Originally, upon discovering there was nothing urgent at the Wuji Sect, he was supposed to quickly return to the real world to attend to other matters. However, since he had already co to this world, he decided to begin his plan and conduct a preliminary investigation.
He first rode his Red Deer Horse to the foot of Wuji Mountain, looking north-northwest toward Pingwu City, and had the Red Deer Horse halt.
"If I want to recruit followers in this world, I need to go where there are lots of people. But Pingwu City is under Wuji Sect’s jurisdiction, and so people recognize my face there. Even using a mask to change form might lead to complications. It’s better to start elsewhere."
After a brief contemplation, he directed the Red Deer Horse to turn east, following a road.
He had no idea where this road led, nor whether it was populated enough, but he continued onward, viewing it as an opportunity to relax and think without urgency, as he currently had no clear plan.
As the road extended, he rode past a roadside tea stall, through one or two peasant villages, and even encountered a procession of people beating gongs and drums to carry a bridal sedan, witnessing quite a number of lively scenes. However, he still hadn’t found any inspiration for his plans, feeling unsure of where to start.
"The hardest part is starting... Convincing soone living to believe in you is even harder... Let alone having many people believe."
Despite making no progress, he didn’t feel discouraged, planning to think of a way next ti since he had already spent quite so ti here today and needed to return for cultivation.
But just as he prepared to head back, suddenly a splash sounded, prompting him to turn and look towards the source, where he found a woman near the roadside jumping into the river.
With his current level of perception, he was already aware of soone in that direction, but the person’s aura indicated she was rely an ordinary person, so he paid her little mind. Her sudden leap into the river surprised him because it seed she intended to die, essentially an attempted suicide.
"Encountering soone who’s lost hope... Respecting others’ choices might be best... No, this might be an opportunity."
Typically, given Wang Zhifan’s personality, he wouldn’t care much for those wishing to end their lives; life is one’s own, and lack of value for oneself can’t be blad on others. But this ti was different; Wang Zhifan felt this might be a chance arranged for him by the heavens—or an initial attempt.
Therefore, he imdiately dismounted, moved towards the river by the roadside, quickly approaching the spot where the woman had just entered the water, while simultaneously donning a mask from his personal space and, at a distance, using Ice Source Force to forcibly lift the woman seeking to die from the water using ice blocks.
Once he reached the riverbank, he saw a thin village girl with a face full of scars staring in shock at her surroundings, as she realized her limbs and waist were entwined by chain-like ice blocks, which bizarrely pulled her from the water, a situation clearly beyond her understanding.
"Wuu... wuu wuu... Heaven above! Why is my life so sad! I can’t even have a chance to reincarnate!"
After a brief shock, the woman quickly fell into agonizing emotions, shouting and struggling desperately, trying to break free from the ice binding her to drown herself, but evidently, given her frail physique, it was unthinkable.
"Young girl, why do you seek death?"
After forcibly controlling the target, Wang Zhifan revealed himself suitably, though he didn’t appear as his true self but transford into an old man with a long white beard and dressed in snow-white robes using the Mad Tree-man Mask, looking extrely wise, as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm.
"I... wuu wuu wuu... I’m like this now! What’s the point of living! Please, let die!"
Controlled by the ice, the frail village girl was briefly drawn by Wang Zhifan’s appearance as an old immortal but promptly returned to deep sadness, sobbing and pleading with the mysterious elder who rescued her to let her end her miserable life.
"Hehe... young girl, is it because the scars on your face affect your appearance that you’re so determined to seek death?"
In the form of the white-bearded old immortal, Wang Zhifan laughed while stroking his beard, his voice inexplicably carrying a sense of affinity.
"Wuu wuu wuu... Old immortal, even Wang at the village head doesn’t want ! What’s the point of living! Wuu wuu wuu... Please, let reincarnate!"
Upon hearing this, the frail village girl sobbed even harder, near tears falling as rain, with droplets bursting from her eyes onto her scar-covered face making her appear even uglier and more terrifying than before.
"Was this woman’s face burned with hot oil? This goes beyond re ugliness to being truly terrifying; no wonder she doesn’t want to live."
Wang Zhifan had guessed at the woman’s motive for seeking death when he first saw her, but being closer, he fully realized the extent of her looks’ devastation. Such an experience would be unbearable not only for a beauty-loving woman but for any man who would also struggle to accept it.
"Hehe... young girl, death isn’t the only solution; if you wish to restore your original appearance, there are other thods."
Though he found her tragic and terrifying, Wang Zhifan, having slain countless monsters, faced grueso scenes, forcing himself to deal with a scar-ridden village girl with kindness and a gentle smile, emitting a voice filled with allure.
"Old immortal! Is there truly a way! Please save this girl! If you can cure her face, she’ll work tirelessly in servitude for you forever!"
Upon hearing there was a chance to be saved by this mysterious old man who controlled her with ice, the scarred village girl sought salvation through tears. If not currently bound by ice, she might have knelt and kowtowed.
"Rest assured, young girl, there is indeed a way! The Venerable cherishes all people! As long as you genuinely pray to the Venerable, feeling your sincerity, he’ll naturally grant you power to save you!"
At this mont, Wang Zhifan revealed his motives, voice clear with optimism.
"Pray to the Venerable? May I ask, old immortal, what is the na of this Venerable?"
The scarred village girl seed to clutch her last straw, gazing earnestly at the white-bearded elder, considering his words her ultimate hope.
"Young girl, rember well; the Venerable is called Venerable of Virtue! Quickly pray to him... This is your only hope for salvation..."
As he spoke, Wang Zhifan’s elder guise began to fade, his voice growing distant, finally vanishing completely.
At the sa ti, the scarred village girl was pulled to shore by the ice chains, which then shattered and disappeared.
Yet all anomalies were ignored by the scarred village girl, who only sought salvation, madly kneeling and kowtowing in prayer, her forehead soon bleeding.
"Venerable of Virtue! rciful Venerable of Virtue! Please save this girl! Please save this girl!"
Simultaneously, a figure in the distance observed the target, pondering:
"She’s genuinely praying... It’s ti to try the next steps in the plan."
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