Do you really think you can get me with just a banana?

The next morning, just as the sky was turning pale, Yan Ruchen got up from the window, intending to wake up Guan Shanyu to discuss where to go for the day.

Unexpectedly, upon opening the door, he saw Guan Shanyu, with dark circles under his eyes, sitting cross-legged in the corridor outside like a stone statue, his eyes gazing at him with a gloomy expression. Yan Ruchen was so frightened that he almost lost his composure. He quickly adjusted his expression and asked calmly, "Shanyu, how long have you been sitting here?"

Guan Shanyu didn't answer directly. He just scratched his hair and asked abruptly, "Are you really going to investigate the cause of Elder Si's death?"

Yan Ruchen was stunned for a moment, then nodded firmly: "Of course, why does Shanyu ask this?"

Guan Shanyu struggled to stand up, his face gloomy. Seeing that his legs were numb and he couldn't stand steadily, Yan Ruchen wanted to lend a hand, but Guan Shanyu gently dodged him, and Yan Ruchen's hand hung awkwardly in the air. Guan Shanyu tapped his numb leg, looked directly at Yan Ruchen and said, "Have you ever thought about the possibility that one of your own people killed another?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruchen's pupils shrank slightly, and he stared at Guan Shanyu, bewildered. Guan Shanyu continued expressionlessly, "I haven't slept all night. I think this lust for power isn't unique. Blaming the demons is just a biased diversion. The truth might be 'the thief crying thief,' but some people do more, others less."

Yan Ruchen stared at him, listening to him finish his words. They were so close that he could even see the tiny mole at the corner of Guan Shanyu's eye. Yan Ruchen remained motionless and silent, frowning tightly as Guan Shanyu said, "If you really want to find out, go to the main hall of Yuchen Palace and take a look at the portrait on the wall, and the prisoner they sent from the second floor of their cell. I think you're so smart that you should understand it once you go there."

After saying that, Guan Shanyu turned around and left. Yan Ruchen immediately reached out to grab him and asked, "Where are you going?"

Guan Shanyu turned around and glanced at Yan Ruchen holding his hand. For some reason, he was really afraid of Yan Ruchen at first, but after knowing that he would die sooner or later, he suddenly stopped being afraid.

Guan Shanyu scratched his head again, pushed Yan Ruchen's hand away, and replied expressionlessly: "I didn't run away. I wanted to go find Senior Brother Song."

Yan Ruchen looked at his hand being flung away, his brows slightly furrowed, as if he was a little unhappy. However, Guan Shanyu pushed him away and turned around to leave. He didn't notice the change in Yan Ruchen's expression. He only heard him ask, "What do you want to do with Senior Brother Song?"

Guan Shanyu's mouth curled up, and he glanced at Yan Ruchen in confusion, thinking, "He can be found anywhere anyway, so why ask so many questions? Is he afraid that he might harm Song Ziye?" But does he have the ability to do so?

He forced a smile, trying not to let his emotions show, and replied, "Nothing special, I just wanted to chat with him."

Yan Ruchen was puzzled: "Chat? Did you know that he was the one who originally suggested that you learn this secret technique?"

"Of course I know." Guan Shanyu finally showed some impatience and sneered, "But I won't do anything to him. I can't beat him. I just want to talk. Is that not okay? Or do I need to go and report to an elder first?"

Seeing Guan Shanyu's attitude, Yan Ruchen was slightly stunned, then turned his head away and said slowly: "Why don't you go back to Tianxuan?"

Guan Shanyu gave a bitter smile and replied, "There's a mad Si Hongyin in the sect, and there are many disciples who don't like me. I don't want to go back."

Yan Ruchen looked at him, frowned, and asked, "Is Senior Brother Song very friendly to you?"

Guan Shanyu said expressionlessly, "I don't know, I just want to talk to him. So when I go over there, do I need to report to someone?"

Yan Ruchen turned around gently, remained silent for a long time, and finally said in a low voice: "No need to report to anyone, I will take you there."

Guan Shanyu turned his head away without looking at him, and just said softly, "Thank you."

The two of them chose to remain silent tacitly until the Purple Sky Spirit Realm came into view, and the atmosphere quietly changed.

Guan Shanyu gradually calmed down, realizing that his tone had been too harsh. This matter had nothing to do with Yan Ruchen, and he really shouldn't have taken his anger out on others. As they neared their destination, he took the initiative to speak, "I'm sorry for my bad attitude. Thank you for bringing me here."

Yan Ruchen didn't reply, seemingly unresponsive, as if he hadn't heard. Even as he stepped onto the ground, he stared silently ahead, speechless. Seeing this, Guan Shanyu said nothing more. He dismounted his flying sword and went to report to the disciples guarding Zixiao's gate.

After the announcement, Guan Shanyu stood at the door in a daze for a while. He felt that since Yan Ruchen had come all the way to see him off, he should show due courtesy and formally thank him.

But while I was standing there, I guess the person should have left.

Guan Shanyu sighed and turned back without much hope. Unexpectedly, Yan Ruchen was still standing in the misty mountain steps, his figure unmoved, his gaze piercing through the thick clouds and falling on him. Guan Shanyu's heart moved, and he was about to speak, but when Yan Ruchen saw Guan Shanyu turn around, he actually turned around and left.

"wait wait wait."

Guan Shanyu watched Yan Ruchen's back quickly disappear into the mist and called out softly, but didn't stop him. Meanwhile, the disciple who had brought the message had already emerged from the gate and said to Guan Shanyu, "Fellow Daoist, Senior Brother Song is copying books in the Sutra Library and can't come to meet him in person. However, we have arranged for you to go to the Sutra Library to find him."

Guan Shanyu was still staring at the place where Yan Ruchen had originally stood in a daze. After hearing what his disciple said, he just nodded randomly, turned around and followed his disciple into the gate of Zixiao Spiritual Realm.

The Zixiao Spiritual Realm's Sutra Repository was hidden in a quiet area behind a mountain, surrounded by lush flowers, green trees, and gurgling streams. It was hailed as a rare wonderland. However, Guan Shanyu was restless at the moment and had no intention of appreciating the beauty. He simply lowered his head and followed the guide's steps until they arrived in front of the Sutra Repository.

When the disciple knocked on the door of the Sutra Library, the door creaked open gently, and the person Guan Shanyu was thinking of finally appeared behind the door.

"Shanyu, I heard you have something to talk to me about?" Song Ziye smiled gently at Guan Shanyu and politely thanked the disciple who led the way. After the disciple left, Song Ziye pointed to the garden next to him and suggested, "It's not convenient to talk in the Sutra Library. Why don't we go over there and sit down and have a good chat?"

Guan Shanyu stared blankly at Song Ziye's slightly thin face, his eyes involuntarily following his guidance, looking towards the quiet and elegant garden with lush green grass in the back mountain. He suppressed the waves in his heart and replied in a panic, "Okay."

Song Ziye then gently closed the door, gestured "please", and the two of them walked side by side towards the small garden.

"Shanyu, you came to me this time, but what happened in the sect?" When they arrived at the place, Song Ziye asked Guan Shanyu to sit at the round table, began to make tea for him, and asked gently.

Guan Shanyu watched Song Ziye skillfully set the teapot, wash the tea, and brew it. His movements were smooth and beautiful, but Guan Shanyu's mind was not on this. After staring for a moment, he finally spoke: "Brother Song, how have you been during your retreat?"

Song Ziye had just brewed a pot of tea and pushed a cup of steaming hot tea in front of Guan Shanyu. He smiled and replied, "It's pretty good. I have a lot more free time. Every day I just do homework and self-reflection. I have so much time that I feel like I've become lazy."

Guan Shanyu heard the lighthearted teasing in his words and forced a faint smile. Seeing this, Song Ziye knew he was feeling a lot. After a moment's silence, he gently asked, "Shanyu, if you have any questions, please tell me directly. If I can help, I will do my best."

Guan Shanyu finally raised his head, looked directly into Song Ziye's sincere face, and slowly asked, "Before, the secret technique of the Purple Sky Spirit Realm that you asked me to learn, in addition to detecting the demons, also improves my cultivation, does it have any other uses?"

Song Ziye was stunned. He didn't expect Guan Shanyu to ask this. He lowered his eyes for a while and said slowly, "Shanyu, who told you that it has other uses?"

Guan Shanyu replied: "The elders sent someone to talk to me, saying... they wanted to calm me down."

Song Ziye's pupils sank slightly, avoiding Guan Shanyu's urgent gaze. Guan Shanyu's throat moved, and he said in a deep voice: "Is it really that kind of secret technique that can completely destroy the demons after practicing, leaving no trace behind, and permanently eliminating future troubles?"

Song Ziye looked at the ripples in the teacup in silence.

Guan Shanyu was anxious when he saw this, and asked softly, "Senior Brother Song, why...why don't you answer?"

Song Ziye finally looked up, a hint of apology in his eyes. "Since you know everything, it means the situation is extremely serious. Originally, we didn't intend to use this...we just wanted to use your disciples with special blood types to detect traces of the demons. Because the power of the demons is constantly evolving, the Purple Sky Secret Technique is currently the most comprehensive detection method. But completely annihilating the demons...that's the bottom line we are most reluctant to cross. Unless we are truly desperate, we will never use it lightly."

Guan Shanyu stared at him and asked, "Then...if you tell me this now, does it mean that we have reached the point of no return?"

Song Ziye lowered his eyes and said, "Maybe..."

Guan Shanyu said anxiously: "But, but why didn't you tell me in advance when you sent me here to learn this secret technique? Have you ever considered that if I die together with the demons one day, I would not be willing? Or, or is it that Senior Brother Song, you actually didn't know at the beginning? And only later... did you find out that this secret technique has this effect?"

Song Ziye looked up at him and saw Guan Shanyu looking at him hopefully. After a long silence, he slowly stood up and bowed to Guan Shanyu, saying, "I'm sorry, Shanyu, I know. But as a disciple of the Immortal Sect, I should put life and death aside and take the lives of all people in the world as my own responsibility without reservation. So sacrificing myself is also a last resort. If I can, I will go too."

Guan Shanyu looked at him in disbelief, his pupils dilated uncontrollably, and the corners of his mouth trembled: "The people of the world? Am I...amn't I also a person of the world?"

Song Ziye apologized: "Of course you are, but as a disciple of the Immortal Sect... you have greater responsibilities. Don't worry, unless it is absolutely necessary, we will never let you die in vain."

Guan Shanyu lowered his head to listen to his words, and was silent for a long time. He pinched his palm unconsciously, trying to keep himself awake and not lose control of his emotions. It was not until he felt numbness in his palm that he came to his senses. He looked up at the face that was very similar to the neighbor brother in his memory, and suddenly smiled.

When Guan Shanyu was young, he almost died in the water on a seemingly ordinary winter day.

Winter in the south always brings a unique damp and cold feeling. The cold wind carries moisture, like an icy slap on the cheek. Even thick cotton clothes can hardly resist the chill that penetrates into the bone marrow.

But Guan Shanyu didn't have to worry about this uncomfortable feeling of being half wet and half dry, because he was soaked all over.

It was the eve of his parents' marriage falling apart. They were arguing furiously at home, throwing things and banging on the door, while a crowd of neighbors gathered outside to watch. That day, Guan Shanyu was returning home from school, munching on spicy noodles, when he heard the quarrel from afar. He knew his parents' arguments were always fierce, and they wouldn't stop until everything was smashed.

But he was still an elementary school student at the time, and he was more concerned about whether the Ultraman figure he had saved up money to buy would be smashed than his parents' quarrel.

Because his parents quarreled every two days, he saved money for buying Ultraman for half a year.

He hurried home with the spicy strips in his arms, but in his haste he didn't look at the road and slipped, falling into the stream only fifty meters away from his home.

The quarreling parents and the onlookers were all busy with their own affairs, not noticing the sudden, massive splash. Even if someone turned to look, they only saw the churning water, not his tiny figure.

In that instant, the world seemed to turn upside down. Cold water relentlessly surrounded him from all sides. His cotton coat, soaked with water, felt like a heavy burden, hastening his descent. His cries for help were drowned, replaced by a mouthful of salty, fishy liquid. Coughing was futile, only more water poured into his chest. All he could see was a chaotic, watery shimmer.

After struggling four or five more times, Guan Shanyu was exhausted and was about to give up when the neighbor's brother happened to pass by and jumped into the water to rescue him.