48: Chapter 48 I really don't want to play a bad guy

Qingsu Peak was even more deserted than the last time he came.

Not even a single patrolling Disciple could be seen on the mountain path.

As Mo Zixing walked to the mountain gate, he saw the same gatekeeping Disciple who had been slacking off before, now squatting on the ground doodling aimlessly with a stone.

It wasn't until he noticed someone had walked up to him that the Disciple lazily lifted an eyelid and sized him up.

Mo Zixing pulled out his Qingdan Peak Inner Sect Token and handed it over.

But before he could speak, the Disciple waved his hand, not even glancing at the token.

"Fine, fine, I remember you. You're the one from Qingdan Peak who comes to deliver medicine, right? Go on in, go on in."

Mo Zixing's lip twitched slightly.

Wait, buddy, where's your professional ethics?

Last time you at least pretended to check the token, but this time you've completely given up?

He simply pulled the token back.

"You aren't even inspecting the mountain gate. Aren't you afraid of outsiders sneaking in?"

"Inspect what? The Peak Master is gone. Why should we low-level Disciples bother?"

The Disciple tossed the stone aside and answered gloomily.

"Can't you tell? The entire Qingsu Peak is falling apart. Who cares about this anymore?"

Mo Zixing asked with feigned confusion.

"Falling apart? What do you mean by that?"

"What else could it mean?"

The Disciple sighed and leaned against a pillar.

"Elder Su hasn't shown her face since she fell ill. Now, all the major affairs of the peak are being handled by Elder Liu as an acting representative."

"Rumors are spreading through the Sect that Elder Su's illness won't get better."

"Before long, the entire Qingsu Peak will be merged under Elder Liu's Qingdan Peak."

Mo Zixing nodded thoughtfully.

Liu Qingyan certainly had a clear plan.

First, she ensured Su Li's cultivation was completely gone so she couldn't appear, then she used rumors to wear down their morale.

When the time came, she could take over legitimately.

He didn't ask any more questions and turned to follow the mountain path toward the Main Peak.

He walked all the way to the outside of the Main Peak hall.

Last time he came, two female Disciples were guarding the door, but now only one remained.

She leaned against the pillar of the hall door, her sword hanging loosely from her waist, looking exhausted.

After recognizing Mo Zixing, she didn't offer much resistance and simply stepped aside to make way.

"Elder Liu sent you to deliver medicine?"

"Go in. The Elder is resting in her bedchamber. Her state has been very poor these past few days, so don't disturb her."

"I understand."

Mo Zixing nodded.

It seemed Su Li had been going through a considerable ordeal lately.

Turning left and right through the wooden corridor, he soon reached the outside of the bedchamber where Su Li was resting.

Mo Zixing stopped and raised his hand to knock gently on the wooden door several times.

A few seconds later, a response came from inside.

The voice was even weaker than last time, yet it still carried the composure etched into the bones of a Sect Elder.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Mo Zixing."

There was silence inside for a few seconds, followed by a very faint response.

"Come in."

Mo Zixing pushed the door open and walked in.

Su Li lay on the bed, still wrapped in that layer of black gauze, with only a thin hand exposed outside the quilt, slowly rotating that wood life source pill.

With the gold trait [Medicine Spirit Body], his perception of wood-attribute spiritual power was quite strong.

Su Li had a [Planting Trees to Form a Forest] trait, so even at Qi Refining Level 1, she should have some spiritual power in her body.

But now, there wasn't a trace of wood-attribute spiritual power on her.

Mo Zixing brought up the System panel, and Su Li's information popped up, confirming his perception.

[Name: Su Li]

[Race: Human]

[Gender: Female]

[Cultivation: None]

[Personality Traits: Reclusive Sect]

[Innate Luck: Planting Trees to Form a Forest (Blue) Charm Bone (Purple) Heavens Envy of Talent (White) Slight Luck (Purple)]

[Acquired Luck: completely destroyed appearance (Black) completely destroyed foundation (Black)]

Su Li's cultivation had actually dropped to zero.

Was the drug Liu Qingyan added that potent?

At the top of the panel, the favorability bar still showed the value of a single heart.

Unfortunately, he was about to find a way to make that favorability drop to zero.

That's right, it was for the purpose of using Trait Seizure.

Perhaps it was because he had achieved a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

The current function of Trait Seizure seemed to have some upgrades compared to the initial version.

Although the target's hatred value still needed to reach the full value of five flames to unlock the seizure permissions.

The categories for Trait Seizure had expanded from being limited to [Innate Luck] to now including [Acquired Luck].

Sigh.

Having to play the villain again.

This job is really hard to do.

He didn't feel any excitement about being a bad guy at all.

Really.

Unless there was good stuff to be had.

"Are you here to deliver medicine?"

Su Li's voice rang out again, sounding as emotionless as ever.

"Tell Qingyan for me that she doesn't need to bother refining and sending medicine anymore."

"I know my own body; it's beyond saving. There's no need to waste precious medicinal materials."

As she spoke, she raised the wood life source pill she was holding to show him.

"When I can no longer endure this state, I will try this."

Su Li wanted to consume the wood life source pill?

How could that be allowed?

If she really swallowed it, things would go south.

Besides, he wanted that Medicinal Pill for himself.

"Elder Su wants this?"

Mo Zixing's face remained expressionless.

He took a step forward and directly reached out.

With one motion, he took the wood life source pill from her hand and stuffed it into his own pocket.

"Well now, this Medicinal Pill is mine."

Su Li's current Realm was insufficient to consume it, but it was just right for him since he had already reached Foundation Establishment.

It just so happened that he now possessed a Wood Spirit Root as well.

If the massive amount of wood-attribute spiritual power contained in this Medicinal Pill were refined by him, it wouldn't be a waste at all.

Mo Zixing finalized the decision in his mind.

This wood life source pill would serve as the deposit for his appearance fee.

Su Li never imagined that the previously humble and polite Mo Zixing would suddenly act to snatch the Medicinal Pill.

"You?"

On her panel, the nearly full little favorability heart trembled and dropped back to half a heart.

Even when faced with such a turn of events, Su Li did not get up to fight for it, nor did she question him hysterically; her voice only grew colder.

"Mo Zixing, what are you doing? Give the medicine back to me."

"Give it back to you?"

Mo Zixing raised an eyebrow, deliberately adopting a cold and dismissive manner.

"Elder Su, you don't actually think this Medicinal Pill can save your life, do you?"

He took the Medicinal Pill out and openly held it in his hand in front of Su Li, rolling it in his hand like a walnut.

"This wood life source pill requires at least a cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Stage to refine the spiritual power inside."

"You are currently a Mortal with no cultivation. The moment the Medicinal Pill enters your throat, the surging spiritual power will burst your Meridians and Dantian, causing you to perish on the spot."

"Rather than giving it to you, it's better if I use it."