Realms In The Firmament

Bai Long quietly looked at Sun Yunzhu and said, “Master, what is your decision?”

Sun Yunzhu said, “Old Bai, you know it… This is so important to my family… It really is…”

Bai Long peacefully said, “But it is mine. It was given to me to save my life.”

“Old Bai, you are our guard. What belongs to you belongs to us.” Sun Yunzhu said, “Old Bai, I have treated you well all these years. Remember what I did for you…”

“What belongs to me belongs to you…”

Bai Long muttered and blandly said, “Well, you are right, Master. You saved my life. If not, I wouldn’t have survived… It is reasonable that I give this dan bead to you… However, if I die for this…”

Sun Yunzhu was spirited, and he gladly said, “Don’t worry, Old Bai! I will try everything I can to cure you… But if you die, the Sun Family will set a memorial tablet for you. Even though you don’t have children, you still got the Sun Family. We will take care of your tomb!”

Bai Long smiled weirdly.

He had no idea what that sour feeling in his heart was.

Was it frustration? Was it relaxation? Was it indifference?

The old man first talked about curing him, and then ended it with a memorial tablet and tomb.

Apparently, he was not going to really do anything to save his life.

Sun Yunzhu had promised him the same thing before…

He made the promise a long time ago.

It was not Sun Yunzhu’s first time to know the poison in Bai Long!

He had never done anything about it at all…

He kept fooling Bai Long, telling him how poor the Sun Family was, and how helpless he was when trying to find the cure. He never cared about Bai Long at all!

After all those years, Sun Yunzhu still pretended to be surprised…

He did not care about Bai Long at all!

In fact…

Bai Long came up with the idea that he had never thought of before. ‘He and his stupid son always want me to die, don’t they? I never show them how powerful I truly am. They treated me as a servant… They do pay me more than other guards. Perhaps, for them, I am just a weak cultivator who cost them more than they should pay.’

‘He is never going to find me a cure.’

‘A memorial tablet and tomb… That’s just a story to fool kids.’

‘What do I need those things for anyway? When I die, I die.’

‘Is it better to be a dead man?’

Bai Long made a long sigh. He lowered his head and stared at the supreme dan bead in Sun Yunzhu’s hand.

Sun Yunzhu stepped back a little. He was worried that Bai Long might come over and get the dan bead.

“I… I want to survive. I don’t want to spend two years to find another cure.” Bai Long said. He sounded exhausted.

Sun Yunzhu took a deep breath and said, “Old Bai, we must have a serious discussion… Look, I saved your life. Why would I give up on you now? It is just too much to waste if you eat it like that. There are still two years. We can…”

Bai Long closed his eyes. He nodded and said, “Fine. I trust you.”

“That’s great! Good!” Sun Yunzhu was pleased. He said, “This is huge, Old Bai! We must hold a feast for it! Let’s get some drinks! You and me, we are like brothers!”

Bai Long’s eyes lit up, and he said in a deep voice, “That sounds great!”

“Look, I am sorry… I know this is too much to ask…” Sun Yunzhu sounded sad. “Old Bai, my brother…”

“It’s ok. We should always do what needs to be prioritized.” Bai Long was calm.

He was always calm and peaceful.

Sun Yunzhu was apparently too impatient to wait. He said, “I will come back and get you the drinks soon. Old Bai, let’s both get drunk! It is such a great day!”

Bai Long nodded and said, “Sure. Absolutely.”

Sun Yunzhu immediately went away.

Bai Long looked at the old man who kept holding the dan bead in his hand all the time. He finally cracked a sneering smile on his expressionless face.

“I wonder how cruel you can be. I guess this is it. They say people can lose heart.”

Bai Long painfully closed his eyes.

“I am just like a worn-out shoe to others. They have given up on me for a long time, yet I have been devoting myself to them. I am just a useless man who wastes their food, am I not?”

“I never want to be an ungrateful man… I never want to be that… Just take the Seven Returns Dan… Just walk away from me… I will accept it. I never want to get it back. I won’t… I won’t turn against you… You saved my life. You gave me my life. No matter how many times I have protected your family, I did what I should. If I die because you took the dan bead away, I won’t complain. You saved me, and now I’ll pay it back with my life.”

“Sun Yunzhu, from now on, we are even. I don’t owe you anything anymore.”

“Please, don’t do anything stupid.” Bai Long murmured, “Sun Yunzhu… Don’t do anything that hurts me more… Don’t do it…”

After a while, Sun Yunzhu gladly returned with a group of maids and servants. Everybody was holding a plate of food. Some were holding bottles of liquor. He must have prepared it meticulously.

“Old Bai, come! Let’s celebrate it here! Let’s get drunk!”

Sun Yunzhu was overjoyed.

…

Bai Long was soon tanked up! With liquor and grief, how could he not get drunk fast?

He didn’t notice anything wrong. He just kept drinking and eating.

He looked calm and peaceful. He didn’t seem to find out anything suspicious.

Sun Yunzhu became happier and kept asking Bai Long to drink more.