My Path, The Heart [Bonus chapter]

Watching Mei Wenxiu cry her heart out, Fang Hao felt a mixture of emotions.

He believed her and could sense the truth in her words. Mei Wenxiu had endured a great deal, and her pain was etched across her face.

Once she had composed herself somewhat, Fang Hao extended a robe to her, which she accepted with a sorrowful expression, whispering, "Thank you."

With Mei Wenxiu now clothed, Fang Hao proceeded to ask the questions that had piqued his curiosity.

"Wenxiu," he began, "you mentioned a middle-aged man brought you here and instructed you to eliminate anyone who arrived. Can you provide any additional details or information about him?"

Wenxiu provided more details. "I do. They wore sect robes, but we buried them together with the bodies to hide any details."

"Why didn't you ambush me all together inside the village? It seemed like the perfect opportunity, or when I was drinking the wine," Fang Hao inquired as he sat down.

"We have learned our lesson. The first time we attacked someone, it worked out, but the second time, only two of us survived, me and the early muscle realm cultivator who is now dead," she explained, not mentioning his name as it didn't matter.

"Since then, we learned to use the advantage of the village, acting as if it were safe. It's better to lower the guard, but even then, people still die.''

'' The early realm cultivators they send in are extremely strong, and the manuals they use are much more advanced than what I have seen, even compared to the elites I knew back as my guards."

"That Len, who called you 'brother,' was one of the new replacements, but we didn't share any information with him. I believe a lot of those were actually not innocent anyway," Wenxiu said, acknowledging the ruthless nature of their group, even including herself, as she had poisoned the previous cultivator.

Nodding in understanding, Fang Hao turned his attention to the weapons. "I find it weird that no strong weapons are found. Where are they? Did you bury them with the bodies?" he inquired as he glanced at the blades in the distance.

"No, we are not allowed to use them, the same as the manuals. They were taken by the middle-aged man without saying why. What a joke!" Wenxiu expressed her frustration with anger but quickly realized that Fang Hao was likely connected to the sect, so she fell silent.

''Do you remember how he looked? "Fang Hao inquired about the middle-aged man's appearance.

Wenxiu shook her head, explaining that his face was blurry as if a power had been used to hide it.

Despite her frustration, she provided information about the bodies of the people they had killed earlier, allowing Fang Hao to continue with his plans.

"I see," Fang Hao responded, understanding the situation. He then stood up and asked for the location of the bodies of the people they had killed earlier.

Once he had the information, he informed Wenxiu, "I will be back. Go make me something to eat. After all, I didn't taste that soup," he said jokingly, making her eyes widen in surprise.

"You won't kill me?" Wenxiu asked in surprise as Fang Hao mentioned he would be leaving.

"Not if you don't do anything against me, 'princess.' I know you might have tried to poison me with water, but I don't count it since you took it back," he replied with a hint of sarcasm. He then proceeded to store the bodies in his spatial ring.

As Fang Hao continued with his task of storing the bodies, Wenxiu watched him, feeling a mix of confusion and uncertainty about what to do next.

Eventually, she decided to head to the kitchen with the intention of preparing the best food she could make for Fang Hao.

Meanwhile, Fang Hao reached a secluded corner of the small village where they had concealed the bodies of the individuals that Wenxiu's group had previously eliminated.

He began digging in the mud until he uncovered them.

After a brief sigh and recognition that they belonged to the same sect, he noticed that the bodies were rotting. He covered them back up and gazed up at the sky, deep in thought.

"Is it a sect trial? If so, what is it about? Character? Power? Do I need to kill Mei Wenxiu to pass?" Fang Hao spoke aloud, expressing his confusion. But then, his expression hardened as he continued.

"Do I truly need to end her?" Fang Hao muttered softly, his voice barely audible. "As a cultivator, should I fear her, a mortal?"

He fell into silence before continuing, "I won't take her life. The sect never issued such an order. My father had grand plans for my arrival, but the sect repelled him with an attack.''

''I won't blindly obey commands, especially when they hide in the shadows and give me no warning about the danger.''

There was a hint of disdain in Fang Hao's voice, if someone could see his face, they would see a resemblance to the expression his father wore when the sect told him to pass his sister's soul lamp.

"Since the sect didn't give any instructions, I will follow my heart and do what I want, then I won't feel regret," Fang Hao declared with resolve. As he spoke these words, something clicked inside him.

He sensed a peculiar enlightenment in the depths of his being, though at this moment he couldn't fully grasp the nature of this sensation.

However, in the days to come, he would come to comprehend just how profound and potent this initial step was. It was a power that was neither spiritual nor physical.

Cleaning off the blood using the technique he had learned from the token, he felt refreshed and clean. He then walked back to the inn, looking forward to enjoying his dinner.

Silently blending into the shadows, he arrived in the kitchen, where Wenxiu was diligently cutting up some pork and cooking as if her life depended on it. She could not notice his presence.