Zora put down her bowl and chopsticks. After wiping her mouth with the handkerchief Vane handed her, she patted her stomach. Having eaten and drunk her fill, she wanted to sleep. Not acting like a stranger at all, she kicked off her shoes and curled up in the blankets on the window-side bed.

Curled up like a soft, fluffy dumpling with her back to him, Vane could only see her flowing black hair. The youth sat stiffly at the table, silent. After a while, because the window lattice was propped open and sunlight was pouring in, the bundled figure suddenly reached out a hand, snatched the wooden prop, and tossed it to the foot of the bed.

With a

clap

, the window shut, the sound like a small firecracker. Her head didn't move the entire time; once the window was closed, she continued to sleep.

Vane watched for a long time, then suddenly let out a small laugh. He rose silently to clear the table, leaving the room without a sound. He replaced the two pierced targets with new ones, then recalled which dishes she touched most and which she ate least, gaining experience for future improvements.

When he returned to the sleeping quarters, Zora was deep in sleep. Neither of them were the type to cultivate just for the sake of cultivation. Her life was well-balanced; the few hours she spent practicing each day were often more effective than others' day and night grinds. Vane, on the other hand, would practice his spear techniques whenever Zora didn't have orders for him.

Because he had no life. He had no matters he wanted to attend to, no people he wanted to spend time with, and no hobbies that could quiet his mind—killing and bloodlust triggered a negative excitement that shouldn't be too frequent; he usually controlled the frequency within a certain range. That month of frequent killing was only to dispel his inner restlessness; he didn't think much of it.

The moment Zora returned, his heart felt inexplicably settled. Sometimes he couldn't understand it; they hadn't shared many life-and-death moments, nor were there soul-stirring entanglements. She had even severed his hand and foot tendons and bound him with the Master-Servant Oath—but that was justifiable, given that he had tried to kill her at the time. If Vane himself had encountered such a thing, he would have killed the person long ago; why bother with the hassle of an oath and puppet threads?

He simply didn't understand when his heart had begun to move. Looking back, his heart was moved by everything. Those tiny, cute gestures. Those blunt choices and honest words. Her unique way of treating the world and its people—gentle yet cruel.

The youth’s heart had moved without a known starting point; by the time he realized it, half of his heart was already lost.

Vane sat at the table and opened a book, only to find after a moment that it was a storybook—likely something he had bought along with the food. Zora occasionally read storybooks, and she didn't like those of righteous adventures. She liked exaggerated plots, whether they were romances or twisted entanglements of love and hate. She would read them with a look of novelty, as if shocked by the world: "So such things can happen between people."

He always stole glances at her. Her bright amber pupils were impossible to look away from. The youth noticed a pair of childhood sweethearts in the storybook on the current page. Childhood sweethearts, spending happy days together since they were small. However, his childhood hadn't been human; it was only after meeting Zora here that he gained some vitality. The steady joy found in the storybook only began for him then.

In that sense—she could be called his "plum blossom" sweetheart.

While Vane was in silent thought, Zora began to dream. She dreamed of the System hopping around. The System was frantic: [I told you, this isn't a dream! We are talking face-to-face in the Host’s mental sea!]

Zora looked around. It was pitch black with no borders. She was standing in a void, and a spark of light was hopping left and right in front of her, possessing more emotion than the Host.

Zora: "What is it?"

The System grew serious, floating up and down: [It’s like this: midway through the plot, we need to report to the superior—ah, the superior is your boss, the one who pays your salary and whom you need to listen to.]

Zora: "Report what?"

[Report the progress!]

A work report form and a pen appeared out of thin air. [Come, come, fill it out. It’s quick. Even though we are in a holographic internet age, mainstream archival storage is still safer on paper. Digital storage is too easy to hack... As you develop, the enemy develops too...]

Zora: "?"

She looked at the blank form with the pen in her hand, appearing exceptionally serious.

After a long while, the System: [Write!]

Zora: "I don't know how to write it."

[Sigh... true... you're not from a modern world.] The System let out a weary sigh and gave live instructions. [First, write 'Hello to all the leaders.']

Zora had never used a ballpoint pen; her writing was crooked. After a moment, she asked what a "leader" was. The System couldn't stand it and made the pen float over: [Watch closely! This is how you use the pen!]

It mimicked Zora’s handwriting: [Got it?!]

"What's next?"

[Let me think... first a warm greeting, thank the company for giving me the chance to be resurrected...] The System, which had once been a corporate drone at the bottom of the ladder, wrote as it thought.

Zora gave pointers from time to time. "I think the progress is okay. He doesn't even hate the Master-Servant Oath. But human hearts are fickle; I still need to be prepared to fight him when he goes to the Demon Realm."

The System edited: [The target has happily accepted the Master-Servant Oath. Progress is on track. No accidents have occurred so far. I am confident in managing the process.]

Zora: "I didn't notice before, but I recently found his face is quite good-looking and his cooking is delicious. He is a progressive, good servant."

Zora told the System her recent findings. "Also, sometimes his eyes are strange. Weird. I just have him close his eyes."

The System listened and complained: [Is this you conquering him or him conquering you?! The roles are reversed!]

But the pen wrote: [The target is already consciously approaching me. The mindset shift is smooth. The conquest is showing initial success.]

The System converted Zora’s pile of nonsense into professional jargon, finally adding lines like "I will actively conquer, follow company regulations, not deviate from the work process, and not waste this resurrection opportunity," before signing off.

System: [Done!]

Zora nodded: "Then I'm going to sleep."

The System took the report back: [Then go to sleep. Remember not to lose your life. Resurrection wasn't easy; you must cherish it, Host.]

Zora ignored it and fell asleep quickly.

The System watched the villain outside for a while. The villain was staring at the storybook, then turned his head to watch Zora.

Are you some kind of staring monster? Even after all this, the conquest success hasn't triggered. You kid, how deep is your heart exactly?

The System complained a few more times and rolled back to report.

Zora was gently pushed awake by Vane. She wasn't happy when she woke up, her eyes drowsy: "What is it?"

Vane said softly: "Apologies... Yiling Ke and Turi Qi are looking for us."

Zora: "..."

Zora closed her eyes for a bit longer before struggling to get up.

Stepping out, those two were waiting outside. Yiling Ke immediately pounced over: "Zora! Did you know Song Zhihuai went to Tao County?"

She shook her head.

"What's wrong?"

Turi Qi looked worried: "While I was on duty at the Sword Gate, I noticed Senior Brother Song hadn't sent news for over ten days. I went to ask, and his master, Si Shaoyu, said he went to Tao County and hasn't returned. We can't contact him either."

"Mhm," Zora nodded. "And then?"

Yiling Ke’s mouth twitched: "...Don't tell me you don't know what kind of place Tao County is?"

Zora: "?"

Vane said at the right moment: "The seals of the Bright Mirror Sea are not only located at the sea itself; some are also distributed outside, though they aren't the main parts. Without the external seals, the main seal can still hold, but if the seal on the Bright Mirror Sea itself is broken, it's a failure. Therefore, very little is known about the places where the external seals are located. Tao County is the most important of them."

Zora recalled. In the original, because the arrays were broken, they could only consolidate the most vital ones. Yiling Ke also appropriately modified the arrays, abandoning the external ones and directly sealing the Bright Mirror Sea, sacrificing herself to the seal. Doing the most useful thing with the fewest people.

Zora: "Why did he go there?"

"That... we don't know," Turi Qi said. "Immortal Si Shaoyu was busy at the time and didn't say much. We can go ask now."

Zora had no objection, and Vane naturally didn't either.

The four went to the hall where Si Shaoyu resided. There were no other disciples where the Master of the Heartless Path lived; it was desolate. They met no obstacles and reached the interior of the hall.

A person was setting out a chessboard. His face was clear and cold, his light eyes reflecting nothing of the world, yet he didn't seem heartless. It was simply a calm composure that could contain ten thousand mountains and rivers. His green robes fell onto the white jade steps—transcendental and otherworldly.

Turi Qi bowed: "Immortal Si."

Si Shaoyu placed a piece: "I know why you have come. Zhihuai went to Tao County because it was something he wanted to do. I will naturally not interfere with what he wishes to do."

Yiling Ke: "But we can't contact him. Has something happened?"

Si Shaoyu glanced at the soul candle in the hall: "The candle is not extinguished. He is fine."

Vane lifted his eyes. There was no heavy worry in Si Shaoyu’s eyes; even if there was a faint concern, it wasn't enough to make him anxious or move him to action. The youth lowered his eyes with a calm expression.

The Heartless Path required the inherent root of heartlessness; otherwise, even if one had strong love or hate, it would be to no avail. It would pull in all strong love and hate so that one would no longer be troubled by heart demons. Practicing this path was not about being emotionless; it had emotion, but it was shallow. One followed their own path and did not enter the world deeply. No matter how friendly they appeared, their inner emotions had already faded.

Yiling Ke knew this as well. She opened her mouth but swallowed her words, only saying: "Please guide us, Immortal."

Si Shaoyu stood up, and the mist swirling in the hall instantly dissipated. He walked down the steps with a smile, saying: "His heart has a demon, and his path is uncertain. To suppress his heart demon back then, I once had him wear a sachet to quiet his mind and clear his vision. Though it's of little use now, Zhihuai is used to wearing it and has never taken it off. This insect can track that sachet, but it cannot exceed ten miles."

Turi Qi took it: "Thank you, Immortal."

Zora kept watching him, and Si Shaoyu also gave her a slight smile. Just as the four were about to leave, they heard Si Shaoyu musing for a moment, saying leisurely: "The Heartless Path is about practicing one's own path, but did you know that one can add a constraint for themselves when entering the path?"

They knew very little about the Heartless Path; some outsiders even mistakenly thought it meant being cold-blooded and emotionless, pursuing only the Great Way without a sliver of feeling. Only Zora looked up at him, asking curiously: "I don't know. What is it?"

Si Shaoyu addressed her: "The Way is the same, but the constraints differ. For example, when I entered the path, I added a constraint for myself—to let Song Zhihuai do anything he wanted to do."

Zora: "Even falling into the demonic path?"

Si Shaoyu agreed: "Of course. It’s just that he doesn't want to, so I help him."

Zora: "Even seeking death?"

Si Shaoyu paused for a breath, then finally said: "Yes, even seeking death is fine. If that is what he wants, I will not stop him."

Vane saw Zora was fascinated and lowered his head to say: "But constraints are made of language; there are always loopholes. I imagine if it were before Immortal Si entered the path, you would have already gone to find him. What Song Zhihuai wants to do might not necessarily be good for him."

The youth’s reaction was agile. Si Shaoyu said with interest: "Correct. I recall someone once set a constraint to keep their mortal relatives safe for a lifetime. After he successfully entered the path, who knew those mortal relatives would betray him? They were obsessed with immortality and wanted to take his Golden Core. Although he didn't feel resentment, he had the constraint upon him and couldn't harm them. He was actually buried alive after his Golden Core was gouged out. Tsk tsk tsk, a Golden Core is useless to mortals."

"Therefore, very few people use constraints when entering the Heartless Path. Only fools use constraints."

Emotions in the Heartless Path are shallow, but once a constraint is set, it is eternal. Human emotions change, but the path of a heartless cultivator never alters.

Si Shaoyu paused, then smiled again. "Zhihuai is troubled by heart demons and has a knot in his heart, yet he has a simple nature and burns himself out for others. The former makes him suffer, and the latter plants the seeds of losing his life. The Heartless Path is the most suitable path for him. Only the Heartless Path can completely eradicate heart demons and prevent him from acting headstrongly and falling into danger. What if he is tricked? He might lose even his life."

Yiling Ke agreed deeply, nodding repeatedly. Zora rubbed her ears while listening, having no interest in the Heartless Path. It was too much trouble, and she had no love or hate anyway.

The four walked out of the palace.

Zora finally reacted: "So why did he go to Tao County?"

Yiling Ke remained silent, her lashes lowered, but her knuckles were tightening.

Turi Qi said hesitantly: "...I imagine he saw that Drunken Lu Bay was in trouble recently. Yiling Ke’s relatives are there, so he thought of going to solve it. Immortal Si Shaoyu was once a member of a large clan; though it was destroyed, the shallow connections remain. Senior Brother Song likely has special channels to obtain intelligence. So..."

She looked guilty: "I should have noticed sooner. Since becoming companions, Senior Brother Song has privately helped me disperse disciples who were dissatisfied with me. He was also troubled that Zora and Vane didn't need any help, and he even asked me about it."

Zora gave an "ah." "Why?"

"Because he's a fool!" Yiling Ke suddenly said loudly, startling Zora, who stared at her with slightly widened eyes.

Yiling Ke didn't notice, continuing to herself: "...This is my business. Even if he wanted to help, he should have discussed it with me! If my friend dies because they helped me, I... I'll be mad to death!"

She began to shed tears as she spoke.

She worried about her relatives every day, but there was no place for her to help; the affairs of Drunken Lu Bay weren't something she, an outsider, could pry into at will. Being an array master family, she had known the duties of her family and herself since birth. No one in the Yiling family had ever retreated. They clearly could have chosen other paths, yet every member of the family was an array master. If the predecessors died, the successors took over the baton—this was the duty of entering Drunken Lu Bay and choosing to practice arrays in an array master family. But if her friend died because of this, she’d feel like jumping into a river!

Zora was just calming down when she was startled by Yiling Ke’s tears. In her view, tears were the hardest things to fake; sometimes they were even more important than blood. After all, blood was common for her, but she hadn't cried since she was small. She had never cried for anyone, and no one had cried for her. Tears were the most precious of treasures.

Zora gazed at Yiling Ke, not realizing her crying was partly due to high pressure. The girl thought naively:

—

So this can make someone cry for you.

—

...What does it feel like to have someone cry for you?

She really wanted to know.

Turi Qi said comfortingly: "It's fine. Senior Brother Song’s life is not yet in danger. We just need to go investigate."

Yiling Ke’s crying was largely due to the sense of urgency. She knew the Bright Mirror Sea was full of danger and the seal was loosening; once something happened to Drunken Lu Bay, other array masters would be needed to step in. She studied arrays every day, fearing her ability wasn't enough. Her hair was getting thinner and thinner, and she was anxious.

Once Yiling Ke calmed down, the four set off for Tao County at top speed. This time, Song Zhihuai was actually reachable; he said he had accidentally entered a secret realm and that’s why there was no news. However, he was still within Tao County.

Yiling Ke was about to lose her temper. Turi Qi hurriedly stopped her impulsive remarks, and the two couldn't continue talking. Zora instead leaned close to the transmission talisman: "Oh, then wait for us. We're coming over."

Song Zhihuai said seriously: "It's very dangerous. It's better not to approach rashly. Don't come over."

Yiling Ke was gagged, making muffled noises as if she were cursing.

Zora answered seriously: "I'm coming. Don't stop me."

Song Zhihuai apologized solemnly: "My apologies. Junior Sister Zora is right." He paused, then added: "But there are many arrays here; it's very dangerous. The commoners are also in the process of being moved away. It's better not to come."

Zora: "I'm coming. Why can't I do what you are doing?"

Song Zhihuai: "My apologies. Junior Sister Zora is right."

"—But it’s truly very dangerous."

"Then why can you go and I can't?"

"My apologies. Junior Sister Zora is right."

Yiling Ke stopped shouting. Her face showed total speechlessness: "............"

Turi Qi glanced at Yiling Ke, then at Zora, and smiled without speaking.

Vane said at the right moment: "Senior Brother Song needn't worry. Aren't friends supposed to advance and retreat together?"

This immediately hit Song Zhihuai’s weak spot.

"Quite so... Junior Brother Vane is right."

Vane then wheedled the location where Song Zhihuai was and the secret realm he was trapped in with a few sentences, quickly gathering useful information about the current situation in Tao County from Song Zhihuai's pile of dry nonsense. Then he quickly ended the conversation.

The four looked at each other for a while.

Turi Qi: "To Tao County?"

Yiling Ke: "Of course!"

Zora: "Mhm."

Vane: "The situation in Tao County is changing. It's best to set off immediately for maximum safety."

In the original, there was no sign of Song Zhihuai, nor was there any sword cultivator going to help a friend. They never knew each other there. But here they did, and so fate had shifted.

On the way, Zora flew on her sword. She suddenly sped up to fly alongside Yiling Ke. Vane glanced at her, a faint smile touching his lips, and didn't follow.

Yiling Ke didn't know what Zora suddenly wanted, looking at her: "What is it?"

Zora pointed at herself: "I am also protecting your family's lives. I even sent Vane to check some time ago. We were originally going to Drunken Lu Bay in three days."

"...You guys," Yiling Ke looked deeply moved, whispering, "Actually, Senior Sister Turi also asked the Sect Leader herself... thank you."

Zora: "You're welcome." Then she stared at her without letting go.

Whatever moved feeling Yiling Ke had vanished under her pressing gaze: "...What is it?"

Zora repeated: "I am going to help you and save your life just like Song Zhihuai."

Huh? What does her life have to do with it?

But Yiling Ke didn't dwell on it much, assuming Zora thought she wouldn't want to live if her family died. Yiling Ke said with emotion: "Thank you. Actually, even if only one person is left in the Yiling family, we will live on."

"?"

What is she saying?

Zora emphasized again: "I am going to do something similar to what Song Zhihuai is doing."

".........Ah, thank you? I will definitely be absolutely loyal to you in the future." Yiling Ke paused, then pulled out a large pile of array scrolls and handed them to her. "Take these for self-defense; they're very convenient."

Zora was stuffed with a pile of them. She didn't know why Yiling Ke suddenly gave her so many things, but Zora didn't say anything and stuffed them back.

"I don't need them now."

Yiling Ke, with her arms full again: "??"

She put the items back with a dazed face.

"..."

Silence for a long time as the two looked at each other.

Zora finally frowned in confusion: "Why aren't you crying for me?"

"..."

The bizarre counter-question momentarily shocked Yiling Ke. After a long while, Yiling Ke finally caught the flavor of it in a daze, saying: "When you say it so bluntly, I can't cry anymore either!"