Chapter Twelve: Wavering

"Why are you so stubborn?" Ye Xin was both exasperated and helpless; he realized that it was far more difficult to reason with Mountain Cannon than with Du Yiqiang. "Don’t you want to go to Jiuding City? Are you content to grow old and die here?"

"I’ve got legs, don’t I? I can go there myself," Mountain Cannon replied, full of confidence. "In a while I’ll return to Tianyuan City, take on more tasks, save up for a month, then head to Jiuding City to enjoy myself!"

"You fool. Do you think those good places in Jiuding City are open to just anyone?" Ye Xin sneered. "With the way you’re dressed, you’d be thrown out as soon as you walked through the gate."

"Who would dare hit me?" Mountain Cannon snapped.

"There are plenty who would." Ye Xin said, "Jiuding City is a place of strict rules. If you break them, the patrols will come for you. If you hit a patrol, you’ll alarm the Captain. If the Captain can’t handle you, the Pillar of State will step in. And if even the Pillar of State can’t beat you, the Supreme Pillar of State will intervene. Who do you think you are?"

At the mention of 'Supreme Pillar of State,' Mountain Cannon became dejected and glanced at Ye Xin.

"I’m just trying to help you," Ye Xin said, pointing at the young woman. "She belongs to the Zong family, whose power in Jiuding City is immense. Think about it: she’s injured, and without help, she can’t make it out of the ancient forest. If you travel a thousand miles to bring her back to Jiuding City, won’t you be her savior?"

Mountain Cannon thought about it, then nodded vigorously.

"And won’t she be grateful to you?" Ye Xin continued, "Besides, you possess the strength of a King of Soldiers, your mind is simple, and you’re easy to recruit. She won’t let such an opportunity slip by; naturally, she’ll..."

"Who says I’m simple-minded?" Mountain Cannon interrupted angrily, "I’m as cunning as they come! All that talk about strategizing inside and outside the battlefield—that’s about me!"

"Fine, fine, you’re clever," Ye Xin said. "With your abilities, she’ll surely want to recruit you. So, do you think you’re worth recruiting?"

There was no hesitation; Mountain Cannon nodded again.

"Exactly. She’ll make sure you eat well and live well. When the Zong family stamps their feet, even Jiuding City trembles. Maybe, in time, those people will beg you to join their feasts." Ye Xin handed over the gold ticket. "Take it."

"Didn’t you say you’d never heard of the Zong family before?" Mountain Cannon asked.

"I… I just remembered," Ye Xin forced a smile.

"Besides, it’s her recruiting me, not you. Has nothing to do with you." Mountain Cannon grinned slyly. "I’ll take her back to Jiuding City, and if she wants to recruit me, that’s our business. As for your task… heh heh, sorry, I still won’t accept it."

Ye Xin nearly burst out laughing but managed to restrain himself, putting away the gold ticket. "Alright, you win."

Mountain Cannon laughed heartily, delighted to see Ye Xin frustrated. He felt Ye Xin was too scheming; refusing Ye Xin’s task was refusing danger.

The young woman’s expression grew especially complex. She could see clearly—this was no act; no one could pretend to be such a scoundrel so convincingly.

"Now, it’s our turn," Ye Xin turned to her. "With your intelligence, you should realize he’ll definitely bring you back to Jiuding City."

"He is him, you are you," she replied slowly. "Why should I hand over the Infant Transformation Fruit to you?"

"I’ve gone through so much effort just for that fruit. If you refuse, it’ll become an unsolvable knot. If I lose my temper, I might cruelly destroy both you and the fruit." Ye Xin sighed. "Is it worth it? Tell me why you don't want to hand over the fruit; everything can be discussed."

"I know you’re a silver-tongued liar, able to talk the dead into living, turn white into black. But you’ll never make me give up." She said, "Being entrusted to deliver the Infant Transformation Fruit is my family’s important task. If I fail, all past glory turns to shame. If that happens, I’d rather die here."

"You’re too proud, and your life has been too smooth. You can’t bear failure." Ye Xin paused. "Let me enlighten you from a few angles."

"Go ahead," she sneered, fully confident he could never persuade her.

"The golden dragon medal on your chest marks you as a student of Longteng Martial Academy. There are four golden swords on its rim; students who wear such medals number fewer than ten in the whole academy, sometimes even less. And as for five swords—since the academy was founded, only one person has received that honor: Wolf Marshal Ye Guanhai." Ye Xin said, "Your future is boundless, your value immeasurable. If I’m not mistaken, the decennial grand selection is approaching. You might directly enter the sect. What does one Infant Transformation Fruit matter? Do you think a genius like you is only worth exchanging for a single fruit?"

She remained silent, but her eyes betrayed inner turmoil.

"If—I’m only saying if—you agree to give me the fruit now, and in a few years you pass the grand selection, enter the sect, become a qualified cultivator, then look back on today—how would you feel?" Ye Xin said. "One fruit? You’ll surely laugh at your own foolishness and stubbornness, and be grateful you made the wise choice."

"Let me give a simple example," Ye Xin continued. "If a beautiful woman’s face is scarred, her despair is understandable. But if she loses a fingernail and spends her days seeking death, isn’t she silly?"

"Well said. Continue," she sneered.

"Everything in this world must be evaluated by its cost." Ye Xin was not discouraged. "If one sacrifices for justice and ideals, I not only understand, I support it. Many of my friends and brothers have sacrificed for their beliefs. What are your ideals? Do they have anything to do with this fruit? Compared to your true worth, the fruit is but a trivial fingernail—if lost, so be it."

"You haven’t persuaded me," she replied coolly.

"I know you’re proud. The elders at home adore you, your peers admire and support you. What you fear most is disappointing them—it hurts more than death." Ye Xin said, "But have you thought that this setback is a heaven-sent opportunity for you?"

She sneered again, as if daring Ye Xin to explain how failure could be a blessing.

"Not all your elders truly like you. Family intrigue is endless. The current situation forces them to support you—opposing you would mean being ostracized by the clan. They have no choice but to like you." Ye Xin said softly, "Your peers are the same. Do you really think no one curses you in secret, resents you? There are, I guarantee it. But winning your favor brings them many benefits, so they stay close."

Her expression grew stiff.

"This setback is a touchstone for you. If you open your eyes and observe carefully, you’ll find that those who truly care for you will never abandon you because of a single failure. On the contrary, they will comfort, encourage, and continue to cherish you, while your companions will support, trust, and help you as before." Ye Xin’s voice was full of emotion. "Of course, there will be some lurking demons who think now is their chance to bring you down, slander you, seize your resources. Then you’ll realize—so many enemies were hidden around you!"

Her face turned pale, her grip on the dagger and porcelain vial unsteady.

Ye Xin’s guidance was incisive, his hidden logic irresistible. He first elevated her sense of self-worth—which few would reject—then repeatedly belittled the Infant Transformation Fruit, which was irrefutable among high-level cultivators. Thus, he sowed doubt: was it worth risking her life for the fruit?

Then Ye Xin dissected the coming changes within her clan, stirring her curiosity to discern who truly cared for her. Most people, if possible, would want to know who around them harbored genuine goodwill or hidden malice.

‘Ignorance is bliss’—that’s what the world-weary elders say, their hearts too tired to probe further. But the young always want clarity.

"If you believe losing the fruit will utterly ruin your prospects, leave you hopeless, or that your worth is only equal to this fruit—then suit yourself." Ye Xin lowered his voice, gentle as a whisper. He was determined to reach his goal, even resorting to psychological suggestion. "But let me remind you one last time—is it really worth it?"

She closed her eyes, her eyelids trembling, and after a long silence, opened them again, staring at Ye Xin as if she’d seen a ghost. "You… are terrifying…"

She had once believed her determination to protect her family’s interests and her own glory was unbreakable, but in a short time, that resolve had been fundamentally shaken.

She couldn’t help but wonder: is it worth it? If she had confidence to pass the grand selection, join the sect, become a cultivator, then sacrificing herself for a fruit was certainly not worth it. If, as he said, her family would not all lose hope and abandon her, then sacrifice was equally pointless.

"I’m simply reasoning with you," Ye Xin’s tone brimmed with compassion. "The world is vast, but reason is greater still."

At that moment, Mountain Cannon sidled over, eyes lowered, clearly pondering his own thoughts and not listening to a word. Now, he’d finally figured things out.

"Black Robe, I want to discuss something…" Mountain Cannon whispered.

"What is it?" Ye Xin sighed inwardly. This fool always managed to disrupt things at critical moments; he really wanted to send him flying with a punch.

"About that task you mentioned… after thinking it over, I’ll accept it. We’re friends, after all. Heh… heh heh…" Mountain Cannon grinned. "Give me the gold ticket."

"Get out of here!" Ye Xin, usually calm, could no longer hide his irritation.

"Hey… what’s with that attitude?" Mountain Cannon protested, though he knew he was in the wrong and spoke quietly.

The young woman suddenly laughed—a pure, beautiful smile, as if she had been reborn. For no apparent reason, she understood: even such a scoundrel could live boldly, so why couldn’t she? This time, she’d been outmatched—so be it. She had talent, ability, insight, and resources. So long as she lived, her opportunities would be limitless; only death was true and utter defeat.