Chapter 595: Masked Man's Wine

"I want to go home!" Xu Xiaoshou cried silently in his heart.

He yearned for freedom. But reality was stark. No one could truly live the life they desired. In this stage where he wasn't strong enough, passivity would always be synonymous with Xu!

"What a cursed fate!" Xu Xiaoshou scoffed softly, but didn't give up. He looked up and said, "You said you wouldn't force me to make a choice."

The Storyteller on the side chuckled, about to speak. The masked man raised a hand to stop him, then calmly said, "I never break my word. But Wen Ming, you need to think carefully: do you *really* still want to run?"

"Huh?" The Storyteller immediately grew anxious. This was a young talent he had paid a great price for but still hadn't captured. Was his brother going to let him go? "No!" "He's mine!" The Storyteller fiercely defended his claim.

The masked man turned and glared at him. The Storyteller’s extended neck shrunk back, and he obediently fell silent. Damn it… could he really not last more than three sentences? Wen Ming is mine, ahhh!!!

Xu Xiaoshou ignored him, looking only at the masked man. He stated firmly, "That's right, I don't want to go with you."

"Do you have an alternative?" the masked man countered."Yes.""Where?"

Xu Xiaoshou turned his body and looked behind him. "The world is vast; everywhere can be home."

"Do you truly believe that?" the masked man pressed on."Otherwise?" Xu Xiaoshou shook his head. "If I really went with you, wouldn't I truly sink into a quagmire? Although I don't know what you Sacred Slaves want to do, still..." He hesitated, unable to continue.

The Sacred Slaves' goal was clear and grand. Even if Xu Xiaoshou didn't know the specifics, he could sense it from his repeated interactions with the masked man. If he were to join them, he would, without a doubt, face the entire Holy Divine Temple. How was that even possible? Xu Xiaoshou had decided the first time the masked man invited him. Rather than joining a nefarious organization, it would be better to choose the Holy Divine Temple, the continent's top power. At least there, he would still be considered on the side of light!

Disappointment flickered in the masked man's eyes. He seemed to have seen through Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts.

"Look back," the masked man said, pointing behind Xu Xiaoshou as he looked up. "Look there."

"What?" Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, then turned his head again. At the end of the gully behind him was the horizon of the White Cave. Further up was the White Cave's spatial world, on the verge of shattering.

"What do you see?" the masked man asked."A path, and hope," Xu Xiaoshou replied.

"Heh!" The masked man couldn't help but chuckle. "Is that truly so?""Yes." Xu Xiaoshou nodded emphatically.

"Is the White Cave big?" the masked man asked again."Very big," Xu Xiaoshou hesitated for a moment. "But also very small." After all, despite the White Cave being so large, he constantly ran into obstacles everywhere, which was truly rare!

"Yes, the White Cave isn't that big," the masked man sighed, then continued, "So, what did you encounter in the White Cave?" Xu Xiaoshou was speechless. He vaguely sensed the masked man wanted to talk him into something.

"Opportunities, hope, and the future," Xu Xiaoshou said evasively, then added, "If it weren't for you..."

"You're wrong!" the masked man immediately interrupted him. His shoulders subtly pulled back; he didn't puff out his chest, but to Xu Xiaoshou, he seemed to grow several feet taller, his aura climbing to its peak with that subtle movement.

"If I'm not mistaken, you encountered a famous sword in the White Cave," the masked man declared. Xu Xiaoshou was instantly dumbfounded. Could he really sense that?

"Extreme fire attribute, power of Scorching Ember... that leaves only the Blazing Serpent, ranked third on the Famous Swords list. Am I right?" The masked man smiled confidently.

Xu Xiaoshou felt his throat go dry. His famous sword had already acknowledged him as its master and was even stored in his Yuan Mansion. How could the masked man still sense it? "You..."

"You don't need to speak; I will," the masked man interrupted Xu Xiaoshou again. "You encountered a famous sword, but this sword was not your destiny's opportunity; it was given to you by someone else."

"If I guess correctly, after taking this sword, you must be regretting it now," the masked man's eyes smiled. Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

"The White Cave is so vast, and this is what you call opportunity," the masked man stated decisively. "A handout from others... I apologize, that's too harsh; perhaps a gift!"

"I don't regret it," Xu Xiaoshou retorted stubbornly.

"Just stubbornness," the masked man smiled brightly, then continued, "Last time I saw you, the power of Scorching Ember in your body wasn't so potent..."

"Scorching Ember Origin Seed?" Sensing the aura within Wen Ming's body, the masked man turned to the Storyteller and asked, "You must have also felt the presence of this thing when you entered the White Cave. Without a doubt, you'd try to get it?"

"Uh..." Cold sweat appeared on the Storyteller's forehead. He had never mentioned this to his brother... But this, too, could be deduced?

"It's normal. For Second Brother." The masked man's eyes twinkled with an unstoppable smile as he looked back at Xu Xiaoshou. "You took the Scorching Ember Origin Seed, and then the Storyteller took an interest in you. Am I right?"

Xu Xiaoshou was a little flustered now. He felt that this masked, cloaked figure truly deserved to be the Sacred Slaves' leader. His mind was simply incredible! It was as if he had always been observing this world from a god's-eye view.

"The White Cave is so vast. You wandered around for a bit and got a famous sword and the Scorching Ember Origin Seed.""Then, you were drawn into two whirlpools.""Do you regret it?" Before Xu Xiaoshou could respond, the masked man answered his own question: "You do."

"If you could shed those two things in exchange for freedom, it would probably be an acceptable trade...""You've thought about it, haven't you?""At your most helpless moment."

Xu Xiaoshou remained silent. Cen Qiaofu watched from the side, arms crossed. He saw the hesitation on the young man's face below and could sense his true feelings. He probably didn't just think about it; he might even be full of remorse!

But... secretly glancing at the leader, Cen Qiaofu felt a little surprised. The last time the leader spoke so much at once was when he met that child in the ruins of a broken family. And then, there was Lei Shuangxing. Was this Wen Ming worth it?

The masked man looked at the silent Xu Xiaoshou, his voice deepening: "The White Cave is vast. When you look back, you can see what you call hope – gains, but also losses!" "It's absurd, isn't it?"

Xu Xiaoshou's heart trembled. He already knew what the masked man was trying to do. Opportunities, hope, and the future... The three directions he had just spoken of—this man actually wanted to completely negate his perspective?

"My future is my own to control!" Xu Xiaoshou's voice showed anger.

"Is that truly so?" The masked man looked unimpressed. "Let's go back to the question I just asked you..." "Look back." He suddenly spoke in a commanding tone.

Xu Xiaoshou was determined not to turn around. How could he let the other party have his way?

"Woodcutter." The masked man turned to Cen Qiaofu, who was enjoying the show. The latter rubbed his forehead as if in pain. "Honestly, you should do it yourself!" His fingers, hanging at his waist, trembled.

Xu Xiaoshou below was horrified to find that the scenery before him had completely changed. What was presented before him, apart from the three Sacred Slaves still being in their original positions, was everything he would see if he had turned his head.

"Forced to turn around?" Xu Xiaoshou was bewildered. The next second, he suddenly realized, and huge waves surged in his heart. It wasn't him turning around. It was the world turning?

Looking at Cen Qiaofu with a horrified expression, at this moment, Xu Xiaoshou felt completely helpless. Dao Severance... Is this Dao Severance? To twist the world, how was that possible?!

"See?" The masked man spread his hands. "In this small White Cave, even if you don't want to look back, someone can still make you see everything you don't want to see." "And reality is truly like that." "What you dare not face is merely a fear of the unknown originating from the depths of your soul." "But what's the use?" "When you stand here, you are already at the center of the storm's vortex." "No matter how resolute, no matter how stubborn..." "Ultimately, it's just self-deception."

A hint of mockery appeared in the masked man's eyes, seemingly not only directed at Xu Xiaoshou but also at himself. "The gears of destiny interlock, pushing forward step by step. Do you think by closing your eyes, you can remain aloof?" "Wrong!" "Doing so will only lead to you being crushed by the gears in numb indifference." "Open your eyes and face reality!" The masked man's tone held a touch of helplessness. "You are already standing here..." He pointed to the ground. "By my side."

Xu Xiaoshou felt his heart waver. If this were a lecture, he might even give the masked man eighty-two points. Even if he didn't want to admit it, Xu Xiaoshou truly felt a moment of enlightenment. The other party spoke very subtly. But how could Xu Xiaoshou not understand? "Once you're in it, it's hard to get out!"

All his excuses, such as Elder Sang's coercion, Red Coat's targeting, Caramel's interest, the ragged saint's choice... These were all facts! Even with various preconditions, what was already done meant the preconditions no longer mattered. Even if it was passive. At this moment, he had indeed come into the view of many people.

"To remain aloof?" For the first time, Xu Xiaoshou felt how ridiculous this choice of his was! Amidst a gathering of powerful figures, he still wanted to remain aloof? Precisely because he wanted to remain aloof, he had, step by step, gone from Elder Sang's scheme into Red Coat's sight, then into the saint's chessboard, and later was targeted by the ghost beasts...

Thinking back on it all, weren't all these accomplished facts already warning him that his choice was wrong?!

"Self-deception..." Honestly, Xu Xiaoshou really didn't want to face that word. But the masked man's words indeed revealed the stark reality. Choosing to remain aloof. In this short time, he had encountered so much. Could he endure if he continued? Now, various factions were interested in him. But did he truly have the potential for their patience to last until he grew stronger? Probably not...

Once one of those links broke, they would want to use force. The gauze between fantasy and reality could not even withstand a gentle poke.

"Night Watchman..." Xu Xiaoshou thought of the Night Watchman. From initial indulgence, to tolerance after understanding his thoughts, to the current incomplete break... How much time had passed in between? If he continued to resist, would it truly lead to a complete break? At that time, could he withstand a furious attack from a true Dao Severance realm cultivator? Would the Night Watchman still treat him like a child, letting him run wild as he pleased?

"And the ghost beasts, and the Sacred Slaves..." Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath. He was starting to understand. He had been too naive. The White Cave was big, but also small. The Holy Divine Continent was big, but also small. He was currently barely a useful pawn, capable of playing a small role in the future, which is why the players indulged his minor temper. But once his strength broke through and reached a critical point, could they tolerate such willfulness?

"Because they're about to lose control, so they have to act, to nip it in the bud?" "If they can't have it, they'll destroy it?" Xu Xiaoshou understood these people's thinking too well. It was even highly probable that the masked man in front of him had the same idea. So, in this cruel reality...

"Compromise?" Xu Xiaoshou was wavering. The masked man's words had torn away the hands covering his eyes. And seeing clearly, Xu Xiaoshou understood how difficult the path ahead truly was. Compromise really was a good option!

Taking a side... At least after taking a side, this arduous situation wouldn't appear anymore, would it? It's good to lean on a big tree for shade. With someone behind him, even if he ran out of cards, they would present dozens more piles, wouldn't they? This was completely different from struggling alone. No worries, just crush all enemies in front.

Then... Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts froze. Then what? What was the purpose of doing this? — To become a true pawn?

A chill suddenly seeped from his soul, and Xu Xiaoshou felt cold all over. He remembered the conviction he had held when he stood up in the ancient book space. "For freedom!" But if he chose to compromise, would it still be for freedom?

"You're wrong," the masked man had been silent until Xu Xiaoshou's expression changed dramatically, then he spoke to interrupt. "I know what you're worried about." "But humans are not solitary animals." "A path taken alone, no matter how straight, will always be incomplete." "Right now, I am by your side." "To you, I am heaven, a shield, an irresistible force." "But to me, you truly have no value right now; you're a dispensable piece." "It's cruel, isn't it?"

The masked man smiled, then continued, "But what about from another perspective?" "A tool!" "Before you grow up, I am your tool. Just make good use of it; why overthink so much?" "The reason humanity progresses is by constantly utilizing tools." "Stone tools, firearms, spirit artifacts..." "Flesh, will, spiritual essence..." "Which step of growth or evolution wasn't about utilizing so-called 'tools'?" "Everything can be a tool, and humans are part of everything. We are no nobler than plants, flowers, or stones, so why can't we also be used?"

"And why..." The masked man's tone sharpened, piercing deep into his soul: "When you picked up the famous sword, you could be single-minded. But when it comes to using people as tools, you start to become overly concerned with gains and losses?" Xu Xiaoshou felt his mind buzz as if pierced by sword intent. The pain made him hunch his back, curl up, and cover his head.

The Storyteller was somewhat surprised. "Take it easy, take it easy..." He looked at young Wen Ming with concern. The other person was still just a child, he couldn't be so violent!

But the masked man was unfazed. He extended his hand to the side, opening four fingers. "Huh?" Cen Qiaofu looked at the hand in front of him, puzzled. What did he mean?

"My gourd," the masked man said, rolling his eyes. "Oh, oh." Cen Qiaofu finally reacted, complaining, "Honestly, why can't you carry your own stuff?" Saying that, he pulled out a small, black gourd and slapped it into the masked man's hand.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't speak. The masked man's sword intent was too strong. With just a few words, he felt his soul splitting apart. But... compromise? Xu Xiaoshou truly couldn't do it! If his convictions about himself and freedom collapsed, how could he continue his path? The masked man's words had their reasons. But applied to himself, it wasn't realistic! And he couldn't empathize!

"Sigh." A soft sigh echoed in the void. The masked man reached up and touched his neck, pulling upwards, lifting his mask past his nose. Xu Xiaoshou's expression suddenly trembled. In the images transmitted by his "perception," the large scar on the other person's neck was exactly like that on the sculpted man he saw in the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. It was also the distinctive mark on the scruffy uncle when he encountered the red dog that day. This... The same person? Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts suddenly fell into disarray.

The masked man's jawline was very strong, but he had a scruffy beard and dried blood scabs, looking extremely disheveled. He wiped his mouth, spreading the bloodstains he had previously spat out, then flicked open the gourd's stopper. A strong smell of liquor suddenly wafted into the air. Very strong. Very pungent. Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat roused by the sudden smell.

"Young people always tend to get caught up in details!" The masked man held the wine gourd to his mouth, about to tilt his head back, when he suddenly remembered something. "I've said enough, but I'll add one more thing." He lowered his hand and looked up at the sky. "What color is the White Cave?"

The two on the side unconsciously looked up. Xu Xiaoshou also recovered slightly from the soul-piercing pain, raising his head. "Crimson..." All three murmured at the same time. The White Cave world had no sun or moon, but its sky was always crimson.

"Yes, crimson," the masked man sighed. "So, this world was never black and white; where is there any absolute?" "Right and wrong, good and evil, light and darkness, earth and sky..." "These are just words humans assign to things; what absolute are we talking about?" "If so, then are compromise and freedom truly in opposition?"

Xu Xiaoshou's mind felt as if thunder had exploded, his thoughts split open. These words were very familiar. They were exactly what he had said to the Night Watchman earlier. But those words, previously used to fend off the Night Watchman, when spoken by the masked man, carried a different meaning?

"Heh!" The masked man shook his head and chuckled softly. "If the White Cave breaks, there's the Holy Divine Continent. If the Holy Divine Continent breaks, is that truly the end of the world?" "Not necessarily!" He mused, as if speaking to himself: "You subjectively define the world, yet you demand of yourself to conform to the world's opposition, which you've subjectively defined. Is that not laughable?" "Laughable!"

"Compromise and freedom are not a pair of mutually restrictive terms." "It is simply a choice of your subjective consciousness." "Just a 'choice'!" "At worst, a 'decision'!" "How you view it comes from yourself..." "My words end here."

Looking at Wen Ming, whose eyes were filled with endless confusion, the masked man fell silent. He wiped his mouth again, rubbing off the dry dead skin from his lips, then tilted the wine gourd back. Space shattered, and the wind roared, making his black robe rustle.

"Freedom, who doesn't long for it?" His Adam's apple bobbed. "Gulp, gulp..."