Chapter 32: A Future Seen Through at a Glance

Xiao Lin was filled with anticipation.

After he finished dealing with these less-than-intimate senior brothers and sisters, two familiar figures finally arrived. It was none other than Li Changhe and Gu Jianyao. Xiao Lin immediately prepared to bow low. Li Changhe, quick-witted, reached out and pressed his hand onto Xiao Lin’s shoulder, stopping him from bending further.

"Junior Brother, what is the meaning of this?"
"It is because Junior Brother drew his sword against Senior Brother..."
"Junior Brother."

Li Changhe immediately interrupted him, his expression carrying a hint of "I knew you would do this." With an undeniable firmness, he straightened Xiao Lin up and said, "I knew you would apologize. Aside from congratulating you on your successful Foundation Establishment, I came here to tell you that there is no need for apologies, nor for self-reproach."

"On the contrary, it is I who should be thanking you. Had it not been for you, back when I was bewitched by the Fallen Sword Immortal, I fear I truly would have broken the seal and let him escape. If that had happened, the world would certainly not be as tranquil as it is now."

Li Changhe let out a long breath. Even a month later, he could not help but break into a cold sweat when he recalled that day. "I nearly became a sinner to the entire world," he murmured, pressing his lips together. "Not only that, but how would I have faced my Master and fellow disciples upon returning to Sword Mountain? Therefore, it is all thanks to you that I did not commit a grave disaster, nor did I have to face the humiliation of meeting our Master’s spirit in the afterlife."

Xiao Lin scratched his head. "Senior Brother, look at how you put it—you make it sound like I’m some kind of hero who saved the world."
"Are you not?" Li Changhe countered, a rare smile appearing on his usually stern face. "Very well, let us leave this matter in the past. Do not do such things again."

"Understood," Xiao Lin nodded slightly.

Little did Li Changhe know, while he was touching Xiao Lin’s shoulder, Xiao Lin had quietly injected a trace of righteous energy into his body. After circulating through Li Changhe’s system, it found nothing amiss. This meant that the demonic woman from the Demon Sect held no malice toward Li Changhe and had not approached him with ill intent; it must have been an accident. At least, for now, that was the case. Perhaps in the future, Li Changhe would defect from Sword Mountain only to resist the demonic path for the sake of that woman, not wanting to implicate the sect. Many xianxia romance dramas were written exactly like that. Xiao Lin tried his best to think well of the demonic woman. He couldn't blame himself for guessing; the advance spoilers regarding Li Changhe were simply too expensive—worth no less than a Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill. After all, Li Changhe was a character who spanned the entire story. By reading his spoilers, one could grasp almost the entire plot of *The Record of Sword Mountain Romance*.

However, since the demonic woman was not stirring up trouble, he did not need to pay close attention for the time being. According to the plot, Tang Qianxue’s corruption should come first. He would handle the Fallen Sword Immortal, open Gu Jianyao’s heart, then keep a close watch on Tang Qianxue while keeping an eye on Li Changhe. As for the others... there didn't seem to be any other "love-brained" protagonists for now.

As Xiao Lin was thinking, he heard Li Changhe say softly, "By the way, I haven't congratulated you on your successful Foundation Establishment yet."

The next moment, a cold, clear voice joined Li Changhe's: "Congratulations, Junior Brother, on your Heavenly Foundation Establishment."

Xiao Lin had to pull his wandering thoughts back and return the gesture: "Thank you, Senior Brother and Senior Sister."

"Junior Brother also congratulates Senior Sister on reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishment, only a step away from the Great Perfection."

Gu Jianyao shook her head slightly and said indifferently, "Senior Brother is already half a step away."

Xiao Lin had long known Li Changhe was at the half-step Great Perfection, but he still feigned surprise. "Senior Brother..." Li Changhe nodded slightly. Even so, Xiao Lin sighed inwardly. As expected of the main cast, they had all improved their cultivation in just one month. If he didn't have his system, he didn't know how far behind he would have been left. He had gone to such great lengths to ensure the world wasn't destroyed by this group...

"By the way, where is the Third Senior Sister?"
Li Changhe replied, "Little Junior Sister intends to head down the mountain for some experience; she is likely in her cave abode preparing. Furthermore, she has also broken through."

Xiao Lin couldn't help but chuckle. "Senior Sister reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining? Then we really must congratulate her."
Li Changhe glanced at him. "If she saw you smiling like that, you wouldn't escape a sound beating."
"That’s only because she’s not here, which is why I’m saying it," Xiao Lin laughed, though his heart grew heavy.

Tang Qianxue heading down the mountain was also in the Fallen Sword Immortal's spoilers. As it happened, her destination held a metallic holy relic. The Fallen Sword Immortal needed this object to set up a "Mysterious Yellow Dragon-Imprisoning Array" that even a Golden Core cultivator could not break. And, as luck would have it, Qu Ziyao would be leading other Sword Mountain disciples there for training. If he did not intervene, a group of Sword Mountain disciples would be surrounded by demonic cultivators. Qu Ziyao would sacrifice her own foundation to send the others out of the encirclement, dying at the hands of the demonic faction herself. However, the other disciples would not escape unscathed, as the Fallen Sword Immortal would vent all his hatred for Xiao Lin upon them. In the end, only Tang Qianxue and a few others would survive the pursuit, at the cost of the lives of their fellow disciples.

It was a heavy toll. Perhaps this journey would be the catalyst for Tang Qianxue’s corruption. Xiao Lin, of course, would not let that happen. Thinking of something, he looked at Gu Jianyao. "Does Senior Sister also know about Master..."
"I have already told her."
"In that case, let us go pay our respects to Master."

Xiao Lin watched the calm Gu Jianyao. Could even Shen Wuyai’s death not open the sword-heart of the Dustless Sword? It seemed that just destroying his own cultivation wouldn't be enough; he would need a stronger medicine.

Xiao Lin pondered silently, following the two to pay respects to Shen Wuyai. Afterward, just as Xiao Lin was about to leave, a slender hand blocked his path.
"Hm?" Xiao Lin looked at Gu Jianyao in confusion.

Gu Jianyao was concise, her thin lips uttering two words: "Sword duel."
"Not now, Senior Sister..." Xiao Lin began to protest. He knew she was a sword fanatic, but surely she couldn't be so impatient that she wanted to fight before even leaving the shrine? Why would he spar with her? It would be pure thankless labor.

But Xiao Lin suddenly thought of something and smiled. "Fine, but in a few days."
Gu Jianyao tilted her head, a strand of hair falling loose; even without a frown, she looked puzzled.
"Junior Brother just broke through to Foundation Establishment; I need a few days to consolidate what I have learned," Xiao Lin explained. "Otherwise, it would be boring for you to spar with me."

Seeing that Gu Jianyao was still skeptical, Xiao Lin smiled. "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I won't run away. Even if I lose this cultivation, I will still fight you properly."

The production team reigned over this world. Possessing the system, he was even above the production team, able to reverse cause and effect. Thus, in the future where he was destined to lose all his cultivation, the production team gave a very deliberate close-up when he uttered these last words, setting up a... flag that could be spotted at a glance.

"The wife is so cute."
"So moe."
"Stop with the 'cute' or not, what does this shot mean? Isn't this a flag?!"
"No, no, no!"
"Damn it..."