"That is our only remaining option," Li Yuan calmly replied.The young man clenched his fists as he glowered at his master. He felt as if a stab had just branched across his back like lightning, causing frustration and pain to spread and perforate his chest completely. He knew how willful Li Yuan was, and that once he had made a decision, no one and nothing could make him change his mind. He hoped, however, that he could persuade him."I will not allow you."Li Yuan was not supposed to even look at his disciple, but every human had a weakness, and hearing the wailing woe in He Jin's calm voice, he failed to conform to his own rules. He raised his lashes to look at the young man. "He Jin.""Did you not hear what I said? I will not allow you," He Jin objected vehemently."So what if you do not? What makes you think I will listen to you?" Li Yuan responded indifferently. "You can never change my mind."Their antagonism was exacerbated when their gazes met, and He Jin became even more frustrated when he could not discern even a glimmer of hesitation in Li Yuan's eyes. But who knew their antagonistic mutual gazes were actually veiled exchanges of a sad "Let go" and a stubborn "I refuse" that neither of them could understand?It was as if they were playing hide and seek. The other desperately tried to hide a throbbing wound, while the other failed miserably in his attempts to seek and cure it.It was as if the other was forcing himself to abandon the only home he had, but the door refused to open and allow him to leave."Is there no other option?" Despite the exploding pain behind He Jin's eyes, his voice remained calm. "You are a genius dark arts practitioner, are you not? You are the Crimson Necromancer. Why can you not just come up with another method?""Do you think I would do it if there was an alternative? And who do you think I am to have so many ways? A god?" answered Li Yuan with a blank expression on his face.He Jin was about to speak once more when Li Yuan abruptly turned his back, not allowing the young man's words to escape his lips. He could see where their conversation was heading. "I do not have time to argue with you. Leave."He Jin could not keep his cool any longer and responded brusquely, "Why go to such lengths for such a lowly soul! What makes her more valuable than your own life!"The lyre harp flew into his grasp, and he plucked the strings without hesitation, playing a strange song that triggered a ritual array beneath Fen Lei's feet. It was a technique used by many professional mejinsu, particularly those who specialized in exorcism, to send a soul to the underworld.However, this was one of the most difficult exorcism techniques to master as it required thorough practice. This technique could be performed by any mejinsu, but unlike the professionals, the chances of an average mejinsu succeeding were slim. If done carelessly, the soul could shatter and never reincarnate.He Jin was aware of this, but he was blinded by his rage. He then yowled at Fen Lei as he played the lyre harp, "You! Return to where you belong!"Li Yuan slapped his hand away before the technique could begin, causing the lyre harp to slip from his grasp and the array to vanish. He then yelled angrily, "What exactly do you think you are doing!"He Jin gave a sarcastic laugh. "If that soul has to be destroyed in order for you not to do that thing, why not?"Li Yuan clenched his fists furiously."He Jin!""Li Yuan!"The young man received a stinging slap across the cheek, creating an ear-splitting silence throughout the cave."Is that how you are supposed to speak to your master? Where have your manners gone?" Li Yuan stated calmly, but emphatically.He Jin did not respond, nor did he raise his lashes to look at Li Yuan. A burning red had mounted on his cheek, but he did not have time to feel the pain."Have you forgotten why I accepted you as my disciple?" Li Yuan's voice was the only sound that could be heard in the cave. "You vowed to accompany me on this path no matter what."He Jin no longer bothered to look at Li Yuan and simply turned away before he could say anything. He had many things he wanted to say, but he lacked the courage to part his lips, and even if he had, it would have been useless, and thus, all he did was walk away. It was as if those words were meant to linger on his tongue and remain hidden behind his lips for the rest of his life."If you do not want to keep your word any longer, forget that I am your master." Li Yuan's words halted He Jin, but it was only for a short moment. The young man eventually resumed his walk until he vanished into the darkness."Are those words not a little heavy? He is just concerned for you," Fen Lei commented.Li Yuan certainly felt bad about it, as the only person who stood by his side throughout it all, and the only person whom he treated as his own family despite the fact that they were not related by blood, was He Jin.He understood his disciple's emotions. He himself did not desire his own resolution, but he had no other choice. He was unable to return, as he had sworn to devote his entire life to his mission, no matter how shadowy and thorny this path was.He forced a smile at Fen Lei. "I will talk to him later. Follow me. I will take you to where we live."He moved his right index and middle fingers in the air and a portal appeared in front of them.Fen Lei could not keep a "woah" from coming out of her mouth upon seeing this. She thought, how did this man create a portal with just a few finger movements? And how about using a portal to get somewhere else? How was this possible? Even technology could not do it. She had never seen anything like this in her previous life. Perhaps Li Yuan was not playing with her at all, and that she truly was in another world. If she witnessed something like this again, she would completely believe him.They arrived at the place in just a few seconds, with Fen Lei being the last to exit the portal. She let her gaze wander and took in her surroundings. A dense forest bordered the house on the right, and a river bordered it on the left."I live here with my disciple." Li Yuan pointed to the house, which was built of dried mud, rough stones, and wood, with a reed-bundled thatched roof.Fen Lei could not contain a small smile as she looked at the house, remembering the good old days. Despite having lived in a city before her death, she had been raised in the countryside by her grandmother, leading a simple life. "The way of life in this world does not appear to be modern.""You are correct." Li Yuan smiled. "Your world, as far as I know, is the opposite."Fen Lei nodded. "Moreover, we do not believe in supernatural abilities or beings. To us, they are only fictional."Li Yuan gave a short laugh. "It looks like you will have a difficult time adjusting to this world's way of life."They strolled down to the riverbank and sat on the boulders, each pair of eyes fixed on the river, which was glistening in the setting sun."You witnessed our argument earlier, so I believe you already know what I intend to do." Li Yuan shifted his gaze to Fen Lei. "You will be resurrected and become the new owner of this body."Fen Lei met the other's eyes and spoke with a furrow in her brow, "What if I refuse?"She had no idea what Li Yuan was trying to accomplish or why he had to sacrifice his own life to bring her back to life, but she could not agree with his methods."I know nothing about magic and have no supernatural abilities. Furthermore, I am not capable of being you, so it is best not to proceed with this method." Although she had seen a firm resolve in Li Yuan's eyes, just like He Jin, she still hoped she could persuade him to change his mind.Li Yuan had expected such a response, but it was useless to him. He returned his gaze to the river and countered her words, "Disagree all you want. It is fine. You have no other option but to obey anyway. And did I not tell you that you would be using this body? So there will be no problem. My disciple is to teach you what is necessary for you to learn and know.""What about you?"Li Yuan fell silent, and a sad curve blossomed on his lips. The other's question was like another knife slitting the wound that had not yet ceased bleeding, lengthening its opening and piercing it further. "Do you place no value on your own life? Why go this far for someone like me? I am only an average individual. There is nothing you can gain from me."Of course, Li Yuan had no plans to give her a direct answer. God knew what this man's intentions were."It is better to discover the answer to that question yourself..."