Struggling to Survive with Regression Power in the Primordial Saint Sect

Xiao ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Shiye felt that his luck had been acting strangely lately.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been several years since he joined the Sacred Sect. Clearly, at the beginning, his luck had been remarkably good—opportunities came flooding in, unstoppable even if he tried.

It ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was practically what one would call magnificent fortune.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one day, that fortune vanished.

Then ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his circumstances began to deteriorate rapidly, as if he were repaying all the luck he had once received. Misfortunes started piling up one after another.

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a result, not only did he lose everything he had once gained through good fortune, he even incurred many losses. To this day, he remained a mediocre disciple of the Sacred Sect, living a typical sect life of repaying cave-residence loans, planting spirit herbs for his senior brothers, and raising spirit beasts.

Originally, Xiao Shiye had accepted his fate.

However, just over a month ago, he discovered a shift in his situation. The long-lost fortune seemed to be returning to him.

The first opportunity was 【Everjoy Garden】.

‘Thanks to 【Everjoy Garden】, not only did I break through the bottleneck of the sixth level of Qi Refining and advance to the late stage, I also learned a rather powerful spell.’

Xiao Shiye had read a lot of storybooks.

Mysterious forces hidden in the shadows always had astonishing backgrounds and power. Being involved with one naturally meant a bright future.

Of course, risks came along too.

‘The storybooks also said, such mysterious groups have strict rules. The same goes for 【Everjoy Garden】—I’m not allowed to leak any information about it.’

If leaked, immediate elimination followed.

Xiao Shiye had no doubt about this, as he had personally witnessed a fellow Sacred Sect disciple who had joined 【Everjoy Garden】 trying to report the group to a senior brother.

And then he died.

Without any warning. The senior brother, who was at the peak of Qi Refining, couldn’t even stop it—he could only watch as the person’s figure shattered like an illusion.

From that moment on, Xiao Shiye held deep reverence for 【Everjoy Garden】.

Then he encountered his second opportunity:

【Ang Xiao】.

It was a sunny afternoon. Xiao Shiye was out traveling when the other party suddenly crashed into him and forcibly possessed his body:

‘You don’t need to know my name. Just follow my instructions, and I guarantee you’ll reach Qi Refining perfection—with a good chance at Foundation Establishment in the future!’

Once again, Xiao Shiye had read many storybooks. Wasn’t this the classic “immortal grandpa mentor”? His fortune had truly returned. A mysterious power and a cultivation grandpa—two of the strongest plot-driving forces were now serving him. Such fortune couldn’t possibly be minor.

He had even planned it all out.

‘First, I’ll use the mysterious force to get stronger, then help the cultivation grandpa recover. Afterward, I’ll have him help me break away from the mysterious force.’

Driving the tiger to devour the wolf, killing two birds with one stone!

Thinking of this, Xiao Shiye suddenly felt like he was the protagonist in a storybook. His previous misfortunes were just setup for a “don’t bully the poor youth” narrative!

Lowering his head, Xiao Shiye quickly contacted the jade shard in his arms:

“Grandpa, I’ve completed many sect tasks as per your instructions these days. I’ve earned enough contribution points. What do you want me to exchange them for?”

After speaking, Xiao Shiye excitedly rubbed his hands together.

Could it be that there was some rare treasure in the sect that no one had noticed, but the grandpa had spotted it and wanted him to seize the chance?

“Go exchange for access to the Secret Realm of Law Refinement.”

Inside the fragment of the cave-world, 【Ang Xiao】 spoke calmly, his gaze deep as he looked at Xiao Shiye before him. Smoke veiled his eyes as he stared back indifferently.

Within 【Everjoy Garden】.

Through Xiao Shiye’s eyes, Lü Yang furrowed his brows, pondering a question: Had 【Ang Xiao】 noticed anything unusual about Xiao Shiye?

Did he approach Xiao Shiye by accident—or on purpose?

After all, Xiao Shiye’s original body had long been sealed. The one outside was merely a false body crafted by the power of Fruit Position in 【Everjoy Garden】. Although the current 【Ang Xiao】 had only a wisp of divine sense left in the world, could such a false body really escape his perception?

‘…Highly unlikely!’

Lü Yang had great confidence in 【Ang Xiao】. With this number one True Lord’s cultivation and perception, how could he not detect the peculiarity in Xiao Shiye?

So then… on purpose?

Lü Yang’s brows furrowed even deeper. If it was intentional—what was the motive? Did he want to trap him again? But did he still have the power to do so?

Under the seal of 【Worry-Free Heaven】, 【Ang Xiao】’s true body had been completely cut off from the present world. With only a remnant of divine sense remaining, he couldn’t even activate much of the 【Perception Obstruction】—how could he scheme against Lü Yang? Not to mention, there was still the layer of separation from 【Everjoy Garden】 between them. There was nothing to fear anymore.

With that thought, Lü Yang began pondering another question:

‘Does he want to enter the Secret Realm of Law Refinement because he believed what I said? That would be good. Let’s see if he dares bring the Innate True Person Mu Changsheng out of the Secret Realm.’

The next moment, 【Ang Xiao】 spoke:

“You may not know, but the Sacred Sect’s Secret Realm of Law Refinement is a great opportunity. Do you think it’s merely a minor sub-world?”

Xiao Shiye tilted his head upon hearing that. “What is the Secret Realm of Law Refinement?”

【Ang Xiao】 didn’t answer.

Lü Yang knew the words were meant for him. But he had no interest in the opportunities within the Secret Realm—his focus was on seeking the Golden Core.

The next second, Lü Yang directly cut off his connection with Xiao Shiye.

After all, having one 【Everjoy Garden】 as a buffer wasn’t safe enough. Just in case, he randomly selected another unlucky Dao Court official.

【String Puppet】 control.

He then used that person to contact Xiao Shiye again. With the added protection of the 【String Puppet】, Lü Yang finally felt secure enough to continue observing Ang Xiao’s actions.

At the same time, 【Ang Xiao】 had already brought Xiao Shiye to the main hall where the Secret Realm of Law Refinement was located. Normally, one had to wait in line to use the Secret Realm, but 【Ang Xiao】 used the Perception Obstruction to bypass the queue. With a flash of brilliance, a new world appeared in Lü Yang’s eyes.

But the very next second, a familiar voice of rage echoed through the air:

“Damn Devil Sect! Beasts! I, Mu Changsheng, will never coexist with you——!!!”

Above the Secret Realm of Law Refinement, the soul of the Innate True Person Mu Changsheng was cursing wildly. Seeing this, 【Ang Xiao】 immediately showed a trace of horror.

Just like Lü Yang.

The moment he saw Mu Changsheng, 【Ang Xiao】 had already deduced the whole sequence of events. An expression of admiration for the Sacred Sect Patriarch appeared on his face.

‘Incredible.’

【Ang Xiao】 muttered in a low voice, “No wonder… So this is it… No wonder something felt off—so it was such a grand secret.”

“Hmm?”

At that moment, Mu Changsheng also noticed 【Ang Xiao】’s presence. His gaze fell, and his immense divine sense instantly knocked Xiao Shiye unconscious:

“You are… it’s you!”

The next second, Mu Changsheng’s eyes widened: “Was it you who severed the 【Long Flowing Water】? You who trapped my soul here?”

“So it is Fellow Daoist Innate.”

【Ang Xiao】 lifted his head and sighed emotionally, then looked at Xiao Shiye again—and through his perspective, locked eyes with Lü Yang.

Right after, 【Ang Xiao】 shook his head and sighed deeply:

“…A beast indeed.”

Clearly, the moment he saw Mu Changsheng, 【Ang Xiao】 realized that Lü Yang had set him up. This was not someone he could possibly contend with.

【Long Flowing Water】 was out of the question.

【Overturning Lamp Flame】 was also on the verge of collapse.

What now?

At this thought, 【Ang Xiao】 lowered his eyes and finally made up his mind: ‘I didn’t want it to come to this—but now, there’s no room for hesitation.’