Big Loss

Whether Guo Huaili ultimately agreed to the trade could be inferred from the mathematics books in his Universe Bag and the complicated smile on Qin Ran’s face.

Exchanging his foundational knowledge of mathematics and its application in formations for a vulnerability in the Boundless Sword Sect’s mountain-protecting array—was the deal worth it? Qin Ran’s answer was clear: he had lost so badly that even his underpants were gone.

With these treasures in hand, Guo Huaili returned to the Heavenly Secrets Sect. Within a decade, the sect’s strength would undoubtedly experience a surge—a sustained surge, in fact. As for its upper limit, even Qin Ran couldn’t predict.

Before this, formations had existed in this world as an empirical discipline. But now, with the introduction of mathematics, they became a theoretical science.

It was as if formations were being studied from a completely new angle, or as if mathematics had finally provided the key to unlocking their secrets.

Such foundational knowledge—something akin to a trump card, a golden finger, capable of revolutionizing the field of formations—was traded for a minor sect’s array vulnerability.

The most infuriating part? Given enough time, Qin Ran wouldn’t have needed that vulnerability to deal with the Boundless Sword Sect.

So, just how much had he lost? Qin Ran couldn’t bear to calculate it.

Of course, if he forced himself to look on the bright side, it was this: whether the Heavenly Secrets Sect grew powerful or not would have no impact on him. And if the sect did rise to legendary prominence, he, Qin Ran, would be remembered as the man behind its success—the father of the Heavenly Secrets Sect.

"After I’m gone, let the floods rage as they may," Qin Ran murmured to himself as he watched Guo Huaili’s figure disappear into the darkness.

By the time the Heavenly Secrets Sect grew strong, he would have already left the Land of Immortal Legacy. What did it matter to him then?

……Many years later, as Xuanqin expanded and its leaders scratched their heads in frustration at the formidable Heavenly Secrets Sect’s formations, one question lingered: Why did the enemy’s array logic seem so familiar?

"Master, are we leaving soon?" Li Shiyin approached, taking Qin Ran’s hand.

Before them, the misty passage of the mountain-protecting array slowly closed in the darkness.

"Soon," Qin Ran replied, turning to her and interlacing their fingers. He led her back slowly as he spoke. "We already planned not to take part in Xuanqin’s immortal dynasty scheme. Now that we don’t have to set up the mountain-protecting array for the Dao Sword Sect, the only task left is unifying the Hengduan Mountains."

"Originally, this would’ve taken a few more years. The Boundless Sword Sect isn’t strong enough yet, and their internal conflicts aren’t fully ripe. Forcing the issue prematurely wouldn’t yield the best results. But now, since the sect leader fears me, we might as well speed up the process."

After listening, Li Shiyin thought for a moment, then glanced furtively toward the main peak. Lowering her voice, she asked, "Master, why don’t you just…" She mimed slitting her throat.

Qin Ran understood—she was asking why he didn’t just eliminate the sect leader and take his place, or openly rebel and bring the Dao Sword Sect down with him.

……Li Shiyin clarified: "I was just asking why you don’t try to off the sect leader. I wasn’t thinking that far ahead."

"Why?" Qin Ran chuckled. "Because I can’t beat him! The sect leader is a god-transformation expert…"

But as he spoke, his gaze followed Li Shiyin’s toward the Dao Sword Sect, and he sighed. "I did grow up in the Dao Sword Sect, after all."

"Besides…" He squeezed her hand gently. "Those things are exhausting. I just want to be with you. That’s enough for me."

Li Shiyin’s eyes melted with tenderness, clinging to Qin Ran as she wrapped her other hand around his arm, calling sweetly, "Maaasteeer~"

The two walked leisurely through the grass, their footsteps lightly bending the blades beneath them. They passed under a phoenix tree and returned to the ancient spirit locust, where the dishes and wine cups from Qin Ran’s earlier drinking session with Guo Huaili still lay untouched.

Li Shiyin tried to pull away to clean up, but Qin Ran refused to let go. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down onto a nearby rocking chair with him.

The combined weight made the chair creak in protest.

"We’ll wash the dishes later," he said, holding her tightly with a grin. His wife was soft and warm, like a ball of cotton candy—once he had her in his arms, he couldn’t bear to let go.

"Ugh, you’re really…" Li Shiyin feigned a half-hearted struggle before giving in, resting her head against his shoulder with a pout. "Leaving the dishes out like that—do you think it looks nice?!"

"Then don’t look at them," Qin Ran suggested, rolling over with her to face the other direction.

"Pfft! You’re so lazy!" She lightly smacked his chest before asking, "How did you even survive before me?"

"Think carefully," Qin Ran said, feigning surprise. "Who took care of you when you first came to Dan Peak? Remember when you blew up the kitchen?"

"Oh…" Having been with Qin Ran for so long, Li Shiyin had long mastered the art of deflection. Her eyes darted playfully. "Back when I couldn’t do anything, you were so diligent. Now that I can do everything, you’ve gotten lazy! Fine, I’ll be lazy too from now on!"

Qin Ran smirked. "Let’s see who’s lazier!"

"Sure, sure, you win," Li Shiyin deadpanned.

The rocking chair creaked gently as the couple nestled together, gazing at the starry sky.

After a while, Li Shiyin suddenly giggled. "Master, earlier when you made that deal with that formation master, did you get the short end of the stick? You looked like you were in physical pain—your nose and eyebrows were all scrunched up!"

"Who said I got the short end?" Qin Ran denied, spinning his own logic. "Among scholars, it’s not a loss—it’s called magnanimity, righteousness, the sharing of knowledge and technology!"

He even adopted a righteous tone. "As I said, if techniques aren’t exchanged, they’ll regress and eventually vanish. If every master keeps their best tricks hidden, sooner or later, the art itself will disappear. So we must be generous in spreading knowledge."

Li Shiyin pressed a hand to his chest, feigning concern. "Master, your heart doesn’t even race when you lie now."

"I’ve always been able to lie with a straight face," Qin Ran said solemnly.

"But Master…" Li Shiyin pressed, "that Guo guy was a cultivator from outside the Land of Immortal Legacy. Why did you pass your formations to him? Wouldn’t it have been better to leave them for the Dao Sword Sect?"

"What’s this ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ nonsense?" Qin Ran chided. "Knowledge knows no borders."

"Ha!" Li Shiyin scoffed. "You just helped the Dao Sword Sect wipe out Zhican Valley, and you’ve always identified as one of them. Knowledge may have no borders, but you do."

"Ah…" Qin Ran hugged her tighter. "My silly disciple has gotten too clever. You’re not so easy to fool anymore."

"I've always been smart, okay?" Li Shiyin said. "I was just going easy on you before."

"Yeah, yeah, sure!" Qin Ran replied. "A small loss is still a gain—consider it a blessing. Right now, we need to deal with the Boundless Sword Sect quickly and then make our exit as fast as possible. We can’t wait until the sect leader takes action and things turn ugly."

"Ah..." Li Shiyin sighed. Over a decade in the Dao Sword Sect had been joyful, but the thought of it ending so bitterly saddened her.

"We’re just leaving the Dao Sword Sect, not the Land of Immortal Legacy," Qin Ran reassured her. "We can hide out in Danyang City, cultivate until we reach the Nascent Soul stage, refine the Longevity Pill, maybe even have a child... and when the time’s right, we can always come back to visit..."

Mid-sentence, his expression suddenly shifted. He sat up from the rocking chair and gazed into the distant night sky beyond the Dao Sword Sect.

Li Shiyin, lost in sweet thoughts of their future, noticed his movement and turned to him. "What now?" she asked, puzzled.

Wait—had she just said "now" with a hint of exasperation?

Qin Ran looked back at her, his face a mix of emotions, though joy seemed to outweigh the rest. After a brief hesitation, he finally spoke: "Someone’s come to clean up our mess and pave the way for us."

"Who?" Li Shiyin asked.

"Me," Qin Ran answered.

"Huh?"

"Yep."