A Man's Insanity: A Changing World

Yang Zhai was sitting beside a floor table. Accompanying him were many others, including Jun Haru, Si Yu, Li Na, and their companions. Not just this, there were two floor tables here. On the other one were sitting Mantora Mountain cultivators, except for Mu Kang, who was also sitting beside Jun Haru.

Both sides were divided in half.

As for why these cultivators were here? It was because they were guarding Jun Haru from Yang Zhai. They didn't fully trust him, even though Jun Haru and others did.

"So, you are telling me this torus advanced to rank 2 in just a short amount of time…" Yang Zhai asked, seemingly shocked.

However,

I also know that the cultivation speed of its owner increases when fused together: he contemplated.

It had been more than an hour since Yang Zhai came here.

"Yes, brother Tzu, it even increases my strength. It is truly marvelous! I can't wait for it to reach rank 4!" Jun Haru said excitedly.

Ever since Yang Zhai came here, only Jun Haru, Si Yu, and Li Na had been speaking.

As for his other team members, they just stared curiously at Yang Zhai.

"Anyway, where have you been for the past few months… your friends were here competing, but you were nowhere…" Mu Kang asked.

When Yang Zhai heard him, he went silent.

So, he has already started testing whether I can be trusted or not: Yang Zhai reflected.

"I was in Eroh Domain. A friend of mine was in trouble, so I helped her. She was being forcefully used as a competition reward. So, I ended up competing for her. That's why I had to abandon my plans for the Mantora Mountain even though I didn't want to. Anyway, I just came here hoping to see them again." Was his reply.

Let's see where this goes: this came to his mind.

"I see. I heard that a competition was held in the Eroh Domain. So, I was right, you were that Tzu Yu… but weren't you supposed to be rank 4?"

"About that, I was lucky enough to obtain some rank 4 Blue Gems."

I cannot tell him about me competing in the auction, but there's a chance he might know about that as well, so let's leave it obscure for now. Also, I must be careful not to let him doubt that I am mixing up lies and truth: he contemplated.

"You are really lucky, otherwise, Blue Gems are extremely rare, and so many are only commonly found in auctions or on bandits. Anyway, for how much longer do you plan on staying here?" Mu Kang asked with a smile.

"Not much."

"Who do you plan on taking with you?"

"Even I am not sure."

His answers are obscure, I cannot even tell anything from these. Let's try some more: Mu Kang thought.

"What do you say about this 'unique torus'," Mu Kang emphasized the words 'unique torus'.

"I think it's good for Jun Haru. He will be able to become strong."

"Don't you want to have one?"

"If you can give me one, I will gladly take it."

After this, both went silent.

If I had rejected right away, he would have guessed that something was wrong. After all, other people wouldn't want to let their schemes be known, so they would reject right away without thinking. However, if they accepted it, it would be an open declaration that they had their eyes on this torus. This old man is truly cunning. His questions are becoming which cannot be accepted or rejected easily: Yang Zhai contemplated.

"I see. What will you do if Jun Haru and others do not want to accompany you?"

"I would be happy for them. Unlike me, they found a place to live. A place they belong to. I will leave on my own then. In fact, I would recommend them to stay here."

However, Yang Zhai just said this,

"No, I am going along with Brother Tzu!"

"Me too!"

Si Yu and Li Na spoke right away. In fact, they almost shouted.

Even Jun Haru was about to say something, but Mu Kang interrupted.

"Don't worry, I just asked him a question. It would still be your choice. But, you should wait for now. There are enemies waiting outside in order to capture the one with this torus…" he said this while looking at Jun Haru.

Yang Zhai understood what this old man was up to. However, he acted ignorant and simply looked at the old man. He didn't even look at Jun Haru.

There was no reaction on this Tzu kid's face. Did he not understand what I just said? Does he truly not care about this torus…: Mu Kang considered this when he saw Tzu Yu simply looking at him with a smile.

He looked at the other cultivators of the Mantora Mountain sitting at the other table and left after that.

I don't know why, but I am having an ominous feeling about this kid. He is too quiet. I have been living with Mantoras for too long to just ignore my instincts. We need to be careful: He left thinking this.

When he left, a high rank cultivator came and sat where Mu Kang was sitting before.

"Did we make a mistake choosing Jun Haru…" Mu Kang muttered.

"I should be leaving as well. It's enough for today." After saying this, Yang Zhai was about to leave as well.

"Brother, where are you going? If you don't mind… can you…" Shi Kim stood up and stopped Yang Zhai.

Yang Zhai stopped and turned around to look at Shi Kim. He saw that Shi Kim was embarrassed for some reason.

"What is it?" He asked.

"If you don't mind… Can you please teach me the Red Poison… I was truly captivated by it when I saw Li Na and others use it!" She said with determination. Her hesitation turned into determination at the end of her sentence.

"Sorry, I don't have the time for that…" he rejected right away.

"Please, I want to learn as well! Please, teach me as well!" This time, it was Lei Feng.

"We would be really grateful to you. With this technique, we can even injure cultivators with a higher rank than us. Please teach us!" Sha Ban also followed suit.

They bowed respectfully and remained in that position, awaiting Yang Zhai's response.

He stood there and looked at them for a while before turning around and leaving, saying,

"It's not something I can pass on to everyone. I don't have enough time, unless… You prove your worth to me," was what he said.

Those three were left flabbergasted. They asked him so respectfully, but he still rejected them…

"What did he mean by proving our worth to him?"

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