Aksai didn’t care about what Lini was thinking and continued.
“All of us were pawns as far as Haitin was concerned. Do you really think, for even a second, that Haitin would’ve let you off easily if it weren’t for me?
By killing two, I saved three– you, Jian, and Siya from a far worse fate.
Whatever happens from this point, at least you won’t be tortured for information by Haitin’s men. That’s still a win in my book. I’m a good guy here, statistically speaking.
And don’t forget, I’ve paid a price too. I’ll have to face the wrath of the Silver Moon Palace and the Green Glory Lord eventually.
Sometimes, it’s not about choosing the best-case scenario but avoiding the worst possible outcome because every option brings its own trouble.”
Lini faltered at that. She knew Haitin’s ruthlessness, of course. Still, the sight of Aksai’s vast puppet workforce—a resource he had deliberately hidden—made her feel like he had played them all for fools, including Haitin and his entire sect.
“You… You are a coward,” Lini finally snapped, her emotions overwhelming her logic. She glared at him with hatred.
“All these puppets, and you still lack the backbone to face Haitin head-on. You’re not the puppet master here, Aksai. You’re just another puppet.”
“Hm? And what’s wrong with being a coward?” Aksai asked, genuinely curious.
“What’s wrong with being afraid of something that could endanger your life? Is fear the enemy? I don’t think so. Fear is good, as long as you don’t let it overwhelm your judgment.
Bravery is overrated. Fear keeps you humble, helps you make the right decisions.”
Aksai stepped closer, his gaze steady as he looked down at her.
“The moment you get tangled up in power plays between Core Formation cultivators, you’re no longer playing by the rules of decency. Sometimes, the smartest move is to let things play out, even if that means a few casualties.”
Lini looked up at him, her anger still simmering but now mixed with a grudging realization. “So what, all this—your puppets, this mysterious place—you just keep it hidden until it suits you?”
Aksai smiled, though without warmth.
“Basically…. yes. Since I’ve decided to stay low, I’ll stay low until the very end. Once committed, I follow through.
I’m not going to attract attention like some silly protagonist just to gain praise from teammates. I’ve read enough to know that those kinds of protagonists attract trouble by using their trump cards too early just to avoid letting someone down.
I don’t flaunt power. I use it when it matters. The more unpredictable you are, the better your chances of survival in this world.
And to be honest, I have more than just these puppets as trump cards. But they’re meant for my hunt of a particular demon beast. Why should I use them so early?
My life was never truly in danger, even when facing Haitin at Jaishin Lake. I was never desperate to antagonize a young master from a major demonic sect.”
Lini looked away, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. Aksai watched her for a moment before stepping past her, heading toward the farmhouse.
“Maybe you’ll understand one day,” he said over his shoulder.
“In the world of Spirit cultivators, survival isn’t about how much power you have. It’s about when and how you use it.
Make no mistakes. There are some real monsters out there. And I’m not talking about powerhouses on the same level as your master.
In the grand scheme of things, a Core Formation realm is nothing. Even the Nascent Soul realm is nothing but an insignificant achievement.
There are cultivators who would make me look like an innocent child with the kind of brutality they unleash onto myriad worlds. And they do this on a daily basis.
I’m actually kind of a saint when compared against them. A weak and fearful saint who knows his own limits.
One needs to be strong enough to show kindness to others. And I’m still weak. What right do I have to show kindness?
Unlike you, my starting is even more humble. My old man only left me and this farm as his legacy. As my father’s son, I am content in looking after my own farm without worrying about the betterment of the world.”
Before entering the farmhouse, Aksai released two spheres of ash from his spatial ring with a casual wave of his hand. The spheres shot toward the Demon Tree in the distance, their paths acoustically marked by the kind of slight sound they made as they flew.
The Spirit farmer didn’t bother looking back to watch them land, disappearing inside the farmhouse without a word.
Lini hesitated, but curiosity drove her forward. She still had many questions for Aksai, but the tense exchange earlier had made it clear he wasn’t in the mood to indulge her any further.
As she looked around, her gaze landed on the puppets still surrounding the area, their presence unsettling yet strangely passive. They made no move to attack her, so she cautiously stepped past them, following in Aksai’s footsteps.
Stepping into the farmhouse, she felt an immediate shift in atmosphere—like crossing into another world. But what truly surprised her was the presence of a young woman inside.
Her beauty was otherworldly, her features too flawless to seem fully human. She stood calmly in the center of the room, gazing at Lini with a composed expression before turning her attention to Aksai.
Without missing a beat, the woman spoke, her tone respectful but firm. “The Brain Bonsai Formation is ready, my lord.”
Aksai nodded at her words, his eyes moving toward a circular formation set in the middle of the room. Lini’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of the formation—a bizarre collection of small, bonsai-like trees arranged in a perfect circle.
What shocked her more were the grotesque details. Hanging from the branches of these dwarfed trees were what looked like human brains, dangling like morbid fruit.
Yelia—Lini assumed this woman had to be some sort of spirit or guardian—hadn’t so much as blinked at the eerie scene. In fact, the entire arrangement seemed perfectly normal to her.
Aksai, meanwhile, stepped into the formation with calm familiarity, settling himself cross-legged at the center.