Chapter 294: Chapter 293: The Pain of Li Haoran_1

In the cafeteria of Refining Mountain, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou found Senior Sister Zhou LuLu – who was both reading a book and making sugar sculptures.

“Senior Sister Zhou, is Junior Brother Li on the mountain?” Lu Yang politely asked.

“Is it Junior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Meng? You have formed your golden core already? That’s fast.” Zhou LuLu lifted her head, spotted Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou’s cultivation realms, showing a flash of surprise in her eyes.

At this age, she was still in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

“You are looking for Junior Brother Li? He is in his abode.”

Simultaneously, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou smiled. They treated Li Haoran like a brother. Naturally, after forming their golden core, they wanted to show off a bit in front of Li Haoran.

Otherwise, what was all the hard work of cultivation for?

“Junior Brother Li should be sleeping.”

“Sleeping? I remember Junior Brother Li is not the kind of person who likes to sleep.”

“He wasn’t before, but ever since he returned from visiting his relatives last time, he has become fond of sleeping. Every time he wakes up, he looks gloomy, as if he’s had a nightmare. I asked him if he’s been dreaming of something unpleasant, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“I asked my father about it, he also said not to worry about it.”

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou exchanged glances, hardly guessing what was going on – Li Haoran must be dreaming about the memories of his past life.

Qin Haoran was a legitimate leader of a demonic sect and was involved in many horrifying things. Recalling what the Master said about many people coveting Qin Haoran’s position, all these factors were likely to cause discomfort for Li Haoran.

The two of them put aside their desires to show off and decided to visit Li Haoran.

However, it wouldn’t be right to go empty-handed. Seeing the fun sugar sculptures that Senior Sister Zhou LuLu was making, Lu Yang thought about buying one for Li Haoran.

Before Lu Yang could speak, Zhou LuLu slightly blew some air and the two sugar sculptures seemed to come to life. In midair, carrying their sugar-made weapons, they started clashing with each other.

Lu Yang’s eyes twitched at this sight because if his judgment was correct, these two sugar figures had the combat power equivalent to the Golden Core Stage.

If he bought these for Li Haoran, the sugar figures might end up beating him up.

Let’s forget it. Let’s look for another gift.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou circled around the cafeteria – the fried dough stick that could become big or small could be used as a roof beam, the steamed bun that could be used as a hidden weapon, the sesame seed cake that could be used as a Chest Protector Mirror, the stir-fried sesame for practicing Iron Sand Palm… none were suitable as gifts.

“The cooks in your cafeteria are highly skilled!” The only Immortal Cook highly praised the Refining Mountain’s cafeteria.

“I’d rather they were less skilled.”

“You’re not ambitious!”

Lu Yang turned a deaf ear.

…

In the dark cave, a figure was contorting in agony, as if suffering extreme pain in his dreams, unable to wake up, and enduring this torment in silence.

He suddenly snapped open his eyes, his clothing and quilt drenched in sweat.

The candle was lit, illuminating the entire abode and Li Haoran’s face.

Li Haoran looked blankly at his abode; only then did he realize that he was awake.

He recalled his experiences in his dreams – the dark side of the Nine Nether Sect, the unknown pressure Qin Haoran was under. He couldn’t help but shudder, muttering, “Damn it, memories from my past life…”

There was no good solution for these sporadic memories from his past life that surfaced, not even from his master, the Fifth Elder who was in charge of Refining Mountain.

Li Haoran quietly recited a mantra, casting the Cleaning Clothes Spell to clean his clothes and the Body Cleaning Spell to clean himself, then he felt slightly better.

“Hmm? Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Meng are at the door?” The Array Method inside the abode alerted Li Haoran, and he felt relieved.

He opened the doors of his abode and saw Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou smiling brightly.

“Junior Brother Li, are you awake?” Lu Yang said with a smile, secretly observing Li Haoran’s condition.

Li Haoran had dark circles under his eyes, his eyelids were drooping, and he looked dispirited. Excluding the possibility of self-depletion, the only explanation would be the effects of Qin Haoran’s memories.

“Please come in.” Li Haoran welcomed them warmly.

The two walked into Li Haoran’s cave and saw many magic instruments that he had refined displayed inside: there were armors, shields, bronze tripods… If a Golden Core Stage Refining Master saw them, they would surely exclaim that these were extraordinary works.

Li Haoran casually flicked his finger, and the teapot on the table began to move on its own. It sprouted limbs and started running around on the table, filling itself with water, adding tea leaves, covering with a lid, and then sat itself on the stove to heat up.

In no time, it was boiling hot, and the tea began to brew. The teapot tilted to fill the teacups with tea and pushed them in front of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou inadvertently said, “Thank you.” Only after saying it did they realize that the teapot was just a lifeless magic artifact – there’s no need for thanks.

“We heard that Junior Brother Li isn’t getting good rest lately?”

Upon mentioning this topic, Li Haoran looked dispirited and let out a bitter smile: “Senior Brother Lu guessed right. I cannot share with others about being the reincarnation of Qin Haoran, so I can only vent to both of you.”

Lu Yang patted Li Haoran’s shoulder, an understanding look on his face: “You must have seen many hardships of the Nine Nether Sect in your dreams, and those hardships are causing you great pain.”

Li Haoran nodded, relieved to finally have someone who understood him. He was quite excited: “Yes, every time I close my eyes, I see the debt of the Nine Nether Sect!”

“Salaries for the sect members, the cost of aftermath, travel expenses, the cost of building strongholds… all places that need money. The Nine Nether Sect doesn’t have any legitimate way to make money so they resort to robbery and murder. Those earn a bit of money cannot measure up to the cost and every day we are losing money, losing money, losing money!”

“Such a large sect as the Nine Nether, they need money for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, but Spirit Stones don’t come with the wind. Where do we get the Spirit Stones?”

“The people below know nothing about the situation and are dreaming of building a Nine Nether City on the surface. Let alone whether it will be discovered by the court, does the Nine Nether Sect have the Spirit Stones to build a city?”

“Can you imagine, Qin Haoran sat on the Master’s seat every day, dealing with various affairs, then thinking about ways to make money.”

“When I dream, I see things from Qin Haoran’s perspective, sitting around with him aimlessly, thinking about how to make money.”

“Or else, staring at the red numbers with Qin Haoran, trying to find a way out. Now whenever I see numbers, I get a headache!”

“Thank goodness Qin Haoran later met Yiren, who gave him a safe harbor, otherwise, just thinking about Qin Haoran’s predicament makes me realize how hard it must have been.”

Li Haoran complained miserably while rubbing his temples.

Lu Yang: “…”

Meng Jingzhou: “…”

This seems to be different from what we had imagined?

Lu Yang recalled when Qin Haoran and Su Yiren first met. People were trying to kill Qin Haoran, causing serious injuries to him, he bumped into a barrier and fainted in front of Su Yiren, leading to their subsequent encounters.

Lu Yang had previously speculated that the Nine Nether Sect was in chaos, that someone was trying to seize power and launch an attack on Qin Haoran.

But after hearing this, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“Then, the person who was trying to kill Qin Haoran before…”

Li Haoran said expressionlessly:

“A creditor.”