In the midst of a grand meeting attended by Daxing's most influential figures, Han Cai made his way to the Sky Soaring Sect's hall. Inside, the sect master, Elder Dongmei, and Han Dai, the portly merchant, sat quietly, unsure why Han Cai had summoned them so suddenly.
Elder Dongmei sighed, reminiscing about the days when he used to summon Han Cai. But now the tables had turned.
Upon entering the hall, Han Cai respectfully bowed to the Sect Master, Elder Dongmei, and his father, Han Dai.
Both Elder Dongmei and the sect master acknowledged him with a nod, while Han Dai felt somewhat awkward since his son had never bowed to him before. Han Cai then took a seat nearby.
He sat there in silence, deep in thought.
Sensing that something was amiss, the sect master noticed Han Cai's unusually solemn mood and asked, "Han Cai?"
Suddenly, Han Cai raised his hand, conjuring a wine pot, four glasses, a table, and four chairs arranged as in a drinking inn. He gestured for everyone to join him.
Not sure what was happening, the Sect Master, Elder Dongmei, and Han Dai nodded and took their respective seats. Han Cai occupied the fourth chair.
With a more respectful demeanor than usual, Han Cai announced, "We are going to have wine today," which struck the others as odd.
Concerned, Elder Dongmei inquired, "Han Cai, is everything okay?" Han Cai nodded and poured drinks for everyone. Han Dai was the first to pick up his glass, followed by Elder Dongmei and the sect master.
Lifting his own drink, Han Cai declared, "The first drink is for my father, who brought me into this world and taught me to appreciate luxury and live life to the fullest." As the others watched him down his drink, they waited for him to continue.
Pouring a second round, Han Cai raised his glass to his master, saying, "This is for my Master, who taught me values and righteousness, and showed me that even if the world is evil, it doesn't mean I have to be. He taught me to find kindness in despair and peace in suffering." After toasting his master, Han Cai drank the second glass.
For the third drink, Han Cai proclaimed, "This is for my Uncle Master, a man I could look up to, a true man who understood his responsibilities and never shied away from them, no matter how difficult. Here's to being a real man." Then Han Cai downed the third drink.
Han Dai coughed, realizing that Han Cai had just indirectly told him and the sect master that they were not real men, unlike Elder Dongmei. He didn't interrupt Han Cai, however.
Elder Dongmei's face lit up with a smile upon hearing the toast, and he happily drank the beverage Han Cai had poured for him.
Pouring a fourth drink, Han Cai stated, "This is for me. I survived a world that should have been unsurvivable, and I found a way to escape what should have been impossible." He then gulped down his fourth drink and fell silent.
Unable to contain his curiosity, the sect master asked, "Han Cai, what is going on?"
Han Cai replied, "I have an enemy."
Puzzled, Elder Dongmei questioned, "What kind of enemy?"
Han Cai explained, "Do you remember how many cultivators kept coming to Yin because of some treasure left by Venerate in the past?"
All three of them nodded, indicating they remembered.
Han Cai continued, "That treasure is me. Essentially, my fortune is the treasure."
As he spoke, their confusion only deepened.
Han Dai said, "Han Cai, I'm not that smart. Could you explain what you're trying to tell us?"
Han Cai responded, "Don't you find it surprising that at such a young age, I have achieved so much? Even heaven-defying talents shouldn't have been able to accomplish what I have."
The three of them nodded in agreement; indeed, even heaven-defying geniuses paled in comparison to Han Cai.
Han Cai continued, "When I was born, I received my talents from someone else. They also gave me the massive amount of good fortune that they had acquired over millions of years, they were essentially blessed by the heavens and everything was given to me. So rumors were true. But this gift came with a price. When they gifted me their talents and fortune, they also transferred the debt of karma they owed, and their enemies became my enemies. Those enemies are too powerful for me to handle. Even if I can fight a Law Immortal, I am nothing but an insect to them if they decide to squash me. They are too powerful for any of us to handle."
Sweating, Han Dai asked, " What do you plan to do?"
Han Cai gave him amusing smile and spoke," I going to keep the gifts they gave me but I am going to get rid of the debt that they transferred to me."
Sect Master asked, " So what should we do?"
Han Cai responded, "For now, move the Sky Soaring Sect to the island. The sect here will be just the outer sect. Move the core and inner sect elders and disciples to the island, and have any new inner sect disciples sign the contract."
Han Cai took out a crystal and placed it on the table, instructing them to have those who wished to sign the contract send their Qi into the crystal. As long as the crystal glowed green, the contract would be signed, and they would be eligible to move to the island.
After showing them how contract crystal works Han Cai spoke, "After tonight, the owner of Daxing will be the Shadow Lotus. They will provide you with resources and protection when you are outside the island,".
The sect master asked, "Han Cai, what are you planning to do?"
Han Cai replied, "When I was born, the person who helped me gain my talents left too much Karma on me. Because of this, their enemies can sense my existence even if I hide from the laws of the world. They will keep trying to find me. I need to cleanse myself of that Karma, so I will have to leave for a long time. I cannot return until I've cleansed myself of all the karma associated with those people."
Han Dai inquired, "How long will you be gone?"
Han Cai responded, " A thousand years maybe but Since the teleportation circle is on the island I might return sooner".
All three of them had looks of disbelief on their faces when Han Cai said he would be gone for thousand years.
Before anyone could say more, all three of them felt a surge of energy within their bodies. Simultaneously, they broke through their cultivation, reaching the Void Immortal Realm.
Wide-eyed, they tried to process the sudden change.
Han Cai reassured them, "With this much cultivation, you should be able to live long enough in case I don't return quickly. When I come back, you better top sect and merchants of Daxing "
With that, Han Cai stood up, bowed to the three of them once more, and disappeared.
The three individuals left in the hall, now Void Immortals, were left to ponder the consequences of Han Cai's revelation.
With heavy hearts, they prepared to follow Han Cai's instructions, moving the Sky Soaring Sect to the island and adjusting to life under the protection of the Shadow Lotus.
In the midst of a grand meeting attended by Daxing's most influential figures, Han Cai made his way to the Sky Soaring Sect's hall. Inside, the sect master, Elder Dongmei, and Han Dai, the portly merchant, sat quietly, unsure why Han Cai had summoned them so suddenly.
Elder Dongmei sighed, reminiscing about the days when he used to summon Han Cai. But now the tables had turned.
Upon entering the hall, Han Cai respectfully bowed to the Sect Master, Elder Dongmei, and his father, Han Dai.
Both Elder Dongmei and the sect master acknowledged him with a nod, while Han Dai felt somewhat awkward since his son had never bowed to him before. Han Cai then took a seat nearby.
He sat there in silence, deep in thought.
Sensing that something was amiss, the sect master noticed Han Cai's unusually solemn mood and asked, "Han Cai?"
Suddenly, Han Cai raised his hand, conjuring a wine pot, four glasses, a table, and four chairs arranged as in a drinking inn. He gestured for everyone to join him.
Not sure what was happening, the Sect Master, Elder Dongmei, and Han Dai nodded and took their respective seats. Han Cai occupied the fourth chair.
With a more respectful demeanor than usual, Han Cai announced, "We are going to have wine today," which struck the others as odd.
Concerned, Elder Dongmei inquired, "Han Cai, is everything okay?" Han Cai nodded and poured drinks for everyone. Han Dai was the first to pick up his glass, followed by Elder Dongmei and the sect master.
Lifting his own drink, Han Cai declared, "The first drink is for my father, who brought me into this world and taught me to appreciate luxury and live life to the fullest." As the others watched him down his drink, they waited for him to continue.
Pouring a second round, Han Cai raised his glass to his master, saying, "This is for my Master, who taught me values and righteousness, and showed me that even if the world is evil, it doesn't mean I have to be. He taught me to find kindness in despair and peace in suffering." After toasting his master, Han Cai drank the second glass.
For the third drink, Han Cai proclaimed, "This is for my Uncle Master, a man I could look up to, a true man who understood his responsibilities and never shied away from them, no matter how difficult. Here's to being a real man." Then Han Cai downed the third drink.
Han Dai coughed, realizing that Han Cai had just indirectly told him and the sect master that they were not real men, unlike Elder Dongmei. He didn't interrupt Han Cai, however.
Elder Dongmei's face lit up with a smile upon hearing the toast, and he happily drank the beverage Han Cai had poured for him.
Pouring a fourth drink, Han Cai stated, "This is for me. I survived a world that should have been unsurvivable, and I found a way to escape what should have been impossible." He then gulped down his fourth drink and fell silent.
Unable to contain his curiosity, the sect master asked, "Han Cai, what is going on?"
Han Cai replied, "I have an enemy."
Puzzled, Elder Dongmei questioned, "What kind of enemy?"
Han Cai explained, "Do you remember how many cultivators kept coming to Yin because of some treasure left by Venerate in the past?"
All three of them nodded, indicating they remembered.
Han Cai continued, "That treasure is me. Essentially, my fortune is the treasure."
As he spoke, their confusion only deepened.
Han Dai said, "Han Cai, I'm not that smart. Could you explain what you're trying to tell us?"
Han Cai responded, "Don't you find it surprising that at such a young age, I have achieved so much? Even heaven-defying talents shouldn't have been able to accomplish what I have."
The three of them nodded in agreement; indeed, even heaven-defying geniuses paled in comparison to Han Cai.
Han Cai continued, "When I was born, I received my talents from someone else. They also gave me the massive amount of good fortune that they had acquired over millions of years, they were essentially blessed by the heavens and everything was given to me. So rumors were true. But this gift came with a price. When they gifted me their talents and fortune, they also transferred the debt of karma they owed, and their enemies became my enemies. Those enemies are too powerful for me to handle. Even if I can fight a Law Immortal, I am nothing but an insect to them if they decide to squash me. They are too powerful for any of us to handle."
Sweating, Han Dai asked, " What do you plan to do?"
Han Cai gave him amusing smile and spoke," I going to keep the gifts they gave me but I am going to get rid of the debt that they transferred to me."
Sect Master asked, " So what should we do?"
Han Cai responded, "For now, move the Sky Soaring Sect to the island. The sect here will be just the outer sect. Move the core and inner sect elders and disciples to the island, and have any new inner sect disciples sign the contract."
Han Cai took out a crystal and placed it on the table, instructing them to have those who wished to sign the contract send their Qi into the crystal. As long as the crystal glowed green, the contract would be signed, and they would be eligible to move to the island.
After showing them how contract crystal works Han Cai spoke, "After tonight, the owner of Daxing will be the Shadow Lotus. They will provide you with resources and protection when you are outside the island,".
The sect master asked, "Han Cai, what are you planning to do?"
Han Cai replied, "When I was born, the person who helped me gain my talents left too much Karma on me. Because of this, their enemies can sense my existence even if I hide from the laws of the world. They will keep trying to find me. I need to cleanse myself of that Karma, so I will have to leave for a long time. I cannot return until I've cleansed myself of all the karma associated with those people."
Han Dai inquired, "How long will you be gone?"
Han Cai responded, " A thousand years maybe but Since the teleportation circle is on the island I might return sooner".
All three of them had looks of disbelief on their faces when Han Cai said he would be gone for thousand years.
Before anyone could say more, all three of them felt a surge of energy within their bodies. Simultaneously, they broke through their cultivation, reaching the Void Immortal Realm.
Wide-eyed, they tried to process the sudden change.
Han Cai reassured them, "With this much cultivation, you should be able to live long enough in case I don't return quickly. When I come back, you better top sect and merchants of Daxing "
With that, Han Cai stood up, bowed to the three of them once more, and disappeared.
The three individuals left in the hall, now Void Immortals, were left to ponder the consequences of Han Cai's revelation.
With heavy hearts, they prepared to follow Han Cai's instructions, moving the Sky Soaring Sect to the island and adjusting to life under the protection of the Shadow Lotus.
