Chapter 87: The only way to overcome inner demons is through fists...
"Can't get out? How long have you been here?" Ji Mingran asked. She was new here and didn't know the situation. The two of them would work together to find a way out.
Zhu Shibai sat cross-legged, looking up at the person who was looking down at him: "I don't know the exact time, but I've been here since I appeared."
Ji Mingran frowned: "No one else appeared? No one else was chasing you?"
Zhu Shibai looked doubtful upon hearing this. He carefully examined Ji Mingran and, after confirming that she did not appear to be injured, said, "No."
Inner demons involve the secrets of a person's heart, and it would be impolite to pry too much. Zhu Shibai hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help asking, "Chasing? What did you experience? Of course, if it involves privacy, you don't need to answer me."
"I was being chased and I was constantly on the run, but that's all in the past now." Ji Mingran felt the focus wasn't on himself.
After carefully summarizing the information Zhu Shibai provided, Ji Mingran confirmed, "You mean, you know this is a trial of inner demons, you know the way, and there's nothing else here to stop you, but you can't get out?"
“Yes.” Zhu Shibai paused for a moment before saying, “Perhaps, it’s the best choice for me not to go out.”
A somber mood returned to her brow. Zhu Shibai lowered her head and remained silent, turning away from her in silence: "I have no face to face you."
The reality is completely different from what she imagined.
Her inner demons were filled with the clash of swords, the flying blood and flesh, explosions here and there, and she relied entirely on fighting her way through.
So when she heard that her companion was stuck in the trial, she thought that they needed combat support, so she came here.
However, there was not a single sign of them working hard here.
Zhu Shibai sat facing the wall in the corner by himself.
The cave passage was completely under Zhu Shibai's control; the environment was quiet and peaceful, a stark contrast to her own situation.
Not everyone harbors a heart full of malice. Ji Mingran's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and he loosened his grip on his cane.
Zhu Shibai needs to figure out his own problems. Ji Mingran, who was prepared for battle but no longer needed to fight, now found himself with no opportunity to use his skills and felt somewhat lost.
What should be done in this situation? This question is beyond the scope of the curriculum, and Ji Mingran has fallen into a knowledge gap.
The books she read in her past life didn't seem to mention this kind of situation. And the books in this life all taught her how to cultivate herself, without touching on any knowledge about interpersonal relationships.
After thinking for a moment, Ji Mingran stepped back half a foot and began to carefully sweep away the various kinds of debris that had rolled onto the ground nearby.
"What are you doing...?" Hearing a rustling sound behind him, Zhu Shibai turned his head and saw Ji Mingran take out a blanket from the brocade pouch, spread it out, and then lie down straight.
Zhu Shibai was completely stunned. After hesitating for a moment, he asked worriedly, "Grandma, what's wrong? Are you injured?"
“There’s no point in me going out by myself. Aren’t you thinking about this?” Ji Mingran lay on the ground, relaxing his breathing. “I don’t have anything to do, so I might as well rest.”
Since the start of the competition, there has been no rest, so it would be good to take a break now.
Although he has already established his foundation and no longer needs to sleep every day as before, fatigue will accumulate, and there will be more competitions to come. He should recover his physical strength as much as possible.
"Think about it quickly, and call me when you've decided." Ji Mingran closed his eyes peacefully.
"Rest?" Zhu Shibai's attention was completely diverted, and even the gloom between his brows faded a little.
"Hmm." Ji Mingran slowed his breathing.
She really wanted to sleep. Zhu Shibai was both amused and exasperated: "I thought you would try to persuade me."
His eyes softened, and his tone became serious: "Yes, it is indeed you."
Whether the Ji Mingran standing before him was real or not, Zhu Shibai, who had initially been somewhat skeptical, was now 100% certain.
The inner demons will only increase his psychological burden. If the person in front of him were an illusion created by the inner demons, she would have already begun to persuade him like an ordinary person, further plunging him into a dilemma.
But she simply lay down to rest. Zhu Shibai himself didn't even notice the barely perceptible smile that appeared on the corner of his mouth.
This is indeed a reaction unique to Grandma Ming.
The flickering candlelight on the stone wall cast gentle shadows on the girl's face. Hearing Zhu Shibai's words, she opened her eyes, which had been closed, her clear gaze filled with confusion.
"Persuade? Is that so? Everyone does it?" Ji Mingran asked.
Zhu Shibai: "Most people would do that."
"Really? Oh, that makes sense." Ji Mingran replied frankly and naturally, "Alright, tell me, what exactly happened?"
"Why are you concerned about this?" Zhu Shibai couldn't help but chuckle.
Ji Mingran asked curiously, "Didn't you say that most people would do that?"
Meeting her gaze, Zhu Shibai understood.
This is a question. If it came from someone else, it would be a rhetorical question, but since it came from Ji Mingran, it is a question.
Zhu Shibai smiled gently and gave the answer: "Of course."
Over time, companions come to understand each other's personalities. Zhu Shibai, being perceptive, had long noticed the difference between Ji Mingran and the others.
Grandma Ming was optimistic, cheerful, and kind to others, but she never delved into, inquired about, or was curious about other people's affairs. At most, she would ask for the basis of her knowledge if she needed to understand something at the moment, but that was all.
She was always single-minded, diligent, conscientious, and racked her brains to figure out how to become stronger.
Shen Qingluo has a cool and aloof personality, and is equally diligent, but she also has other things on her mind, which can cause her to be troubled and troubled.
Only Granny Ming was obsessed with becoming stronger; she was only interested in things related to becoming stronger.
She is a true spiritual practitioner, focused and pure, and Zhu Shibai has felt genuine admiration for her since they met.
Besides becoming stronger, what interests her most are the rules of human interaction. She's not curious about people; she's curious about the normal reactions people should have.
Like a newborn child, she observes, thinks, and imitates; she seems to be constantly learning how to behave as an ordinary human being.
Grandma Ming once mentioned that she was an orphan. Zhu Shibai thought that this might be the reason why she acted this way, relying on self-study for everything.
Zhu Shibai comes from a prestigious family and was taught from a young age how to speak, how to act, how to obtain useful information in social gatherings, and how to better conceal his emotions.
This also instilled in him the habit of taking action only after careful consideration.
Everyone is troubled by worldly affairs; life is not easy for anyone. Zhu Shibai did not confide in his companions because he did not want them to have any more worries because of him.
Now that Ji Mingran is lying peacefully on the ground, Zhu Shibai has the urge to tell his story.
Grandma Ming seemed to have an innate ability to shield herself from emotions that were useless to her.
Perhaps his troubles won't bother her.
Summoning a glimmer of hope, Zhu Shibai asked, "Grandma Ming, do you still remember this place?"
“I remember the place where we first met. You came out in a hurry, sweating profusely and disheveled.” Ji Mingran lay down, closed his eyes, and gestured a large circle with his hands: “There is such a large indentation in this stone chamber, and there are small trinkets scattered everywhere like they are now. There is a black sword hanging on the wall, and a kite.”
"You remember so clearly?" Zhu Shibai chuckled. "Aren't you curious what I'm doing here?"
"Oh." Ji Mingran's tone was dry: "What are you doing here?"
Zhu Shibai ignored the lack of interest in her tone and said, "I'm refining magical artifacts here."
"I guessed it." Ji Mingran still had his eyes closed. "You later told me that you were still practicing weapon crafting and that you didn't want anyone else to know, so I guessed it."
Ji Mingran couldn't understand why Zhu Shibai suddenly wanted to chat with her about this and that, but when you've been alone for a long time, you always want to talk to someone.
She deeply agrees with this point.
Ji Mingran turned over to face Zhu Shibai, indicating that he was listening to him.
"Yes. My master knew my preferences long ago. He covered for me, took me as his disciple, taught me the knowledge of weapon crafting, and cleared this secluded place for me so that I could cultivate in peace," Zhu Shibai said.
“My boss is very nice too,” Ji Mingran continued. “She also took me on as an apprentice, taught me knowledge, and paid me wages.” As she spoke, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration and opened her eyes.
"Could your inner demons be related to weapon crafting?"
"Yes." Zhu Shibai said calmly, "The Zhu family disciples sent me a message from the family. They know that I am practicing other weapon techniques and have ordered me to leave the sect."
"You mean..." Ji Mingran was more concerned with something else: "The Zhu family can still contact the disciples participating in the competition?"
"Yes." Ji Mingran's focus shifted significantly, but Zhu Shibai still responded seriously to each question: "After the various competitions of the Spiritual Cultivation Competition begin, the participating disciples will be isolated from the outside world. However, the competition has been held for many years, and the major clans have their own ways to contact the disciples in the arena."
"Can someone be replaced midway through the test?" Ji Mingran asked again, "That is, can the person participating in the test be replaced by another person?"
“Normally, once a competition begins, a participating sect can only replace its leader if there is a special circumstance where all the team leaders agree.” Zhu Shibai thought that Ji Mingran was considering how to deal with him after he left the sect. Although he was a little disappointed, he replied, “It would be difficult to get all the team leaders to agree.”
How did Yu Tianxing manage to suddenly disappear from the competition and then suddenly return? Ji Mingran frowned in thought.
Seeing Ji Mingran's serious expression, Zhu Shibai said in a deep voice:
"If I withdraw from the sect during the competition, it will completely cut off my path back to the sect. If I do not withdraw, then the Zhu family will abandon me, and I will lose my position as the head of the family. The Zhu family is forcing me to choose between two options: stay in Dingsheng Sect to continue cultivating and refining weapons, or return to the Zhu family to focus on learning the Zhu family's magic."
Ji Mingran pondered without speaking.
Zhu Shibai, not wanting Ji Mingran to misunderstand, sighed and explained, "Grandma, I don't care about the position of head of the Zhu family, but you can see the bandages wrapped around the Zhu family's participating disciples."
Ji Mingran was interrupted by Zhu Shibai's sigh and came back to her senses: "Oh, I see." The young disciples of the Zhu family were all tied up with blue ribbons, which was quite eye-catching. She had even asked about it at the Starry Sky Gate.
"The Zhu family has always been extremely strict with young children. The Zhu family wants each generation to be stronger than the last. Aunt Huo reached the Foundation Establishment stage at seventeen, so I had to reach it at ten. What about the next one? Nine, eight, or seven?" Zhu Shibai's eyes dimmed, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips. "When will this ever end?"
“I deliberately delayed my cultivation progress. Seeing that I was useless, they turned around and tricked the juniors into taking advancement pills, intending to use them to quickly increase their cultivation. Cultivators' bones and spiritual veins are not strong enough, and their sea of consciousness is insufficient. Forcing them to take advancement pills is no different from pulling up seedlings to help them grow, and the backlash is extremely severe.”
"I want to become the head of the Zhu family and change this situation."
“However, this may mean that I have to give up weapon cultivation and leave Dingsheng Sect.” Zhu Shibai could not even manage a bitter smile, his eyes grew increasingly dim, and his throat was dry. “But, human lives are at stake.”
The torches hanging on the wall burned silently, and the shadows cast by the firelight on the stone wall moved slowly, enveloping most of Zhu Shibai's body.
As he spoke, he became increasingly dejected, and slowly turned his body to face the wall again.
“I once held onto a sliver of hope.” Zhu Shibai stared at the dark, cold wall, lost in thought, and said in a muffled voice, “Perhaps it was time to make a decision. In any case, the things I make are always flawed and don’t last long. Maybe I just don’t have the talent for weapon crafting.”
No one answered; a heavy atmosphere permeated the entire cave.
Zhu Shibai faced the wall in silence, unaware that the person lying behind him was gradually relaxing his tightly furrowed brows and slowly closing his eyes.
......
I heard very shallow, long breaths behind me.
Asleep? Zhu Shibai was taken aback, then turned around.
Under the firelight, the person lying on the ground had his eyes closed and was sleeping soundly.
Zhu Shibai chuckled.
Indeed, overcoming inner demons and trials is by no means easy.
Zhu Shibai flicked his fingertips, and the torches nearby Ji Mingran were silently extinguished.
Instead of bothering her to come all this way and listen to his useless rambling, she'd rather get a good night's sleep.
After an incense stick has burned.
"Huh? You're done talking?" Ji Mingran sat up abruptly.
"Okay, I'm done." Zhu Shibai, who was facing the wall, turned around and said, "If Grandma Ming isn't in a hurry, she can rest before going out."
"That's enough." Ji Mingran shook his head, gradually regaining his senses. "I rested for a bit, and sure enough, I felt much better."
Ji Mingran got up and quickly packed the blanket: "Let's go, Zhu Shibai, hurry up and stop nagging. Although the spiritual artifacts you made are not durable, they still have their uses. You will need to continue to repair them. If you don't continue to refine artifacts, who will you ask to repair the spiritual artifacts you specially made for the three of us if they break?"
Zhu Shibai looked surprised: "I..."
“Don’t worry about getting out.” Her eyes sparkled. “I’ve come up with a brilliant idea.”
Zhu Shibai: "What? Weren't you asleep?" How come I can still hear him talking to himself?
"It's alright if you can't get out, and you don't need to go out anyway." After packing his things, Ji Mingran stood up, stretched his arms to loosen up his body, and said in a relaxed tone, "What problem can't be solved with strength? If you can't, then it means your strength is not enough."
She was quite exhausted when she first arrived, and her mind was not clear enough. She even felt that she was useless.
After a short rest, Ji Mingran felt refreshed and clear-headed, as if the clouds had parted to see the answers to the questions beyond the syllabus.
How could she be completely useless? In the end, the inner demon trial cannot be separated from the support of combat power.
Meeting Zhu Shibai's bewildered gaze, Ji Mingran smiled brightly: "If we smash this place to pieces, we can get out of here."
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