Legend of the Great Sage

aid to the formal disciples, “I hire you to work in the Hundred Herbs garden.
I don’t hire you to ensure that everything is fair.
Please handle your work.
If something like this happens again, leave the Hundred Herbs garden!”

“Yes, senior sister!”

Everyone answered her loudly.
They refused to disobey her.
A job as safe and steady as this, that was also beneficial to cultivation, was rare even across the entire Myriad sect, so who would want to be expelled from the Hundred Herbs garden? Speaking of which, after witnessing Li Qingshan’s performance, their feelings of discontent had melted away too.
It proved that Ruan Yaozhu’s judgement had indeed been correct.

Even if they refused to admit this, he was worth several of them with the abilities he had shown.
Shen Yushu’s intentions were slightly questionable too.

Only Shen Yushu’s expression changed with uncertainty as he stood in silence like he was unhappy with this.

Only now did Ruan Yaozhu glance over.
Shen Yushu descended from above.
He lowered his head and clasped his hands.
“Yes, senior sister!”

Li Qingshan peered over Ruan Yaozhu’s shoulder, only to see many people with their heads lowered.
She definitely was not a shrewd or mighty figure.
Instead, it was the opposite.
Most of the time, she seemed too gentle and too simple-minded, but right now, she actually gave off a bearing of dominance and authority.

After all, it all came down to cultivation at the end of the day in the cultivation community.
Human Sovereigns simply stood higher.
Modest and kind sovereigns were still sovereigns.

Ruan Yaozhu waved her hand, and everyone dispersed.

Li Qingshan smiled.
“Thanks!”

Ruan Yaozhu turned around, looking at him with pursed lips.

Li Qingshan said, “You’re angry? Sorry, I shouldn’t have spent so many days cultivating.
I never thought I would end up taking so long in the beginning either.”

“It’s not that!”

“Oh, then you’re blaming me for hitting Shen Yushu.
But that’s because he attacked me first.” Li Qingshan raised his hands.
“But I’m still sorry about that.
I shouldn’t have stirred up trouble in your territory.”

“It’s not that either.
Junior brother Shen has selfish motives of his own, which is why he made trouble for you.
Even if you did not fight back, I wouldn’t have let him harm you!”

Li Qingshan was stunned.
“Then why?”

Ruan Yaozhu repeated it word for word.
“The path of survival has always been a life-or-death struggle, where you must stop at nothing, whether it be butchering cities or destroying countries!”

Only now did Li Qingshan understand the reason why she was unhappy with him was actually because of that.
He thought, Women sure are troublesome! But who can help the fact that this woman has just been so nice to me?

All he could do was lay out his hands.
“It’s just for say, but that is the reality!”

“You practise the Heavenly Tome of Liberty, so you want to walk the path of great liberty.
I can understand that.” Ruan Yaozhu said, “But I don’t wish to see you become someone who will stop at nothing, or I will hate you!”

Li Qingshan furrowed his brows.
He did not back down, staring straight into her eyes.
“What if that’s the kind of person I am? What if that wasn’t just for say, and I’ve done that before? I’ve told you a long time ago that not everyone is as fortunate as you.
Not everyone can live honestly in a place like this.
Do you know how many battles to the death I’ve faced to be able to stand here before you? I don’t wish to deceive you.
If you hate someone like me, then you’re welcome to expel me from the Hundred Herbs garden, but I will still do everything I can to pay back your kindness!”

He could apologise for any reason as long as the person was worthy of him treating them gently.
However, because his path existed, he had to guard it vehemently.
No matter how it was, as long as they questioned his path, he had to refuse them with words and stop them with his actions.
As a result, he would raise his fists.

They were inches apart, such that they could smell each other.
Ruan Yaozhu took half a step back and let out a great sigh.
“Isn’t standing here enough?”

“Of course not!” Li Qingshan smiled, easing up the solemn atmosphere.
“I want to stand on equal footing with you at the very least or have you call me senior brother.”

Ruan Yaozhu grumbled, “Keep dreaming.” Then she said seriously, “I don’t know what you’ve been through, but I will try my best to persuade you to do good.
Even if it’ll leave you in a bad mood, I’ll still say it, as I believe you don’t want to become a bad person.”

And that happened to be her path.