Chapter 56: I Walk Alone, Do You Dare to Face Me?

Xiao Lin's gaze did not fall upon the boatman. Instead, he continued to stare at the rippling surface of the lake and said calmly, "Your disguise is seamless, and everything is completely flawless, except for one detail that gave you away."

The boatman asked involuntarily, "What is it?"

"This fish is not prepared in the local style. The seasoning is far too heavy, lacking the requisite lightness."

The boatman stiffened his neck and retorted, "I am from out of town, and that is how they prepare it there."

Xiao Lin nodded. "So, when I intentionally used my spiritual power to ensure no fish would dare come near, how did you, a mere mortal, manage to ignore my technique and catch a fish from the lake?"

Hearing this, the tension and fear vanished from the boatman's face, replaced by complete composure. "Yet I felt nothing at all."

He seemed somewhat moved as he sighed, "No wonder those of the Demonic Path fear you so greatly, not even daring to approach you. Fellow Daoist truly possesses formidable methods, entirely worthy of a Sword Immortal's direct disciple."

"However, I also have a question. It is normal that fluctuations of spiritual power could be hidden from me, but I consider my art of altering heaven and earth to be nearly in line with the Dao. How did Fellow Daoist manage to pierce through it?"

Xiao Lin finally turned his gaze toward the "boatman" and suddenly smiled. "What spiritual power driving away fish, and what piercing through anything? I caught nothing while fishing and was in a bad mood, so I just bluffed you at random. I never expected to get an accidental harvest."

The boatman almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

You were bluffing me?

And I actually got bluffed out of it by your casual remarks?

What happened to the righteousness of the Righteous Path?

Where is the Righteous Path?

Is the Righteous Path going along the way on a sweet date with your senior sister, or is the Righteous Path just talking utter nonsense and rambling?

Disregarding the man's stifled frustration, Xiao Lin said, "I have answered your question, so now you must answer one of mine."

"You are the one who coordinated with the evil arts last night to pull us into the dream—a disciple of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion?"

The "boatman"—or rather, Human Calculator—did not evade the question at all and nodded in admission, "It is I."

Xiao Lin's gaze instantly turned sharp. "Colluding with evildoers and acting in partnership—is that not the way of the Demonic Path? What kind of righteous person are you?"

Human Calculator remained utterly calm, as though it were not his own neck that had just been threatened. "We merely pulled everyone into a dream to converse; no ordinary mortals were harmed. Where does the 'demon' part come in?"

"Do you know what those cultivators of the Demonic Path intend to do? What if the scenes in the dream actually come to pass?"

"What the Demonic Path does—what does that have to do with me?"

"Standing by and watching death without lending a hand already violates the Righteous Path."

Human Calculator suddenly laughed, looking somewhat helpless. "Isn't Fellow Daoist being somewhat moralistic here? Not everyone is like Fellow Daoist, willing to cut their own flesh to save an eagle for the sake of ordinary people."

"I truly admire Fellow Daoist for that, but it is not a reason to force others to do the same. Different paths cannot make plans together."

"Moreover, Fellow Daoist must not think of killing me, I—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a burst of sword qi erupted from Xiao Lin's palm. Human Calculator's words were cut short as his head rolled into the lake with a splash, while his body transformed into a headless paper figurine that drifted down leisurely.

"What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist? We are both members of the Righteous Path. Mutual slaughter—is that not also the behavior of the Demonic Path?"

Human Calculator's voice rang out from behind once more.

Xiao Lin turned around and saw a refined, handsome young man—this was likely Human Calculator's true appearance.

He was not surprised; he knew Human Calculator would not die.

He always maintained a shred of mercy toward members of the Righteous Path, not because he was kind-hearted, but because of his established character setting.

At the very least, Duanmu's teammates, no matter how much like beasts or artificial intelligence they acted, never killed teammates belonging to the same Armor Hero faction. They did kill one in the movie, but that was heavily criticized.

This showed that such actions could indeed damage his popularity value.

He would not perform any action that could harm his popularity value.

Xiao Lin repeated his previous line, "I caught nothing while fishing, was in a bad mood, and just wanted to try it out." Consider it an Easter egg played by the production crew.

Human Calculator: "..."

What on earth does catching nothing while fishing even mean?! Next time you go fishing, should I hide underwater and hang a few fish on your hook for you?!

At that very moment, a flash of white light cut through the air, and an elegant figure in white instantly appeared at the bow of the boat.

Gu Jianyao, peerless in white, held the Lige sword leveled at Human Calculator's throat. Her sword intent soared into the sky, fully charged and ready to strike.

Human Calculator's smiling expression finally faded. "If Fellow Daoist continues like this, our conversation will end right here."

"Senior Sister."

Gu Jianyao reined in her sword intent.

Seeing this, a trace of surprise flashed in Human Calculator's eyes.

With her Dustless Sword Heart, viewing all emotions as nothing, she actually listened to Xiao Lin's words?

"Why help the Demonic Path conceal the heavenly secrets?" Xiao Lin asked.

"It cannot be considered concealing heavenly secrets; they merely said that Fellow Daoist's righteousness is so close to the Dao that evil arts dare not approach, which is why they asked me to step in and pull Fellow Daoist into the dream," Human Calculator replied. "As for why... Fellow Daoist need only know this is my opportunity to attain the Dao."

"Why must it be me?"

Xiao Lin was asking a question to which he already knew the answer, but he was asking it on behalf of the audience watching through the screen.

"Perhaps it was to use Fellow Daoist's reaction to adjust their subsequent plans?" Human Calculator shook his head. "As for what those plans are, I truly do not know."

Xiao Lin nodded. "I know you speak the truth. Perhaps you had already foreseen this conversation between us right now. Is this also part of your path to the Dao?"

"Hahahahaha." Human Calculator suddenly clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Brother Xiao Lin is truly a fascinating person. I had assumed that once Fellow Daoist learned of my collusion with the Demonic Path, we would find each other too disagreeable to speak another word. I never expected you to see things from such a profound perspective."

"Others say Brother Xiao Lin's righteousness is rigid and pedantic. In my view, those people are absolute fools; Fellow Daoist clearly sees through things far more thoroughly than anyone else!"

Human Calculator sighed with deep emotion.

Xiao Lin remained noncommittal. "Fellow Daoist surely has a way to contact those evil cultivators. Why not take me to meet them?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of both Human Calculator and Gu Jianyao changed.

Human Calculator turned serious and said in a deep voice, "Does Fellow Daoist truly wish to go? This trip might be a one-way journey from which you never return. They may simply be waiting for Fellow Daoist to walk right into a trap."

"Last night's dream has lingered in my mind and refused to disperse for a long time," Xiao Lin said, lowering his gaze to watch the ripples on the water. "If it were merely a dream, that would be one thing. But if it were real, how many common people and innocent lives would perish unjustly?"

"Their target should be me, and the people of this city are their hostages to threaten me. For this reason, even a dragon's pool or a tiger's den must be braved."

"On the other hand, as for them..."

Xiao Lin's eyes narrowed, and his expression suddenly turned deep and abstruse. It was unclear whether he was reflecting the lake water or the night sky—neither entirely righteous nor entirely demonic.

"A pack of hiding, tail-tucking rats, none of whom dare approach me, which makes me want to ask just one thing..."

"I go alone. Do you dare face me?"

Human Calculator listened in a daze and slowly exhaled a breath.

At the initial Foundation Establishment stage, to possess such magnificent daring.

Is it closing the urn to catch the turtle, or a tiger entering a pack of wolves?

It remains unknown.

The divine calculator raised a hand and pointed toward the large boat stationed at the center of the lake. "They are right over there."

Xiao Lin raised his eyes and looked forward, his gaze burning like torches. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

"No need for thanks, you and I are merely taking what we each need." Human Calculator cupped his fists and smiled. "I can promise Fellow Daoist this: just this once, and never again will I act on behalf of this Demonic Path faction. Because of this single gesture from Fellow Daoist, it may well align with my own path to the Dao."

"Farewell."

With those words, the person vanished without a trace.

"Junior Brother..."

Gu Jianyao grabbed Xiao Lin's hand, an action that had nearly become an instinctive habit for her.

Xiao Lin looked at her and revealed a trace of a smile, signaling her not to worry.

"Senior Sister, just wait quietly here. Junior Brother will head out onto that lake and cast another line."