Deathly silence answered him.
After a moment, the other's voice softened considerably as he gently persuaded, "Guang Yangzi, I'm sure you understand the principle that no egg remains unbroken when the nest is overturned.
"Ten Great Immortal Sects do not want to pressure you relentlessly either. The truth is, the war has reached a critical juncture where the situation is utterly deadlocked.
"Your remote mountain sects have suffered greatly, but have we leading sects fared any better?
"I'll be frank with you. In our Heavenly Sword Sect alone, more than half of my fellow disciples from the same generation have already fallen in battle.
"I fear I'll soon be heading to the front lines myself.
"With the war reaching this point, there's no turning back now."
After a long while, Guang Yangzi sighed. "I understand, Honored Envoy. This time, let me accompany you.”
"Master!" a slightly hoarse voice cried out in alarm.
However, Guang Yangzi cut him off before he could say more. "My decision is final, Lian Chang! Do not try to dissuade me!"
"Excellent! I admire your resolve! In that case, I won't stay any longer. Remember, you must reach Congyun Mountain within seven days and rendezvous with us there."
After the other had departed, Guang Yangzi spoke to Third Senior Brother, "Lian Chang, come with me. Before I leave, there are matters I must entrust to you."
"Yes, Master," Lian Chang replied, voice choked with emotion.
Their voices gradually faded into the distance.
Li Fan slipped back into unconsciousness.
***
"Tian Yang, Tian Yang! It’s time for your medicine. The herbs we've been getting recently all come from those major sects. They’re much higher quality than the ones you were taking before.
"I believe you'll recover completely before long."
In his memory, the usually taciturn Third Senior Brother had suddenly become much more talkative.
While feeding Tian Yang his medicine, he shared various anecdotes and interesting stories from the cultivation world.
"Third Senior Brother, will Master... not return, like Big Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother?" Li Fan suddenly asked.
Lian Chang's movements froze.
After a moment, he forced a smile. "Junior Brother, don't think such thoughts. Focus on recovering. Our old Master will definitely return.
“He definitely will."
Lian Chang repeated these words once more, as if trying to convince himself.
Li Fan nodded.
As the medicinal broth settled in his stomach, a wave of warmth spread through his abdomen. He did feel considerably more comfortable.
Drowsiness washed over him, and Li Fan once again lost the battle against sleep, sinking into deep slumber.
Bang!
Bang!
Li Fan woke to the sound of fighting.
Third Senior Brother's voice carried from afar: “Every time, it’s the same story—the ‘final battle,’ the ‘decisive moment!’
“How long has this been going on? How many people have already died? It never ends!”
"I'm not going.
“You might as well kill me here. Going to the front lines means death anyway!"
The other voice sounded equally weary. "Lian Chang, don't force me to act."
"Do you think dying is that simple? I can turn you into an immortal puppet and send you out there all the same. My mission would still be accomplished.
"However, your master Guang Yangzi once saved my life on the battlefield. Before he died, I promised him I'd look after your Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect as much as possible.
"Coming here personally to explain things to you is already going above and beyond. Otherwise, you'd have been taken by force long ago.
"Use what little time remains to settle your affairs.
“As for that youngster called Tian Yang, Guang Yangzi mentioned him to me as well. His constitution is exceptionally compatible with your sect's Embodiment Transformation Technique. If he can survive this illness tribulation, he'll surely be able to restore the Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect to its former glory.
"I know your Embodiment Transformation Dao Sect has sacrificed greatly. When the war is won and rewards are distributed, I'll petition my superiors to grant Tian Yang a Taishang Foundation Forging Pill to cleanse his meridians and reshape his constitution.
“That’s the Taishang Sect’s peerless divine medicine. Even their ordinary inner disciples aren’t qualified to use it.”
After the other’s repeated persuasion, Lian Chang was finally swayed.
“I’m willing to go to the front lines,” Lian Chang said firmly. “But I have one condition. I want this Taishang Foundation Forging Pill before I leave.”
“Little Junior Brother’s body is too frail. He sleeps all the time. Without this pill to change his fate, there’s no way he can survive on his own.”
“You...” The other person let out a long sigh.
After a long silence, he finally said, “Very well. I’ll try.”
Once the man left, Lian Chang walked over to Li Fan and seemed to speak at length.
But Li Fan’s consciousness drifted in and out, and he couldn’t make out a single word.