I heard you had a white moonlight who died young.

When Bing Nandong returned, Fan Zhiyi had already finished his noodles and was squatting there teasing Xiao Hei with a makeshift cat toy. He rested his chin on one hand and raised the other high, causing Xiao Hei to jump left and right in response to his gesture.

Upon hearing his voice as he returned, Xiao Hei immediately stopped playing with Fan Zhiyi.

Fan Zhiyi withdrew his hand, looked at the jubilant kitten, and muttered, "You little ingrate." Then he stood up, stretched, and said, "The noodles are in the pot. I'm going to sleep. I'm too tired today."

"Fan Zhiyi." Bing Nandong called his name, staring intently at him. His gaze occasionally revealed a depth that was completely out of character for his age, and this was the case now. "What are you and Zhuang Yujing up to? Why are you here at the event today?"

"It's not really about doing anything. Today is just a coincidence," Fan Zhiyi replied. Seeing that Bing Nandong didn't seem to believe him, he told Bing Nandong everything that had happened since his meeting with Zhuang Yujing last night, and also revealed that Murong Xiao wanted to persecute Bing Nandong. "So, we're actually here today to tell you this, so you don't fall into Murong Xiao's trap."

Bing Nandong took the porcelain bottle from Fan Zhiyi, glanced at it casually, and then ignored it: "So you went out last night to see Zhuang Yujing."

"Hmm, what else? I can't remember anyone else, I only know you guys. Besides, He An saved us before, so it wouldn't feel right to just refuse him."

Bing Nandong remained silent, and Fan Zhiyi didn't know what to say either. For a moment, an awkward silence fell between them.

Fan Zhiyi lowered his head and stared at his toes, avoiding Bing Nandong's eyes. He felt uncomfortable no matter which way he looked, but he held back in the end: "I'll go back first."

"Don't you have any questions?" Bing Nandong glanced away and asked casually, his tone full of probing.

Fan Zhiyi: "...You won't tell me even if I ask."

"I don't know if you heard what Qin Qianchi said at the time, but this competition was indeed not an ordinary competition. It was set up to select candidates for sealing the Ghost Gate."

Fan Zhiyi didn't understand why Bing Nandong was suddenly willing to talk to him. People's thoughts are always hard to guess, especially Bing Nandong's.

So Fan Zhiyi put aside other things for the time being and followed Bing Nandong's lead to clarify the matter first: "So, what exactly is this 'Ghost Gate' you're talking about?"

I remember Zhuang Yujing mentioning something about the Ghost Gate; I should have asked Zhuang Yujing beforehand.

"The Ghost Gate suddenly appeared one day, connecting the world of ghosts and the world of humans, separating yin and yang. Once the Ghost Gate is opened, all kinds of ghosts float in, yin and yang are reversed, causing endless harm. At that time, the yin and yang boundary we entered at Xue's residence could easily form another Ghost Gate, causing disaster."

Fan Zhiyi paused for a moment after hearing this, recalling what he had heard before: "So, the Ghost Gate has already formed, which is why you need to seal it. But there are many people whose cultivation is above yours, so why do you need to seal the Ghost Gate?"

Bing Nandong pursed his lips, and Fan Zhiyi saw through his thoughts: "Can't you say? Then I'll ask you another question." He paused for a moment, "It seems there's nothing else to ask, let's rest."

Fan Zhiyi couldn't explain why he was so angry. He just felt like his body wasn't his own anymore when he saw Bing Nandong dying today. Even though he knew he couldn't help, he still rushed forward like a fool, thinking about what he was going to do.

Was I too impulsive? Even Wu Bai, Lu Changfu, and Zhuang Yujing didn't say anything. They all knew that Bing Nandong would win, but I was the only one who knew nothing.

But putting Zhuang Yujing aside, the expressions of the others were still very strange.

……

After struggling with this internal conflict for a while, Fan Zhiyi came to the conclusion that since it wasn't his business, he would just wait patiently for Bai Bai to come back to him.

But what if Bai Bai doesn't come back after he dies and just leaves him in this world?

Fan Zhiyi dislikes relying on others, as this makes him feel that the change is too drastic and he feels very insecure.

A sudden moment of confusion made him start to think about what to do next. Was he really just going to spend his days loafing around at Tianyun Sect? It didn't seem so bad, but what if Bing Nandong…

There are no "what ifs" anyway, since I can't help in any way.

Fan Zhiyi began to regret his impulsive actions today. What if others suspected that he had possessed someone else's body? He should have thought more about himself.

“We were chosen from childhood,” Bing Nandong calmly recounted. “We learn more powerful techniques and undergo more rigorous training than other disciples. Every few years, we hold competitions to rank the disciples. Finally, on the 10th, the disciple who best meets the requirements is selected and their potential power is unleashed using a secret technique. Then, they are used to seal the only Ghost Gate that has appeared today.”

Fan Zhiyi frowned as he listened: "Another sacrifice for the common people?" It's a classic plot from cultivation novels. "But isn't this the first time the Ghost Gate has appeared in the cultivation world? How can we guarantee that this method will definitely be effective?"

Bing Nandong shook his head: "It remains to be verified, but someone has to do it eventually."

"Isn't this just using you as guinea pigs? If they think this method is feasible, why don't those people with high cultivation and high positions try it? Why make you..." Fan Zhiyi couldn't help but get angry. He didn't agree with this approach.

“Fan Zhiyi, I have to go. This is what I owe them.” Bing Nandong’s tone was very solemn. “There is no absolutely perfect method. This is our own choice.”

"..." Fan Zhiyi's chest was still heaving with anger. He felt he hadn't been this angry in a long time. What kind of crazy setting was this? Why should so many people's lives be tied to one person?

"Just like you feel now, some sects don't agree with this plan and therefore haven't joined. Jiuwanli is one of them. The Ghost Gate is now known to the cultivation world, but each sect claims to the outside world that it has been controlled and resolved. Therefore, the plan to be tested later is a secret and must not be leaked. Zhuang Yujing cannot be involved either, otherwise he will not only be targeted by sects with ulterior motives, but the cultivation world will also be thrown into chaos."

"They're probably afraid that leaks would cause these sects to lose face, so they're putting the burden of what they can't do themselves onto their children." Fan Zhiyi completely lost any goodwill towards these sects. "But what does this have to do with the fact that someone died in today's competition?"

When asked about this, Bing Nandong shook his head: "I don't know why this is the case."

The heat in the kitchen has dissipated a lot, so the noodles are probably completely mushy and won't taste good at all.