Wen Kexing heard this, and a ‘pfft’ of laughter escaped him. Zhou Zishu sighed; spotting that Zhang Chengling had nearly taken a wrong step because he was focused on talking, he picked him up and reprimanded, “Shut up and watch your step, do you want to die?”

Zhang Chengling stuck his tongue out[16], and Zhou Zishu said coolly, “Don’t measure others by your own behaviour--in this world, how are there that many people who are as stupid as you are?”

Wen Kexing picked up the topic of conversation, gently and patiently explaining to Zhang Chengling, “There is actually no more than that small handful of reasons as to why a person would want to hide himself. Either this person suspects that there are enemies out to kill him and feels like he has no other choice but to conceal himself in a place where no one can find him in…”

Zhou Zishu cut in sharply, “Like the Ghost Valley?”

Wen Kexing glanced at him and said, “If you want to put it that way...it’s also correct.”

Zhou Zishu took the chance to question, “So, what sin unforgivable by the heavens and commonfolk did the Valley Master commit back then, to have no other choice but to hide in the Ghost Valley?”

Wen Kexing did not mind his opportunistic interrogation, and simply replied unabashedly, “Me? I, naturally, was a more special case. I didn’t commit any crime, and simply entered it cluelessly. Until now, I don’t understand how such a good person as I am has coexisted with evil ghosts for so many years. I am truly the unsullied flower that remains pure despite having grown amidst mud, shining with a chaste beauty after clear water washes me clean.”

Zhou Zishu smiled without saying anything, treating whatever he said entirely as bullshit.

Wen Kexing sighed. “A-Xu, you really wound my heart--little tyke, do you think I’m a good person?”

He had a good temperament, was highly skilled at martial arts, and even told stories--Zhang Chengling was in such awe of this senior that he was nearly prostrating himself in reverence. Upon hearing this question, he instantly nodded, bobbing his head in a manner reminiscent of a knife dicing garlic.

Wen Kexing was extremely moved. He patted Zhang Chengling’s head and sighed, “The child is still the best: he has a conscience and can differentiate between good and evil, he’ll remember it when people treat him well, unlike a certain person...sigh!”