As twilight approached, Lin Ping Zhi slowly regained consciousness. He felt an overwhelming thirst and instinctively wanted to call out, but then he remembered his current situation. He was no longer a pampered young master. His parents, their fate unknown, filled him with a pang of sorrow. With great difficulty, he propped himself up on his elbows and looked around. He found himself in a guest room of an inn, alone. He saw a teapot on the table and, feeling his parched lips, tried to get out of bed. But as soon as he put his feet on the ground, his legs gave way, and he tumbled to the floor, his head hitting the cold tiles. A wave of despair washed over him, as if the heavens themselves were against him. Suddenly, someone pushed open the door. Having been relentlessly pursued for days, Lin Ping Zhi instinctively tried to find a hiding place, but he was too weak and couldn't move.
Hua Wu Que pushed open the door and saw Lin Ping Zhi's condition. He couldn't help but chuckle, but he put on a concerned expression and quickly went to Lin Ping Zhi's side, helping him sit up. He said warmly, "Your injuries are severe. You've just woken up, why are you trying to move? Your body is a gift from your parents. Even if you don't care about yourself, you should care for your parents and take good care of yourself."
Lin Ping Zhi, despite his upbringing in luxury, had a strong and independent spirit. He was also kind-hearted. Touched by the stranger's kindness, but also aware of his predicament, he said, "Thank you for saving my life, kind sir. But I'm in grave danger right now. My enemies must be searching for me everywhere. It's best you don't involve yourself with me, to avoid any trouble." He tried to get up and leave.
"I never thought this pretty boy would have some backbone," Huang Xue Mei grumbled, carrying a bowl of freshly brewed medicine, pushing open the door. She had been driven to her wit's end by Hua Wu Que. "But in your current state, even without your enemies looking for you, you'd just end up as dog food if you went out."
Seeing the newcomer, Lin Ping Zhi felt a sense of familiarity. He furrowed his brows, trying to remember, but couldn't place her. He looked down and noticed her boots, and suddenly it hit him. He glared at her with anger, "You... It's you! You're not done trying to ruin me yet?! My family is gone, I'm worthless. What do you want now?!"
Huang Xue Mei looked at him with a sideways glance, studying him from head to toe. "So much whining. Are you even a man? All you do is complain about the world. Your family is gone? Are you dead? Do you have no hands or feet? Are you too old to walk? Are you so terrified of your many enemies that you're afraid to even mention revenge?"
Lin Ping Zhi's words were like daggers to his heart. He hung his head in despair. After a while, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he scrambled to his feet, bowing deeply before Huang Xue Mei and kowtowing repeatedly. He said fervently, "Yes, yes! I was struck by misfortune and lost my way. Thank you, senior, for your sharp words. Senior, your martial arts are unmatched. Please, accept me as your disciple. Please, accept me as your disciple..." He kept knocking his head on the floor until it turned red.
Huang Xue Mei was heartbroken at the scene. Seeing Lin Ping Zhi reminded her of her own tragic past, and she felt a surge of frustration. She didn't know what to do, so she hurriedly said, "Don't bow to me. I haven't even avenged myself yet. If you want to learn, go to him. He's a formidable demon, insidious and cunning. He'll know what to do for you." She pushed Hua Wu Que forward and rushed out of the room.
Lin Ping Zhi, having kowtowed until his forehead was red, heard her words and looked at Hua Wu Que with hope, as if he had grasped a lifeline.
Hua Wu Que, fanning himself, went over and helped Lin Ping Zhi to his feet. He found himself in a bind because of Huang Xue Mei's actions. She had abandoned him with the problem, and he had to clean up her mess. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Now, you have two choices. The first, I will take you to Mount Hua. Yue Buqun, the head of Mount Hua, is known as the Gentleman Sword and is a renowned philanthropist in the martial arts world. If you become his disciple, Yu Cang Hai will not dare to touch you. You can then focus on your martial arts training. In ten years, you'll be able to avenge yourself." At first, Lin Ping Zhi was excited by the idea, but when he heard the words 'ten years,' his head drooped. He couldn't wait that long. He feared the flames of his hatred would consume him before then.
Seeing his expression, Hua Wu Que continued, "The second path, I don't recommend, but you're eager for revenge, and I'm afraid you might take desperate measures. Alright, you can still become Yue Buqun's disciple, but it's only a temporary arrangement, to give you a place to stay and a temporary sanctuary. I will teach you the Doctrine of Demon-Sowing. With Mount Hua as your backing, practice diligently. In less than a year, Yu Cang Hai will be no match for you. But I'm afraid you may regret it after you succeed."
Hearing this, Lin Ping Zhi was confused, but he also realized he had nothing left to his name and was of no use to anyone. Without hesitation, he said, "I choose the second path. No matter how difficult it is, I'll do it, even if it means death."
Hua Wu Que, showing a tinge of sadness, sighed and said, "Alright, listen carefully. This method is easy to learn, you can master it in a few months, but the difficulty lies in finding a beloved one to be your cauldron. You have to live together, your hearts must be connected, and then... then you need to find someone to share the bed with that woman. This will stimulate your potential. Only someone with incredible willpower can succeed."
Upon hearing this method, Lin Ping Zhi's scalp tingled. He realized that Huang Xue Mei wasn't lying. This man truly was a formidable demon, teaching such an outlandish method.
Seeing his hesitation, Hua Wu Que didn't force him. He smiled, "I will teach you the method first, then take you to meet your master. You can take your time to think about it. After all, I wouldn't want you to use this method."