Could it be that I am the cruel villain?
Chapter 167 - 123: Too Young to Fail? [4K]

Chapter 167: Chapter 123: Too Young to Fail? [4K]

Creak——

In front of an abandoned Taoist Temple for years, a woman labored to push a cart up the mountain.

The dozens of miles of mountain road would take an ordinary person a full day’s journey, yet this woman managed to push the cart up the mountain alone, and on the cart was a physically disabled man.

He looked to be in his forties, with a dazed expression as if he had suffered some sort of severe fright.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, but still, the woman’s face was filled with joy as she propped the man up, but upon seeing the Taoist Temple, he started yelling frantically as if seeing an evil ghost.

"There are ghosts, ghosts...ghosts ah! Let me go, let me go!"

His voice was sharp and piercing, drawing the gaze of those sitting nearby the Taoist Temple, although nobody seemed surprised, as most people who came here had a purpose.

Some were due to illness, some due to disability, some were pregnant, hoping for the Immortal to bless their children with a bright future, while others were seeking the Immortality Medicine...

However, most of them didn’t meet the criteria, or to put it another way, they couldn’t produce what the Immortals wanted, so they could only wait dryly outside, hoping that the Immortal might be in a good mood one day and come out for a stroll.

Immediately there was a commotion inside the Taoist Temple.

Seemingly having heard the disturbance outside, the doors of the temple opened, and several white-robed figures, both male and female, took turns walking out, seeing another person coming up the mountain seeking medicine. The leading white-robed man frowned, appearing slightly impatient.

"Stop this nonsense."

He reprimanded.

But even if they were Seekers of Immortality, they could not afford to disrespect the Upper Immortal. Ever since the Upper Immortal came to the mountain last year, every major and minor ailment within a hundred miles would surely be cured once the Upper Immortal intervened.

This news spread not just locally; some benefactors or recipients of the Immortal Elixir voluntarily spread the word, and since then, the Taoist Temple had been incessantly busy with people seeking the Immortal Elixir.

Therefore, out of necessity, the threshold to meet the Immortal grew increasingly higher. It was true that the Upper Immortal sought to save all beings, but even the best Immortal Elixir still required a massive number of medicinal herbs and catalysts to make.

After all, they can’t expect the Immortal to conjure it out of thin air.

"There are ghosts, it’s them, they are all minor ghosts! Inside, inside there is a big ghost, a big one! Ah!"

"Stop this nonsense!"

Another scolding was issued, frightening the delirious man who immediately tried to run, but ultimately, his disabled body could not overpower his strong and healthy wife, and he was firmly held in place.

Seeing the Immortal Envoy getting angry, the woman immediately knelt down and begged for forgiveness, kowtowing hard. If this opportunity was missed, she feared there would never be another chance.

"Immortal Envoy, I...I, my husband, ever since the last battle, he has always been like this, we won’t speak nonsense, he’s just a bit mad right now, he will be fine later, he’s lucid for two hours every day, I beg you to let us see the Immortal."

Her face was a portrait of pleading.

Ever since the war touched their lives twenty years ago, her husband had become disabled due to the conflict, confined to his bed, and had even attempted suicide several times.

Initially, he wasn’t so mad, but lying in bed for years naturally changed his temperament, and a few years ago, their only child whom they painstakingly raised went to the Central Plains, only to end up dying in a foreign land.

Since then, the man had thoroughly lost his mind.

Hearing this, the expression of the man in white somewhat softened. In fact, most of those who came here seeking the Immortal were unfortunate souls, whether for themselves or others.

He stepped forward to assess the situation, the disabled man still shivering behind the woman, whispering words such as "evil ghost."

He glanced back at the others, but they all shook their heads, indicating that there was no surplus of Immortal Elixir within the Taoist Temple, and the Upper Immortal was currently worried about this issue, hence the man in white could only sigh.

"Judging by your accent, you’re not local."

"Since someone recommended you come here, surely they must’ve told you the rules. The Upper Immortal is indeed saving lives, but alas, he cannot be everywhere at once, and the temple is urgently in need of medicinal catalysts. If you can provide some, we could take you inside."

"If not, I’m afraid you’ll just have to rely on the Upper Immortal’s mood, to see when he might come out for a walk in good spirits."

But the woman instantly showed excitement, as if she had been given hope, and quickly rummaged through her worn cart, which was filled with shriveled steamed buns and clothing. Finally, she cautiously took out a wrapped parcel.

The moment the package came out, several people nearby moved closer, their eyes showing greed; to the Immortals and Immortal Envoys, these were just materials, but to others, this was a straw to clutch at for saving a life.

"Back off, all of you!"

The man in white barked sharply.

Those with ill intentions could only honestly retreat back to the corners. Too many such incidents had already happened in front of this Taoist Temple, where some had finally collected the required catalysts, only to be ambushed on their way by these people.

Moreover, because of the issue with the catalysts, it led to intense competition within hundreds of miles, even cases of violent crimes, ironically turning things upside down.

The ugliness of human nature was starkly evident in front of this small Taoist Temple.

Seeing that those around her had dispersed, the woman then took the wrapped package from her embrace and carefully uncovered the old cloth.

"Please have a look, this... this should be enough, right?"

She was somewhat nervous.

Upon looking, the man in white seemed to be surprised, his brows furrowed, his face showing some dissatisfaction.

"How did you come by this?"

He asked upon seeing the embryo, whose blood had not yet dried.