Apart from Chiyan the Grand Master's martial guidance, based on the wonderland he just identified alone, Lin Xiao would not leave the Taixuan Clan.
Therefore, however glibly Shan Chengfeng tried to convince him, his mind would stay unperturbed.
Lin Xiao shook his head, with Shan's eyes glued at him with firm disbelief. "Esteemed Priest, I hereby extend my gratitude to you for your generous offer, but I plan to stay here."
"What?!" Shan Chengfeng couldn't come to terms with Lin's refusal. How come Lin had the heart to turn him down!
The unexpected blow rampantly disturbed Shan Chengfeng's energy and blood. He crimsoned and almost spat out blood.
"You can get whatever you crave in the Danling Clan, a lost martial method, numberless elixirs. What about the Taixuan Clan? On the one hand, it is on the brink of collapse for the Suomo Clan has been eyeing it with hostility; on the other, you got other disciples plotting to doom you to death! You...!"
Shan Chengfeng was overwhelmed with fury and fell speechless.
Wu Gui, prior gloating over Lin Xiao's survival over the disaster, broke to kneel on the ground on hearing Lin Xiao's words.
He finally came to realize that Lin Xiao was of immeasurable value, and his martial master would not hesitate to sacrifice him to keep Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao was the very disciple of the Chiyan the Grand Master, as well as Wu Gui's martial uncle. Though he eventually survived the wonderland, threatening but not dangerous, the culprit couldn't get away with it. Li Taixuan just intended his willingness to justify Lin Xiao's hard lot, but set it aside as Li was otherwise engaged. Now that Shan Chengfeng brought up the issue, Li Taixuan got around to attending to it again.
"Lin Xiao, don't worry. I shall dispel your misgivings. Since Wu Gui made you fall into the wonderland regardless of the bond between you two, I'll get him..."
Hardly had Li Taixuan finished when the startled Wu Gui started to beg for his life tearfully. His pleas sounded so miserable that even the Heavens were gonna cry.
"Suzerain, let's forget about it. Actually, it was I myself that stumbled and fell, which had nothing to do with Brother Wu. To be honest with you, I even owe him one, as I remembered that he tried to catch hold of me when I fell."
Had it been in the past, the stern Lin Xiao wouldn't have let Wu Gui get away with it, but he spotted Wu's attempt to pull him back.
Based on that move alone, Lin Xiao knew that Wu was not heartless. And he seemed to have been punished already. Lin Xiao was somewhat grateful to Wu instead.
He was indeed rather grateful, as he couldn't imagine how long it would have taken for him to make his way into the wonderland without Wu. And if he had not made his entrance now, there would not be another opportunity in the future, as the formation of the nine stone tablets could be an out-and-out extermination for all warriors of the level of The Refining Devine Environment or above.
Thinking of the stone tablets, Lin Xiao could still feel a sense of lingering fear in his mind. Looking backward, the weird meadow and bulging mountain went back in his sight, which overwhelmed him with a wave of shiver. Even the terrain around the entrance to the wonderland changed completely after he came out, which seemed that he would have to work out a new approach to getting in there again.
But it was not a pressing matter for Lin Xiao at the moment, for there were plenty of opportunities to come. He came back to his senses soon after the quick backward glance.
After Lin Xiao interceded for Wu Gui, Li Taixuan changed his plan of punishment, "Wu Gui, stand up and serve as a coolie at the scriptorium as of today."
The scriptorium was a depository of wide-ranging martial classics in the Taixuan Clan. In normal times, Wu Gui was only allowed an hour to stay in there as the direct disciple of the suzerain. Hence it turned out to be a bliss in disguise for him to work there instead.
Wu Gui could hardly believe this happy lot.
"Why not make move? Get lost!" Li Taixuan impatiently urged him.
"Thank you all very much, my master, Brother Lin, my seniors, and Priest Shan." Though overjoyed, Wu Gui remembered to extend his gratitude, which indicated that he had become a smooth character.