C6 Past Events

"Cough, cough, cough." Ye Feng was seized by a fit of coughing, clearly taken aback by the old man's words.

It took a while for him to catch his breath. Once he did, he looked up incredulously, "What did you just say? Can you repeat that?"

He was familiar with the concept of taking on disciples, but taking on a junior brother? That was a stretch, even for a joke.

"Does the idea of being my junior brother offend you?" The old man asked, casting a casual glance at Ye Feng.

"It's not about being offended. But do you think your master would approve of this?" Ye Feng replied, his face a picture of disbelief.

The old man let out a long sigh and patted the stone beside him, "Come, sit down. I'll tell you about something from long ago."

Ye Feng eyed the polished stone next to the old man warily but eventually sat down. He noted the old man had said "something from the past," not "a story." While he wasn't particularly interested in the old man's history, he was keen to learn about this world's past. As a newcomer, it was essential to understand its history to avoid any slip-ups that might reveal he wasn't the original Ye Feng during conversations with others.

This time, the old man wasn't sipping his usual wine; his expression was somber.

"It happened seven hundred years ago," he began.

"Back then, I was about your age, but thanks to my unique talents and the support of my brother—oh, my master—I became the eighteenth elder at a very young age."

He paused, glancing at Ye Feng, who showed no reaction, and continued.

"One day, a disciple from our sect came with news that traces of Evil Devils had been found in the world."

"Evil Devils? What are those?" Ye Feng interjected.

The old man gave him a disapproving look. "You don't know what Evil Devils are?"

"So what if I don't? You've lived for so many years; surely you don't know everything either?" Ye Feng retorted with a roll of his eyes.

The old man sighed again, "You must have heard of the Devil Clan, at least."

Ye Feng concentrated, sifting through the original Ye Feng's memories.

The Devil Clan was a bloodthirsty and warlike race. Due to their long history of warfare, they developed formidable physiques and a fearless will. Their intelligence was modest, yet they placed a high value on honesty and integrity.

He nodded in agreement.

The elder went on, "The Evil Devils are even more bloodthirsty and cruel than the Devil Clan. They revel in the slaughter of innocents and will stop at nothing to achieve their cultivation goals."

"Moreover, they're entirely different from other races, preying on the flesh and blood of others. Their intelligence, martial prowess, and capacity to learn magical arts are all exceptionally high. Seven hundred years ago, one of them even ascended to godhood."

"To dominate all the races of the world, the Evil Devils transformed this land into a gruesome landscape of death and destruction."

"My brother and his companions couldn't stand to see the world suffer, so they led my fellow senior disciples, along with the elders and disciples from various sects, to seal away the Evil Devils."

"And then?" Ye Feng, noticing the old man lost in thought, couldn't resist prompting him for more.

The old man snapped out of his reverie. "The battle raged for seven days and nights. In the end, we managed to quell the Evil Devils, but my brother, our senior brothers, and many sect elders and disciples were left wounded or went into hiding. My brother even perished, leaving behind nothing but a Remnant Soul."

"So, what does this have to do with you wanting me as your junior brother?" Ye Feng respected the old man's sacrifice for the world, but his sentiment was fleeting, and he felt little empathy.

The old man, his mood disrupted by the interruption, lost his earlier fervor. He shot Ye Feng a stern look and said, "You think I want to take you as my junior brother? If I hadn't seen a trait reminiscent of my brother in you, I wouldn't have considered it."

Ye Feng observed the elder, sensing that there was more to his decision than he let on.

Ignoring Ye Feng's suspicions, the elder pressed on, "Are you willing to become my junior brother? I bet you're not too fond of those other lads, right? If you accept, they'll have to pay their respects to you whenever they see you."

It must be said that the old man had a knack for capturing people's attention.

His words stirred something in Ye Feng.

Realizing his initial offer wasn't enough, the old man upped the ante, "Of course, those are just details. Once you become my junior brother, you'll have your pick of any Secret Scripture or Trial."

"Are you serious?" Ye Feng couldn't deny his interest.

The old man stroked his unkempt beard and nodded slightly, "I never lie."

"Alright, I'll be looking to you for guidance." He was new here and there was so much he needed.

Sheltering under the old man's wing would make things much easier, whether he wanted to understand this world or practice his cultivation.

"My name is Tan Xi, and from now on, I'm your senior brother. If any of those kids give you trouble, come to me. I've got your back with anyone below Rank One of the Divine Light Realm."

"Rank One of the Divine Light Realm?" Ye Feng asked curiously, "What's your level of cultivation, Senior Brother?"

"Celestial Profound Great Perfection," Tan Xi said with a yawn, settling back into his lazy demeanor.

Ye Feng had more to say, but Tan Xi raised a hand, cutting him off, "It's getting late. You should go prepare dinner for your senior brother."

Damn.

Ye Feng realized he really shouldn't have expected much from the old man.

After dinner, the old man ate his fill, then nonchalantly handed the dishes to Ye Feng and went off to sleep.

In the days that followed, aside from cooking daily meals, Ye Feng found himself rigorously training in the Nine-level Demon Tower.

One day, after preparing lunch and waiting for the old man for what seemed like ages, Ye Feng called out, "Hey, old man, if you don't come back soon, I'm going to start without you." He yelled towards the lakeside where the old man usually lingered.

But there was no response.

Could the old man have overslept?

Discarding his apron, Ye Feng made his way to the lakeside.

However, upon arriving at the old man's usual spot by the river, Tan Xi was nowhere to be found.

"Where on earth did this old man disappear to?" Ye Feng leaped onto a massive boulder, scanning the surroundings, yet the old man's whereabouts remained a mystery.

However, just as he was about to hop down from the boulder to continue his search elsewhere, the old man's voice suddenly echoed from behind.

"What 'old man'? 'Old man'? You should address me as senior brother!"

Ye Feng was genuinely startled by the old man, his footing slipping, and he tumbled down from the boulder.

"Damn it, are you some kind of ghost? How can you move so silently without making a sound with your steps?"