Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou, these two ill-fated brothers in suffering, both thought they were doomed this time. Someone was actually using them to threaten Zūnshàng, and the thought of self-detonation crossed their minds. But their cultivation was too shallow, they did not even know what to detonate.
Mao Dou was even more frustrated. He had only gotten close to Junior Brother Zongfan, so how had he ended up dragged into this mess?
The one who had secretly bound them kept asking questions about Yu Zongfan, yet to every question Mao Dou only had one answer: "I don't know."
What followed was endless torment. Their Primordial Souls were burned, their flesh bodies ravaged, and in their ears echoed a sinister, coaxing voice:
"As long as you can tell me just one thing about Jian Lu Zūnshàng, I will let you go!"
The two clenched their teeth and never opened their mouths. After three days and three nights, their bodies were battered beyond recognition, barely breathing, yet they still refused to yield.
"Hmph! Ignorant fools, wasting my time. Since you will not speak, I will simply search your souls directly!"
Yu Zongfan's heart sank. He knew that if the enemy searched his soul, not only would he fail to die and trigger his protective charm, but every memory he carried would be stripped away. That could expose everything related to Zūnshàng.
Meanwhile, in reality, both he and Mao Dou lay in Jian Dan's cave dwelling. Their expressions were twisted, as if fighting desperately against something in their dreams. Their bodies trembled violently.
"Tsk, tsk. You've tormented them enough already. If they wake up and turn against you, refusing to acknowledge you as Master, what will you do then?"
Liu Chuan's teasing voice drifted from nearby. After all, it was he who had bound them and thrown them into this test.
Jian Dan's eyes glimmered with blue light. Within the illusion, the two young men now stood facing one another. That deadly voice returned again:
"This is your final chance. Whoever kills the other, I will let live."
Both Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou found swords in their hands, and their spiritual power was freed. The voice continued to whisper temptingly:
"Kill him, and you will survive."
The two exchanged a glance, silent resolve passing between them. Their swords clashed, seemingly fighting with all their strength. To Jian Dan, however, their movements were in slow motion, their attack trajectories clear as day.
In truth, they were testing their surroundings while exchanging blows, but the world around them was nothing but endless darkness. Divine sense could not reach beyond a single step.
Finally, they made up their minds. Meeting each other's eyes one last time, they poured all their spiritual power into their blades and slashed directly at each other's heads, neither dodging nor flinching.
Their gazes were resolute, unshaken. Both understood: whoever "won" here would not live long anyway. The loser's fate was soul search, the victor's fate the same.
Better to die cleanly, leaving no secrets behind. Even if they had no real secrets to reveal, it was better than being mocked and played with.
For Yu Zongfan, above all, he could not tarnish Jian Lu Zūnshàng's name. He trusted Zūnshàng would avenge him.
This all happened in but an instant. The next moment, they both plunged as if into an abyss, endlessly falling until they crashed heavily onto the ground.
Yu Zongfan forced his heavy eyelids open, glimpsing only a vague figure. But his ears caught a familiar voice:
"Zong Fan, do not worry. You are safe now. Rest for a while."
"It's Zūnshàng! Zūnshàng came to save me!" was Yu Zongfan's last thought before dizziness overwhelmed him and he fainted again.
Beside him, Mao Dou was still struggling with sheer willpower. Jian Dan lightly fanned him with her round fan, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.
"These two actually lasted this long, rare indeed! You could have gone easier on them. With their shallow cultivation, how could they withstand your illusions? Their sea of consciousness might be damaged."
Liu Chuan's voice sounded in her mind.
"Relax. They are my disciples-to-be, how could I harm them? I wove only the simplest illusion, harmless to their sea of consciousness. In fact, it expands it, which is why they fainted. That is a form of self-protection."
"Fine, fine. My task is done. The rest is up to you."
With that, Liu Chuan slipped back into her host's wrist, silent once more.
By dawn the next morning, Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou finally awoke. Though their bodies still ached, their instincts made them leap from the cold jade bed, exchange a glance, and head warily for the exit.
"You are awake?"
A voice startled them. Yu Zongfan turned, only to see Chief Steward Lü Se. Relief surged through him, and he asked with joy:
"Last night, was it Zūnshàng who saved us?"
Lü Se gave a soft cough, straightened his expression, and replied with solemn dignity:
"Zūnshàng is waiting for you both. Follow me."
Mao Dou stood behind Yu Zongfan. Seeing that his junior brother recognized this man, he relaxed. He had no clear concept of what it meant to meet Zūnshàng, so he simply followed without questions.
Lü Se led the way, all the while pressing his lips to hide a smirk. These two truly thought Zūnshàng had "saved" them. They had no idea what kind of ordeal they had just been put through.
When Yu Zongfan and Mao Dou emerged, they saw at the foot of a giant banyan tree, Zūnshàng sat on a rocking chair, lightly fanning herself while chatting with a raccoon beast at her side.
They hurried forward, bowing deeply.
"Yu Zongfan (Mao Dou) greets Zūnshàng!"
"Hm. You two were indeed brave. But tell me, why did you not fight for a chance at survival?"
Jian Dan's eyes sparkled with amusement as she asked.
Yu Zongfan's expression was grim, but he spoke honestly: "The enemy was too strong. Senior Brother and I never even saw their face before being controlled. We had no choice but to take that desperate path."
Jian Dan turned her gaze toward Mao Dou. "And you?"
Scratching his head, Mao Dou answered sheepishly: "He had no intention of letting us live. Better to enter reincarnation than be controlled. At least then there's a chance to start over. Worst case, we just cultivate again from the beginning."
Jian Dan was satisfied. Despite being implicated because of Yu Zongfan, Mao Dou harbored no resentment. His temperament was open and broad.
"This trouble arose because of me. But now the danger is gone. In recognition of your performance, I have decided to take you both as my personal disciples. Do you accept?"
Her words confirmed the suspicions both had already formed. The crisis was indeed resolved. They secretly sighed in relief.
But the second half of her words took them a moment to process. Yu Zongfan was quicker. After digesting it, he dropped to his knees, dragging the still-stunned Mao Dou down with him.
"Master above, please accept your disciple Yu Zongfan's bow!"
Mao Dou felt lightheaded, but instinctively followed suit.
"Master above, please accept your disciple Mao Dou's bow!"
At a gesture from Lü Se, Yun Juan and Yun Shu each brought a cup of spiritual tea, their smiles radiant. They placed the cups into the hands of the two new disciples.
Jian Dan accepted their tea and sipped, nodding in satisfaction. She then gifted each of them a storage ring as their formal initiation gift.
"Lü Se, replace their sword tokens, and move them from the outer peaks to Tianyue Peak. Place them on the eastern ridge, so I can personally guide their cultivation."
"Congratulations, Zūnshàng, on gaining such fine disciples!"
Lü Se offered his congratulations with a keen eye for propriety before respectfully receiving Jian Dan's violet jade token and departing to handle their identity transfers.