Chapter Sixty-Nine: Kindness Is Hard to Repay

Acting on his thoughts immediately, He Song, holding several thick Earthen Talismans, left the cave with a grave expression. Yet, as he stepped outside, his face suddenly relaxed.

Not far away, a messenger paper crane lingered at the boundary of the Maze Array, seemingly unable to locate its target. Spiritual energy flowed across the crane, casting a faint glow, but it remained perfectly still, as lifeless as a dead thing.

He Song quickly realized the situation. The Messaging Technique, after exchanging breaths with a friend, required only the release of a paper crane or bird to contact the other party—a favored method for Qi Refining cultivators communicating over distance.

Of course, if the recipient was within a defensive array or had hidden their aura with the Concealing Breath Art, the technique could not find them and would halt where their aura vanished.

Exchanging breaths with a friend was akin to adding each other as contacts; through that thread of aura, they could reach one another. There was no need to fear that trace being tracked. If one employed a special method to alter their aura, the Messaging Technique would fail. If intercepted, its contents would instantly self-destruct, and the sender would be alerted.

He Song had indeed come from the direction where the crane now hovered. When leaving Immortal Market, he had not used the Concealing Breath Art—not out of carelessness, but because he was too cautious to use it.

Having spent over a decade at Immortal Market, He Song knew it well. In the shadows, certain eyes watched every person who departed. These individuals made their living thus, employing ruthless methods.

If one used the Concealing Breath Art and appeared weak, those people would follow and ambush them after leaving the market. By displaying his Qi Refining mid-stage cultivation, they dared not act so brazenly. But if a Qi Refining early-stage cultivator left, their behavior would change completely.

For this reason, the messenger crane was able to follow He Song’s aura to this place, and it triggered the Maze Array. The array concealed his aura; the crane could not enter and only lingered where his aura disappeared.

Had he used the Concealing Breath Art to leave, the crane would have appeared outside his residence, not here.

Seeing this, He Song scanned his surroundings vigilantly, then walked toward the crane’s location, always holding the Earthen Talismans ready to activate at a mere thought for protection.

When he reached the edge of the Maze Array, He Song remained alert, extending his hand toward the messenger crane. He released a trace of his aura from his palm, and the crane immediately transformed into a thin sheet of paper, falling into his hand.

He Song quickly stowed the paper in his storage pouch, withdrew his hand, and maintained his vigilance. Only after a long while, seeing nothing amiss around him, did he breathe a sigh of relief and return to the cave to examine the paper.

“Thank you, friend, for your warning. I am a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a senior member of Immortal Market, so I need not worry about this. As for the matter, I had heard of it before, but I did not intentionally conceal it from you—please forgive me. I thought I could protect you when the time came, so I did not inform you, but I did not expect you already had a place to go. Should circumstances change, feel free to send a message; I will come to your aid. This matter is of great importance—please do not mention it to anyone. Wei Fan.”

Scanning the lines on the paper, He Song felt a gentle warmth in his heart.

Wei Fan was a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. Just two years prior, he had broken through from Qi Refining seventh layer to the eighth, a considerable achievement in Immortal Market—above him were only those at the ninth layer, striving for Foundation Establishment. Combined with his position as a steward of the Spirit Construction Pavilion, he was unmistakably a senior figure at Immortal Market.

He had learned of the news early but kept it quiet, intending to offer protection when the time came. Unfortunately, He Song had happened to learn the news from Zhao Lin today and had already left Immortal Market, carving out a cave to hide in for a while before returning.

Thus, Wei Fan’s plan to shield He Song fell through. Conversely, He Song had informed him of the matter and urged him to prepare in advance.

Wei Fan’s feelings must be rather complicated now—hoping to help his friend, only to find the friend had fled and even reminded him instead.

Such is the way of favors: the intended kindness not only went unfulfilled but turned into a debt.

Although Wei Fan already knew the information, He Song’s act of informing him immediately upon learning it was itself a gesture of goodwill. If their relationship were not this close, who would bother to send a warning?

When He Song first learned of the news, he considered seeking Wei Fan’s help, but after some thought, he abandoned that tempting idea.

By leaving Immortal Market and hiding nearby with a Maze Array, he would face little danger; and if any arose, he could quickly escape back into Immortal Market. Safety was assured, and he could avoid disaster.

If he sought Wei Fan’s help again, the debt would only deepen.

Six years ago, during a great calamity, He Song had turned to Wei Fan for help. Three years ago, during the Chen Zhou incident, he had done the same. If he relied on Wei Fan once more, what about the future? When larger disasters struck, who could he turn to then?

Ultimately, one must rely on oneself.

If the person one depends on no longer wishes to protect you, what then? Even though Wei Fan was a friend and had aided him in his weaker days, hoping for reciprocal help as He Song’s strength grew, He Song could not seek him out for every problem.

Favors are difficult to repay.

Now that he had the means to protect himself, self-reliance became his first choice. If he could ensure his own safety, there was no need to burden his friend.

If he could use his own strength to avoid disaster, why owe another favor?

However, if he truly encountered trouble beyond his ability to resolve, He Song would not stubbornly refuse help. When it was necessary, he would still seek assistance from his friend.

One’s life is singular; preserving it is the most important thing.

Stowing the paper in his storage pouch, He Song waved his hand gently, and a thin sheet of paper appeared once more in his palm.