Chapter 24: Would That Person Regret It?

"How I wish I hadn't possessed that accursed curiosity back then!"

"I cannot even imagine how happy I would be right now if I hadn't!"

Gu Feng could never have guessed that the book he had fished out of a bird's nest out of sheer curiosity would turn out to be the sacred, authentic scripture of Mount Longhu.

"No wonder the calligraphy on those pages was so elegant and fluid. No wonder it triggered the deployment of the enforcement team. No wonder it caused such a massive commotion."

As Gu Feng held his stance, the image of those dozen or so cold, lethal weapons pointed at him that night flashed through his mind. Even now, thinking back on it made the back of his neck feel icy; the lingering fear was intense.

It was precisely because he had looked at that scripture that he had been brought here, in a daze, to meet the legendary Old Celestial Master. Regarding his reading of the *Longhu Pill Scripture*, the Old Celestial Master had offered him two choices:

One was to be initiated into the Celestial Master's Mansion, becoming a member to practice martial arts and cultivate the Dao.

The other was to return to school to continue his studies and forget this entire experience.

Gu Feng still remembered his astonishment upon hearing those two options. He had barely believed his own ears, doubting for a moment that he had heard correctly. He had never expected the Old Celestial Master to offer him such choices, free from the harsh, draconian demands he had anticipated. To him, these options felt impossibly generous—so much so that he struggled to trust them.

He knew well that the scripture he had glimpsed was the core heritage of Mount Longhu. Anyone in the Great Xuan realm understood exactly what that meant. It was because of this that he realized what kind of vortex he had stepped into. Even though he hadn't clearly seen the contents of the pages in the dark, the fact remained that he had looked. Whether he had actually read it was irrelevant; to a sect of this magnitude, it was always better to believe it than to risk the alternative. A place like Mount Longhu would never permit its secrets to be leaked.

Therefore, once he realized who the old man was, he knew that a man of such stature would not stoop to deception. When he learned that the Celestial Master’s Mansion would not pursue the matter, he was overcome with frantic, uncontrollable joy, even in the presence of that venerable figure. This could hardly be blamed on him; the immense terror he had endured over those few days had left his nerves stretched to the breaking point. To suddenly hear such good news—how could he possibly remain composed? In that moment, he felt an urge to roar just to vent the stifled pressure that had built up within him.

Once he calmed down, he blurted out the first choice without a second thought, deciding then and there to join Mount Longhu.

Mount Longhu’s standing in Xuanxing was something he understood well—as did everyone else on the planet. To be initiated there was the dream of every person, not just martial artists, but commoners as well. Its influence extended far beyond the martial arts world, permeating the secular realm and, indeed, the entirety of Xuanxing. Even ordinary people craved entry, as the benefits of joining were beyond imagination.

Perhaps it was precisely because Mount Longhu weighed so heavily in the hearts of others, and in his own, that his instinctual reaction had been to choose the first path. However, after these past few days of inhumane, hellish training, he began to wonder if that choice had been the right one.

In truth, he had never been interested in martial arts; had he been, he wouldn't have reached his age without even the slightest foundation. Every time he felt he couldn't go on, a sliver of regret would well up in his heart. Looking back on these past few days, he could hardly believe he had survived so much. He felt deeply conflicted about the two major decisions he had made: the first to raid that bird's nest, and the second to join Mount Longhu. Both had steered the trajectory of his life in a direction completely contrary to his expectations. Whether it was for better or worse, he could not say. But having chosen this path, he could only persevere; there was no longer any room for regret.

After joining the Celestial Master's Mansion, Gu Feng learned that someone else had seen the *Longhu Pill Scripture* before him and had put it back, which was how he had happened upon it and set the subsequent events in motion. Gu Feng felt conflicted about that person. He didn't know whether to be grateful or otherwise. Because of that individual, he had gained the opportunity to enter the prestigious Mount Longhu. Had that person not returned the book, he would never have had this chance. Yet, it was also because of that person that he had endured these terrifying days and had his life path irrevocably altered.

"If that person knew that failing to return the *Longhu Pill Scripture* to the nest could have led to joining Mount Longhu, would they regret it?"

With the Old Celestial Master's abilities, if he truly wanted to find that person, he would surely succeed. The powers possessed by a martial arts myth were beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The only reason the person's identity remained unknown was that the Old Celestial Master simply did not care to look.

"Perhaps they would. After all, it is Mount Longhu," Gu Feng thought to himself.

Though he felt a twinge of regret, he quickly let it go. These past few days, he had been training diligently—and not just because someone was standing over him with a whip. The Old Celestial Master had warned him that as a disciple of Mount Longhu, he might eventually face trouble from a young monk named Xinjue, a young Daoist named Qingxuan, and a fellow known as the "Little Divine Fist." If he were beaten by them, no one else would step in to defend him. Upon learning the identities of these individuals, Gu Feng’s scalp had gone numb, and he had nearly packed his bags to flee the mountain that very night. It wasn't that he was a coward; it was simply that those people were monstrously talented.

That was why he refused to quit, despite his constant screams. Gu Feng didn't harbor the fantasy of defeating them; he only hoped to hold out a little longer when they eventually beat him, just to save a shred of his dignity. Yet, he knew this hope was slim. Those individuals had been practicing martial arts since childhood, laying a profound foundation with extraordinary natural talent. After over a decade of cultivation, they had come very far. He, however, had only just begun his journey; he was far too late. Even with the backing of a great sect like Mount Longhu to guide him, the factions behind those others were just as formidable.

"Forget it. Since I've made my choice, I must see it through. I want to see what those people are really capable of!"

Gu Feng gritted his teeth, squeezed his fists, and made a secret resolve. Since he had chosen Mount Longhu, there was no turning back—after all, he considered himself the protagonist of this story.