Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

That splash of red was right beside the lazy, peculiar spirit beast’s claw.

Wang Xiedi’s movements froze. He forcefully wiped the tears from his eyes, forcing his vision to focus.

It was a Spirit Fruit, crimson all over and covered in strange patterns, being nonchalantly toyed with by the spirit beast!

His breath hitched.

That shape... those unique patterns...

’Could it be... the Heart-Connected Fruit?!’

He had found it!

It was still there. The hope for their mission still existed!

Hope and despair collided violently in his heart at that moment.

A fire ignited in the depths of his heart.

He glanced at the cold remains in his arms, then at the oblivious Grievance Beast, and finally, his gaze landed on the Heart-Connected Fruit.

’These fiends... they took its life, treated it like trash, used it as fertilizer...’

’They think they can trample over everything with impunity!’

’And now, the only chance to take up my responsibility again, to help Miss Su escape the same fate, is right before my eyes!’

’I... I can’t bring the mantis back to life...’

’...But!’

’I absolutely cannot let it die in vain!’

’I must get the Heart-Connected Fruit!’

’This isn’t just to save Miss Su, but also to expose the evil deeds of these fiends to the world!’

His grief didn’t disappear. Instead, it transformed into a surge of strength that flowed into his body.

He suppressed the roiling emotions in his heart and began to approach the lazy Grievance Beast, one step at a time.

However, as he walked, a strange sense of exhaustion washed over him.

’What’s happening...’

’My body...’

’So heavy...’

He found himself less and less willing to move.

The Grievance Beast merely gave him a few languid glances. Seeing no further action from him, it ignored him.

Just then, Wang Xiedi saw the Grievance Beast toss the Heart-Connected Fruit into the air and open its mouth, ready to catch it!

’A chance!’

Alarmed, Wang Xiedi instinctively tried to use his Spiritual Power to intercept the Spirit Fruit!

’But... but I can’t lift my arm... I’m so tired...’

On one hand was his firm conviction to save Miss Su and retrieve the Heart-Connected Fruit; on the other was an irresistible lethargy and laziness welling up from the depths of his soul.

The two thoughts clashed violently in his mind.

’Move... get moving!’

He struggled to lift his arm inch by inch, trying to break free from the shackles of this lethargy.

He used all his strength and finally managed to make his body move.

But... it was too late!

The moment he raised his arm, the Spirit Fruit had already traced a perfect parabola through the air.

PLOP. It landed right in the Grievance Beast’s mouth.

The Grievance Beast even chomped down a couple of times in Wang Xiedi’s direction, CHOMP CHOMP, then licked its lips, seemingly savoring the Spirit Fruit’s flavor.

His mind went completely blank.

’It’s over... It’s all over...’

The feeling of powerlessness shattered his conviction in an instant, and the lethargy completely consumed him.

’I... I couldn’t do anything...’

’I didn’t save the Jade-faced Mantis, and I couldn’t get the Heart-Connected Fruit...’

’But... but the chance was right there, practically within reach!’

’All I had to do was use my Spiritual Power, and I could have gotten that fruit...’

’But...’

He let his arm drop, dejected.

’I... I couldn’t do anything...’

’I just... lifted my arm. I didn’t even use my Spiritual Power. I just stood here and watched the Grievance Beast eat the Spirit Fruit...’

’So tired...’

’I’m tired, I don’t want to move anymore...’

’Miss Su... she’ll blame me, won’t she?’

’Grandfather will blame me too, won’t he...’

’I...’

’I didn’t properly take responsibility...’

’But... I’m so tired... I don’t want to be responsible anymore... I just want to lie down and do nothing...’

’What are we supposed to do now...?’

’Maybe... we just shouldn’t go on. We should all just stay here...’

’Why do I have to be responsible...’

’Why do I have to take charge...’

’Why do I have to move...’

’Why make things so hard for myself...’

’Isn’t it... more comfortable just lying down...’

’I don’t want to try anymore...’

’So tired...’

’I want to sleep...’

Not far from the Grievance Beast, Wang Xiedi’s eyelids grew heavy, and just like that, he fell into a deep sleep.

...

「Guixi Sect, within the Beast Taming House.」

The Grievance Beast smacked its lips. It seemed to think the Spirit Fruit tasted pretty good—sweet and fragrant.

Then, it lazily flopped back onto the ground.

’So tired...’

’Don’t want to move again...’

’Even though I lie around doing nothing every day, I still just want to lie around and do nothing...’

’Eating that fruit was really hard work...’ 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

’That fruit... I wish I could eat it every day...’

The Grievance Beast yawned and also fell asleep right there on the ground.

...

An unknown amount of time passed before a few disciples from the Beast Taming House arrived and discovered the bizarre scene.

"Hey, look. Why is there someone sleeping over there?"

"He’s that close to a Grievance Beast? A mere Qi Cultivation disciple isn’t afraid of being affected by its aura?"

"Who is this guy? He’s way too bold! Daring to get this close with only a Qi Cultivation level?"

"I can’t see his face... Wait, I think I see something familiar..."

One disciple’s gaze fell on a light-reflecting object on the person’s chest.

"Isn’t... isn’t that the shiny Heart-Protecting Mirror that Wang Xiedi always wears?!"

"It... It’s Wang Xiedi!"

"Wait, let me check the sect map!"

"That’s right, it’s him!"

"So it was him! What’s he doing here?!"

At the mention of his name, all the disciples present subconsciously took half a step back, their faces filled with alarm and vigilance.

"Why is he here?!"

"Could he be... planning to do something to the Grievance Beast?!"

"No way... Don’t tell me he’s about to pull a Xu Xian and get involved with the Grievance Beast in some... special way?"

"I’d say... it’s very likely!"

Just then, a sharp-eyed disciple pointed at the disturbed soil beside Wang Xiedi, and at the object he was clutching tightly to his chest, and exclaimed:

"Look at the ground! And what he’s holding!"

"Aren’t those the remains of the Jade-faced Mantis that was used as fertilizer?!"

"You’ve got to be kidding me! Wang Xiedi really went that far?!"

"He actually snuck into the Beast Taming House to save this Jade-faced Mantis?!"

"It must be!!!"

"I... I really didn’t expect him to go to such lengths for an insect..."

Everyone stared at the unconscious Wang Xiedi. Although they couldn’t comprehend his logic at all, they were utterly shocked.

"I don’t know whether to be touched or to make fun of him!"

"So, he snuck all the way into the Beast Taming House just to find this mantis’s remains and take them away, only to get knocked out by the Grievance Beast’s aura?"

"As expected of Wang Xiedi! To go this far for a mere insect beast!"

"That’s our Wang Xiedi, on another level of terrifying! All that’s missing is a villainous monk to intervene!"

"Quick! We should report this to the Eldest Brother!"

One of the disciples suddenly had a flash of insight and made a brilliant suggestion:

"You guys think Wang Xiedi is heartbroken over a Jade-faced Mantis right now."

"What if he’s still that sad when he wakes up?"

"How about... when he wakes up, we just throw him into a pile of Jade-faced Mantises?"